Frequently Asked Questions
Which grass should I plant?
Each of the major turf species has advantages and disadvantages. There are four questions you need to answer to decide which grass to plant:
- How much sunlight strikes the ground ? Bermudagrass requires full sun to thrive while St. Augustinegrass can survive in 30 percent sun.
- How hard do I want to work ? Hybrid bermudagrass requires almost constant fertilizing, watering, mowing, and pest control to grow well. Centipedegrass thrives on neglect.
- Where am I in Mississippi? North Mississippian's (north of Highway 82) can grow tall fescue and people in counties touching Tennessee can grow Kentucky bluegrass, but they should not attempt St. Augustinegrass.
- Which look am I desiring ? Bermudagrasses provide a smooth, dark green carpet effect when properly maintained. Centipedegrass will always have a yellow tinge to it's coloring.
What looks like black plastic growing on my greens?
Algae grow wherever there is visible water, sunshine, and nutrients. When the algae dry, it forms that black, hard mat. Prevent algae growth by improving the drainage in the green by aerating or installing French drains.
How do I control weeds in the lawn?
Most weeds can be controlled by growing healthy grass. Make sure the pH is right for your grass. Mow, fertilize, and water to improve the number of grass plants and decrease the number of weeds. Herbicides can be used to control weeds, but should be used as a last resort. If there are only a few weeds, pull them by hand, or hoe them out.
How often should I mow?
Mow often enough so that you remove only one-third of what is there. Each grass has a height it does best. Bermudagrasses should be maintained at about 1 inch. Mow whenever the grass in 1.5 inches tall. This may mean every second or third day on bermudagrasses in June. St. Augustinegrass should be maintained at 3 inches, so mow whenever the grass is 4.5 inches tall.
Why won't grass grow on my football field's crown?
Soil compaction prevents the roots of the grass from penetrating the soil. The soil is compacted by the players constantly running on the surface. Alleviate compaction by aerating.
Is there money to be made in growing sod?
As in every business, a good entrepreneur can make money. The most important area to investigate before entering the sod business is marketing. Find out which grass or blend of grasses is selling in your area. Check with landscape architects, contractors and builders about their preferences for new construction in your area. The market for sod is new construction. once you determine demand, grow the grass desired on well drained, relatively level land.
What does "aerate" mean?
Aerate means to poke a hole in the ground to allow air and water to penetrate the surface of the soil. Tools to aerate include a pitchfork for small areas, solid tine aeraters, hollow tine aeraters which remove a core of soil from the hole, and water aeraters which use water under very high pressure to form holes in the soil. The effects of aeration are temporary unless the area is topdressed afterward and sand fills the holes to prevent closure.
What does topdress mean and why is it done?
Topdress means to spread a layer of sand or sand plus organic material over the turf surface. The material is then redistributed by dragging a mat or section of chain link fence to move the sand from the high spots to the low spots. Topdressing evens the surface of the field, helps prevent thatch build up by providing a more favorable environment for microorganisms, and prolongs the effects of aeration by physically preventing hole closure. Topdressing is done routinely on golf greens and is used on sports fields and other fine turf when soil compaction or thatch problems develop.
When should turfgrass be watered?
Most of the grasses require about one inch of water per week when they are actively growing. Either watch your own rain gage, or watch the weatherman and keep up with how much rain has fallen for the past week. If more than one-half inch has fallen, don't water. If no rain has fallen, add one inch of water. Try to water only once a week, one inch at a time.
Should I remove clippings?
The only time clippings should be removed is when the grass is totally covered with clipping after mowing. If you can see the grass blades sticking up through the clippings, you should leave the clippings. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer for the grass plants. Properly mown grass clippings do not contribute to thatch (see next question).
When should I dethatch my grass?
Thatch is an accumulation of partially decomposed and undecomposed plant material at the soil surface. Thatch accumulation of less than one-half inch can be beneficial. Thatch accumulations of more than one inch are harmful. Remove thatch whenever it accumulates to more than one inch, but thatch is a symptom, not a disease. Thatch accumulated when something interfered with the microbial breakdown of plant material. If you have a thatch problem, it is usually due to soil compaction, poor drainage, or low soil pH. Alleviate the problem and the thatch will not re-occur.
Why is my grass thinning out?
Shade is the cause of most stand losses. All turfgrasses requires sunlight to grow. If the sun does not hit the ground, consider shade tolerant ornamental or ground covers. Soil compaction is the second most frequent cause of stand loss. Check for compaction by forcing a 6 inch bladed knife or screwdriver into moist soil. You should be able to push the blade in with just your thumb over the end of the handle. These two factors are responsible for 80 percent of turf problems in Mississippi.