horticulturestudentblogger-blog

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Salt Lake City lawns are among the worst in the nation for weeds in 2018.

This article discusses weed control and improperly used management practices that encourage the development of weed infestations in turf stands. Salt Lake city has been named the 9th worst city for weeds and lawn disease in 2018 due to unseasonably warm temperatures, which promote crabgrass. The article writer goes on to discuss the problems weeds cause for turfgrass stands. In high densities, weeds outcompete turfgrasses by absorbing water and nutrients that would have gone to the grass plants. Weeds can be controlled by understanding how to properly utilize management practices. Overwatering will encourage weed germination, as will mowing to low. I know firsthand that overwatering will promote weed growth. My backyard developed quite the infestation of buttercups after I incorrectly programed the irrigation system before I went on vacation. Keeping existing turf well maintained and dense will help prevent weeds from becoming a problem in lawns. In general, it is best to prevent a weed infestation before it occurs, otherwise your turfgrass stand will suffer.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/04/24/crabgrass-and-spotted-spurge-and-dandelions-oh-my-salt-lake-city-lawns-are-among-the-worst-in-the-nation-for-weeds-in-2018/ 

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Take care of your lawn while being mindful of water quality

I found this article to be generally informative for the average person trying to grow a decent stand of turfgrass. This article has a simple reminder, “Water the grass, not the pavement or the driveway.” This is a pet peeve of mine considering how adjusting a sprinkler head is a simple matter of reading directions and following them. The author goes on to recommend automatic rain sensors, which are actually required in some places, which prevent automatic schedules from overwatering. The density of the turfgrass will also affect the amount of water runoff. Utilizing slow release nitrogen fertilizer is recommended to prevent fertilizer runoff. This article touched on mowing height and the misconception of grass clippings causing excess thatch. I would like to know what type of grass the author had in mind while writing this article, as she suggests a 2 ½ inch or higher mower height. Overall, this article provide some good tips for a homeowner looking to create a basic turfgrass stand.

http://www.reflector.com/Look/2018/04/07/Spring-lawn-care-and-water-quality.html

Image: http://www.riversidelawnsprinkler.com/

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The grass isn’t greener in Claremont parks, in some places, it’s gone (or will be)

This article discusses a plan to reduce the turfgrass areas of Claremont city parks. The city of Claremont is looking into methods of water conservation. The city has decided to remove approximately 202,000 square foot of turfgrass in order to reduce maintenance. The estimate to replace the turfgrass with mulch or drought tolerant shrubs is $300,000-$400,000. I would like to know what type of grass they currently have growing in the areas where the city council are planning to replace turf. If the current turfgrass is not drought-tolerant, then I would replace it with a drought tolerant cultivar instead of mulch. The article gives an estimate of $1.50-$2.00 a square foot to replace turfgrass with a new species. As the cost would remain approximately the same, I believe the council should look into the opinions of the populace as to which they would prefer. I personally think turfgrass would look better in our city’s parks than mulch or shrubs.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/03/29/the-grass-isnt-greener-in-claremont-parks-in-some-places-its-gone-or-will-be/

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Summertime fertilizer ban remains in place after turf groups pressure county leaders

This article covers an issue that has bothered me for years. As a preface, Bradenton, a city in Manatee County, has an ordinance that impacts the fertilization of lawns. It was suggested that this ordinance be removed which has sparked a debate. The article begins by stating the current ordinance which, “bans nitrogen fertilizer from June 1 through Sept. 30, prohibits phosphorus year-round unless the soil has been tested and deemed deficient and requires that all granular fertilizers need to have more than 50 percent slow-release nitrogen.” The purpose of this ordinance is to prevent fertilizer runoff and algae bloom problems. I would like to point out that this is only a problem if there is excessive fertilizer application. Furthermore, I would like to remind everyone that, in Florida, June- September is when we get the highest levels of rainfall.

