Is Your Bermuda Grass Healthy?

Bermuda grass is known for its thick lush lawn that is a pleasure to walk on. However if your grass gets stressed out it might start lacking in the coveted curb appeal we all work so hard to achieve. So lets discuss a couple different areas where your bermuda grass might be struggling to remain healthy.

Crunchy Bermuda

Got some patches or really dry bermuda grass that hurt to walk on. Maybe you can see the thatch / soil between the burned out shoots of bermuda. Chances are if you’ve got some really dry spots in your yard it’s not getting enough water. One article you might find particularly helpful is How Much Water Does My Grass Need.

Weedy Bermuda

Another tell tail sign your grass might not be healthy are weeds. If you’ve not implemented a strict weed control regimen into your lawn care routine, maybe it’s time to start. Weeds thrive in soil that is not conditioned to well. If your soil is healthy your grass will be healthy and the weeds will die off. If you’re looking for an organic solution to weed control you might consider broadcast spreading some sugar on your lawn. Otherwise there are several commercial weed control products to help you rid your lawn of pesky weeds.

Seed Head Bermuda

Bermuda grass that is stressed out will start throwing seed heads only a couple of days after mowing. These cause your grass to appear like it needs mowing again but is actually a sign your grass is in distress. What I’ve found is that most lawns are in pretty good shape and only have a couple of patches where seed heads are prevalent. If your lawn is covered in seed heads you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you to get your grass back in shape.

Are Organic Weed Killers Really Worth the Extra Cash?

There is a growing interest amongst people interested in protecting the environment about the use of organic weed control products. These are the same people interested in organic fertilizer. There are several organic weed killers that are effective for spot applications to control weeds. These products usually contain high concentrations of vinegar which act quickly to kill weeds, but do not harm earth worms, beneficial insects and do not provide a danger to aquatic life if they run off into streams or rivers.

These products are not as easy to find as the chemical herbicides and are considerably more expensive. In many cases these organic weed control products can cost 5-7 times more than man-made herbicides. The question that many face is if the organic weed control efforts worth the extra cash? This is probably a personal decision about how one believes the environment is affected by man-made chemical herbicides. Chemical herbicides do degrade over time, but are a hazard to aquatic life if run off occurs into rivers or streams. Responsible use can minimize those hazards, although not entirely eliminate them.

Organic weed control is the safest way to deal with a pesky weed control problem so the answer to the question might be to consider an investment in organic weed killers as an investment in our environment.

Perhaps the most responsible choice is to practice lawn care techniques that allow the minimum number of weeds to grow. Establish a rich thick lawn, cut the lawn higher throughout the year to discourage weed seed from reaching the soil and germinating. Also one can use organic weed control sparingly as a spot control to quickly and aggressively stamp out weeds and prevent them from spreading.

There are other ways to use organic weed control measures. Areas that are habitually infested with weeds could have mulch applied to prevent growth. Strawberry farms often use porous sheets that enable rain water to reach the soil, but block sunlight from the weed seeds that may lie beneath it.

Tree rings are a popular way to use organic weed control measures for areas that are often a breeding spot for weeds. These porous sheets around trees enable moisture to permeate the soil while preventing weeds. An organic weed control measure that can be applied to dandelions which are a nuisance weed found throughout the country is to apply a spoon full of salt which will result in a quick kill. The ultimate organic weed control solution is to pull the offenders out of the ground. Be careful to pull the root completely out. This is best applied after a rainfall when the soil is moist. Organic weed control is practiced regularly will serve to protect our environment.

Ultimate Weed Control - The Best Weed Killers

It’s amusing to wonder if one was trying to grow weeds, would grass invade? Well, we all know that is just a dream for those of us that are trying to cultivate a well manicured and beautiful lawn. Weeds, like troubles in life, are a reality. However there are actions that can be taken in the weed control arena to minimize their impact on our lawns. Understanding weeds and their growth patterns is the first step in the weed removal and elimination process. There are a variety of weed control and weed killer products that can assist us in our lawn care endeavor.

Weeds are generally divided into two categories. There are broad leaf weeds and weedy grasses. The weedy grasses are composed of several types, but by far the king of the weedy grasses is crabgrass. The broad leaf weeds are characterized by such plants as clover, dandelions and plantain.

