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Cool Season Lawns
Kansas State University
By Bob Neier, Sedgwick County Extension Agent, Horticulture Adapted from materials by Ward Upham
Turfgrasses Commonly Grown in KS
▪Cool-Season
▸Turf Type Tall Fescue - Home lawns▸Kentucky Bluegrass▸Perennial Ryegrass - golf fairways▸Creeping Bentgrass - golf greens
▸Warm-Season - xeriscape
▸Zoysiagrass▸Bermudagrass▸Buffalograss
▪Difficult to grow either warm- or cool-season grasses well
Kansas in Transition Zone
Cool-Season Grasses
▪Grow best during spring and fall, summer difficult
Tall Fescue
▪Has mini-rhizomes but basically bunch grass
Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue
▪Best adapted cool-season grass in Kansas
▪Used on home lawns, parks and athletic fields
▪Propagated by seed and sometimes by sod▸Sod doesn’t hold together well and so either mix in
bluegrass or use plastic mesh at planting▸Seed germinates quickly; everything perfect, 4 days
▪Coarse bladed grass but newer cultivars better than old ones
▪Avoid K-31; coarser, less dense, lighter color and seed tends to be contaminated with orchard grass
Tall Fescue
Best Choice for the Shade
Tall Fescue
Major Problem: Brown Patch
What About Fine-Leaf Fescues?
▪There are tall fescues with finer leaves than K-31
▪There are true fine-leaved fescues▸Chewings fescue▸Hard Fescue▸Creeping Red Fescue▸Sheeps Fescue
True Fine-Leaf Fescues
▪Have excellent shade tolerance; better than any of our commonly grown turfgrasses.
▪Have poor heat tolerance. Do not come through our summers well.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass
▪Spreads by rhizomes
Kentucky Bluegrass
▪Fine-bladed grass that makes attractive lawn
▪Used on athletic fields, parks, and home lawns
▪Propagated by seed or sod
▪Poor heat tolerance▸Has trouble coming through our summers without
damage▸Better adapted further north
Kentucky Bluegrass
Numerous Problems: Summer Patch Can Be Severe
Cultural Practices
▪Mowing
▪Fertilization
▪Watering
▪Aerating
Mowing: Basic Information
▪Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time
Mowing: Basic Information
▪Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time
▪Clippings don’t contribute much to thatch (zoysia may be exception)
▪If remove clippings, must add 1/4 more nitrogen to get same response
▪Higher mowing height = deeper roots and less weeds for upright growing types
When to Fertilize Cool-Season Grasses
▪September
▸Most important fertilization of year
▸Use 1 pound nitrogen per 1000 square feet
▸Quick-release OK
▪November
▸Second most important fertilization
▸Use 1 pound nitrogen per 1000 square feet
▸Quick-release OK
▪April or May
▸Optional; use 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet
▸Use fertilizer with at least 1/4 nitrogen as slow-release
Fertilization: Fertilizer Analysis
▪Sequence of three numbers that reflect the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively.
Fertilizer: Macro Nutrients
▪Nitrogen - Used for above-ground growth and good green color
▪Phosphorus - Used for root growth and formation of seeds and fruit
▪Potassium - Used for basic plant growth and helps plants withstand stress
Lawn Fertilizers Fertilizer
▪21-0-0
▪Nitrogen usually needed
▪Phosphorus (middle number) usually already high in our soils and may run off and cause algae bloom in lakes
▪Potassium usually adequate in our soils
Most are high Nitrogen, low and phosphorus and potassium
Drop Spreader
▪Relatively easy to calibrate
▪Takes more time to apply fertilizer
▪Skips extremely obvious and so need to go over area 2 times at right angles
Whirlybird Spreader
▪Difficult to calibrate
▪Can apply fertilizer relatively quickly
▪Easier to avoid skips
▪With correct method, only need to go over area once
Watering▪Look for darker “hot
spots”. Often have purplish tinge.
▪Best to allow turf to undergo some stress early in season. Makes turf more drought resistant.
▪Attempt to apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water each time you irrigate.
