This document discusses lawn maintenance and common pests and diseases. It describes an annual maintenance program including regular mowing, watering, feeding, weed and moss control, aeration, and scarification. It discusses different types of lawn mowers and their uses. Common pests like leatherjackets and diseases like fairy rings, Fusarium patch, and red thread are described along with their symptoms and appropriate control measures. The life cycle of a named fungal disease and how its life cycle relates to control is also addressed.

1. RHS Level 2 Certificate Week 30 – Lawns. Maintenance and Pests and Diseases.

2. Learning Objectives 6.6 Describe the annual maintenance programme for quality ornamental and for hard-wearing utility lawns. 6.7 Describe the range of equipment used for mowing, feeding, scarifying and aerating lawns. 6.8 Describe the symptoms of a range of common lawn pests and diseases, including red thread, Fusarium patch, fairy rings, leatherjackets and moles; state an appropriate control measure for EACH. 6.9 Describe the life cycle of one named fungal disease 6.10 Describe the relationship between life cycle and control for the disease in 6.9

3. Mowing Needs doing for as long as the grass is growing – average soil temperature over 7°C. Do not remove more than one-third of the grass blade at any one time. Less frequent and higher cut in dry weather – stops grass from going brown. Height – 1.2 – 2.5cm for luxury lawns, 2.5 – 5cm for utility lawns. Every 2 weeks in the late autumn or mild winter; every 3 days for luxury and once a week for utility in the summer.

4. Lawn Mowers Cylinder mower – good for luxury lawns, roller gives stripes. Not good for long or wet grass. Blades need regular sharpening. Rotary mower – good all round use but less fine finish. Good on longer and damp grass. Annual sharpening. Hover Mower – good on slopes and long grass, damp grass. Height adjustment approximate. Annual sharpening.

5. Watering Thoroughly rather than little and often. Grass recovers from drought Leaving grass longer reduces browning. Aeration and scarification assist water penetration.

6. Feeding High nitrogen in spring/summer High phosphorous in autumn to give cold hardiness and encourage root development. Do not over feed as this encourages fungal disease. Granular formulations must be watered in if no rain falls.

7. Weed and moss control Cultural control most effective – thick healthy turf not a good environment for weeds etc. Hand weeding and scarifying Chemical controls – spot or selective weedkiller; lawn sand (ferrous sulphate, ammonium sulphate and silver sand) for moss. Granular formulations need watering in if no rain.

8. Aeration and scarification Aeration – forming holes with either garden fork or hollow tine aerator. Improves drainage and water and air penetration. Scarification – removing moss and thatch with a spring tined wire rake. Allows water penetration, encourages growth, removes moss and reduces fungal disease. Both done either spring or autumn.

9. Top Dressing Mix of fine organic matter, loam and sand spread dry onto the lawn. Fills hollows and improves soil structure Done after aeration Worked in with a broom or lawn lute

10. Lawn Pests - Leatherjackets Larvae of Crane Fly Eat grass roots; badgers dig them up to eat Controls - predatory nematode Stienanerma feltiae applied August to October. Trap under moist black plastic Imidacloprid drench

11. Lawn Diseases – Fairy Rings Caused by fungal infection Dark green rings do not absorb water well and die off in summer. Expand over the years No amateur chemical control. Dig out Scarify to remove thatch.

12. Fusarium patch Yellowing patches of grass that show white/pink fungal growth in damp weather. Over fertilized, damp lawns; Poa sp. most affected. Control – do not over feed; spores persist on dead grass so scarify to remove; aerate to improve drainage. No amateur chemical controls – easily re-occurs if growing conditions not improved.

13. Red Thread Fungal disease of nutrient poor damp lawns. Red fruiting bodies emerge from dead grass. Fertilize in spring; scarify to remove dead grass and thatch. Aerate to improve drainage.

14. Learning Outcomes 6.6 Describe the annual maintenance programme for quality ornamental and for hard-wearing utility lawns. 6.7 Describe the range of equipment used for mowing, feeding, scarifying and aerating lawns. 6.8 Describe the symptoms of a range of common lawn pests and diseases, including red thread, Fusarium patch, fairy rings, leatherjackets and moles; state an appropriate control measure for EACH. 6.9 Describe the life cycle of one named fungal disease 6.10 Describe the relationship between life cycle and control for the disease in 6.9