Turfgrass improvement

bblomquist – posted 10 July 2007 14:09

I own / operate a large memorial park in Atanta, Ga, I have a mixed bag of grasses throughout the property. I have implemented, what I feel is, a good overall approach to raising the level of health and appearrance of the property by way of turfgrass enhancement. PLEASE TELL ME IF MY APPROACH IS ON TARGET AS I AM A CEMETERIAN NOT A TURFGRASS MANAGER. October 06 – Granular Pre-emergant, December 06 – Granular Pre-emergant, February O7 – Granular Pre-Emergant, June 07 Core Aeration, July O7 Lime Application @ 1.5 tons per acre, July 07 Time Release Fertilization Treatment (Granular Of Course). Please keep in mind that I have to apply these products around “rain events” as I have no irrigation on the property… As some of you may know we’ve been in a severe drought this summer until recently in the Atlanta area. My goal is to 1st control the weeds and then 2nd to boost the existing grass (Mostly Bermuda with a mixture of centipede and small amounts of zoysia…. by way of lateral growth. I plan on continueing the “pre-emergant applications in Sept and again in early December later this year. I am planning on tilling the bare spots and either planting seeding – probably sod the spots over the next couple of years during the fall and winter months….. anything else I need to do?

tommy – posted 12 July 2007 09:17

Sounds like a good plan….except you might want to plug some of the bare areas with bermuda at this time- which will give you good cover by the early fall. You more than likely will get lots of rain from now thru Sept. Also keep in mind that pre-emergent will also prevent grass seed from germinating…..so if you want to seed in fall, don’t use pre-emergent past mid July.