You may not realize that the lawns that get the
very best care are on baseball, football and
soccer fields…and, of course, golf courses.
Reseeding or Resodding and Core Aeration Can Help
As we head into fall, lawns may be showing signs of stress from the summer
season. Dead or thin areas, very soft or spongy grass and excessive weeds are
all symptoms of heat and drought stress. And if a lawn isn’t responding as
well as it should to proper cultural practices (such as regular fertilization and watering), it’s time to take action.
With reseeding or resodding and core aeration, lawns can be looking great again by the time spring arrives.
All of the care these lawns receive isn’t just for
good looks. With the kind of heavy use sporting fields receive, intensive care is essential.
Reseeding
Uneven, thin or clumpy turf on a playing field
can cause player injury. Extremely hard, nonirrigated surfaces can lead to twisted ankles,
broken bones or worse.
Fall is the best time of year for reseeding your lawn. Milder temperatures decrease competition from weeds
and diseases.
For best results, grass seed should be planted four to six weeks before the first frost (the soil temperature
should still be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit). And to improve seed-to-soil contact, a vertislicer can be
used to cut small grooves into the soil. Once deposited into the grooves, new seed will have a better chance
of germinating.
After the lawn has been reseeded, continuous moisture in the top 1⁄2" of soil will be necessary to ensure
germination. Light, frequent watering several times per day is recommended in sunny weather. Watering
should continue even after the first grass appears, since new seedlings don’t have many roots to work with.
Resodding
When renovating a lawn using sod, timing is not as critical as with seed. Sod can be installed well into the
fall and even early winter, as long as there’s no frost on the ground.
For the best results, the area to be resodded should be cleared of all growth and debris, and the exposed
ground should be lowered so that the level of the existing lawn will match the new sod being installed.
Watering at this time is important since the grass roots need a chance to grow before winter sets in completely. Once established, these renovated areas can be used and cared for just the same as the existing lawn.
Good turf helps to prevent injuries
Playing fields and golf courses keep their turf
in top shape by very carefully doing all of the
things we suggest for a home lawn. Practices
like consistent watering, good mowing habits,
making sure that there’s good drainage, careful
fertilization and pest control are the ingredients.
Renovation plays a big part, too, and includes
aeration, turf replacement, slit-seeding and
top-dressing.
Virtually every golf course and most sports
complexes have full-time staff and outside
services to make sure their turf is kept in top
condition for all of the “playing around” that
gets done.
Core Aeration
Though it can be done any time of year, core aeration is most effective in the fall; the soil is still soft right
now, and weeds aren’t actively germinating. This valuable process removes plugs of thatch and soil from
your lawn, and the plugs are left behind to dissolve during rainfall and watering cycles.
By opening up the soil, core aeration reduces compaction,
improves water filtration, increases the flow of nutrients to the
roots, and reduces the thickness of the thatch layer (more than
1
⁄2" of thatch can be harmful). This will result in a thicker,
greener, more resilient lawn next spring.
Remember...fall is the best time of year
for fix-ups! A combination of reseeding or
resodding and core aeration is a great way
to get your lawn back on track again.
Please be sure to join us for the I.P.T.C.
(Illinois Professional Turf Conference) Trade Show in
St. Charles, IL from November 29 – December 1, 2005.
Come see what Central Sod Farms, Inc. can do for you!
All Other Fescues
RTF
What is RTF™?
Why RTF is Revolutionary
Unlike all other tall fescues, RTF:
• Repairs itself
• Fills in bare spots
• Prevents “wide-leafed, ugly clumps”
Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) is an advanced generation
of turf-type tall fescue that produces rhizomes. A rhizome is
an underground stem that penetrates through the soil to
spread the plant. Rhizomes send shoots up to the soil
surface while extending new roots downward, forming a
new plant. The rhizomatous nature of RTF is similar to
Kentucky bluegrass. However, unlike Kentucky bluegrass,
it will survive the transition zone climate and other tall
fescue turf regions.
Please feel free to contact our sales office for more
information about this new product.
A Quick Guide to the Grasses
Planting new grass this fall? Choosing the right kind is just as important as planting it the right way. Here are a few guidelines:
Improved Tall Fescue
Good, tough play lawn.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Dark green, thick,
all-purpose, easy.
Fine Fescue
Fine texture, good in shade
and dry soil, widely adapted.
Rough Stalk Bluegrass
Excellent for shady, wet areas.
Perennial Rye
Good in mixtures,
fast establishment.
Shade Tolerance
Good
Wearability
Good
Fertilization Needs
Low to medium
Watering Needs
Good drought tolerance
Varies by
cultivar
Medium,
varies by cultivar
Medium to high
Medium to high
Good
Medium
Low
Good drought tolerance
Very good
Low
Low to medium
High
Medium
Very good
Low to medium
High