LAWN RENOVATION. With the optimum time for reseeding or seeding lawns in the northern United States quickly approaching, it is good time to remember the golden rule in seeding. Site preparation or renovation should be based on one rule, which is providing good seed/soil contact. Management practices that are done to provide the necessary seed-soil contact will increase the success of the operation.
As a general rule when renovating a lawn 30 percent of the lawn should be exposed. Exposing 30 percent of the lawns soil is a good rule when renovation consists of dethatching. A common failure in dethatching is that not enough of the thatch is removed. Seeding into thatchy areas where soil contact is not achieved will most likely result in failure.
After preparing the site, seed is often applied with a drop spreader or rotary spreader. The site should be lightly rolled to push the seed into contact with the soil. If the site cannot be adequately prepared (or even if it is) applying seed via a slit-seeder is an effective means of getting the necessary seed/soil contact.
DOLLAR SPOT ON KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS. Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa), which is often associated with short cut turf found on golf courses, is appearing on Kentucky bluegrass lawns. The disease appears as circular straw-colored patches. The patches may vary from a few to several inches in diameter. Dollar spot lesions appear as a bleached-out center with a brown border on the outer edges of the lesion. The lesion also causes a restriction in the leaf blade that gives and overall hourglass shape. Applications of fertilizer can help reduce the severity of the disease.
SOIL TEMPERATURES.
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