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Why verticutting

    

A HEALTHY HABIT

Vertical mowing delivers a bevy of benefits to turfgrass, such as:

1.               Clears out thatch and removes excess turf growth

2.               Provides channels for water infiltration

3.               Opens turf canopy so sunlight and nutrients can settle into soil

4.                 Promotes new, healthy turf growth

                    

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

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 .

 When excessive (1 inch or more), thatch causes serious problems in Florida lawns. inch or more), thatch causes serious problems in Florida lawns.

                                                             Why is Thatch a Problem?

Thatch accumulations are undesirable for a variety of reasons.

• Thatch can restrict water and air movement into the soil. Dry thatch tends to repel water rather than allow infiltration, and wet thatch enhances disease problems. If your lawn has dry spots that are difficult to rewet (unless you almost flood the areas), these are probably dry thatch spots.

Thick thatch makes mowing very difficult. As thatch builds up, mowing height actually increases above the soil line, and the turf becomes very spongy, allowing the mower to sink into the turf and scalp the lawn. This results in an uneven appearance and often a mottled brown and green surface.

Thatch provides an ideal habitat for insects and disease. Thatch accumulation is associated with an increased incidence of many insects and diseases.

• A thatchy condition elevates the growing points (crowns), runners (rhizomes and stolons) and roots above the soil surface.

This document is ENH12, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 2001. Revised December 2001 and June 2006. Please visit the EDIS web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................Recommend two verticutting customers, jobs we complete and receive a free voucher to:

York's School of Landscape Maintenance:  http://yorkslms.blogspot.com/ or www.verticutting.com

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Cutting Up

By Larry Jones, Jacobsen, A Textron Company

There is a missing link in many lawn care programs — an underutilized cultural practice that boosts turf health and, potentially, your bottom line. Vertical mowing is a healthy habit and a beneficial component of an annual turf care routine. Simply put, vertical mowing encourages turf to take its vitamins.

The practice turns up thatch and opens the turf canopy so it can drink up nutrients and water, and clear out room for fresh growth. Verticutting is an energy boost, setting the stage for green-up in spring and preparing turf for overseeding in the north. And most turf varieties appreciate verticutting — the vigorous mowing isn't limited to sports turf or commercial properties.

Consider verticutting part of a balanced diet. Here are some ways to make sure your turf receives the correct dose and some details on choosing appropriate equipment to deliver the best results.

A HEALTHY HABIT

Vertical mowing delivers a bevy of benefits to turfgrass, such as:

1.               Clears out thatch and removes excess turf growth

2.               Provides channels for water infiltration

3.               Opens turf canopy so sunlight and nutrients can settle into soil

4.                 Promotes new, healthy turf growth

Winner of 4 City of St. Petersburg City Beautification Awards

727-455-7337 or whyverticutting.com

Building a beautiful healthy lawn from start. to finish

Building a beautiful lawn starts with a clean grade and closely pieced together sod. Above St. Augustine sod. A well-laid lawn, with no overlapping edges, requires no rolling.

Replacing an existing lawn with sod.

• Mow first if necessary, and clean off excess material.
• Treat the area with Round-up.  Wait 7-10 days, spray again if all is not dead, before removal.
• Use a sod cutter, remove the dead sod.  Establish a grade.
• With the use of Round-up, you will gain control of weeds and grasses, besides when you sod cut, the material you will remove will be so much lighter.
• Establish a good grade
• Check the sprinklers for proper distribution. See blog here: 'How good is your irrigation.'
• After grading, wait 2-3 weeks, then spray again, as you see new leaves breaking the surface.
• You may start sodding the next day.  
• Contract with a professional lawn spray company.
• Start Verticutting the first year.

Replacing with grass plugs. Big savings.

Seville St. Augustine

• Mow first if necessary, and clean off excess material.
• Treat the area with Round-up.  Wait 7-10 days, spray again if all is not dead.
• Leave the dead lawn as a mulch bed for the new grass, as the plugs grow, the dead will disappear.
• Spray again before plugging and wait for at least one hr.
• Just heed my advice, the goal of grass plugs is to save money.  But if you don't have a proper fertilization, insect, fungus, and weed control program at least the first three months, you may be wasting your money.
• Start Verticutting the first year.
• Just remember the closer you put the plugs the faster they will fill in.

For free estimates in Tampa Bay contact: whyverticutting@gmail.com
 Or contact York: 727-455-7337