Turf Grass Management

History of Lawns in North America •Early lawns resembled meadows consisting of short grasses and wildflowers Turf Grass Management •As cylinder mowe...
Author: Lee Bishop
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History of Lawns in North America •Early lawns resembled meadows consisting of short grasses and wildflowers

Turf Grass Management

•As cylinder mowers were developed, grass lawns could be made much smoother and shorter. ( 1830 ) •British – sweeping lawns. Americans who travelled there came back with high hopes of similar lawns

UConn Master Gardener Program-- 2009 PART I

By 1930’s• But:

-

British climate maritime- cool, wet no grass seed available yet native grasses unsuitable for tidy lawns climate here too extreme hot / cold for European grasses

• 1915- Dept. of Agriculture and USGA working together to find a suitable grass/ mix to get durable, attractive lawns in our climate variations

Bermuda grass from Africa Bluegrass from Europe fescues and bents

Invention of push mowers and garden hoses made suitable lawns possible in America. Still no real demand for green front yard.

1950’s The American Garden Club started the homeowners’ journey down the river and over the falls. - Convinced home owners of their civic duty to maintain beautiful, healthy lawns - Set standards: single type grass no weeds 1 ½” height neatly edged uniformly green

There are few native grasses that do well in New England lawns

The pH of Connecticut forest soils is 4.64.8. Most grasses do best at pH of 6.0- 7.0.

Most of Connecticut was originally forest.

Lawn Mower Development • Where ever the first lawn grasses were used, they were mowed by hand, either with scythes, shears, or sickles • The first mechanical mowers were reel and bed knife types with a cylinder to allow it to be pulled or pushed over the ground • Steam power was used until the 1900s. Steam engines could take hours to produce power enough to run the mower. By WWI, internal combustion engines used • Rotary cutting blades were available in the 1920s, but not used widely until the 1960s, when high power but lightweight gas engines were developed

pammcooper 2007 www.hartford.gif

www.hartford.gif

Purdue.edu

cornell.edu

robomow

BENEFITS OF LAWNS • • • • • • • • • •

Soil erosion control Dust prevention Groundwater retention and rain water capturing Noise reduction Ambient cooling effect- heat dissipation by transpiration Glare reduction Filter of pollutants Aesthetic appeal Safety cushion Mental health impact

no maintenance lawn

© pammcooper 2007

Low Maintenance Lawn © pammcooper 2008

©pammcooper 2007

pammcooper 2007 ©© pammcooper2007

MODIFIED MOWING © pammcooper 2007

© pammcooper 2007

© pammcooper 2007

© pammcooper 2008 © pammcooper 2007

Turf Grass Identification Make sure the plant is a grass species Sedges: leaves are three-ranked with closed sheath triangular, solid stem ( “ sedges have edges “ ) fruits are three-angled nutlets Rushes: leaves three-ranked, basal or low on stem round, solid stems multi-seeded capsules Grasses: leaves two-ranked, connected to the stem by open sheaths jointed, hollow stems, round or flattened fruits are grain-like seeds © pammcooper 2008

Turfgrass Identification 1. Growth habitbunch- tillers sod- formingrhizomes stolons 2. Physical characteristicsleaf blade, collar, sheath

SEDGE pammcooper 2008

Bunch-type

Rhizomatous

Stoloniferous

Pennstate.edu

rye grasses crabgrasses most fescues

Kentucky Bluegrass some tall fescue quackgrass

bentgrasses Zoysiagrass buffalo grass

GROWTH HABIT BUNCH TYPE-

tillers- lateral shoots arise from the stem and grow upward

Besides the seed head, the collar area of a grass plant is the most useful in grass species i.d.

STOLONS- lateral shoots or stems that grow laterally above the soil RHIZOMES-

Bentgrass stolons

lateral shoots that grow laterally underground

CROWN: Intercalary meristem between blade and stems allows both shoot and root growth from near ground level

The sheath is the lower part of the leaf blade that wraps around the stem.

stolons of bentgrass

VERNATION Arrangement of youngest leaf in the bud- leaves emerge from the bud either folded or rolled

Ucdavis.edu www.turf.uiuc.edu

FOLDED

ROLLED

LIGULE Membranous or hairy appendage on upper surface of grass blade at blade/ leaf junction

