turfgrass cultural problems ppt 6.03.01 picture by casey reynolds, center for turfgrass...

Turfgrass Cultural Problems

PPT 6.03.01

Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website

http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/

Two Basic Problems

• Soil Compaction

• Thatch Build-up

• Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website


What is Soil Compaction?

Condition of soil when particles become packed tightly together

•Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website


Three Results of Soil Compaction

1. Poor root growth due to restricted air and poor percolation of water



Results of Soil Compaction

2. Thin and shallow root system that cannot sustain shoot growth



Results of Soil Compaction

3. Thin turf that stresses easily and develops bare spots



What is the major cause of soil compaction in turf?



Sources of traffic:

Athletics

Football

Soccer

Baseball



http://www.gopack.com/PhotoStore.dbml?SPID=3730&DB_OEM_ID=9200

Sources of Traffic

Golf courses

Playgrounds



http://www.hickerphoto.com/golf-vacation-5725-pictures.htm

Sources of TrafficOrdinary foot traffic at public

facilities – schools, hospitals, government offices


Photo by Cheryl Reynolds


http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/PESTS/abiocomp.html

Kinds of Traffic

Human

Animal - pets

Machines – golf carts, mowing equipment, vehicles



Treatment for Soil Compaction



http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Glossary.aspx

Coring or Aeration Defined

Removal of soil cores from a turf with hollow tines or

spoons.



Several Coring Machines Available

Vary in Quality of job performed!

•Background Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website


http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/en/lawn_garden/commercial_horticulture/turfgrass/cultural_information/Soil+Compaction+in+Turf.htm



•Background Picture by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website


http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/GT/servlet/com.deere.u90785.cce.productcatalog.view.servlets.ProdCatProduct?pNbr=4560M&tM=GT





http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0007VTQRK/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi

Coring Machine Must Pull Soil Cores From the Soil!

• Spike coring machines are okay for overseeding to get grass seed in contact with soil

• Might help with lime and fertilizer• HELPS LITTLE OR NOT AT ALL with

Compaction!



Except on very light soils, coring without removing cores may

actually compact the soil.



For Best Results!

•Pictures from http://clayvaughn.com/aeration.aspx website

http://clayvaughn.com/aeration.aspx



Coring Cultural Practice Tips

• Core when the grass is actively growing• Top-dress the area with a peat and sand

combination and rake mixture into core holes• Or, if practical, chop up cores and redistribute

them across the turf



Benefits of Coring

•Picture from http://clayvaughn.com/aeration.aspx website



Thatch Build-up


1.What is thatch? 2.Why is thatch build-up a

problem?3.How is thatch build-up treated?


Thatch Defined


Thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of undecomposed roots, stems, and shoots located between the soil surface and the green vegetation of the turf grass.


Causes of ThatchSome thatch is natural; however,

excessive thatch may be caused by:

• Over fertilizing with nitrogen

• Improper mowing by cutting too much leaf area off at one time

• Poor soil environment


Not all Thatch is BAD!


•Issue with sod-forming grasses •Small amounts of thatch is good. It:

•Cushions turf and prevents wear•Insulates soil from extreme hot and cold temperatures•Reduces evaporation losses from soil surface


Too Much Thatch is BAD!


•Restricts air and water movement •Requires more frequent watering•Great environment for disease & insects•Can cause scalping when mowing•Contributes to winter injury •Restrict fertilizer and pesticide movement

•Pictures by Casey Reynolds, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE’s) www.turffiles.ncsu.edu website

When is thatch build-up a problem?



Timing is ImportantBest done when grass greens up from dormant season

Treatment for Thatch


1.Can top-dress with ¼ inch of topsoil once a year. • Very expensive, • Requires special equipment, • Not usually practical



2.Coring – as performed for soil compaction• Used in conjunction with power

raking or verticutting



3.Power Raking • Similar to verticutting but uses

spring-type wires instead of blades



4.Verticutting – • 3" blade spacing for Centipede and

St. Augustine• 2" blade spacing for bermudagrass



4.Verticutting• Size of equipment varies


Close Up of surface after verticutting


4.Verticutting• Reels may be added to mowers



• The Key to Thatch control is to keep it under control to begin with

• Use light raking or cutting to keep thatch manageable


turfgrass cultural problems ppt 6.03.01 picture by casey reynolds, center for turfgrass...

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