|
Select a folder  below for
additional choices and fast access to our complete library of Old
River SOD turf information
|
Old River Sod Turf Maintenance
Each grass variety has different needs in the areas of
watering, mowing, fertilizing, winter care and maintenance.
|
|
Care of Tifgreen Hybrid Bermuda
|
|
WATERING Incorrect watering is the most common mistake made while
establishing a lawn. Newly installed sod should be kept well watered for a
period of 10 days to 2 weeks. This is the most critical period in the life
of you: lawn. Water several times a day increasing frequency for extremely
hot or windy weather.
After your sod is rooted less frequent watering will be required.
However, remember to gauge your schedule to the weather. A thorough
irrigation every 5 to 7 days for one hour or until runoff appears is
sufficient to most situations. Your goal is to achieve water penetration to
a depth of 8' 12". This will encourage deep rooting and a healthier
lawn. Short frequent waterings on established sod creates a shallow root
system and susceptibility to insect and disease problems. Verify the depth
of watering by probing soil with a screwdriver or sharp instrument. If the
screwdriver enters the soil easily to a depth of 6" 8" you have
achieved proper moisture penetration
MOWING Tifgreen should be mowed at 1 inch to ½ inch every 5 to
7
days in the growing season. This will prevent a rapid thatch build up and
provide a putting green appearance. A sharp power reel mower provides the
best results Hand mowers and rotary mowers usually cannot be adjusted to the
recommended Heights
If a weekly mowing is skipped, be sure to compensate on the next mowing
by scalping back the extra growth. The lawn will green up in a week or so.
Closely mowed lawns will resist disease and insect infestations common to
thatchy lawns. Clipping removal recommended for a healthy lawn.
FERTILIZING The pre-plant fertilizer put down before you
installed your sod will take care of the fertilizer requirements for the
first month. Maintenance fertilizer should then be used with subsequent
applications monthly during the growing season. Follow label instructions on
all fertilizers used. Each Spring when your lawn recovers from dormancy your
regular fertilizer program should begin. Avoid fertilizer burn by thoroughly
watering fertilizer particles off the leaf blades and well into the soil
area
DORMANCY Prolonged color can
best be achieved by maintaining a healthy lawn throughout the year. However
during the winter months when temperatures drop below 40° (generally
December through March) Tifgreen will slow it. growth rate and lose its
color. During this period fertilizing and mowing are not necessary. (Tifgreen sod is sold and installed anytime of the year.)
WINTER
COLOR- can be restored by the same method major turf growers use by the
application of WinterGreen turf dye. Turf dye
is growing in popularity for home lawns as well because it saves money by
providing a virtually carefree winter lawn. Overseeding
with an perennial grass is a practice also commonly used but this method
requires regular maintenance.
Old river sod offers sod quality ryegrass for overseeding.
HOW
TO OVERSEED
Consult us for answers to all your lawn questions. We are happy to
Provide any information with no obligation
|
|
|
Care of Triathalawn Tall Fescue
|
 WATERING—Incorrect
watering is the most common mistake made while establishing a lawn. Newly
installed sod should be kept well watered for a period of 10 days to 2
weeks. This is the most critical period in the life of your lawn. Water
several times a day increasing frequency for extremely hot or windy weather.
Sod must be kept wet.
After you lawn is established less water will be required. A thorough
irrigation every 3 -4 days in warmer weather (5 - 7 days in cooler weather)
is sufficient in most situations. Your goal is to achieve water penetration
to a depth of 6 inches. This will encourage deep rooting and a healthier
lawn. Verify the depth of watering by probing soil with a screwdriver or
sharp instrument. If the screwdriver enters the soil easily to a depth of 6
- 8 inches your have achieved proper moisture penetration. In extremely hot
weather, cool season grasses can benefit from the cooling effect of a method
of "spritzing". By simply spraying a fine mist of water to the
turf zone, the temperature in the area of the crown of the grass blade will
be reduced enough to avoid stress to the lawn and damage caused by wilt.
