Title: RECM 459 Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
1RECM 459Chapter 7Grounds Maintenance
2Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Turf essentials
- soil
- grass
- water
- air
- sunlight
-
- SOIL
- Topsoil
- Mineral particles
- Sand
- Silt
- Clay
- organic matter
- humus
- benefits
- buffer for toxic materials
- increases soil capacity for nutrients and water
- healthy growth environment for micro-organisms
- living plants and animals
- air
- Water
- Subsoil
- Bed rock
3Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- SOIL PH
- Ranges 0-14
- turf grasses require 6.0 8.0
- too acidic (below 5.5) inhibits growth
- negates nitrogen and phosphorous fixation
- raise ph with the addition of lime
- lower ph with the addition of sulphur
- less effective in highly organic soils
4Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- SOIL PREPARATION
- TEST SOIL
- GRADE TO DESIRED SLOPE
- REMOVE UNSUITABLE PLANT MATERIALS BY
STERILIZATION - METHYL BROMIDE A CHEMICAL STERILIZATION AGENT
- Cover in plastic for 24 hours
- Wait 3-4 weeks before planting desired grasses
- Apply when 50 degrees or warmer
- Add ½ lime as indicated by soil test
- no more than 50lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.
- add additional as needed after 6 months
5Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- SOIL PREPARATION
- Plow area to turn soil to a depth of 4-6 inches
- 12-18 in heavy topsoil
- Add second lime application, fertilizers etc.
- Roto-till to mix
- Rake
- Plant grass seed
- Roll to compact
- Mulch
- Water
- Lightly topdress when grass is 2 inches in height
- re-fertilize
- Mow no more than 1/3 of blade height
6Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- NUTRIENT ELEMENTS
- Nitrogen
- Promotes blade and root growth
- Phosphorous
- Root growth
- Potassium (potash)
- Aides in the manufacture of plant sugars,
starches, proteins - Provides disease resistance
- Trace Elements
- Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron
- Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Molybdenum, Boron
7Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- FERTILIZATION TIMING
- Cool season grasses
- Fall/spring
- Warm season grasses
- Fall/spring supplemental in late spring and
summer with high nitrogen
8Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- GRASSES
- COOL
- Most active growth in spring and fall
- Dormant in July and August
- TYPES
- Fescue
- Tall (course in texture)
- Fine
- Drought and shade tolerant
- Kentucky 31 is most common
9Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Bentgrass
- Fine texture
- Golf greens
- Low mowing, high watering
- Heavy fertilization
- Thinning/anti-thatch
- Needs heavy sunlight
- 3 year longevity
- traffic tolerant
10Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Limed, well drained soils
- Has creeping underground stems (rhizomes)
- Not traffic tolerant
11Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Ryegrass
- Fine textured
- Not drought or shade tolerant
- Does not do well in wet or acidic soils
- Quick germinator
- Used as an overseeder
12Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- WARM
- Most active growth in June, July, and August
- Heat tolerant
- TYPES
- Bermuda
- Very hardy
- Bears traffic well
- Fast growing
- Is not shade tolerant
13Chapter 7 Bermuda GrassFour Winds Beach Resort,
Longboat Key, Florida
14Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Zoysia
- Moderate shade
- Very hardy
- Spreads by rhizomes
- Slow spreader
- Often plugged or sprigged
15Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
16Chapter 7 Grounds MaintenanceZoysia Grass
Spreading-8 weeks after planting seedlings
17Chapter 7 Grounds MaintenanceZoysia Applications
18Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Carpetgrass
- Course texture
- Moist sandy soils
- Moderate shade tolerant
- Less cold tolerant than Bermuda
19Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- St. Augustine
- Coastal, sandy soils
- Not disease resistant
- Centipede
- Top spreader, surface creeper
- Sandy soils
- Poor wear resistance
20Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Bahiagrass was introduced from Brazil in 1914 and
was originally used as a pasture grass on the
poor sandy soils of the southeastern United
States. - Several varieties have become available for use
as lawn grasses. - The ability of bahiagrasses to persist on
infertile, dry soils and their resistance to most
pests have made them increasingly popular with
Florida homeowners. - http//www.allspc.com/lct_typeofturf.htm
21Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- ADVANTAGES
- Bahiagrass can be grown from seed which is
abundant and relatively inexpensive. - Once established, these grasses develop an
extensive root system which makes them one of the
most drought tolerant lawn grasses. - Bahiagrass produces a very durable sod which is
able to withstand moderate traffic. - In addition, bahiagrasses have fewer pest
problems than any other Florida lawn grass,
although mole crickets can severely damage it. - http//www.allspc.com/lct_typeofturf.htm
22Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- DISADVANTAGES
- Bahiagrasses have a relatively open growth habit
and the tall unsightly seedheads that are
produced continuously from May through November. - The prolific seedheads, plus the very tough
leaves and stems make bahias difficult to mow. - The coarse texture of several bahia varieties
reduce their visual quality. - Bahiagrasses are not well adapted to soils having
high pH (alkaline soils) and grow poorly in areas
subject to salt spray. - http//www.allspc.com/lct_typeofturf.htm
23Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- DISADVANTAGES
- They often appear yellow in spring and fall due
to lack of iron - They can be seriously damaged by mole crickets.
- Bahiagrass has low tolerance to most currently
available postemergence grass herbicides. - This makes weed control difficult in bahiagrass
turf. - http//www.allspc.com/lct_typeofturf.htm
24Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- Bahiagrass
- However, Bahia is successfully used on road
shoulders as ground cover where aesthetics are
not an issue. - Does well on poor soils
- Shade tolerant
25Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- GRASSES PLANTING TECHNIQUES
- SEEDS
- SPRIGS
- Underground stems (rhizomes)
- Above ground stems (stolons)
- Spread chopped soils with stems over area
26Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- GRASSES PLANTING TECHNIQUES
- PLUGS
- Plant plugs of existing turf
- SOD
- Spread sod with in-place grasses
27Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- GRASSES MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES
- AERIATION
- MOWING
- DE-THATCHING
- PEST MGMT.
- Biological controls
- Preying mantis
- Mechanical controls
- Trapping moles and voles
- Chemical
- Pesticides
- Cultural control
- Move them
- Introduce genetically altered pests which are
sterile - IRRIGATION
28Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- TREES and SHRUBS
- Benefits
- Replace oxygen
- Affect microclimate through shade
- Production and evapo-transpiration
- Reduce air pollution by filtration/absorption
- Reduce noise
- Control pedestrian traffic
29Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- TREES and SHRUBS
- Benefits (continued)
- Protect sensitive areas
- Provide aesthetics
- Provide wildlife habitat
- Disadvantages
- Leaf litter
- Increases mowing time
- May present hazards to visitors
30Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- MAINTENANCE TASKS
- Planting
- Maintenance
- Pruning
- Shaping
- Rejuvenation
- Removal of dead wood
- Mulching
- Weeding beds
- Fertilization
- Punch bar
- Drilled holes
- Surface application
31Chapter 7 Grounds Maintenance
- MAINTENANCE TASKS (continued)
- Liming
- Irrigation
- Disease and Insect control
- Removal
- Inventory
- Nurseries for replacements
- Volume of plants needed
- Commercial plant sources
- Land availability
- Capital financing
- Availability of qualified personnel
32Adios