Do you have questions about your lawn?
Below are some frequently asked questions that we receive.
If you don't see the answer to your question, drop us a line. We'll try
and get you an answer as soon as possible. Please note: answers may or
may not apply to your particular situation. Only an on-site inspection
by one of our trained and certified technicians can we give you an accurate
diagnosis of your lawn problems.
< Click on the question to
see our response >
How
much should I water my lawn?
My
fescue lawn has brown spots. What could cause that?
I
have problems mowing my bermudagrass. What can I do?
I
have a shady area in part of my lawn that doesn't seem to grow. There's
also a lot of moss in this area. How can I fix it?
The
tall fescue in my backyard doesn't spread like my bermudagrass out front.
How can I improve it?
I'm
moving into a new house and it needs a new lawn. What is the best lawn
for me to plant?
1. I need to know how to water
my lawn. Everybody has a different answer, but I usually hear 1" per week. How do I tell
when I need to water or when I have watered 1"?
First, the easiest way to tell
if you have watered 1" per spot is to measure it. The next time you water, put a couple
of flat-bottomed pans or tuna fish cans at various distances from the
sprinkler. Time how long it takes to get 1". From then on, you will
know how long to water.
Most important is how to know
when to water. A general rule is that in the absence of normal rainfall,
you should provide 1" of water per week. If at all possible, this
should be done in one to two waterings per week, to encourage a deep
root system. However, watering
requirements can vary according to sun, shade, terrain and turf type.
In the early stages of drought, the grass will turn from vibrant green
to a darker bluish color before it turns brown. This is often seen
better
from a distance than from up close. If you see this happening, it is
time to water. Sunny and sloped areas will usually be affected first.
Some
shady, low-lying areas rarely need to be watered. In situations such
as these, it is often best NOT to water, to avoid the incidence of
disease.
The time of day watering occurs is also important.
Turfgrass diseases are caused partly by water remaining on the blades
of the grass plants. If you water when there is already dew on the ground
(usually about 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM) you will be safe because you will
not be making the blades of grass any wetter than they already are. Fortunately,
this coincides precisely with current watering restrictions in the Atlanta
area. Call Magnolia Lawn anytime to answer your watering questions.
Back
to the questions
2. I feel I have been watering properly, but my fescue
grass has brown spots. What's up?
There is a good possibility your fescue has brown patch
disease. This is very common in Tall fescue lawns in the summer, when
it is hot and humid. This disease can come in overnight and cause serious
damage to a lawn within a few days. There is currently no way to prevent
this disease. If the areas are circular and there are small brown spots
on the individual blades of grass, it may be brown patch.
Applications of disease control materials are part
of the Magnolia Lawn program, so we can help. Call us right away. If you
take care of your lawn yourself, go to a garden center as soon as possible
and purchase a disease control material specifically labeled for brown
patch. Be sure to follow label directions. This disease is made worse
by extended wet and humid periods, so water only when necessary, and only
when there is already dew on the ground.
Back
to the questions
3. Every time I mow my bermudagrass, I leave brown swirls
all over the place. What can I do to make this stop happening?
Bermudagrass tends to magnify any inconsistencies in
the ground. Bermudagrass consists of brown sheaths, with the green leaf
blades up above. When you mow, the green blades are shortened. If there
are dips and holes in the ground, it causes the mower to 'scalp' some
areas, exposing that brown sheath and causing brown swirls in the lawn.
The swirls disappear eventually, but unfortunately, it's usually a couple
of days before you mow, then the brown is back.
'Sanding' or top-dressing the lawn can help minimize
this problem. Large amounts of sand are dumped on the lawn, then raked
smooth over the surface. This causes the sand to fill in low areas, thus
keeping the scalping effect to a minimum when you mow. This will help,
but it won't cure the problem completely. Mowing frequency is very important
with bermudagrass. Mow at least once per week. Golf courses often mow
their bermudagrass greens daily for best appearance and playability. Of
course, this is unreasonable for most homeowners, but mowing one to two
times per week will help. Any less often, and the scalping problems will
certainly be worse.
Back
to the questions
4. I have a shady, mossy area in my lawn where grass
just doesn't seem to grow. I seed the area every fall, the grass comes
up just fine, then dies the next summer and the moss comes back. Am I
doing something wrong?
Repeated aeration treatments over several growing seasons
may help along with re-seeding with a grass type that is better suited
to shade. Some grass types won't tolerate shade and therefore won't thrive.
Moss however, loves the cool shady conditions. It however, is not the
cause of the dying grass. If possible try to reduce the amount of shade
in the area. Thinning the tree canopy might make a healthy difference
in your lawn.
If removing some or all of the shade is out of the
question, extending the bedding areas or 'natural' areas with pine straw
or mulch would probably be the best solution. If you've tried the above
recommendations several times, it sounds like nature is telling you grass
just won't work in that situation. It's probably too shady.
If you're stumped, give Magnolia Lawn a call. We'd
be happy to take a look at it for you and let you know if we can help
you.
Back
to the questions
5. My backyard is tall fescue and it doesn't spread like
my bermudagrass. How can I make it thicker?
Tall fescue is a clump type grass and doesn't have
'runners' like bermudagrass, so it doesn't really spread much at all.
It is also native to Kentucky and northward, so it really takes a beating
in our harsh summer climate. Even a well cared-for tall fescue lawn will
thin to some extent every summer. To maintain the density, tall fescue
usually needs to be aerated and seeded annually. This is best done in
September to October in our area. Aeration should be done with a 'core'
type aerator, which pulls plugs out of the ground. Then, a hybrid fescue
seed can be broadcast. The rate of broadcast can vary widely, from two
to six pounds of seed per 1000 square feet, depending upon how thin the
lawn is. Call Magnolia Lawn for specific recommendations for your lawn.
Back
to the questions
6. I'm moving into a new home and no grass has yet been
planted. What should I do?
The choice of turf type depends largely upon your environment.
For general durability and drought resistance, the hands-down choice is
bermudagrass. The only limiting factor with bermudagrass is shade. Bermudagrass
will tolerate very little shade. It needs full sun, all day, every day,
to really perform well. For a semi-shaded area and easy installation,
tall fescue works well. It can be seeded, so it isn't very expensive.
For sun or filtered shade, zoysiagrass can be a good choice. Zoysia is
a beautiful turfgrass, thick and lush. It isn't quite as drought tolerant
as bermudagrass, but will tolerate a filtered shade. Zoysia seed is nearly
impossibly to obtain, so Zoysia needs to be sodded, making it a beautiful
but expensive choice.
With all lawns, soil preparation and post-installation
watering are both crucial. Rocks and debris should be removed prior to
installation, and the seed or sod needs to be kept evenly moist until
it is well-established. For more information, call Magnolia Lawn. Aeration
of all lawns and seeding of tall fescue are both services Magnolia Lawn
provides.
Back
to the questions
Call today for a FREE lawn analysis and lawn care price
quote or <<CLICK
HERE>> to fill out our Contact Form
|