MOWING—The correct mowing height is important for the long term
survival of your lawn. Regular weekly mowing and clipping removal is
strongly recommended. During cool weather, Triathalawn can be maintained at
approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches, but during hot weather mowing height should
be maintained at approximately 3 inches. This added height actually reduces
heat stress by providing a shading effect on cool season grasses. New
Triathalawn sod lawns should be mowed 1 week to 10 days after installation
at no lower than 2 inches. Never scalp the lawn or cut more than one third
of the top growth from a cool season lawn at any one mowing. Scalping fescue
or bluegrass lawns can cause permanent damage. Any type of sharp mower can
be used, but dull rotary mowers can shatter the grass blade and poorly
adjusted reel mowers can bruise and pull leaf blades.
FERTILIZING—The preplant fertilizer put down before you
installed your sod will take care of the fertilizer requirements for the
first month. Maintenance fertilizer such as Gro-Power should then be used
with subsequent application monthly during the growing season (October
through May) to achieve good growth and color. During the hot months of
summer the fertilizer rate should be cut in half or a slow release
fertilizer should be used. Follow label instructions on all fertilizer. Good
fertility programs help the lawn resist disease, weed, and pest
infiltrations.
INSECTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS—Triathalawn Tall Fescue is
guaranteed to be free of insects, disease and weeds at the time of delivery.
However, infestation can occur from neighboring lawns which have these
problems. Be especially careful before resorting to chemical control by
ruling out dog damage, dry spots and fertilizer burn. If small to medium
sized spots or patches begin to wilt, turn brown, then die back; and you
have checked out all other factors, then by all means spray the lawn with a
broad spectrum fungicide. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer. Chemical use should be avoided on newly planted sod. And,
remember, turf which is properly watered, mowed and fertilized is more
likely to resist problems than turf which is stressed or mismanaged.
REPAIRING DAMAGED AREAS—By virtue of the fact that Triathalawn
does not send out runners such as warm season, bermuda type lawns, areas
which die out will not repair themselves. However, you can easily return the
lawn to its original beauty by either planting sod plugs or by reseeding the
damaged area. Both small pieces of sod and Triathalawn seed are available
through Old River Sod.
|
Care of El Toro Zoysia
|
|
WATERING—Incorrect watering is the most common mistake made while
establishing a lawn. Newly installed sod should be kept well watered for a
period of 10 days to 2 weeks. This is the most critical period in the life
of your lawn. Water several times a day increasing frequency for extremely
hot or windy weather.
After your lawn is established (approximately 6 - 8 weeks) less water
will be required. El Toro Zoysia grass does not tolerate a water logged
condition. A thorough irrigation every 3 - 4 days in warmer weather ( 5 - 7
days in cooler weather) of one hour or until run-off appears is sufficient
in most situations. Your goal is to achieve water penetration to a depth of
6 inches. This will encourage deep rooting and a healthier lawn. (Short
frequent waterings on established sod creates a shallow root system and
susceptibility to insect and disease problems.) Verify the depth of watering
by probing soil with a screwdriver or sharp instrument. If the screwdriver
enters the soil easily to a depth of 6 - 8 inches you have achieved proper
moisture penetration.
MOWING—Mowing height may vary between 1 to 2 inches depending on
preference. Minimally a mowing height of 1 inch is recommended twice per
month. More frequent weekly mowings during the growing season of ¾ inch
will prevent thatch build up and puffy, irregular surfaces. A sharp well
adjusted reel mower is recommended, but a rotary mower can be used if a
taller, blade-grass look is preferred. Clipping removal is recommended for a
healthy lawn.
FERTILIZING—The pre-plant fertilizer put down before you
installed your sod will take care of the fertilizer requirements for the
first month. Maintenance fertilizer such as Gro-Power
should then be used with subsequent applications monthly during the growing
season to achieve good growth and color. Follow label instructions on all
fertilizer used. On established lawns, make the first application in the
spring when your lawn begins to recover from dormancy. Well fed lawns resist
disease, weed, and pest infiltrations and have a shorter dormancy period.
Avoid fertilizer burn by thoroughly watering fertilizer particles off the
leaf blades and well into the soil area.
INSECTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS—El Toro Zoysia grass is relatively
resistant to common insects or diseases. A well maintained irrigation and
fertilization program, generally, prevents problems from beginning. Be
especially careful if you resort to chemical means for controlling weeds. Be
sure to follow written instructions provided by the manufacturer.
DORMANCY—El Toro Zoysia will slow its leaf/blade growth as the
average temperatures cool. When soil temperatures drop below 40 degrees,
your lawn will turn brown to reddish brown until temperatures rise again in
the spring. During this period fertilizing and mowing are not necessary.
(Note: El Toro Zoysia sod can be installed anytime of year in most areas of
California because, although leaf growth ceases, roots continue to grow even
during winter dormancy.) Winter color
can be maintained by overseeding or
the application of WinterGreen turf dye
Consult us for answers to all your lawn questions. We are happy to
provide free information and literature.
|
Care of Evershade St. Augustine
|
|
WATERING—Incorrect watering is the most common mistake made while
establishing a lawn. Newly installed sod should be kept well watered for a
period of 10 days to 2 weeks. This is the most critical period in the life
of your lawn. Water several times a day increasing frequency for extremely
hot or windy weather. New sod must be kept wet.
After your lawn is established less water will be required. A thorough
irrigation every 3 -4 days in warmer weather (5 - 7 days in cooler weather)
is sufficient in most situations. Your goal is to achieve water penetration
to a depth of 6 inches. This will encourage deep rooting and a healthier
lawn. Verify the depth of watering by probing soil with a screwdriver or
sharp instrument. If the screwdriver enters the soil easily to a depth of 6
- 8 inches you have achieved proper moisture penetration. Although St.
Augustine is moderately drought tolerant and will not be damaged by slight
wilting and drying, the turf must be adequately watered according to the
amount of sun or shade and soil conditions it receives.
MOWING—In California, St. Augustine doesn’t required as
frequent mowings as in other areas. Mowing height should be between 1 to 1 ½
inches. Frequency of mowing is determined by how fast the grass grows.
However, the grass should be cut often enough that no more than one-half of
the leaf blade height is removed at any one time. St. Augustine can be
easily cut with any type of sharp and well adjusted mower.
FERTILIZING—The preplant fertilizer put down before you
installed your sod will take care of the fertilizer requirement for the
first month. Maintenance fertilizer such as Gro-Power should be used with
subsequent applications monthly during the growing season (March - October)
to achieve good growth and color. Good fertility programs help the lawn
resist disease, weeds, and pests. Follow label instructions on all
fertilizers, and be sure to water fertilizer well into the soil after
application.
INSECTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS—In California there are very few
insects or diseases which attack St. Augustine. However, Chinch bugs are
considered a common problem in other areas. They are quite small (1/8 inch
or less) and are quite active and found in large numbers. The turf usually
starts to turn yellow or brown in patches. Flooding the suspected patch with
water, will bring up evidence of the bugs to the surface. A timely
application of an insecticide can correct the problem. Follow manufacturer’s
label instruction on all chemicals.
VERTICAL MOWING—St. Augustine normally builds up a thick, dense,
thatchy mat as it matures. When the mat becomes objectionable or does not
permit proper penetration of water or fertilizer, vertical mowing will be
necessary. A vertical mower cuts the thatch and brings it up to the lawn
surface where it can be raked away and removed. Do not confuse verticutting
with renovating done on bermuda grass. The cutter blades should be set low,
but not to soil level. Severe scalping can permanently damage a St.
Augustine lawn.
DORMANCY –St. Augustine will slow its growth as the average
temperatures cool in the fall. When soil temperatures drop below 40 degrees,
your lawn will begin lose its green color and appear to have red-purple
streaks or turn completely yellow or brown. During this period fertilizing
and mowing are not necessary. When temperatures rise again in the spring,
St. Augustine will slowly regain its green color.
|
|
