Turfgrass - Oklahoma State University

Lawn Management in Oklahoma
Steve Batten, Turfgrass Extension Assistant
Dennis Martin, Turfgrass Specialist
David Hillock, Consumer Horticulturist
Justin Moss, Turfgrass Water/Environ Quality Scientist
Oklahoma State University
Benefits of Turfgrasses
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Erosion control
Noise, dust and glare reduction
Reduces runoff and increases water infiltration
A safe surface for recreation
Increased property value
Beautification and Presentation
Selection and Adaptability

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Must match turf to the specifics of the
site.
To do so, one must know about the:
– Soil type
yp and p
pH,, fertility,
y, drainage,
g ,
exposure to sun, rainfall patterns, etc.
1
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Average Annual Minimum Temperature
Zone 6a
-5 to -10 F
Zone 6b
0 to -5 F
Zone 7a
5 to 0 F
Zone 7b
10 to 5 F
Growth Patterns
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Warm season – grass type that grows
best in late spring through summer into
early
y fall.
Cool season – grass type that grows
best in in fall and spring
2
Selection and Adaptability

Know client expectations/abilities
– Quality expected or demanded?
– Follow through on management?
– Management
M
t practices
ti
can include:
i l d
• Mowing (height & frequency)
• Fertilization (amount & frequency)
• Irrigation (amount & frequency)
• Aeration and dethatching
• Pest management
inflorescence
culm
blade
leaf
sheath
vein
(rib)
rhizome
tiller
crown
node
stolon
3
Growth Habits

Turfgrasses exhibit one or more of the
following growth features
– Rhizomes – below ground horizontal
stems
– Stolons – above ground horizontal
stems
– Simple tillering – production of
daughter plants from mother plants.
All grasses have this type of growth.
Naming

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Variety – natural botanical grouping within a
species
Variety – in the common language
(vernacular) it means a type within a species
Cultivar – means “cultivated variety”
– Example: Riviera bermudagrass
– (Cynodon dactylon ‘Riviera’)

In the horticultural trade, Variety and Cultivar
terms are used interchangeably
Legal ownership

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Public domain – means a cultivar can
be legally propagated and sold without
getting
g
gp
permission of an owner of the
cultivar. There may or may not be an
owner.
Proprietary – means the cultivar is
afforded legal protection under US
Federal Law
4
Types of ownership (continued)
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Trade Mark – does not protect the
cultivar but protects against
unauthorized use of the branded
trademark or registered trade mark or
marked terms. Protected for an
indefinite time period if maintenance of
the marks are in place.
Registered =®, Common trade mark=™
Branding and Trademarking does not
tell you what the species or variety is in
the bag!
g
Read the legal seed label to find out
what is in the bag.
Seed Law Requires The Label
Provide Information on the:
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Cultivar or variety
Species or type
Amount of seed in bag
Seed p
purity
y ((%))
Germination (%)
Date of seed testing
Lot number
Seller and seller’s location
Weed seeds present, noxious weeds present
Other crop seed present – note this may
behave like a weed in lawns
5

Purchase:
– improved varieties
– adapted species
– turf-type grasses
– free of objectionable weed and crop
content
– blend or mix should be of compatible types
– certified seed or sod – certified as to
varietal purity
Warm-season Turfgrasses
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Bermudagrass
Buffalograss
Centipedegrass
St. Augustinegrass
Zoysiagrass
Bermudagrass
6
Numex Sahara (Sahara)
Bermudagrass
Numex Sahara (Sahara)
Bermudagrass
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medium texture
medium density and
quality
seed-propagated seed
from May – mid-July
advantages
– ease of establishment
– low maintenance
requirements
– low purchase price

disadvantages
– very susceptible to
winter-kill
– very susceptible to
Spring dead spot disease
Guymon no longer available
Wrangler is available
7
Guymon no longer available
Wrangler is available
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medium coarse texture
acceptable density and
quality
seed-propagated
seed by Aug 1
Adapted state-wide,
where ever
bermudagrass is
adapted

advantages
– ease of establishment
– Low maintenance utility
turf
– winter-hardy
– widely adaptable
– drought hardy
– good spring dead spot
resistance

disadvantages
– will not produce a showcase turf
Yukon bermuda in front, Riviera bermuda in back
Yukon Bermudagrass currently in
short supply
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Medium fine texture
Moderate to high quality
lawns
Seed propagated
S db
Seed
by A
Aug 1
Adapted stated-wide,
where ever
bermudagrass is
adapted
OSU release 1999

