EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Fall 2011

Video Notes:


Step 1 - Fertilization.  We recommend something with a 1-0-2 ratio. In other words, 1 part nitrogen, 0 parts phosphorus, and 2 parts potassium....like an 8-0-16 for example. Obviously the 1-0-2 ratio is meant as a starting point. A local expert can better give you specific needs for your area. If you have trouble finding a fertilizer with that ratio, a fertilizer with a 1-0-1 ratio will also be acceptable.

Step 2 - Billbug Control Insecticide.  One great thing about EMPIRE Turf is that Chinch Bugs don't like it. Chinch bugs are a huge problem in St. Augustine grass lawns. The main insects you have to watch out for with EMPRIE are billbugs. Hunting bullbugs are small black insects. As an EMPIRE lawn owner, the thing we recommend doing is to go ahead and put down billbug control in the fall and in the spring whether you have had issues with the hunting billbug in the past or not. Make sure it's a broad spectrum insecticide.

Optional Step 3 - Fungicide.  Look out for fungus in your EMPIRE like large patch. This fungus appears in somewhat circular patterns...usually about 2 to 3 feet in diameter. If you have had fungus before or suspect you have a fungus in your lawn currently,  put down a fungicide to helwp the grass enter the cold months healthier. For fungicide, you will likely need multiple applications. Remember to wait 21 days between each application.   

Optional Step 4 - Weed Control.  When the temperatures start dropping, summer weeds will start dying off and winter weeds will start to pop up. In some areas of the country, winter weeds aren't a big problem. If you haven't had problems with them in the past, forgo putting down any herbicide this fall. However, if you know that weeds in the winter time are an issue for you, get a pre-emergent herbicide from your local lawn care store and apply it to the lawn now to stop the winter weeds from popping up.

Step 5 - Mowing.  Mowing in the cooler months is slightly different. Leave the EMPIRE a little bit higher than normal to encourage deeper root growth for the winter. Basically adjust your mower settings to go up one notch.

Step 6 - Watering.  As for watering, as temperatures drop, grasses won't need as much irrigation....so adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Too much watering can lead to fungus and disease outbreaks.  

Remember with all lawn products be it fertilizer, insecticide or herbicide...read the label and follow the proper instructions.

Wine grapes might not suit South Florida's climate...but tropical fruits do.  Schnebly Redland's Winery in Homestead uses an assortment of tropical delicasies to create some unique wines.  EMPIRE Turf Zoysiagrass and Celebration Bermudagrass help complete the tropical look.

From LSU Professor Dr. Ron Strahan - Armyworm alerts and chinch bug outbreaks.  This applies to the entire Southeast.  Read more by clicking below on the LTA Turfgrass Insider.  Follow Dr. Strahan on Twitter at (LSUturf) or on facebook at Ron Strahan.  

 


EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Summer 2011

Video Notes:


Step 1 - Fertilization.  If you didn't fertilize in the Spring, you can apply a fertilizer with a 1-1 ration of nitrogen to potassium...like a 15-0-15.  The middle number is phosphorus and it can usually be zero.  If you did fertilize in the Spring, you can wait till late Summer or early Fall to do so again. 

Step 2 - Irrigation.  Don't overwater in the hot months.  EMPIRE needs about an inch of water per week either from in-ground irrigation or natural rainfall.  Wait for a sign that the grass is in need of watering before irrigating...like blades of the EMPIRE Turf wilting.  Water in the early morning hours for best results.  Too much water can lead to fungus outbreaks, like Large Patch.  

Step 3 - Mowing.  You will likely mow more often in the Summer.  Just make sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing.  Mowing too low can stress the grass and it will turn brown.  If you miss a mowing, it might take multiple mowings to get the grass back to the height you like.  Wait about 3-5 days between each mowing.  

Watch out for Hunting Billbugs.  If you have had them in the past but are free of them at the moment, treat with an insecticide application this fall.

 

EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Spring
Get your EMPIRE Turf zoysia lawn ready for Spring and Summer.  This video will guide you through some simple care instructions for getting your EMPIRE lawn looking its best. 

Video Notes:

Step 1 - MOW LOW.  For the first mowing of the year, scalp the lawn with the mower and bag the clippings.

Step 2 - Apply Fertilizer.  We recommend a 1-0-1 ratio.  (eg...(15-0-15))

Step 3 - Apply Pre-emergent herbicide to prevent summer weeds.  You can buy it already mixed in with fertilizer.

Step 4 - To prevent Billbugs and other insect pests, put down a broad spectrum insecticide containing bifenthrin.  Make sure to water any granular insecticides into the lawn.

Step 5 - EMPIRE Turf needs about 3/4 of an inch of water per week from either natural rainfall or inground irrigation.  Overwatering can lead to fungus outbreaks.  If needed, put down a systemic fungicide with an active ingredient.

 

 

 

EMPIRE Turf - Late Winter Checklist

Video Notes:

As your EMPIRE zoysia starts to green back up after temperatures get warmer, you may notice brown spots or what appear to be dead patches that aren't coming back like the rest of the yard. If this happens, there are two things you need to look out for.