AURICLE Ear- like appendages projecting from the collar

Ucdavis.edu www.american-lawns.com Yellow Foxtail

Membranous

Ucdavis.edu

CLAW- LIKE

ABSENT Turfuiuc.edu

LEAF BLADE

COLLAR Zone of yellow- green tissue on backside of leaf where blade and sheath join

TALL FESCUE

ucdavis.edu

TALL FESCUE www.ipm.iastate.edu

www.ppws.vt.edu DR.GENE TAYLOR

University of Georgia

BUNCH HABIT

PROMINENT VEINS ON LEAF

PROMINENT MID- RIB GLOSSY UNDERSIDE PERENNIAL RYE GRASS

• Death of leaf blade- tip to base= rate of new leaf appearance

Two Types of Turf Grasses Cool Season Grasses- Grow best when soil temperatures are between 55- 70 degrees ( Fescues, Rye, Bluegrasses, bentgrasses ) .

• Both leaf blade and sheath function in respiration and photosynthesis • If root system and/ or leaf tissue die, plant can survive if crown remains viable

Warm Season Grasses- grow best when soil temperatures are between 65- 80 degrees ( Zoysia grass, Buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass )

Cool season grasses Types of Grasses for Regions

degrees F

biological event

33

root growth stops ( KBG- 32 )

40

shoot growth stops

50- 65

optimum for root growth

60-75

optimum for shoot growth

70 77

maximum for root growth of any consequence root growth stops

90

shoot growth stops

• Cool season grasses should not be fertilized during the summer

• The optimum height of cut will enable the plant to resist weed infestation, fight insect problems, and help retain moisture in the soil

www.extensiion.umn.edu

• Fertilization after October 15 with a nitrogen fertilizer is not recommended in Ct.

To properly manage a lawn you need to know: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Type of grass/ grasses you have Soil type Proper mowing height When/ how much to fertilize Optimum light conditions needed

Bluegrasses - Poa ssp. • Most of the common species used for lawns originated from the forest margins of Eurasia • They were found to have dense growth habits after being grazed closely by sheep, and cattle. • The bluegrasses are the most widely used cool season turf species in the world, in the transitional and cool humid regions

Kentucky Bluegrass • Rhizomatous structure allows recovery – will fill in dead areas over time

Common Lawn Grasses of the Northeast • Bluegrass - Kentucky - Rough, Canada, Poa annua • Ryegrass - Perennial - Annual • Fescues - Fine leaf - Turf- type tall

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS • The boat- shaped leaf tip is the most important characteristic used in identifying the Poa genus. • All bluegrasses have two translucent lines along the mid-rib Ucdavis.edu

• High fertility needs- 3-4 lbs/yr • High water requirements if low cut • Goes dormant if not watered during drought

• Can get sod for establishing new lawn or renovating

• Billbugs sometimes a problem

• Can tolerate low mowing heights- to 0.5”

• Not good heat tolerance

• Can be used with other grass species

• Can become thatchy

If over- watered and over- fertilized, Kentucky Bluegrass can be prone to severe insect, disease, and thatch problems.

After dormancy, growth can resume and good cover can be formed in 2-3 weeks after end of drought

Rough Bluegrass- Poa trivialis • Well-suited for moist shade conditions

***

• Sometimes called roughstalk bluegrass or rough meadowgrass

• Can tolerate moderately soggy soils • Slow establishment rate • Excellent wear tolerance- used on irrigated sports fields

Poa trivialis- Roughstalk Bluegrass • Can be very aggressive, forming light green polystands in a dark green lawn • Can form a very dense fairly high quality turf under very limited conditions

• Fine-texture, yellow-green color. • Prostrate habit with creeping stolons • Not good in drought or heavy traffic

• May be injured by herbicide 2,4-D Too much fertilizer, too much water- aggressive rough bluegrass infiltrates a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn www.omafra.gov.on.ca

Poa annua- Annual Bluegrass • Usually considered a weed in turfgrass stands • Light green to green-yellow • Does not do well if heat, drought, low temperatures persist • Adapted to a moist, shaded environment, pH 5.5-6.5 and high phosphorus soil • The lower a quality turfgrass is cut, the better opportunity Poa annua has of getting a foothold

Poa Annua • An annual grass that survives through prolific seed production at extremely low mowing height- ¼” • Poor salt tolerance • High tolerance to compacted soils • Can survive on a very shallow root system • Will die if soil water-logged at high temperatures Cooperseeds.com