Advantages
– cold hardy
– Improved spring dead
spot resistance
– slower g
growing
g than
many other seeded
bermudagrasses

Disadvantage
– slower to establish than
many other seeded
bermudagrasses
– seed more expensive
than most others
8
Riviera Bermudagrass
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Medium fine texture
Moderate to high quality
lawns
Seed propagated
Seed by Aug 1
OSU release 2001

Advantages
– cold hardy
– Improved spring dead
spot resistance
compared to Sahara
– most rapid growing of
high quality seeded types

Disadvantage
– seed more expensive
than most others
U-3 Brand Seeded Bermudagrass
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medium texture
medium density and
quality
seed-propagated
p p g
seed
from May – mid-July
Is a “Brand name”, not
a cultivar name, thus
VNS seed is in the
container labeled as
U-3 Brand – ie this is
not U-3 variety

advantages
– ease of establishment

disadvantages
– usually very susceptible
to winter-kill
– very susceptible to spring
dead spot disease
– often expensive
– performance can vary as
this is not an actual
cultivar or variety
Bermudagrass sold as U-3
9
Bermudagrass sold as U-3
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Many types are sold as U-3,
thus material from one farm
can differ from the next farm
or from within the same field
medium fine-texture
vegetatively-propagated
g
yp p g
adequate quality for most
lawns, parks, grounds and
golf course fairways and
teeboxes
Most widely used
bermudagrass in Oklahoma
Do not confuse with “U-3
Brand”

advantages
– nice lawn
– lower maintenance
requirements than many
hybrids
– g
good cold hardiness
– good drought tolerance

disadvantages
– seed not available
– fairly susceptible to SDS
– highly variable from
producers as there is no
single type being sold as
U-3
Tifgreen (328), Tifway (419)
Hybrid Bermudagrasses
Tifgreen (328), Tifway (419)
Hybrid Bermudagrasses
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fine-texture; Tifgreen
finer textured than
Tifway
vegetatively-propagated
sterile hybrids
very dense; Tifgreen
more dense than Tifway
excellent visual quality
due to increased risk of
winter kill, should only
be considered south of
I-40 in south east OK
where winters are more
mild

advantages
– Outstanding visual
quality
– Known performance

disadvantages
– less cold hardy,
frequently suffer winter
kill
– very susceptible to spring
dead spot disease
– very high maintenance
– requires access to
irrigation
10
Use Patriot or TifSport

Patriot and TifSport are more winter
hardy than Tifgreen or Tifway

Use Patriot or TifSport if hybrid
bermudagrass quality is demanded
Patriot, OSU’s newest turf bermuda release.
Patriot Bermudagrass
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Released by OSU in 2002,
became available for
purchase in 2004
excellent visual quality,
equal to Tifway and
exceeding Midlawn
Med. fine texture
vegetatively-propagated
hybrid
very dense
adapted statewide if irrigated
advantages
– outstanding visual quality
– known performance
– establishes more rapidly
than any other hybrid
bermudagrass
– very good cold hardiness,
higher than Tifway and
Tifgreen slightly less than
Tifgreen,
Midlawn
– Better spring dead spot
resistance than Tifway, less
than Midlawn
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disadvantages
– will be more expensive than
other vegetative types
during first few years in the
market
– high maintenance like other
hybrids
– Best if irrigated
11
St Augustinegrass
St. Augustinegrass
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warm-season grass
medium to coarse-texture
spreads by stolons
extreme southern regions, sheltered site
St. Augustinegrass
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full-sun to lightly-shaded areas of south
eastern OK. Do not use north of ArdmoreSulfur-Ada-McAlester-Poteau area
high water requirement
better soil conditions required
use only Raleigh variety at this time
– Raleigh is vegetatively propagated, more cold
hardy and St. Augustine Decline virus resistant,
but still susceptible to Take-all disease
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expect occasional winter-kill
12
Zoysiagrass
Zoysiagrass
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warm-season grass
fine to medium-texture
yellow green color
stolons and rhizomes
winter hardy
full-sun to light-shade
requires less fertilizer
requires less mowing
requires more water
than bermudagrass, but less
than tall fescue
Zoysiagrass
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Variable establishment rate
more frequent watering
top quality high
top-quality,
high-maintenance
maintenance
13
Zoysiagrass
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Seeded
– Sunrise Brand
– Zenith

