Most turfgrasses in Oklahoma can survive with no watering in the spring or fall, except in extended drought periods. During the summer months, enough water should be applied to wet the soil to a 6-inch depth (approximately 1 to 2 inches per week). If water begins to puddle or runoff, turn the system off and allow water to soak into the soil.
What are the steps for lawn treatment?
- Get Rid of Weeds. A few weeds in your lawn are inevitable. ...
- Dethatch. Thatch is the matted accumulation of organic debris that collects between grass blades and roots. ...
- Aerate. Inspect your lawn to see if aeration is needed. ...
- Reseed and Overseed. ...
- Mow. ...
- Water and Fertilize. ...
- Mulch and Clean. ...
- Call a Pro.
When should I scalp my yard in Oklahoma?
What is the best fertilizer for grass in Oklahoma?
When can you spray your lawn in Oklahoma?
How do I fix my scalped lawn?
Should you scalp your lawn in the spring?
When Should I aerate my lawn in Oklahoma?
To start, it's best to aerate so when the grass is growing. Springtime is the essential growing season because winter is over and the grass is sprouting. The grass is able to open up and fill in the soil plugs with nutrients.
How often should you fertilize your lawn in Oklahoma?
How do you fertilize Bermuda grass in Oklahoma?
When Should I spray my lawn for weeds?
How do I spray my lawn for weeds?
- Spot-treat the weeds with a small, trigger-controlled, pump-up pressure sprayer.
- Use a broadleaf weed killer herbicide.
How do I Dethatch my lawn?
What is turfgrass management in Oklahoma?
Turfgrass Management in Oklahoma. Turfgrass serves a vital role in the landscape. It reduces wind and water erosion, provides a place for outdoor recreation and increases the value of residential property. Maintaining a healthy turfgrass yard requires planning and proper upkeep.
Why is turfgrass important?
Turfgrass serves a vital role in the landscape. It reduces wind and water erosion, provides a place for outdoor recreation and increases the value of residential property. Maintaining a healthy turfgrass yard requires planning and proper upkeep.
How does turfgrass help a yard?
It reduces wind and water erosion, provides a place for outdoor recreation and increases the value of residential property. Maintaining a healthy turfgrass yard requires planning and proper upkeep.
How does grass work?
Grass acts as a natural mulch, retaining soil moisture and shading out weeds. Mow as needed to remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf material per mowing to prevent scalping. Instead of bagging grass clippings, use a mulching lawn mower or spread the clippings around the yard.
What is the process of taking small plugs out of the ground or forcing tines into the soil to reduce soil comp
Aerating is the process of taking small plugs out of the ground or forcing tines into the soil to reduce soil compaction. In high traffic areas, soil can become compact which prevents air flow, water infiltration, and nutrient intake.
How does aeration help turfgrass?
Aeration will benefit turfgrass by increasing the effectiveness of irrigation and fertilization. Different types of aerating machines can be rented or purchased from local stores.
What is dead thatch?
Thatch is dead, un-decomposed roots and stems that is caused when plant tissue production exceeds decomposition. Excessive thatch layers can reduce water, air and nutrient movement into the root-zone of the soil. This can lead to shallow root development.
What grasses are in Oklahoma?
Sunturf, Tifgreen, and Tifway. U-3. Buffalograss ( Buchloe dactyloides) St. Augustinegrass ( Stenotaphrum scundatum) Zoysiagrass ( Zoy sia spp.) Turfgrasses for Shaded or Irrigated Sites. The geographic location of Oklahoma permits turfgrass species popular in the north, south, east, and west environments of the United States to be grown somewhere ...
Is turfgrass grown in Oklahoma?
Turfgrasses for Shaded or Irrigated Sites. The geographic location of Oklahoma permits turfgrass species popular in the north, south, east, and west environments of the United States to be grown somewhere in the state. However, high temperatures and limited rainfall during the summer limit the success of the cool-season turfgrass species ...
What is the best grass for a lawn in Oklahoma?
