Do it now landscaping.com News: Topdressing will Improve Your Clay Soil

Concepts:
Topdressing, aeration, lawn, grass, wiregrass, soil, core, fertilize, overseeding, fescues, bluegrasses, turf, Johnson grass, seeds, perennials, spread, lawn weed killers.
Summary:
A reader asked John Arbogast, http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/gardening%5C29873.html and he gave him very good answers especially the topdressing procedure... clay soils become concrete-hard in hot, dry weather and thus become difficult for core aerator penetration, water the lawn two or three days prior to aeration.Q: The reader wants to know how he can improve on his soil and grass conditionI got rid of the clover and dandelions with lawn weed killers.However, one corner of the lot is solid Johnson grass, and wiregrass consumes 60 to 70 percent of the rest.I understand that you can't use lawn weed killers in new grass.A: Take soil tests now from the front and back yards, and work to bring the pH (acidity) to the range needed by turf species in this region 6.5 to 6.8.Also, right now, improve the soil quality with core aerification followed by spreading a thin layer of commercially produced topdressing product or a mixture of finely chopped peat moss and fine soil."Topdressing" is the turf term meaning to spread a thin layer of soil mix over a turf area to stimulate thatch decomposition and to smooth the surface.Since clay soils become concrete-hard in hot, dry weather and thus become difficult for core aerator penetration, water the lawn two or three days prior to aeration.1. Leave the aggressive wiregrass and Johnson grass, which are both perennials.Your goal in the next years will be to favor bluegrasses or fescues instead of those perennial invaders.In late summer, core aerate the soil and then overseed with 2 ½ pounds of bluegrass mix or 5 pounds of turf-type tall fescue per 1,000 square feet.Fertilize at the time of seeding with any high phosphorus lawn starter fertilizer, and water faithfully every few days as needed to get good establishment.Six weeks after this overseeding, fall fertilize the lawn with a high nitrogen turf-type fertilizer without week killer.Plan to core aerate and overseed every second late summer to keep bluegrasses and fescues predominant and thick so they will hopefully mask wiregrass and Johnson grass there.Convert your problem lawn and accept a brown lawn from late fall through mid spring by adding an improved common Bermda grass cultivated variety in late spring or early summer of 2006 to spread along with the existing wiregrass.Locate a seed source now becuase improved Bermuda grass is not commonly used in home lawns around here, but don't overseed your lawn until '06.Non-improved common Bermuda grass varieties produce seeds, but they make a very coarse appearing turf.

Topdressing applicator for Eastern Pennsylvania:http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com
For more information and topdressing applicator in your area:http://www.topdressing.biz
For turf professionals:http://www.lawn-care-edu.com

Topdressing.biz News: Linear Aeration, Topdressing of Sportsfields are taking frontseat at the Georgia Parks, in Powder Springs, Georgia

On August 10, 2005 John Bentley,Earth and Turf the developer of many excellent topdressing and linear aeration equipment pieces and the editor of Topdressing.biz attended the field day at Georgia Parks and Rec. in Powder Springs Georgia. John Bentley was hosting the the Linear Aeration seminar. They actually were running the Linear Aerator on a field that has been topdressed with calcined clay. Ron Sattele Jr. from Athletic Turf Management gave an excellent talk on the benefits of Linear Aeration.

http://www.linearaeration.com
http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com
http://www.earthandturf.com
http://www.topdressing.biz

Topdressing.biz News: Linear Aeration, Topdressing of Sportsfields are taking frontseat at the Georgia Parks, in Powder Springs, Georgia

On August 10, 2005 John Bentley,Earth and Turf the developer many excellent topdressing and linear aeration equipment pieces and the editor of Topdressing.biz attended the field day at Georgia Parks and Rec. in Powder Springs Georgia. John Bentley was hosting the the Linear Aeration seminar. They actually were running the Linear Aerator on a field that has been topdressed with calcined clay. Ron Sattele Jr. from Athletic Turf Management gave an excellent talk on the benefits of Linear Aeration.

http://www.linearaeration.com
http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com
http://www.earthandturf.com
http://www.topdressing.biz

Linear Aeration, Topdressing of Sportsfields are taking frontseat at the Georgia Parks, in Powder Springs, Georgia

On August 10, 2005 John Bentley,Earth and Turf the developer many excellent topdressing and linear aeration equipment pieces and the editor of Topdressing.biz attended the field day at Georgia Parks and Rec. in Powder Springs Georgia. John Bentley was hosting the the Linear Aeration seminar. They actually were running the Linear Aerator on a field that has been topdressed with calcined clay. Ron Sattele Jr. from Athletic Turf Management gave an excellent talk on the benefits of Linear Aeration.

http://www.linearaeration.com
http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com
http://www.earthandturf.com
http://www.topdressing.biz

Topdressing.biz News: What is all that fuss about Soil Compactation? Part l

Some of the things you need to observe when using the Natural Lawn Care Procedure called topdressing:
- Traffic; frequency and intensity of use
- Weather conditions
- Season
- Normal Use causes for soil particles to be compacted together, reducing pore space and increasing soil density, especially in Clay soils.
These mechanical and environmental actions can drastically decrease air, water and nutrient intake of the soil. This in turn causes turf roots to struggle to fill their basic needs. As a result, turf quality declines and sports fields provide less cushioning for players which results in increased exposure to sports injuries.
Turf shows less stress tolerance and increased susceptibility to weed, disease and insect problems. Aeration and topdressing are good bets to combat compactation.

