Welcome to Southern Turfgrass Solutions, Inc.

Thank you for choosing Southern Turfgrass Solutions as your lawn service
provider, We hope that you have been satisfied with our service in the past and
will continue to be in the future. Our goal is to keep the grass looking greener on
your side of the fence. In order to do that, we need your help from time to time.
We will be sending you Turf Tips throughout the year to educate and inform you
about what you can do to maintain a healthy turf above and beyond what we provide.

SEASONAL TURF TIPS

JULY- SEPTEMBER
A dense, healthy turf obtained through proper fertilization, mowing and irrigation is the best defense against problems like weeds, insects, and disease. To look their best, All turf type grasses require a sound maintenance program, involving fertilization, irrigation, mowing and cultivation. No one practice is more important than another! These practices are interrelated and needed to maintain an attractive, healthy turf.

Core aeration Now is the time to core aerate your warm season lawn. Aeration maximizes your lawns water intake, nutrient intake, and airflow to the roots and relieves soil compaction to promote a healthy root system

Irrigation Because the amount of rain we get fluctuates from week to week; supplemental irrigation is needed to maintain healthy Turfgrass. Infrequent watering that soak the soil to a depth of 5 to 7 inches promotes deep root development and improves Turfgrass competition with weeds. Shallow, frequent watering results in weak, shallow roots and promotes germination of weeds such as fireweed.

Proper Mowing- Mid July until end of growing season mow warm season grass one or two notches higher than you do during late spring to early summer. Frequent mowing at the correct mowing height will help eliminate the development of many species of weeds. Mow your Turfgrass often enough so that only ~ of the leaf area is removed at anyone time. Mowing above or below the recommended mowing height decreases the vigor of your Turfgrass.

Turfgrass Diseases Three components are necessary for disease to develop. These include a host (your Turfgrass), a pathogen (Fungus), and environmental conditions favoring disease development. Disease control requires breaking this "disease cycle" in some way. Disease control requires arl
integration of cultural and chemical controls. Reliance on only chemicals will not be sufficient in controlling disease.

Can You Dig It?- Dallis Grass is a Summer perennial which has a very high tolerance to the selective herbicides we use. Therefore two actions could be taken to Eradicate this weed.

Root system should be removed completely by digging then filling hole with sand.

For an extra charge a non-selective herbicide could be used which would cause injury to the non target Turfgrass.

If you have a problem with Dallis Grass and would like to discuss It further please call the office.

OCTOBER - DECEMBER

A dense, healthy turf obtained through proper fertilization, mowing and irrigation is the best defense against problems like weeds, insects, and disease. To look their best, Turf grasses require a sound maintenance program, involving fertilization, irrigation, mowing and cultivation. No one practice is more important than another! These practices are interrelated and needed to maintain an attractive, healthy turf.

Core aeration/seeding NOW IS THE TIME to core aerate your warm season lawn and seed your fescue lawn. Aeration maximizes your lawns water intake, nutrient intake, and airflow to the roots and relieves soil compaction to promote a healthy root system. Seeding your fescue lawn immediately after aerating will allow seeds that fall into holes to root deeper and reduce chance for
seed to wash away.

Irrigation Irrigation is needed to maintain healthy Turfgrass. Infrequent watering that SOAK THE SOIL to a depth of 5 to 7 inches promotes deep root development and improves Turfgrass competition with weeds. Shallow, frequent watering results in weak, shallow roots and promotes germination of weeds such as fireweed.

Proper Mowing Now is the time to raise your mowing height 1 or 2 notches for rest of the season. Frequent mowing at the correct mowing height will help eliminate the development of many species of weeds. Mow your Turfgrass often enough so that only % of the leaf area is removed at anyone time. Mowing above or below the recommended mowing height decreases the vigor of your
Turfgrass. Keep Bermudai/Zoysia grass taller than normal. Keep the turf green. As your Bermuda/Zoysia changes colors: the roots are preparing for winter. The greener the better. Mow Fescue as normal 3% " to 4 ".

