Best Management Practices for Florida turfgrasses – Fertility and Cultural .
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Transcript of Best Management Practices for Florida turfgrasses – Fertility and Cultural .
Best Management Practices for Florida turfgrasses – Fertility and Cultural
http://turf.ufl.edu
LAWN
Have you scalped the lawn? Used weed and feed more
than 2 times a year? Water more than 2 times a
week? Fertilize with quick release
fertilizer?
Then lets SHAPE UP!
Benefits of Turfgrass Functional Benefits
Stormwater Runoff Reduction
Soil Erosion Dust Stabilization Heat Dissipation
Aesthetic Benefits Safe Play Area Community Pride Increased Property
Values Compliments and
ties together the rest of the landscape
Components of best management practices
Right plant, right place Fertility practices Irrigation practices Mowing practices Pesticide spraying
Which Grass Do You Want to Use?
• Bahiagrass
• Bermudagrass
• Centipedegrass
•St. Augustinegrass
• Zoysiagrass
St. Augustinegrass(Stenotaphrum secundatum)
Advantages Good shade
tolerance Good salt
tolerance Tolerant to wide
range of soil pH Establishes
quickly from sod Dark green color
Disadvantages–Poor cold tolerance
–Poor drought tolerance
–Poor wear tolerance
–Forms excessive thatch
–Susceptible to chinch bugs
St. Augustinegrass(Stenotaphrum secundatum)
St. Augustinegrass Cultivars
Floratam no longer chinch bug resistantpoor cold and shade
toleranceRaleigh cold hardy
poor chinch bug resistanceBitterblue good shade tolerance, blue green colorClassic good cold tolerance Amerishade dwarf with good shade tolerance
•Captiva New dwarf cultivar with great shade tolerance and chinch bug resistance•Seville Great shade tolerance prone to thatch and webworms•Delmar cold tolerant- good for sun too
St. Augustine dwarf cultivars
Zoysiagrasses (Zoysia spp.)
Advantages Tight low growing turf Good shade tolerance Resists weeds Good traffic tolerance Disney grass
Zoysiagrasses (Zoysia spp.)
Disadvantages Slow growing Thatch issues Water needs Fertilizer needs Billbugs Nematodes
Zoysiagrasses cultivars
Empire El Toro Ultimate flora
Lush look of a Northern-type lawn grass for warm-season climates.
Easily replaces St. Augustine grass as a residential turfgrass option.
Establishes quicker than most other zoysia grasses.
Bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum)
Advantages Good drought tolerance Low fertility
requirements Low maintenance Tolerant of sandy,
infertile soils Establishes from seed
Bahiagrass(Paspalum notatum)
Disadvantages Produces abundance of
seedheads Open growth habit
encourages weed competition
Susceptible to mole crickets Coarse stems are difficult to
mow Not wear tolerant
Centipede grass Advantages
Slow growing Good drought tolerance Low fertility requirements Low maintenance Tolerant of sandy, infertile soils
Hammock is a good cultivar
Centipede grass Disadvantages
Poor shade tolerance Nematodes Can be over managed
Fertilization
Goals of fertility programs1. To produce healthy, stress-
tolerant turfgrass2. To protect the
environment
Turfgrass Fertility Considerations
Soil testing How to apply fertilizer to not pollute Fertilizer source (quick-release vs.
slow-release) Application amount Application timing Fall fertility Fertilizer storage
Know Your Soil Soil testing should
provide the basis for determining a fertility program
This includes pH testing as well as extractable levels of macro and micronutrients
Do not soil test for N, as it is very mobile
pH If you soil pH is too low less than 6 you will
need to apply Lime Only apply lime with recommendations
from your soil test Use either calcitic limestone or dolomite to
lime Water in with ¼ inch of irrigation It will take 4-6 weeks for you to get the pH
were it needs to be
The Fertilizer Bag
Numbers refer to percent nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in the bag
Example: 15-0-15 has 15% N, (or 7.5 lbs. in a 50 lb. bag) 0% P, 15% K as K2O5
Nutrient sources also listed
Turfgrass Fertility Considerations
How to apply Fertilizer source (quick-
release vs. slow-release) Application amount Application timing Fall fertility
How To Properly Apply Fertilizer Be careful not to apply fertilizer particles
onto sidewalks, roadways, or other impervious surfaces where they might wind up in the storm drain
How To Properly Apply Fertilizer Use a deflector shield when fertilizing near
water bodies- this will allow for a 3’ ring – without a shield, leave a 10’ ring
How To Properly Apply Fertilizer Irrigate fertilizer in with only enough
water to move granules off of leaves (~1/4” water)
Elements Required for Turfgrass Growth
Macronutrients:
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
From Environment:
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Micronutrients:
Iron
Manganese
Boron
Copper
Molybdenum
Zinc
Nickel
Application Amount Depends on percentage slow-release N No more than ½ lb. N 1000 ft2 if quick-
release Up to 1 lb. N 1000 ft2 if slow-release Better to apply smaller amounts more
frequently for optimal physiological functioning of turf
T-Timing 1. The first fertilization is in the
Spring -early April2. Then May with slow release3. Fall fertilization is done in
September-October4. Weed control is addressed in
late February early March
Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N 1000 ft-2 yr-1)
St. Augustinegrass:North FL: 2-4Central FL: 2-5South FL: 4-6
Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N 1000 ft-2 yr-1)
Bahiagrass:North FL: 2-3Central FL: 2-4South FL: 2-4
Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N 1000 ft-2 yr-1)
Centipedegrass:North FL: 1-2Central FL: 2-3South FL: 2-3
Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N 1000 ft-2 yr-1)
Zoysia grass:North FL: 2-4
Central FL: 3-6
South FL: 4-6
Current UF/IFAS Fertility Recommendations(lbs. N 1000 ft-2 yr-1)
To apply 1 pound of NITROGEN per 1000 square feet
Take the percentage nitrogen from the fertilizer label 10-2-10 and divide that into 100. The result will equal the pounds of FERTILIZER to apply to 1000 square feet.
