Better Lawns

• ESTABLISHMENT • MAINTENANCE . RENOVATION • LAWN PROBLEMS GRASSES

U. S. Department oí Agriculture

Home and Garden Bulletin No. 51 Contents

Page Establishment 3 Lawn problems 14 Preparing the soil 3 Weeds 14 Preparing to plant 6 Diseases 17 Planting 8 Insects 19 When to plant 11 Other pests 19 Maintenance 12 Moss 19 Fertilizing 12 Shade 20 Liming 13 Soil compaction 20 Watering 13 Grasses and ground cover plants 21 Mowing 13 Grasses 21 Renovation. 14 Ground cover plants 30

This bulletin was prepared in the Crops Research Division, Agricultural Re- search Service, by John C. Harper II* and M. A. Hein. It supersedes Farmers^ Bulletin 1677, Planting and Care of Lawns, and Leaflet 281, Pointers on Making Good Lawns.

Washington, D. C. Issued March 1957 * Resigned March 1955 Slightly revised December 1957

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing OflSce Washington 25, D. C. - Price 15 cents Better I

You don't have to be an expert to grow a good lawn. But you do have to adhere to sound estabhshment and maintenance practices. You have to consider: (1) Construction of the lawn—how it is graded and drained, and how the seedbed is prepared; (2) selection of grasses, and how and when they are planted; and (3) maintenance, which includes fertilizing, mowing, watering, and controlling weeds, diseases, and insects.

ESTABLISHMENT

Following are things to do before existing level. Trees can be killed you start preparing the soil for a by root suffocation when covered lawn on a new building site: deeply by soil. To protect a tree, 1. Push the top 4 to 6 inches of build a well of brick or stone around soil to one side until the building it at the existing level. Spread a and subsoil-grading operations are 6-inch layer of crushed stone or completed. gravel on the existing level and 2. Remove all building debris extend it 6 to 10 feet outward such as bricks, stones, boards, paper, from the wall. Let the new lawn paint cans, and wire. Do not level build up around the wall. bury such material in the subsoil. This will allow air to reach the 3. Plan the lawn to avoid a ter- roots of the tree. Make the diam- race, or a system of terraces, if eter of the walled-in area 3 to 5 possible. Terraces are hard to feet larger than the diameter of maintain. the tree. 4. If the subsoil is poorly drained it may be necessary to install tile drains. Do not attempt to install PREPARING THE SOIL them without professional guidance. Consult a tile dealer or your county Plow, disk, spade, or otherwise agricultural agent or State agricul- loosen the subsoil so that it can tural experiment station. be worked. Work the soil only 5. It may be necessary to pro- when moisture conditions are nor- tect trees if the new lawn level is to mal. Do not work soil when it is be considerably higher than the saturated with moisture. ÍW.« i^ípí '*'',. "'-¿tí ««

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In preparing the seedbed, begin by loosening the subsoil.

Slope the subsoil away from the the soil and the type of soil. Dol- house. The slope should not ex- omitic ground limestone, which con- ceed 1-foot drop in 16 linear feet. tains magnesium and calcium, is A slope of 1-foot drop in 50 linear best but is not available in all feet is adequate for good surface places. drainage. Spread a 4- to 6-inch layer of When the subsoil grading is com- topsoil uniformly over the subsoil. pleted, mix in lime, if needed, and Use the topsoil that you saved. phosphate fertilizer before cover- Avoid forming low spots or hollows. ing the subsoil with topsoil. The Use a hand rake for leveling and lawn begins with the subsoil. spreading. Soil testing services to deterroinc You may need additional topsoil. the degree of acidity are available Be cautious when buying it. Some through your county agricultural "topsoil" is actually subsoil, or it agent or State agricultural experi- may contain debris, toxic salts, ment station. You can do the noxious weeds, other undesirable testing yourself with an inexpensive plants, or seeds. testing kit. Additional lime may be needed If soil testing is not available, a after the topsoil is spread. Apply it seedsman, nurseryman, or farmer while you are working the soil—be- can tell you whether you live in a fore the finish grade of the topsoil general area of acid or alkaline soils. is established. The amount of lime to apply will Some soils require additional vary with the original acidity of treatment. If the soil is mostly

4 sandy or gravelly, or mostly heavy Do a thorough job of incorporat- clay, you may need to incorporate ing additives into the soil. Failure soil additives into the soil to im- to do so will create layers in the soil prove its organic-matter content or that may cause serious maintenance to improve the textm-e of the soil. problems in later years. Layers of Do these things while you are pre- sand or gravel in the soil often stop paring the soil. water movement. This prevents Add peat, well-rotted manure, the development of deep grass roots. spent mushroom soil, decomposed Layers of organic matter often re- sawdust, or tannery sludge to sandy main saturated with water. This or gravelly soils. Silt or clay may prevents penetration of the layers also be added. by the grass roots because the layers Manure, sewage sludge, tannery lack oxygen. sludge, and sawdust should be well You can also add organic matter decomposed before adding them to to the soil by turning under a green the soil. Sawdust should be 8 to 10 manure crop 4 to 6 weeks before years old, or should be composted. planting the grass. Cocoa shells, buckwheat hulls, pea- In the northern part of the United nut hulls, rice hulls or similar ma- States spring plantings of soybeans, terials are satisfactory soil additives sweet clover, red clover, sudan- if they are composted. grass, or ryegrass provide good Two to four cubic yards of soil green manure for turning under in additive per 1,000 square feet of August. lawn will generally be adequate. In the southern part of the

N-15677 Spread phosphate fertilizer—and lime, if needed—before covering the subsoil with topsoil. it,- - k - p

N-15ftS2 After plowins (or spading) and disking, level the soil with a hand rake.

United States fall plantings of crim- Rotary tillage is not recom- son clover, hairy vetch, winter rye, mended unless it is followed by or ryegrass provide good green disking. This type of tillage tends manure for turning under prior to to "float" the ñner particles of soil spring lawn planting. These crops to the surface. The beating action also provide a cover for the soil dur- of the tiller may destroy some of the ing the fall and winter. soil structure. Hand raking is If you have heavy clay soil you necessary to level the soil and to can modify the texture by adding prevent the formation of depres- sand, perlite, vermiculite, or scoria. sions and hollows where water The amount of material to use de- might concentrate. pends on the existing composition Soil fertility varies greatly. Soil of the soU. A desirable clay loam tests, available through your county soil contains 40 to 50 percent of sand, agricultural agent or State agricul- 30 percent or more of clay, and 20 tural experiment station, are the to 30 percent of silt. basis for determining the fertility of your soil and may serve as the PREPARING TO PLANT basis for fertilizer recommendations. Just prior to planting, apply a Plowing or spading followed by complete, inorganic fertilizer (one disking and hand raking are the containing nitrogen, phosphorus, best methods of preparing the soil and potash) and rake it lightly into for planting. the soil. The percentage figures on the bag in which fertilizer is Apply the fertilizer at a rate that purchased refer to nitrogen, phos- will provide 2 pounds of actual phoric acid, and potash, in that nitrogen per 1,000 square feet unless order. For example, a 5-10-5 ferti- a test has shown that the soil needs lizer contains 5 percent of nitrogen, a larger or smaller amount. Table 10 percent of phosphoric acid, and 1 gives the amounts of fertilizer 5 percent of potash. needed to provide 1, 2, or 3 pounds

