How to Grow a Healthy, Happy FloridaFriendly Lawn

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How to Grow a Healthy, Happy Florida-Friendly
Lawn Laurie E. Trenholm, Ph.D.
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EDIS Publications That Support Florida Friendly
Landscaping

• Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Friendly
  Landscaping http//edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_wq14
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• Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Friendly
  Fertilizing http//edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_wq14
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• Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Friendly
  Irrigation http//edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_
• wq142

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Our Florida Lawn Grasses
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Bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum)

• Advantages
• Good drought tolerance
• Low fertility requirements
• Low maintenance
• Tolerant of sandy, infertile soils
• Establishes from seed

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Bahiagrass

• Disadvantages
• Produces abundance of seedheads
• Open growth habit encourages weed competition
• Susceptible to mole crickets
• Coarse stems are difficult to mow
• Not wear tolerant

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Centipedegrass

• Poor mans grass very low input
• Watch your fertilizer- too much leads to decline
• Few insect and disease problems
• Light green color
• Slow growing and prostrate
• New cultivar Hammock developed primarily for
  use in south FL

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Hammock Centipedegrass

• Reported to have deeper green color
• Adapted to climates and soils of south Florida
• Goes dormant very early in Gainesville

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St. Augustinegrass(Stenotaphrum secundatum)
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St. Augustinegrass

• Best shade tolerance of warm-season grasses, but
  varies by cultivar
• Good salt tolerance
• Tolerates wide range of soil pH
• Establishes quickly from sod
• Deep green color
• Requires irrigaiton much of the year to stay
  green and healthy
• Chinch bugs becoming resistant to pesticides

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St. Augustinegrass Cultivars

• Floratam
• Bitter Blue
• Palmetto
• Delmar
• Seville
• Captiva

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New Zoysiagrass Cultivars

• Empire
• UltimateFlora
• Jamur

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Empire Zoysiagrass
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Empire Zoysiagrass

• Low-growing, dense
• Very responsive to nitrogen
• Shade tolerance similar to Floratam
• Slower growth than St. Augustinegrass faster
  than old zoysias
• Hunting billbug pests
• Susceptible to brown patch
• Tends to get thatchy
• Nematode tolerance?

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UltimateFlora Zoysiagrass

• UF release
• Finer leaf texture than some other zoysias
  (including Empire)
• Few seedheads noted
• Deep green color
• Fast grow-in
• Nematode problems reported

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Can Turf and the Environment Co-exist?
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Non-point Source Pollution

• Pollution that comes from diverse sources that
  cant be pointed at

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Do not apply fertilizer to impervious surfaces
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Two Ways That Fertilizers Can Pollute

• Leaching through soil profile this is what
  nitrogen will do in sandy soils

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Two Ways That Fertilizers Can Pollute

• 2. Surface water run-off

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The Statewide Fertilizer Labeling Rule

• Effective Dec 31, 2007 through Department of
  Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
• Retailers able to sell existing stock until this
  July
• Limits what fertilizers can be sold for lawns in
  Florida by targeting labeling of fertilizers for
  use on urban turf

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The Statewide Fertilizer Labeling Rule

• Limits N to 1 lb per 1,000 ft-2 for any
  slow-release N fertilizer or 0.7 lb per 1,000
  ft-2 for all quick-release N
• Note that IFAS recommendations for quick-release
  N are 0.5 lb per 1,000 ft-2
• Limits P to 0.25 lb P2O5 per 1,000 ft-2 per
  application and 0.50 lb P2O5 per 1,000 ft-2
  annually

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2009 Legislative Fertilizer Bill

• There are currently 5-6 different bills relating
  to commercial lawn fertilization working through
  legislature
• Would require BMP Training and Certification for
  ANYONE applying fertilizer commercially
• Supports FDACS Fertilizer Rule
• Also would require fertilizer license for
  commercial fertilizer application issues through
  FDACS (Dept of Agriculture)

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Turfgrass Fertilizer BMPs

• Keep fertilizer off impervious surfaces
• Maintain a buffer zone around water bodies
• Apply only the correct amount
• Soil test know your pH and nutrient
  concentration
• Low phosphorus!
• Only fertilize during the growing season
• Irrigate fertilizer in with about ¼ of water

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Sweep Up Fertilizer Spills
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Is This Where We Want Fertilizer?