For a 15-0-15 15/100 = 6.5 pounds of fertilizer to 1000 square
How Much Phosphorus Do We Need in Florida?
• P fertilization should be based on soil test results
• If a soil test indicates P is adequate in soil, use a fertilizer with no more than 2% P
• P may be required in greater amounts during establishment of lawns
Fertilizer Rulein Florida on Phosphorus
This rule limits fertilizers that can be sold for use on lawns to those that contain low or no phosphorus (2nd number on the bag), and limits the total annual amount of phosphorous that can be applied to a home lawn.
You are allowed to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn each time you apply fertilizer if the nitrogen is in a slow-release form, or 0.7 pounds of nitrogen if you are using a quick-release source.
Potassium Provides Increased Tolerance to Many Stresses
• Helps turf maintain water balance• Functions in cellular activities such
as photosynthesis• Can enhance cold tolerance and
spring green-up
Other Considerations for Fertility: Irrigation
Even if fertilizer is applied at proper rates, too much water following fertilizing can result in leaching or runoff
Irrigate fertilizer in with ¼” of water
Don’t fertilize during a heavy rainfall
It’s raining out- should we leave the sprinklers on?
An efficient watering program must include:
How frequently to water
how much to water time of day to water
How Often to Water The most efficient
way is to apply water when turf begins to show signs of stress: bluish gray
color footprints
remain leaf blades
folded in half
How Much to Water•An efficient watering only wets the turfgrass root zone, does not saturate the soil, and does not allow water to run off.
•Apply 1/2” to 3/4” when turf shows symptoms of wilt and do not apply any more until water stress symptoms are again noticeable.
Short, frequent irrigations
Longer, less frequent irrigations
Time of Day To Water
Wet grass = disease opportunity
Dew point should not be extended – grass must dry out
Best time to water is just before or at sunrise
Irrigation System Efficiency One of the most
important things to do during a drought is to check the efficiency of your irrigation system
We are under Watering Restrictions Water only one time per week. Even addresses Sunday Odd addresses Saturday No watering between 10 am and 4 pm Check with GRU or St. John’s River
Water Management district for more information.
Mowing
• Don’t mow grass when wet
•Keep mower blades sharp!
Mowing Mow at highest recommended height
for species Don’t remove more than 1/3 of the
leaf blade at any one time Leave clippings on the ground Increase mowing height under any
environmental stress (shade, drought, etc.)
Influence of mowing height on rooting depth
Mowing Under Drought Conditions
Grass growth is reduced during drought Therefore, mowing needs are reduced You should mow less often, but at the
highest recommended height for your grass. This will help to encourage a deeper root system and place less stress on the grass
Keep your mower blades at their sharpest to further reduce stress on the grass
How Do I Manage Turf in the Shade?
Remove shade sources (trimming trees) Reduce traffic in shaded areas Increase mowing height if possible –
more shoot tissue for photosynthesis will help turf perform better
Reduce irrigation in shaded areas Reduce fertilization – trying to promote
shoot growth with high fertility will further stress the grass
Shade Tolerant Turf
St. Augustinegrass = zoysiagrassCentipedegrass
BahiagrassBermudagrass
St. Augustinegrass Shade Tolerance
Captiva, Seville, Delmar, Bitterblue
Palmetto Floratam
Weeds Broadleaf Sedges Grass weeds
Weed Control Begins With Proper Management Proper Turfgrass Selection
This results in thin, weak turf that is very susceptible to weed invasion
Proper Cultural Practices Proper fertilization, watering, mowing, and control of
other pests are required to produce a dense turf that will prevent weed infestation
Sanitation Many times we introduce the weeds
Chemical Controls Selective, Non-selective Contact, Systemic Pre-emergence
applied prior to weed seed germination
Read your herbicide label very carefully
Hawksbeard Spreading Dayflower
Chamber bitterDollarweed
crabgrass
Crowfootgrass
Sandspur
PendamethalinHalts crabgrass preventer
Globe SedgeNutsedge
BasagranManage Image
Hand weeding can work!
Diseases
Gray leaf spot azoxystrobin, propiconazole, thiophanate methyl, trifloxystrobin.
Diseases Brown Patch now Large patch
Cool weather disease mancozeb, azoxystrobin propiconazole thiophanate methyl
Insects
Chinch bugs
Suck the plant juices from grass (generally on nodes of runners) resulting in yellowish to brownish patches
Damage often first noticed in water stressed areas along edges of lawns Treat with triazicide or bifenthrin
Chinch bugs
Tropical Sod Web Worms
Summer and fall Notched feeding on
blades Associated with
moths Dipel or Sevin
Grubs Grass thins, yellows,
wilts, dies. No roots Many different beetle
culprits Grub Ex
Inspecting for GrubsInspecting for Grubs
Treat with labeled pesticideTreat with labeled pesticide
Monitoring for Turf PestsMonitoring for Turf Pests
Weekly pest monitoring is recommended
Monitoring Chinch Bugs
1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil in suspected areasin suspected areas
2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float
3) Wait 5 minutes 3) Wait 5 minutes then countthen count
4) Repeat in 3 - 4 4) Repeat in 3 - 4 locationslocations
In general, healthy turf is In general, healthy turf is better able to withstand pest better able to withstand pest pressure than stressed turfpressure than stressed turf
Follow guidelines for growing healthy Follow guidelines for growing healthy turf printed in the Florida Lawn turf printed in the Florida Lawn
HandbookHandbook