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Lawn Care

Lawn Care. Present by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Department of Education Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June, 2002. Turf Facts. There are an estimated 800,000 acres of home lawns in Georgia The average homeowner spends $400.00 / acre annually to maintain lawn

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Lawn Care

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  1. Lawn Care Present by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Department of Education Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June, 2002

  2. Turf Facts • There are an estimated 800,000 acres of home lawns in Georgia • The average homeowner spends $400.00 / acre annually to maintain lawn • $312 million total turf maintenance expenditures

  3. Get to know your grass • Type: • Cool Season • Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Bentgrass • Warm Season • Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, St. Augustine

  4. Methods for Establishment • Seeding • Plugging • Sprigging • Sodding

  5. Soil Test

  6. Soil pH • pH governs the availability of nutrients & activity level of microorganisms

  7. pH • Most lawns grow best in a soil pH 5.5 - 6.5 • Low pH < than 5.0 (acidic soil) • Dolomite or Limestone • Avoid over liming - weak growth will result • High pH > 7.0 (alkaline soil) • Ammonium sulfate , Aluminum sulfate, Sulfuric acid

  8. Establishment Steps • Rake & Remove Debris • Weed Seed Germination • Add Nutrients & Lime • Soil Test Recommendation • Phosphorous (2-3 lb per 1000 sqft) • Application of Seed, Sprigs, Sod, Plugs • Rake & Roll • ensure good soil contact

  9. Seed Label Information What are you buying???? • Name of seed producer • Seed Lot # • Seed Variety • % Purity • % Germination • % Weed or Crop Seed • % Non-Seed Material • Date when seed was last tested for Germination

  10. How much seed do you need? • Based on % pure live seed & # of plants required for area • GOAL • Establish 1000 plants per square foot for newly seeded lawn

  11. Pure Seed or Mixture • Mixture • meets wide environmental & use requirements • select mixture based on desired characteristics • turfgrass vary in resistance to disease and insects • What can be mixed? • Any turf that spreads by rhizomes or tillers • (Fescue, Bluegrass, Ryegrass) • Do not use stolon grasses, tend to segregate • Bermuda, Bentgrass, Zoysia, Centipede, St Augustine)

  12. Water • Seedbed must stay moist for seeds to germinate • 1st 3 weeks • Seed & Sprigs • Keep moist by frequent, light watering until new root system develops

  13. Sodding • Any turfgrass that spreads by rhizomes or stolons • Best Time: when turfgrass is actively growing • Advantages: • Instant Lawn • Less Weed Competition • Decrease Erosion • Disadvantages • High cost

  14. Installing Sod Cost More Instant Lawn

  15. Sodding • Cost: $.12 - .35 / sqft • 12” wide x 2’ long to 18” wide x 6’ long • Pallet = 450 sq ft • Thickness 1” - 1 1/2” • 1/2” should be soil & roots

  16. Sprigs & Plugs • Most common: Bermuda & Bentgrass • Sold by Bushel • 1 Bushel = 1 sqft of sod • Home Lawn: Sprig 4-5 Bushels per 1000 Sq ft • Trays of 1-2 Dozen (4”pots)

  17. Sprigs & Plugs • Time of Year • Early Spring to Late Summer • Spacing • 10-12” apart, checkerboard • Planting • set root systems completely under soil surface • Soil Contact • Roll area after planting

  18. Water • Sod & Plugs • Heavily soaked so that soil underneath is completely wet

  19. Establishment • Mowing • as soon as grass gets high enough to cut at its optimum height • Weed Control • 1st year chemical weed control is discouraged

  20. Converting Old Lawns • Grass selection: • Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede conversion • 2 year for conversion • Steps: • 1. Cut Lawn Closely • 2. Dethatch / Aerification • 3. Correct pH / Nutrient Level • 4. Sprig / Plug / Seed • 5. Roll & Water Thoroughly