Proper Watering
How to Tell if You Have Enough Water
▪Use catch cans
▪Use screw driver; moisture down 6 to 8 inches
Aeration Controls Thatch
▪Up to ½ inch thatch beneficial
▸Cushions plant▸Acts as mulch
▪Over ½ inch and roots tend to stay in thatch
Benefits of Aerating
▪Thatch control
▪Better root aeration
▪Quicker water infiltration
▪Relieves compaction
▪Deeper fertilizer placement
Aerators
▪Drum type normally used on home lawns
▪Go over lawn two times
Seeding
▪Normally done in early fall for cool-season grasses▸Soil is warm so faster germination and establishment▸Less weed problems
▸5-8 lb/1000 sq.ft. For tall fescue
Establishment
▪Seeding▸Commonly used for tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass▸Sept is best month (may seed as late as Oct 15)▸March is second best month
▪Sodding▸Commonly used for Kentucky bluegrass▸Tall fescue is sodded more now▸Best success is Sept - late October, March through late
May
Overseed if > 50% Good Grass
▪July/August
▸Spray perennials with glyphosate
▪September
▸Fertilize then plant early in September (6-8 lb/1000sqft)
▸Core aerate if compacted, then seed and vertislice
▸Vertiseed if not compacted
▸Keep soil moist
▪October
▸Fertilize one month after planting
▪November
▸Fertilize again one month later
Overseeding
▪Normally done in early fall for cool-season grasses
▪Must have good seed-soil contact
▪Methods
▸Slit seeder
Overseeding/Vertislicing
▪Either put on seed prior to slicing or
▪ with vertiseeder
Seeding/Core Aeration
▪Lightly seed each time you aerate
▪Method to thicken up slightly thin lawns
Rototil & seed if < 50% Good Grass▪July/August
▸Spray perennials with glyphosate
▸Grade soil, apply nutrients, rototill
▪September
▸Fertilize then plant early in September (6-8 lb/1000sqft)
▸Rake in grass seed
▸Keep soil moist
▪October
▸Fertilize one month after planting
▪November
▸Fertilize again one month later
Sodding of Cool-Season Grasses
▪Best done in fall (just like for seeding) but can be done any time ground not frozen
▪Problems with laying sod in summer
▸Dessication (drying out)
▸Disease
▸Heat stress
▸Water bill
▪Prepare soil just like you would for seeding on bare ground
▪Roots will peg down in 7 to 10 days under good conditions
Weed Prevention
▪Maintain a thick turf
▸Weed seeds are often small and many need sunlight and consistent moisture to germinate
▸Even if weed seeds germinate in a thick turf, competition may slow weed growth
Weed Prevention
▪Maintain a thick turf
▪Mow as high as practical
Preemergence Herbicides
▪Applied before weeds germinate
▪Must be watered in
Preemergence Herbicides
▪Must be watered in
▪Only kills weed seeds as they germinate
▪Need some time after application for activation
▪Primarily used for annual grasses such as crabgrass
Common Preemergence Herbicides
▪Barricade
▪Dimension
▪Pendimethalin
▪Team
Control of Annual Grassy Weeds
Recommendations
▪Annual grassy weeds normally controlled with preemergent herbicides
▪Timing▸Traditionally, crabgrass preventers have been applied
by April 15th in central Kansas▸Apply when redbud trees are approaching full bloom
Control of Annual Grassy Weeds
▪Crabgrass
Control of Annual Grassy Weeds
▪Crabgrass
▪Goosegrass
▪Foxtail
Control of Annual Grassy Weeds
Miscellaneous Notes
▪Crabgrass seeds begin germinating when soil temperatures rise above 60Q F, and when air temperatures rise above 65Q for five consecutive days.