To further complicate the weed control challenge, weeds are also characterized as annual, biannual and perennial with certain weed varieties occurring in the spring and other varieties occurring in the fall. Weed control is a year round challenge, but the good news is that weed killers and weed removal efforts will produce results.

Now let’s examine a few specifics on weed control and how weed killers can help. First the most effective weed control is a lush lawn. Mowing the lawn a bit higher particularly in the summer months, often prohibits many weed seeds from reaching the soil where they can germinate. A thick lawn maintained at a height of 2½ to 3 inches will greatly assist in weed control. Certain grass types act as their own weed control mechanism. For instance Zoysia grass provides natural weed control because of it’s natural thickness. Weed killer is often not required on a lawn that has a thick Zoysia grass.

Annual weeds can often be controlled through the application of a preemergent herbicide which acts to control weeds by preventing the seeds from germinating. A pre-emergent must be applied two-three weeks prior to spring for effective weed control. A pre-emergent can also be applied in the fall for weed control of perennial weeds.

After weeds have developed there are a number of effective herbicides available at local nurseries or other retail outlets that can be used to kill weeds. Granules can be used as well as liquid sprays. When used properly both are effective methods of weed control. Granules are effective for a small lawn if applied over the entire area with a rotary or drop spreader. However for a larger lawn it may be cost prohibitive to treat an entire area and weed killer can be applied selectively in specific spots by using a liquid spray canister that usually holds a gallon or two. Liquid weed killers can also be applied to an entire lawn or in selective areas using a product that will enable it to be dispensed using a garden hose.

The major lawn service companies tend to use liquid sprays because it is easy to carry about in small tanker vehicles and can be quickly applied either to treat an entire lawn or for spot applications to in troublesome areas control and kill weeds.

If you chose to do it yourself, make sure you follow the directions carefully as one wants only to kill weeds, not the lawn grasses. Also, make sure you give a wide berth to garden areas where food crops will be raised or to areas where ornamental plants are growing.

Herbicides to control weeds generally have specific instructions on when to apply them. If using one of these products to kill weeds pay close attention to the time of day and conditions that are necessary for effective application. For granular applications the product needs to stick to the leaves of the weeds so it is generally best to apply in the early morning when dew has coated the ground or after the lawn has been watered. However, any rain too soon after application will significantly reduce the product’s ability to effectively to kill weeds. Liquid weed kill products obviously have the moisture necessary to cause the herbicide to stick to the leaves of weeds, but as with the granular products any rain too soon after application will diminish the effectiveness of the weed killer. Avoid spraying in windy conditions as the herbicide can drift and kill or stunt the growth of garden crops or ornamental flowers.

Shady areas where it is more difficult to grow grass are most susceptible to weed infestations. These areas generally demand more attention to control weeds. It is hoped that these words will help the reader to control and kill weeds – happy hunting!

Organic Fertilizer For Lawns

There is considerable debate that occurs as to the effectiveness of using organic fertilizers versus the chemical fertilizers that are used throughout the world. Chemical fertilizers are synthetic materials derived from man-made chemicals whereas organic fertilizers are the remains or the by product of a once living organism. Organic fertilizers generally include manure (chicken, cow, horse, pig, sheep), plant byproducts like cotton seed meal and corn meal, municipal sewer sludge, fish meal from dried and pulverized fish, blood meal which is dried blood from cattle slaughterhouses, various seaweed products and several other mixtures to include worm castings, molasses and honey.

By far the most practical organic fertilizer for lawns is one of the several types of manures that are available. In addition to adding necessary nutrients to the soil, these fertilizers add organic content to the soil which aids in the moisture retention which is essential for a healthy root system. Grass uses nitrogen in high quantities and often organic fertilizers do not have the high content of nitrogen that grass demands. Nevertheless, several years of using organic fertilizers like manure will add the organic content necessary to produce a strong root system that will not require the large doses of nitrogen that grass obtains from chemical fertilizers. The organic content of the soil will enable air to more easily reach the root system and the nitrogen is extracted from the air.

