Turf Topics
Turf News, Views and Tips
Alert: Snowbush Spanworm
Summer 2008, by Rick Orr
Snowbush Spanworm
Snowbush is a popular landscape plant used in a variety of landscapes in Pinellas County. Its fast growth and multi-color appearance make it desirable as a hedge or screen.
Until recently this plant has had few if any problems. Currently the plant is under pressure from the Snowbush Spanworm (aka inchworm). This small caterpillar feeds on the plant and will completely defoliate the plant.
Weak under Trees
Summer 2008, by Rick Orr
Weak Turf under Oak
Trees, especially the Oaks, have surface roots that can form a thick twisted interwoven mat several inches deep. This is great for the tree: the tree can explore and mine nutrients and minerals from just about every nook and corner of a yard. This is bad for the turf: The thick mat of roots form a barrier to grass roots and the soil below and a physical barrier to water and nutrients.
It is like growing grass on a sheet of plywood.
Creating a Path
Summer 2008, by Rick Orr
Worn PathSt Augustine grass is the least tolerant of traffic. A well worn footpath is easy to make in St Augustine grass with a few trips back and forth between two points. A nervous dog pacing back and forth can create a crisscross network of paths in just a few days. It is a known issue. St Augustine grass does not make a good sports turf - The Bucs play on Bermuda grass - a very tough durable grass.
Lawn Moths/Sod Webworms
Summer 2008, by Rick Orr
Lawn MothIn our area, during summer months it is not uncommon to see the little white moths darting about a foot or two above the turf – especially in the shady areas and at night. Theses lawn moths do NO damage to your lawn – yes they are a nuisance but they absolutely do no damage to the lawn.
But that is only half of the story.
5 Elements for Healthy Turf
Summer 2008, by Rick Orr
Healthy LawnThe basic needs of a turf grass community are food, water, light, air and safety. A turf grass community that is provided for in these ways, has very little stress and thrives. A thriving lawn is one that chokes out weeds, withstands drought and recovers quickly from trauma.
This is a simplistic view as the subject of "food" requires a deep knowledge of soil chemistry and physics as well as mastery of physical and biological chemistry. But physics and chemistry is for me to know and understand and to use as a means of provide the lawn spraying service. Yet it serves us both well if you know these four elements and understand how these four elements are provided for by lawn spraying.
Electronic Document Information Service Of University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Science