 Given Florida’s sandy soils this means that nitrogen need is higher during this time period. As such, I agree with Todd Josco’s proposal of exempting licensed professionals from the ban. The article mentions that the UF/IFAS extension was neutral in the debate. I would like to learn more about the research done by the university into this particular issue.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article204981789.html

Graph: http://www.city-data.com/city/Bradenton-Florida.html

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Clearing up confusion: The pros and cons of thatch

This is an interesting article that is informs the reader of the positive and negative effects of thatch in a turf grass stand. To start off, thatch is defined as a layer of organic material that develops on lawns. The benefits of a thin layer of thatch include; temperature buffering, moisture retention, and weed prevention. Thatch serves to insulate the soil and prevent direct sunlight from drying soil. Additionally, a thatch layer prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil and germinating. I thought that this pro could also be considered a con as reducing seed germination could backfire if one was overseeding a lawn. Excessive thatch provides some negatives such as insect development and disease development. The article goes on to discuss the accumulation of thatch, as well as prevention and thatch removal. I found the impact microbial activity in the soil has on thatch build up to be interesting. A low level of microbial activity can result in thatch accumulation, but what causes microbe levels to be low? The article sites acidic soils and poor soil textures to be a cause of lowered microbial presence. I would like to learn more about the impact soil microbes have on turfgrass and other plant life.

https://www.totallandscapecare.com/business-add-ons/pros-and-cons-of-thatch/

Image: https://www.natureslawn.com/thatch-article/ 

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Turf talk

This article provides one with a broad scope of practices that impact turfgrass. Soil is the starting point for a lawn, if the turf is going to be properly established, then soils that are not compacted, have some degree of drainage, and some organic matter are a must. Fertilizing is a necessary practices that sometimes could be replaced by re-seeding in particularly weak lawns. The article goes mentions a practice that called rolling lawns. This practice should not be utilized on lawns as it causes soil compaction and damage to the turfgrass. I would like to know more about this practice and its purpose in turfgrass management.

  http://buffalonews.com/2018/02/09/great-gardening-turf-talk/

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7 Poa Myths

I thought this next article was kinda neat as it deals with misconceptions a person may have about one of the most common weeds affecting turf grasses. Poa annua, better known as annual bluegrass, requires different management practices depending of the region in which it is growing. Some of the common myths surrounding Poa are related to control. The article is very clear that Poa is something most turf managers have to live with, due to its high germination rate. If one lives in a warmer climate, one may see Poa going dormant, in which case your turf stand will end developing gaps.(See below).

 I found the water requirement myth to be particularly interesting. The article states that as with most other grasses, root quality impacts a plant’s water requirements. As such, with careful management, a deeper root system can be developed to reduce water usage for Poa stands. I would like to learn more about the reasons why one would choose to cultivate a turf stand of a species that is commonly considered a weed.

http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/article/poa-annua-myths-turf/

Image: https://extension.umass.edu/landscape/weeds/poa-annua

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New Zoysia Grass Performs Ideal Putting Surface

Hey, a great article to check out is ‘New Zoysia Grass Performs Ideal Putting Surface.’ This article highlights a hybrid of zoysia minima and zoysia matrella, known as DALZ 1308, which was developed for use in golf courses. Zoysia, despite its low maintenance, is not traditionally used in golf courses as the blade density typically reduces the distance golf balls can roll. However, the producers of this new cultivar, Texas A&M, claim that the average roll of a golf ball is actually higher on DALZ 1308. If these claims are true, then there could be a huge impact on golf course management. Lower maintenance grasses reduce the usage of; water, fertilizer, equipment, and labor. I would like to see a price estimate indicating the profitability of switching to a lower maintenance grass on a golf course. Additionally, I would like an estimate of the cost of replacing existing turf with DALZ 1308 in order to determine if it is a viable investment.  

Https://Today.agrilife.org/2018/01/12/New-Zoysia-Grass-Performs-Ideal-Putting-Surface/