Prestige, A Buffalograss Worth Looking At

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Cliff

picture of Prestige buffalograss

Finally, a buffalograss that looks great in your front lawn; Prestige…

Developed by the University of Nebraska, Prestige is a low maintenance grass and well suited for Texas. In addition to our dry spells, Prestige is able to perform well in humid climates.

Prestige maintains a bright green color with only 1/4 inch of water per week. The soft fine leaf blades form a thick turf with a very low pollen rating. Growing to 4 to 6 inches tall, Prestige spreads quickly and repairs itself. With a deep root system extending 6 to 8 feet, it is very aggressive to prevent weed growth and has high resistance to disease.

Prestige has high resistance to disease and shows resistance to chinch bugs. This amazing buffalograss is an excellent choice for lawns, street islands, commercial areas and parks.

LEED points are available when using Prestige on certified Green Building projects. The low maintenance requirements make it a great choice for Green Roofs.

Buffalograss is the only turfgrass native to the United States.

Characteristics
Use: Residential and Commercial
Hot Weather Tolerance: Good
Density: Good
Shade Tolerance: Low
Wear Resistance: Medium, Better than other Buffalograsses
Recovery From Injury: Good
Winter Color: Dormant Golden Color
Mowing Height: 2″ Medium
Disease, Weed & Insect Resistance: A well-maintained lawn will provide the best resistance against weeds, disease and insects. Prestige has shown resistance to chinch bugs.

General Care
Soil and Fertilizer Needs: Recommended annual fertilization rate is 1-2 lbs. of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft per growing season.  Application schedule is one-half to one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in late May to mid June, and again in late July.

Watering: Buffalograss can survive without irrigation but will become dormant without it. Apply a minimum of 1 to 2” of water as a deep soaking every 2 to 4 weeks and more frequently during hot or dry periods.  Avoid frequent, shallow watering after sod is established, as this may promote weed infestation.

Mowing: For a well irrigated lawn, mow once a week during the growing season at a mowing height of 2-3” for a high quality lawn, mow too low and weeds are likely to gain a foothold.

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Warm Weather And Wind Brings The Need For Regular Watering

Posted on May 08, 2012 by Cliff

picture of bowl on lawn, to measure water from sprinkler

How many of you got a shower last night or in the past week? I’m talking some rain, not a ‘behind the ears’.

Even though we’ve had a spring with adequate rain fall, the weather is shifting to warm, windy days. That spells trouble for your lawn if you’re not watering on a scheduled basis. Especially if you have a new lawn…

If your lawn is established, it needs at least 1” of water each week. More if the temperature or wind conditions are extreme.

The exact amount of water needed will also be effected by your soil type, variety of grass, weather and the desired appearance of your lawn.

Water once a week, providing for a deep soaking for your entire lawn.

Water early in the morning, around 7:00 am. Avoid watering late in the afternoon, especially with St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses. Watering too late in the day can cause fungus to grow through the night.

For conservation, do not water on rainy days or when rain has accumulated the amount needed for that week.

Be sure you cover the entire lawn evenly. Place containers in various areas to measure the amount of water delivered. Move the containers to different locations to complete your survey and insure even coverage.

If you have a new lawn, read our blog from April 3, 2012, ‘How To Help Your New Lawn Become Established’.

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Zeon Zoysia – If It Was Good Enough For The Rangers…

Posted on May 01, 2012 by Cliff

picture of the Ballpark in Arlington Texas

The above picture shows Zeon Zoysia in the infield of the Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Remember those bunts that would get caught up in the thick grass and allow for a base hit? You can thank Zoysia and the great grounds crew at the Ballpark for those.

Zeon is a deep green and very lush variety of zoysiagrass.  It is a fine textured zoysiagrass and is compatible with a wide range of soil conditions.  It can handle full sun or light to medium shade.  It has good drought tolerance and very few insect or disease problems.