TABLE 1.—Fertilizers jor lawn use and application rate

Amount per 1,000 square feet when amount of nitrogen Fertilizer Type desired is—

1 pound 2 pounds 3 pounds

For establishment and maintenance

Pounds Pounds Pounds 5-10-5 - Complete,! inorganic 2 20 40 60 4-12-4 do 25 50 75 5-10-10 do 20 40 60 10-10-10 do 10 20 30 8-8-8 do 13 25 38 10-6-4 do 10 20 30 8-6-4 -_-__do 13 25 38 4-8-4 do 25 50 75 6-12-4 ___:.do 17 34 50

For maintenance

Pounds Pounds Pounds Processed sewage sludge 3_ Nitrogen, organic * _ 17 34 51 Ammonium nitrate Nitrogen, inorganic. 4 8 12 Ammonium sulfate do___ 5 10 15 Nitrate of soda do__. 7 13 20 Steamed bone meal Nitrogen, phosphorus, or- 50 100 150 ganic. Cottonseed meal Nitrogen, organic 17 34 51 Peanut hull meal do__ 50 100 150 Cocoa shell meal do___ 50 100 150 Castor pomace do___ 20 40 60 Dried cattle manure. Complete, organic _ 50 100 150 Dried sheep manure. do.__ 70 140 210 Sewage sludge Nitrogen, organic 50 100 150 Animal tankage Nitrogen, phosphorus, or- 15 30 45 ganic. Tobacco stems Nitrogen, potash, organic. 50 100 150 Urea Nitrogen, inorganic 3 5 7 Processed tankage ^- Nitrogen, organic 13 26 39 Soybean meal do__. 17 34 51 Urea-form Synthetic 3 6 9

1 A complete fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. 2 An inorganic fertilizer is a chemical fertilizer that is easily soluble and quickly available to plants. 3 Milorganite and Huo-actinite are processed sewage-sludge materials. * An organic fertilizer is slowly available to plants over a period of time. s Agrinite is processed tankage material. ^

Sow srass seed by hand, as shown here, or with a mechanical seeder. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square northern latitudes of the United feet. States. Single species of grasses Phosphorus, a nutrient that is are planted more often in the South important when grasses are being than in other parts of the country. established, is lacking in many soils. In choosing a grass, or mixture The deficiency can be overcome by of grasses, consult your county applying 25 pounds of superphos- agricultural agent, your State agri- phate per 1,000 square feet during cultural experiment station, a seed preparation for planting. Mix it dealer, or a nurseryman. Examine thoroughly into the top 3 to 5 inches the analysis tags on the seed con- of the soil where the roots of the tainers before you buy. State and seedling plants will feed. Federal laws require that the tags give the percentage of each grass PLANTIKG seed in the container, the purity and germination, and date of test. To establish a successful lawn you should (1) select high-quality Seeding seeds or planting material, and (2) Grasses for which seed are avail- select grasses that are adapted to able may be planted by hand or your soil and climate. with a mechanical seeder. To ob- Mixtures of grasses are commonly tain uniform distribution, mix the planted throughout the central and seed with small amounts of a carrier,

8 which may be topsoil or sand. banks, cheesecloth, open-mesh sack- Divide the mixed material into two ing, or commercial mulching cloth equal parts. Sow one part in one will help hold the moisture and seeds direction and the other part cross- in place. Grass will grow through wise to the first sowing. the mulching material, which may Cover the seed lightly by hand be left to rot. raking or by dragging with a brush New seedings should be kept or mat. Cover large seeds K to % moist until well established. Once inch deep, and small seeds % to ji seeds have begun to germinate they inch deep. Firm the seeded area must not dry out or they will die. by rolling with a light roller or Avoid saturating the soil, however; cultipacker. excessive moisture is favorable for Mulching with a light covering of the development of "damping off," weed-free straw or hay will help a fungus disease. hold moisture and prevent washing of the seed during watering or rain- fall. One 60- to 80-pound bale of Sodding straw or hay mulch will cover 1,000 square feet adequately. Mulches Unless good-quality sod is avail- applied evenly and lightly need not able, and complete coverage is be removed. Peat moss and un- needed immediately, the expense of composted sawdust are not satis- sodding is seldom justified except factory mulches. on steep slopes or terraces where On terraced areas, or on sloping washing may be a serious problem.

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N-15676 Spot soddinj: Small plugs of sod are set at measured intervals.

451434°—W 2 To sod, prepare and fertilize the ing season will help speed the spread seedbed in the same manner as for of the plants. seeding. Firm the seedbed with a Spot Sodding.—Spot sodding is roller after final hand raking. planting small plugs or blocks of Sod should not be cut more than 1 sod at measured intervals. Gener- inch thick. Sod cut % inch thick ally, the plugs are set 1 foot apart, will knit to the underlying soil but they may be set closer together faster than thicker sod. Lay the if more rapid coverage is desired. sod pieces as you would lay brick Fit the plugs tightly into prepared and fit them together as tightly as holes and tamp them firmly into possible. After laying the first place. strip, place a broad board on the Strip Sodding.—Strip sodding is sodded strip. Kneel on this board, planting strips of sod end to end in and move it forward as the job rows thai are 1 foot apart. The progresses. This eliminates tramp- sod strips should be 2 to 4 inches ing on the prepared seedbed. wide. Firm contact with surround- After the sod is laid, tamp it ing soil is necessary. lightly and topdress it with a small Sprigging.—Sprigging is the amount of topsoil. Work the top- planting of individual plants, run- dressing into the cracks between the ners, cuttings, or stolons at spaced sod pieces with a broom or the back intervals. Sprigs or runners are of a wooden rake.- Keep the sod obtained by tearing apart or shred- moist until it is well established. ding solid pieces of established sod. The space interval should be gov- Vesetative Planting erned by rate of spread of the grass, how fast coverage is desired, Seed for many grasses is not avail- and the amount of planting ma- able, or does not produce plants terial available. Bermudagrasses that are true to type. Such grasses spread more rapidly than the zoy- must be planted by vegetative sias. Sprigs or runners may also methods such as spot (or plug) be planted end to end in rows rather sodding, strip sodding, sprigging, or than at spaced intervals. stolonizing. Grasses planted by Stolonizing.—Stolonizing is prac- vegetative methods include zoysia, ticable only when large amounts of planting material are available improved strains of Bermudagrass, for planting large areas or highly St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass, specialized areas such as golf course creeping bentgrass, and velvet bent- putting greens. Shredded stolons grass. are spread over the area with mech- Whether plugged, strip sodded, anized equipment. The spreading sprigged, or stolonized, the planted is followed by disking or rolling material must be kept moist until and topdressing. well established. During the first Large Bermudagrass areas may year light applications of a nitrog- be established by spreading shred- enous fertilizer (ammonium sul- ded stolons with a manure spreader fate, ammonium nitrate, or urea) and disking lightly to firm them every 2 to 4 weeks during the grow- into the soil. This method requires 10 90 to 120 bushels of stolons per WHEN TO PLANT acre. Creeping bentgrass and velvet bentgrass can be stolonized by- Table 2 gives the rate and time spreading shredded stolons at a of seeding grasses that are estab- rate of 10 bushels per 1,000 square lished by seeding. Table 3 gives feet, topdressing with topsoil to a the rate and time of planting depth of Yi inch, and rolling to firm grasses that are established by the stolons into the topdressing. vegetative planting methods.