Buffalograss is the best choice for unirrigated lawns and general turf areas of western Oklahoma. It produces numerous seed heads which may distract from the general appearance of the turf. Buffalograss can be established from processed and treated seed or from sod.
Which cultivars are best for lawns?
The coarser-textured, lower density, common-type cultivars are better suited for home lawns because they require lower amounts of maintenance (fertilizing, mowing, and dethatching). Cultivars of this type that can be established vegetatively or with seed are Arizona common, U-3, and Guymon.
What is Arizona common bermuda grass?
Arizona common is a medium textured, seed propagated bermudagrass that rapidly produces a turf of medium density and quality. Ease of establishment by seed and relatively low maintenance requirements are its desirable features. Winter kill during the first winter of establishment is a serious liability. Therefore, seed this cultivar on or before May 1 in order to allow time for it to prepare itself for winter. Sod of common bermudagrass is also available. It produces a turf area with medium density and texture, with sufficient winter hardiness when vegetatively propagated two to three months prior to the first fall frost.
When was Guymon Bermudagrass created?
Guymon bermudagrass, a medium coarse-textured, winter-hardy, seed-propagated cultivar, was developed for soil stabilization and turf. It was released by OSU in 1982 . This cultivar can be seeded as late as July 15 without drastically affecting its winter survival during the first winter of its establishment.
What is buffalo grass?
Buffalograss ( Buchloe dactyloides ) Buffalograss is a warm-season, sod-forming, native prairie grass that spread s by stol ons. It has a fine texture and a grayish-green color. It has excellent tolerance for the heat, drought, and cold conditions found in Oklahoma.
Can ryegrass be planted in shade?
Occasionally, cool-season turfgrass species, such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are planted on shaded sites because the warm-season turfgrasses cannot tolerate shade. These grasses also can be utilized in the full sun, but only when a convenient means of irrigation is available.
How to calculate lawn area?
One method of calculating your lawn area is to divide it into smaller sections (rectangles, triangles, circles, etc.), calculate the area of each smaller section, and then add up the area of the smaller sections to obtain the total lawn area.
Why is it important to loosen soil?
Loosening the soil surface by cultivation is critical for alleviating compacted, hard, tight soils; for incorporating fertilizer and soil amendment materials throughout the entire root-zone soil; and for creating a proper soil, air, and water relationship in the seedbed for optimum turfgrass establishment.
How to calculate the area of a lawn?
This is important in purchasing the appropriate quantities of fertilizer, seed, sod, and other materials used in establishing and maintaining your lawn. One method of calculating your lawn area is to divide it into smaller sections (rectangles, triangles, circles, etc.), calculate the area of each smaller section, and then add up the area of the smaller sections to obtain the total lawn area. A second method involves determining the area of your lot and then subtracting the area for spaces devoted to non-lawn use, such as the house, driveway, and ornamental beds.
How to improve clay soil?
Tight clay soils can be improved by incorporating either topsoil or sand to increase soil aeration and water drainage. At least 4 to 6 inches of a loamy topsoil or coarse sand must be uniformly incorporated into the upper 2 to 4 inches of underlying soil to achieve soil improvement.
Why mulch seedbed after broadcast?
Mulching the seedbed following seeding helps to ensure favorable temperature and moisture conditions for rapid seed germination and seedling growth.
Can ryegrass be planted in shade?
Occasionally, cool-season turfgrass species, such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are planted on shaded sites because the warm-season turfgrasses cannot tolerate shade. These grasses also can be utilized in the full sun, but only when a convenient means of irrigation is available.
How to control weeds in turfgrass?
Thus, the most important step in controlling weeds in turfgrass is a management program that produces a dense, vigorous, healthy turf . This can only be accomplished by growing a turfgrass variety adapted to your conditions and by properly mowing, watering, and fertilizing.
What is dallis grass?
Dallisgrass is a perennial grassy weed and yellow nutsedge (nutgrass) is a perennial grass-like weed. Control Dallisgrass in established bermudagrass, buffalograss, and Kentucky bluegrass by applications of organic arsenicals (AMA, DSMA, MSMA, etc.) in May and June.
