Managing Spring Seeded Grasses

Transcription

1 Managing Spring Seeded Grasses 5 February 2008 Grady Miller, PhD Professor & Extension Specialist

2 Sources of Information Information on the Web County Extension Offices

3 Maintenance Considerations Discussed Today Grass Type (selecting w.s. vs. c.s.) W.S. examples Tall Fescue selection Establishment Seeding Timing Seeding Method Seeding Rate Fertility Irrigation Management Pest Control Other specialists

4 Landscape Grasses Tall fescue (sod or seed) Tall fescue + bluegrass (sod or seed) Zoysiagrass (typically sodded) Bermudagrass (sod or seed) Centipedegrass (typically sodded) St. Augustinegrass (sod) Crabgrass or whatever grows

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6 Cultivars pick a blend of tall fescue cultivars or a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass cultivars Tall fescue lawn Suggest not recommend K-31

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9 w.s. grasses don t mix as well as the c.s. grasses Bahiagrass Centipedegrass

10 Bermudagrass Cultivars Hybrids: Tifway, Tifsport, Patriot, Yukon, etc Seeded: Riviera or Princess for highest quality

11 Zoysiagrass Cultivars Fine texture: Emerald, Cavalier, Zorro, Zeon, Diamond Medium texture: Meyer, El Toro, Crowne, Jamur, Palisades, Empire Seeded: Zenith, Companion

12 Turf choices

13 Landscape alternative

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15 Landscape alternative

16 T.F. cultivars - Excellent Quality nd Millennium Endeavor Lexington Regiment II*** Avenger Falcon II Masterpiece*** Rembrandt Barlexas Falcon IV*** Matador Rendition Barlexas II Fidelity Millennium Scorpion Barrera Finesse II Mustang Serengeti Barrington Firebird Mustang 3*** Signia Biltmore Focus Olympic Gold Silverstar Bingo Grande II Padre Southern Choice II Bonsai Greenkeeper Picasso*** Stetson Bravo Greystone Plantation Tarheel Cayenne Inferno*** Proseeds 5301 Titan ltd Constitution*** Jaguar 3 Prospect Titanium*** Coyote Justice Pure Gold Tracer Davinci Kalahari Quest Ultimate Dominion Kitty Hawk 2000 Rebel Exeda Watchdog Dynasty*** Legitimate Rebel Sentry Wolfpack

17 Day 80 1=24 56 days recovery 2=34 66 days 3=41 39 days 4=48 32 days 5=55 25 days

18 Spring Seeding Tall Fescue

19 What s Known about Seeding C.S. grasses For optimum establishment of C.S. grasses, seeding should be done in the fall. Spring seeding carries additional risk far beyond fall seeding. Optimum air temperatures for tall fescue germination is 68 to 77 F. Lowest recommended soil temperature for germination is 60 or warmer.

20 What s Known about Seeding C.S. grasses Seed early enough in fall to allow seedlings to mature enough to withstand the stresses of winter and following summer. Seeding at less optimum time may result in reduced fill which may increase weed germination. Sodding during non-optimal times of the year is more effective than seeding when water is available.

21 What s Known about Seeding C.S. grasses Spring seeded lawn will likely require fall seeding (renovation) since spring-established plants are more susceptible to: Drought + Heat Disease incidence and severity Weed encroachment with fewer control options Insect incidence no different, but damage may be more severe So, if spring seeding C.S. grass, also budget for fall renovation.

22 Tall Fescue Germination Optimal air temperatures for tall fescue germination is 68 to 77 F, with little germination below 60. Very little germination with soil temperature below 50. AMax Soil - Air Temp, Feb Mar Apr May June Sep Oct Nov Dec mid Feb late March

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24 Spring aerification reduce compacted areas to increase chance of water getting into the soil... reduce runoff.

25 Soil Preparation Do not forget soil preparation for new seeding. Relieve compaction ph adjustment Fertilization based on soil tests The lack of soil preparation may be more significant in long term failure than the grass selected!

26 Seeding Rate & Germination Seeding Rate 6 pounds tall fescue 1 pound Kentucky bluegrass + 5 pounds tall fescue Germination in 10 to 21 days with soil moisture Dr Yelverton to discuss weed control programs and Dr Tredway to discuss disease control. Mow at 3 to 4 inch height.

27 Tall fescue mowed at 3.5 inches had only 5-10% crabgrass whereas 1 inch mowing ht had about 80% crabgrass

28 Water wisely Irrigate in early morning Within current restrictions Calibrate irrigation system Change controller run times at least monthly

29 How much water? 7,138 14,992 20,410 22,410 19,573 12,904 5,454 $ sewage and admin charges will likely double the water costs. 103,230 $ cu ft water = 748 gal

30 Turf Irrigation Management System

31 Depth of irrigation water per unit time e.g., inches per hour

32 Do not let no outdoor watering mean no landscape management. We may have to change our expectations, but we should not stop managing the landscape.

33 N Application Timing- Turf Intensity of Use Greens Tees Home Lawn Fairways, Utility Turfgrass Species Target ph Pounds N /1000 sq ft & Application frequency within growing season Pounds N /acre & Application Frequency Tall Fescue NR NR times/yr times yearly Kentucky Bluegrass NR to 30 da times/yr times yearly Creeping Bentgrass da to 30 da NR times yearly Hybrid Bermudagrass da da times/yr mo in growth season Common Bermudagrass NR NR times/yr mo in growth season Zoysia da to 30 da times/yr mo in growth season St. Augustine NR NR times/yr mo in growing season Centipede NR NR times/yr times yearly Bahiagrass NR NR times/yr times yearly Tall fescue 0.5 to 1.0 pounds/1000 sq. ft., 2 3 times/year

34 J F M A M J J A S O N D Normal Fertilization Schedule Suggest fertilize now and seed later or seed now and fertilize at ½ ¾ # rate. Best if timed before light rain or ¼ - ½ irrigation event.

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