FESCUES TWO TYPES : Fine fescues- narrow, needlelike leaves

Tall fescues- medium to coarse texture www.ppdl.purdue.edu

Dominant Characteristics of Fescues

Three Types of Tall Fescue Pasture types- Kentucky 31, Alta, Fawn have broad, upright fast- growing leaves and high crown: VERY COARSE TEXTURE

• Good shade tolerance • Can remain green all year

Turf-type- darker green, medium texture less upright leaf growth, flatter crown

• Good drought resistance • Good salt tolerance

Dwarf-

slower growing turf type. texture close to Kentucky bluegrass less drought- tolerant than other tall fescues more disease prone

Tall Fescues Tolerate-

Low-

wear shade salt drought- when established acid soils

water and fertilizer requirements when established

• Used mostly as single species • Has a good establishment rate if seeded in late summer/ early fall • Can tolerate wet soil conditions and extended submersion ( used in drainage areas )

Fine Fescues

Turf-type tall fescues • Medium to medium-fine texture

• All can be mixed with KBG and perennial rye to add greater shade and drought tolerance

• Newer cultivars dark green like KBG

• Tolerant to low fertility, drought, and acid soils

• Spring seeding not advised

• Does best in low N environment

• Wear tolerant/ disease resistant

• Poor traffic tolerance- gets clumpy, thin

• Can remain green 8-9 months of year

• Shade tolerant ( dry shade )

• Creeping red- best in dry shade/ cold • Chewings- best drought tolerance • Hard-

ditches, banks, un-mowed roadsides

• Sheep- low quality lawn grassexcellent in wildflower meadow All do poorly in moist, wet shade

Creeping Red Fescue-

Festuca rubra

• Has rhizomes • Likes a dry shade environment • Usually added to KBG for better shade tolerance • Poor wear tolerance, especially in shade • Will get thatchy if nitrogen excessive • Can go dormant in drought

Chewings Fescue • More upright than creeping • Non-aggressive and blends well with most grasses • Can be grown on the more sandy soils of low fertility

Festuca rubra commutata

Sheep Fescue

Hard Fescue • More disease resistance than other fine fescues • Slow-growing, low maintenance grass • Good for erosion and reclamation planting • Spartan good cultivar for lawns, but not generally used except in blends with chewings and creeping red

• Used in low maintenance situations- roadsides, cemeteries, conservation areas • Bluish-gray leaves are stiff- tough to mow with dull blades- shredded tops are ratty looking and light-coloured • Grows best on gravelly or sandy soils-poor heat tolerance www.seedman.com

Festuca ovina

Festuca longifolia

Perennial Ryegrass The fine fescues survive extreme cold and are used for low maintenance areasslopes, roadsides, reclamation sites. Once established, fine fescues require little water or fertilizer. The fine leaves lose little moisture on sunny days

Lolium perenne

• Has a fast establishment and germination rate • Rarely used alone- Is used in mixes with fescues and Bluegrasses • Has excellent wear tolerance • Irrigation needed in prolonged drought • Dark green color

© 2007 pammcooper

• Bunch habit • Full sun • Susceptible to pythium and red thread • Poor recuperative ability • Good tolerance to soil compaction

• High nitrogen requirements

Problems with Perennial Ryegrass • Little heat tolerance • Poor low temperature tolerance • Needs irrigation in summer if thick stand is established • High maintenance requirements- mow 2x a week above 2’’ in spring • First lawn grass to show drought stress symptoms

Annual Ryegrass ( Italian Ryegrass ) • Upright bunch habit • Very rapid establishment rate- used most often as a nurse grass until desired grasses can be established. • Poor cold, heat, and moisture stress tolerance. • Good for wet areas, but not submersion tolerant

Lolium multiflorum

Endophytes • Endophytes are beneficial fungi that live within seed and then grow and persist in the plant as it develops. They produce compounds that discourage leaf and stem feeding insects • Ryegrasses containing endophytes have increased resistance to webworms, fall armyworms, billbugs and chinch bugs. • Endophytes are not in the roots of grass plant - no grub resistance • Several tall fescue varieties are also endophyteenhanced, also some creeping red cultivars

Bentgrass- Agrostis genus • Widely used in golf course greens, tees and fairways, tennis courts, lawn bowling

Two bentgrasses may be found in home lawns, and are considered weedsCreeping Bentgrass- Agrostis palustris