TABLE 2.—Seeded grasses—rate and time of seeding

Pounds of seed Grass per Time of 1,000 seeding square feet

Bahiagrass Spring. Bermudagrass Spring. Blue gramagrass (unhuUed)___ Spring. Buffalograss (treated) Spring. Canada bluegrass Fall. Carpetgrass Spring. Chewings fescue Fall. Colonial bentgrass (Highland, Astoria) Fall. Creeping bentgrass (Seaside) Fall. Crested wheatgrass Fall. Japanese lawngrass (hulled) Spring. Kentucky bluegrass, common Fall. Kentucky bluegrass, Merion Fall. Red fescue Fall. Redtop Fall. Rough bluegrass Fall. Ryegrass (domestic and perennial) Spring-fall. Tall fescue (Alta, Ky. 31) Fall. Velvet bentgrass Fall. Mixture for sunny areas: 75% bluegrass, 25% red fescue Fall. Mixture for shady areas: 25% bluegrass, 75% red fescue Fall.

TABLE 3.- -Vegetative grasses—rate and time of planting

Amount of planting material per Time of planting Grass 1,000 square feet

Bermudagrass 10 square feet of nursery sod or 1 bushel Spring-summer. of stolons. Bnffaloffrass 25-50 square feet of sod Spring. CarDetsfrass 8-10 square feet of sod Spring-summer. Centipedegrass 8—10 sauare feet of sod Spring-summer. Creeping bentgrass 80-100 square feet of nursery sod or 10 Fall. bushels of stolons. Velvet bentgrass 80-100 square feet of nursery sod or 10 Fall. bushels of stolons. Zoysia _ _ 30 square feet of sod when plugging; 6 Spring-summer. square feet of sod when sprigging.

11 MAINTENANCE

Note.^Maintenance practices vary or 3 applications a year. For best with the species of grass and with soil and results, if you make 2 applications, climatic conditions. Recommendations in this bulletin are general. For specific, apply one in early spring and the local recommendations, consult your other in early fall. Half of each county agricultural agent or State agri- application should be made up of cultural experiment station. organic nitrogen fertilizer. If you make 3 applications, apply inor- ganic nitrogen fertilizer in early spring and in early fall, and apply FERTILIZING organic nitrogen fertilizer in late spring. Fertilizers that contain organic To get quality growth of cool- and inorganic nitrogen are used to season grasses, apply fertilizer at maintain lawns. Organic nitrogen the rate of 3 to 5 pounds of actual costs more per unit of actual nitro- nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per gen than inorganic nitrogen; but it year. Use a httle more than the releases its nutrient value to the 5-pound maximum on Merion blue- grass more slowly than inorganic grass. nitrogen, and thus gives more uni- Fertilize Bermudagrass, zoysia, form stimulation to the grass over St. Augustinegrass, and other a longer period. warm-season grasses (those that Organic nitrogen is available as make their maximum growth in processed sewage sludge, cotton- hot weather) during the summer seed meal, soybean meal, animal months when they are most active. and vegetable tankage, and other Warm-season grasses are more waste organic byproducts. Inor- variable in their nitrogen require- ganic fertilizers are available as dry ments than cool-season grasses. materials (standard farm fertilizers) Bermudagrass requires 5 to 10 or as liquid or dry concentrates that poiinds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 must be diluted with water before square feet per year, apphed in 3 to they are applied. 5 applications from early spring Fertilize bluegrass, fescues, and to late fall. St. Augustinegrass and other cool-season grasses (those zoysia require less nitrogen than that make their maximum growth Bermudagrass but require more in the spring and fall and are dor- than carpetgrass, centipedegrass, mant or semidormant in hot and bahiagrass, which fall in the weather) in the early spring and low-fertiHty group. Warm-season early fall. Fertilizing in the sum- grasses in the low-fertihty group mer does not help these grasses and wiU benefit, however, from 2 appli- it may stimulate crabgrass and cations of fertilizer per year. other weeds. Do not apply fertilizer, particu- Divide the annual amount into 2 larly an inorganic fertilizer, when

12 the grass leaves are wet. Water the season grasses. Mowing to a height lawn immediately after applying of IK to 2 inches keeps down weed fertilizer to wash the fertilizer oflF competition. Crabgrass, iñ partic- the leaves and prevent burning of ular, can be reduced by the shading the grass plants. effect of taller permanent grasses on the crabgrass seedlings. Mow lawns frequently even LIMING though you remove little top growth. Leave the clippings on the lawn. Acid sandy soils generally require Do not let the grass grow unusually light applications of lime every 2 or high and then clip it back. This is 3 years, and clay soils require a shock to the physiological makeup heavier applications every 5 or 6 of the plants and necessitates re- years. Lime can be applied at any moval of the clippings to prevent season ; late fall or winter, however, smothering of the grass. are the best times. Warm-season grasses, particularly Bermudagrass, require closer mow- WATERING ing than most cool-season grasses. Bermudagrass should be cut fre- Sandy soils, because of their high quently to a height of % inch or less porosity and low moisture-retaining to maintain fine-quality tm-f. Other capacity, require frequent watering warm-season grasses such as zoysia, in small amounts. Clay soils re- centipedegrass, carpetgrass and St. quire infrequent watering in large Augustinegrass should be mowed to amounts. a height of about 1 inch. Do not water the lawn until the Whether you use a hand mower, a grass shows signs of wilt. Then power reel mower, or a rotary power apply enough water to wet the soil mower, it should be sharp enough to 6 inches deep or more. Do not cut the grass cleanly without bruis- apply water faster than it can be ing or tearing the leaves. The cut- taken in by the soil. Avoid water- ting edge of the bedknife of reel- ing the lawn lightly at frequent in- type mowers and the reel blades tervals; this causes shallow growth should be sharp, and the reel should of grass roots and stimulates growth be set firmly against the bedknife. of weeds. The deeper rooted the Make adjustments of the bedknife grass, the less often it is necessary to or of the roller (which determines water. the height of cut) on a flat siu-face such as a concrete walk or floor. MOWING Rotary mower blades require fre- quent sharpening. This can be Mow lawns of cool-season grasses done with a steel file. Height of cut to a height of about 2 inches. Close by most rotary mowers is fixed by mowing, especially in hot weather, adjusting the wheels in holes or will weaken or may kill most cool- slots on the mower frame.

13 RENOVATION

Perhaps the lawn you estabHshed, the lawn consists of desirable grasses or inherited from the builder or you can usually replant without previous owner, isn't doing so well. preparing a new seedbed. Grasses You may have to reconstruct the that spread rapidly, such as Ber- lawn completely, or you may be muda, centipede, or St. Augustine, able to renovate it without destroy- can be renovated without a new ing the existing desirable grasses. seedbed being prepared if the per- It all depends on what is wrong centage of desirable grasses is some- with the lawn. what lower than 50 percent. Keconstruction is usually neces- Here are the steps in lawn reno- sary when lawns are improperly vation: drained. The cause may be the 1. Get rid of all weeds, leaves, nature of the soil itself, or improper and undesirable grasses. Mow subsurface and surface drainage. closely, rake to remove the clippings, If reconstruction is necessary, leaves, and other debris, and then tear up the lawn with a plow or a apply chemical weed killers to spade and establish a new one. eliminate undesirable species. Follow the suggestions given previ- (Chemical weed killers are discussed ously under ^^Establishment.'' on pp. 14-17.) Faults that can usually be cor- 2. Rake the lawn vigorously, or rected by renovating an existing cultivate it in such a way that the lawn include lack of plant nutrients, surface of the soil is loosened. This acid soils, surface compaction, too forms a rough seedbed for planting. much shade, too many undesirable grasses, and general neglect. 3. Fertilize, lime, and plant in the Early fall is the best time to same manner prescribed for estab- renovate a lawn. If less than 50 lishing a new lawn. percent of the lawn consists of Be sure to determine the cause of desirable grasses, it is usually best lawn deterioration, and then carry to get rid of all the grasses, prepare out a corrective program, or your a new seedbed, and plant new lawn will require renovation again grasses. If more than 50 percent of within a few years.