Organic chemicals on the whole are much more environmentally friendly than the synthetics, however it might be prudent to avoid the use of municipal sludge on garden crops because of the higher concentrations of heavy metals that may be present.

While organic chemical have lower levels of nitrogen available, their primary advantage lies in the soil building characteristics which make available more natural nitrogen. Synthetic fertilizers are nutrient rich, but do not add any organic content to the soil.

A review of some of the literature available indicates that there appear to be no adverse impacts on grass from the use of organic fertilizers while the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers adds pollution to water systems when it runs off of fertilized lands. Organic fertilizers should be more widely used on lawns for these very reasons.

There is only a slight cost premium involved in using organic fertilizers and they are widely available. Scotts, one of the foremost producers of synthetic fertilizers also manufactures organic fertilizers that are widely available.

What Type of Lawn Mower Should I Use?

There is a wide selection of lawn mowers to chose from for residential use. Gas powered and electric models in a wide variety of types are available. For those that wish to combine exercise with their chores there are people powered reel-type push mowers.

Determining exactly what type of lawn mower to use is dependent on a variety of circumstances. The size of the lawn, the topography of the land (flat, rolling or somewhat hilly) and the number of obstacles to cut around (trees or flower/garden beds) are some of the considerations. The physical ability of the individual mowing must also be considered. An older individual with a rather large lawn may want a self-propelled or riding lawnmower – on the other hand even an older individual who is interested in maintaining their health and vigor may look forward to a bit of a workout when mowing with a push type mower. Price is also a consideration and prices range from about $75 to several thousand dollars depending on the particular model and the attachments that can be used. Another consideration, particularly for smaller yards may be environmental friendliness. Electric models or people powered mowers are non-polluting whereas the gas models do emit green-house gases. Finally, a lawn mower needs to be stored to avoid exposure to the corrosive effects of weather. Obviously the larger the mower and the greater the number of attachments, the larger the space for storage will need to be.

Large or small wheels, with or without grass catchers, mulching blades, width of cut, reliability and dependability of a particular manufacturer and the personal desires of the individual who is actually doing the lawn mowing are among the other variables.

Perhaps the best way to determine the type of lawn mower to be used is to listen and observe what is occurring in your own neighborhood. Talk to neighbors about their particular likes and dislikes with the mower they are using. They will likely have advice about different models and manufacturers as well as information about efficiency. Once information is gathered, it might be prudent to consult a buyer or consumer guide and read about the different models being considered.

One thing is certain, lawn mowing will be among the many home owner chores that will have to accomplished at very regular intervals. Selecting the right product to meet your needs is an essential element of possessing an eye-pleasing lawn.

Best Time to Mow Your Lawn

Mowing lawns for some may be drudgery, but it is a labor of love for those that wish to maintain a healthy and well manicured lawn. Regular mowing insures healthy turf and mowing at the appropriate intervals will not only insure a beautiful lawn, but will provide sustenance for the root systems.

Most grasses should be maintained at a height of about 2 inches during the spring and fall and at 2½ -3 ½ inches during the hot summer months. The reason for the higher height during the summer insures that shade is provided for the underlying growth and higher growth enhances the retention of moisture in the soil, thereby reducing requirements for watering. Higher blades of grass also serve as a natural barrier to weed growth. The higher the grass is allowed to grow in the summer (without reaching excessive heights) the better it is.

The most critical rule for determining the best time to mow is to insure that no more than 1/3 of the grass blades are cut at any one time. Cutting more than this length will damage the grass. First, it will deposit more thatch in the form of cuttings on your lawn than is healthy and second, the root system and small shoots of growth will be quickly exposed to the harsh summer sun which causes stress on the plants.

The 1/3 rule means that grass will likely require more frequent mowing in the spring and fall when the grass has just been fertilized and is growing rapidly and less often during the hot summer months when growth is slower.

The best time of the day to mow is late in the day or during the evening. The fact is that mowing damages the plant and it will take a day or two for the grass to fully recover. Mowing in the evening provides about 12 hours of respite for the grass from the sun. Mowing in the morning means that the stressed grass will be subjected to the sun much quicker and if there is morning due on the lawn the grass will be cheated from the rejuvenating effects of the moisture because mowing will hasten evaporation.

In short, the best time to mow the grass is when it needs it – keeping in mind the 1/3 rule and one should mow in the evenings to reduce stress on the grass.

Techniques for Watering Grass

The obvious objective for lawn watering is to provide the maximum amount of moisture to enable the plant root system to thrive. Too little water is stressful to the grass and too much is wasting a valuable resource.

Here are a few simple lawn watering techniques. An in-ground sprinkler system if managed properly is one of the best ways to accomplish lawn watering to maximize growth and reduce water usage, however the expense of installing the system is high and most people use above ground sprinklers. This article is oriented to the use of above ground sprinklers.

There are several types of above ground sprinklers available. Basically they are the rotary type which covers a circular pattern, the oscillating type the moves back and forth or the soaker hose type that delivers water about three feet on each side of the line where the hose is laid. For a yard that is relatively square the oscillating sprinkler or soaker hose might deliver the best performance. For irregular shaped lawns the rotary type sprayer may be the most effective. In many cases a combination of the three will probably be best to insure that adequate moisture is delivered to the turf.

One has to experiment with location of sprinklers to achieve the maximum benefit. One way to insure that adequate water is being delivered is to place a few small cans (tuna fish or cat food), in different locations under the watering pattern and monitor how long it takes for the can to collect about a ½ inch of water. Grass generally requires about one inch per week of water to maintain a healthy root system and appearance. The edges of the spray pattern is where the least amount of water is generally delivered, so this is the area that requires special attention and may require some experimentation to insure effectiveness. When possible, one should insure that the water is sprayed in the lowest arc possible to minimize evaporation or the possibility of wind drift that will not benefit the area being watered. Watering in the early morning hours is best for this reason and a myriad of other reasons to promote a healthy lawn.

Taking a few minutes in the early spring to develop the best pattern for delivering adequate supplies of water to a lawn will reduce the effort involved and will reward the homeowner with a healthy and good looking lawn.

Water Your Grass Less

Selecting the appropriate type of grass to grow in your yard will make a significant difference in the amount of water that is necessary for lush growth. Warm season and cool season grasses require differing amounts of water to remain healthy. The far North and far South don’t provide many viable choices as one is virtually required to select a warm or cool season grass, however much of the United States is located in zones where either can thrive. Warm season grasses can be grown as far north as Southern New England, likewise cooler season grasses can be grown as far south as Georgia. Warmer season grasses generally require less water than the cool season grasses.

Lawns that require the least amount of water are affected by the particular type of grass grown and seed and sod producers are propagating many varieties that require relatively low soil moisture content to thrive and provide the lush lawn that is desirable by most home owners.

A couple of rules must be observed to reduce water requirements for healthy and lush turf.

1. Determine if a warm season grass (examples include Bermuda, Bahia, Zoysia, Buffalo) or cool season grass (Rye, Fescues, Bluegrass) will provide the best results.
2. Next one should should examine the different varieties that are available to insure that one or possibly a combination or grasses is selected that will stand up to the expected use ie. heavy use by children or pets or very light use.
3. Within each variety of grass there are some which are particularly adapted to tolerate drought or low water requirements. It is in this selection that will prove the most beneficial in the quest to minimize water usage. Some of the cool season grasses have particular characteristics that reduce water usage. One of the varieties called Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) requires considerably less water than other Fescues and in fact has been labeled as a “water saver”.
4. Warm season grasses tolerate drought much better than the cool season grasses and among those Zoysia seems to be the least demanding of water and if it starts to “brown” because of water deficiency, it will quickly respond to watering and green up quickly.
5. Be cognizant of shady area that require less water and adjust your watering pattern to conserve.
6. Water as early as possible during the day to achieve the maximum benefit and reduce evaporation.
7. Insure that thatch from lawn mowing does not build up to excessive levels as this will prevent water from reaching the root systems of your grass.
8. Consider using rain water catchment systems. This is especially effective for smaller lawns and the expense of establishment will often be off-set by reduced water bills as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are being environmentally friendly.
9. Insure that run-off is eliminated by observing how the soil is soaking up the moisture. Stop watering if run-off is occurring and restart when the run-off recedes.
10. Don’t automatically water every 1-3 days if recent rain has produced adequate moisture.
11. Watering less frequently and more thoroughly will save water. Frequent light spraying is never an effective method as evaporation uses most of the water and root systems will become shallow and subject to disease, insects and stress.

