Lawn Establishment, Maintenance, and Renovation. Michelle Wallace Horticulture Agent, Durham County

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1 Lawn Establishment, Maintenance, and Renovation Michelle Wallace Horticulture Agent, Durham County

2 What role does turf play? Focal point? Backdrop? Playing surface? Hold soil in place?

3 Turf as focal point

4 LAWN ESTABLISHMENT! Consider site characteristics! Select suitable species! Prepare site! Plant

5 SITE CHARACTERISTICS Soil conditions Availability of water! Amount of sunlight! Topography

6 Soil conditions

7 Slope/Topography

8 Unsuitable site? Modify or consider alternatives

9 TURF ALTERNATIVES! Reduces irrigaton and mowing! Mulch Natural areas Tree and shrub beds Groundcovers

10 GROUNDCOVERS!

11 SELECT SPECIES! COOL SEASON! Bunch type! Green in winter!

12 SELECT SUITABLE SPECIES WARM SEASON! Spreading! Brown in winter! Good drought tolerance

13 Cool Season vs. Warm

14 SPECIES FOR DURHAM BEST (good drought tolerance): Tall fescue (often mixed w/ KY bluegrass, per. ryegrass, fine fescues) Zoysia Bermuda GOOD (less cold hardy, drought tolerant): Centipede St. Augustine If it s not on this list, I don t recommend it!

15 TALL FESCUE! Cool season Susceptible to brown patch Improved varieties ("Turf Type") Superior to KY 31 More attractive, drought tolerant, disease resistant Use mixture of varieties Plant seed or sod

16 CENTIPEDEGRASS! Warm season! Apple green color! Needs little lime or fertilizer! Slow growing (less mowing)! Doesn't like traffic! 2 to 3 years to fill in! Seed, sod, or plugs

17 CENTIPEDEGRASS: Special Considerations Requires low ph, low fertility VERY competitive against weeds Susceptible to winterkill Slow to establish from seed or plugs Seed is very expensive (by weight, not coverage!) Sensitive to excess Phosphorous

18 BERMUDAGRASS (common and hybrid) Warm season! Drought tolerant! Aggressive spreader! Hybrid is HIGH MAINTENANCE Golf courses, athletic fields Planting Seed Sod Plugs Sprigs

19 BERMUDAGRASS: Special Considerations Aggressive! Spreads to flower/shrub beds Mulch will not control! Some control w/ Vantage, Grass-b-gone, etc. Directed sprays E.g. Roundup, Finale, etc.

20 ZOYSIAGRASS! Warm season Lush green appearance Slow growing Sod, plugs, or seed Competitive against weeds

21 Why Use Warm-Season Grass?

22 TOP 5 REASONS TO PLANT WARM-SEASON TURF 1. Attractive golden hue in winter! Nice backdrop for evergreens & berries! 2. Spreading grasses, renovation rarely needed! 3. Looks great in summer! 4. Wide planting window! 5. Drought tolerant!!!

23 Warm Season Grasses

24 OTHER MINOR SPECIES Use only in mixtures w/ Tall Fescue Perennial ryegrass (cool)! Kentucky bluegrass(cool)! Creeping/fine fescues (cool) Sunday newspaper grasses If it sounds too good to be true Buffalograss is NOT adapted!

25 VARIETY SELECTION NCSU research Nat l Turfgrass Eval. Program ( Read Seed Tag With Tall Fescue, use a mixture

26 SEED TAG!

27 SITE PREPARATION For seed, sod, sprigs, plugs!! Kill Existing Vegetation! Add top soil (?) Soil Sample! Till in Lime/Fertilizer! Rake Smooth

28 CONTROL EXISTING WEEDS Use non-selective herbicide Observe waiting period

29 To spray or not to spray?

30 TILLING Use maximum horsepower Incorporate lime/ fertilizer Till when soil is SLIGHTLY moist

31 PREPARE SEED BED Smooth and level Use steel toothed rake Think about future mowing

32 TIMING/RATE (for seeding)! Species Planting time Seeding rate Fescue Sept #/M sq ft Centipede Mar-Jul 0.50 Zoysia Apr-Jul 1-2 Bermuda Apr-Jul 1-2