LAWN PROBLEMS

WEEDS neighborhood, and weeds spread from lawn to lawn, it is often neces- Good maintenance is the best way sary to use herbicides to control to control weeds. A well-kept lawn weeds. has fewer weeds than a poorly kept Herbicides on the market include one. Since perfect maintenance is PMA (phenyl mercuric acetate), seldom achieved on all lawns in a KOCN (potassium cyanate), 2,4-D, 14 2,4,5-T, and many others. Select Good control of crabgrass has the right herbicide for the weed you been obtained with PMA, DMA, wish to control. Follow the direc- KOCN, and other chemicals. PMA tions and precautions on the con- is best for early-season control, tainer. DMA and KOCN for late-season Following are recommendations control. For early-season control, for chemical control of some of the apply PMA when the crabgrass common lawn weeds: seedlings make their first appear- ance in spring or early summer. Three to five treatments at intervals Crabgrass of 7 to 10 days are usually neces- sary. For late-season control, ap- Crabgrass is an annual that ply KOCN or DMA when the develops from seeds produced the plants begin to form seed heads. previous year. New plants continue Adding a small amount of 2,4-D to establish from late spring until (}^ to 1 pound per acre) to PMA or the first fall frost. The plants KOCN increases the effectiveness mature during late summer and of these chemicals, especially when early fall, forming purplish seed crabgrass is in the seedling stage. heads that give the lawn an un- Lead arsenate, applied in late winter sightly appearance. as a pre-emergence control measure, Crabgrass cannot be controlled has been used successfully in the quickly, or even in one growing western part of the United States. season. You need to carry on a The use of KOCN on red fescue control program that may extend or Chewings fescue is not recom- over several years. The key to mended. success is to prevent plants from setting viable seed that will produce an infestation the following season. If you control seed production for Broadleaf Weeds several years, the viable seed supply in the soil will diminish to a point Most common broadleaf weeds where it is no longer a serious threat can be eliminated with one or more to the lawn. applications of 2,4-D. If you use To help prevent reinfest a tion the proper amounts, one application from seed, rake the lawn to bring will kill such weeds as plantain, immature seed heads of crabgrass buckhorn, or dandelion without within the reach of the mower, and damaging the permanent lawn then mow. If the seed heads have grasses. matured, use a grass catcher on the The chemical suppresses white mower. clover but will seldom kill it at Crabgrass will not tolerate shade. normal lawn application rates. A thick, dense turf that is cut no Sodium salt or amine forms of shorter than IK inches offers shade 2,4-D are the best for home use. conditions that retard the growth Sprays are more effective and less of crabgrass. expensive than dusts. 15 Early spring and early fall, the On small areas, use a sprinkling can. peak periods of weed germination Avoid mowing for 3 or 4 days foliow- and growth, are the best seasons to ing an application. Weeds treated apply 2,4-D. Pick a time when with 2,4-D die within 2 to 4 weeks, rain is not expected for at least 12 A second application in 6 to 8 weeks hours. Apply the chemical in a may be necessary, coarse spray under low pressure. Apply fertilizer shortly before or

Lawn Weeds Susceptible to 2,4-D

Easy To Kill Black medic (yellow trefoil) Medicago lupuUna Buckhorn plantain Plantago lanceolata Cats-ear Hypochaeris radicata Cinquefoils Potentilla spp. Dandelion ___ Taraxacum officinale Dichondra Dichondra repens Ground ivy Nepeta hederacea Indian mallow A butilon theophrasti Lambsquarters Chenopodium album Lespedeza Lespedeza spp. Moneywort Lysimachia numularia Mustards Brassica spp. Penny cress _ Thlaspi arvensis Pennywort Hydrocotyle rotundifolia Pepper-grasses Lepidium spp. Plantains Plantago spp. Puncture vine Trihulus terrestris Self-heal Prunella vulgaris Shepherds-purse Capsella Bursa-pastoris Vervains Verbena spp. Winter cress Barbarea vulgaris

Hard To Kill Buttercups Ranunculus spp. Carpet-weed Mollugo verticillata Chickweed (common) Stellaria media Chickweed (mouse-ear) Cerastium vulgatum Daisies Chrysanthemum spp. Docks Rumexspp. Hawkweed Hieracium spp. Knotweed Polygonum spp. Mayweed Anthémis cotula Nut-grass Cyperus rotundus Pearl wort Sagina procumbens Purslane Portulaca olerácea Sorrels Rumex spp. Speedwell Veronica spp. Spurges Euphorbia spp. White clover Trifolium repens Wild carrot Daucus carota Wild garlic Allium vineale Wild onion Allium canadense Yarrow___ Achillea millefolium