• Not used in home lawns

Colonial Bentgrass- Agrostis tenuis

• Can become very thatchy • Most tolerant of close mowing of all cool season grasses- Does best cut at .120”- 0.5”

Lawn height Colonial bentgrass- stolons produce a witches’ broom type effect

Junegrass- Koeleria macrantha

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Wisc.edu

Koeleria macrantha ‘ Barkoel ‘ 0.5- 2 ½’ Prefers hot summers with no water

• Prairie junegrass is one of the first grasses to green- up in spring • Cold, heat, drought tolerant • Well- drained soils- silts, loams

Tolerates light shade Adaptable to rocky and sandy soils

• Does best at ph 6. 5- 8.0 and rainfall 12- 20 “ per year • Establish from seed in spring- bunch habit

Soquel Creek Water District

Slowly rhizomatous

Warm Season Grasses • More low- growing than cool season grasses • More tolerant of close mowing • Deeper rooted- more drought, heat, wear tolerant • Less low temperature hardy- discolor when too cold • Generally established vegetatively

Zoysiagrass • Established by sprigs, plugs or seed- very slow rate of establishment- may take 3 years to fill in •Thick stolons and rhizomes form a dense mat of prostrate growing turf, few weeds get in •Stiff, tough stems and leaves make it difficult to mow- reels work best •Should be kept low- 1”- 1 ½ ‘

Zoysia species

• Zoysia grass is very salt tolerant • Excellent wear tolerance- used in some athletic fields in the southern regions • Excellent drought tolerance • Can become invasive- stolons can go under driveways to the neighbor’s lawn

Zoysiagrass prefers a well-drained, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil, and full sun. 1-3 lbs/N/ 1000 sq,ft, per year

Thatch production is profuse- de-thatching is necessary on a regular basis Free of major disease problems Used in golf courses and athletic fields in the south, as well as lawns Will turn tan as soon as frost arrives and will remain that way until soil temperatures reach 60 degrees and remain there

© pamm cooper 2009

Nitrogen Needs

Optimum Soil pH • • • • • •

Kentucky BluegrassTall FescuePerennial RyegrassFine FescueZoysiagrassJunegrass-

6- 7.2 ( 6- 7 ) 4.7- 8.5 ( 5.5- 6.5 ) 6- 7.5 ( 6- 7 ) 5.5- 7 ( 5.5- 6.5 ) 5.0- 7.8 ( 6- 6.5 ) 6.5- 8.0

( ) indicates preferred pH

Choosing the Right Grass for Your Lawn ______________________________________ • Intended use

• • • • • •

Kentucky Bluegrass- high Tall Fescuelow Perennial Ryegrass- med-high Fine fescueslow Zoysiagrass low Junegrass very low

2-4 lbs/yr 2 lbs/yr 2-6 lbs/yr 1- 2 lbs/yr 1-2 lbs/yr 0-1 lb/yr

When mixes are used, one grass may be favored by nutrient level in the soil being higher, or lower

Wet Soil Rough bluegrass Tall fescue

Dry Soil Creeping red fescue Sheep fescue

• Intended maintenance level Erodible sites • Conditions for growth- shade/sun soil type irrigate or not fertilize or not

Tall fescue KBG Creeping red fescue

Low management Tall fescue Sheep fescue Fine fescue Zoysiagrass junegrass

Dry shade

Lawn Care Mistake

Potential Problem Favored

Mowing Too Short

Crabgrass, Diseases, Higher water And fertilizer requirements

Frequent, Light Watering

Crabgrass, Disease

Over- watering

Thatch, Disease, Shallow rooted turf,

Over- fertilizing

Disease, Thatch

Under- fertilizing

Disease, Weeds, Moss

Wet shade

Fine fescues Tall fescues Zoysiagrass

Rough bluegrass Tall fescue- thin

Acid soils

Heavy wear

Sheep fescue Hard fescue Red fescue Tall fescue

Perennial rye grass Tall fescue KBG Zoysiagrass

Nutsedge invasions

University of Illinois Extension

Sound Mowing Practices • Know the best mowing height for species • Remove only 1/3 of the leaf blade at a time • Keep blades or reels sharp • Mow around stressed and dormant areaschange patterns

• Mow when the grass is dry- reduces clumping and spreading of any disease • Mow until growth stops • In spring, start lower – 1 ½- 2” and gradually raise to desired height. Gradually lower again as it cools in fall

Blade tips shredded from dull mower blades

WATER/ IRRIGATION

If you water your lawn…

• Too much water = disease, compaction, and weak, shallow roots • Most cool season grasses need between 1 and 1 ½” / week

“breathe” -

• Deep, infrequent watering is best.

