6.1-6.8 Lawns Flashcards
A high quality utility lawn
grass species
Festuca rubra subsp commutata 80%
Agrostis capillaris 20%
Utility lawn
Lolium perenne 40%
Festuca rubra subsp rubra 30%
Poa pratensis 20%
Agrostis capillaris 10%
Shade tolerant lawn
Festuca rubra subsp rubra 40%
Lolium perenne 30%
Poa trivialis 20%
Poa nemoralis 10%
Benefits and limitations of establishing lawns from seed
Benefits:
Greater choice of grass species
Can be easily stored and transported
Suitable for awkward sites (tree roots or difficult to access)
Less of a carbon footprint (compared to turf)
Cheaper than turf
Limitations:
Can be slow to establish (up to 2-3 years)
Can only be sown in Spring and late Summer/Autumn
Requires more maintenance while it is establishing
Bed must be weed free (turf can help to suppress some weed)
Benefits and limitations of using turf
Benefits:
Immediate visual impact
Immediate utility
Can be more effective over poorer ground
Can be installed throughout the year
Good for slopes or where erosion is a factor
Can turf over weeds (temporary)
Limitations
Deteriorates so cannot be stored
Not as sustainable
Heavy and difficult to manoeuvre
More expensive
Ground preparation for seed or turf laying
Remove weeds - annual by hoeing perennial with systemic weed killer
Cultivation - double digging on new site, single digging or rotary cultivator on large sites
Levelling - with metal rake to break up clods then landscape rate to level
Consolidation - by treading to remove air pockets and create firm seed bed
Fine tilth - by raking
Fertilising - rake in base dressing - bonemeal at 70g/m2 of superphosphate at 120g/m2
Top dressing on turf: 1-2kg/m2 worked in with a besom
Do not walk on turf for a month and water in dry spells
Sowing seed
Early autumn, mid spring. Autumn sowing allows for better root devt
Broadcast at a rate of 30-45g/m2. Divide plot in square metre and broadcast half the seeds in one direction and the remaining seeds in a perpendicular direction.
Rake in and net or cover with hort fleece to protect from birds
Irrigate if conditions are dry
seedlings may be rolled with a light roller when several cm in height
Mow when 5cm in height removing no more than one third of height
Mow regularly keeping grass slightly longer than usual
Turf laying - time, inspection, storage and method
optimum time: autumn spring (other times are possible in suitable conditions)
Select turf specify grass species required
On delivery: inspect for quality (green, healthy, freshly cut), weeds, pests and diseases
Lay as soon as possible (store rolled for two days max) or unrolled in shady area watered for up to two weeks
Method
Lay turves in a brick-like fashion. Work from a board laid on top of the turves
Work top dressing into turf joins to encourage turves to knit together
Maintenance:
Mowing: general principles
Mow when lawn in active growth (may grow in mild winter) and when lawn is dry to prevent tearing
As a general rule remove no more than one third of the height at a time. In dry spelling raise mowing height to reduce water loss from soil
Frequent mowing at the correct height encourages a dense sward which inhibits weed growth
Fine quality lawn - height of 2cm in winter, slightly lower in spring and down to 1cm in
summer
Utility lawn - height of 4cm in winter gradually reduced to just under 3cm in summer
Mow around the outside first and alternate direction
Benefits and limitations of removing clippings
Benefits:
Aesthetically pleasing
Prevents grass yellowing
Removes weed seeds
Discourages worms
Reduces thatch
Discourages fungal diseases
Limitations:
More labour intensive
Removes nutrients from soil
Can remove protective layer that prevents evaporation in dry weather
Annual timetable of maintenance tasks
and timing
Scarifying: March-April & Sept-Oct
Feeding (high nitrogen): March-August
Feeding (balanced): March & Sept-Oct (low nitrogen)
Mowing: March-September
Aerating: April-June & Sept-Oct
Top dressing (after aeration): March-April & Sept-Oct
Weed control: March-April & Sept-Oct
Mole control: Feb-June
Control of fusarium patch: Sept - Nov
Control of pests: July-Sept
Maintenance:
Mowing: general principles
Mow when lawn in active growth (may grow in mild winter) and when lawn is dry to prevent tearing
As a general rule remove no more than one third of the height at a time. In dry spelling raise mowing height to reduce water loss from soil
Frequent mowing at the correct height encourages a dense sward which inhibits weed growth
A fine quality lawn - height of 2cm in winter, slightly lower in spring and down to 1cm in summer
A utility lawn - height of 4cm gradually reduced to just under 3cm in summer
Mow around the outside first and alternate direction
Maintenance - scarification, aeration, top dressing, fertiliser
Scarification - removes thatch - weeds, moss and clippings. Encourages tillers at the base. Use spring tine rake or pedestrian operated mechanised scarifier - usually in 2 directions
Aeration - removal of a plug of soil or making holes to improve drainage and air movement. Use garden fork to a depth of 7.5m at 10-15cm distances or a hand held aerator with hollow tines for small areas and mechanised one for larger
Top dressing - after aeration to encourage tillers. Distributed over turf at 2-4kg/m2 and worked in with besom
Lighter soils 70:30 sand loam
heavier soils 80:20 sand loam
Fertiliser - Pedestrian fertiliser distributors or broadcast by hand on wet soil and watered in to avoid scorching. High N in growth, but not after August. In autumn, balanced feed
Tools for lawn maintenance
Spring bok rake/Sisis auto rotorake: scarifying - removing thatch/ moss and weeds
Hollow tine aerator/mechanised aerator/Sisis pedestrian aerator/garden fork: aeration
Half-moon edger/wooden plank: re-cutting lawn edge
Shears: retaining lawn edge
Rotary sprinklers/pop up sprinklers/hose: irrigation
Pedestrian fertiliser distributors: feeding
Rotary mower: sufficient for utility lawns
Cylinder mower: suited for high quality lawns
Pests
Leather jackets: larvae of cranefly - brownish-grey, tough skin - up to 4cm
Symptoms: patches of dead or dying turf and starlings feeding
Control: damp sacks laid on ground to encourage larvae to surface
Chafer grubs: white fleshy grubs with brown head - larvae of chafer beetle
Symptoms: as for leather jackets
Control: as for leather jackets
Moles:
Symptoms: small heaps of soil. Most damage in winter/spring - control from Feb to June
Cultural Control: reduce earthworm population (only on fine turf) - damp sacks, low pH, remove clippings/leaves
Euphorbia lathyris root exudates repel moles or other mole repellent
Physical: Mole traps so called ‘humane’ - position 10-20cm below surface in a tunnel. Electronic devices also drive animals away
Chemical: professional contractors only
Live creature traps - relocate more than one mile away