  21. Maintenance of Established Lawns • Fertility • Major Nutrient • Nitrogen • Phosphorous • Potassium • Minor Nutrient • Sulfur • Magnesium • Iron

  22. Maintenance of Established Lawns • Fertilizer Application • Type of grass • Soil Analysis • Fertilizer Burn • Salt Toxicity • Check spreader calibration

  23. Spreader Selection & Application • Low quality spreader can leave streak or patches in the lawn • Causing unsatisfactory control of weeds, insects, as well as poor fertilizer performance

  24. Drop vs Rotary Spreader • Drop Spreader • meter out fertilizer and drop it directly on lawn • Small lawn • Doing job as precisely as possible is important • don’t mind taking a bit longer

  25. Drop vs Rotary Spreader • Rotary spreader meter out the fertilizer and throw granules in a swath • very large lawn • want to get the job done w/speed • don not have flowerbeds nearby

  26. Best Results: Apply header strip along edge

  27. When to Fertilize • Cool Season Grass • Fescue • Sept, Nov, Feb, April • Warm Season Grass • Bermuda: April, May, June • Centipede: June • Zoysia: April, June • St. Augustine: May, June, July, Aug

  28. FESCUE ALERT! • Fertilize fescue with caution. • Too much will make it disease prone and drought sensitive. • If you haven't fertilized in six weeks, apply now at half the rate recommended on the bag.

  29. Maintenance of Established Lawns • Lime • Amount Based on Soil Test • Slow Release Lime • Apply : Fall

  30. Irrigation General Rule 1” water per week

  31. How to measure ?

  32. Water when dew is on the ground

  33. Lack of Water Stress Signs • Grass turns a silvery blue in stress area • Footprints in lawn, does not spring back

  34. Mowing • Avoid Scalping • Never cut more than 1/3 of leaf blade in one single mowing

  35. Mowing too low • Decrease grass ability to develop food reserves for stress & dormant periods • Expose growing point to heat/cold • Larger % leaf cut the longer period root will not grow = shallow root system

  36. Mowingrecommended heights remove no more than 1/3 total leaf area

  37. Blade Sharpness

  38. Mowing Equipment • Rotary Mower vs Reel Mower • Chemical Mowing • Growth Regulators reducing leaf growth

  39. Reel Mower

  40. Aerification • Clay Soil • Benefits • Decrease compaction • Improves water movement • Increases irrigation efficiency • Increase oxygen exchange • Increase nutrient availability

  41. Aerification • Equipment • Solid Tine • Hollow Tine (Core Aerifiers) • Slicing / Vibrating Aerifers • High Pressurized Water & Air • (depths from 1/4” - 16”)

  42. Aerification

  43. Thatch Management • Organic material produced faster than it can be decomposed • Problems • Decrease water movement • Decrease soil aeration • Decrease root growth • Increase insect/disease problems • Creates barrier for fertilizer movement

  44. Thatch Management • Look For • Spongy Turf • Cut section of turf & measure • No more than 1/2” thatch • Remove Thatch • Vertical mowers • Power rakes • Dethatching mowers

  45. Problem Solving • ID Problem • Select Treatment Specific to Problem

  46. WeedsBroadleaf & Grass-Type

  47. Weed Control • Pre-emergence • Apply: Feb -March & Sept - Oct • Balan, Surflan, Dacthal, Ronstar • Post-emergence • Apply: Summer during Early Weed Growth • MSMA, Trimec, Acclain, Weedar, Banvel

  48. Disease Control • Brown Patch Dollar Spot • Banner, Tersan, Maneb, Topsin

  49. Disease • Pythium Blight / Root Rot /Fairy Ring • Alliette, Captan, Sudbue, Banol

  50. Moss Problem • Shade • Compact Soil • Poor Drainage • Low Soil Fertility • Poor Air Circulation • High or Low pH Raking and Copper Sulfate Change Conditions

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