• Grass growing in shade needs less water • The best time of day to water- between 4:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

“ across”

EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION www.purdue.edu RATE The ET rate is the loss of moisture from the root zone of a plant calculated by the temperature and weather conditions of the day- wind, humidity- 98% water from roots lost as vapor from the leaves through the stomata

Non-irrigated Irrigated Nutsedge encroachment due to overwatering

Grass on left is now dormant

WATER RUN-OFF DIVERSION

WATER RETENTION BASIN

Things you need to know about your soil

Turfgrass Fertilization

• pH- acid or alkaline

• Returning grass clippings can reduce supplemental nitrogen applications by 1/ 3

• Texture- sandy, clay, loam, or a mix

• Ratio of N:P:K should be 4 : 1 : 3 or 4 : 1 : 2 for lawn grasses

• Drain well? • Infiltration fast or slow?

• The higher the quality of turf desired= more fertilizer usually needed

• Have it tested- deficiencies structural problems water retention

A fertilizer bag tells the amounts of the nutrients according to their % of weight of the bag’s total contents

Nitrogen and Turfgrass • Applied to maximize growth and vigor • Key times to apply- after spring growth flush late summer or early fall • Focus should be on less N in spring, more in late summer or early fall ( not past late Oct. ).

Nutrients always listed in this order: Nitrogen - Phosphorus -

N

-

P

-

Potassium

K

• Heavy spring N applications stimulate rapid shoot growth at expense of roots- stress and thinning often occurs in heat of summer

Nitrogen fertilizers

Early Spring Applications of Nitrogen: not needed until after initial spring growth slows Summer applications of nitrogen: stimulates shoot growth when grass when roots are at lowest mass, unable to keep up with water demands to cool off

Three types used in turf: 1.

Synthetic inorganic – ammonium nitrate NH4NO3 - ammonium sulfate NH4SO4 - potassium nitrate KNO3

2.

Synthetic Organic-

3.

Natural organic-

Early Fall Applications of Nitrogen: promote root growth while plants are still photosynthesizing- carbs stored in roots/ crown as top growth slows

Fast release nitrogen growth flushes

Ureaform - IBDU - sulfur and polymer coated urea -

animal manure bone meal sewage sludge seaweed extract fish meal feather meal

Fast - Release Nitrogen

peak

• Quick response, lasting 4 weeks or less

crash application

application

Slow- release nitrogen- even growth

• High salt index and high foliar burn potential – need to water in immediately - do not apply on wet grass • Higher leaching potential- highly soluble

Fertilizer burn from spill

www.agry.purdue.edu

Dog urine injury

University of Illinois

Slow-Release Fertilizers • Natural organics- manure, compost, bloodmeal, biosolids, fish meal, kelp, feathers • Synthetic organics- reacting urea with organic or inorganic compounds to make it release at a slower rate- may be coated with sulfur or polymers

• Slow- release natural organic nitrogen depends upon microbial activity to break down to usable form • Low T°can slow breakdown, or even suspend breakdown of nitrogen

• More uniform growth during growing season • Lower salt index- less burn potential than fast release fertilizers • Long-term response can carry over from year to year • Lower leaching and volatilization loss • Apply less often and often supply other nutrientshelp suppress certain diseases ( microbes )

Because of the advantages and disadvantages of both forms, some fertilizers combine both fast and slow release forms

• Extremely acidic soils have less microbial activity

BE CAREFUL

½ nitrogen is fast- release, ½ slow release

CHICKEN MANURE

CORN GLUTEN MEAL

Phosphorus and Turfgrass • Seed germination, seedling vigor, root responses- crucial in establishing grass

Potassium and Turfgrass • High K in leaf tissue can improve heat, drought, cold, wear, and disease tolerance • Apply only when soil tests indicate it is low

• If low- work into soil to 4-6”- moves slowly through soil profile and can accumulate near soil surface • Usually only one application per year is needed for grasses

• If clippings are returned, may not need any K applied ( in Ct. ) • Potassium is prone to leaching in sandy soils— avoid over- watering