http://www.topdressing.biz

for a good topdressing applicator please contact:
http://www.i-cut-large-lawns.com
http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com

Topdressing.biz News: Topdressing to the Rescue - An other Proof that Topdressing can help

Goldsboro News-Argus | Sports: Southern Wayne Country Club renovations near completion

http://www.newsargus.com/sports/archives/2005/07/22/southern_wayne_country_club_renovations_near_completion/index.shtml

Concepts:
topdressing, greens, Hunt, bermuda grass, renovations, Coastal Turf, Heath, competitors, golf, Tifdwarf, crew, facility, grasses, play, tearing.

Summary:
MOUNT OLIVE -- Tree-lined Bermuda grass fairways and small Bermuda greens make Southern Wayne Country Club's picturesque golf course unique.But the 6,200-yard course drew the ire of competitors during the final round of this year's Wayne County Men's Amateur.Southern Wayne golf pro Howard Hunt had heard the complaints many times.He also knew that to remain competitive with in-county courses Walnut Creek and Lane Tree, renovations were desperately needed.Hunt and course superintendent Scott Heath, a native of Mount Olive, discussed tearing up the greens and re-sprigging them with a better Bermuda grass.Coastal Turf brought in its own crew that hand-sprigged the new Champion Tifdwarf Bermuda grass onto the green."We're just trying to offer a better product through the golfing membership at Southern Wayne as well as area golfers who would like to come play," said Hunt."This renovation should allow us to have a really nice facility over the next few years.Verticutting and topdressing are needed to balance the aggressiveness of Tifdwarf, but its mat is the perfect base for overseeded winter grasses.

http://www.topdressing.biz
http://www.i-cut-large-lawns.com
http://www.do-it-now-landscaping.com

Topdressing.biz News: Topdressing to the Rescue - An other Proof that Topdressing can help

Goldsboro News-Argus | Sports: Southern Wayne Country Club renovations near completion

http://www.newsargus.com/sports/archives/2005/07/22/southern_wayne_country_club_renovations_near_completion/index.shtml

Concepts:
topdressing, greens, Hunt, bermuda grass, renovations, Coastal Turf, Heath, competitors, golf, Tifdwarf, crew, facility, grasses, play, tearing.

Summary:
MOUNT OLIVE -- Tree-lined Bermuda grass fairways and small Bermuda greens make Southern Wayne Country Club's picturesque golf course unique.But the 6,200-yard course drew the ire of competitors during the final round of this year's Wayne County Men's Amateur.Southern Wayne golf pro Howard Hunt had heard the complaints many times.He also knew that to remain competitive with in-county courses Walnut Creek and Lane Tree, renovations were desperately needed.Hunt and course superintendent Scott Heath, a native of Mount Olive, discussed tearing up the greens and re-sprigging them with a better Bermuda grass.Coastal Turf brought in its own crew that hand-sprigged the new Champion Tifdwarf Bermuda grass onto the green."We're just trying to offer a better product through the golfing membership at Southern Wayne as well as area golfers who would like to come play," said Hunt."This renovation should allow us to have a really nice facility over the next few years.Verticutting and topdressing are needed to balance the aggressiveness of Tifdwarf, but its mat is the perfect base for overseeded winter grasses.

Topdressing.biz News:Want to Learn More about Topdressing

Cybergolf National
http://www.cybergolf.com/state.asp?stateid=79&newsid=3169
Concepts:
golf, championship, golf courses, Kuhns, PGA, Baltusrol, volunteers, club, Golf Architect, game, bentgrass, ropes, Country, GCSAA, Superintendents.
Summary:
Championship venues are nothing new for the 25-year Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) member.His impressive resume includes stints at Ligonier (Pa.) Country Club, Laurel Valley Golf Club, Oakmont Country Club and now Baltusrol.How does the 2005 PGA Championship compare to the 1994 U.S. Open Championship he hosted at Oakmont?Inside the ropes, Kuhns will bring in 90 volunteers to assist his 60-person maintenance staff."The bentgrass/Poa mix (greens, tees, fairways) and the bluegrass (roughs) are cool season grasses that don't take too kindly to the heat and humidity of New Jersey in mid-August," Kuhns said.Kuhns instituted a program of aerating and topdressing greens, which combined with bentgrass overseeding, has converted the greens from a 10 percent bentgrass/90 percent Poa mix in 2000, to a 90-95 percent bentgrass today.Turf also improved due to a tree management program which allowed for better air movement and the sun exposure needed to maintain a healthy stand.Kuhns also re-established the challenge of Baltusrol's rough by sodding the areas from the edge of the fairway to the gallery ropes with a blend of thick Kentucky Bluegrass (80 percent) and ryegrass.Since 1926, GCSAA has been the leading professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide.From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 21,000 individual members in more than 72 countries.GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf.

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