Vegetative
–
–
–
–
Cavalier
Meyer
Matrella
El Toro
Sunrise Brand Zoysiagrass
It is VNS = variety not stated
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Seeded
By July 15
Medium course
texture
Rapid spreading
Do not use north of
US 412
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Advantage
– reduced
establishment cost
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Disadvantage
– very susceptible to
Large patch and rust
diseases
Meyer (Z-52, Amazoy) Zoysiagrass
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medium texture
high quality
slow to grow –
advantage or
disadvantage?
Sod 2-3 months
before frost
Adapted state-wide
if irrigation is
present
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Advantages
– Low fertilizer rate
– Reduced mowing
– Some shade
tolerance
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Disadvantages
– High water use rate
– Moderate to low
drought tolerance
– Large patch of
zoysia
– Zoysiagrass mite
14
El Toro Zoysiagrass
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Vegetatively
propagated
Rapid spreading
Do not use north of
US 412
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Advantages
– reduced fertilizer
– reduced mowing
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Disadvantages
– susceptible to Large
patch disease
– less winter hardy
than Meyer
Cavalier variety and Matrella (VNS
types) Zoysiagrass
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Vegetatively
propagated
fine texture
Do not use north of
US 412 until
additional
information is
available
Native warm-season turfgrass in
Cleveland county
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Buffalograss
Bluegrama
Sideoats grama
Inland saltgrass
15
Buffalograss
Buffalograss
Mowed at 3 inches (left) and non-mowed (right)
Buffalograss
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warm-season, sod-forming grass
native prairie grass - spreads by stolons
fine texture, grayish-green color
excellent heat and drought tolerance
most varieties are cold tolerant
full sun
full-sun
adapted to most of Oklahoma on soils
other than sands. Do not use in high
rainfall areas of southeast Oklahoma
buy treated seed
seed by July 1
Reduced fertilizer and mowing
requirements
16
Buffalograsses

Seeded types – adapted
state-wide except in high
rainfall areas of SE
Oklahoma
– Bison, Texoka, Topgun,
Comanche, Sharp’s
improved, Bowie*, Cody*
– Tatanka no longer sold.
*seeded turf types offering higher
quality
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Vegetatively propagated types
Adapted except in high rainfall
areas of south east Oklahoma
– 609** - do not use north of
US 412 due to increased risk
of winter kill. Chinch bugs can
be problematic.
– Prairie – adapted state-wide
except in high rainfall areas.
Chinch bugs less of a
problem
bl
b
butt nott resistant.
i t t
– Prestige – adapted state-wide
except S.E. Oklahoma.
Improved chinch bug
resistance.
– Legacy - adapted state-wide
except S.E. Oklahoma.
Chinch bugs less of a
problem but not resistant.
**highest quality vegetative type
Flowers of bluegrama (bottom) & sideoats grama
(top). Leaves and shoots look similar to buffalo but
flowers are different. Gramas do not produce stolons.
Inland saltgrass
17
Inland saltgrass
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Salt, heat and drought tolerant
Low maintenance and low quality
Destructive to concrete and asphalt
Not currently available for purchase but
cultivars expected in the next 3 years
Responds to fertilization and irrigation
Mowing at 3 inches
Cool-season Grasses for Oklahoma
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Turf-type tall fescue (perennial)
Perennial ryegrass (perennial to annual)
Annual ryegrass (annual)
Intermediate ryegrass (annual)
Kentucky bluegrass (perennial)
Texas X Kentucky hybrid bluegrass
(perennial)
Tall Fescue
18
Turf-type
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Turf-type – definition. Selected, breed,
developed first and foremost for use as
a turfgrass.
g
Modern turf-types are selected for
improved color, texture, density, visual
uniformity, prostrate growth habit.
Forage-type
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Forage-type – definition: Developed for use
as a general purpose soil-stabilization type or
for animal forage.
Usually produced good biomass and vigor
under “natural” or lower maintenance
conditions
Often selected for higher protein and
digestibility by grazing animals.
Usually has a rapid rate of growth and rapid
vertical leaf growth rate.
Not selected for color, texture, density,
uniformity or for traits valuable for aesthetic or
sport use appeal.
Turf-type tall fescue
19
Turf-type tall fescue
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cool-season grass, bunch-type with very
short rhizomes
perennial
medium
di
shade
h d tto ffull-sun
ll
seed or sod
create and use blends, a mixture of 2 or
more varieties, for wider adaptability
establish in fall
Turf-type tall fescue

many cultivars
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forage-type tall fescues provide a forage
quality lawn – is that what you want?
Forage types:

Soil stabilization type:
– Fawn, Alta, Kenhye, Johnstone
– Kentucky 31 is a soil stabilization/forage
type that has been used for lawns but is
less dense, lighter green, and more coarse
Turf type vs forage type tall fescue
Left: KY 31, non-turf type
Right: turf-type
20
Turf type vs forage type tall fescue
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If little to no management is intended,
Kentucky 31, K31 or KY 31 may be a better
choice. Better for turf than other true forage
types.
If high visual quality is intended, choose any of
a number of turf-types, developed for improved
color, texture and density.
Turf-Type Tall Fescues
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Many cultivars suited
Includes: Millennium, Rembrandt,
g V, Plantation, jjust to
Falcon II, Houndog
name a few.
Managing a cool-season lawn properly
will influence its summer survival more
dramatically than which cultivars you
use.
Perennial ryegrass
21
Perennial ryegrass
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cool-season, bunch-type
Light shade to full-sun
Short-lived perennial or for winter
overseeding warm-season grasses
As a perennial turf, mixed with tall fescue or
g
at 20 to 50% by
y weight
g
Kentuckyy bluegrass
Seeded if for 100% stands
Sod is not available
Sod available for mixtures with tall fescue or
Kentucky bluegrass
establish in fall
Many good turf-types are available.
Linn offers poor quality.
Linn Perennial ryegrass – an old
forage type ryegrass
Linn
Kentucky Bluegrass
22
Kentucky bluegrass
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Cool-season spreading type by rhizomes
Do not use it as a 100% stand. Use only in
mixes with tall fescue and/or perennial
ryegrass at 5 to 10% Kentucky bluegrass by
weight
Many good performers
performers.
Pick types resistant to dollarspot and summer
patch, the two most serious diseases of
Kentucky bluegrass in Oklahoma
Use in full sun to light shade
Not as shade tolerant as tall fescue
Powdery mildew a problem in heavy shade
Older, less improved types that have
problems in Oklahoma

Park, SD Common
Establishment

Soil and site preparation is critical

Planting
– seeding
– sodding
– plugging
– Sprigging

Overseeding warm-season turfgrasses
23
Steps to proper soil and site
preparation
1. soil sample
2. calculate area
3 control weeds
3.
4. remove debris
5. cultivate
6. install subsurface irrigation systems
7. incorporate amendments
24
Cultivation tips
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complete just prior to planting
smooth, without clods
loose and granular (min.
(min of 4
4-6
6” deep)
uniformity is critical
Soil friable but firm
8. incorporate P, K, and other elements
except N, adjust pH
9. complete final grading
10. apply starter fertilizer, 1-2 lb N/1000
ft2
25
Seeding
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use spreader or mechanical seeder
divide recommended amount, apply in
different directions
favorable temperature and moisture
conditions
– warm-season - soil surface is 68o to 95o F
– cool season - soil surface is 68o to 86o F
Seeding

cover seed with 1/8” soil
firm soil around seed
mulch
keep upper 1” soil moist, 10 to 14 days

hydroseeding
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26
Seeding Rates per 1,000 sq. ft. for
perennial lawns of a single species
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Kentucky bluegrass
Tall fescue
Perennial ryegrass
Bermudagrass
Zoysiagrass
Buffalograss
2 lbs
4 – 6 lbs
4 – 6 lbs
1.5 - 2 lbs
1 – 2 lbs
2 lbs (treated)
Overseeding warm-season
turfgrasses
Winter overseeding Reynolds stadium for improved winter
appearance and playability.
Winter overseeding rates
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Use excessively high rates of seed to stunt
the growth and development of the seedlings
so that they look fine in winter, but are weak
and die out in spring, reducing their
competition with bermudagrass
For winter overseeding using Annual,
Perennial or Intermediate ryegrass
ryegrass, use 12 to
15 lbs/1000 sq. ft. in mid to late Sept.
Do not use tall fescue for winter overseeding
as its stress tolerance is too high and some
will remain as a perennial weed in the
bermudagrass stand.
27
Sodding
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provides almost instant lawn
moist seedbed
place in staggered,
checkerboard pattern
pattern,
fit snugly
tamp or roll area
water immediately
warm-season in full sun, lay sod at least 1
month prior to first fall frost, in shade, lay sod
at least 2.5 months prior to first fall frost
Cool-season – do not sod in June-Aug.
Choose quality sod –
a good roll or slab of
sod can be picked up
by it’s end and will
not break under it’s
own weight
28
Plugging
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transplant small pieces of sod (1-2”), use only
those grasses that spread by stolons
used when transplant shock to sprigs will be
excessive.
excessive
requires more time for total coverage
more labor intensive
6-12” centers (zoysiagrass - 6”)
roll or tamp, keep moist
plug at least 2 months before first fall frost
Sprigging