Ornamental Fertilization (WINTERIZING) Fall and early winter is the time to fertilize your ornamental tree/shrubs. During late fall and early winter your ornamentals are transferring carbohydrates from the leaves to the roots. Fertilization at this time will help plants with this process, ensuring that the root system will have enough energy to allow plants to come back next spring and be healthier and more vigorous.

PLEASE DO NOT DEPEND ON RAIN TO WATER YOUR GRASS.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO WATER YOUR LAWN ONCE EVERY 5 to 7 DAYS.

APRIL - JUNE

A dense, healthy turf obtained through proper fertilization, mowing and irrigation is the best defense against problems like weeds, insects, and disease. To look their best, Turf grasses require a sound maintenance program, involving fertilization, irrigation, mowing and cultivation. No one practice is more important than another! These practices are interrelated and needed to maintain an attractive, healthy turf.

Cultivation Proper mowing, core aeration, and topdressing are often needed to reduce thatch accumulation, relieve soil compaction, and thus promote a healthy root system. Excessive thatch is detrimental to Turfgrass growth. Using core aerators and proper scalping can prevent Thatch accumulation Cultivator) should be performed during periods of active Turfgrass growth.

Irrigation Because the amount of rain we get fluctuates from week to week; supplemental irrigation is needed to maintain healthy Turfgrass. Infrequent watering that soak the soil to a depth of 5 to 7 inches promotes deep root development and improves Turfgrass competition with weeds Shallow, frequent watering results in weak, shallow roots and promotes germination of weeds such as fireweed.

Proper Mowing Frequent mowing at the correct mowing height will help eliminate the development of many species of weeds. Mow your Turfgrass often enough so that only 1/4 of the leaf area is removed at anyone time mowing above or below the recommended mowing height decreases the vigor of your Turfgrass. Mid July until end of growing season mow warm season grass one or two notches higher than you do during late spring early summer.

Turfgrass Diseases Three components are necessary for disease to develop. These include a host (your Turfgrass), a pathogen (Furlgus), and environmental conditions favoring disease development. Disease control requires breaking this "disease cycle" in some way. Disease control requires an integration of cultural and chemical controls. Reliance on only chemicals will not be sufficient in controlling disease.

JANUARY - MARCH

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPAY FOR YOUR 2008 SERVICES AND SAVE 10%

A dense, healthy turf obtained through proper fertilization, mowing and irrigation is the best defense against problems like weeds, insects, and disease. To look their best, Turf grasses require a sound maintenance program, involving fertilization, irrigation, mowing and cultivation. No one practice is more important than another! These practices are interrelated and needed to maintain an attractive, healthy turf.

DO NOT SCALP YOUR LAWN BEFORE ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Scalping is necessary for Bermuda lawns in the early spring. Scalping removes dead plant material from the previous year. The removal of the dead plant material allows direct sunlight to the soil and root zone to aid spring green up. Do not scalp Zoysia, instead gradually take it down over a 2 -3 week period.

Scalping is a common practice used to prevent thatch accumulation. This removal of dead plant material, often done before spring green-up, will encourage early spring growth of the grass, and sometimes, of weeds. Most cultural practices can produce a temporary reduction of turf quality, but all Bermuda-grasses should respond positively to them.

During and after scalping, do not depend on a bagging mower to pick up all the clippings. Be sure to clean up all clippings thoroughly! This is very important! Clippings will add to the thatch build-up. They mat together and the matted layer blocks air, water, sunlight, and nutrients from the roots. Also, it is in the matted thatch layer where insects, disease and weed problems arise. This is very important! The thatch layers can also prevent our pre-emergents from getting into the soil, thus limiting their effectiveness. If you do not clean up all clippings, we can almost guarantee that you will see an abundance of FIREWEED! Fireweed has a very shallow root base and grows above the pre- emergent layer. It loves to grow in the thatch layer.

If you have any questions regarding scalping, please call the office.