Lawn Fertilizer Calculations • Rates always calculated per 1,000 square feet To determine amount needed for 1 lb. Nitrogen/1000sqft if : 10 - 2- 5 fertilizer is used • Formula:

100

% Nitrogen in the bag 100 = 10 lbs. fertilizer needed/ 1000sq.ft. 10 to get 1 lb. rate of N The higher the % N, the less fertilizer needed

Spreaders Rotary- Throws particles in semi- circular pattern, larger particles thrown farther. May apply 1/2 rate in one direction and 1/2 in the opposite direction - Overlap passes by 1/3

Drop- Spreader drops particles evenlybut a very accurate application required to avoid striping effects - Less chance of wind drift

Cornell University Lawn Care Library

Fall is the ideal time to fertilize cool season grasses

Misapplications of Nitrogen Fertilizer

Iowa state university

www.urbanext.uiuc.edu

© pammcooper 2008

Brown grass is dead grasstoo much fertilizer

Light areas missed- can reapply to missed areas

Reading a Grass Seed Bag Label As the summer approaches and soil temperatures increase, shoot growth slows down. Many times, homeowners apply fertilizer because they think the lawn has stopped growing for lack of food. Fertilizing at this time may cause more harm than good, especially when humid, wet conditions occur.

• Analysis panel required by law- tells you exactly what is in the bag • Each kind ( Variety ) is listed by % ( Purity ) by weight in the bag • Germination- % that will sprout- the higher the better • Inert Matter- not capable of growth • Weed seed- % by weight _ acceptable is 0.3- 0.5% • Noxious weed- want this to be NONE FOUND • Lot #, and date seed was tested for viability

The % germination for Kentucky bluegrass should be at least 75% Fine fescue, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass should have a % germination of at least 85%

Make sure the grass types are listed by cultivar name, not just the generic grass type • For example: “ Thermal Blue “ KBG- 38% “ Manhattan “ Perennial rye-25% “ Genesis “ Hard Fescue-37% • Not:

KBG - 38% Perennial Rye- 25% Hard Fescue- 37%

Mix:

two or more different species: ryegrass, KBG, fescue all in same bag/ loose mix

Blend: two or more cultivars of the same species, i.e. “ Manhattan “ and “ Nexus “ perennial ryes 3 SPECIES-

KBG, FESCUE, PERENNIAL RYE

4 CULTIVARS-

BARON, NUGGET, DERBY, JAMESTOWN

Percentage Live Seed

Want similar texture/ habits/ growth requirements Best scenario is to plant more than one cultivar or species to avoid losing vast areas to disease, insects, or stress

pH affects nutrient availability Most grasses need pH between 5.8- 7.0

PLS is the amount of seed that is guaranteed to germinate It is determined by multiplying the % germination and the % purity Example: if % germination is 90% and the % purity is 85% 90 x 85= 76% of the seed will germinate in the best of conditions If 100lb. bag of seed, then expect 76 lbs to actually germinate

Low pH and Turf Effects On turf- low pH: • Reduces rooting

Msu.edu

LIME • Best applied in fall- but can apply any time as long as the ground is not frozen

• Causes excess thatch development • Reduces microbial activity

• Do not apply at the same time fastrelease fertilizers are used- wait 3 weeks to apply lime after applying urea

• Reduces earthworm populations

• Wash lime off leaf blades • Reduces wear and drought tolerance

LOWERING SOIL pH Pelletized Lime-

• Elemental sulfur is useful to lower soil pH- also it is fairly inexpensive. Aluminum sulfate can be used also. •

Pellets from pelletized lime dissolve after a soaking rain or irrigation. If tilling soil, apply pellets before tilling and water thoroughly.

Aluminum sulfate lowers ph instantly as it dissolves into the soil

• Sulfur can take months to convert to sulfuric acidaided by soil bacteria • Both products burn foliage - water off immediately • Both products work best when worked into the soil

• Clay soils may require 3 times the sulfur that sandy soils need to lower pH

large rocks just below soil surface

• Rates may have to be low and frequent- 0.5- 5 lbs/ 1000 sq. ft. • Do not apply sulfur if air T° is 90° or above • Apply in the cool part of the growing season

FROST DAMAGE

©2007 pammcooper

perdue.edu

Ice crown damage- umn.edu Lasius neoniger :

A.K.A. Turf ant

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