College of Agriculture and Natural Resources · • remember –“guaranteed to grow” is not the...
Transcript of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources · • remember –“guaranteed to grow” is not the...
College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources
LAWN VS LORE
Myths: True or False?
Eric Wenger MG 1996Patricia Eng, MG 2014
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Our Vision:
A healthier world through
environmental
stewardship.
Our Mission:
To support the University
of Maryland Extension
mission by educating
residents about safe,
effective & sustainable
horticultural practices
that build healthy
gardens, landscapes, &
communities.
IPM - INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
“Intelligent person’s method”*
“the selection, integration, and implementation of multiple
pest control techniques based on predictable economic,
ecological, and sociological consequences, making
maximum use of naturally occurring pest controls, such as
weather, disease agents, and parasitoids, using various
biological, physical, chemical, and habitat modification
methods of control, and using artificial controls only as
required to keep particular pest from surpassing intolerable
population levels predetermined from an accurate
assessment of the pest damage potential and the ecological,
sociological, and economic cost of other control measures.”
fgc.edu
*Bob Alde,Eric Wenger
10 COMMON LAWN MYTHS
10) “I must remove leaves from my lawn in fall”
9) “Spring is the best time for dandelion and weed control; that is why stores sell weed and feed products in the spring”
8) “There is no point in getting rid of weeds in my lawn if my neighbors don’t do anything to their lawns”
7) “Wearing spiked shoes is a good way to aerate my lawn”
6) “Grass seed labeled for shade will grow and survive in all kinds of shade”
COMMON LAWN MYTHS
5) “If my lawn has moles, there must be grubs”
4) “Grass clippings create thatch, so I need to bag theclippings when I mow the grass”
3) “I won’t have to mow as often if I mow my lawn shorter”
2) “Lawns are not biologically diverse”
1) “Lawns are the major source of nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay”
MYTH #10: I MUST REMOVE LEAVES FROM MY LAWN IN THE FALL
MYTH #10: TRUE!TOO MANY LEAVES CAN SMOTHER YOUR LAWN
LEAVES MAKE GREAT MULCH AND COMPOST…
BUT GRINDING THEM INTO YOUR LAWN WILL CAUSE DEAD SPOTS. LEAVES CONTAIN LIGNIN WHICH TAKE LONGER TO DECOMPOSE THAN GRASS CLIPPINGS
MYTH #9: SPRING IS THE BEST TIME FOR DANDELION AND WEED CONTROL, THAT IS WHY STORES SELL WEED AND FEED PRODUCTS IN THE SPRING
MYTH #9: FALSEACTUALLY, FALL IS THE BEST TIME TO CONTROL
MOST BROADLEAF PERENNIAL TYPE WEEDS
SPRING IS THE BEST TIME TO CONTROL CRABGRASS AND STILTGRASS
WHICH ARE ANNUAL GRASSY WEEDS
MYTH #8: NO POINT IN GETTING RID OF WEEDS IN MY LAWN IF MY NEIGHBORS DON’T DO ANYTHING TO THEIR LAWN
MYTH #8: FALSEA WELL MAINTAINED LAWN WILL ACTUALLY
STOP MOST WEEDS FROM ESTABLISHING
HEIGHT MATTERS
Mow shorter, get more weeds; mow higher have less weeds.
IT IS THAT SIMPLE!
MYTH #7: WEARING SPIKED SHOES IS A GOOD WAY TO AERATE MY LAWN
MYTH #7: FALSEAERATION SHOES ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY
TO AERATE YOUR LAWN
Turf Cultivation: Aerating
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MYTH #6: GRASS SEED LABELLED FOR SHADE WILL GROW AND SURVIVE IN ALL KINDS OF SHADE
MYTH #6: FALSELAWN GRASS PREFERS AT LEAST 6 HOURS OF FULL SUN
• GRASS SEED MARKETED AS “SHADE SEED” CAN BE MISLEADING
• MOST GRASSES REQUIRE 6 HOURS OF FULL SUN TO SURVIVE YEAR ROUND
• NO GRASSES SURVIVE YEAR-ROUND IN OUR CLIMATE IN DEEP SHADE AS WHAT WE THINK OF AS A LAWN
• REMEMBER – “GUARANTEED TO GROW” IS NOT THE SAME THING AS “GUARANTEED TO SURVIVE”
• SHEEP FESCUE, CHEWINGS FESCUE AND HARD FESCUE CAN SURVIVE IN HEAVY SHADE AS LONG AS THEY ARE LEFT ALONE: NOT WALKED ON, MOWED OR FERTILIZED
MID-AUGUST TO LATE-OCTOBERIS THE BEST TIME TO SEED YOUR LAWN
• Generally from Mid-August to Late October, BUT
• IF YOUR LAWN IS SHADY, THEN THE BEST TIME TO SOW GRASS SEED IS IN THE SPRING
MYTH #5: IF MY LAWN HAS MOLES, THERE MUST BE GRUBS
Msue.anr.msu.edu
Nbcnews.com
MYTH #5: FALSEMOLES EAT ALL KINDS OF CREEPY CRAWLIES
MYTH #4: GRASS CLIPPINGS CREATE THATCH, SO I NEED TO BAG THE CLIPPINGS WHEN I MOW THE GRASS
• Thatch is the intermingled layers of living and dead stems, roots and leaves that lie between the soil and green vegetation– Thatch impedes water movement, harbors insects and diseases,
ties up fertilizer & pesticides
– Some thatch is good (up to1/2”), but above 1/2” thick, problems can arise
MYTH #4: FALSEGRASS CLIPPINGS DO NOT CREATE THATCH
• Grass clippings are 75% - 80% water and decompose quickly. But don’t leave too many!
