Presentation by Tim Ohlwiler from Virginia Tech Extension Services at PEC's Sustainable Landscaping Workshop in Warrenton, VA on September 7, 2013.

1. Some Best Management
Practices for Turf
Brookside Community
7 September 2013, Warrenton, VA

3. Meadowlark Gardens – Vienna, VA – June 2013

4. BMPs for Turf
• Mow
• Water
• Fertilize
• Over seed
• Thoughts on soil health

5. Winter Early
spring
Spring Summer Early fall Fall Winter
Shoot Growth Root Growth Carbohydrates
High
Med.
Low
Figure 1. Seasonal Growth Patterns of
Cool-Season Turfgrasses
Relativegrowthrate
Window 1Window 2

6. Mowing
• Most frequent management activity
• About once per week, more when growing faster, less
when dormant or growing slower
• Remove no more than 1/3 of leaf surface
 Minimum recommended mowing heights
for turf grasses
 Kentucky bluegrass 1 1/2” to 2 1/2”
 Tall fescue 2” to 3”
 Creeping red fescue 2” to 3”
 Perennial ryegrass 1 1/2” to 2 1/2”
 Bermudagrass ½” to 1”
 Zoysiagrass ¾” to 1”
• Can I mow higher than this? Yes

7. Mowing low
• Reduces tolerance for drought
• Increases weed pressure
• Makes turf more susceptible to stress
• Reduces turf roots
• On another note… return your clippings, they
provide nutrients in the turf.

8. Watering
• Cool season turf goes dormant in July and
August
• Add water consistently
(or not at all) 1 inch/wk
in two to three applications.
• Water in very early morning
• Turn off automatic systems when it rains.

9. Fertilization
• Fertilizer is one of the
biggest contaminants in the
Chesapeake bay.
• Manage it properly
• If fertilizer is a contaminant
of water, then I should not
fertilize my turf?
• This is actually found to not
be true. Research at the
University of Minnesota
showed minimal fertilization
to be the best for the
environment.
• Pet waste is a significant
source of nutrients in out
waterways.

10. How to fertilize then?
• When grass is actively
growing, fall is the best.
• Not before a large rain
event
• No more than 1 lb of N /
1000 ft2 at a time
• Use a slow release
fertilizer.
• Avoid fertilizing next to a
pond or stream. (10 ft
buffer)
• Lawn and not sidewalk.
Nitrogen Application by Month
Quality May 15-
Desired Sept. Oct. Nov. June 15
--------Lbs N/1000 sq ft--------
Low 0 1 0 0-0.5
Med. 1 1 0 0-0.5
High 1 1 1 0-0.5

11. You only recommended Nitrogen
• Why?
• Because Nitrogen is
mobile in the soil and
often the most limiting
nutrient to growth.
• 24 – 6 – 12
• N – P – K
• What about other
nutrients?
• P -Phosphorus – going
to be hard to find in
fertilizers in VA
• K – Potassium – apply
according to soil test.
• Other nutrients usually
not needed.

12. Changes to VA laws
• Maintenance fertilizer will
not contain phosphorus -
2014
• Can only apply
phosphorus on
established turf if a soil
test shows phosphorus is
deficient
• Folks that apply fertilizer
for hire must be certified
by VDACS – 1 July 2013.

13. Compost, an alternative fertilizer
• Help clay soils drain
• Help sandy soils retain
water
• Add nutrients for turf
• Reduce soil compaction
• PSU research indicates ¼
inch depth 1-2 x/yr to
established turfs is a
GREAT treatment
• Consider
sources, quality, ability to
spread etc.

14. Overseeding
• Why? Because we grow
fescue and it is a bunch
grass. This fixes the
holes in the turf.
• When? First two weeks
of September.
• What kind of seed?
Fescue mix, you get
what you pay for.

15. Soil Test• Always a good time to
take a soil test.
• Soil test will tell you
how much
lime, phosphorus and
potassium you need to
add.
• VT recommends
testing soil every 3
years.
• Can add lime anytime
of year as long as the
ground is not frozen.
• Soil Probe

16. Why lime?
• Soils in VA naturally
acidic.
• Turf prefers to grow
between 6.3 and 6.8
pH.
• Lime raises the pH of
the soil.
But, how much
lime?

17. Improving soil health
• Soil Compaction
– Issue on new
construction
– Over time soil roots will
reduce compaction
– Dogs, people, cars and
equipment add to
compaction over time.

18. A few other thoughts on turf…
• Clover is not a
weed.
• Moss is a
great
alternative to
grass in the
shade.
• Another talk on
turf diseases
and insect
pests.
• Consider
planting zoysia
as a turf grass.

19. The Sales Pitch….. $20
• “Green” Grass • Volunteers pull a
representative soil
sample
• Can ask trained
volunteers questions
• Volunteers measure your
turf area.
• Receive a plan that says
when and how much
fertilizer to add.
• Also tells you how much
lime you need.

20. Questions?
Tim Ohlwiler
VCE – Fauquier
540.341.7950 ext 3
tohlwile@vt.edu
Virginia Native Flower
Demonstration Garden
at the extension office.
VCE - Fauquier
24 Pelham St.
Warrenton, VA