Kansas State University Cool Season Lawns Kansas State University By Bob Neier, Sedgwick County Extension Agent, Horticulture Adapted from materials by Ward Upham

Turfgrasses Commonly Grown in KS Cool-Season Turf Type Tall Fescue - Home lawns Kentucky Bluegrass Perennial Ryegrass - golf fairways Creeping Bentgrass - golf greens Warm-Season - xeriscape Zoysiagrass Bermudagrass Buffalograss

Kansas in Transition Zone Difficult to grow either warm- or cool-season grasses well

Cool-Season Grasses Grow best during spring and fall, summer difficult

Tall Fescue Has mini-rhizomes but basically bunch grass

Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue Best adapted cool-season grass in Kansas Used on home lawns, parks and athletic fields Propagated by seed and sometimes by sod Sod doesn’t hold together well and so either mix in bluegrass or use plastic mesh at planting Seed germinates quickly; everything perfect, 4 days Coarse bladed grass but newer cultivars better than old ones Avoid K-31; coarser, less dense, lighter color and seed tends to be contaminated with orchard grass

Best Choice for the Shade Tall Fescue Best Choice for the Shade

Major Problem: Brown Patch Tall Fescue Major Problem: Brown Patch

What About Fine-Leaf Fescues? There are tall fescues with finer leaves than K-31 There are true fine-leaved fescues Chewings fescue Hard Fescue Creeping Red Fescue Sheeps Fescue

True Fine-Leaf Fescues Have excellent shade tolerance; better than any of our commonly grown turfgrasses. Have poor heat tolerance. Do not come through our summers well.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass Spreads by rhizomes

Kentucky Bluegrass Fine-bladed grass that makes attractive lawn Used on athletic fields, parks, and home lawns Propagated by seed or sod Poor heat tolerance Has trouble coming through our summers without damage Better adapted further north

Numerous Problems: Summer Patch Can Be Severe Kentucky Bluegrass Numerous Problems: Summer Patch Can Be Severe

Cultural Practices Mowing Fertilization Watering Aerating

Mowing: Basic Information Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time

Mowing: Basic Information Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time Clippings don’t contribute much to thatch (zoysia may be exception) If remove clippings, must add 1/4 more nitrogen to get same response Higher mowing height = deeper roots and less weeds for upright growing types

When to Fertilize Cool-Season Grasses September Most important fertilization of year Use 1 pound nitrogen per 1000 square feet Quick-release OK November Second most important fertilization April or May Optional; use 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet Use fertilizer with at least 1/4 nitrogen as slow-release

Fertilization: Fertilizer Analysis Sequence of three numbers that reflect the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively.

Fertilizer: Macro Nutrients Nitrogen - Used for above-ground growth and good green color Phosphorus - Used for root growth and formation of seeds and fruit Potassium - Used for basic plant growth and helps plants withstand stress

Lawn Fertilizers Fertilizer Most are high Nitrogen, low and phosphorus and potassium 21-0-0 Nitrogen usually needed Phosphorus (middle number) usually already high in our soils and may run off and cause algae bloom in lakes Potassium usually adequate in our soils

Drop Spreader Relatively easy to calibrate Takes more time to apply fertilizer Skips extremely obvious and so need to go over area 2 times at right angles

Whirlybird Spreader Difficult to calibrate Can apply fertilizer relatively quickly Easier to avoid skips With correct method, only need to go over area once

Watering Look for darker “hot spots”. Often have purplish tinge. Best to allow turf to undergo some stress early in season. Makes turf more drought resistant. Attempt to apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water each time you irrigate.

Proper Watering

How to Tell if You Have Enough Water Use catch cans Use screw driver; moisture down 6 to 8 inches

Aeration Controls Thatch Up to ½ inch thatch beneficial Cushions plant Acts as mulch Over ½ inch and roots tend to stay in thatch

Benefits of Aerating Thatch control Better root aeration Quicker water infiltration Relieves compaction Deeper fertilizer placement

Aerators Drum type normally used on home lawns Go over lawn two times

Seeding Normally done in early fall for cool-season grasses Soil is warm so faster germination and establishment Less weed problems 5-8 lb/1000 sq.ft. For tall fescue

Establishment Seeding Sodding Commonly used for tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass Sept is best month (may seed as late as Oct 15) March is second best month Sodding Commonly used for Kentucky bluegrass Tall fescue is sodded more now Best success is Sept - late October, March through late May

Overseed if > 50% Good Grass July/August Spray perennials with glyphosate September Fertilize then plant early in September (6-8 lb/1000sqft) Core aerate if compacted, then seed and vertislice Vertiseed if not compacted Keep soil moist October Fertilize one month after planting November Fertilize again one month later

Overseeding Normally done in early fall for cool-season grasses Must have good seed-soil contact Methods Slit seeder

Overseeding/Vertislicing Either put on seed prior to slicing or with vertiseeder

Seeding/Core Aeration Lightly seed each time you aerate Method to thicken up slightly thin lawns

Rototil & seed if < 50% Good Grass July/August Spray perennials with glyphosate Grade soil, apply nutrients, rototill September Fertilize then plant early in September (6-8 lb/1000sqft) Rake in grass seed Keep soil moist October Fertilize one month after planting November Fertilize again one month later

Sodding of Cool-Season Grasses Best done in fall (just like for seeding) but can be done any time ground not frozen Problems with laying sod in summer Dessication (drying out) Disease Heat stress Water bill Prepare soil just like you would for seeding on bare ground Roots will peg down in 7 to 10 days under good conditions

