Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 j u l y 2 0 1 9 w w w . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . c o m " t h e d o W n s i d e " t o a h e a l t h y G r e e n l aW n by the "Old Guy With The Pony Tail" at Mendham Garden Center When planting a new lawn or maintaining an existing lawn; very little consideration is given to topsoil quality and its influence on the establishment and management of a healthy green lawn. The development of a deep strong root system is the downside to a healthy green lawn. Grass, like every living thing, is the product of not only genetics, but also environment. This environment includes both what you can see above grade and what you can't see below grade. Over the years, different grass species have been identified and defined as being most effective in a broad range of above ground conditions. There are warm season, cool season, shade, sun, drought and wear tolerant grass species, just to name a few. Regardless of the environmental tolerances and attributes of different grass species, they all require a similar root zone environment. Without the correct root zone environment, no grass species can realize its full potential as a part of a healthy attractive lawn. There are four main species of perennial cool season grass best suited for our area. They are Kentucky blue grass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and fine fescue. Perennial meaning they come back year after year. Cool season meaning they adapt well to our yearly weather patterns. Kentucky bluegrass has long been known as the king of cool season turf grass. It does best in full sun. The dark green color and dense growth pattern of bluegrass are the result of years of breeding and development. Bluegrass density is the result of lateral growth through the production of above ground branches called tillers and below ground shoots, called rhizomes, both tillers and rhizomes continue to spread making the lawn thicker. As Blue grass density increases it creates a matt or thatch layer. The thatch layer protects the crown of the plant; the point at which all growth initiates. If either the roots or top growth are damaged the plant will usually grow back. If the crown is damaged the plant can die. This holds true with all cool season species. The thatch layer is sometimes misunderstood as an accumulation of mower clippings. It is actually an above ground layer of both living and dead stems, roots and shoots that develops between the green top growth and the soil surface. Thatch build up begins when turf produces organic debris faster than it can be broken down. Too much thatch can harbor insects and also impede the ability of oxygen, nutrients and moisture to enter the soil. Not enough thatch to protect the crown and the plant is less wear tolerant. Too much nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and summer, although pushing top growth, can slow down lateral growth and the development of a healthy thatch layer. Fall and late fall fertilization promote lateral growth and the production of a healthy thatch layer. A thatch layer of more than ½ inch should be addressed by thatching the lawn with a thatching machine designed to remove the thatch while providing minimal damage to the green top growth.. Core aeration is also very beneficial in helping to control this layer. These procedures are best done in the fall when the plant's energy turns to lateral and root growth. Thatching and core aeration in the spring or summer have the potential to increase summer stress due to removal of the insulation provided by the thatch layer. Although all cool season grasses have the potential to produce thatch, bluegrass, due to its prolific lateral growth, has the most potential to develop a significant thatch layer. Tall fescue is a species that originated as a wide bladed unsightly clump grass that made for a poor looking lawn. K-31 is a variety of tall fescue that still exists today. It is still sold as a lawn seed and is an example of the original poor aesthetic quality of tall fescue. Once this variety is introduced into a lawn there is no effective way to remove it without damaging the desirable grass. Tall fescue is known as a clump grass. Each plant spreads by increasing its diameter thru the production of lateral above ground tillers. As the individual plants increase in size, they coalesce to form a seamless turf cover. Years of breeding and genetic research have developed many desirable varieties of tall fescue that are very similar in appearance to the other cool season grasses. Tall fescue is not only shade tolerant but also one of the most drought and wear tolerant cool season grasses. By comparison, tall fescue requires less fertilizer than other cool season species and is considered a relatively low maintenance turf. However, the attributes of tall fescue are very much dependent on the production of a deep healthy root system. Perennial ryegrass is a clump grass with a growth pattern similar to tall fescue. It has some shade tolerance and very good wear tolerance. Seed mixtures containing perennial ryegrass and other species and also seed blends of different perennial ryegrass varieties are very effective for spring seeding since they will typically establish quickly. Seed mixtures containing perennial ryegrass and other species and also seed blends of different perennial ryegrass varieties are very effective for spring seeding since they have aggressive lateral growth and establish a dense canopy early on to protect the crown. Fine fescues include clump type grasses and also grasses that spread thru the production of rhizomes similar to bluegrass. These grasses are very fine bladed. They are the most shade tolerant of all the cool season grasses. Fine fescues are great in the shade. However, they have very poor wear tolerance. It should be understood that any cool season grass requires two to three hours of sunlight a day to survive. When used correctly, each of these grass species provides very specific benefits in the home lawn. Their effectiveness is nonetheless only fully realized through proper soil management. And that's the downside. If you have any questions or comments on this article you can contact theoldguy@mendhamgardencenter.com. • Be on the lookout for insect damage. It is not uncommon this time of year for damage caused by insects to be misdiagnosed as drought or heat stress. The damage goes unnoticed until the lawn starts to recover in the fall but the damaged areas stay brown. • Chinch bugs are one of the most prevalent. Sunny locations; especially slopes with a southern exposure are prime real estate for chinch bugs. To check for chinch bugs in your lawn, remove both ends of a large coffee can, push it into the turf and fill it with water. Stir the grass at the bottom. Any chinch bugs will float to the surface. • Sod webworm is another insect common to our area whose damage can devastate a lawn. Since they stay in silken tunnels during the day and feed at night, a disclosing solution of 2 gallons of water with 2 tablespoons of dish detergent sprinkled over a 3' square foot area can be used to bring sod webworms to the surface. Populations of 10-15 may warrant treatment. Stop by Mendham Garden Center for all your lawn and garden needs. Just ask for the old guy with the pony tail! Conveniently located at 1306 Route 31, Annandale (near the Old Allerton Road intersection) Mendham Garden Center is the place to go for all your gardening and landscape needs. Call 908.730.9008 or visit: www.MendhamGardenCenter.com. G a R d e n I n G T I p o f T h e M o n T h F o r J u l y by the "Old Guy With The Pony Tail" at Mendham Garden Center

• Cover