Steps for a healthy lawn
Alfredo Martinez, UGA Turfgrass Pathologist.
One simple step to follow that sometimes we make more difficult is grass selection. I will add that a big mistake is selecting a grass, but planting it at the wrong time of year. You can put grasses into categories of warm season and cool season grasses. A more ideal time to plant fescue, for example, is in early fall before frost. Since fescue is a cool season grass, planting in summer is the worst time of year and normally results in you replanting in a more ideal time. I said all of that to hopefully drive home the importance of planting your seed or sod at a preferred time of year for that variety to help on establishment success. Also, plant varieties recommended for your area. We have a lot of bermuda, fescue, zoysia and even centipede lawns in Northwest Georgia. Read up on the qualities of the different grasses in making a variety selection.
Prior to planting the seed or laying the sod, you need to prepare the soil correctly for success. You need to soil sample to take out the guesswork in liming and fertilization recommendations. A soil sample sent to the UGA Soil Test Lab is only $ 9 per procedure. We can even code the sample for the particular grass type you will grow for more accurate results. A soil report will tell you the amount of lime and the type of fertilizer you need to purchase and at what rate. Again, it is taking out the guesswork. You need to also prepare the area for drainage and remove rocks and stumps for example.
Our information suggests to purchase high quality, disease free seed, sod or sprigs from a certified producer. Look for certified material for purity and free of pests. Note, if planting from seed, it can be better to use fungicide treated seed to cut down on seed-borne or seedling diseases. Try to purchase disease and nematode free sod and sprigs. I will add that when the lawn is ready for mowing, try to mow the lawn at proper mowing height. Also, you want to mow often enough so that no more than 30 percent or 1/ 3 of the leaf blades is clipped off in a single mowing. Mowing more than 30 percent of matter in a mowing can cause the grass to become stressed and then more susceptible to disease and insect damage. When is the last time you sharpened your mower blades? Sharp mower blades can give the lawn a better appearance. Dull blades will shred instead of cleanly cut the blades. Shredding can cause the grass to need more water, add more stress and the lawn will look ragged. Keep mowing heights in mind in regards to drought. There are suggested mowing heights for the different grasses, but in times of drought you need to raise the mowing height.
This summer we have not worried about lawn irrigation often due to consistent rainfall. According to Waltz and Martinez, the most cost- effective practice that enhances turf growth is proper irrigation. In dry periods, you need to look for signs of moisture stress. A moisture stressed grass can have a dull to bluish- green color when wilted. You may also see some leaf blade folding or rolling. One thing I look for when I walk across a lawn are footprints that hang around for a few minutes. You need to be prepared to irrigate if moisture stress is seen on 30- 50 percent of the lawn. How you irrigate is very important to relieving moisture stress also. You need to apply enough water to wet the soil 6- 8 inches in the ground.
This is normally 1- have inch or 600 gallons of water per 1000 square feet. The type of soil you will determine how much water you can put out at one time. Our clay soils will start having water run- off quicker than a sandy soil. Soil compaction is a problem in our area. With our heat and clay soils, many areas can bake like a clay pot. A core aeration procedure can help water soak into the ground. You also irrigate in dry times of early spring or late fall. The time of day you irrigate is important, too. It is better to either irrigate the lawn at night or before sunrise. If you choose to irrigate during the sunlight hours, mid- day or afternoon watering can start disease in your lawn.
These are just a few lawn tips. For more information, contact UGA ExtensionGordon County at 706- 629- 8685 or email gbowman@uga.edu.