Establishing and Maintaining Lawns Objective 6.00

North Carolina Grasses Most commonly grown grasses in NC include Kentucky Bluegrass Bahiagrass Centipede St. Augustine Bermuda Zoysia Fescue Ryegrass

Grass Identification Grasses are identified by Growth habits Warm or cool season Leaf texture (fine, medium, coarse) Color (light to dark green)

Leaf Color Light to dark green Dark green Medium green Medium to dark green

Leaf Texture Fine-thin needle textured blades Medium-medium textured blades Coarse-thick, wide textured blades

Growth Habits Ways new shoots are produced Three types: Rhizome-underground stem that grows horizontally Stolon-above ground stem that grows horizontally Stolon and rhizome-above and underground stems that grow horizontally Bunch-type-blades grow in small cluster or tufts from the soil

Grass Wear How the grass stands up to foot traffic Excellent Very Good Fair Poor Very Poor

Cool Season Grasses Grow best in spring and fall (65-75 degrees) and stay green in winter. Best established in fall. Tall fescue Kentucky Bluegrass Fine fescue Perennial Ryegrass Annual Ryegrass

Warm Season Grasses Grow best in summer (80-95 degrees) and go dormant in winter. Best established in spring. Bermudagrass St. Augustine Bahiagrass Centipede

Tall Fescue Region 1, 2, 3, Growth Habit-bunch type Cool season Leaf texture-medium to coarse Color-medium green Wear-Very Good Location-Sun and part shade

Red Fescue Region-1,2 (some counties) Season-cool Leaf color-medium green Leaf texture-fine Growth habit-rhizome Wear-fair Location-shade

Kentucky Bluegrass Region 1,2 Growth habit-rhizome Cool season Leaf texture-fine to medium Color-Medium to dark green Wear-very good Location-sun

Creeping Bentgrass Region 3 Cool season Leaf color-bluish green Leaf texture-fine Growth habit-stolon Wear-poor Location-sun Special treatment-requires fans on golf courses and frequent watering to keep seed beds moist and cool

Centipede Region 2,3 Growth Habit-stolon Warm season Leaf texture-medium Color-Light to dark green Wear-poor Location-sun

St. Augustine Region 2,3 Growth Habit-stolon Warm season Leaf texture-coarse Color-medium to dark green Wear-poor Location-sun but shade tolerant

Bermuda Region 2,3 Growth Habit-both stolon and rhizome Warm season Leaf texture-fine Color-light to dark green Wear-excellent Location-sun

Zoysia Region 2,3 Growth Habit-both stolon and rhizome Warm season Leaf texture-fine Color-medium to dark green Wear-good Location-sun or part shade

Bahia Region 2, 3 Growth Habit-Rhizome Warm season Leaf texture-coarse Color-medium to dark green Wear-good Location-sun Not recommended for lawns, most commercially used for highway grass

Annual Rye Region 2 Growth Habit-Bunch type Cool season Leaf texture-medium Color-light green Wear-good Location-sun Used for over seeding fields and some lawns, never used alone

Perennial Rye Region 1 Cool season Leaf color-medium green Leaf texture-fine Growth habit-bunch Wear-very good Location-sun Seeded with Kentucky Bluegrass, never alone

Climate

U.S. Regions or Zones The U.S. has six regions or zones based on climate Temperature Available moisture Length or growing season

Zones in NC Three of the U.S. regions are in NC Mountains and western piedmont are region 1 Central and eastern piedmont and coastal plains are region 2 Extreme southeastern coast is region 3 Because of the wide range of climatic conditions in NC, many lawn grass varieties are grown in different areas of the state

NC Regions Western-use cool season grasses Piedmont-use either cool season or warm season depending on location Coastal Plain-use warm season grasses and cool season Tall Fescue

Fertilizer Apply with a rotary or drop type spreader Apply half in one direction and the other half at a 90 degree angle to the first pass

When to Fertilize For seeded lawns Six to eight weeks after the seed emerges For sodded, plugged or sprigged lawns Every three to four weeks throughout the growing season

Irrigating Keep the top 1.5” of soil moist by watering 2-3 times a day for the first 7-21 days when establishing seeds. Water early in the morning to reduce the risk of disease and water loss.