• Plant parts that contain higher amounts of lignin, such as stems and roots, are primarily responsible for thatch build up
• Other factors: Type of grass, Proper pH, Active Soil Microbes, Aeration
GRASSCYCLING IS IMPORTANT!
• Encourages a healthier lawn by returning nutrients to the soil, in a slow release form
• Saves time by eliminating the need to bag or rake grass clippings
• Helps protect the environment by reducing the amount of lawn clippings in the landfill
MYTH #3: I WON’T HAVE TO MOW AS OFTEN IF I CUT MY LAWN SHORT
MYTH #3: FALSEIN REALITY TALLER LAWNS PROMOTE STRONGER ROOTS AND LESS WEEDS
HEIGHT MATTERS
Mow shorter, get more weeds; mow higher have less weeds.It is that simple!
MOWING TIPS• Mow on a regular basis
• Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at each cutting if possible and always have a sharp blade.
• Mow at the correct height for the type of grass– For Fescue and Bluegrass:
• Mow 3 to 3 1/2 inches– Reduce weeds by 50-80%
– Keeps grass greener in summer
– Roots are healthier, soil is cooler
– Thatch is reduced
• Mulching mowers hasten the
decomposition process,
but are not necessary
MYTH #2: LAWNS ARE NOT BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE
MYTH #2: FALSELAWNS DO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY
LAWNS SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY AND ARE ALSO PART OF A BIODIVERSE
LANDSCAPE
MYTH #1: LAWNS ARE THE MAJOR SOURCE OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
MYTH #1: FALSE
HEALTHY TURF = • LESS RUNOFF• COOLER ATMOSPHERE• MORE OXYGEN
Fact: A PROPERLY MAINTAINED LAWN IS BENEFICIAL IN STOPPING RUNOFF INTO STREAMS, TRIBUTARIES AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
LAWNS ARE NOT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/sciencesummary-nutrientmodelresults.html
http://midshoreriverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Ecology-of-Lawn-Maintenance1.pdf
The largest source of pollution to the Bay comes from agricultural runoff, which contributes roughly 40 percent of the nitrogen and 50 percent of the phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
WHAT POLLUTES THE BAY?• Atmosphere – 0.7 million pounds
• Septic – 4.0 million pounds
• All Urban/Suburban Runoff
(includes roads and turf) – 5.6 million pounds
• Forest Runoff – 7.1 million pounds
• Wastewater – 14.2 million pounds
• Agriculture – 17.8 million pounds
Chesapeake Stormwater Network 2012
Dr. Tom Turner 4/26/2012
BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF SEWAGE SPILL AND LEAK INTO OUR WATERWAYS EACH YEAR
https://data.montgomerycountymd.gov/Community/DEP-Reported-Sanitary-Sewer-Overflows/pah9-6f8f
MARYLAND FERTILIZER LAWS
• Restricts the amount of nitrogen that can be applied
– 0.9 pounds total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet
– 0.7 pounds of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, unless using enhanced efficiency fertilizer.
• Prohibits Phosphorus (P) application unless a soil test indicates it is needed or when a lawn is being established, patched or renovated.
• Prohibits application of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus on turf between November 15th and March 1st.
FERTILIZING TIPS
• Only fertilize actively growing grass and never fertilize frozen ground
• Keep fertilizer off paved surfaces. Sweep up material on paved surfaces.