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mechanically or manually
plant 1-2” deep in furrows 10-18” apart
with sprigs 4-6”
4 6 apart
leave 1/4 of sprig above ground
roll or tamp, keep moist
sprig at least 2 months before first fall
frost
Sprigging

broadcast sprigging
– uniformly spread sprigs
– cover with 1/4”
1/4 to 1/2”
1/2 topsoil or sand
– or, lightly press sprigs into surface with
disk or roto-tiller set 2-3” deep
29
Lawn Management
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Fertilization
Irrigation
Mowing
Thatch control
Aerification
Pest control - weed, insect, disease
Fertilization

Promotes Dense Turf
– reduces weed invasion
– Improves tolerance to heat, cold, drought, and
wear

Needed during
– Initial Turf Establishment
– Beginning of Each Growing Season
Fertilization Programs

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based on N needs
straight N source in summer or if soil test
indicated P and K are adequate
slow release fertilizers are good for summer
slow-release
applications on warm-season grass when
adequate moisture is present
never fertilize if a heavy rain is expected.
Heavy rainfall immediately following
fertilization may increase nutrient runoff to
storm water
30
Fertilizer runoff
Fertilization Programs

bermudagrass
– 3 to 5 lb N/1000 sq ft/season*
– Apply 1 lb N/1000 in May, June, July, August, September if
quick release N is used
– Blended
Bl d d sources containing
t i i slow
l
release
l
ffertilizer
tili
can b
be
applied at 1.6 lbs N/1000, each, in May, July and Sept

buffalograss and zoysiagrass
– 1-3 lb N/1000 sq ft/season*
*applied in single ½ to 1 lb N/1000 sq ft applications
Fertilization Programs

cool-season grasses
– 3-4 lb N/1000 sq ft/season
– October, December, March, early May
– Do not fertilize in June – August to reduce
heat and drought stress and risk of brown
patch disease
31
Fertilizer – How Much to Apply?



Example: 16-4-8 N-P-K fertilizer
Typically fertilizers are applied at rates based
on the amount of nitrogen
nitrogen.
Example: To apply 1 lb of N per 1,000 sq. ft –
divide 100 by 16% = 6.25 lbs fertilizer /1000
sq ft
Fertilizer – What About P & K

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P – Promotes Meristematic Growth
Use P for Promoting Root and New Plant
G
Growth
th
K- Stimulates Strong Cell Walls
Use K to Increase Wear Tolerance, Drought
Tolerance, and to Stimulate Upright Growth.
Soil Amendments (Lime or Sulfur)
Use for pH Control to Promote Plant Nutrient
Uptake
Soil testing
How to take a Soil Test Sample at 3 inches deep
Remove turf near soil surface
32
Collect and Mix Multiple Samples
A minimum of 10 samples per Site
Irrigation

avoid frequent shallow watering in most
cases as it often
– encourages shallow roots, thatch
accumulation and weed seed germination

determine irrigation based on soil and
plant needs rather than on a strict
calendar schedule due to
– different soil types
– fluctuations in temperature, humidity, wind,
precipitation
– management practices
Irrigation





attempt to moisten soil to 6” deep or to
the depth of the majority of the rootzone
check with soil probe
water again when grass “footprints”
water early morning
12am to 8am
water 1 to 2 inches
per week during
drought periods
33
Irrigation

Turfgrasses vary in their need for irrigation,
the following ranking is generally true
1. Tall fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass (uses the
mostt water)
t )
2. St. Augustinegrass
3. Most zoysiagrasses
4. Many hybrid bermudagrasses like Tifway
5. Many dactylon or common bermudas, U-3
6. Buffalograss (uses the least water)
Remember


Not every day is a drought in Oklahoma
Select grasses based on practical
needs and adaptation to the entire
range of conditions expected
Mowing

Frequent enough to not remove more
than 1/3 of the shoot length.

