Lawn Care

1
Lawn Care Maintenance
By Derald Freeman, Burleson, Tx

• INTRODUCTION

2
Types of Turf Grass

• Bermudagrass
• Buffalograss
• Centipedegrass
• St. Augustine
• Rye
• Tall Fescue
• Zoysiagrass

3
Bermudagrass

• Warm season perennial.
• Spreads by stolons, rhizomes, seed
• Diseases dollar spot, brownpatch, pythium,
  nematodes
  
• Pests armyworms, cutworms, webworm, mealybugs

4
Buffalograss

• Warm season perennial.
• Spreads by stolons and seed
• Fine textured, thin turf, soft blue-green color.
• Roadsides, school grounds, parks

5
Centipedegrass

• Coarse-textured perennial grass
• Spreads by stolons, not shade tolerant.
• Yellow green color
• Shallow roots. Water management is critical
• Diseases dollar spot, fairy ring

6
Ryegrass

• Used to provide temporary green color during
  winter months when bermudagrass is dormant.
  
• High nitrogen requirement.

7
St. Augustine Grass

• Warm season perennial.
• Spreads by stolons
• Diseases SAD, brownpatch, pythium, rust, downy
  mildew
  
• Pests Chinch bugs and white grubs. Also sod
  webworms, armyworms, and cutworms

8
Zoysiagrass

• Perennial with stolons rhizomes.
• Leaf blades are very stiff.
• Drought and wear tolerant.

9
TURF CARE
10
Principles of Turf Mowing

• Cutting turf low increases density
• Never cut over 1/3 of the height
• Cut in alternate patterns
• Clippings increase nutrient levels
• Cutting too close increases thatch buildup
• Water when needed. Water deep

11
Chemistry

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Iron
• Calcium
• Sulphur
• Magnesium

12
Turf Water Requirements

• Reduce turf areas

13
Watering Practice

• Water in early morning
• Midday syringing during hot days can help turf
  hold water
  
• Reduce turf areas
• Water when ground is dry

14
Sprinkler Systems

• Run sprinkler ½ hr
• Measure cans
• If ¼ in ½ hr then 4 x ½ 2 hrs to apply 1 of
  water
  
• Clay soil in hot summer needs 1-½

15
Sprinkler Measuring Method
16
DISEASES
17
Grass Diseases
DISEASE Bermuda decline Brownpatch Dollar spo
t Gray Leaf Spot Necrotic Ring Powdery Mildew

Rust SAD Take-all Patch
HOST GRASS Bermuda Most All Bermuda, Zoysia, R
Most All Bluegrass, fescue Bermuda, Zoysia, R

Most All St. Augustine Bermuda, St. Aug,R
18
Decline

• Bermuda decline, SAD,
• Take-All patch

19
Brown Patch
20
Dollar Spot
21
Gray Leaf Spot
22
Necrotic Ring Spot
23
Powdery Mildew
24
Rust
25
Abiotic damage

• Fertilizer burn
• Chemicals
• Dog urine
• Weed killer Roundup
• Shade
• Mowing height
• Dull mower blade

26
INSECTS
27
Insects

• IPM
• (Integrated Pest Management)
• Wise use of landscaping practices and pesticides

28
Insects 1

• Army worm
• Cut worm
• Sod web worm

29
Insects 2

• Chinch bugs spittle bug

30
Insects 3

• Field ant grub worms

31
SUMMARY

• Select the right turf
• Avoid abiotic problems
• Water wisely
• Control diseases
• Control pests-practice IPM

32
The End