In this post, Jon Hill Turf tells about the purpose of a lawn we want and how to design it in the back yard.

1. Welcome

2. Lawns

3. Purpose of lawns
• Ornamental
• Recreation
• Utility

4. Planning a lawn
• Location
– Soil type, moisture, light, surrounding
plants, zone
• Use
• Type of grass
• Time, cost of maintenance
• Time, cost of installation

5. Location

7. Location

8. Turfgrass & shade

9. Types of turfgrass
• Regional adaptation of species
– Cool season grasses
• Grows well at 60-75F
• Growth ceases over 80F
• Intolerant of heavy shade
– Warm season grasses
• Grows well at 80-95F
• Dormant in winter (brown)

10. Grass types

11. Turfgrass adaptation maps
• 1&2 – cool
• 4 – warm
• 3 – transition
zone

12. Turfgrass adaptation maps

13. Turfgrass adaptation zones
ZoysiaTall fescue
Centipede

14. Uses
• Zoysia – prickly blades
• St. Augustine – intolerant to traffic &
compaction

15. Resistance to wear
• Traffic tolerant
– Cool season: Tall fescue
– Warm season: Bahia, Bermuda
• Traffic intolerant
– Saint Augustine grass

16. Grass texture

17. Growth habit
• Many cool season grasses are
bunching (can get clumpy)

18. Competitiveness
(aggressiveness)
• Colonizing species desired on
slopes
• Aggressiveness depends on
environmental conditions
• Aggressive grasses
– Zoysia stolons are very aggressive –
can grow under edging
– Bermudagrass

19. Maintenance
• High maintenance types
– Dethatching required
– Disease & insect susceptible
– Frequent mowing
– Warm season: Bahia, bermuda
– Cool season: bentgrass, bluegrass

20. Maintenance
• Low maintenance
– Resistant to drought & diseases
– Cool season: Tall fescue
– Warm season: centipede, zoysia

21. Shade
• Many grasses are
shade intolerant
• Shade tolerant types
– Cool season: red
fescue, chewing fescue
– Warm season:
centipede, Totality

22. Lawn shapes

23. Installing a lawn
• Seeding
– Soil preparation
• Nutrient, pH testing (6.5)
• Amend for drainage, soil texture
• Remove debris, coarse material
• Roll
• Fertilize (starter fertilizer – high P)
• Weed control, if desired

24. Buying grass seed
• Straight – one species
• Blend – 2 or more cultivars of same
species
• Mixture – 2 or more species
– Temporary species for quick
establishment
– Permanent species (>60% of mix)

26. Time to sow
• Cool season: late summer/early fall
• Warm season: late spring

27. Seeding rate (~1oz/sq. yd.)
• Desire a dense lawn
• Rate varies by grass type
• Seeding devises

28. Mulching seed beds
• Wheat straw most common
– Protect seed from birds
– Prevent washing away
– Conserve moisture
– Control erosion
– Roll

30. Hydroseeding

31. Sodding
• Instant coverage
• Least problematic
• Most expensive
• Can install anytime

32. Laying sod
• Use immediately
• Tight fit
• Stagger pieces
• Roll

33. Plugging
• Sod plugs (1.5-2”) spaced 6-12”

34. Sprigging
• Spreading stolons

36. Lawn maintenance
• Mowing
• Irrigation
• Fertilization
• Weed control
• Disease and insect pests
• Aeration/scarification (dethatching)
• pH correction
• Leaf removal

37. Lawn maintenance
• Mowing height

38. Mowing principles
• Never remove more than 30% of
blade length
• Mow when dry
– Disease suspectibility
– Weight of cuttings
• Keep blades sharp
• Alternate mowing pattern

40. Mowers
• Bagging vs. mulching

41. Edging

42. Trimmers/edgers

43. Watering
• Most grasses require 1” water per
week
• Soil moisture should reach 4” depth
– Light watering may encourage upward
root growth
• Water in mornings or evenings
(mornings preferred)

44. Irrigation

45. Fertilizing
• Follow recommendations for lawns

47. Fertilizer formulations

48. Fertilization
• Broadcast vs. drop spreading
• Liquid fertilization

49. Disease and pest control
• Disease problems
• Insect problems
• Turf grass pests

50. Grub damage

51. Weed control
• Pre-emergence
selective herbicides
(broadleaf herbicides)
• Post-emergence
selective herbicides
• Forms: granulars,
liquid sprays
• 2,4-D popular

52. Dethatching/Scarifying

53. Scarifying by machine

54. Aeration

55. Aeration

56. Topdressing

57. Lawn or groundcover?
• Turfgrasses establish poorly in deep
shade
• Turgrasses may be difficult to
establish on steep banks

58. Lawn alternatives
• Blue rug juniper
• Dwarf mondo grass (shade)
• Chamomile, thyme

59. Chamomile as a lawn alternative

60. Thyme as a lawn alternative

61. Lawn alternatives
• Pachysandra

62. Thank you