What is the most common pest in turfgrass?
Weeds are the most common pest in turfgrass areas. They destroy the appearance of our turf and weaken it by stealing space, nutrients, water, and light. Chemical weed killers (herbicides) are effective tools for controlling weeds in turfgrass, but repeated occurrence of weeds may reflect underlying problems of turfgrasses ...
When do weeds come back?
Annual weeds complete their life cycle in one growing season. They come back each year from seed. There are annual weeds that grow in the summer and produce seeds in the fall, and there are annual weeds that grow in the winter and produce seeds in late spring or early summer.
What are some examples of grassy weeds in the summer?
Examples of commonly found summer annual grassy weeds include crabgrass, foxtails, goosegrass, and sandbur.
When do grassy weeds die?
Summer annual weeds germinate in the spring and typically die with the first hard frost in the fall. Examples of commonly found summer annual grassy weeds include crabgrass, foxtails, goosegrass, and sandbur. Crabgrass and foxtails are consistently controlled in all established turfgrasses by applications of preemergence herbicides by March 15 to April 1. Most summer annual grassy weeds can be safely controlled in established bermudagrass, buffalograss, and Kentucky bluegrass by applications of organic arsenicals (AMA, DSMA, MSMA, etc.) soon after their emergence in May and June.
What are some examples of winter grassy weeds?
Examples of commonly found winter annual grassy weeds include annual bluegrass, cheat, downy brome, little barley, and rescuegrass. Annual bluegrass is consistently controlled in all established turfgrasses by applications of preemergence herbicides by September 15.
Turfgrass Science
OSU Turfgrass Science has been a leader in turfgrass research since the mid-1900's, this site offers educational resources and tools.
Lawns & Turfgrass Topics
Detailed information on how to apply mixed-species grazing practices into your operation to increase profits.
What is the best grass for a lawn in Oklahoma?
Buffalograss is the best choice for unirrigated lawns and general turf areas of western Oklahoma. It produces numerous seed heads which may distract from the general appearance of the turf. Buffalograss can be established from processed and treated seed or from sod.
What is turfgrass suited to?
It also involves the selection of a turfgrass suited to your personal need (s) (a show place, a neighborhood sports field, an average lawn, or cover to protect the soil from erosion), and a turfgrass species suited to any physical or environmental limitations of the planting site such as shade, no supplemental water, or poor soil conditions.
Can turfgrass grow in the summer?
However, high temperatures and limited rainfall during the summer limit the success of the cool-season turfgrass species to shaded areas and sites with irrigation systems . Relatively low temperatures during the winter prohibit the success of many warmseason (grows in the summer, dormant in the winter) turfgrass species.
Which cultivars are best for lawns?
The coarser-textured, lower density, common-type cultivars are better suited for home lawns because they require lower amounts of maintenance (fertilizing, mowing, and dethatching). Cultivars of this type that can be established vegetatively or with seed are Arizona common, U-3, and Guymon.
What is Arizona common grass?
Arizona Common. Arizona common is a medium textured, seed propagated bermudagrass that rapidly produces a turf of medium density and quality. Ease of establishment by seed and relatively low maintenance requirements are its desirable features. Winter kill during the first winter of establishment is a serious liability.
What is buffalo grass?
Buffalograss is a warm-season, sod-forming, native prairie grass that spreads by stolons. It has a fine texture and a grayish-green color. It has excellent tolerance for the heat, drought, and cold conditions found in Oklahoma. Buffalograss is best suited to full-sun sites in areas of Oklahoma receiving 12 to 25 inches of rainfall per year.#N#It grows best on heavy-textured soils and has some tolerance of alkaline soils. Buffalograss is the best choice for unirrigated lawns and general turf areas of western Oklahoma. It produces numerous seed heads which may distract from the general appearance of the turf. Buffalograss can be established from processed and treated seed or from sod. Seed is commercially available for common and Texoka, an improved cultivar.