Irrigating Water established lawns 2-3 times per week ½ inch each watering. Soil should be moist 6-8 inches to encourage good root development.

Mowing Mow when grass is 50% higher than the desired height. Mow when grass is dry with a sharp, clean blade. Mow to the suggested height.

Suggested Mowing Height Grass Mowing Height Tall Fescue 2.5-3.5 Inches Kentucky Bluegrass 1.5-2.5 Inches Red Fescue Creeping Bentgrass .125-.5 Inch Centipede 1-1.5 Inches St. Augustine 2.5-4 Inches Bahia 2-4 Inches Bermuda .75-2 Inches Zoysia

Pest Control-Weeds Common in newly seeded lawns Proper mowing will eliminate most weeds Follow the directions on a selective herbicide if weeds are an issue.

Pest Control-Insects Check newly established lawns on a regular basis for insect issues. Identify and treat as needed.

Pest Control-Diseases Do not overwater newly established lawns as this can cause diseases. Hot summer weather can also cause disease issues. Identify and treat as needed.

Starting a Lawn

Methods to Start a Lawn There are four major methods used to start a lawn Seeding Sodding Plugging Sprigging

Seeding Most common and least expensive Sown by hand or with a mechanical device such as rotary or drop type spreaders or powered by machinery such as Cultipacker seeder Hydroseeder (a sprayer that applies seed, water, fertilizer and mulch at the same time)

Hydroseeder

Seeding Apply half the seed in one direction and the other half at a 90 degree angle to the first pass. Roll the soil lightly to ensure good seed to soil contact. Lightly cover the seed with peat moss or weed free straw. Water to stabilize the seed and peat moss or straw. Purchase quality seed-read the label.

When to Seed Cool Season Grasses September 1-15 in the piedmont region September 15-October 15 in the coastal region August 15-September 1 in the mountain region Emergency seeding mid-February-early March Warm Season Grasses March 1-July 1

Sodding Using established turf (grass and roots) that is cut into thin layers and removed from the growing area in strips Taken to a new lawn and rolled out and fitted together Start the sod from a straight edge to ensure uniformity. Butt strips together and stagger rows in a brick pattern. The new lawn soil should be moist before laying the sod.

Sodding Water after installing the sod. Install the new sod within 24 hours to prevent roots from drying out. Unroll sod if it cannot be laid within 48 hours Sodding provides an instant lawn Sodding for cool season grasses-anytime during the cooler times of the growing season Sodding for warm season grasses: April-July 1

Sodding

Plugging Using small plugs or blocks of sod to plant in holes about 6-12 inches apart Very time-consuming Used for many warm season grasses that are poor seed producers Timing for warm season April-July 1

Sprigging Uses plant runners, cuttings or sprigs (cut stems) Sprigs are rolled or pressed into the top ½ to 1 inch of soil Usually used on larger areas such as golf courses Sprigging for warm season grasses March 1-July

Preparing a Seed Bed

Steps to Preparing Seed Bed Remove trash and debris. Control weeds with herbicide. Spray post-emergence broadleaf herbicides four to six weeks before seeding or sodding.

Steps to Preparing Seed Bed Grade avoiding steep slopes, low areas are poorly drained areas. Slope should not be over 15% for lawn grasses because of mowing safety

Steps to Preparing Seed Bed Protect existing trees and bed areas with silt fencing, edged borders or mulch. Incorporate a 2%-3% slope away from the home or structure.

Steps to Preparing Seed Bed Soil preparation Till soil to a depth of 2-3” Add 4-5” of top soil Run a soil test Incorporate lime and fertilizer based on the soil sample results Finish grade Roll area with lawn roller Water Seed or install sod

Grass Seed Terminology

Viable The ability to germinate

Inert Ingredient Stems and/or other plant products that are not viable

Weed Seed Any seed not defined as a component in “other crop”

Noxious Weed Invasive, hard to control weed seed