16 shortly after treating with 2,4-D to by several applications of 2,4-D stimulate grass growth so that it will and 2,4,5-T in combination, or crowd into the bare spaces left by 2,4,5-T alone. the killed weeds. If weeds were numerous, and many bare spots are left, it may be necessary to seed DISEASES grass at the next suitable seeding season. Avoid getting 2,4-D on vege- Lawn and other turf grasses vary tables, flowers, shrubs, or other de- in their susceptibility to diseases. sirable plants; it may severely injure Diseases are more likely to occur or kill them. Avoid spraying 2,4-D when lawns have been improperly on windy days. If 2,4-D is used at established or maintained. Inade- rates higher than those recom- quate soil aeration or drainage, mended by the manufacturer it overwatering, and improper fer- may cause injury to some of the tilizing or clipping may lead to dis- grasses, especially bentgrass. Using ease problems. 2,4-D on lawn seedings that are less Some lawn diseases can be con- than 6 months old is not recom- trolled by using chemicals called mended. A sprayer used to apply fungicides. Many kinds of fungi- 2,4-D should not be used later to cides are on the market. When spray vegetables, flowers, or shrubs. using fungicides be sure to follow If the sprayer is used for other pur- the directions and the precautions poses, wash it out thoroughly with on the container. Fungicides are soap and water. Put a strong solu- poisonous. tion of household ammonia in the Injury from other causes is often sprayer, and wait several days be- mistaken for disease symptoms. fore using it. Such injuries include burning with chemical fertilizers, dog damage, insect damage, burning of the grass Chickweed caused by placing rugs, mats or similar objects on the lawn in hot Complete selective chemical con- weather, burning by chemical weed trol of chickweed is not often pos- killers, and drought. sible, but KOCN, or a combination Following are some of the com- of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T will reduce mon lawn diseases and recommenda- infestations of this weed. Apply tions for controlling them. the chemicals in late fall or winter when the permanent grasses are dormant and the chickweed is actively growing. Brown Patch Brown patch is a fungus disease White Clover that attacks practically all kinds of turf grasses. It is most serious on White clover, if you consider it a Kentucky bluegrass, bentgrass, rye- weed in your lawn, can be controlled grass, centipedegrass, and St. 17 Augustinegrass. The fungus pro- and sometimes spreads to the crown, duces irregularly shaped brown causes considerable damage. spots 1 inch to several feet in Damage can be reduced by: (1) diameter. The spots have a dark Mowing no shorter than 1% to 2 ' ^smoke-ring'' effect around the inches; (2) using adequate fertilizer outer edges where the fungus is but avoiding overstimulation with active. Excessive nitrogen ferti- nitrogen; (3) using Merion Ken- lization increases the extent of this tucky bluegrass wherever possible disease. (it is less susceptible to leaf spot than The disease appears rapidly dur- common Kentucky bluegrass); (4) ing periods of high humidity when using mixed plantings of several daytime temperatures drop from grasses. 80^-95° F. to 60°~70° F. at night, No effective chemical control for and dew or fog develops. leafspot has been developed. You can control brown patch by avoiding overstimulation with ni- Snow Mold trogen, and by applying Tersan, Calocure, Calo-clor, Acti-dione, or Snow mold is a fungus disease Special Semesan. that is commonly found in the northern part of the United States during late fall, winter, and early Dollarspot spring. The fungus causing the disease thrives under the cool moist Dollarspot is a fungus disease that conditions of melting snow. The is most severe on Kentucky blue- disease first appears as a white grass, bentgrass, ryegrass, centipede- cottony growth on the leaves. As grass, and St. Augustinegrass. The the leaves are killed they turn brown fungus causes straw-colored spots and frequently mat together. that are about the size of a silver Preventive cultural treatments dollar. The spots often merge to include adequate drainage, avoiding form large, irregidar areas of dam- the use of nitrogenous fertilizers age. Dollarspot is most prevalent late in the fall, raking to remove in spring and fall during periods of accumulations of leaves and other cool nights and warm humid days. debris, and other practices that will Dollarspot can be controlled by help dry the lawn quickly in the applying Cadminate, Crag 531, spring. Several appUcations of Calocure, Calo-clor, Acti-dione, or mercury fungicides during the winter the herbicide PMA. on lawns that were infested with snow mold in previous seasons will help prevent the disease. Leaf spot Slime Molds Leaf spot, a disease that causes reddish-brown to purple-black spots Bluish-gray, black, or yellowish on the leaves of Kentucky bluegrass masses of slime molds may appear 18 în the lawn during periods of wet with a hand duster or with a ferti- weather. They cause damage by lizer spreader. smothering the grass. Break up Wettable powders and emulsifi- the masses by sweeping with a able concentrates must be mixed broom. They will usually disappear with water to make a spray. Apply when the lawn dries out. During them with a garden-type sprayer. long periods of wet weather, sweep Apply insecticides at any time the lawn and then dust with sulfur that insects are numerous. or a copper fungicide to prevent Follow the application rates on serious damage. the container of the insecticide. Be sure to observe the precautions on the label. Insecticides are poisonous. Note.—For more detailed information INSECTS ' about controlling lawn insects, see Home and Garden Bulletin 53, Lawn Insects: Many kinds of insects and insect- How To Control Them. like pests damage lawns. Some, such as the grubs of May beetles, Japanese beetles, Asiatic garden OTHER PESTS beetles, and oriental beetles, feed on the roots of the grass. Others, Other pests, such as moles, pocket such as sod webworms, armyworms, gophers, and field mice occasionally and cutworms, feed on the leaves damage lawns. Since these pests or stems. Still others, such as usuall}^ invade lawns to feed on chinch bugs, false chinch bugs, grubs and other insects, a good Rhodes-grass scale, and leafhoppers, insect-control program that re- suck juices from the grass. Ants moves their food supply will gener- and earthworms are examples of ally keep them away. another group of pests. They dig Traps in mole tunnels are effec- holes in lawns and throw up mounds tive against moles. Poison baits of earth. will control pocket gophers and field All these insects and insectlike mice but are not readily taken by pests can be controlled with insecti- moles. cides, such as chlordane, DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and malathion. Lead arsenate can also MOSS be used. Insecticides can be pur- chased in various types of formula- Lack of fertility is the most com- tions and concentrations at stores mon cause of moss in a lawn. Moss handling garden supplies. never develops in a healthy lawn. Dusts and granules are ready-to- Other causes of moss in a lawn are use dry formulations. Apply them poor drainage, high soil acidity, improper watering, too much shade, 1 Information provided by Entomology soil compaction, or a combination Research Division. of these causes. 19 If moss gets established, remove 4. Prune the remaining trees it by hand raking, '^burning" with heavily to remove dead or low ammonium sulfate, or spraying with branches. This will allow more light copper sulfate. Apply ammonium to fall on the grass. sulfate to the moss spots in concen- 5. Prune shallow-tree roots that trated amounts when the moss is compete with the grass for nu- damp. Do not wash the material trients and moisture. This can be into the soil. Apply copper sulfate done without harming the tree. at the rate of 5 ounces of copper 6. Fertilize the trees to keep sulfate in 4 gallons of water per them from competing with the 1,000 square feet. grass nutrients. Punch holes around Moss will return to the lawn if the tree 2 to 4 feet deep with a the causal factor is not corrected. crowbar or a stick as far out as the Algae growing in moist areas branches reach. Put fertilizer in under trees is sometimes mistaken the holes. for moss. Algae is a fresh-water 7. Apply lime if the soil has be- plant that can be eliminated by come strongly acid. spraying with 1 teaspoon of copper 8. Remove fallen leaves and sulfate in 8 gallons of water. Algae other debris frequently. will return if the causal factor, 9. Fertilize in the early spring to usually poor drainage, inadequate help the grass begin vigorous growth light, or low fertility, is not cor- before leaf-shedding trees develop rected. new leaves. 10. When you water, wet the soil SHADE at least 6 inches deep. 11. If you can't get turf grass to grow under trees, plant one of the It is hard to maintain good turf ground cover plants described on under trees, particularly if the trees pages 30 and 31. are the shallow-rooted type, sucji as sugar maples. Following are sug- gestions that may improve turf under trees: SOIL COMPACTION 1. Use shade-tolerant grasses. In the northern part of the United To prevent soil compaction, cul- States the best shade grasses are tivate and aerate the soil under the red fescue, Chewings fescue, and turf periodically. Machines to do rough bluegrass, in that order. this may be rented from equipment Manilagrass and St. Augustinegrass dealers, nurserymen, or landscape are the best shade grasses in the gardeners, or you can have the work mid-South and in the deep South, done on contract. respectively. If done properly, aeration does 2. Fertilize the grass frequently not harm the lawn or roughen the at twice the normal rate. turf. Aeration permits better pene- 3. Remove unnecessary trees. tration of water and fertilizer. 20 GRASSES AND GROUND COVER PLANTS