If you mow at 2” height-of-cut, cut grass
when it is about 3” tall.
34
Mowing Height
Suggested mowing heights for a general
purpose, common bermudagrass or U-3
lawn*



pre-greenup scalping
spring and summer
fall
inches
1
1 to 2
1 to 2 ½
*Hybrid bermudagrasses such as Tifway, Tifgreen, Patriot and
Midlawn as well as zoysiagrasses may require closer mowing to
reduce thatch and grain. Buffalograss should not be mowed to
less than 3 inches
Mowing Height
Cool-season*

fall and spring
inches
2 - 2 1/2

summer
2–3
*suitable for tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass,
perennial ryegrass and their mixtures
Mowing
Why mow?





cultural (social implications)
increases uniformity of turf
improves density of turf
decreases leaf width (finer texture)
help control woody and weed invasion
35
Mowing
Clippings

To catch or not to catch?
Thatch Control

occurs when production of plant tissue
(roots and stems) exceeds
decomposition

impedes movement of water, air, and
nutrients

leads to shallow roots and thin turf
Thatch Control


manage through proper
mowing, fertilization,
watering, and
responsible pesticide
use
if thatch is greater than
1/2” deep, then dethatch
Excessive thatch on the left
– warm-season grasses
prior to spring greenup
– cool-season grasses in
early fall thatch removed
from a lawn
36
Thatch Control

Dethatching machines
Aerification


provides proper aeration and soil water
movement through soil
remove 1/2” to 1” dia. cores at least 2”
deep
– warm-season grasses prior to greenup or
during active growth if irrigation is present
– cool-season grasses early fall
Aerification
37
Weed Control

ID weed

Modify management program to favor
desired grass over the weed

Small numbers of weeds can be
tolerated or removed by hand
select herbicide to kill the weed and not
injure turf (Label)

Proper use of pesticides is the
responsibility of the applicator
Left, turf injury from
2X rate of the broadleaf
weed killer
Right, Herbicide drift injury
to ornamentals

apply herbicide when conditions favor
rapid weed growth.
– preemergence
– postemergence

apply at the recommended
– time
– rate
– coverage
38
Chemical Weed Control

pre-emergent - control applied so weed
is killed when it germinates

post-emergent - control applied to
existing
i ti weeds
d
Chemical Weed Control
Left, No pre-emergent herbicide; yellow appearance is
due to seedling crabgrass. Right, Pre-emergent
utilized.
39
Widely available pre-emergent
herbicides


Effective against weedy annual grasses and
some small seeded broadleaves
– Surflan
– Balan
– Barricade
– Dimension
– Scotts Halt
– Scotts Halts
– Team
– XL
Portrait (granular) or Gallery (sprayable) –
effective against broadleaves but not grasses
Widely available post-emergent
broadleaf herbicides



Generally pre-mixes of 2,4-D; MCPP and
Dicamba are used.
Examples include: Trimec and
W dBG
Weed-B-Gone
Avoid simply saying “2,4-D”. 2,4-D alone is
weak on many broadleaves, thus 3-way
herbicide pre-mixes are used to expand the
number of different broadleaves that can be
controlled
Recent Consumer Trends in Broadleaf
Postemergent Weed Control



In 2007 premixes containing 2,4-D; MCPP,
dicamba and either MSMA or Quinclorac
became common-place on the garden center
shelves.
shelves
Quinclorac or MSMA are in the mix for postemergent crabgrass control.
Quinclorac will not control sedges, while
MSMA controls sedges other than purple
nutsedge but several application may be
needed.
40
MSMA is in phase out



MSMA and other arsenical herbicides such
as CMA, AMA and DSMA are in phase out.
No longer available for purchase for use on
residential lawns after December 2009.
Use of existing labeled arsenicals can be
used on residential lawns through December
2010.
Broadleaf + Crabgrass post control
products for consumers



Ortho Product Line
– Weed B Gon Max Plus Crabgrass Control
Spectracide Product Line
– Weed Stop For Lawns Plus Crabgrass
Killer
Bayer Product Line
– All In One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer
41
Post-emergent nutsedge control






