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After Service Email Update Fairway Green in Raleigh has started the “after service email” (paperless invoices). Charlotte will soon follow with the “after service email”. We will still leave the after service flag so you know we were there and to look out for your email. This email is to be used just like the… Read more »
Fairway Green in Raleigh has started the “after service email” (paperless invoices). Charlotte will soon follow with the “after service email”. We will still leave the after service flag so you know we were there and to look out for your email. This email is to be used just like the paper left in the door and should make it easier for you to receive answers to common questions that can be found on our website or your customer portal.
Thank you to everyone for making this positive transition easier with your patience understanding.
North Carolina is now seeing confirmed cases of winter injury/damage on all warm-season turf types. As warm-season turf starts to actively grow we can see the extent of damage on Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede and St. Augustine. However, once again, Centipede and Bermuda have received the heaviest damage. Centipede is the most cold intolerant of all warm-season turf and tends to green up sooner than other warm-season turf. All warm-season turf will start actively growing through May and June.
Corrective action from any damage will depend on the extent of your damage. Bermuda and Zoysia will generally fill back in during the growing season on the proper fertility program if damage is not severe. Bermuda and Zoysia spread much faster than Centipede. Sod may be the best approach on Centipede (or other turf types) if damage is extensive. Centipede spreads slowly and cannot be pushed with fertility to get it to spread faster.
Please keep in mind, it is difficult to know the extent of injury until June. All warm-season turf grasses break dormancy at different times in the spring and usually are not completely out until June. This can be the case in the same yard. You can even see warm-season turf break dormancy sooner on the other side of the street in the neighborhood. This is compounded when you have cool spring temperatures farther into May like we have seen this year. Fertilizer will not help the turf green up unless it is ready to start actively growing. This is all based on air and ground temperatures and the amount of daylight.
The alert below was just issued from NC State Crop Science about the delay in green up on warm season turf.
Brown Patch Fungus on Fescue typically starts in May. However, we have seen a few cases of Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Rust and Helminthosporium diseases in late April.
Brown Patch Fungus activates within a distinct set of climatic parameters. Brown Patch will activate when the temperatures are above 75 degrees with high atmospheric moisture. This moisture can be in the form of rainfall, irrigation or humidity. Brown Patch fungus can be devastating to the lawn.
Signs of Brown Patch will be an off-color similar to drought stress, lesions on the leaf blade, browning of the turf in circles or areas. The easiest way to identify Brown Patch is to stand away from the lawn and look for a shadowy appearance on the lawn. Once you identify the area of concern, look for tan or brown lesions on the leaf blade. If you see these lesions, more than likely, you have Brown Patch. Drought stress can be mistaken for Brown Patch. Drought stress will make the leaves fold at the center giving the leaf blade a straw appearance.
Applying fungicides preventively offers better control and less turf damage vs. curative fungicide. We typically see Brown Patch starting in Fescue in mid-May through August.
Poa Annua (annual Blugrass) and Poa trivialis (rough Bluegrass) have been extremely active and problematic this year. We see good (ok) and bad years. Last year and this year have been very bad years for Poa annua.
Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) is a common winter annual grassy weed in all turf types. Poa annua is one of the more frustrating weeds in home lawns from November to May. It will be found in all turf types. It is easily seen in warm season turf during the winter because the turf is dormant while Poa annua is green and actively growing. However, most people with fescue turf do not realize they have it until late spring when the Poa annua produces tan colored seed heads and the leaf blades turn an off green.
Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) control in Fescue, is extremely difficult. It requires two (2) applications of a special product in November, then again in December. Both must be completed and they need to be completed roughly 30 days apart. This will only control 70% to 75% of the potential Poa annua germination. This application process will not eliminate or control 100% of the possible Poa annua. Due to excessive product cost, applications are an addition to regular service at the same application price per application.
Please contact us through the customer portal or visit FairwayGreen.com to request service.
Poa annua control in Bermuda and Zoysia is completed in the fall from October to December. It is a special warm season turf product, different from the cool season product that is applied roughly 30 days apart. This will provide roughly the same level of control as the fescue product. You can expect 75% to 80% control after these two applications. This product is included with your regular Round Five and Round Six applications
Poa trivialis (rough Bluegrass) is a perennial cool-season grass. It has a light green color and stands out in most desired turf grass. It forms a dense spreading mat usually seen in the spring, fall and winter. Poa trivialis does not tolerate heat and full sun well and will go dormant and appear to disappear in the summer. However, it will return when the temperatures cool.
Poa trivialis is very difficult to control in fescue. There a few products that are showing some promise but still in the trial stages. These combination products are also very costly making the treatment costly.
The best control at this point is to maintain good quality turf and density. Applying a non-selective weed control prior to seeding in fall can be a good method of control.
White grubs are the larvae of Scarab beetles. There are several beetles that produce the grubs we see while digging in our lawns and natural areas. Grub species in North Carolina include Southern and Northern Chafer, Japanese, Asiatic, Green June and the May beetles. Grubs are identified by their cream off white colored body and off brown color hind part and head. Grubs have six legs and are from ¼ to 1½ inches. They are often seen in their C-shaped position in the soil.
White grubs create damage in turf by eating the root system of the host plant. Turf damage is usually observed in late spring through fall with an off color wilting appearance. Many times it is misdiagnosed as disease, heat or dry stress. The lawn may have a spongy almost loose feel to the soil under the turf. In severe cases, the turf may roll up when tugged on from the lack of roots holding it to the soil. Activity from birds, raccoons, skunks and moles could indicate a grub infestation. To determine the extent of grub activity and the need for control, you will need to use a spade to remove the upper 3 inches of soil in a 12” x 12” area. Cut back the turf sample to count the number of grubs and inspect root damage. If nine or more grubs are observed, take immediate action utilizing proper products. All turf types are susceptible to grub feeding and damage.
Core aeration is a key management practice to help improve the overall quality of your turf and soil environment. Core aeration removes a small plug of thatch and soil and should be completed annually on Warm Season Turf (Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede). Core aeration removes a small plug of thatch and soil. This service should be completed between June and early August.
Prevention is Key to maintaining a safe and comfortable season
Steps to Prevention:
Empty standing water in areas that collect and promote mosquito growth and reproduction
Some areas to consider:
We all know Mosquitos transmit diseases like West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, Chikungumya and Zika.
Fairway Green’s Season Long Mosquito Control program can help control Mosquitos giving you and your family peace of mind. Each treatment will help control mosquito activity for approximately 2-3 weeks.
Contact us today for a no-obligation price quote and enjoy the summer again!
SAVE $10.00 off your first application* when you start your Mosquito Control Program
*First Time Mosquito Customers Only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Some restrictions apply.
Mowing season is underway (for cool season turf). Proper mowing height will help control weeds in the lawn.
Research has proven that maintaining a mowing height of 3½ – 4” on fescue drastically reduces the amount of crabgrass in the lawn. Mowing at this height will also help promote healthy turf and hold back broadleaf weeds.
Many warm season turf lawns struggle to strive due to improper mowing height. Mowing your type of warm season turf will drastically improve the overall quality and appearance of the lawn. Bermuda in a home lawn requires mowing every few days at 0.5” to 1.5”. Mowing at this height encourages denser turf and spreading. The lawn will look thin and grow upward if mowed above this height. In addition, it lowers the quality of the grass increasing the possibility of damage. Zoysia requires a mowing height between 1.5” and 2.5” based on your particular variety. A safe bet would be around 2”.
Centipede needs to be cut low around 1” to 1.75” to perform well. St Augustine requires a mowing height of 1.75” and 2.25”.
Yellow Nutsedge is a prolific and very difficult to control weed in many lawns and natural areas. Nutsedge is not a broadleaf weed or grassy weed but is in the sedge family. Yellow Nutsedge is a summer perennial that flourishes from April/May to around September/October. It reproduces from tubers (nutlets) under the soil and can spread from rhizomes. Each plant can produce hundreds of tubers during its growing season. These new tubers will be new plants in the years to come. Nutsedge will have a triangle stem and is easily felt when you twirl a stem between your thumb and forefinger. Yellow Nutsedge will grow much faster than the existing turf and will have a thin shiny appearance.
Post-emergent broadleaf weed controls for weeds like clover and dandelions will not control Nutsedge. There are limited products available for controlling Nutsedge and all of them require frequent applications over multiple years to offer acceptable control.
Yellow Nutsedge showing plant structure
Core aeration removes a small plug of thatch and soil and should be completed annually on Warm Season Turf (Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede. This service should be completed between June and early August.
Core aeration will: