September 2017 News From Fairway Green

Fescue seeding in the Transitional Zone

Fairway Green is booking now for core aeration or slit seeding. We offer either slit-seeding or aeration seeding based on the condition of your lawn.The proper time to seed tall fescue in the Transitional Zone is at the end of August to mid-October; not the spring. Ground and air temperatures are

Core aeration seeding

in the best range for the longest period of time for germination and root development. Many fescue lawns will require seeding this fall due to our early hot dry spell in early summer and heavy disease damage. Fescue lawns that did not receive regular preventative fungicides appear to have the worst damage once again this summer.

Core aeration seeding is a common practice to seed in the fall. Core aeration helps reduce upper soil compaction and prepares a seeding bed at the same time. A seeding bed is needed to have the best seed to soil contact for the best possible germination rate and establishment.

Southern Perfection Turf Type Tall Fescue Mixture

Fairway Green uses and offers to customers and non-customers its very own hand selected turf type tall fescue mixture; “Southern Perfection.” Fairway Green’s “Southern Perfection” contains a mixture of 60% Falcon IV, 19% Tribute II, 19% Renegade DT and 2% Rockstar Kentucky Bluegrass. Turfgrass for the next century…winning the fight against surface-feeding insects, grows low but grows strong…your lawn will never be greener, naturally cut down on clippings and mowing. Falcon IV, Tribute II and Renegade DT are the best tall fescue varieties available in the industry.

Tested across multiple states, locations and environments these varieties exhibit improved turf quality, vibrant turf color, excellent disease resistance and improved stress tolerance. Rockstar Kentucky bluegrass is the fastest establishing elite Kentucky bluegrass available in the lawn care industry. Looking for elite turf, fast germination and enhanced knitting of turf for improved sod strength and traffic tolerance? Look no further than Rockstar. In addition to all these great qualities, Southern Perfection contains 0% weed seed and 0% other crop seed.

Southern Perfection is now Water Star® qualified by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA). Visit Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance for additional information about this exciting program.

Large Patch Fungus on Warm Season Turf

Large Patch Fungus in Zoysia

Late September starts the Large Patch fungus season on Zoysia, Bermuda, Centipede and St. Augustine. Fairway Green is seeing more cases of this disease every year in our area. Large Patch Fungus is a damaging disease on Zoysia, Bermuda, Centipede and St. Augustine turf in the fall and early spring. This disease is similar to Brown Patch Fungus on Fescue. Large Patch Fungus needs to be controlled with two applications of fungicide in the fall when ground temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees. Damage occurs before you are aware you have it and is not visible until green-up in the spring. Preventative Fungicide in the fall and early spring are the only way to control this disease.

Fall is an Excellent Time to Plant Ornamental Trees and Shrubs

Planting ornamentals in the fall allows the plants to establish with less stress from heat and drought conditions. Ornamentals typically do not need watering every day after planting from a pot. A good rule of thumb would be every three days without natural rainfall. Over watering can promote root funguses which are deadly to the tree or shrub. Before planting, review recommended planting depths, locations and special soil or pH requirements. Be sure to not plant too deep. This is a common problem and will eventually cause permanent damage to the tree or shrub.

Controlling Dallisgrass in Bermuda Athletic Fields or Bermuda Lawns

Fall is one of the best times to control Dallisgrass in Bermuda. Excellent control can be obtained when you use a combination of specialty herbicides. Generally, two applications 14 days apart will offer an acceptable level of control.

Why do I have to seed my lawn in the fall and not spring?

In the Transitional Zone (where we live) it is important to seed Fescue (cool season turf) in the fall not the spring. Fescue seedlings need the cooler months of fall, winter and very early spring to mature and to survive warm/hot ground temperatures of late spring and early summer. The warmer ground temperatures can damage the seedling’s root system making it unable to survive. In addition, pre-emergent for summer Crabgrass and other weeds cannot be applied in winter and early spring (as it should be) if seed is planted at that time. Pre-emergent will stop seedling germination and growth killing the plant. The lack of properly applied pre-emergent will allow crabgrass to invade the lawn choking out any desirable turf. This would include any of the spring seeded fescue.

Important Change For Warm Season Turf Customers

Fairway Green is changing the way we service your Early and Late Fall Service. This change is being made based on the latest research for providing the best possible Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) control in your warm season turf lawn. Poa annua is an annual winter grassy weed that is problematic in warm season turf. Fall and Late Fall Services will now be applied closer together than in the past. We will monitor the ground temperatures and apply the Fall Service when it is ideal. Fall Service will begin around the end of September. The products we are using require this tighter application schedule to offer the best level of control. This is not an extra application in your turf program; they are being applied a little closer together than in the past.