The first is possible billbug damage. These insects can and will infest an untreated empire lawn even through a cold winter. You can tell by lifting up a section of the turf and you should be able to see them. The adult is a small dark colored weevil with a snout. The larve for the billbug will be in the soil and it looks like a white grub worm. If you find either one of these, you want to get on a spraying program. Apply bifenthrin products to the entire lawn....not just the dead area to kill off the adults. Then apply a chemical called midacloprid (mid-ah-cloe-prid) to kill off the larve. Even if your empire hasn't greened up yet, its ok to apply those insecticides. Billbugs can be a year round threat and you want to stay on top of things or they can do some real damage. Check out more photos at sodsolutions.com/insects.

If you don't find any billbugs in your dead area, you might have a lawn fungus called large patch fungus. You can recognize this disease by thin grass leaves that appear bleached out....and the area between healthy grass and the fungus might appear an orange-bronze color.

If you have large patch, you will want to spray with peroxide based materials like Oxidate. Then a few days later, come in with a systemic fungicide that is labeled for large patch. Oxidate cleans the lawn up...basically gets rid of the fungus, and then the systemic fungicide provides for future prevention. If you can't find over the counter peroxide based materials, call a lawncare company and they will have access to them and can apply it for you.

EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Fall 2010

Video Notes:


Step 1 - Fertilization.  We recommend something with a 1-0-2 ratio. In other words, 1 part nitrogen, 0 parts phosphorus, and 2 parts potassium....like an 8-0-16 for example. Obviously the 1-0-2 ratio is meant as a starting point. A soil sample can better give you specific needs for your area. If you have trouble finding a fertilizer with that ratio, a fertilizer with a 1-0-1 ratio will also be acceptable.

Step 2 - Fungicide.  Fungus outbreaks have been particularly bad this year in the southeastern United States....Particularly large patch. This fungus appears in somewhat circular patterns...usually about 2 to 3 feet in diameter. If you have had fungus or not, everyone should put down a fungicide to help the grass enter the cold months healthier. For fungicide, you will likely need multiple applications. If you haven't had fungus problems like large patch in the past, then two applications will do just fine. If you have had fungus issues in your EMPIRE, 3 applications will be more appropriate. Remember to wait 21 days between each application.   

Step 3 - Billbug Control Insecticide.  One great thing about EMPIRE Turf is that Chinch Bugs don't like it. Chinch bugs are a huge problem in St. Augustine grass lawns. The main insects you have to watch out for with EMPRIE are billbugs. Hunting bullbugs are small black insects ....here is an example. As an EMPIRE lawn owner, the thing we recommend doing is to go ahead and put down billbug control in the fall and in the spring whether you have had issues with the hunting billbug in the past or not. Make sure it's a broad spectrum insecticide.

Step 4 - (Optional) - Weed Control.  When the temperatures start dropping, summer weeds will start dying off and winter weeds will start to pop up. In some areas of the country, winter weeds aren't a big problem. If you haven't had problems with them in the past, forgo putting down any herbicide this fall. However, if you know that weeds in the winter time are an issue for you, get a pre-emergent herbicide from your local lawn care store and apply it to the lawn now to stop the winter weeds from popping up.

Step 5 - Mowing.  Mowing in the cooler months is slightly different. Leave the EMPIRE a little bit higher than normal to encourage deeper root growth for the winter. Basically adjust your mower settings to go up one notch.

Step 6 - Watering.  As for watering, as temperatures drop, grasses won't need as much irrigation....so adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Too much watering can lead to fungus and disease outbreaks.  

Remember with all lawn products be it fertilizer, insecticide or herbicide...read the label and follow the proper instructions.

Fall Armyworms are everywhere!  You can almost see them "marching" through the grass.  Alerts are going out from all the agricultural colleges in the southern US.  Here is a document from LSU Professor Ron Strahan.

 

Armyworms in Turfgrass

Identify what's bugging you in this 5 minute, insect description video.

EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Summer 2010

Video Notes:


Step 1 - Fertilization.  If you didn't fertilize in the Spring, you can apply a fertilizer with a 1-1 ration of nitrogen to potassium...like a 15-0-15.  The middle number is phosphorus and it can usually be zero.  If you did fertilize in the Spring, you can wait till late Summer or early Fall to do so again. 

Step 2 - Irrigation.  Don't overwater in the hot months.  EMPIRE needs about an inch of water per week either from in-ground irrigation or natural rainfall.  Wait for a sign that the grass is in need of watering before irrigating...like blades of the EMPIRE Turf wilting.  Water in the early morning hours for best results.  Too much water can lead to fungus outbreaks, like Large Patch.  

Step 3 - Mowing.  You will likely mow more often in the Summer.  Just make sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing.  Mowing too low can stress the grass and it will turn brown.  If you miss a mowing, it might take multiple mowings to get the grass back to the height you like.  Wait about 3-5 days between each mowing.  

Watch out for Hunting Billbugs.  If you have had them in the past but are free of them at the moment, treat with an insecticide application this fall.