12 Steps for a Greener Lawn

Transcription

1 12 Steps for a Greener Lawn VCE- Prince William County Updated Jan 2018 For More Information Regarding this Material or To Schedule a 12 Steps for a Greener Lawn Class for Your Community/Church/Civic Group Please Contact the VCE-Prince William Office at or master_gardener@pwcgov.org Virginia Cooperative Extension enables people to improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs, activities and employment opportunities are available to all people regardless of race, color, sex, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Virginia Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. If you are a person with a disability and require any auxiliary aids, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these workshops, please notify Virginia Cooperative Extension at /TDD PC

2 Best Management Practices 1) Timing is crucial! Calendar 2) Soil Testing 3) Amend Soil / Adjust ph 4) Proper Mowing 5) Watering 6) Weed Control 7) Disease Control / Insect Control 8) Aeration 9) Fertilization 10) Repair/Seeding 11) Measuring 12) Calibrating

3 Longwood Garden s Summary What s the Perfect Lawn? You may notice dandelions and other weeds in the Turfgrass at Longwood. In an effort to be better stewarts of the land and reduce the use of herbicides, Longwood has chosen to tolerate rather than chemically eliminate all lawn weeds. Cultural methods are used to reduce the use of herbicides on lawns, such as planting improved Turfgrass varieties raising mowing heights to shade weed competitors, and fertilizing in fall to maintain balanced nutrient levels.

4 Benefits of Good Turf Lawns Looks good Cooling effect of an average size lawn is equal to about 9 tons of air conditioning Turf grass traps an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere Healthy lawns can absorb rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat field and four times better than a hay field. 90% of the weight of a grass plant is in its roots, which is important in stabilizing soil and preventing erosion. A 50 feet by 50 feet area of healthy turf absorbs carbon dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and other gases and releases enough oxygen for a family of four

5 Storm Water Management Ponds are Not Lakes What you do in your yard effects the pond Proper turf maintenance: Reduces nutrients & sediments going into the lake/pond Keeps the lake clean & looking like a lake

6 Prince William Soils These are good soils Clay loams Red = good aeration and iron content Fungal dominant Acidic (ph ) Programmed for hardwood forest, not lawns and gardens Suburban lots suffer from compaction Insufficient pore space for air, water, microbes

7 Trees, Shade, and Lawns Trees tend to be tough on competitors, such as turfgrass At least 6 hours of direct sun needed for any hope of growing a lawn Four to six hours gives minimal chance for success, consider alternatives. Ground covers Moss

8 -1- Turf Care Calendar

9 Turf Care Calendar Timing is crucial!! Refer to calendars Use Pest Management Guide to determine correct application of herbicides and pesticides. Call Extension Horticulture Help Desk ( ). Document your maintenance Maintenance schedule differs from cool season and warm season grasses Which Do You Have?

10 Cool-Season Grasses Fescues, Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass Optimum top F Optimum root growth F Little or no winter dormancy Continuously active root system Vary in summer persistence Shade tolerance: Fine fescues (best) Tall Fescue (average) Perennial Rye (average) Kentucky Bluegrass (poor)

11 Cool-Season Grasses Tall Fescue is a bunch grass (grows in clumps) Slower spreading by seed and tillers (daughter plants) More shade tolerant than bluegrass Longer roots so it s more drought tolerant than bluegrass Germinates in 1-2 weeks Kentucky Bluegrass Spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) Needs full sun Shallow root system so it s less drought tolerant Germinates in 3-4 weeks

12 Relative growth rate Seasonal Growth Patterns of Cool-Season Turfgrasses High Window 2 Window 1 Med. Low Winter Early spring Spring Summer Early fall Fall Winter Shoot Growth Root Growth Carbohydrates Slide Courtesy of Mike Goatley, Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

13 Cool Season Turf Care Calendar

14 Warm-Season Grasses Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, Centipedegrass Optimum top F Root growth at similar temperatures Very efficient water and light users Low maintenance Almost no insects/disease Winter dormancy Greenup begins with ~55 F soil temps Shade tolerance: Bermuda (worst for shade) Zoysia (average for shade) Centipede (average for shade) St. Augustine (best for shade)

15 Relative growth rate Seasonal Growth Patterns of Cool-Season Turfgrasses High Window 2 Window 1 Med. Low Winter Early spring Spring Summer Early fall Fall Winter Shoot Growth Root Growth Carbohydrates Slide Courtesy of Mike Goatley, Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

16 Warm Season Turf Care Calendar

17 -2- Soil Testing Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Soil testing, when ground is not frozen

18 Soil Testing Soil testing and ph adjustment should be done every 3 years. (2 years if sandy soil) Sampling Conditions Soil should be moist, not soggy Avoid high or low spots, any unusual spots Test problem areas separately Skip pet s favorite spots! Must measure your lawn area to compute fertilizer needs

19 Collecting Soil Samples Sample from surface down to Use foot press, do not press at angle

20 Collecting Soil Samples Take multiple sub-samples & mix well Ex: samples for 5000 ft2 lawn Place all subsamples in bucket remove grass clippings/roots

21 Collecting Soil Samples 1 to 2 cups is sufficient for most tests Mix soil subsamples to uniform sample Box

22 Soil Testing options Virginia Tech Soil Lab - kits available from Extension Office, Chinn and Bull Run Libraries ($10 per sample) Commercial Labs ($10 or more per sample) BEST Lawns Program, which includes sampling, measuring, and an individualized Nutrient Management plan ($25 for 1 sample, $15 for each additional)

23 A soil test will give you fertilizer and lime recommendations for your specific site

24 -3- Amend Soil / Adjust ph LIME according to soil test results (when ground is not frozen) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

25

26 How important is ph? Correcting soil ph is the KEY to unlocking soil nutrients!

27

28 Effect of ph on Nutrient Availability ph Native Soils Natural ph Range Aluminum Iron Nitrates Potassium Phosphates Magnesium Calcium Preferred ph Range for Grasses = PH Our native soils are great for red hydrangeas, but not so good for turf or blue hydrangeas. Manganese Zinc Sulfur Molybdenum Copper Boron

29 Raising Soil ph Should be based on soil test results Can Use: Agricultural lime or ground limestone or calcium carbonate comes either pelletized or as powder Dolomitic lime are cheap give reliable results Wood ashes, potash give variable results Gypsum supplies Ca without raising soil ph Does not enhance the structure of heavy clay soils Too much lime can be harmful

30 Organic Matter Crucial to a good soil Microbial activity Helps soils resist compaction Improves soil structure Helps soil retain moisture & nutrients Can top dress annually, or more often, with ¼ inch of compost Till in 2 of compost when establishing a new lawn Healthy microbes = Healthy lawn #2 way to improve soil!!

31 -4- Proper Mowing Mow Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

32 Mowing Height Recommended Heights: 2-3½ = Kentucky Bluegrass Extremely Important! Right Height = deeper, stronger roots = healthy grass Right Height = fewer weeds Perennial Ryegrass Creeping Red Fescue 3-4 = Tall Fescue 1 = Bermuda, Zoysia

33 Mowing Frequency 1/3 Rule: Remove no more than 1/3 the blade each mowing Prevents excessive stress Prevents having to steal energy reserves from the roots

34 Mowing Direction Alternate every 1 to 2 mowings to prevent grass laying over and promote an even cut Especially important at high mowing heights Mow at right angle (90 degrees) to previous mowing Reduces compaction

35 Mowing Facts Leave clippings = free fertilizer One season s clippings can provide the nutrients equal to lb of nitrogen Cool season lawn clippings do NOT cause thatch when mowed properly! Dead stems and dead crowns cause thatch. Clippings are 90% water and break down quickly to return nutrients to the lawn Follow mowing height and frequency guidelines Double Cut your lawn during extended wet periods Mow on highest setting when wet; when clippings dry, mow again at desired height at right angle to wet cut

36 Mower Maintenance Key to Optimum Mowing Service your mower depending on hours of use Change oil Replace Air Filter Replace Spark Plug Sharpen blade(s) after 10 hours of use

37 -5- Watering Water Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

38 Watering Basics Either Do or Don t! Spring rain should provide adequate irrigation of lawn Once you start summer watering, you should continue Inconsistent watering weakens plant

39 Watering Basics If You Water 1 per week in summer Cool Season Grass 1 once a week (ideal) or ½ twice weekly 1 per 1000ft 2 is approximately 625 gallons Watch for excess runoff Deep and infrequent Promotes deep grass roots Curbs weed development Water early in the morning 39

40 Watering Basics Why You Might Not Want to Water Warm Season Turf Established turf almost never needs it Cool Season Turf Goes dormant in the summer, may have some damage but usually recovers in fall Water is expensive! 40

41 -6- Weed Control Broadleaf Weed Control Crabgrass Preemergent Crabgrass Postemergent** Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Pre-emergent re-application may be required throughout the summer

42 Weed Control Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Identify weed Determine if it s a problem Clover is often thought of as a weed, but it provides nitrogen to the soil and feeds pollinators Use the control of least harm When to control? Timing is everything! 42

43 Weed Identification Identify weeds before you select a control Bring into Cooperative Extension Office A B 43

44 Cultural Weed Controls MOW HIGH! Healthy lawn PULL IT OUT!!! Crabgrass emerging from close cut fine fescue 44

45 Pre vs Post Emergent Herbicides Pre-emergent herbicides stop plants from germinating Work mostly on weed grasses Maybe 80% effective under ideal conditions May need to be reapplied throughout the summer Can interfere with grass seeding Post-emergent herbicides work on weeds that have already sprouted Effectiveness varies by weed, chemical formula and timing of the application 45

46 Synthetic Herbicide Usage Give herbicides a chance to work before reapplication Label will specify minimum wait period Kills in 24 hours claims are under ideal conditions with young plants and will take longer Allow herbicides to translocate throughout the plant Beware of Extended Control formulas if you plan to seed Always Read and Follow All Pesticide Labels! 46

47 Organic Herbicide Usage Give herbicides a chance to work before reapplication Label will specify minimum wait period Almost all are non-selective More effective on annuals than on perennials Always Read and Follow All Pesticide Labels! 47

48

49 -7- Disease Control / Insect Control Disease Control** Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Grub Control** Sod Webworm Control**

50 Disease/Insect Control Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Identify pests Control early Use the control of least harm Not much of a problem in Northern Virginia 50

51 Brown Patch Most common turf disease in our area Worse on highly fertilized turf Likes hot, humid weather Brown patch usually will NOT kill turf. Leaves are damaged, but not crowns. Circular Damage 51

52 Disease Control Options Fertilize correctly to reduce the problem Live with it and hope the grass recovers Apply synthetic fungicide Often does more harm than good Organic fungicides have not proven effective in controlling diseases 52

53 Insect Damage Identify that damage is caused by insect certain diseases can mimic insect damage Identify insect Verify that populations are significant enough to warrant using chemical control (10 per square foot) 53

54 Common Insects Grubs are #1 lawn insect Scout in June and August Treat in August Webworms are #2 Scout in summer, best seen in morning Prevention: Keep turf mowed higher than 2.5 inches Keep thatch less than ½ inch

55 Guidelines for Cultural Insect Control Maintain turf health If you irrigate, water deeply and infrequently Mow high Don t over fertilize 55

56 Cultural Insect Control Dethatch when thatch levels are greater than ½ inch Thatch is not a problem in most area lawns Bermuda grass, Zoysia & Bluegrass are most susceptible Warm season grass late spring/early summer Cool season grass spring or early fall 56

57 Synthetic Insect Controls Chemical control using synthetic pesticides Important to target species when they are vulnerable to insecticides Consider pest population size is it worth using an insecticide? (10 per square foot) Think about what cultural controls might work instead of applying an insecticide 57

58 -8- Aeration Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cool Season Turf Warm Season Turf Don t aerate warm season turf until after it has greened up in late spring

59 Core Aerate Only aerate if necessary Core aerate prior to fertilizing and/or over seeding Core aerate; spike aerators are not effective Apply compost after aerating 59

60 Core Aerate Reduces surface compaction Reduces water runoff and puddling Enhances heat and drought stress tolerance Reduces the need to dethatch 60

61 -9- Fertilize Cool Season Turf Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Fertilize (No more than 2.5 lbs. Nitrogen /1,000 sf/ year)

62 When to Fertilize Warm season grass: Late spring through mid-summer Cool season grass: Autumn preferred Spring, if desired but may do more harm than good 62

63 Spring Fertilization??? Both warm and cool season turf will respond to spring fertilization, but. Consider what you want versus what you CAN (or WILL) achieve Concerns about early Spring fertilization Promotes shoot growth at the expense of root growth. Expect more frequent mowing Higher risk of brown patch disease Annual weed germination in spring will also benefit from fertilization 63

64 Arranged from greatest to least need by plants Soil Nutrients Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N) UP Phosphorus (P) Down Potassium (K) All Around Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Micronutrients: Boron (B) Cobalt (Co) Copper (Cu) Chlorine (Cl) Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo) Nickel (Ni) Zinc (Zn) 64

65 Nitrogen (N) Stimulates top growth Is readily lost to the atmosphere Moves very easily through soil Is most likely to burn plants 65

66 Phosphorus (P) Stimulates root growth, blooming, and fruiting; critical to photosynthesis & evaporation Is mostly unavailable to plants Moves very little through the soil - clings to clay particles

67 Potassium (K) Promotes overall plant health heat/cold tolerance disease & drought traffic Is susceptible to leaching

68 How to Read a Fertilizer Bag Note: No phosphorus needed unless you are reseeding 68

69 How Much to Fertilize Cool Season Turf Sunny Lawns Up to 3 applications of no more than 0.7 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 sf per application per 30 days Shady Lawns Up to 2 applications of no more than 0.7 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 sf per application per 30 days How much is that? ((Area /1,000) / (%N as a decimal)) * application rate ((Area /1,000) / 0.22) * 0.7 = #3 way to improve soil 69

70 Inorganic Fertilizer Conventional Fertilizer Ready to eat Can damage microbial life in high enough doses

71 Organic Fertilizer Organic Fertilizer Microbes convert organic to inorganic In organic lawns and gardens, you feed the microbes, not the plants.

72 FREE Fertilizer Options Your grass clippings Recycles ½ lb. of nitrogen over the course of the year Less labor and cost Clover A lawn that is 25% clover provides approximately 1 lb. N per 1,000 sf per year Supports pollinator populations too 72

73 -10- Repair/Seeding Repair Damaged Areas Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Exact Timing Varies by Turf Species and Method (seed v sod)

74 Repair/Seeding Seed or Control Weeds? Windshield test Renovation Options Overseed (probably annually) Partial Renovation Full Renovation Is turf the best option for problem spots in the lawn? (heavy shade, wet soils, slopes) 74

75 Should I Overseed or Do a Full Renovation? 50% Rule Teaching Garden Demonstration 75

76 Should I Overseed? Don t obsess Start attending Grass Anonymous meetings instead 76

77 Overseeding Grass plants live 3 to 5 years, so overseeding is beneficial every year Buy quality grass seed If possible, buy the varieties listed in Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendations published each year by the VCE Use Kentucky 31 tall fescue with caution

78 How to read a seed tag VA Tech Recommends: Seed Freshness: Test Date should be less than 1 year from plant date. % Pure Seed: The higher, the better. No Noxious Weed Seed!.

79 How to read a seed tag VA Tech Recommends: % Germination: The higher the percentage, the better the quality of germination. % Other Ingredients: In most cases, the lower, the better Be Aware of Added N In this 7 lb bag, there is.49 lb of nitrogen. This needs to be considered when planning your fertilizer for the season.

80 How Much Seed? Recommended Seed Rates Tall Fescue and Tall Fescue Mixes 6-8 lb/1,000 sf to establish 3-4 lb/1,000 sf to overseed

81 -11- Measuring Your Lawn

82 Measure Your Lawn Do you know how much turf you have? Your lot size is not the amount of turf you have Over fertilization costs you money and harms the environment Keep track of the lawn size as you add or reduce the amount of turf in your landscape

83 Measure Your Lawn Try to be as accurate as possible, but when in doubt under estimate the total turf area Common measuring tools include: Tape Wheel Hand Held GPS

84 Measure Your Lawn Break the lawn area into simple geometric shapes to calculate the total turf area Rectangles = length x width Triangles =.5 x base x height Circles = π x r 2 Add the turf areas and subtract the non-turf areas

85 -12- Calibrating Your Equipment

86 Calibrate Your Spreader Calibrate your spreader before each use Don t rely on the product label Calibrate before you apply lime, fertilizer and pesticides pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/ / _pdf.pdf plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/extension/factsheets/c alibrating-spreader www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr211/agr211.pdf

87 Understand How Your Spreader Applies Product Drop spreaders apply all the product between the yellow lines in the picture below

88 Understand How Your Spreader Applies Product Broadcast spreaders apply most of the product in a central swath and the remainder out to the side For the model in this picture, the white lines represent where most of the product lands, but the yellow lines represent the maximum extent of applications

89 -Epilogue- Putting It All Together

90 Cool Season Grass Fall Work Days Standard Fertilizer Option Early September Aerate Fertilize Apply Compost Overseed if needed Lime if needed October Fertilize if desired Lime if needed Fall Work Day 1 Fall Work Day 2 At least 30 Days after Work Day 1 Fall Work Day 3 At least 30 Days after Work Day 2 Organic Fertilizer Option End of August Aerate Fertilize Apply Compost Overseed if needed Lime if needed Late September Early October Fertilize if desired Apply Compost if desired Lime if needed November Late October Early November Fertilize if desired Lime if needed Lime if needed Work activities are similar for both options; the timing is slightly different. Organic option assumes grass clippings are being left on the lawn.

91 Warm Season Grass Work Days Standard Fertilizer Option Aerate Fertilize Apply Compost Lime if needed Work Day 1 At Green Up Late May Early June Fall Work Day 2 At least 30 Days after Work Day 1 Late June Mid-July Organic Fertilizer Option Aerate Fertilize Apply Compost Lime if needed Fertilize if desired Apply Compost if desired Lime if needed Lime if needed The timing is slightly different because warmer weather means microbes are more active so organic fertilizer is broken down more quickly. Organic option assumes grass clippings are being left on the lawn.

92 So, You Need to Do Three Things To Have A Better Lawn 1. Adjust the soil acidity (ph) so that it supports turfgrass, not weeds 2. Regularly apply compost to in your soil 3. Fertilize at the correct time, in the correct amount, to promote healthy turfgrass growth Improved health of lawn will take care of many of your weed and pest problems For more information on lawn care, soil testing, fertilizers, etc. contact the Prince William Virginia Cooperative Extension Office at