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Going Green Lawn Care

Going Green Lawn Care. Dennis Patton County Extension Agent, Horticulture Johnson County K-State Research & Extension. Going Green . Objectives: Develop healthy turf that can withstand pest pressure Responsible and efficient use of pesticides

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Going Green Lawn Care

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  1. Going Green Lawn Care Dennis Patton County Extension Agent, Horticulture Johnson County K-State Research & Extension

  2. Going Green • Objectives: • Develop healthy turf that can withstand pest pressure • Responsible and efficient use of pesticides • Enhance populations of natural, beneficial organisms • Tackle pest problems when pests are most vulnerable

  3. Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities • Sustainable approach • Family friendly • Cost savings & resource efficient • Water conservation • Environmental stewardship • www.kansasgreenyards.org

  4. Why Go Green? • Increased environmental concerns • EPA pesticide restrictions • Pollinators and bees • Potential water restrictions • Reduce lawn inputs • Stewards of the Earth

  5. Why do problems happen? STRESS!!! • Drought • Heat • Shade • Cold

  6. Managed Lawns Defies Ecology! • The way we select & manage turf is against the laws of ecology: • turfgrass is not “natural” (tallgrass prairie a close approximation) • maintenance of turfgrass is artificial and fights the natural tendencies of nature • environmental stress and pest problems in turfgrass are nature’s way of pointing this out to us

  7. Turfgrass is a “Limited” Perennial • Most turfgrasses are perennials but plants undergo constant recycling • When we mow, leaves don’t regrow from the cut portion; rather, they are replaced by new shoots (usuallyevery 2-4 weeks)

  8. Kansas is in the Transition Zone “Crabgrass Belt” Both warm and cool-season turf grow here but the climate is ideal for neither.

  9. Turf Choices for Kansas • Cool-Season • Tall Fescue (lawns) • Kentucky Bluegrass (lawns, athletic fields) • Perennial Ryegrass (various but difficult) • Creeping Bentgrass (golf course putting greens) • Warm-Season • Zoysiagrass (lawns, golf course turf) • Bermudagrass (lawns, athletic field turf) • Buffalograss (lawns, drier parts of KS)

  10. Cool- vs. Warm-Season

  11. Types of Lawn Inputs Fertilizer Natural and synthetic, pH modifiers Water Natural and intentional Pesticides Herbicides, fungicides, insecticides Other e.g. soil sterilants, fuel

  12. Desired Quality & Appearance Augusta or “Wildflowers”

  13. Going Green is a Combination of Approaches

  14. Going green Approaches Cultural Right Plant, Right Place Host Plant Resistance Physical/Mechanical Biological Chemical/Pesticides

  15. KEEP GOOD RECORDS • Date • Site • Identified Pest • Damage Type • Quantity • Control Approach Used • Results

  16. Cultural Approaches • Proper mowing • Core aerating/verticutting • Seeding • Fertilizing • Irrigation

  17. Cultural Approach:Mowing • Sharp blade is essential (every 10 hours) • Dull blade can contribute to disease problems • Bruises and frays the ends - providing entry site for pathogens

  18. Cultural Approach: Mowing Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time Higher mowing height = deeper roots and less weeds for upright growing types

  19. Cultural Approach:Mowing • Recycle clippings (”Don’t Bag It”) • Clippings don’t cause “thatch” (exception is Zoysia) • Can return up to 25% of Nitrogen • Avoid unnecessary disposal

  20. Cultural Approach:Mowing • Be sure to keep clippings on the lawn if using a side discharge mower. • Clippings blown into the street, and not swept up, contaminate surface water downstream. • If clippings are collected, compost clippings

  21. Cultural Approach: Core aerating • Thatch control • Better root aeration • Relieves compaction • Quicker water infiltration • Deeper fertilizer placement

  22. Cultural Approach:Verticutting • Best used for seeding • Slices fine grooves into the soil • Allows for seed-soil contact • Removes some thatch and debris

  23. Cultural ApproachSeeding • Best to seed September 1 to 15 • Ok till October 15 • Steps • Verticut, one or two directions • Seed • Fertilize • Water

  24. Cultural Approach:Fertilization • Nitrogen - Used for above-ground growth and good green color (building block for protein) • Phosphorus - Used for root growth and formation of seeds and fruit • Potassium - Used for basic plant growth and helps plants withstand stress

  25. Cultural Approach:FertilizationSoil Testing • soil pH • levels of macro-and micronutrients • organic matter

  26. Cultural Approach:Fertilization • After soil testing… • Adjust Phosphate and Potash as indicated • Potash is adequate in most of Kansas • Reduced phosphate use is being targeted in many states • Use permitted only if deficiency is documented by soil test • Nitrogen source • Slow release vs quick release (water soluble) • Organic alternatives (alfalfa, manure, sewerage sludge)

  27. Cultural Approach:Fertilization • Sequence of three numbers that reflect the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively.

  28. Cultural Approach:Fertilization • Timing • Cool season grasses - fall emphasis • Warm season grasses - summer emphasis • Frequency • Quality expectations • Mowing frequency • Clipping management

  29. Cultural Approach:Fertilization Granular Products • Keep fertilizer granules out of the street • Direct channel to storm sewers • Surface water downstream

  30. Cultural Approach:Irrigation • Practice “Tough Love” • 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.

  31. Cultural Approach:Irrigation • How to Tell if you have Enough Water • Catch cans • Use probe or screwdriver • Should penetrate 6 to 8 inches

  32. Cultural Approach:Irrigation • Early morning best (4:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.) • Less wind to deflect the sprinkler pattern • Better water pressure in the system • Soil moisture will be present during mid-afternoon heat • Less disease potential • More Efficient • Mid afternoon irrigation is wasteful and not environmentally responsible

  33. Cultural Approach:Irrigation Keep Water on the Turf!

  34. Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceWater Conserving Turfgrasses Bermudagrass Buffalograss Tall fescue

  35. Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceTurf Requiring More Water Kentucky bluegrass Perennial ryegrass

  36. Select improved turfgrass varieties adapted to Kansas climate Show resistance to both environmental stress and pest problems Use certified seed, sod, or sprigs to prevent unwanted weed contamination Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceHost Plant Resistance

  37. Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceSeed Quality • Plant Turf, Not Weeds • Purity - Weeds and “Other Crop” • Orchard grass will appear under “other crop” • Rough bluegrass - Poa trivialis • Germination • Pure Live Seed - Germ x Purity

  38. Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceSeed Quality Good Not so Good

  39. Cultural Approach:Right Plant, Right PlaceBlends vs. Mixes • Mixes - a combination of two+ species • Blends - a combination of several cultivars of the same species

  40. Physical/Mechanical • Hand weeding • Sticky traps • Cleaning mowers and tools to avoid spreading disease and weed seeds

  41. Biological Pest Control • Protect our natural enemies! • Pesticides don’t know difference between good and bad • Promote natural pest predators • Bird houses, bird baths, diverse landscape • Reduce pesticide use

  42. What are Pesticides? • “Cide” means “to kill”. Technically, a pesticide is something used to kill pests. • A pesticide can also mean something that controls a pests’ activity or prevents them from causing damage. • Organic products are pesticides!

  43. Pesticide Label Trade Name Common Name Chemical Name

  44. Pesticide Labels • Signal Words • Caution, danger, warning • First Aid • Precautionary Statements - Hazards to Humans & Domestic Animals - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - User Safety Recommendations - Environmental Hazards - Physical or Chemical Hazards • Directions for Use - Agricultural & Non-Agricultural Use Precautions (reentry)

  45. Chemical/Pesticides Chemical: supplement rather than replace other approaches Steps to take: Identify the pest properly Identify and correct site conditions promoting the pest Implement other approaches to augment pest control Select a pesticide suitable for the pest Apply the pesticide as directed and when the pest is most vulnerable

  46. Tips to Manage Pesticide Input Know your pests! Improper diagnosis can lead to unnecessary pesticide use. Let the pesticide do its job- Be patient! Avoid pesticides prone to drift Follow label specifications!!!

  47. Types of Pests • Insects and other arthropods • Weeds • Diseases • Vertebrates • Abiotic injury & disorders

  48. Key to Success is KNOWLEDGE • Know your Pest! • Accurate identification • Biology, behavior and damage • Early detection (monitoring) • Sooner pests are detected, the sooner measures can be taken • Effective management • Integrated Pest Management

  49. Insect Management Unnecessary insecticide applications can kill beneficial insects and could lead to resistant strains of the damaging ones • Avoid indiscriminate, arbitrary treatments • Don't apply preventive treatments for surface insects • Avoid routine grub treatments • Consider “threshold populations” • Targeted treatments - treat “hot spots”

  50. Weed Management • Weeds are the result of a poor lawn, not the cause • Healthy turf stand is best weed control

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