14/08/2022
A request from several customers.....
Lawns.
Early spring temperature fluctuations can cause sporadic turfgrass growth. Proper mowing is critical to the maintenance
of a high quality lawn.
If rapid turfgrass growth occurs, infrequent mowing will result in scalping of the turf.
Of the cool season turfgrasses, tall fescue will start growth the soonest with perennial ryegrass following. Kentucky bluegrass is usually the slowest to start growth.
The frequency of mowing should be timed to remove no more than 1/3rd the leaf tissue.
A week of 18C days with mild nights and the couch grass wakes up from winter dormancy. Then we get a week where overnight temperatures are around one or two degrees with morning frosts and the grass stops growing. The poor grass doesn’t know where it’s at.
But one things for sure - the clover and medic is about to grow like crazy and its time to change to spring mowing schedules.
Try to assess whether you can commence your Spring-Summer schedule from the beginning of September (or advance into August), so that you are not trying to remove huge volumes of white clover and lush growth - hence weakening the lawn in the process.
*Look for the increased activity of the birds and the bees and interpret these as indicators that spring is approaching.
*Around 2 to 3 weeks after almond blossom appears is about the time that kikuyu emerges from dormancy.
*Assess the volume of clippings removed each cut. If it is significantly more than your previous cut then you should increase mowing frequency.
Dropped grass cuttings.
If your mower is dropping cuttings onto lawns and paths and cuttings are not thrown into the back of the catcher, the reason is that your catcher bag or mesh is blocked and air cannot flow through.
*The problem is caused by annual w**ds with lots of soft tissue that gets pulped by the mower.
*Chickw**d, bindii, soursob and white clover are the main offenders.
*Keep the catcher mesh or catcher bag clean by hosing with a jet of water.
Summer-active turf grasses.
*Will emerge from dormancy next month.
*While the grass is still dormant in an ideal time to treat broadleaf w**ds.
*When the turf grasses commence to grow in about two-six weeks time, they won’t have to compete with w**ds for light and space and nutrient competition.
Stone Fruit.
Leaf curl is a fungal disease that causes leaves to curl up and turn pink. It affects all stone fruit but is more prevalent on peaches and nectarines.
*Timing is critical; spray just before early bud swell, when the buds are beginning to get plumper.
*Do not apply after the buds have burst, as it is too late to control leaf curl disease. You will then have to wait until next year.
*Use copper oxychloride (7.5 g / litre water) in August.
*If the tree issusceptible to Peach Leaf Curl you may need up to use a copper spray up to four times. The sprays are effective for five to six days which may mean spraying every week to provide continues protection until bud burst.
That's all for now.
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