Characteristics
• Use: Residential and Commercial
• Hot Weather Tolerance: Good
• Shade Tolerance: Good – requires 3-4 hours of filtered sun per day
• Wear Resistance: Excellent
• Salt Tolerance: Good
• Recovery From Injury: Excellent
• Winter Color: Dormant
• Mowing Height: 2″ Medium
• Disease, Weed & Insect Resistance: A well-maintained lawn will provide the best resistance against weeds, disease and insects. Zeon possess a very dense root system that helps prevent weed problems.

General Care
• Soil and Fertilizer Needs: Recommended annual fertilization rate is 1-2 lbs. of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.  Use split applications with 1 lb of Nitrogen in the spring to encourage new growth and 1 lb of Nitrogen in mid-to-late summer to promote healthy growth into the fall and winter. Recommended weed killers are MSMA and 2-4D.

• Watering: Apply 1” of water as a deep soaking every 4-7 days during hot or dry periods.  Avoid frequent, shallow watering after sod is established.

• Mowing: Needs to be mowed every 5 to 7 days during the growing season at a mowing height of 2-3” for a high quality lawn, mow too low and weeds are likely to gain a foothold.

• Fungicides: Tolerant to Chipco 26019, Banner, Prostar, Lynx, and Eagle.  Fall applications of Banner, Daconil or Bayleton to prevent rust to zoysia lawns.

We grow, deliver and install JaMur Zoysia to many locations and applications. To learn more about this ‘excellent for Texas grass’ or to get a quote, give us a call at 888-221-0422.

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JaMur Zoysia – The ‘Go To’ Grass for Texas

Posted on Apr 24, 2012 by Cliff

JaMur Zoysia, close up, grass, perfect grass for Texas

If you could pick only one turfgrass for every home lawn and commercial landscape need, JaMur Zoysia is the one. JaMur Zoysia is also an excellent choice for many sports field applications.

JaMur’s medium to coarse textured was developed for use in high traffic, high visibility applications. Similar in appearance to a dwarf variety of St. Augustine, JaMur can be used in the same areas and integrates well with existing grass.

Characteristics of JaMur Zoysia
• Use: Residential, Commercial and Industrial
• Hot Weather Tolerance: Good
• Shade Tolerance: Good – Requires at least 3 hours of filtered sun per day
• Wear Resistance: Excellent
• Salt Tolerance: Good
• Recovery From Injury: Excellent
• Winter Color: Dormant
• Mowing Height: 2” Medium
• Disease, Weed & Insect Resistance: A well-maintained lawn will provide the best weed control
but JaMur responds exceptionally well to Iron if problems do arise

General Care
• Soil and Fertilizer Needs: Recommended annual fertilization rate is 1-2 lbs. of Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. Use split applications with 1 lb of Nitrogen in the spring to encourage new growth and 1 lb of Nitrogen in mid-to-late summer to promote healthy growth into the fall and winter

• Watering: Apply 1” of water as a deep soaking every 4-7 days during hot or dry periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering after sod is established.

• Mowing: Needs to be mowed every 5 to 7 days during the growing season at a mowing height of 2-3” for a high quality lawn, mow too low and weeds are likely to gain a foothold.

• Fungicides: Tolerant to Iron applications, Chipco 26019, Banner, Prostar, Lynx and Eagle. Fall applications of Banner, Daconil or Bayleton to prevent rust to zoysia lawns.

We grow, deliver and install JaMur Zoysia to many locations and applications. To learn more about this ‘excellent for Texas grass’ or to get a quote, give us a call at 888-221-0422.

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How To Organically Maintain Your New Lawn

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 by Cliff

picture of a bag of organic fertilizer

Organic methods of lawn maintenance are growing in popularity.

We’ll define ‘organic’ as the use of supplements derived from natural, non-synthetic, products.

Organic supplements feed the soil, while synthetic supplements feed the plant (sometimes, at the depletion of the soil).

The theory is ‘healthy soil will produce healthy turf and protect the environment in which it grows’.