Certainty – use only on warm-season lawns
Image – use only on warm-season lawns
MSMA – use onlyy on warm-season lawns
Basagran – warm or cool-season lawn
Sedgehammer – warm or cool-season lawn
Only Image, Certainty and Sedgehammer will
control both yellow and purple nutsedge, the
others will not control purple nutsedge
Sandbur Control Strategy



Most sand bur in OK is field sandbur
and is a perennial that forms new plants
by seed
Control for the consumer is a good
g
fertility program, proper irrigation and
digging out sandburs on a small scale.
If a herbicide program is needed then
MSMA is used in repeat applications as
per label in May and June, in
combination with cultural management.
Common Winter Annual Grassy
Weeds


annual bluegrass (Poa annua)
downy brome, cheat, rescuegrass
Annual bluegrass
42
Winter Annual Broadleaf Weeds
Carolina geranium
henbit
Creeping speedwell
Winter Annual Broadleaf Weeds
Shepard's purse
Johnny jump-up violets
Winter Annual Broadleaf Weeds
Lawn burweed or spurweed
Mouse-ear chickweed
Common chickweed
43
Summer Annual Grassy Weeds
crabgrass
crabgrass
goosegrass
Summer Annual or Perennial Grassy
Weeds

sandbur
Summer Annual Broadleaf
Weeds


knotweed
prostrate spurge
44
Summer Annual Broadleaf
Weeds




common lespedeza
black medic
purslane
carpetweed
Perennial sedges


Yellow nutsedge (left)
Purple nutsedge (right)
Warm-season Perennial Grassy
Weeds

dallisgrass
45
Cool-season Perennial Broadleaf
Weeds



dandelion
white clover
yellow woodsorrel
Biennial Weeds


wild carrot
some thistles such as musk thistle
Cool-season Perennial Broadleaf
Weeds



curly dock
broadleaf plantain
buckhorn plantain
46
Cool-season Perennial Broadleaf
Weeds

Violet
A typical full-scale weed control
program follows. Note, not all of
the applications are needed if
proper management is practiced
or if client is tolerant to some
weeds being present






Feb to mid March – apply 1st preemergent
summer annual herbicide
Feb to early March – apply dormant Roundup
+ Trimec program for winter annuals in
bermudagrass
Earlyy to mid May
y – applyy 2nd application of
preemergent summer annual herbicide
Late May to mid June – spot treatments of
post emergent broadleaf herbicide
Late May to early June – post emergent
nutsedge control if needed
Late May to mid June – post emergent
crabgrass control if needed
47

July to August – too late, the optimum
window of application is passed,
increased risk of herbicide drift,, injury
j y to
desirable turf and ornamentals and
decreased herbicide susceptibility of
summer annuals and cool and warmseason perennials is present

Last week of August to mid Sept – apply
preemergent winter annual weed control
October to early November – apply post
emergent broadleaf herbicide for control
of cool season perennial broadleaves

Insect Control

Principle problems
include:
– White grubs
– Fall armyworms
Damage from moles
48
Disease Control



Diseases are caused by infectious, living
agents such as viruses, bacteria,
mycoplasmas, and fungi.
Most turf diseases are caused byy fungi.
g
For disease to occur, there must be a
susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, the
proper environment for the pathogen and
adequate exposure time of the pathogen to
the host.
Spring Dead Spot
disease






fungus, active in fall
d
damage
appears iin spring
i
avoid late, high applications of N
chemical controls not reliable
remove dead plant material to speed up
regrowth
allow remaining grass to cover or
reseed/ plug with resistant cultivars
Varieties with increased spring
dead spot resistance


Midiron, Riviera, Yukon, Patriot and
Tifsport are more resistant
Celebration Sahara,
Celebration,
Sahara Sunturf,
Sunturf Princess
77, Tifway, and Tifgreen, are more
susceptible
49
Dollar Spot disease

Small circular spots size of silver dollar
appear in
N deficiency

chemical control

Brown Patch



Most prevalent on tall fescue
Disease severity increases with reduced
air movement, high temps (80+), high
y, heavyy dew,, summer
humidity,
fertilization, heavy
shade
Fungicides often
necessary
Fairy Ring
50
Abiotic Conditions


compaction
wear and tear
Abiotic Conditions


poor N distribution
fertilizer burn
Abiotic Conditions


hail damage
frost damage
51
Abiotic Conditions

Urine damage
52