• There is no place for this fertilizer to go but
  down the storm drain
• Does not matter if nitrogen is in quick or slow
  release form if it is left on impervious surfaces

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200 linear feet X 5 feet wide mower 1,000
ft2 2,000 grams clippings (dry weight) 3.5
nitrogen in the clippings 70 grams nitrogen
0.15 lbs nitrogen
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Elements Required for Turfgrass Growth

• Macronutrients
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur

From Environment Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen
Micronutrients Iron Manganese Boron Copper Molybd
enum Zinc Nickel
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Why Fertilize?

• Lawns need nutrients to grow in a healthy
  condition
• Grasses grow and turn green in response to
  fertilizer
• A properly fertilized lawn is your best defense
  against weeds
• A properly fertilized lawn is your best
  protection against storm water runoff
• This does not mean overfertilization!

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When to Fertilize?

• 2-6 times a year
• Spring when growth begins
• Summer apply iron or low amounts of nitrogen
  fertilizer fertilizer important during times of
  growth
• Fall potassium beneficial
• Winter- Less N needed due to reduced growth but
  is needed to keep grass green
• South Florida may fertilize year-round

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Nitrogen Source

• Many feel that slow release N sources will leach
  less than quick release N sources
• And they will!...
• In soil columns with no vegetation

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What Fertilizer to Use?

• Quick release nitrogen sources
• Often used by professional lawn care services and
  on athletic turf
• Very effective fertilizer
• Provides quick green-up and growth surge
• Effects generally not seen for more than 30 days
  or so
• Can leach if over-applied or followed by excess
  irrigation or rainfall

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What Fertilizer to Use?

• Slow release nitrogen sources
• Release some nitrogen right away and some slowly
  over time
• Release rate tied to technology
• Response may range from 60-90 days
• Less growth surge and green-up after application
• Sometimes homeowners get discouraged and re-apply
  when they dont see response
• If too light weight to water in, may be subject
  to surface runoff

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What About Other Nutrients?

• Soil test can tell you what is needed
• Turf need for calcium magnesium low
• In high pH soils, iron manganese may be
  limiting- these should be applied in a chelate or
  soluble form (not oxide form)

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How Do We Apply the Correct Amount of Fertilizer?
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Fertilizer Calculations

• Assume 15-0-15 with 50 slow-release N
• How much N do we want to apply per 1,000 square
  feet with this product?
• 1 lb of slow-release N

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Fertilizer Calculations

• How much 15 N fertilizer will supply the correct
  amount to this size yard?
• Divide 100 by the percent N in the fertilizer
• 100/15 6.66 this is how many lbs of
  fertilizer to cover 1,000 square feet at 1 lb N
  1,000 ft-2

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Fertilizer Calculations - 27 N

• 27 N (30 Slow-release)
• 1 lb 1,000 ft-2
• 100/27 3.7 lbs of this fertilizer to cover
  1,000 ft-2

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So, What is a Good Fertilizer?

• Many options!
• Look for something with some of the N in slow
  release form
• Ratio of N to P must be at lest 41
• Eg. 16-4-x
• 6-2-0 does not comply with DACS Labeling Rule
• Equal or close to equal K to N
• Low Ca and Mg (these compete with K for uptake)
• Micros in small amounts if soil test indicates
• In high pH, Fe and Mn should be available

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Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N
1000 ft-2 yr-1)

• St. Augustinegrass
• North FL 2-4
• Central FL 2-5
• South FL 4-6

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Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N
1000 ft-2 yr-1)

• Bahiagrass
• North FL 2-3
• Central FL 2-4
• South FL 2-4

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Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N
1000 ft-2 yr-1)

• Zoysiagrass (Empire)
• North FL 2-3
• Central FL 2-4
• South FL 2-4

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Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N
1000 ft-2 yr-1)

• Centipedegrass
• North FL 1-2
• Central FL 2-3
• South FL 2-3

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DEP Research Nutrient Leaching

• Part of a FDEP 3.5 million grant to study
  nutrient leaching in lawn grasses
• Statewide project
• Apply nitrogen and phosphorus to lawngrasses
  under a wide variety of circumstances
• Measure visual quality, physiological responses,
  and nitrate and phosphate concentration in
  leachate