Is Meyer Zoysiagrass good for lawns?
Zoysiagrass, like the fine-textured bermudagrasses, should only be utilized for lawns when a top-quality and high-maintenance turf is desired. Meyer zoysiagrass (Z-52) is the only cultivar that is commercially available in appreciable quantities in Oklahoma.
How Often, How High, How Short?
There is not a universal mowing height for all grasses. Each different grass has a recommended height. The rule of thumb is to never cut off more than one-third of the total leaf surface in one mowing. Generally, mowing once a week should keep you within the rule of thumb.
Always Keep Mower Blades Sharp
How often you should sharpen your blades depends on the use. Check the tips of the grass after you mow. If they are frayed, then it’s time to sharpen your mower blades. Frayed tips mean the grass plants have been injured. A big increase in the possibility of insect or disease problems can come from frayed grass blades.
Change Up Your Mowing Directions
When you mow in different directions, grass grows correctly. Mowing in the same direction every time can cause slanting of the blades in the lawn. Tires or wheels from your lawnmower can cause compaction tracts that become unsightly.
When to Choose a Professional Lawn Care Company
Sometimes lawn care can be overwhelming. You have to buy all the equipment and maintenance tools and read up on how to take care of your lawn (if you know what type of grass you have)—and that doesn't even include hours you spend upkeeping! You should be spending those hours with your family.
Turfgrass Selection
Soil and Site Preparation
Planting
- The critical factors in planting turfgrasses are listed below and discussed in this fact sheet. 1. Plant a recommended turfgrass species and cultivar that is well adapted to the environmental conditions of Oklahoma and one that is also suited to your planting site and interests. See Fact Sheet HLA-6418, “Selecting a Lawn Grass for Oklahoma,” for detailed information. 2. Plant the re…
Seeding
- Small lawns can be broadcast seeded with a 2- to 3-foot wide drop spreader. Divide the recommended amount of seed (Table 2) into two equal portions and spread each portion in a different direction to ensure proper distribution (Figure 1). It may be necessary to dilute small amounts of seed with sand, Milorganite, or similar material to increase the amount of bulk mater…
Sodding
- Sodding provides an almost instant lawn. It is important to have the seedbed moist (but not waterlogged) prior to the arrival of fresh sod. Therefore, moisten the upper 5 to 6 inches of seedbed soil several days before sodding, plugging, or sprigging. Sod transplanting involves the manual placement of individual slabs or rolls of sod in a staggered, checker board pattern (Figur…
Plugging
- Plugging involves the transplanting of small pieces of sod into holes the same size. The advantage of plugging over sprigging is that plugs have a greater chance of becoming established than sprigs. This is because individual sprigs have little if any roots with adhering soil and are smaller with less plant storage material to help them get started. The disadvantage of plugging i…
Sprigging
- Sprigging rates are shown in Table 2. Sprigging can be accomplished mechanically or manually. It normally involves planting sprigs (stems or runners with two to four nodes, “joints”) in furrows that are 1 to 2 inches deep and 10 to 18 inches apart (Figure 4). inches apart (Figure 4). Sprigs should be placed at 4- to 6-inch intervals within furrows. Shallower planting results in a more rapid esta…
post-establishment Care
- Watering should be done on a daily basis for several weeks after planting. Only the upper 1 to 2 inches of soil need to be moistened until the turf is rooted and spreading. As the turf becomes more established, begin deeper, less frequent irrigations to promote deeper rooting and a hardier turf. However, never allow newly established turf to experi...
Turfgrass Selection
Soil and Site Preparation
The Following Steps Describe Proper Soil and Site PreparaTion.
Planting
Seeding
Sodding
- Sodding provides an almost instant lawn. It is important to have the seedbed moist (but not waterlogged) prior to the arrival of fresh sod. Therefore, moisten the upper 5 to 6 inches of seedbed soil several days before sodding, plugging, or sprigging. Sod transplanting involves the manual placement of individual slabs or rolls of sod in a staggered...
Sprigging
Plugging