Lawn Establishment, Maintenance, and Renovation Michelle Wallace Horticulture Agent, Durham County
What role does turf play? Focal point? Backdrop? Playing surface? Hold soil in place?
Turf as focal point
LAWN ESTABLISHMENT! Consider site characteristics! Select suitable species! Prepare site! Plant
SITE CHARACTERISTICS Soil conditions Availability of water! Amount of sunlight! Topography
Soil conditions
Slope/Topography
Unsuitable site? Modify or consider alternatives
TURF ALTERNATIVES! Reduces irrigaton and mowing! Mulch Natural areas Tree and shrub beds Groundcovers
GROUNDCOVERS!
SELECT SPECIES! COOL SEASON! Bunch type! Green in winter!
SELECT SUITABLE SPECIES WARM SEASON! Spreading! Brown in winter! Good drought tolerance
Cool Season vs. Warm
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!
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
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
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
BERMUDAGRASS (common and hybrid) Warm season! Drought tolerant! Aggressive spreader! Hybrid is HIGH MAINTENANCE Golf courses, athletic fields Planting Seed Sod Plugs Sprigs
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.
ZOYSIAGRASS! Warm season Lush green appearance Slow growing Sod, plugs, or seed Competitive against weeds
Why Use Warm-Season Grass?
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!!!
Warm Season Grasses
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!
VARIETY SELECTION NCSU research Nat l Turfgrass Eval. Program (www.ntep.org) Read Seed Tag With Tall Fescue, use a mixture
SEED TAG!
SITE PREPARATION For seed, sod, sprigs, plugs!! Kill Existing Vegetation! Add top soil (?) Soil Sample! Till in Lime/Fertilizer! Rake Smooth
CONTROL EXISTING WEEDS Use non-selective herbicide Observe waiting period
To spray or not to spray?
TILLING Use maximum horsepower Incorporate lime/ fertilizer Till when soil is SLIGHTLY moist
PREPARE SEED BED Smooth and level Use steel toothed rake Think about future mowing
TIMING/RATE (for seeding)! Species Planting time Seeding rate Fescue Sept 1-15 6 #/M sq ft Centipede Mar-Jul 0.50 Zoysia Apr-Jul 1-2 Bermuda Apr-Jul 1-2
PLANTING METHOD Even distribution! Soil/Seed Contact! Straw mulch (1 bale/1000 sq. ft.) Weed free, if possible Fertilize after 3 weeks
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.
TIMING/RATE (plugs, sod, sprigs) Cool season grasses: Fall, winter, or spring Warm season grasses: March through July
PLANTING PLUGS 2 inch squares Apply ½ lbs. N every 3-4 weeks
SEED VS. SOD/PLUGS Seed Sod Plugs Cost Low High Medium Speed of establishment Slow Instant Slowmoderate Limited Availability Hybrid berm., zoysia None Fescue
LAWN MAINTENANCE Fertilization! Mowing! Irrigation! Pest control! Renovation
FERTILIZATION Soil Sampling! Product! Timing Amount! Method
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
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
MOWING! Correct height Mow frequently Sharp blade Leave clippings on lawn
MOWING HEIGHT! Species Mow to: Max. ht. Fescue 3 in. 5 in. Bermuda 1 in. 2 in. Centipede 1 in. 1.5-2 in. Zoysia 1 in. 1.5-2 in.
IRRIGATION! 1 inch per week! Apply early in the morning
INSECT, DISEASE, AND WEED CONTROL Keep turf healthy! Monitor for problems! Identify problems (client can bring in sample)! Apply best solution
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.
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
WEED CONTROL
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??
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
RENOVATION When stand is very poor Where weeds have become a major problem See instructions for Establishment!
When to Renovate
WHY IS RENOVATION NEEDED? Soil compaction? Poor maintenance? Mowing too low? Excessive shade? Low ph or fertility problem? RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS FIRST!
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
AERATION To alleviate compaction Cool season grass in fall Warm season grass in spring To help prepare soil prior to overseeding
CORE VS. SPIKE AERATION
WHAT ABOUT SLIT SEEDING Inserts seed just under soil surface Effective if: No compaction Good fertility/ph Otherwise, consider complete renovation
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.!