Weed Prevention Maintain a thick turf Weed seeds are often small and many need sunlight and consistent moisture to germinate Even if weed seeds germinate in a thick turf, competition may slow weed growth

Weed Prevention Maintain a thick turf Mow as high as practical

Preemergence Herbicides Applied before weeds germinate Must be watered in

Preemergence Herbicides Must be watered in Only kills weed seeds as they germinate Need some time after application for activation Primarily used for annual grasses such as crabgrass

Common Preemergence Herbicides Barricade Dimension Pendimethalin Team

Control of Annual Grassy Weeds Recommendations Annual grassy weeds normally controlled with preemergent herbicides Timing Traditionally, crabgrass preventers have been applied by April 15th in central Kansas Apply when redbud trees are approaching full bloom

Control of Annual Grassy Weeds Crabgrass

Control of Annual Grassy Weeds Crabgrass Goosegrass Foxtail

Control of Annual Grassy Weeds Miscellaneous Notes Crabgrass seeds begin germinating when soil temperatures rise above 60̍ F, and when air temperatures rise above 65̍ for five consecutive days. Barricade lasts a long time but takes longer to activate Apply two weeks earlier than other herbicides Can be applied in fall for season long control next year If late with preventer, use Dimension

Postemergence Herbicides Applied after weeds are up Rain can reduce or eliminate effectiveness

Common Postemergence Herbicides Weed-B-Gon Trimec products Turflon products Confront

Control of Broadleaf Weeds Winter Annuals Henbit

Control of Broadleaf Weeds Winter Annuals Henbit Chickweed

Control of Broadleaf Weeds Winter Annuals and Perennials Henbit Chickweed Dandelion

Control of Broadleaf Weeds What to Use 2,4-D: dandelion and winter annuals in the fall Combination products: dandelion and winter annuals in the early spring Trimec (2,4-D + MCPP + Dicamba) Weed-B-Gon (2,4-D + MCPP) Confront (commercial product): excellent on clover, safe on buffalograss Turflon products: good on clover

Control of Nutsedge Not a grass Has triangular base Likes moist sites Background Info Not a grass Has triangular base Likes moist sites Can reproduce by seed or nutlets

Control of Nutsedge MSMA, Basagran and Manage are used Herbicides MSMA, Basagran and Manage are used Manage works well

Control of Bermuda in Cool-Season Turf Bermuda greens up late and goes dormant early

Control of Bermuda in Cool-Season Turf Steps to Control Mid-July: Fertilize and water bermuda First of August: Spray with Glyphosate Third weed of August: Spray again with Glyphosate if any green Early September: Seed

Most Common Problem is “Grubs” Insect Problems Most Common Problem is “Grubs” May Beetle (June Bug) Southern Masked Chafer Billbugs Black Turfgrass Ataenius

Grub Insects, Adults May Beetle Southern Masked Chafer Black Turfgrass Ataenius Billbug

Mottled appearance to turf White Grubs Mottled appearance to turf

White Grubs

White Grubs Identification Southern Masked Chafer May Beetle

May Beetle 3-year Life Cycle 2nd Year Most Damaging

Southern Masked Chafer Annual grub Most common grub that causes damage Adults don’t feed that we know of

Number needed to cause visible damage White Grub Control Number needed to cause visible damage Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot

White Grub Control Labeled for white grubs and billbugs Merit Insecticide Labeled for white grubs and billbugs Considered a 3 month product If after annual grubs, apply early to mid- July If also seeking to control May Beetle grubs or billbugs, apply no earlier than mid-May Causes a disruption of a grub's nervous system resulting in its death Not for rescue treatments

White Grub Control Mach 2 Insecticide Labeled for cutworms, sod webworms, billbugs and white grubs Considered a 6 week product Apply early to mid- July for white grub control Accelerates a grub's development by causing it to molt prematurely Feeding stops within a couple of hours of ingestion Not for rescue treatments

White Grub Control Apply when see damage Use convential insecticide Rescue Treatments Apply when see damage Use convential insecticide

How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide Healthy Grub Grub on Way Out

Diseases Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch, Dollar Spot Tall Fescue - Brown Patch Bermudagrass - Spring Dead Spot Zoysiagrass - Large Patch

Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch Symptoms Frog-eye Pattern

Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch Control By the time you see symptoms, it is too late Heritage and Bayleton provided good control when applied on May 1, May 27 and June 23.

Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar Spot Symptoms Small brown spots Individual leaf blades have hourglass pattern

Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar Spot Conditions Favoring Warm, humid conditions Made worse by low nitrogen fertility

Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar Spot Control On home lawns, usually not severe enough to warrant control. May wish to apply light fertilization, if appropriate. Many fungicides can be used if desired including Banner or Daconil.

Tall Fescue - Brown Patch Symptoms Smoke ring sometimes present in early morning

Tall Fescue - Brown Patch Symptoms Circular patches up to several feet in diameter

Tall Fescue - Brown Patch Conditions Favoring Hot days and warm nights High nitrogen fertilization Wet leaf surfaces

Tall Fescue - Brown Patch Control Often turf will recover without spraying Preventive sprays are more effective than curative First preventive spray should go down about July 1 Heritage, Bayleton, Banner, ProStar, and Daconil work well. Daconil best for homeowner. Heritage and ProStar have been the most effective over the long term (5 weeks control with one app)

Brown Area in Otherwise Green Lawn Female dog Gas spill Car exhaust Dumped salt water from ice cream maker Shallow soil due to underlying rock If No Signs of Diseases or Insects, Probably Burn

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