SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/621615
18 SportsTurf | January 2016 www.sportsturfonline.com FIELD SCIENCE Park believes a complete starter fertilizer that contains nitrogen/phosphate/soluble potash (N-P2O5-K2O) starter fertilizer should be applied at the time of seeding. Following germination, use of phosphorous-containing fertilizers should be guided by soil testing; nitrogen becomes the most critical nutrient to encourage turf to fill-in and establish. "Mesotrione (Tenacity) and siduron (Tupersan) can be safely applied at the time of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass seeding to provide pre-emergence control of the weeds indicated on these products' labels. Quinclorac (Drive XLR8) and fenoxaprop (Acclaim Extra) can provide postemergence control of grassy weeds; herbicide rates and timing are dependent upon the age and species of turf. Several mowings are typically required before traditional broadleaf herbicides (such as Trimec Classic and Confront) can be applied to newly seeded turf." ■ ST John Torsiello is an independent writer/editor living in Torrington, CT and part-time in Mount Pleasant, SC. He has written on turfgrass maintenance issues for a number of years, and has won two First Place Awards from the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association for pieces he authored. Brad Jakubowski's (instructor of envi- ronmental sciences at Doane College) tips for seeding into soil and growing as quickly as possible: 1. Mow the grass shorter than usual. 2. Apply grass seed to the area at the recommended rate or slightly less. 3. Aerify. 4. Follow aerification with an applica- tion of grass seed. 5. Aerify again. 6. Follow aerification with another application of grass seed. 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 again if you prefer (like with shampoo: wash, rinse, repeat!) 8. Topdress area with compost. 9. Drag or work areas with rakes to distribute seed and compost. 10. Apply starter fertilizer. 11. Irrigate. This process could easily include a verticutting step or steps intermixed with aerification. If possible, cover bare areas with a thin layer of mulch like pine needles (the acidity will not be a problem and will actually help) or straw to protect the new seedbed from wind, washing, or mowing. Hydromulching can also be an effective tool to ensure quicker germination. Diverting from the standard hydromulching process of mixing the grass seed in with the tank mix of water, mulch material, and fertil- izer, I would recommend applying the grass seed to the field surface prior to the hydromulch application. Following the seed and hydromulch application, finish with a light rolling. This sequence aids in helping guarantee good seed-soil contact. Priming or pregerminating (a pro- cess of soaking and draining seed prior to application) uncoated grass seed can also speed up the germination process and there are a number of 'recipes' available. TIPS FOR BEST SEEDING RESULTS Using a simple spreader to seed. Slit seeding.