News
EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Summer 2010
Video Notes:
Step 1 - Fertilization. If you didn't fertilize in the Spring, you can apply a fertilizer with a 1-1 ration of nitrogen to potassium...like a 15-0-15. The middle number is phosphorus and it can usually be zero. If you did fertilize in the Spring, you can wait till late Summer or early Fall to do so again.
Step 2 - Irrigation. Don't overwater in the hot months. EMPIRE needs about an inch of water per week either from in-ground irrigation or natural rainfall. Wait for a sign that the grass is in need of watering before irrigating...like blades of the EMPIRE Turf wilting. Water in the early morning hours for best results. Too much water can lead to fungus outbreaks, like Large Patch.
Step 3 - Mowing. You will likely mow more often in the Summer. Just make sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing. Mowing too low can stress the grass and it will turn brown. If you miss a mowing, it might take multiple mowings to get the grass back to the height you like. Wait about 3-5 days between each mowing.
Watch out for Hunting Billbugs. If you have had them in the past but are free of them at the moment, treat with an insecticide application this fall.
St. Augustine Grass - Care and Maintenance - Summer 2010
Video Notes:
Step 1 - Fertilization. If you didn't fertilize in the Spring, you can apply a fertilizer with a 1-1 ration of nitrogen to potassium...like a 15-0-15. The middle number is phosphorus and it can usually be zero. If you did fertilize in the Spring, you can wait till late Summer or early Fall to do so again. A 2-0-1 ratio fertilizer is also ok for St. Augustines....like a 16-0-8.
Step 2 - Irrigation. Don't overwater in the hot months. St. Augustines need about an inch of water per week either from in-ground irrigation or natural rainfall. Water in the early morning hours for best results. Too much water can lead to fungus outbreaks, like Grey Leaf Spot.
Step 3 - Mowing. You will likely mow more often in the Summer. Just make sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing. Mowing too low can stress the grass and it will turn brown. If you miss a mowing, it might take multiple mowings to get the grass back to the height you like. Wait about 3-5 days between each mowing.
Watch out for Chinch Bugs. If you find them in you yard, use an insecticide with bifenthrin or carbaryl to get rid of the infestation.
St. Augustine Grass - Care and Maintenance - Spring 2010
Video Notes:
Step 1 - Apply Fertilizer. We recommend something with a 2-0-1 ratio (eg...(16-0-8))
Step 2 - Prevent the onset of Summer weeds by applying Pre-emergent herbicide. You can buy it already mixed in with the fertilizer.
Step 3 - Watch out for fungus...especially Grey-Leaf Spot and Brown Patch. If you have had problems before or have an area with extra shade or moisture, apply a fungicide with an active ingredient. Water 1 inch per week, either from natural rainfall or from inground irrigation. Overwatering can lead to disease of turfgrass.
Step 4 - Hold off applying insecticide to begin Spring. Monitor grass each week. Chinch bugs are the number one St. Augustine enemy, but usually start showing up in Summer through early Fall. If you get chinch bugs, treat with an insecticide that contains Bifenthrin or Carbaryl.
EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Spring 2010
Get your EMPIRE Turf zoysia lawn ready for Spring and Summer. This video will guide you through some simple care instructions for getting your EMPIRE lawn looking its best.
Video Notes:
Step 1 - MOW LOW. For the first mowing of the year, scalp the lawn with the mower and bag the clippings.
Step 2 - Apply Fertilizer. We recommend a 1-0-1 ratio. (eg...(15-0-15))
Step 3 - Apply Pre-emergent herbicide to prevent summer weeds. You can buy it already mixed in with fertilizer.
Step 4 - To prevent Billbugs and other insect pests, put down a broad spectrum insecticide containing bifenthrin. Make sure to water any granular insecticides into the lawn.
Step 5 - EMPIRE Turf needs about 3/4 of an inch of water per week from either natural rainfall or inground irrigation. Overwatering can lead to fungus outbreaks. If needed, put down a systemic fungicide with an active ingredient.
Follow a few simple steps and get your EMPIRE Turf looking great again after the cold southern winter of 2010.
This video will give you a few simple steps to get your St. Augustine grass looking in top shape after the cold southern winter of 2010.
Botafogo FR, a soccer (futebol) club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has put down Celebration on its home field of Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium, simply known as Engenhao. Botafogo FR belongs to the Major National League and recently won a State Championship.
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The grass was put down last December because the Tifway 419 they were using was having issues dealing with heavy foot traffic and shade caused by the stadium overhangs. Celebration has rated best in test for both of those issues. The sod was provided by Itograss and installed by Greenleaf Gramados.
The other huge stadium recently installed hails from Spain. Spanish first division club Valencia CF put down Celebration leading into the 2009-2010 season at their home field since 1923, Estadio Mestalla. Sod was provided for the 55,000 seat stadium by Spanish company Ibergreen and put down last September. Valencia is one of the more successful clubs in Spanish football and has an extremely large worldwide fanbase.
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Parks and Rec Business' February 2010 Edition article on EMPIRE Turf by Steve Yeskulsky.
The article details the difference between drought tolerance and drought resistance and how it relates to different grass varieties. EMPIRE's drought tolerance is highlighted in the article along with other benefits of using EMPIRE sod. It also details some common stresses for the EMPIRE zoysia grass and some things to do to keep your lawn looking healthy. Click the magazine cover to download the article. The article has been reprinted with permission.
Bermudagrasses and shade usually don't get mentioned in the same breath. Bermuda cultivars just don't handle the conditions like other grass varieties. In fact, the quest to find that elusive shade tolerant bermuda has been the bane of many golf course superintendents over the years. There are a few select types of bermudagrass, however, that clearly handle limited sunlight locations better than others. The top-tested bermudagrass on the market for shade continues to be Celebration® Bermudagrass. Originally developed in Australia, Celebration has been the most consistent, best performing bermuda in diminished sunlight locations around the world. Celebration even beats out the University of Georgia's latest bermudagrass release TifGrandTM, which was selected specifically for its shade tolerance.
In the hunt for bermuda shade tolerance, university research has put these grasses to the test. Clemson University did a two year shade study of 42 bermudagrass cultivars in 2007. This study included both Celebration and UGA's TifGrand (then known as Tift No.4). Celebration was the only grass to get a "six" rating for overall shade tolerance. TifGrand finished in a three-way tie for second in the study with a "five" rating.
Celebration is known for its high marks in wear resistance and divot recovery, but many golf course employees have seen firsthand how it deals with shade. Courses having issues with trees and shaded tee boxes have seen Celebration work when others simply would not.
Consumers in any capacity, from golf superintendents to homeowners, must remember that all grasses need some amount of sunlight to survive. In some instances, grass itself just might not be the right option. An area completely devoid of direct sunlight might call for replacements like pine straw or mulch. But it you get a few hours of sun and are in the market for a bermudagrass that has the ability to handle and grow well in a shady area, you can't beat Celebration.
2007 Clemson University Shade Study
Craft Turf Farms has a new look for its online consumers. WWW.CRAFTTURFFARMS.COM recently underwent a major makeover to streamline flow of information and help those interested in turfgrass to make educated decisions. The new design reflects Craft Turf Farms' leadership role in the turfgrass industry.
For more information on our turfgrass varieties, look through the new Web site or call us at 1-800-467-0577.