Following are descriptions of recommended for forage only. Par- common lawn grasses and ground aguay and Pensacola, strains hav- cover plants, including statements ing finer-textured leaves than com- on how they grow, where they grow mon bahia, are useful on large areas best, their requirements, and how to such as airfields, where good cover establish them. is more important than turf quality. These strains produce a dense, rather coarse and uneven turf, and GRASSES are difficult to mow with an ordi- nary reel-type mower. Annual Bluegrass Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) Bermudagrass has little value as permanent turf because it dies suddenly when high Many varieties or strains of temperatures occur in June, July, Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or August. It is used chiefly to are sold. Each variety generally overseed warm-season turf grasses has a specialized .use. Common during the winter months. Only Bermuda, a coarse-textured grass, small amounts of seed are available. is the only variety for which seed is It normally begins growth in late available. Other varieties are es- summer or early fall from seed pro- tablished vegetatively. duced earlier in the same year. It Bermudagrass is commonly will often grow throughout the grown in the southern part of the winter. United States. Common seeded Annual bluegrass requires a cool, Bermudagrass is not suited to the moist soil of low acidity and good northern part of the United States, fertility. It will survive under but vegetative plantings of cold- close mowing and shade. It pro- tolerant selections have survived duces large quantities of seed heads as far north as Chicago and New even when mowed as low as K inch. York. It is a pest in many highly special- Varieties of Bermudagrass used ized turf areas, particularly golf in lawns in the southern part of the courses. United States include Tiflawn (for- merly Tifton 57), Everglades No. 1, and Ormond. Tiflawn is finer in Bahiagrass texture than common Bermuda- Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) grass, and it is deep green. It has is a low-growing perennial that outstanding disease-resistant quali- spreads by short, heavy runners. ties. Tiflawn is a vigorous grower It grows best in the southern and will form a heavy mat unless it Coastal Plains region. It is es- is mowed closely and often. The tablished by seeding. texture of Everglades No. 1 is finer Common bahia, which has ex- than that of Tiflawn, and the green tremely coarse-textured leaves, is is darker. This grass tends to grow 21 Map showing régions of the United States in which the following grasses are suitable for lawns: 1 and 5—Colonial bentgrass, common Kentucky bluegrass, Merion Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, Chewings fescue. Limited areas: Bermudagrass, Meyer zoysia. 2—Bermuda- grass, zoysia grasses. Limited areas: Carpetgrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustine grass, common Kentucky bluegrass, Merion Kentucky bluegrass. 3—Nonirrigated areas: Blue gramagrass, buffalograss, crested wheatgrass. Irrigated areas: Common Kentucky blue- grass, Merion Kentucky bluegrass. 4—Bermudagrass, zoysia grasses. Limited areas: Common Kentucky bluegrass, Merion Kentucky bluegrass, Chewings fescue, red fescue. prostrate. Ormond is coarser in region cornered on Philadelphia, texture and it grows more upright St. Louis, and Richmond, Va. than Everglades No. 1. Of the U-3 has finer blades than common three varieties, Everglades No. 1 Bermudagrass. It resists disease requires the least maintenance. and insect damage, and holds its Varieties of Bermudagrass that color late into the fall when properly are used in high-quality lawns re- fertilized. It grows well in hot, ceiving maximum maintenance, and humid weather. in golf course putting greens, in- Bermudagrass grows vigorously, clude Tiffine, Tifgreen, and Bay- spreading by aboveground runners shore (also known as Gene Tift). and underground rootstalks. It These varieties are medium green. often becomes a serious pest in They are fine in texture. fiower beds and other cultivated A variety of Bermudagrass called areas. Once established in those U-3 has been grown successfully in places it is difficult to eradicate. the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa., Bermudagrass will not thrive Norfolk, Nebr., Cleveland, Ohio, under conditions of shade, poor and St. Louis, Mo. It is most drainage, high acidity, or low fer- widely used in the so-called ^^crab- tility. It requires frequent heavy grass belt,^' a roughly triangular applications of nitrogen in readily

22 available form. Although drought turf. It can be used in seed mix- resistant, it requires moderate tures on playgrounds, athletic fields, amounts of water during dry peri- or similar areas. ods. It must be clipped closely in Canada bluegrass will grow in order to form a dense turf. sandy or gravelly soils of low fer- tility. It will not grow well in Blue Gramagrass sbils having high acidity or poor drainage. It will not withstand Blue gramagrass (Bouteloua gra- clipping below IK inches. It is cilis) is a low-growing, perennial extremely tough and resists wear. grass that is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions throughout Carpetsrass the Great Plains region. It is higlily drought resistant. Its use Carpetgrass {Axonopus compres- as a turf grass is limited to cool, sus) is a rapidly spreading stolonif- dry places where little or no irriga- erous perennial grass that produces tion water is available. a dense, compact turf under mow- Blue gramagrass is a bunch-type ing, but is quite, coarse textured. grass that can be established easily It can be established quickly by from seed. Unless watered, it be- seeding or by sprigging or sodding. comes semidormant and turns Seeding is the cheapest method. brown during severe drought peri- Carpetgrass grows best in moist, ods. Seed produced in a given sandy-loam soils or those that have area should be used for plantings a relatively high moisture content in that area only. throughout the year. It does not grow well in dry soils or in regions Buffalograss that remain dry during part of the growing season. It will thrive un- Bufïalograss (Buchloe dadyloides) der limited fertilization in poor is a stoloniferous perennial grass soils, but is extremely sensitive to that is used commonly in sunny lack of iron. It resists disease and lawns of prairie homes in the Great insect damage, but does not tolerate Plains region. It is highly drought salt water spray. It will withstand resistant. The grass is fine leaved trampling and heavy wear. and dense during the growing Carpetgrass produces tall seed season. It turns from grayish green heads that are difficult to mow and to the color of straw when growth make the lawn look rough or rugged. stops in the fall. It grows best in Mowing frequently with a rotary well-drained, fairly heavy soils. mower to a height of 1 inch is rec- Bufïalograss can be established by ommended. sodding or seeding. Centipedegrass Canada Bluegrass Centipedegrass (Eremochloa Canada bluegrass {Poa compressa) ephiruroides) spreads rapidly by forms a thin, poor-quality, open short creeping stems that form new 23 plants at each node. It forms a dry periods. It is susceptible to a dense, vigorous turf that is highly wide variety of diseases. It must resistant to weed invasion. It is be mowed closely; when cut about usually established vegetatively; % inch it becomes fluffy and forms some seed is available. an undesirable spongy mat. Centipedegrass is considered the Several strains of colonial bent- best low-maintenance lawn grass in grass are sold. Highland is the the southern part of the United hardiest variety. It is bluish green. States. It requires less mowing, It grows moderately fast. Another less watering, and less fertilizing variety, Astoria, is bright green. than other southern lawn grasses. It is not as drought resistant or It is seldom damaged by disease or as aggressive as Highland. Although insects, but may be severely dam- Astoria requires more care than aged by salt water spray. It is Highland, it produces a better- sensitive to the lack of iron. An quality lawn if properly managed. annual application of a complete Other colonial bentgrasses suitable fertilizer will improve the quahty for lawns include Rhode Island of centipedegrass^ lawns. Although bentgrass. New Zealand brown top, it is drought resistant, centipede- and some strains of German bent- grass should be watered during dry grass. periods. Centipedegrass should not be planted in farm lawns; it may escape Creeping Bentgrass into pastures and destroy their grazing value. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) is not often used in home lawns, but it is used extensively in Colonial Bentgrass golf course putting greens through- out the United States. It has pro- Colonial bentgrass (Agrostis fuse creeping stems that produce tennis) is a fine-textured tufted- roots and stems at every node, and type grass with few creeping stems it develops a dense sod. It must be and rhizomes. It forms a dense mowed closely (Ke to % inch), turf when heavily seeded and closely brushed regularly, and topdressed mowed. periodically to prevent formation of Colonial bentgrass is used chiefly an undesirable mat or thatch. in high-quality lawns and putting Creeping bentgrass requires soils greens. It is more expensive to having high fertility, low acidity, maintain than ordinary lawn good drainage, and high water- grasses. It is popular in the New holding capacity. A regular pro- England States, Washington, and gram of fertiHzation, watering, and Oregon. disease control must be followed to Colonial bentgrass requires fertile maintain good-quality turf. soil and frequent fertilizer applica- Varieties available include Sea- tions. It must be watered during side, which is established by seeding 24 and is used in golf greens along the line but its use there, except in some West Coast; Penncross, a new localities, is impracticable because seeded type that is available in very of the short summer growing season. limited amounts for specialized turf The grass turns the color of straw areas; and several strains that have when the first killing frost occurs been selected from established in the fall and it remains off-color greens and are established vegeta- until warm spring weather. tively; Arlington, Collins, Cohansey, Common Japanese lawngrass is Washington, Congressional, To- coarse in texture. It is somewhat ronto, Norbeck, Pennlu, and Old undesirable for home lawn use but Orchard. is excellent for large areas such as airfields and playgrounds. Meyer zoysia, a selection of common Crested Wheatsrass Japanese lawngrass, is more desir- able than Japanese lawngrass for Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron home lawns. It is more vigorous, cristatum) is a perennial bunchgrass. retains its color later in the fall, and It thrives in most soils in the regains it earlier in the spring. central and northern Great Plains Meyer zoysia sod is available from and Intermountain regions. It is a number of nurseries. There is recommended in dry, cool areas of no seed. those regions where irrigation water Although Japanese lawngrass will is not available. It is established survive in soils of low fertility, it by seeding. makes best growth when given Crested wheatgrass will with- liberal applications of complete stand long dry periods and heavy fertilizers having a high nitrogen wear if not cut too closely. It content. It will tolerate drought makes most of its growth in the for long periods in the humid spring and fall; it becomes semi- regions. It is highly resistant to dormant and turns brown in the wear and will withstand close clip- hot summer months. ping. Japanese lawngrass may be estab- Japanese Lawngrass lished by sprig planting the stems, by spot sodding, or by seeding. Japanese lawngrass (Zoysia ja- Three to four growing seasons are pónica) is a low-growing perennial generally required to get complete that spreads by aboveground run- coverage. ners and shallow rootstocks. It forms a dense turf that resists weed invasion and disease and insect Kentucky Bluegrass/ damage. Common Japanese lawngrass grows best in the region south of a line drawn Common Kentucky bluegrass from Philadelphia, Pa., westward {Poa pratensis) is a hardy, long- to San Francisco, Calif. It will lived, sod-forming grass that survive in the region north of that spreads by underground rootstocks.

