Turfgrass Care

Sodding your lawn requires more than just laying turf squares. Proper care and maintenance are critical to the health and durability of your lawn or turf. Below are specific guides for each type of sod that Palmer’s Turf Nursery carries. Follow these care and maintenance instructions and your lawn or turf will be healthy, vibrant, and vigorous for years to come.

John Deere Select Fescue and Thermal Blue Grass

John Deere Select Fescues and Thermal Blue Grass are similar in nature regarding water, fertilizer, and sun needs. Therefore, their maintenance and care needs are virtually identical.

Mowing
Mow your lawn or turf to three inches in height. Never let the grass grow taller than five inches in height. Mow weekly, and remember to grasscycle – leave the clippings on the lawn or turf.

Fertilization
Use a high-quality lawn fertilizer, and follow all of the manufacturer’s directions. Do not fertilize John Deere Select Fescue or Thermal Bluegrass after March 15.

Irrigation
Water your lawn or turf once a week at a rate of one inch of water per application to prevent draught. Sandy soils generally require more frequent watering at a rate of one-half inch of water every third day.

Weed Control
Pre-emergence herbicides should be applied in early spring to control crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. Pre-emergence herbicides should be applied early in the season.

Insect Control
White grubs are the main insect enemy of John Deere Select Fescue and Thermal Bluegrass. Check for grubs in April and May.

Aerification
Coring of your lawn or turf should be done in the fall months.

Thatch Removal
John Deere Select Fescue and Thermal Bluegrass require no thatch removal.

Emerald and Meyer Zoysia

Mowing
In the spring, soon after the grass has turned green, mow your lawn or turf with a rotary mower on the lowest setting possible that will not scalp the grass. After the initial cutting, mow weekly at a height of one and one-half inches to three inches, taking no more than one-third of the plant at each mowing. Remember to practice grasscylcing – leaving the clippings on the lawn.

Fertilization
Three weeks after the grass turns green, apply one-half pound of nitrogen per one thousand square feet. If a soil test is unavailable, use a complete (N-P-K) turf-grade fertilizer with at 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio.

Irrigation
Soil should be watered to a depth of four to six inches. Zoysia requires weekly watering at a rate of one to one and one-quarter inches of water per application. Sandy soils require more frequent watering at one-half inch of water per application every third day.

Weed Control
Apply pre-emergence herbicides by in early spring to control crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. Post-emergence herbicides should be applied in May to control broadleaf weeds.

Insect Control
Check frequently for white grubs and armyworms.

Thatch Removal
If present thatch is more than one-half inch thick, vertically mow it after the grass has turned green.

Tifway (Tifton 419)

Mowing
In the spring, after the grass has turned green mow it as low as possible without scalping it with a rotary cutter. Make sure to mow the grass before it grows taller than one and one-half to two inches in height. Remember to grasscycle. Leave the clippings on the lawn for added nutrients.

Fertilization
Apply one pound of nitrogen per one thousand square feet three weeks after the lawn has turned green. If there has been no soil test, apply a complete (N-P-K) turf-grade fertilizer with a ratio of 3-1-2 or 4-1-2.

Irrigation
Water the soil to a depth of four to six inches. Bermuda grasses need weekly watering at a rate of one inch of water per application. Wilted, folded, or curled leaves along with a dark, bluish color, and foot printing indicate when watering is necessary.

Weed Control
Apply pre-emergence herbicides in early spring to control crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. Apply a broad-spectrum post-emergence herbicide in May. In both cases, check the packaging to be sure the herbicides are safe for use on Bermuda grass.

Insect Control
Check for white grubs and control them to prevent root damage.

Thatch Removal
After grass becomes green in May, vertically mow to remove thatch if it is more than one-half inch thick.