Selecting the right grass for the right climate and applying a few simple common-sense rules will reduce lawn water requirements and produce a thick, healthy lawn.

How Much Water Does My Grass Need?

Here again there are several variables in play for successful lawn maintenance. The type of grasses being grown, the type of soil involved and local climatic conditions will dictate the amount of water that will be needed for a lawn to thrive.

During the summer months warm season grasses (examples include Bermuda, Bahia, Zoysia, Buffalo) will require less water than the cooler season grasses (Rye, Fescues, Bluegrass). During the cool months the warm season grasses have little need for water as they are dormant and the cool season grasses will only require water if a severe drought is occurring.

Essentially, during the summer months the root zones for cool season grasses should be moist to a level of 8-10 inches where the moisture level for warm season grasses may only extend 6-8 inches. One can determine the degree of moisture in the ground by digging a small hole or by inserting a probe in the ground. In most soils, a large screwdriver can be easily inserted into the ground to the desired depth to insure the soil is moist. If it is difficult to insert the screwdriver, it indicates that the soil has dried out and needs water. One should conduct this test in the Spring and then insure that the same degree of moisture is maintained throughout the summer months.

Maintaining a consistent moisture level will insure healthy turf. Don’t wait until the soil has completely dried out before beginning a watering program. Watering should begin as the warm months approach and remain consistent throughout the growing season. This will conserve water in the long run.

Watering should be scheduled every 2-3 days depending on the soil conditions, the amount of rain and the particular climate in the growing area. Watering should result in a thorough soaking (stop for about an hour and let the water soak in if run-off is occurring). Normally about ¼ to ¾ inch of water applied during each watering cycle will be sufficient to maintain the soil moisture to the desired depth. This moisture level should be tested periodically to insure that sufficient water in being applied. One can measure the amount of water being applied by simple placing a rain gage in the area being watered and monitoring the amount of time it takes to achieve ¼ to ¾ inch. Once the appropriate watering cycle is determined, it will require little or no monitoring.

If one has chosen a grass type that requires significant watering, it may be worthwhile to consider a grass type that requires less. There are both warm season and cool season grasses that that thrive on minimal amounts of water. A visit to the local golf course may provide a hint on the type of grass to grow in your particular area.

Best Time of Day to Water Grass

The best time to water grass, like so many things in life is dependent on circumstances. For established lawns the best time of day to water grass is in the early morning hours, preferably just before sunrise. This enables the water to soak through the soil and completely nourish the plant’s root system. Watering in the morning also minimizes the loss of moisture due to the higher temperatures during daylight hours and takes advantage of the normal morning calm from wind that may cause water to drift away from the target area. Evaporation is also minimized and morning watering enables the homeowner to take advantage of the effects of morning dew that already exists on grass blades. The natural ground shade afforded by the grass will enable the soil to dry out slowly throughout the day. Without an automatic sprinkler system this early morning watering may present a challenge. The point is that the earlier one waters, the better it is for the lawn. Under all circumstances, watering in the evenings should be avoided. Evening watering causes the ground to remain moist and gives rise to a number of diseases that will weaken root systems and cause premature browning or even loss of plants. Perhaps the most prevalent example of available to most home owners of good turf maintenance is demonstrated
by the grounds keepers on golf courses throughout the country. They have immense sums of money invested in maintaining healthy turf and one can readily note that they water their established turf exclusively in the morning.

There is always an exception to the rule and certainly there is one for those that are just beginning to establish a lawn or have areas where seeding is being done. Under these circumstances it is preferable to water newly seeded areas several times a day for best results. Seedlings need to remain moist for germination to occur. It is critical to keep the seeds or early sprouts moist. One should attempt to control “puddling” as it will often cause seeds to wash away and result in bare spots. Additionally, the goal is to keep the seeds mouist and it will waste water to apply too much.

The objective of water established lawns is to insure the water is available for the root systems , while the objective of watering newly seeded areas is to keep the seed moist. Therefor a considerable less quantity of water should be used for newly seeded areas.

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