Turfgrass

Establishment and Care

Turfgrass can be used for a variety of things

• Erosion Control

• Sports

• Lawns

• Pasture

Two major types of Grasses

• Warm Season: These grasses are dormant in the winter. They are typically grown in the south or warmer areas.

• Cool season are dormant in the summer and are typically grown in the north or cooler areas.

• Both can be grown in the transitional areas such as Kentucky.

Cool season grasses

Transitional Zone (Both grasses)

Warm season grasses

Establishment by Seed

• Different types of grass require different methods.

• Early spring or fall is the best time to establish grass.

• Use blended mixture of seeds.

• Till up soil and remove weeds.

• Spread seed.

Establishment Continued

• Rake seed in and add fertilizer. Roll grass with seed roller.

• Cover with straw.

• WATER!!!! A LOT!!!

• Or by seed blankets and put over prepared soil.

Planting Sod/Plugs

• Establish area similar to planting seed.

• Role out sod or plant plugs.

• Roll sod or plugs.

• WATER!!!! A LOT!!!

Maintaining Turfgrass

• Test Soil.

• Fertilize spring, summer, fall.

• Summer fertilization can effect drought tolerance.

• Manage weeds, disease and pests using proper care methods.

• Mow often remove little.

• Irrigation (watering)

Mowing

• Be careful at first the grass is delicate.

• Never take more than 1/3 the height at a time.

• Use sharp blades.

• Cool season grasses mow to 3-4 inches.

• Warm season can be mowed from 1-2 inches.

Fertilize

• Use high Nitrogen in the spring and summer.

• Use higher potassium and phosphorus in the fall.

• Rule of thumb 1 lb nitrogen per 1000 Square feet

Watering

• About 1” per week depending on the weather.

• No need to water.

• Cool season grasses will brown in the summer but will break dormancy in the fall.

• Water in the morning.

• It is better to soak the plants and water less frequently.

Weeds/Pests/Disease

• By having healthy grass one can minimize these without having to spray or physically remove them.

• Fungicide: Kills fungus

• Pesticide: Kill pests

• Herbicide: Kills plants (weeds)• Selective kill only broad leaves• Non-selective kills all

Other Care

• Thatch: Build up of dead grass clippings. This can be managed by proper care or raking by hand or with a machine.

• Aerification: This takes plugs out of the soil to give the soil pore space.

• Remove leaves in the fall or mulch them by mowing over them several times.

Common Turfgrass in our Area

• Most lawns are a blend.• Kentucky bluegrass: Full sun grass, Cool season • Red fescue: Shade grass cool, season• Fine fescue: Shade grass, cool season• Annual Ryegrass: full sun, annual, used to

establish grass• Bent grass: Full sun, cool season, used for golf

courses• Bermuda grass: Full sun, warm season, used for

golf courses

Common Pests

• Grubs: Eat the roots

• Chinch bugs

• Army worms

• Sod webworm,

• Billbug

• Chinch bug

• Aphids.

Grubs

Grub Damage

Grub Control

• Keep your lawn healthy!

• Pesticide

Common Disease

• Dollar spot• Red thread• Rusts• Leaf spot/melting out• Snowmold• Summer patch• Necrotic ring patch• Fusarium blight• http://urbanext.illinois.edu/lawnchallenge/lesson

8.html

Photos of Common Diseases

Dollar Spot Snow mold

Controlling disease

• Keep your lawn healthy!!!

• Fungicides