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<\/a>Mowing frequency — At each mowing, it is recommended not to clip off more than a third of the total height of the grass to limit the amount and size of clippings thrown back on the lawn.\u00a0 To accomplish this, lawns may need to be mowed more than once a week.\u00a0 Clipping off more than a third of the grass height may produce clumps and piles of clippings. Conditions under these piles of clippings are ideal for turfgrass disease development.<\/p>\nPoor mower maintenance – Mower blades become dull through the growing season for many reasons such as regular use, cutting sticks and other debris, and scalping the ground when cutting too short.\u00a0 Dull blades tend to rip instead of cut the grass blades.\u00a0 Ripped blades have ragged edges that desiccate and turn brown again dulling the color of the lawn.<\/p>\n
Low nitrogen fertility — Turfgrass requires nitrogen fertilizer throughout the growing season.\u00a0 The fertilizer should be meted out over that growing season with applications of a half-pound to 1 pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet typically applied in the spring, late summer and fall.\u00a0 It is recommended to be composed of both quick and slow release nitrogen sources.\u00a0 Additionally, supplemental iron may help to green a lawn if nitrogen alone is not greening the turfgrass.<\/p>\n
Insect and mite damage — There are a number of insects and mites that can damage turfgrass.\u00a0 Lately, mites have been increasing in population.\u00a0 Mite feeding injury appears as a white speckling on the grass blade.<\/p>\n
Turfgrass species — Cool season turfgrass species grow best in the spring and fall of the year and go dormant during the heat of the summer.\u00a0 Kentucky bluegrass is one of those species that goes dormant during the heat of the summer if it is not irrigated on a consistent and regular basis.\u00a0 Once the Kentucky bluegrass goes dormant, then more heat tolerant species take over such as fine fescues with thinner blades and lighter color than the bluegrass.<\/p>\n
Undesirable plant species — There are several “weed” species of grasses that may invade a lawn.\u00a0 Several of these species have a paler green color than Kentucky bluegrass.\u00a0 Examples of these undesirable grasses include annual bluegrass, crabgrass, rough bluegrass and nimblewill.\u00a0 Control of these undesirable grasses can be challenging, but doable.<\/p>\n
Turfgrass disease — There are several diseases that impact turfgrass in Ohio.\u00a0 Management of turfgrass diseases first requires identification.\u00a0 The plant and pest diagnostic clinic at The Ohio State University can assist in identifying diseases.\u00a0 For more information on submitting a sample, either contact your local Extension office or visit the clinic’s web site at http:\/\/ppdc.osu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n Soil conditions — Soil compaction will limit root system development of turfgrass to a fairly shallow depth.\u00a0 Shallow root systems are susceptible to rapid drying, stress and reduced health.\u00a0 Soil compaction is corrected with core aeration that is best performed in the fall of the year.<\/p>\n Poor irrigation practices — Frequent light waterings result in moisture reaching only shallow depths that promotes in shallow root systems (see above note on shallow root systems).\u00a0 It is best to apply 1″ of water in one long watering once a week rather than multiple quarter-inch or less waterings throughout a week.\u00a0 The inch of water soaks deeper into the soil.\u00a0 One can measure how much water is applied by a sprinkler system by placing a square pan on the lawn within the area hit by the sprinkler system.\u00a0 Run and time the sprinkler system until water of an inch in depth collects in the pan.<\/p>\n Diagnosing turfgrass problems requires careful analysis of environmental conditions and management practices.\u00a0 Corrective actions may be simple to complex depending on which problems need correcting.\u00a0 Turnaround time on the condition of the lawn may be a few days to several months to a couple of years depending on the existing problems.<\/p>\n