33 PLANTING METHOD Even distribution! Soil/Seed Contact! Straw mulch (1 bale/1000 sq. ft.) Weed free, if possible Fertilize after 3 weeks

34 POST PLANT CARE: Irrigation 3 times/day for two weeks 15 minutes each application Once per day for two weeks 30 minutes each application Twice a week for 4 weeks ¾ inch per application Dependent on temperature, rainfall, soil, etc.

35 TIMING/RATE (plugs, sod, sprigs) Cool season grasses: Fall, winter, or spring Warm season grasses: March through July

36 PLANTING PLUGS 2 inch squares Apply ½ lbs. N every 3-4 weeks

37 SEED VS. SOD/PLUGS Seed Sod Plugs Cost Low High Medium Speed of establishment Slow Instant Slowmoderate Limited Availability Hybrid berm., zoysia None Fescue

38 LAWN MAINTENANCE Fertilization! Mowing! Irrigation! Pest control! Renovation

39 FERTILIZATION Soil Sampling! Product! Timing Amount! Method

40 FERTILIZATION Species Timing Amount/ application Fescue Feb, Sept, Nov 1#N/1000 sq. ft. Centipede June 0.5 #N Zoysia Apr, Jun, Aug 0.5 #N Bermuda May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep 1#N

41 FERTILIZATION: WHY/WHEN TO LIME To raise soil ph On average, every 3 years According to soil test report Pelletized easier to handle, but DO NOT incorporate

42 MOWING! Correct height Mow frequently Sharp blade Leave clippings on lawn

43 MOWING HEIGHT! Species Mow to: Max. ht. Fescue 3 in. 5 in. Bermuda 1 in. 2 in. Centipede 1 in in. Zoysia 1 in in.

44 IRRIGATION! 1 inch per week! Apply early in the morning

45 INSECT, DISEASE, AND WEED CONTROL Keep turf healthy! Monitor for problems! Identify problems (client can bring in sample)! Apply best solution

46 White Grub Control in Turf Annual applications unnecessary Apply if needed (monitor and sample) Japanese Beetles Treating grubs has minimal effect Timing of insecticide application Apr-May and Aug-Oct Milky Spore Apply late Sept. to early Oct.

47 Turf Diseases In most cases, by the time disease is observed, too late to treat. Indicates fertility, management problem (fert., irrig., mowing, etc.) Replant as needed Warm-season grasses may fill in Get sample from margin

48 WEED CONTROL

49 OVERSEEDING If stand is thin (but viable) No major weed problems At correct time (Fall for fescue) Soil preparation is crucial Water frequently after seeding Better to completely renovate??

50 OVERSEEDING METHOD 1. Take soil sample, correct deficiencies 2. DETHATCH to expose soil 3. BROADCAST seed evenly (or use slit seeder) 4. RAKE SEED for soil/seed contact 5. IRRIGATE 15 minutes, twice per day

51 RENOVATION When stand is very poor Where weeds have become a major problem See instructions for Establishment!

52 When to Renovate

53 WHY IS RENOVATION NEEDED? Soil compaction? Poor maintenance? Mowing too low? Excessive shade? Low ph or fertility problem? RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS FIRST!

54 Fall Lawn Renovation (Capitalizing on the Teachable Moment ) Early August Collect soil sample Mid August 1st application of broad-spectrum herbicide End of August 2nd application of broad-spectrum herbicide Early September Till soil and plant seed

55 AERATION To alleviate compaction Cool season grass in fall Warm season grass in spring To help prepare soil prior to overseeding

56 CORE VS. SPIKE AERATION

57 WHAT ABOUT SLIT SEEDING Inserts seed just under soil surface Effective if: No compaction Good fertility/ph Otherwise, consider complete renovation

58 Disclaimer Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University or North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of North Carolina Cooperative Extension.!