Term
| Describe 3 ways a lawn is beneficial to homeowners? |
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Definition
1. Aesthetic value
2. Inexpensive groundcover against erosion
3. Reduces dust, mud, heat and glare |
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Term
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Definition
Northern States
Mid Temperature (Spring & Fall) 60-75 degrees (under 80)
Need moisture
Branching
Good color in most seasons |
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Definition
Southern States
High Temperature (tolerates dry)
Creeps and are aggressive
Need tons of water
Tolerate foot traffic |
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Term
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Definition
+beautiful lawn, fine texture
– susceptible to disease |
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Definition
+drought resistant, deep rooted, erosion control
-puffy and coarse textured lawn |
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Definition
+all purpose, good color and texture can tolerate foot traffic
-only lasts one growing season |
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Definition
+drought tolerant and salt tolerant
- requires dethatching, winter brown |
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Definition
+tough and dense good color and texture
-Can't tolerate cold temp |
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Definition
+adapted to shade, dense
-disease prone, coars |
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Term
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Definition
| Control runoff, temp cover |
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Term
| Compare/Contrast bunching and creeping turf grass growth habits. Name 2 grass species in each category. |
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Definition
Bunching – Bunching grasses grow upright in clumps. They spread by means of new growth called tillers, which arise from the crown. (Fescue, Ryegrass)
Creeping – spread far by means of modified stems, which could be stolons or rhizomes. (Bermuda, Zoysia) |
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Term
| The wear-ability of grass is important to home owners. What is wear-ability and list 3 grasses that have good wear-ability in Missouri. |
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Definition
| The wear-ability is the ability of turf grass to tolerate traffic such as for a playground, athletic field or where pedestrians frequently visit. Three grasses that have good wear-ability are tall fescue, bahia grass, Bermuda. |
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Term
| Discuss competitiveness of cool season versus warm season grasses |
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Definition
| Cool season grasses are not competitive compared to warm season grasses because the stolons or rhizomes creep, overtake the other plants as they move. |
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Term
| What grass would you recommend for drought prone areas; why? |
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Definition
| For drought prone areas I would suggest a warm season grass such as Bermuda or buffalo grass. If it’s a temperate area wheatgrass or tall fescue would be chosen. |
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Term
| What grass would you recommend for shaded areas; why? |
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Definition
| For shaded areas I would choose a shade tolerant grass such as Pennlawn red fescue and chewing fescue. In the warm seasons St. Augustine is a good choice for more shaded areas. Other grasses get weak and spindly. |
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Term
| Most home lawns are installed using seed. Write an explanation of how to accomplish each step required for establishing turf from seed. |
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Definition
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Term
| An instant lawn can be achieved by using sod. What is sod, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of sod? |
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Definition
Sod is a grass that is specially cultivated, mowed, and cut ito strips like pieces of carpet, including about 1-2 inches of roots. Long strips are rolled and short ones are sold flat. These strips are stacked on pallets and transported to the site where the lawn is established.
Adv-provides instant cover, promotes high-quality lawn, good fix for high traffic areas of already established lawns.
Disadv.-Bulky to handle, expensive, once purchased must be laid without delay. |
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Term
| Describe how to prepare a site to receive sod? Discuss how to properly install sod. |
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Definition
| Soil fertility may be boosted by a starter application of nitrogen and phosphorus. Lay a.s.a.p after harvest. Sod should be tightly laid with a small amount of overlap to prepare for shrinking. If there are gaps weeds may grow in that area. Roller should go over afterwards to ensure good contact between roots and soil. You should stagger seams to reduce weed allowance and to make it look fuller. After sod Is laid thoroughly wet the topsoil for root establishment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Method of lawn establishment that involves the transplanting of small pieces of sod plugs into holes in the seedbed. The holes are spaced about 6-12 inches apart, depending on species. It is labor intensive. |
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Term
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Definition
| – Pieces of short stems or runners. You place the sprigs in shallow furrows about 4-6 inch spacing. The sprigs are covered such that at least one fourth of the material is above ground. |
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Term
| Why are plugging and springing unpopular? |
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Definition
| They are not popular because they aren’t full appearance and are warm season grasses |
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Term
| Lawn care commonly requires mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Discuss the proper way to mow a warm season lawn and a cool season lawn. |
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Definition
Warm- 2’’ tall.
Cool- 3-4’’ tall
Growth rate determines when you mow but never remove more than 1/3 of blade. More than that the photosynthesis is bad. Don’t mow when wet or its hard on the mower and you build up grass clippings. |
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Term
| Discuss how to properly water a lawn. Make sure you’ve included who, what, when, where and how. |
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Definition
Water only what soil can absorb. Water early in the day, not evening or heat of the day. Generally 1’’ per week: consistently. Water atleast as far as the roots (4inches). Light water will encourage roots to grow upward. ¼-1/2 ‘’ of water absorbed per hour so 4 hours total needed for 1’’ a week.
Clues
1.Color not normal (grayish-blue shade)
2.Leaf blade fold length wise
3.Footprints stay after you walk on it. |
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Term
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Definition
Best in late spring & summer
-using 4lbs N/1000 ft sq
-spread between May, June and July
Winter-Potassium>Nitrogen
-Mid to late Aug 1 lb K/1000 ft sq
- None after Sept. 1 |
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Term
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Definition
Best in FALL
-2-3 lbs N/ 1000 ft sq
- spread between Sept, Oct, Nov
Winter – Potassium > Nitrogen
Spring – Must be done by mid April
None after June 1 |
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Term
| What is thatch, what causes it, and how can thatch be minimized. What harm does thatch buildup cause a lawn? How can thatch buildup be managed. |
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Definition
| Thatch is an accumulation of old, dead grass, bits of unraked lead and other plant material above the soil. Excessive thatch reduces oxygen and moisture entry into the soil and harbors pests and diseases. More than ½ inch should be removed. You can remove thatch with a rack in one direction then again in perpendicular direction. |
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Term
| The 2 weeds most homeowners are concerned about are dandelions and crabgrass. Explain how the biology of these weeds allows them to prosper. What is the best way to control these weeds? |
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Definition
Crabgrass and dandelions are perenials so they come back every year which allows them to prosper.
A pre-emergence herbicide is the best to control crabgrass. First in April 15 second 6-8 weeks later. For dandelions you should apply herbicide in mid September (post emergence). The leaves must be moist for product to stick. |
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