25 It is one of the most widely used For best growth, it requires greater lawn grasses in the United States. fertility than common Kentucky It is the basic lawn grass in cool, bluegrass. It responds well to high humid regions and in cool, dry- applications of nitrogen. Merion regions where adequate irrigation Kentucky bluegrass seed is not water is available. It is propagated plentiful, and is expensive. entirely by seed. Common Kentucky bluegrass will not withstand poor drainage or Klkuyugrass high acidity. It grows best in heavy, well-drained soils of good fertility that are neutral or nearly Kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandes- neutral in reaction. In soils of low tinum) is a perennial grass that fertility, liberal applications of ni- spreads by coarse underground root- trogen, phosphorus, and potash are stocks. It produces a coarse-tex- tured spongy or matted turf that needed. Bluegrass is highly drought resistant; it has the ability to go is 3 to 5 inches thick and difficult into a semidormant condition dur- to mow at lawn height. Its use ing hot summer months. has been confined to localities in coastal California, where it is now Common Kentucky bluegrass may be injured if mowed shorter considered a pest and is being than IK inches. It will not tolerate eradicated. It is not recommended heavy shade. Because it becomes for lawn use. established slowly, common Ken- tucky bluegrass is often planted with faster-growing grasses that Manilasrass provide cover and prevent weed invasion while the bluegrass is be- Manilagrass (Zoysia matrella) is coming established. closely related to Japanese lawn- grass and has many similar char- acteristics. It is stoloniferous, and Kentucky Bluegrass, MerSon forms a dense carpetlike turf that resists weeds, wear, disease, and Merion Kentucky bluegrass has insect damage. Manilagrass is pi-oved superior to common Ken- adapted to the southern part of tucky bluegrass in many regions of the United States. the United States. It can be Manilagrass is sensitive to highly clipped more closely, and appears acid soils. It responds well to to be less susceptible to disease liberal applications of nitrogenous than common Kentucky bluegrass, fertilizer. It turns brown when although it is susceptible to rust. the first killing frost occurs and Merion Kentucky bluegrass also remains dormant until spring. It appears to be more heat and is established by sprigging or spot drought tolerant, more vigorous, sodding. and more resistant to weed invasion Manilagrass has not been widely than common Kentucky bluegrass. used because of its rather slow rate 26 of growth and lack of winter hardi- sometimes used in poor-quality lawn ness as compared with Japanese seed mixtures. lawngrass. Red Fescue and Chewmgs Mascarenegrass Fescue Mascarenegrass (Zoysia tenuvfo- Red fescue (Festuca rubra) and lia) is a low-growing stoloniferous Chewings fescue (F, rubra var. grass that is adapted to very few commutata) rate next to Kentucky locations in the United States. Its bluegrass as the most popular growth requirements with respect lawn grasses in the cool humid to moisture, nutrients, and soil are regions of the United States. Red about the same as those for Manila- fescue spreads by underground grass, but it is not as winter hardy rootstocks. Chewings fescue is a as Manilagrass or Japanese lawn- bunch-type grower. Both are es- grass. It becomes sod bound and tablished by seeding. humps up as it grows older, which Both fescues are used extensively encourages weed invasion. Limited in lawn seed mixtures. They grow amounts of Mascarenegrass sod are well in shaded areas, and they tol- available in Florida and California. erate high acidity. They require good drainage but will grow in poor, droughty soils. Meadow Fescue Red fescue and Chewings fescue are ime textured. They have bris- Meadow fescue (Festuca elatior) tlelike leaves that stand upright. is a hardy, short-lived perennial When seeded heavily they form a that is used primarily for pasture dense sod that resists wear. They and hay. It does not form a solid heal slowly when injured by insects, sod. It grows best in heavy, moist disease, or other means. Mowing soils, and will withstand extremely consistently below IK inches can wet soils. An excellent seed pro- cause severe damage. The grasses ducer, it is often found in poor- grow slowly. quality lawn seed mixtures. Improved strains of red fescue on the market include lUahee, Rainier, Olds, and Pennlawn. No improved Orchardgrass strains of Chewings fescue are on the market. Orchardgrass {Dactylis glomerata) is a tall-growing, perennial bunch grass that forms coarse-textured Redtop tufts but never a solid turf. It does not grow well in soils having Under lawn conditions, redtop high acidity or poor drainage, but (Agrostis alba) is a short-lived peren- it resists drought and tolerates nial. It seldom lives more than two shade. It can withstand low fer- seasons when closely mowed. It tility. Seed is abundant, and it is is commonly used in lawn seed 17 mixtures in the northern temperate anee. Roughstalk meadowgrass is regions of the United States to pro- lighter green than Kentucky blue- vide quick cover while more per- grass. It spreads by short above- manent grasses are developing. It ground runners. is often seeded alone in temporary- Roughstalk meadowgrass has a lawns. In the southern part of the shallow root system, and will not United States it is used for winter withstand heavy wear. It should be overseeding of Bermudagrass to used in shady areas where the provide year-round green color. trafile is not heavy. Heavy seeding helps overcome red top's tendency to develop a coarse open-type turf. Redtop tol- erates a wide range of soil and cli- Ryegrass matic conditions, including temper- ature extremes. It grows in soils Italian or annual ryegrass (Lolium that are highly acid and poorly multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass drained. It resists drought and has (Lolium perenne) are propagated a low fertility requirement. entirely by seed that is produced in the Pacific Northwest, or imported. Much of the ryegrass used for lawns Rescuegrass in the United States is a mixture of annual, perennial, and intermediate Rescuegrass (Bromus catharticus) types. is a short-lived perennial bunch In the northern part of the United grass that grows best in fertile soils States ryegrass is used in most lawn in humid regions where the winters mixtures to give a quick cover are mild. It is sometimes used in while slower-growing grasses are be- the southern part of the United coming established. Many com- States as a winter grass in large mercial lawn seed mixtures contain Bermudagrass plantings, such as too much ryegrass; the ryegrass golf coiKse fairways. competes with the permanent grass seedlings for moisture and nutrients. On sloping areas, it is advisable to Rough Bluegrass include a small amount of ryegrass in the lawn seed mixture to help Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis), prevent soil erosion. The use of also known as roughstalk blue-' perennial ryegrass in lawn seed mix- grass, is a shade-tolerant peren- tures often results in ragged-appear- nial that is useful in lawns only in ing lawns that are difficult to mow. the extreme northern part of the Coarse clumps of ryegrass may per- United States. It is established by sist in the lawn for several years. seeding. It is seriously injured by In the southern part of the United hot, dry weather. It has leaves of States annual or common ryegrass is the same texture as Kentucky blue- used for winter overseeding of Ber- grass. The stems and leaves lie mudagrass in lawns, and on golf flat, giving the turf a glassy appear- greens and tees. 28 Sf. Augustinegrass soils. It will withstand a moderate amount of shade. St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is the No. 1 shade grass of the southernmost States. It is a Timothy creeping perennial; it spreads by- Timothy (Phleum pratense) is a long runners that produce short, course perennial bunch grass that leafy branches. It can be grown grows best in the northern humid successfully south of Augusta, Ga., regions of the United States where and Birmingham, Ala., and west- its main use is hay for livestock. It ward to the coastal regions of Texas. has no use as a lawn grass, but it is It is established vegetatively. Seed often found in poor-quality lawn is not available. seed mixtures. It is sometimes St. Augustinegrass will withstand suitable in nonuse areas to provide salt water spray. It grows best cover. in moist soils of good fertility. It produces good turf in the muck soils of Florida. Liberal applica- Weeping Lovegrass tions of high-nitrogen fertilizers are necessary, especially in sandy soils. Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis St. Augustinegrass can be seri- curvula) is a vigorous perennial ously damaged by chinch bugs, and bunch grass that grows best in the it is susceptible to armyworm dam- southern Great Plains region. It is age and several turf diseases. an excellent erosion-control plant on nonuse areas but is not good for home lawns because it will not with- stand frequent close mowing. It Tall Fescue grows in any type of soil but grows Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) best in sandy loams. is a tall-growing perennial bunch grass that has coarse, dense basal Velvet Bentgrass leaves and a strong, fibrous root system. It has long been a valued Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis can- pasture grass. It is established by ina), the finest textured of the seeding. bentgrasses, is used mainly in high- Because of their wear-resistant quality lawns and putting greens in qualities, two improved strains of the New England States and the tall fescue. Alta fescue, and Ken- Pacific Northwest. It forms an ex- tucky 31 fescue are used often on tremely dense turf from creeping play areas, athletic fields, airfields, stems. It can be • established by service yards, and other areas where seeding or by vegetative planting. a heavy, tough turf is needed rather Velvet bentgrass is adapted to a than a fine-textured turf. wide range of soil conditions but Tall fescue will grow in wet or makes its best growth on well- dry, acid or alkaline soils, but it drained, fertile soils having low grows best in well-drained, fertile acidity. It is not as aggressive as

