Turf Talk

9 Comments

1. 1 Nathan Potter 07 Sep
   the Southwest is not ideal for lawns, it is most ideal for Xeroscaping. Which is better for the environment, cheaper on your wallet and will, if you select plants carefully, look far better than most lawns.
2. 2 Williman Salpf 07 Sep
   I live in extreme South Texas. My lawn is looking like it is dying with brown roots, green top and I don't know if I watered it too much, or not enough. We do have extreme heat even now entering into early October and the dirt is poor and probably saline.
3. 3 Grass Greenhorn 14 Aug
   Dear Grass Expert, I recently bought a new house with some type of St. Aug. lawn. This spring I had weeds that I wanted to treat with a concentrated weed killer. Every weed killer I tried to purchase said "DO NOT USE ON FLORATAM". The previous homeowner told me that the grass is either Floratam or Del Mar St. Aug. My question is, How can i tell what type of St. Aug. I have?
4. 4 Grass Greenhorn 14 Aug
   Dear Grass Expert, I recently bought a new house with some type of St. Aug. lawn. This spring I had weeds that I wanted to treat with a concentrated weed killer. Every weed killer I tried to purchase said "DO NOT USE ON FLORATAM". The previous homeowner told me that the grass is either Floratam or Del Mar St. Aug. My question is, How can i tell what type of St. Aug. I have?
5. 5 Diggin' In The Dirt 27 Jul
   Not that we have had to mow our lawns too often.....but when we do -- in this drought -- it is best to mow your lawn about  4 hours after you have watered it. Also improper mowing height is one of the chief mistakes many folks in South Texas make. Mowing grass too short can cause both a thin turf, that is not only unsightly, but allows the sun to reach the soil and dry out your grass, and makes for a shallow weak, rooting system. Stressing your lawn by mowing it too short lowers the grasses natural resistance to both drought and disease, and makes it easier for weeds to find bare soil to become established.
6. 6 Datherine 04 Jul
   Knocked my socks off with kwonlegde!
7. 7 claudette 13 Jun
    Has anyone seen any chinch bugs yet? These pests are foliar-feeding insects,sucking out the plant juices, leaving yellowish to to brownish patches in the turf. They are usualy found in areas along sidewalks, adjacent to buildings, and in other water stressed areas where the grass is in full sun. be careful not to mistake there damage for drought.
8. 8 Katie Middleton 20 May

   When we're getting some rain, like maybe some this weekend, and the grass is growing we set our lawnmover blades high so the roots can go deeper. Then when it gets parched and stops growing that's when we should cut it low. Do you know when should I be setting my blades lower?

   @KatieMiddleton: The rule of thumb for mowing home lawns is to remove 1/3 of the leaf height with each mowing. When St. Augustine reaches 3”, mow it to 2” tall. During drought periods or during periods when watering is restricted allow the leaf blades to exceed 3”. This helps retain moisture and encourages a deeper root structure. - C. Rogers, Turf Expert for Milberger's Nursery

   CLICK HERE to see the Year Round Lawncare Tips

9. 9 Dude in the Dirt 17 May
   Hey, I saw this cool and low-tech way to be sure you are watering your lawn enough. But not too much. You put an empty tuna can out there where your sprinkled gets it. When the can is full that's enough water.