Primary Cultural Practices

Mowing Fertilization Irrigation

Mowing Most basic but has the greatest effect on how much we irrigate and fertilize

Why do we Mow? maintain top growth within specific limitsmaintain top growth within specific limits control undesired vegetationcontrol undesired vegetation to sustain an ornamental or recreational turfto sustain an ornamental or recreational turf

Equipment reel Mowerreel Mower rotary Mowerrotary Mower

Turf Response to Mowing grass tolerates mowinggrass tolerates mowing mowing is always a stress – cuts the outer cuticle of the grassmowing is always a stress – cuts the outer cuticle of the grass creates point of entry for diseasecreates point of entry for disease temporary cessation of root growthtemporary cessation of root growth temporary water loss from cut endstemporary water loss from cut ends reduced water absorption by rootsreduced water absorption by roots loss of photosynthetic tissueloss of photosynthetic tissue reduces ability of plant to produce carbohydratesreduces ability of plant to produce carbohydrates

When you Mow: rooting is decreased as mowing height is loweredrooting is decreased as mowing height is lowered carbohydrates that would go to rooting are instead used to produce a denser turf to compensate for foliage loss.carbohydrates that would go to rooting are instead used to produce a denser turf to compensate for foliage loss.

Mowing Tolerance Range lowest and highest mowing heightslowest and highest mowing heights below range:below range: -turf will thin during stress -weed invasion -scalping will occur

Scalping: removing more than 33-40% of grass, stops root growth for up to 6-14 days.removing more than 33-40% of grass, stops root growth for up to 6-14 days. scalping is caused by lowering your mowing ht. too quicklyscalping is caused by lowering your mowing ht. too quickly can seriously damage or kill turfcan seriously damage or kill turf

FERTILIZATION Primary determinate in turf persistence and quality

Elements involved 13 elements are referred to as mineral nutrients, they are in the soil and taken in by the root system13 elements are referred to as mineral nutrients, they are in the soil and taken in by the root system macro- N, P, K,macro- N, P, K, secondary macro - S, Mg, Casecondary macro - S, Mg, Ca micro – Mo, Cu, Zn, Mn, B, Fe, Clmicro – Mo, Cu, Zn, Mn, B, Fe, Cl

NITROGEN (N) mineral element used in greatest quantity in turf or by turfmineral element used in greatest quantity in turf or by turf N is the most mobile of essential elements in soil and plantN is the most mobile of essential elements in soil and plant

DEFICIENCY: one of first signs is a yellowing of the plant – chlorosis: lack of chlorophyllone of first signs is a yellowing of the plant – chlorosis: lack of chlorophyll slowing of growth (based on clippings)slowing of growth (based on clippings) low densitylow density rooting can be affectedrooting can be affected can cause disease development (Dollar Spot, Rust, Red Thread)can cause disease development (Dollar Spot, Rust, Red Thread)

EXCESSIVE N excessive aerial shoot growthexcessive aerial shoot growth poor root and lateral shoot growthpoor root and lateral shoot growth higher disease incidencehigher disease incidence reduced carbohydrate reservesreduced carbohydrate reserves poor tolerance to heat, cold, drought, traffic, and other stressespoor tolerance to heat, cold, drought, traffic, and other stresses possible shifts in turfgrass community exp Bermuda/Centipedepossible shifts in turfgrass community exp Bermuda/Centipede too much N can cause brown patch diseasetoo much N can cause brown patch disease

PHOSPHORUS (P) important in many plant compounds that are essential for plant growth.important in many plant compounds that are essential for plant growth. important for helping young plants matureimportant for helping young plants mature relatively immobile in the soil, does not move as readily as most elements, unlikely to leach from the soil can make it harder for plant to reach the P.relatively immobile in the soil, does not move as readily as most elements, unlikely to leach from the soil can make it harder for plant to reach the P. grasses have fibrous root system; therefore turf fertilizers have less P (ex )grasses have fibrous root system; therefore turf fertilizers have less P (ex )

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: reduced growthreduced growth dark green color (sickly green), and on rare occasions: purple in colordark green color (sickly green), and on rare occasions: purple in color narrow leaf bladesnarrow leaf blades

EFFECTS OF P: improved disease resistanceimproved disease resistance helps with heat, cold and drought toleranceshelps with heat, cold and drought tolerances

POTASSIUM (K) second only to N in plantsecond only to N in plant does not become any part of plant biochemicalsdoes not become any part of plant biochemicals involved in opening and closing of stomata.involved in opening and closing of stomata. role in heat/cold temp, wear tolerance.role in heat/cold temp, wear tolerance.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: difficult to recognize (subtle)difficult to recognize (subtle) carbohydrate production downcarbohydrate production down less resistant to plant diseasesless resistant to plant diseases less tolerant to environmental stressesless tolerant to environmental stresses general reductions in growthgeneral reductions in growth

Fertilizer Frequency depends on the turfgrass usedepends on the turfgrass use types of fertilizer sources usedtypes of fertilizer sources used availability of essential nutrientsavailability of essential nutrients

Fertilization Timing two restraints: Disease and environmental stress tolerancetwo restraints: Disease and environmental stress tolerance cool season grassescool season grasses -avoid late spring and summer applications of Nitrogen warm season grasseswarm season grasses -avoid late summer and fall applications of Nitrogen

IRRIGATION The process of adding supplemental water when rainfall is insufficient to meet the needs of the plant

Evapotranspiration (ET) Combination of evaporation and transpiration Factors effecting ET humiditytemperaturewind

How much water to apply?  depends on turf grown and environmental conditions depends on rooting: depth and extent of root systemdepends on rooting: depth and extent of root system soil type: Coarse textured to fine textured soilssoil type: Coarse textured to fine textured soils soil Compactionsoil Compaction

When and how often to water? timing depends on soil and plant conditionstiming depends on soil and plant conditions morning is best, avoid afternoon irrigationmorning is best, avoid afternoon irrigation frequency: Deep and infrequentfrequency: Deep and infrequent