Rx for a Healthy Lawn

Linda BlueAgricultural Extension

AgentBuncombe County

Look familiar?

Healthy Lawn

Benefits of a healthy lawn:

• Aesthetics• Erosion control• Air quality

Maintain a healthy lawn

Lack of adequate groundcover :

● Erosion● Sedimentation● Pesticide and

fertilizer runoff

6 Steps to a Healthy Lawn• Select the right grass• Soil test • Plant correctly• Fertilize correctly• Mow correctly• Water correctly

Warm season vs/ cool season

Select Good Varieties• Cool season varieties

– Tall fescue– Kentucky bluegrass– Fine fescues

Variety testing

Plant a healthy lawn• Select

varieties best suited to your area

• Read the label• Plant at right

time of year• Correct

seeding rate

Read the label

Read the label

Read the label

48.3% Creeping Red Fescue 26.2% Annual Ryegrass

25.5% Kentucky Bluegrass

2 lb. bag (covers approximately 1,000 square feet)  

$19.90

CANADA GREEN GRASS SEED Mixture

Comparison:• Canada Green

– $19.90 / 1,000 sq. ft.

• Rebels Hybrid Blend– $10 / 1,000 sq. ft.

• Kentucky 31– $8.50 / 1,000 sq. ft.

Grass needs at least 50% sun

Tree roots

Shade tolerant ground covers

Shade garden

Plant Correctly• September is best• Late February / early March • Tall fescue: 5 - 6 lb / 1,000

sq. ft.• Fescue + bluegrass:

– 5 lb. Fescue– 1 lb. Bluegrass

Can this lawn be salvaged?

To this?

Yes !

Before After

Soil preparation

Don’t guess:

Soil test

Correct soil pH according to plant needs

Healthy roots: healthy plants

drought tolerance

“Starter Fertilizer”

Adequate phosphate for good root growth

Super phosphate

Incorporate amendments

Renovate existing lawn

• Kill with non-selective herbicide• Scalp and rake

Core aerate and over-seed

Spread seed

Straw

50 % cover

Water • Water daily if

needed• Keep moist

until emerged

6 weeks

Do not remove straw

Sod requires the same soil preparation.

Page 10; Delete:Water sod on a regular

basis and fertilize with a starter-type fertilizer to promote rooting. Use ½ to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet every three weeks for the fastest growth.

Maintain a healthy lawn

Healthy lawn:

• 15 times less runoff

• Filters runoff

Maintain a healthy lawn•Fertilize •Mow •Water •Pest control

Fertilize Correctly

• Slow release nitrogen• Apply at right time• Use correct amount

Fertilize correctly

• Less runoff or leaching

• Better plant health

• Fertilize at right time

Use slow release fertilizer

Turf Fertilization 

Turf 

J 

F 

M 

A 

M 

J 

J 

A 

S 

O 

N 

DTotal lb. N/ 1,000 sq ft/yr

Bermuda         1 1 1 1 ½       4.5

St. Augustine         ½ ½ 1 ½         2.5

Zoysiagrass       ½   ½   ½         1.5

Fescue   ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Bluegrass   ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Fescue/bluegrass

  ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Turf growth responseCool Season Grass Soil Temperature Warm Season

Grass

Roots stop growing 33°FShoots stop growing 40°F Roots stop growing

50°F Dormancy beginsOptimum root growth

50 – 65°F

Optimum shoot growth

60 – 75°F

Roots stop growing 75 – 85°F Optimum root growth

Shoots stop growing 80 – 95°F Optimum shoot growth

110°F Roots stop growing120°F Shoots stop growing

Turf Fertilization 

Turf 

J 

F 

M 

A 

M 

J 

J 

A 

S 

O 

N 

DTotal lb. N/ 1,000 sq ft/yr

Bermuda         1 1 1 1 ½       4.5

St. Augustine         ½ ½ 1 ½         2.5

Zoysiagrass       ½   ½   ½         1.5

Fescue   ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Bluegrass   ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Fescue/bluegrass

  ½ -1             1   1   2.5 - 3

Sweep up spills

Mow Correctly• Right height• Frequently• Only when dry• Mulch clippings

You’re not mowing a golf course

What is correct mowing height ?

What is correct mowing height ?

Fescue 3”Bluegrass 2 ½ - 3”

Mow correctly

Mowing too short:

• Thinning turf• Erosion• Weeds

Mow cool season grass taller for larger root system

Correct mowing height

Correct mowing height

Correct mowing height

Mowing height = best weed control

2 ½”2”1 ½”

1”

½”

Recycle grass clippingsDo not remove more then 1/3 at a time

Use a mulching mower

Reasons to leave clippings on the lawn

• Less work• No longer

accepted in NC landfills

• Acts as mulch:– Moisture retention– Weed suppression

Nutrient recycling

100 lb dry clippings:

4 lb. N½ lb. P3 lb. K

Do not mow when wet

Brown Patch

Sweep clippings off pavement

• High nitrogen content

• Nitrogen pollutes rivers and streams

Water Correctly• Seldom but deeply• Allow established lawn to go

dormant• Morning is best

Allow turf to go dormant

Water wisely• Growing lawns

1 inch once a week

• Dormant lawns1 inch every 3

weeks

Water deeply

Why the path?

Why the path?

Soil compaction

Core aerate• Increase water

absorption

• Improve fertilizer uptake

• Improve root growth• Improve drought

tolerance

Thatch

Do you need to de-thatch?

Thatch

No Fescue does not

build thatchBluegrass only when

over-fertilized

Ah! Fall!

Do not let leaves accumulate

Lawn Problems

• Weeds• Diseases• Insects• Moles

An ounce of prevention: good cultural practices

Brown Patch

Weeds

Weeds • Prevention

• Pre-emergent herbicides

• Post-emergent herbicides– Selective– Non-selective

Prevent brown patch• Correct N

applications• Correct mowing• Correct watering• Correct pH

White grubs

Japanese Beetlelife cycle

Mole traps

What’s wrong ?

What’s wrong ?

Annual rye

The End