WHAT is VERTICUTTING?

"There are myriad benefits to Verticutting, which has also fueled its popularity. Jeff Buchko, a product manager for Jacobsen, says more university researchers have concluded that verticutting is a cultural practice that's critical to turf care"

Fig 1 cut yearly

                                           

Fig 2

                            

Fig 3

Fig 4

 Fig 5- Poor condition

                                       

Fig 6 very bad

 VERTICUTTING SOUTHERN GRASSES


St. Augustine grasses

The dominant grass in central and So. Florida is St. Augustine. The excessive top growth, along with the accumulation of thatch creates many problems.

 While  cleaning and thinning your lawn, Verticutting allows your lawn to breathe again, stimulating root growth. Opening the lawn-up allows air, sun, water, fertilizer to drive the root system deeper, thru removing the top growth and thatch. This also improves mowing. 

All grasses accumulate thatch.

Thatch:

 Thatch is defined as an intermingled layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that develops between the zone of green vegetation and the soil surface. Thatch consists of a loosely interwoven collection of plant matter that leaves the turf feeling spongy or puffy (Figure 1). When excessive (1 inch or more), thatch causes serious problems in Florida lawns. Thatch is not caused by grass clippings.

Thatch

St. Augustine Lawns present many cultural ( "a lawn designed and created intentionally by man")
 problems

• Over time  St. Augustine grasses gain so much height and density, this creates many unique problems.
• My experience is related to the hundreds of Verticutt lawns over 30 years, in Pinellas County, Fl.

1. Problem one, over watering and over fertilizing.
2. Lawns are allowed to go to long before or between Verticutting.
3. Ideally to maintain all the benefits of Verticutting, lawns should be Verticutt yearly.
4. Because this process should be done in the slow season during the cooler weather, we now have a new problem, over fertilization in the cool months.
5. Why add Verticutting to your yearly budget? Imagine not cutting and thinning your hair, or not going to the doctor? Verticutting, is part of your lawns healthcare, and much cheaper than any government healthcare program! hehe.

In Pinellas County, new summer fertilizing restrictions are in place:

  Brief Summary of Pinellas County's Fertilizer Ordinance:

While not the only source of excess nutrients in our local waters, reducing our personal contribution to pollution is an important step in improving water quality. 

For those who choose to fertilize, the Ordinance requires the following: 

From June 1 through September 30th no fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorous can be used in Pinellas County. 

From October 1st through May 30th, the following conditions apply to fertilizer use: 

Content 

Nitrogen 

Total Nitrogen = 50% or more must be Slow Release Nitrogen click here to use the calculator: 

Phosphorus 

Total Phosphorus = zero (0) phosphorous fertilizers must be used unless a State-certified laboratory soil test indicates a 

deficiency. Florida soils have naturally occurring phosphorous and application of phosphorous fertilizer may not be necessary. 

Application 

• Granular fertilizers: Up to one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per application 

• Liquid fertilizers: Up to one-half (0.5) pound of water soluble nitrogen per 1000 square feet per application 

• Annual limit: Up to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet 

• No nitrogen application within 30 days of newly-installed landscape 

• Deflector shields must be used on fertilizer spreaders to keep granules off impervious (hard) surfaces and out of waterways

Now the problem as I see it, some lawn spray contractors are trying to (lets call it catch-up).
So now instead of the grass slowing down, some lawns are growing excessivily all year!  I bet some of you outside Florida would trade your snow shovel for a lawn-mower?  Yes, we suffer in these 50-80 degree winters?

In the beginning I said  "St. Augustine Lawns present many Verticutting problems"
Reasons:

1. Too much nitrogen fertilizer.
2. Poorly designed irrigation
3. Too much water.
4. Over watering with reclaimed, because of the nutrients in the water.
5. All of the above contribute to top growth and thatch.
6. All of the above creates lawns that don't dry out, with so much top growth.  This makes the Verticutt process much more difficult and opens the lawn to many other problems.
7. NOTE: some companies push aerification or coring this is a waste of money on St. Augustine lawns growing on sand. Check with your County Extension Service for recommendations? Or  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

How Frequently to Water

Irrigation frequency will vary based on grass species, rainfall amounts, soil type and amount of compaction, shade presence, geographical location in the state, and, most importantly, by season. Irrigation systems should be reset seasonally to reflect the differing water requirements of grasses based on time of year. Table 1 lists some average seasonal irrigation frequencies for maintenance of St. Augustinegrass in north, central, and south Florida. These frequencies assume that no rainfall occurs, so if rainfall amounts total at least ½ to ¾ “, the frequency can usually be reduced. Often, homeowners are unaware that an irrigation system should be adjusted seasonally, and failure to adjust for seasonal changes will usually lead to overwatering. Overwatering will harm long-term turf health because it greatly increases disease susceptibility and thatch buildup and leads to a shorter root system, which reduces the turf’s overall stress tolerance and ability to survive with less water. Additionally, overwatering promotes the growth of certain weed species such as dollarweed and sedges.

