News You Can Use Distributed 08/27/08
A commonly asked question LSU AgCenter extension agents face every year is, “Why is my neighbor’s yard greener?” The answer can be simple or quite complex, depending on what's wrong.
“If there are many issues interacting, sometimes it's just better to kill it all off and start all over,” said Tom Koske, LSU AgCenter turfgrass specialist. “But even then the basics of good lawn care must be in place. Those basics are having the most appropriate grass in the right condition and then taking care of that turf as needed.”
For sustainable growth and health, a lawn needs proper fertilizing, watering as needed and proper mowing. Many times, these factors will keep lawns out of trouble or able to overcome other problems.
A soil analysis is the only way to know exactly what's lacking or excessive in the lawn's soil. It contains useful information on soil acidity (pH) and the major nutrients needed.
“Get these factors straight, and you have the key to developing a great lawn. This testing service is available from the LSU AgCenter through your local county agent's office,” Koske said.
Good drainage and irrigation control your soil moisture, so you must pay close attention to these, especially surface drainage when building a new house.
“Our most popular southern or warm-season grasses are St. Augustine and Centipede. Bermuda, zoysia, and carpet grasses are also an option and may be what really suits you best,” Koske said.
St. Augustine is a coarse grass that grows fast and tolerates a lot of shade.
Centipede is a slower growing, light green grass that has lower maintenance requirements.
Bermuda is a fine-leaved species that needs plenty of sun. It grows strong and tolerates many stressful conditions.
“We use Bermuda grass on athletic fields, lawns and parks,” Koske said.
Zoysia can be one of the most attractive grasses. It varies from fine to medium-fine and tolerates medium to somewhat heavy shade depending on the variety. It can get very thick, and this may become a problem that requires thinning or dethatching.
Carpet grass is an old, low-input species that makes an attractive, serviceable lawn. It is lighter in color like centipede and thinner in sod density.
Water your lawn as needed to keep it a healthy green color. If it starts to gray, or if your footprints remain, it is time to water the lawn well. If you don't mind some drought browning, water the lawn well every four weeks or so to ensure it doesn't die, Koske said.
When mowing, avoid scalping too much leaf off, Koske said. Don't take more than the top one-third of the leaf off per mowing. When the grass grows back 50 percent of the cutting height, it's time to re-mow.
Use a fairly sharp blade for an attractive and healthy cut. It may require a sharpening in mid-season, if you have a lot of grass to cut.
To learn more about proper lawn care in Louisiana, refer to the LSU AgCenter's publication, “Louisiana Lawns Best Management Practices.” This is available free from any parish extension office or online at www.lsuagcenter.com. Put the name of the publication in the search box.
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Contact: Tom Koske at (225) 578-2222, or tkoske@agcenter.lsu.edu
Editor: Linda Foster Benedict at (225) 578-2937, or lbenedict@agcenter.lsu.edu