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UF West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay
UF Plant Science Research and Education Unit,
Citra
Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center
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Lysimeters buried in center of each plot
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As nitrate percolates downward through the
column, it collects in reservoir filled with
gravel. At bottom of lysimeter is a portal for
tubing that runs to collection device
aboveground. To collect leachate, a vacuum pump
is attached the the tubing and water evacuated
from base. A sub-sample is collected for analysis.
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Nitrate Leaching from New vs. Established Grass
in 2005
Established Sod
Newly Planted Sod
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Total N Leaching inEstablished Floratam St.
Augustinegrass 2006
Total Nitrate, mg m-2
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Percent N Leached from Established Floratam in
2006
Percent Applied N Leached as NO3-
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Its raining out- should we leave the sprinklers
on?

• An efficient watering program must include
• How frequently to water
• how much to water
• time of day to water

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How Frequently to Water

• Varies due to
• Season
• Soil type
• Shade
• Rooting depth
• Insect or other pests
• Other stresses

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Seasonal Frequency of Irrigation

• Zazueta, Miller, and Zhang
• Winter 4.5-11.6
• Spring 2.7-6.9
• Summer 2.7-2.9
• Fall 4.8-11.6
• For St. Augustinegrass with a 6 root system
  under low irrigation regime in the Tampa Bay area

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Irrigation Frequency

• Watch grass for signs of stress
• Follow watering restrictions!
• You may water hot spots with hose if needed
  unless in the City of Tampa

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How Much to Water
Do not water past point of runoff this only
wastes water
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How Much to Water

• Apply 1/2 to 3/4 when turf shows symptoms of
  wilt
• This should not vary- only frequency varies!

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Short, frequent irrigations
Longer, less frequent irrigations
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Time of Day To Water

• Best time to water is just before or at sunrise
• Less loss due to drift and evaporation
• Better for turf health
• Watering in the evening leads to wet leaves
  overnight, which can increase disease problems

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Irrigation System Efficiency

• Calibrate systems to ensure uniform coverage
• Check for broken heads, etc
• Check for landscape plants that may block
  sprinkler from reaching grass

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Irrigation System Efficiency
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Measure how much water you are putting
out using the can method
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Time Line for Irrigation for New Sod Plantings
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Irrigation System Efficiency

• One of the most important things to do during a
  drought is to check the efficiency of your
  irrigation system

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Which Grass Has Better Drought Tolerance?

• All of our grasses need water to stay green
  (about the same amount!)
• Survival often depends more on soil organic
  matter, shade, rooting depth than species

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Severe Watering Restrictions

• Do soil amendments help?
• Research on these is often not clearly stated
• Often, no significant differences seen
• Incorporation of organic matter prior to planting
  sod/seed is best bet
• Not practical to try to topdress after turf
  establishment to add organic matter

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I guess if your lawn looks like this, it doesnt
matter..
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But If You Do Want to Mow Correctly

• Mow at the correct height for the species
• Mowing too low stresses the grass and forces it
  to use up all saved reserves for shoot growth
• Mowing high increased root depth

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Mowing Heights

• St. Augustinegrass Standard Height Cultivars
• Floratam, Bitter Blue, Classic, etc.
• 3.5 4
• St. Augustinegrass Dwarf Cultivars
• Captiva, Delmar Seville
• 2-2.5
• Bahiagrass 3-4
• Zoysiagrass 2

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Mowing

• Only remove 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time
• Grass at 6 should have no more than 2 removed
• Make sure mower blades are sharp
• Do not mow wet grass
• Wash mowers off between properties

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Scalping is a Major Stress
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How Do I Manage Turf in the Shade?

• Remove shade sources (trimming trees)
• Reduce traffic in shaded areas
• Increase mowing height if possible more shoot
  tissue for photosynthesis will help turf perform
  better
• Reduce irrigation in shaded areas
• Reduce fertilization trying to promote shoot
  growth with high fertility will further stress
  the grass

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Shade Tolerant Turf

• St. Augustinegrass zoysiagrass
• Centipedegrass
• Bahiagrass
• Bermudagrass Seashore paspalum

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St. Augustinegrass Shade Tolerance

• Seville, Delmar, Captiva
• Bitterblue
• Palmetto
• Floratam