TechNotes Tips - 06.13.02

“Ratty” looking lawns are apparent through the Midwest and northeastern United States. The ragged looking lawns are a result of infrequent mowing. Lawns, that are growing faster than the required frequency of mowing, are resulting in varying degrees of scalping. Continual scalping results in thinning and discoloration to the turf.

In addition to scalping, perennial ryegrass lawns can appear a “grayish” color resulting from mowing with dull mower blades. Perennial ryegrass has relatively tough vascular bundles (contains the xylem and phloem) that if cut with dull mowers results in a shredding of the leaf blade.

With the hot humid weather present in the transition zone and southeastern United States, brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) is a potential problem on tall fescue. In areas where tall fescue is susceptible to this disease, minimize nitrogen applications during warm humid weather. Nitrogen has the potential to make the disease severity worse.