June Turf Tips - Homeowners

Jeffrey Derr and Adam Nichols

Here are some things to think about turf wise over the next 3 months. To assist those that read our newsletter, we have decided to prepare separate sections of our turf tips for homeowners and commercial applicators.  Specific products mentioned are for illustrative purposes, with no discrimination intended for products not mentioned.

Turf Management for Homeowners

Tall fescue:

For those maintaining tall fescue, keep an eye out for brown patch disease. This soil-borne fungus infects tall fescue especially under warm, humid conditions we see during the summer.  Preventative applications of a fungicide containing azoxystrobin, such as Scotts DiseaseEX Lawn Fungicide, a granular product,   during the summer can help limit the amount of overseeding that may need to be done in the fall.  Avoid frequent irrigation that can will keep the soil saturated, allowing the disease to build up.  It is better for the soil to be on the drier side. If desired, only apply low rates of nitrogen (< 0.5 pounds per 1000 square feet per month). 

If you have not done so, apply the second application of your crabgrass preventer if using a split program.  With all of the recent rain, much of the March treatment has broken down, which can result in new germination of crabgrass. Apply appropriate treatments for emerged crabgrass, broadleaf weeds, and yellow nutsedge as needed. If bermudagrass (often called wiregrass) is a problem, one could apply a fenoxaprop product such as Bioadvanced Bermudagrass Control for Lawns.

Annual bluegrass, commonly called Poa, is a winter annual that generally dies out in June from the hot weather. If annual bluegrass  is a concern for the upcoming fall, one control option is to apply a crabgrass preventer, such as pendimethalin (Halts Crabgrass and Grassy Weed Preventer), dithiopyr (Preen Lawn Crabgrass Control), or prodiamine (Lebanon prodiamine 0.58G), among other available formulations of these active ingredients, in mid- to late-August as annual bluegrass usually starts germinating in early September. The crabgrass preventers are often sold on a fertilizer granule, such as Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food. The problem with these combination products is in providing the desired herbicide rate, you may not be applying the appropriate fertilizer rate for that time of year. Applying a herbicide product separate from a fertilizer product solves this problem. The downside of applying a crabgrass preventer in August is that in most cases you will not be able to overseed as these chemicals not only prevent successful germination of annual bluegrass, they also  prevent establishment of tall fescue from seed.  Decide which is more important – overseeding or applying a crabgrass preventer.  If the turf is thin, consider focusing on overseeding.

Warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, Zoysia, St. Augustine, Centipede):

Now is the time to fertilize since these grasses are actively growing during the summer months and it also is the time to do cultural practices like dethatching or aeration. Move plugs to fill in bare spots of St. Augustine and other warm-season grasses. Bermudagrass, zoysia , and centipede can also be seeded in June or July.  A crabgrass preventer can be applied in August for annual bluegrass control in established warm-season grasses, but there are additional options later in the year.  Do not apply a crabgrass preventer to newly-seeded turfgrasses.

Both tall fescue and warm-season grasses:

For both cool-and warm-season turf areas, keep an eye out for yellow nutsdge and kyllinga, two common perennial sedges in our area.  Spot spray a chemical such as halosulfuron (SedgeHammer +) to sedge leaves for control.  Apply a product containing quinclorac if you have crabgrass escapes in tall fescue, bermudagrass, or zoysia but do not apply a quinclorac product to St. Augustine or centipede.  There are products that control both emerged crabgrass and broadleaf weeds, such as Bioadvanced Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer, which contains quinclorac plus 2 broadleaf herbicides. For broadleaf weeds, apply an amine formulation of a three way broadleaf herbicide.  In tall fescue, using a product containing triclopyr, such as Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis, is your best option for some of the more difficult to control broadleaf weeds.   Do not apply a triclopyr-containing product to any of your warm-season grasses, and make sure to read the label of any product to ensure it is safe for your species of grass.