Watering – In the practice of feeding the soil vs the plant, the Organic community recommends deep soaking your lawn. Watering only once a week. And, using captured rain water whenever possible.

Deep soaking allows interactivity within the soil environment and encourages deep root growth, which protects turf during times of prolonged drought and times of winter freezing.

Mowing – Always leave the clippings on your lawn. This returns nutrients to the soil.

Fertilizing – Feeding your lawn through organic fertilization takes place almost entirely through the root system.

As fertilization needs will vary, soil testing is still necessary to insure that you add the proper balance of nutrients and organic materials.

Organic fertilizers vary in their content and purpose so it’s important to read all labels throughly and use only as recommended.

One thing in common with most organic fertilizers is that, by feeding the soil and increasing microbial activity, there is less danger of burning your turf or surrounding plants.

In addition to fertilizer, the application of Dried Molasses stimulates microbial activity with its high sugar and carbon content, and can be applied at the same time.

Weed Control – When weeds appear, the use of a strong vinegar mixture, usually around 10% to 20%, applied directly to the leaf of the weed will kill the exposed foliage.

Be careful to apply this product only to the individual plants you want effected. This mixture will damage everything it contacts.

Pre-emergent herbicide is an additional approach to organically controlling weed infestation.

For application in the Spring and Fall, Corn Gluten Meal has been tested to control many weeds by damaging their roots during this critical time of their development. In addition to its slowly released nitrogen content, it adds organic matter and increases microbial activity.

Another supplement frequently referred to in the organic approach is Organic Compost.

While organic compost can be produced from a variety of materials. In increasing the organic matter, the goal is to add nourishment for a healthy root system and improve the soils ability to hold moisture.

Other organic supplements can be used for a variety of

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How To Maintain Your New Lawn

Posted on Apr 10, 2012 by Cliff

lawn mower on grass, maintaining yard, mowing, fertilizer, watering, weed control

Once your new lawn has become established and the roots are growing into the soil, it’s time to start a maintenance program to keep it beautiful and healthy for years to come.

There are 4 major parts to ongoing maintenance:

1. Watering
2. Mowing
3. Fertilization
4. Weed control

Watering – During the growing season, your lawn needs 1 to 2” of water each week. Water early in the morning and multiple times during the week to equal the 1 to 2”.

The exact amount of water needed will be effected by your soil type, variety of grass, weather conditions and the desired appearance of your lawn.

Avoid watering late in the afternoon, especially with St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses. Watering too late in the day can cause fungus to grow through the night.

For conservation, do not water on rainy days or when rain has accumulated the 1 to 2” needed for that week.

Mowing – Mow as needed. Frequent mowing insures a thicker lawn.

Avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the height of your grass in any single mowing. Leaving the clippings on your lawn returns nutrients to the soil.

As the temperature increases, so should the height of your lawn. So raise the cutting height of your mower during the heat of the summer.

For optimum mowing heights, go to www.tritexgrass.com and click on Varieties. Locate the grass variety of your lawn for additional information.

Be sure your mower’s blade is sharp and it is in proper operating condition.

Fertilization – Fertilization needs will vary.

Begin by testing your soil. This is easily done with over the counter soil testing kits or by contacting your local AgraLife Extension Agent and providing a sample of your soil for testing.

As a ‘rule of thumb’, fertilization should take place four times a year, around the following holidays:
Valentine’s Day
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Halloween

Always follow the instructions located on the bag.

Many commercial brands spell-out an annual fertilization program when using their products. When followed, these programs can provide excellent results.

Weed Control – When it comes to weed control, identification of the unwanted growth is imperative.

If you’re not certain of its identity, take a sample of the growth to your local garden center for identification and the proper approach to eradicate your specific problem.

A healthy lawn and pre-emergent program are your best defense against weeds. Over application or misapplication of pre-emergents can be damaging, so follow instructions carefully.

Since warm season grasses go dormant during the winter, lawn maintenance changes during this time of year. Watering and mowing are reduced.