• Avoid filling your spreader on a grassy surface
KEY POINTS of MARYLAND FERTILIZER REGULATIONS ON NITROGEN (N)
• Do not apply N before March 1 or after November 15th
• Do not apply more than 0.7lb. of soluble N per 1000 ft2
• If fertilizer contains 20% or more slow release N, do not apply more than 0.9 lb. of total N per 1000 ft2 in any one application.
KEY POINTS of MARYLAND TURFGRASS LAWS ON PHOSPHORUS (P)
• Phosphorus (P) cannot be applied for maintenance unless a soil test indicates a need.
• Natural organic fertilizers or products containing P can only be used if less than .25 lbs. P2O5/1000 ft2 per application, and not exceeding .50 lbs. P2O5/1000 ft2 annually.
• All products containing P, prohibited where soils test determine that soil has “optimum to excessive” levels of P.
WHAT ABOUT ORGANIC FERTILIZER?
• The same rules apply for all sources of nutrient fertilizers, including compost! In fact, most of the nutrients that pollute our waterways are from organic sources
• Most organic fertilizers contain slow release Nitrogen and Phosphorus. This limits their use, especially after November 15th
• Each application may not exceed 0.25lb of phosphate per 1,000 square feet with an annual maximum of 0.5lb of phosphate per 1,000 square feet
Things Aren’t Always What They Seem
10 COMMON LAWN MYTHS
10) “I must remove leaves from my lawn in fall” TRUE
9) “Spring is the best time for dandelion and weed control, that is why stores sell weed and feed products in the spring” FALSE
8) “No point in getting rid of weeds in my lawn if my neighbors don’t do anything to their lawns” FALSE
7) “Wearing spiked shoes is a good way to aerate my lawn” FALSE
6) “Grass seed labeled for shade will grow and survive in all kinds of shade” FALSE
COMMON LAWN MYTHS
5) “If my lawn has moles, there must be grubs” FALSE
4) “Grass clipping create thatch, so I need to bag the
clippings when I mow the grass” FALSE
3) “I won’t have to mow as often if I mow my lawn
shorter FALSE
2) “Lawns are not biologically diverse” FALSE
1) “Lawns are the major source of nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay” FALSE
GENERAL HORTICULTURE REFERENCES
• Maryland Extension – Home and Garden: www.hgic.umd.edu
• Virginia Tech Plant Pathology and Weed Science: www.ppws.vt.edu
• Colorado State Extension: http://extension.colostate.edu/
• Texas A and M Horticulture: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
TOPIC SPECIFIC REFERENCES
• Center for Invasive Species and Ecological Health: www.invasives.org
• Plants for a Future: www.pfaf.org
• MoCo Dept of Environment Report of Sanitary Sewer Overflows: https://data.montgomerycountymd.gov/Community/DEP-Reported-Sanitary-Sewer-Overflows/pah9-6f8f
• USGS Summary of Transport of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/sciencesummary-nutrientmodelresults.html
• Penn State Introduction to Weeds and Controls: http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/control/introduction-to-weeds-and-herbicides
TURF RELATED RESOURCES• Maryland Extension Turfgrass Council Publications:
http://mdturfcouncil.org/publications-resources/pubs/
• Maryland Turfgrass Disease Control Recommendations: http://mdturfcouncil.org/admin/uploadfiles/tt-38-2-10-d-control-11.pdf
• Maryland Fertilizer Law: http://mda.maryland.gov/pages/fertilizer.aspx
• Montgomery County MD Pesticide Regulations: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep/community/lawn-care.html
• Montgomery County MD Pesticide Ban Regulation: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/bill/2014/Packets/20141028_4C.pdf
• Report on Ecology of Lawn Maintenance: http://midshoreriverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Ecology-of-Lawn-Maintenance1.pdf
• Science Daily Article “…Insight into Backyard Biodiversity”: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030811071121.htm
• Florida Gateway College Turf Topics: www.fgc.edu
Information and Pictures Supplied by Agriculture Departments of:
• North Carolina State University
• University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Penn State University
• University of Tennessee
• University of Maryland
• The Ohio State University
• Virginia Tech
• University of California, Davis
• Texas State University
• University of Southern California
• Clemson University
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Dr. Tom Turner, Univ of New Mexico
Dr. Peter Dernoeden, U Maryland
Dr. Lee Hellman, U Maryland
Dr. David J. Shetlar, Ohio State Univ
Dr. John Davidson, U Maryland
Prof. Stanton Gill, U Maryland and Montgomery College
Dr. Donald Wyse, Univ of Minnesota
Preston Sullivan, NCAT Minnesota DOT
Art Gover, Penn State University
College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources