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<br />;Ktivily. SlliJ ICl1lpt'ralurc~ also increase. so gr:lss in
<br />~.tll1l]1;lc.:ll.'d soil 111:1)' be 1-1 J dcglYCS !loller (SdlUllz
<br />jl.)X<)}. (jras.'> grown in l"OmpaCll'd soib alsll has shal-
<br />lower roOls. II1nrc (11:11ch, and is gcncr;llly wcaka. To
<br />I.'hc,k forconfpaction. try li1 sink a sl:rcwdrivcrinto the
<br />ground without pounding. If the screwdriver doesn't
<br />c:lsily pCI1l'trilLc the soil, aerate with:\ hand c{)n~ror rent
<br />a mechanical aerator. Sometimes acr..llion is alllhar is
<br />nccJc~ to turn a problem lawn inlo a thriving bwn.
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<br />To cnlllplctc the soil :lnalysis. it is necessary 10
<br />uclcrminc soil texture .and count earthworms, Two
<br />simrlc methods are U!'icd La determine texture. In the
<br />first,;1 soil sample is mixed with waler und the propor-
<br />tion of settled soil components (day, s~nd, ctc.) arc
<br />meL1sured. In the second. OJ hnndful of moist .soil is
<br />CLlIlCCled and squeezed through the fist. Gcrshuny
<br />1 (1993) gives instructions for both tests. Neither ex-
<br />tremcly sandy soils nor extremely hcavy cby soils
<br />make for good (3wns, so it may be necessary to :Idd
<br />i organic matter.
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<br />Earthworms are only part of lhe critical soil life
<br />community. but they are a good indicator species. If
<br />none are found in a square foot of soil, [his may indicate
<br />o problem with soil texture. A healthy soil community
<br />has over 10 worms per square foot (Gershuny 1993).
<br />\Vilh this basic understanding of soil acidity, fertility,
<br />compaction. texture, and earthworms, 'one can build
<br />soilthar supports dense and healthy turf.
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<br />Step 3: Grass Selection
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<br />Choose the type of grass that will be' easiest to: .
<br />grow. For a low input lawn, select hardy grass species.
<br />adapted totheregion'sc1imate.Fora lower input lawn.... ,;;;
<br />select: named:: grass varieties to meet your specific
<br />needs. For~~/owest input i.~'Wn. tiy,~e newlo~-inpu~ i.
<br />slow-growing or dwarf grass mixes~ ,..' -
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<br />Which Grass?
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<br />All grasses are nO[ created equal. Most of us realize
<br />that bananas trees cannot be grown in the upper Mid.
<br />west because Lhey are not adapted to the wjnterclimatc
<br />or Iheshort growing seasOn. And yet, many homeowners
<br />try 10 grow bluegrass which is best suited to thc cool,
<br />rainy climate of England, Since hluegrass is a shallow.
<br />rooLeu ~nd fast growing grass, it is prone to dry out vcry
<br />quickly in a hot or dry summer. It makes beLter sense
<br />to choose <.l more deeply-rooted grass (such ns tull
<br />fescue) or one that is adapted to drier conLlilions (such
<br />us huffalograss). Gr<.lss seleclj(Jn :.Jlsll needs Lo rcneCI
<br />winter conditions. Warm se<Json grasses such as I.oysi<.l
<br />go dormant (lurn hrown) in cold weather. They come
<br />(Jul of dormancy when the weatber is above 50dcgrccs,
<br />illlU gnJW besl when tIle temperalure js hel ween ~{} ;:Ind
<br />9) degrees. Cool se'-l~mn grasses sucll as fine It.:scucs
<br />will SI;IY grcl'"11 through the winlCf hut gu Jurlllant in Ihe
<br />~lll]HlICr. They gflJW h<..:~;t in fJ{J-75 degree 1L:lllperU-
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<br />lures, The [lnited Slates has ht't'!! dividL,t! inlll six
<br />majllr grass growillb l,tllll'S ;IS ....1 II IWII in Figure I, .J'liesl.:'
<br />:I.ones help ~lIidl' the SL:kl,ti(ll1 of Ille gr:lss species lwst
<br />adi:lptcd 10 lllc h)I.:,,1 clill\:lh; (Sl;C Tlhlc 2),
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<br />Once a grass species has heen selected. il is impnr-
<br />tant to sc[el'! !he p;lrticular variety that suits the unique
<br />.sile c.::ondilitms and lII<1illtcn;l1lc.::c n.'quircl1lents or the
<br />!:lwn. ^ wide range or cultivars (I.:'ul. il~.'Il.IJ.::?,::.wmn""~~~~11'i\l]l!iIt\U1.~~1:;:;:~W.UIlJ".J:::::::..~
<br />tivatctl v<lrietics) is now avail;lhlL:.
<br />Cullivars have bccn developed for
<br />particular t.:har;H,;Il;ristics such as
<br />Shildc toler;:mce or improved disease
<br />resistance. Rcccnl developments in-
<br />clude slow. growing orcvcn dwarf cultivars and grasses
<br />th:tt require less fertilizer and water. Others havc hcen
<br />dcvcloped with endophylcs, fungi that enable the grass
<br />to resist surface-feeding insects including aphids, cut-
<br />worms, chinch hugs and sod wehwonns. Cultivars are
<br />given names such as AURORA hard fescue or PRAI-
<br />RIE buffalograss, A named cultivar also means lhat the
<br />seed or sod is certified to be true to type. See the Lawn
<br />Care Field guide for a lisl of sources and consult
<br />Cooperative Extension to learn more about locally-
<br />adapted cultivars.
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<br />Selection of grasses
<br />should reflect the condition
<br />of the growing zone.
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<br />ilr.m\l.;1:;.:.\mlnLF.d~JmJUll~~...:.!~U'i.:.1
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<br />_..:c:"<'. 'c, .'.' ..',".,.,'.'.', ,
<br />'sfe~ 4;Mo~inlatlll.Thatch Mariagement
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<br />. ".. ,. ,,",:.,,' ,'" " , . , ~, ,
<br />1\1ow to the rigllthcighf,;ai the ~.dght time1 nnd
<br />"'r~cycIe clipping~,..F'or a [o>>,iinputJa\oYn. I,eave c1ip-
<br />;pings on th~)awn to~prov~d~,nulrients;and moisture.
<br />For a lower input lawn, set mowing height as high as
<br />~:\po~sible~ Fqr: the..lowtf!srinput ]awn,,:~~just mowing
<br />h.eight and' frequency, during the growing season and
<br />,moriitor thatch. levels;
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<br />Figure 1.: Grass zones of the U.S. and examples of suitable grasses
<br />(adopted from Bucks 1.99S and Schultz 1.989)
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<br />PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
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<br />7h~ liy~ IJraB [<HieS olllJlI Ullihuj Slafc.$ ct(.. I. I,~~ ,V()r!lJ~rHf;
<br />2. lilt! Soulll.. 3. !IlIlP!aif1$.: <"\. !II~ :i()uli'lw~sl: and =-. l/1e N,)rf.'oresf
<br />ond Iyplccl l)l"ass sp6ciru suil~d 10 1I>t! dilluetll IOn'H.
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<br />~ Repr6st!tnls 11'It!t ~"7ransll"on .~on~-
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