IRRIGATION ADJUSTMENT ALERT!

IF YOU HAVE ST. AUGUSTINE OR ZOYSIA GRASS, RIGHT NOW IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO CUT BACK ON YOUR WATERING. 

The Fall Equinox is fast approaching on September 23, 2018. On this date the physiological characteristics of grass changes and it stops actively growing. When the turf is not actively growing, it needs much less water than it did in the summer. This is where some homeowners create self inflicted wounds to their grass due to overwatering, especially those with St. Augustine or Zoysia grass. 

Right now is a great time to cut back on your watering not only because we’ve gotten so much rain lately but also because St. Augustine and Zoysia are susceptible to the dreaded Rhizoctonia Solani, AKA Brown Patch. 

 Brown Patch pictured above.

Brown Patch is a fungal disease that thrives in moist cool environments. Once infected, excess water exasperates the issue and it continues to spread. While Brown Patch is not something that will kill the turf, it does set the grass back in the spring when it is trying to come out of dormancy. Lawns that were affected by Brown Patch in the fall will be at least 2 weeks slower to green up in the spring than non affected turf. 

Lets get ahead of the curve this fall and try and outsmart this pesky disease!

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING?

1. Cut back watering to once a week per the watering guide. If there has been significant rainfall, turn the system off until 1 week passes with no significant moisture. 

2. If you start to notice signs of brown patch in your yard, first call us and next turn your system off for 2 weeks or until further notice.

Summertime Blues: Why is my grass turning brown?

It’s no surprise that it’s hot.. in Texas.. in July. With all of this heat comes stress on your turf and landscape so some of you may be noticing some browning in the grass and plants. Is it lack of water or could it be something else? Let’s dig in and see!

Am I Watering Enough?

As a homeowner, watering adequately while being on our program is single handedly your most important role in our business partnership. If the plants or grass is not getting enough water, this not only compromises the uptake of our application but can put the turf in a weakened state, which can make it more vulnerable to diseases and pathogens. If you’re noticing some stress on your turf at this time of the year it is a good idea to take a look at the amount of time you’re watering and at what rate. A good rule of thumb is to physically check the soil to see if it’s wet or not. Cracks in the soil are also an indication of dehydration.

Our watering guide is a great resource for lawn novices. With the temps this summer it is best to increase your watering amount by 30%-50% at each watering interval.

Be aware of local watering restrictions. Most DFW cities have designated days to water so be sure that you’re in line with city code. If you’re curious about DFW watering restrictions, go here to see if your area is operating under any restrictions.

Even Sprinkler Coverage

While you may have ruled out the amount of water as an issue, there still could be the even water coverage factor. Sometimes when you turn your sprinklers on it appears that water is getting everywhere but, there could be a tiny particle of sand or dirt restricting adequate water flow to a specific area. This 1/16 of an inch could make or break the turf in these scorching weather conditions. Irrigation audits from a licensed irrigator are highly recommended if you have an inkling that even coverage is not being distributed.

Common Summertime Pathogens

Chinch bugs and grubs are the most common pathogens at this time of the year. While Chinch bugs like mostly St. Augustine, grubs don’t discriminate.

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are classified as piercing sucking insects and they LOVE the heat. Most common places to see chinch bug damage is near concreted areas.  The way that they cause damage is by injecting a toxin into the plant to remove the nutrients. This fluid is toxic to the grass which in turn causes the grass to yellow, turn reddish brown, and eventually die. This damage can occur extremely rapidly if left untreated. Consulting a plant health professional is highly recommended if there is speculation of chinch bugs.

 Chinch bugs can be seen by pulling the turf back to expose the soil. They usually scurry quickly once they are exposed so check in several different places on the outer edges of the damaged area.

Grubs

Grubs have a very particular time of the year that they cause damage that is based on their life cycle. In North Texas it is Late July- August. Our culture has been trained to think that all grubs are bad but in truth, they aren’t. Grubs are very common to see when you’re digging around in the flower beds or in the yard because they play an important role in the soil food web. There are 12 species of grubs in North Texas and only 2 of those are root feeders. So, there are 2 species that could potentially cause damage to your turf and only do so in very large infestations.

This year, their life cycle has been delayed and we have just now seen the June Bugs emerge. Some of you may have thought the June Bugs had already come up but there happen to be other beetles that impersonate the common June Bug.

Once they emerge, they have a mating period of about two weeks and then the females descend back to the soil to deposit the eggs. After about 3 weeks the grub larvae hatch and begin to feed. So, grub damage should not be occurring until mid-late August this year.

A tell-tale sign of grub damage is the lack of effort it takes to pull up the dead turf. If it pulls up easily or rolls up like carpet, grubs could be the culprit. Also, seeing at least 6-10 grubs per sq ft of area is also a good indication they are causing the damage.

CONCLUSION

Whether it’s a lack of water coverage or a possible disease, seeking help by a professional is going to be your best option. While turf can come back from moderate dehydration, chinch bug or grub damage is classified as “what’s done is done.” The turf that has been damaged will not come back and depending on how large the area is that was infected, it may need resodding.

This Cold Weather Can’t Hold Us Down!

Hey y’all, it’s been a little while but we’re back to spread some knowledge! We hope everyone’s winter has been full of warmth and joy! It’s been consistently colder than last winter but before you know it, the temperatures will be above 70 on the daily, the sun will be shining and the birds will be chirping! La La La La La ♫

Some of you gardeners may be getting a head start by sowing seeds indoors to prep for spring planting. Others may be looking outside thinking, there is no way I am going to start doing  a n y t h i n g  outside in this cold!

We do not blame you, that is why we are here to help where we can! While we don’t see ourselves being able to come out daily to tend to your seedlings, we are happy to do some soil prepping for you!

Our Soil Building Program began in January and we are about a week out from being done with our first round so it’s not too late to get started! Even if you do miss the first round you will be ahead of the game opposed to waiting until next year to start!

The first 3 treatments of the year are the most important. We pack a mixture of vitamins, nutrients, and other amendments into the Liquid Compost to give the plants and turf the best possible push out of dormancy.

Spring Set Backs

Some of you may have experienced the dreaded Brown Patch last fall. If so, you may already know that these areas will be the last to green up in the Spring. In 2017, we experienced a lag of green up in these areas all the way into May.

More fatal setbacks could have been chinch bugs, take all root rot or grubs. If these areas caused dieback or large bare spots, it could take the whole season for the grass to fill back in - depending on the severity of the damage and turf variety. Spring is a great time of the year to lay sod or plant St. Augustine plugs. This may be an option for some people depending on their patience and tolerance for the bare areas.

Weeds are growing, so we’re mowing.

Right around this time each year, weeds will begin to grow quickly. Mowing in February and early March will cut off their flower heads before they can bloom and spread more seed, greatly reducing your population of spring weeds. As a bonus, the clippings will quickly compost into the soil when left on the lawn, adding nutrients to the soil. Mowing now also allows more light to reach the soil, warming up microbes and alerting them to get to work at improving the soil and also warming roots, prompting them to grow.

All of this prepping may seem a bit premature because of the recent cold snap but you'll be thanking us later when you're two steps ahead of your neighbor come Springtime!