Turfgrass Cultural Problems PPT Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Two Basic Problems Soil Compaction Thatch Build-up Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

What is Soil Compaction? Condition of soil when particles become packed tightly together Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Three Results of Soil Compaction 1.Poor root growth due to restricted air and poor percolation of water Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Results of Soil Compaction 2.Thin and shallow root system that cannot sustain shoot growth Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Results of Soil Compaction 3.Thin turf that stresses easily and develops bare spots Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

What is the major cause of soil compaction in turf? Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Sources of traffic: Athletics Football Soccer Baseball Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Sources of Traffic Golf courses Playgrounds Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Sources of Traffic Ordinary foot traffic at public facilities – schools, hospitals, government offices Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu Photo by Cheryl Reynolds

Kinds of Traffic Human Animal - pets Machines – golf carts, mowing equipment, vehicles Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Treatment for Soil Compaction Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Coring or Aeration Defined Removal of soil cores from a turf with hollow tines or spoons. Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Several Coring Machines Available Vary in Quality of job performed! Background Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Several Coring Machines Available Vary in Quality of job performed! Background Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Several Coring Machines Available Vary in Quality of job performed! Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Coring Machine Must Pull Soil Cores From the Soil! Spike coring machines are okay for overseeding to get grass seed in contact with soil Might help with lime and fertilizer HELPS LITTLE OR NOT AT ALL with Compaction! Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Except on very light soils, coring without removing cores may actually compact the soil. Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

For Best Results! Pictures from websitehttp://clayvaughn.com/aeration.aspx

Coring Cultural Practice Tips Core when the grass is actively growing Top-dress the area with a peat and sand combination and rake mixture into core holes Or, if practical, chop up cores and redistribute them across the turf Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Benefits of Coring Picture from website

Thatch Build-up Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 1.What is thatch? 2.Why is thatch build-up a problem? 3.How is thatch build-up treated?

Thatch Defined Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu Thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of undecomposed roots, stems, and shoots located between the soil surface and the green vegetation of the turf grass.

Causes of Thatch Some thatch is natural; however, excessive thatch may be caused by: Over fertilizing with nitrogen Improper mowing by cutting too much leaf area off at one time Poor soil environment Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu

Not all Thatch is BAD! Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu Issue with sod-forming grasses Small amounts of thatch is good. It: Cushions turf and prevents wear Insulates soil from extreme hot and cold temperatures Reduces evaporation losses from soil surface

Too Much Thatch is BAD! Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu Restricts air and water movement Requires more frequent watering Great environment for disease & insects Can cause scalping when mowing Contributes to winter injury Restrict fertilizer and pesticide movement

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu When is thatch build-up a problem?

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu Timing is Important Best done when grass greens up from dormant season Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 1.Can top-dress with ¼ inch of topsoil once a year. Very expensive, Requires special equipment, Not usually practical Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 2.Coring – as performed for soil compaction Used in conjunction with power raking or verticutting Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 3.Power Raking Similar to verticutting but uses spring-type wires instead of blades Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 4.Verticutting – 3" blade spacing for Centipede and St. Augustine 2" blade spacing for bermudagrass Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 4.Verticutting Size of equipment varies Treatment for Thatch Close Up of surface after verticutting

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 4.Verticutting Reels may be added to mowers Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu 4.Verticutting Reels may be added to mowers Treatment for Thatch

Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) websitewww.turffiles.ncsu.edu The Key to Thatch control is to keep it under control to begin with Use light raking or cutting to keep thatch manageable Treatment for Thatch