Remember that, on average, we receive 50 or more inches of annual rainfall in most parts of Florida. When rainfall is adequate to meet plant needs, supplemental irrigation systems should be turned off. Ideally, University of Florida guidelines call for watering lawns on an "as-needed" basis. This can be determined by observing the grass for signs of water stress, which indicate that water lost in transpiration is not being replaced and the plant’s needs for water are not being met. The signs that you need to look for are:

• Leaf blades are folded in half lengthwise in an attempt to conserve water (Figure 1).
• The grass takes on a blue-gray tint rather than maintaining a green color.
• Footprints or tire tracks remain visible on the grass long after they are made.

In reality, many people leave their irrigation timer set to the same schedule without changing it seasonally. It is important to remember that plant water needs change throughout the year and that not resetting the timer can result in wasted water and poor plant health. It is also important to be aware of any watering restrictions, which might be set by the Water Management District or local government.  Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Bahia grass:
Before the University of Florida developed  St. Augustine ( Floratam ), Bahia was the most common grass in  Florida. It has one nemesis the Mole Cricket.

Mole Crickets:

What Do They Do?

Mole crickets make tunnels in the ground, severing grass roots and causing the earth to bulge upwards. They also eat the roots and shoots of grass. Mole cricket damage looks like ugly brown patches. Predators such as raccoons and armadillos may further dig up the turf to snack on the crickets.

When Are They Active?

Mole crickets do the most damage from late August to early October. There is one generation of mole crickets per year, with eggs typically being laid in April and May. Mole crickets are nocturnal, which means they do their dirty work at night.

Yes, Mole Crickets damage all grasses.

Unlike other southern grasses, Bahia when damaged by the Mole Cricket it will not grow back. When not damaged Verticutting will improve the density by all most 100%. When you clean and cut Bahia, you are cutting the rizones,  forcing new growth.
Verticutting opens up the lawn to air, water, fertilizers, removing the thatch. A Bahia lawn should be fertilized with nitrogen only Spring and Fall. With Mole Cricket control and Verticutting, the weeds will be crowded out. Truly, Bahia can be a beautiful grass!  
NOTE: St. Augustine plugs may be used to fill dead areas in Bahia lawns.

Weed control in Bahia: 

Extensive weed control on Bahia grasses, unless you are going to resod, has exactly the opposite effect, why you ask?  Because the grass will never grow back, only weeds and unwanted grasses grow. Weedy grasses, crab grass, common Bermuda, carpet grass, goose grass, gophertail   Lovegrass, etc. will fill in rapidly and ruin the appearance of a Bahia lawn. Because they are so hard to cut cleanly, thus weed control has the adverse effect. Unlike St. Augustine, Bahia is a deep rooted grass and needs water at the most only once a week, and much less often in the cooler months. 
Too much water, too much fertilizer and the molecricket are the enemies  of Bahia grasses.
NOTE: mixed lawns, Bahia and St. Augustine create weed control problems!  Consult your County Extension Service for recommendations? Or  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.  

Bermuda and Zoysia Grasses:

Bermuda, is mostly found on golf courses, soccer,  baseball fields. Zoysia is now becoming more common in home lawns. 
NOTE: because these grasses require nitrogen fertilizer every month,  the new Pinellas County summer fertilization requirements may present a problem.

Before you install Bermuda or Zoysia as a home lawn, be sure to read up on it's special mowing requirements. They are best mowed with a reel type mower. 

Empire Zoysia is soft to the touch with a lush green color and fine, tight blade growth. Both visually attractive and strong against wear and tear, Empire is a great choice for the active and/or busy homeowner. http://goo.gl/YyR9mg

 The goal is to reduce the number of stolons on leaf blades that grow laterally, says Ron Wright, certified superintendent at The Country Club of Mobile (Ala.)."Every time a plant grows new shoots, it takes energy," Wright says. "If you cut off some of the lateral plant growth, it forces the plant to use that energy elsewhere. The plant will use the excess energy to grow upward, creating a more upright and dense stand of turf." There are myriad benefits to verticutting, which has also fueled its popularity. Jeff Buchko, a product manager for Jacobsen, says more university researchers have concluded that verticutting is a cultural practice that's critical to turf care. Turf that is verticut can withstand the threat of disease and harsh weather better. Simply put, verticutting stimulates growth.Not only does verticutting remove thatch, which is a breeding ground for turf disease, but it also provides channels to allow moisture and oxygen to get into the rootzone, says Tony F. while

Soccer field

 Bermuda  

removing thatch and debris. Aldridge has noticed a trend where more superintendents are getting more aggressive with their verticutting practices on newer turf varieties (which form thatch quicker) by combining them with aerification. They do this during the prime growing season when recovery is faster. They will aerify to maximum depth and then verticut immediately after to remove even more material.  

More about our services Contact York: york.ysta@gmail.com