Last year I posted a turf tip on why it is so difficult to manage turf around sidewalks and driveways. I encourage you to read that post (Weed Management Next to Sidewalks and Driveways) as it provides recommendations for weed control, etc. in these areas as well as how to prevent weeds and encourage healthier…Read more about How to Keep Turf Areas Around Sidewalks From Failing[Read More]
Now that the snow has melted, you might be seeing some areas damaged from snow plows or other winter vehicle traffic that need repair. Seed planted now (late March) will begin to germinate in early to mid-April. The earlier in the year that you seed, the more time the turf will have for…Read more about Seed Early in the Spring for Better Success[Read More]
A common question this time of year is whether to plant turf seed now and control weeds later OR to instead control the weeds now and then seed later. Here are my thoughts. Cool-season turf seed mixture. Option 1 for areas with mainly broadleaf weeds and a few annual grasses: Plant now and control weeds…Read more about Plant Turf Seed or Control Weeds First?[Read More]
Typical conversation about fescues. Bill: What kind of grass do you have? Bob: Fescue. Bill: What kind of fescue? Bob: You mean there’s more than one kind? Bill: Yes. As I travel around the region and give presentations or respond to email and phone questions, it is very common for me to enter into a…Read more about Fescue. You mean there’s more than one kind?[Read More]
The best time to seed a cool-season lawn is in the late summer to early fall. Adequate soil moisture, warm soil, and limited weed pressure allow for excellent seedling growth. Normally, we recommend seeding between August 15 and September 15 as the optimum seeding window. However, due to our cool summer and a…Read more about Start Seeding Cool-Season Turf Now[Read More]
Water is necessary to initiate the germination process in seeds. As the seed imbibes water, enzymatic reactions within the seed trigger the germination process. Enzymes breakdown the energy stored inside the seed endosperm and this energy is used by the seed embryo for growth. The first visible step in the germination process is the emergence…Read more about Watering Newly Seeded Areas[Read More]
As we exit the end of the first full week of July 2014 in the aftermath of the “PolarVortex” many winter-survival questions still remain. Here is what we do know… spring green-up was extremely slow and regional weather conditions continue to be suboptimal for aggressive warm-season grass growth. While individual cultural practices for a particular…Read more about Bermudagrass Cultivar Winter Survival Update[Read More]
A key step in most lawn maintenance practices such as seeding and fertilizing as well as with double-checking your calibration and application accuracy is to determine the size of the turf area. Determining your lawn area will help you calculate how much seed you need, how much sod to order, how much fertilizer to apply,…Read more about How Big is Your Lawn?[Read More]
Seeding in spring is difficult and unsuccessful if not done correctly. However, there are many in Indiana who didn’t seed last fall but still need to seed this spring to help fill in thin areas from last summer’s drought. The following circumstances that warrant a spring seeding: Thin turf due to winter damage Poor turf…Read more about Still Time for Spring Seeding[Read More]
Calling all cool-season putting green managers!!! Real-world feedback needed…. We are following up on an article we published in Golf Course Management Magazine last fall titled “An economic comparison of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass maintenance practices”. We are seeking some “real-world” feedback regarding current grass species, grass species preferences and common maintenance practices….Read more about Survey – cool-season putting greens[Read More]
Now is the time to be seeding a lawn, but in some communities water restrictions and bans are preventing homeowners and lawn care professionals from renovating/reseeding damaged lawns following this summer’s drought. August 15 to September 15 is considered to be the optimum time to seed cool-season lawns in Indiana. This optimum window is slightly…Read more about Watering Bans Making Turf Establishment Tough in Some Locations[Read More]
As the “un-winter of 2011-2012” rapidly winds to a close golf course managers are already bringing their playing surfaces into peak form. For those managing putting surfaces containing annual bluegrass (Poa annua) this means addressing concerns that seedheads are affecting surface smoothness. With the lack of snow cover this past winter, the seedhead season is…Read more about Unwinter, Poa seedheads and Growing Degree Days, Oh MY!!![Read More]
Scientists make turfgrass safer for animals, deadly for insects September 6, 2011 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The right combination of compounds produced by a beneficial fungus could lead to grasses that require fewer pesticides and are safer for wildlife and grazing animals, according to Purdue University scientists. Read More Purdue ‘tool box’ could be…Read more about Purdue Turf Scientists and Their Work Highlighted in Recent Press Releases[Read More]
Part I: Spring seeding options (This turf tip is part of a three part series on spring seeding.) Seeding in spring is difficult and often unsuccessful. However, there are circumstances that warrant a spring seeding: Thin turf due to winter damage Poor turf density due to poor recovery from previous year’s problems, i.e., grub damage,…Read more about Rejuvenating Turf in 2011: Part I[Read More]
Part II: Summer diseases in Residential Turf Part III: Summer weeds: Common summer weeds and their control Part I: Too hot: Why some turfgrass species look poor in summer Color Variation in Residential and Commercial Lawns Crabgrass Control Now is the time to seed lawns and other turf areas Choosing a Preemergence Herbicide Late Fall…Read more about Top Ten Turf Tips of 2010[Read More]
Recently, the question of whether or not it is too late to seed has been posed to me by many. The drought that we have experienced during our optimum seeding window has pushed back seeding dates for many. Now the question is do I seed now, do a dormant seed, or wait and seed in…Read more about Is it too late to seed? What should we do?[Read More]
Have you ever noticed that grass located in or near parking lots struggle in heat or drought conditions? In fact, many times grassed areas in or near parking lots are great indicators of when turf is getting dry, as they are normally the first to show heat or drought stress. The most common reason why…Read more about Why do parking lot islands of turf fail in the summertime?[Read More]
Timing The best time to seed a lawn is in the late summer to early fall. Adequate soil moisture, warm soil, and limited weed pressure allow for excellent seedling growth. Between August 15 and September 15 is optimum seeding time in the northern half of Indiana, and September 1 to September 30 is optimum in…Read more about Now is the time to seed lawns and other turf areas[Read More]
Mid-August to mid-September is the best time to seed cool-season grasses. However, sometimes turf is damaged throughout the winter or the previous year and must be seeded in the spring. Spring seeding is difficult so there are a few helpful hints to ensure the most successful outcome. Seeding should take place early in the spring…Read more about Spring seeding[Read More]
Tall fescue is a great turf for lawns throughout most of Indiana. It requires about ½ the nitrogen and far less irrigation than Kentucky bluegrass when managed for the same aesthetic appearance. Because of its deeper rooting and access to water in the soil, it stays greener than Kentucky bluegrass much longer into a drought….Read more about Tall fescue for Indiana lawns but not most sports fields[Read More]