▪Barricade lasts a long time but takes longer to activate
▸Apply two weeks earlier than other herbicides▸Can be applied in fall for season long control next year
▪If late with preventer, use Dimension
Postemergence Herbicides
▪Applied after weeds are up
▪Rain can reduce or eliminate effectiveness
Common Postemergence Herbicides
▪2,4-D
▪Weed-B-Gon
▪Trimec products
▪Turflon products
▪Confront
Control of Broadleaf WeedsWinter Annuals
▪Henbit
Control of Broadleaf WeedsWinter Annuals
▪Henbit
▪Chickweed
Control of Broadleaf Weeds
Winter Annuals and Perennials
▪Henbit
▪Chickweed
▪Dandelion
Control of Broadleaf Weeds
What to Use▪2,4-D: dandelion and winter annuals in the fall
▪Combination products: dandelion and winter annuals in the early spring
▸Trimec (2,4-D + MCPP + Dicamba)
▸Weed-B-Gon (2,4-D + MCPP)
▪Confront (commercial product): excellent on clover, safe on buffalograss
▪Turflon products: good on clover
Control of NutsedgeBackground Info
▪Not a grass
▪Has triangular base
▪Likes moist sites
▪Can reproduce by seed or nutlets
Control of NutsedgeHerbicides
▪MSMA, Basagran and Manage are used
▪Manage works well
Control of Bermuda in Cool-Season Turf
Bermuda greens up late and goes dormant early
Control of Bermuda in Cool-Season Turf
Steps to Control
▪Mid-July: Fertilize and water bermuda
▪First of August: Spray with Glyphosate
▪Third weed of August: Spray again with Glyphosate if any green
▪Early September: Seed
Insect Problems
Most Common Problem is “Grubs”
▪May Beetle (June Bug)
▪Southern Masked Chafer
▪Billbugs
▪Black Turfgrass Ataenius
Grub Insects, Adults
May Beetle Southern Masked Chafer
Black Turfgrass Ataenius Billbug
White GrubsMottled appearance to turf
White Grubs
White Grubs
Identification
May BeetleSouthern Masked Chafer
May Beetle
▪3-year Life Cycle
▪2nd Year Most Damaging
Southern Masked Chafer
▪Annual grub
▪Most common grub that causes damage
▪Adults don’t feed that we know of
White Grub Control
Number needed to cause visible damage
▪Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot
▪May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot
White Grub ControlMerit Insecticide
▪Labeled for white grubs and billbugs
▪Considered a 3 month product
▪If after annual grubs, apply early to mid- July
▪If also seeking to control May Beetle grubs or billbugs, apply no earlier than mid-May
▪Causes a disruption of a grub's nervous system resulting in its death
▪Not for rescue treatments
White Grub ControlMach 2 Insecticide
▪Labeled for cutworms, sod webworms, billbugs and white grubs
▪Considered a 6 week product
▪Apply early to mid- July for white grub control
▪Accelerates a grub's development by causing it to molt prematurely
▪Feeding stops within a couple of hours of ingestion
▪Not for rescue treatments
White Grub Control
Rescue Treatments
▪Apply when see damage
▪Use convential insecticide
How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide
Grub on Way OutHealthy Grub
Diseases
▪Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch, Dollar Spot
▪Tall Fescue - Brown Patch
▪Bermudagrass - Spring Dead Spot
▪Zoysiagrass - Large Patch
Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch
Symptoms
▪Frog-eye Pattern
Kentucky Bluegrass - Summer Patch
Control
▪By the time you see symptoms, it is too late
▪Heritage and Bayleton provided good control when applied on May 1, May 27 and June 23.
Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar SpotSymptoms
▪Small brown spots
▪Individual leaf blades have hourglass pattern
Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar Spot
Conditions Favoring
▪Warm, humid conditions
▪Made worse by low nitrogen fertility
Kentucky Bluegrass - Dollar Spot
Control
▪On home lawns, usually not severe enough to warrant control.
▪May wish to apply light fertilization, if appropriate.
▪Many fungicides can be used if desired including Banner or Daconil.
Tall Fescue - Brown Patch
▪Smoke ring sometimes present in early morning
Symptoms
Symptoms
Tall Fescue - Brown Patch
▪Circular patches up to several feet in diameter
Tall Fescue - Brown Patch
Conditions Favoring
▪Hot days and warm nights
▪High nitrogen fertilization
▪Wet leaf surfaces
Tall Fescue - Brown PatchControl
▪Often turf will recover without spraying
▪Preventive sprays are more effective than curative
▪First preventive spray should go down about July 1
▪Heritage, Bayleton, Banner, ProStar, and Daconil work well. Daconil best for homeowner.
▪Heritage and ProStar have been the most effective over the long term (5 weeks control with one app)
Brown Area in Otherwise Green Lawn
If No Signs of Diseases or Insects, Probably Burn
▪Female dog
▪Gas spill
▪Car exhaust
▪Dumped salt water from ice cream maker
▪Shallow soil due to underlying rock
The End
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