To minimize Winter Kill, during a prolonged dry spell, maintain an adequate amount of moisture in the soil by watering when necessary.

The use of a ‘moisture meter’ can help determine how often and how much water is needed. Take the reading just below the surface of the soil, at the root level.

That’s it! A regular maintenance program is the best way to protect the investment of your new lawn and your home.

In addition to ‘curb appeal’, a health lawn is great protection for the foundation of your home.

Next week, we’ll cover some organic solutions for the maintenance of your lawn.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 888-221-0422, and we’ll be happy to help.

See this ‘How To’ video by clicking the ‘Turf Tips‘ link to the right and see ‘
How To Maintain Your New Lawn‘

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How To Help Your New Lawn Become Established

Posted on Apr 03, 2012 by Cliff

sprinkler on lawn

Now that you have install your new sod, what you do in the next few weeks will be critical to the establishment of a healthy lawn for years to come.

If your sod came from Tri-Tex Grass, it’s already nutrient rich so all you need to add is water.

When it comes to watering, the biggest question is usually ‘how often, and how much’.

For the first 10 days, water your lawn three times a day for 10 minutes each time.

As water pressure varies, 10 minutes may not be the most efficient for your lawn. The goal is to insure that the water soaks through to the bottom of the block with each watering.

Water early in the morning, around 7:00 am, again at 12 noon, and finally around 4:00 pm. Avoid watering late in the afternoon, especially with St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses. Watering too late in the day can cause fungus to grow through the night.

For conservation, do not water on rainy days.

Be sure you cover the entire lawn evenly. Place containers in various areas to measure the amount of water delivered. Move the containers to different locations to complete your survey and insure even coverage.

After 10 days, your turf should be rooting into the existing soil. To check this, slightly tug on the turf; if the block separates from the soil below, continue the ‘3 times a day’ watering regiment.

Avoid mowing until the sod has rooted into your existing soil.

Once your new turf is rooted into the soil, cut back your ‘3 times a day’ watering to ‘once, every other day’, in the early morning, and increase the amount of time your sprinklers run to deliver 1 inch of water per week.

In our next chapter, we’ll cover the long term maintenance of your lawn.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 888-221-0422, and we’ll be happy to help.

See this ‘How To’ video on our YouTube channel: 
How To Establish Your New Lawn

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How To Lay Blocks Of Sod

Posted on Mar 27, 2012 by Cliff

picture of blocks of sod on lawn

While installing blocks of sod is pretty straight forward, certain steps should be taken to insure the best looking finished product and the fastest grow in.

Once your soil is cleared and ready for sod installation, moisten the ground before laying the first piece of sod. Don’t overwater or make it muddy. Apply just enough water to dampen the area.

Start laying your blocks in one corner and work your way along an edge and then into the lawn.

Place the blocks as close to each other as possible, making sure they touch firmly but don’t overlap or ‘pucker’ up, allowing an air gap to form.

Do not allow any air bubbles to be left between the soil and the block of sod.

The root structure should always come in solid contact with the soil below.

There may be curves or irregular angles in the shape of your lawn. As you come to these areas, overlap the blocks of sod to insure entire coverage. Then cut away the overlapped section of grass, maintaining close contact of the blocks.

If you have an irrigation system, sprinkler heads should be marked with flags and care taken as to not damage the heads while installing your new sod.

To install around each sprinkler head, place the block of sod directly over the head and, with a sharp knife, cut away just enough sod to allow the entire head to be revealed.

Replace the flag next to the sprinkler head to show its location, and inspect its ability to operate properly once the installation is completed.

Depending on the overall size of your installation, it may be necessary to water areas of the lawn before completion.

Once all blocks are in place, apply a light watering, then go over the entire lawn with a roller to insure proper contact with the soil.

Be careful not to harm any sprinkler heads or other landscaping.

Finally, water the entire lawn, allowing for a deep soaking, and inspect each sprinkler head for proper operation and complete coverage of your new sod.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 888-221-0422, and we’ll be happy to help.

See this ‘How To’ video on our YouTube channel: 
How To Lay Blocks Of Sod

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How To Prepare Your Soil For New Sod

Posted on Mar 20, 2012 by Cliff

a picture of a walk behind grass harvester

Now that you have chosen the best grass variety for your lawn, it’s time to prep the soil.

There are four easy steps to follow when preparing your soil for new sod:

First – If you have an irrigation system, mark all sprinkler heads with flags and take care not to damage them while removing any existing grass or debris.

Second – Remove any existing grass, weeds and other debris, including rocks, twigs or branches from the area.

You can do this in a number of ways.

Spraying a general purpose herbicide or 20% vinegar on existing grass and weeds will effectively kill the vegetation in a matter of days. Always wear the proper protective clothing and follow the instructions on the label.

Using a sod cutter, which can be rented, is an effective way of removing the vegetation and some of the root system by removing a small layer of the surface soil.

Once any existing grass has been removed, this is the time to go over the area with a rake to gather and then pickup any rocks, trigs or other debris.

Third – Adding additional fill or organic material, such as peat moss or manure, sand or top soil, should be done as needed.

While it may not be required in every situation, this material could help promote root growth, once the sod is laid.

Forth – Moisten the ground before laying the first piece of sod. Don’t overwater or make it muddy. Apply just enough water to dampen the soil.

Additional watering may be desired as you begin laying your sod.

Things you may need:
- Sod Cutter
- Tiller
- Organic matter or top soil
- Various tools including rakes, shovel, garden hose, etc.

See this ‘How To’ video on our YouTube channel: 
How To Prepare Your Soil For New Sod

Next week we’ll get you covered with How To Install Blocks Of Sod. There is a right way and a wrong way and we will take you step by step through the right way.

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How To Choose The Right Grass For Your Lawn

Posted on Mar 13, 2012 by Cliff
picture of JaMur Zoysia on front lawn

JaMur Zoysia is a great choice for a Texas lawn.

When choosing what grass to put in your lawn, there are three major factors to consider:
1. The amount of Sun available
2. Irrigation
3. The amount and type of traffic on the lawn

While the variety of existing grass, the severity of your Winters, and budget may also be factors, this chapter will focus on those previously mentioned.

1. Sun – Any grass variety will grow well in full sun. Your choices become more limited when dealing with shaded areas.

To maintain establishment of a full / healthy lawn year in and year out, a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of sun is needed daily.

Anything less than that, you might want to consider thinning out the limbs on your trees. Even dapple shade is a deterrent to healthy growth.

Consider that a large diameter tree or bush, with a low canopy, like that of a Bradford Pear, will greatly hinder lawn growth under it.

And areas with limited sun exposure, like those between homes with the presence of a 6’ stockade fence make it almost impossible for any variety of grass to become established.

2. Irrigation – Whether you have an irrigation system or you use a movable sprinkler, watering is a very important consideration.

When it comes to the lawn, most states have experienced some form of water limitation, from watering on odd or even days, depending on your address, to not watering at all. And some communities have even limited the grass varieties you can choose because of their water requirements.

It’s safe to assume that water rationing will become an even greater consideration in the future, so choosing a grass variety that requires less water, like the Zoysia varieties, is a very good option.

3. Traffic – Most residential applications don’t have enough traffic to create a great concern. However, heavy pet, pedestrian or even vehicular traffic can influence the grass variety best suited for your lawn.

A regularly traveled pathway may need the installation of a walkway or stepping stones to insure healthy growth.

So, we’ve touched on the need for you to consider the amount of sun, irrigation and traffic when choosing the best sod for your lawn.

To see how different grass varieties compare when it comes to these subjects; go to www.tritexgrass.com and click on ‘varieties’.

Or just give us a call at 888-221-0422, and we’ll be happy to help.

See this ‘How To’ video on our YouTube channel: 
How To Choose The Right Grass For Your Lawn

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