1. Selecting and Installing Turfgrass on the Landscape Site
Presentation: A

2. Functions of Turfgrasses
Aesthetically blends the house into its surroundings.
Establishes a “floor” or surface area for outdoor recreational activities.
Covers the ground to reduce and prevent erosion.

3. What is a grass? Common name for the Gramineae family of plants.
With more than 9,000 known species, this family is one of the largest on Earth.

4. Parts of Grass
Grass stems, called culms, grow up from the base of the plant (the crown). In most grass species, the culms are hollow and rigid, except at the nodes -- joints that join stem segments together.

5. Parts of Grass
Narrow leaves extend out from the culms, above each node. The leaves alternate in direction. That is, if the first leaf on a culm grows to the right, the second leaf will grow to left and the third leaf will grow to the right and so on.

6. Rhisome
Horizontal stem of a plant
Grow underground

7. Stolons
Shoots that bend to the ground or that grow horizontally above the ground and produce roots and shoots at the nodes

8. Nodes, Sheaths, and Blades
Nodes- is the point on the stem where a new sheath for a leaf begins to grow
Sheath- The tubular portion of the leaf which wraps around or encloses the stem.
Blade-The blade is the part of the leaf that protrudes from the stem

9. Selecting Turfgrasses for Lawn Areas
Environmental Considerations
Soil Considerations
Use Considerations
Compatibility Considerations
Maintenance Considerations

10. Environmental Considerations
C. Stetter
Turfgrasses must adapt to the climatic zones.
Choose the right type of turfgrass:
Cool-season
Warm-season

11. Climatic Zones Cool Humid Zone Cool Arid/Semi-arid Zone
Warm Humid Zone
Warm Arid/Semi-arid Zone

12. Climate Zones

13. Climatic Zones (Cool Humid)
Covers northeastern & north central parts of U.S. & the Pacific coast.
Elevation levels: ,000 feet
Temperatures:
Winters are cold
Summers are mild to hot
Rainfall: 20 to 45 inches/ year

14. Climatic Zones (Cool Arid/Semi-arid)
Covers most of central & western US.
Elevation levels: ,000 feet
Temperatures: decreases as elevation increases
Cold winters/mild to hot summers
Rainfall: 10 to 25 inches/ year

15. Climatic Zones (Warm Humid)
Covers eastern Texas & Oklahoma across southeastern states & midway up Atlantic coast.
Temperatures: mild to subtropical
Cold winters/mild to hot summers
Rainfall: 25 to 70 inches/ year

16. Climatic Zones (Warm Arid/Semi-arid)
Covers across southwestern states & into central Texas.
Temperatures: days are hot & nights are cool
Summers are dry
Rainfall: 5 to 25 inches/ year

17. Turfgrass Types (Cool-Season)
Primarily grow in northern U.S.
Best in temperatures between 60°F & 75°F
C. Stetter

18. Turfgrass Types (Cool-Season)
Examples:
Bentgrass
Fescue
Bluegrass
Ryegrass
Video

19. Turfgrass Types (Warm-Season)
Grow in warmer regions of U.S.
Grow best between 80°F & 95°F.
Usually become dormant in winter.
C. Stetter

20. Turfgrass Types (Warm-Season)
Examples:
Bermuda Grass
St. Augustine Grass
Zoysia Grass
Buffalo Grass
C. Stetter
Video

21. Bermuda

22. Bermuda

24. St Augustine

25. Zoysia

26. Buffalo

27. Things to think about Grass Species Shade Tolerance Water Requirement
Traffic Tolerance
St. Augustine
High
Medium
Low
Bermuda
Very low
Med.-Low
Buffalo
Very Low
Centipede
Tall Fescue
Zoysia japonica*
Med.-High
Zoysia matrella*

28. Things to think about Grass Species Cold Tolerance Salinity Tolerance
Disease Potential
St. Augustine
Low
Medium
High
Bermuda
Med.-High
Med.-Low
Buffalo
Centipede
Low-Med.
Tall Fescue
Zoysia japonica*

29. Things to Think About Grass Species Mowing Frequency Mowing Height
Fertility Requirement
Leaf Texture
St. Augustine
5-7 days
"
Medium
Coarse
Bermuda
3-7 days
"
High
Fine
Buffalo
7-14 days
"
Low
Centipede
"
Tall Fescue
Zoysia japonica*
7-10 days
Med.-Low
Zoysia matrella*
"

30. Soil Considerations
Soil conditions affecting the growth & development of turfgrasses: pH
Fertility
Moisture
Texture
Salinity
Test the soil to find out its condition.
C. Stetter

31. Soil Considerations—pH
Optimal growth & development occurs when pH ranges from 6.0 to 7.0.
pH can be adjusted by:
Adding lime to increase
Adding compost to decrease

32. Soil Considerations—Fertility
Can be easily corrected by:
Doing a soil test to see what nutrients are deficient.
Applying the required fertilizers.

33. Soil Considerations—Moisture
Soil texture & sub-surface drainage affect soil moisture.
Sandy soils dry out quickly.
Clay soils remain too wet.

34. Soil Considerations—Texture
Sandy soils:
Coarse-textured
Allow adequate drainage & aeration
Do not compact easily

35. Soil Considerations—Texture
Clay soils:
Fine-textured
Do not allow adequate drainage & aeration
Compact easily when wet

36. Soil Considerations—Salinity
Not typically a problem for turfgrasses
Can be a problem:
In arid regions of the southwest
Along shore lines & flood plains of oceans

37. Soil Testing Sample should represent a given area Collect a sample:
Scrape away plant materials.
Cut a core 6 inches deep in 8-10 places.
Mix collected soil & place in marked bag.
Testing: Mail or take to extension office or use soil testing kit.