29 creeping bentgrass and is slow to and undesirable and will crowd out recover from all types of injury. It all other vegetation, including Ber- requires close mowing, regular mudagrass. brushing, and periodic top dressing. A regular program of fertilizing, watering, and disease control is nec- English Ivy essary to maintain high-quality turf. A limited amount of seed of three English ivy (Hederá lelix) is a improved selections. Piper, Kern- hardy trailing evergreen vine that wood, and Karitan, is available. thrives in shaded areas but will grow in direct sunlight. It develops a very dense mat that should be GROUKD COVER PLANTS pruned occasionally. English ivy is particularly useful on steep banks or around the base of trees. Vines and other low-growing plants can often be planted on areas where it is difficult to establish or Japanese Snakebeard maintain satisfactory grass cover. Such areas include heavily shaded (Mondo) places, steep banks, rough and rocky areas, terraces, and drainage Japanese snakebeard (Ophiopogon ditches. japónica), or Lilyturf, is a bunch- growing member of the lily family. It grows 8 to 12 inches high, and bears purple to white flowers. It is Dichondra used in the southern part of the United States under trees in poor Dichondra {Dichondra repens^ D, soils. It is propagated vegetative- Carolinensis) is a perennial that ly, and should be set close together forms a low, dense mat under favor- because it spreads slowly. able conditions. It can be estab- lished by seeding or by vegetative planting. Dichondra is native to Japanese Spurge the Coastal Plain States from Vir- ginia to Texas, but it is not con- Japanese spurge (Pachysandra ter- sidered a desirable lawn plant minalis)j or Pachysandra, is a low- except in central and southern growing evergreen plant that Cahfornia. spreads by suckers. The plants are Dichondra is closely related to the about 8 inches high. They have milkweed and the morning-glory. dense wedge-shaped leaves and bear Its leaves are pale green, and kidney inconspicuous greenish-white flow- shaped. It grows best in heavy ers. They are established by divi- soils. The plant does not require a sion or by cuttings. Plants should high fertiUty level, but it requires be set 1 foot apart. large amounts of water. It will Japanese spurge is used in the grow in partial shade, but is stemmy Eastern United States from New 30 England to Georgia. It is particu- Periwinkle, Common larly recommended in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Common periwinkle (Vinca mi- Kentucky, and Tennessee. nor), or myrtle, is a hardy low- growing evergreen that spreads by creeping stems. It has small, dark- Lippla green, glossy leaves. It develops violet blue flowers. Lippia (Lippia canescens) is used Common periwinkle will form a as a substitute for grass throughout dense mat that shades out weeds the Southwest, particularly in Ari- and grasses. It grows best in zona. Lippia leaves are dark green. moist soils that are high in organic They are oblong, and seldom more matter. It is partial to dense than 1 inch long. Lippia will not shade, but it will grow satisfactorily survive temperatures below freez- under dry conditions in direct ing, and may be injured by tempera- sunlight. Periwinkle is established tures somewhat higher than freez- by cuttings and can be planted any ing. It is also susceptible to nema- time when the soil is not frozen. tode damage. Lippia has been known to crowd out Bermudagrass when mowed regularly. It is estab- lished by vegetative planting. While Clover

White clover {Trijolium repens) is Partridge Berry regarded by some as a desirable ground cover plant in lawns. It is Partridge berry (Mitchella repens) regarded by others as a pest. is a low-growing creeping evergreen Grass growing in proximity to that is native to the Southeastern white clover may be benefited by United States. It grows well in the nitrogen-fixing ability of the shaded areas having moist, fertile nodules on the clover roots. The soils. Its leaves are small, glossy, plant often grows in patches of and round. It produces pinkish- varying size, giving the lawn an white flowers in the spring; these uneven appearance. Some persons are followed by scarlet fruit in the object to the white flower the plants fall and winter. form, and to the fact that it attracts Partridge berry is established by bees. Another disadvantage is that cuttings from vegetative material white clover disappears during hot, that can be found along stream- dry weather. Contrary to claims banks and in wooded areas in the made, white clover will not compete southeastern part of the country. successfully with crabgrass.

31 Another pubiicdtíori that will help you with your lawn problems is

For a copy see your County Agricultural Agent or write to Office of Information U. S. Department of Agriculture Washington 25, D. C. and ask for Home and Garden Bulletin 53.

32 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I9BS