Turfgrass Care and Maintenance

• Core Cultivation: (Aerating) The Lawn
  This web page discusses the advantages of this procedure.

• Thatch and Mat
  Thatch and Mat are intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems and roots that develop between the green vegetation and the soil surface. A discussion of these problems and their relevance to insect and disease problems is provided.
  

• What about liquid aeration for your lawn?
  Does it work or is it a fraud?
  Check out the story

• Dryland Grasses for Western Colorado
  This information was provided by Dennis Gorsett, USDA -NRCS, Grand Junction, Colorado office. These web pages provide a listing of grasses for Western Colorado which do well under limited irrigation. Seeding rates and time of seeding are given.
  • Dryland Grasses for Sandy Soil
  • Dryland Grasses for Clay Soil

• Fairy Ring; A Problem of Turfgrass
  Fairy rings are reported to be caused by many different soil-inhabiting fungi of the class Basidiomycetes. These fungi can cause the development of rings or arcs of deep green grass as well as unthrifty or dead grass. Rings may vary in size from a few inches to 200 feet (60 meters) or more in diameter.

• Lesions caused by Dollar Spot fungi (Lanzia and Moellerodiscus) and Ascochyta leaf blight
  a comparison of symptoms.

• Rust of Kentucky Bluegrass
  This page describes and provides color photographs of rust fungus on Kentucky bluegrass. The photographs show symptoms and signs of rust infection on leaf blades which appeared when regrowing Kentucky bluegrass at a sod farm.

• Slime Mold; a problem of Turfgrass
  Slime molds (Myxomycetes) are saprophytic on turf, however, they can cause the foliage to become chlorotic (yellow) if they persist for several days. Due to the reduction of light reaching the grass plus interference with respiration and transpiration, colonies of slime mold coating the blades can eventually result in the death of the grass.

• Watering Turfgrass and Disease Potential: Leaf Wetness

  Leaf wetness influences the initiation and development of many fungal and bacterial caused plant diseases. The longer the leaf surface is wet, the greater the risk of infection and the greater the number of infections per leaf. Information is provided giving specifics on when cool season turf grasses should be watered to avoid or reduce disease problems.

• Winter Grass Mites
  Mites are tiny, microscopic critters and many different types are found associated with turf. Feeding damage can result in the dead of the turf.

• Methods for creating a Drought Tolerant lawn; Spring Guidance
• Methods for Creating a Drought Tolerant Lawn; The Underground Sprinkler System
• The Drought Response Information Project
  a collaboration between the Grand Valley's domestic water providers and CSU Extension to provide information and educate the public concerning the Drought Response Plan, the importance of water conservation and how to reduce water use.

• Late Season Fertilization of Cool Season Grasses
  This program recommends the application of up to two pounds of nitrogen per one-thousand square feet of lawn late in the season. This has been shown to result in less disease and insect problems during the spring, and enhanced late winter survival and spring recovery.

• Turfgrass Fertilizer Sources commonly used on turfgrass. This web page provides information on how each is affected by temperature and moisture as well as residual activity, salt index and leaching potential.

• The fertilization of cool-season turfgrass such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue should be based on a soil test report. This publication provides guidance on nutrient needs based on a soil test report.

The demise of Mesa County's Irrigation Audit program was due to a lack of funds.
Ardith's last day was September 4, 2008.

Ardith Blessinger, Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, and friends.

• A Summary of the 2005 through 2008 Irrigation Audit Program
  The 2005 Mesa County Irrigation Audit Final Report
  The 2006 Mesa County Irrigation Audit Final Report
  The 2007 Mesa County Irrigation Audit Final Report
  The 2008 Mesa County Irrigation Audit Final Report

  Our Irrigation Audit Program identified problems in home lawn irrigation systems. On average, correcting problems noted in the audit will reduce lawn watering by 40%. The audit provided a map showing the location of heads and valves, a list of irrigation problems, a diagnosis of disease and insect problems, and other valuable information.

  Note: This program was cancelled at the end of July, 2008, due to a lack of funding. Irrigation audits are still available on a contractural basis. Check out our irrigation audit brochure. Please drop Dr. Curtis Swift an e-mail if you are interested in an audit.

  The 2006 project was funded by a grant from the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. Additional financial assistance was provided by the City of Grand Junction, Grand Junction Pipe & Supply and CSU Extension.

  The 2007 project was funded by a grant from the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. Additional financial assistance was provided by the City of Grand Junction, Grand Junction Pipe & Supply, Grand Valley Irrigation Company, Mesa County Irrigation Company, and Colorado State University.

  The 2008 project was funded in part by the City of Grand Junction.

• Best Management Practices: Irrigating Golf Courses In Western Colorado
• Best Management Practices: Pond Construction for Residential and Commercial Properties
• Best Management Practices: Residential Landscape and Irrigation Guide For Western Colorado

• Is there a difference in water use between agricultural land and urban land? Check out the USGS publication for an indepth study conducted in the Grand Valley of Western Colorado.

• Maintaining Proper Soil Moisture
  • This ET Web Page provides Evapotranspiration data for the Grand Valley of Western Colorado for Alfalfa, Corn, Dry Beans, Small Grains, Sugar Beets, Potatoes and Turf. The daily ET for each of these crops and the 5 day total is provided. Information on how to best use this information is also provided.
    • Historical ET for cool-season turfgrass in Delta County, Colorado
    • Historical ET for cool-season turfgrass in Eagle County, Colorado
    • Historical ET for cool-season turfgrass in the Grand Valley, Mesa County, Colorado

• Investigations of Water Movement During Turf Irrigation
  This investigation was undertaken to learn more about the details of the water movement in the soil during the irrigation of turf. Of particular interest was the movement of "gravity water" and it's relationship to the field capacity and wilting point during the irrigation process.

• SMART Irrigation Controllers
  'SMART' controllers use weather data and site information such as plant type and sprinkler system output to adjust watering times and frequency. This greatly increases the accuracy of your irrigation.

• Setting your irrigation controller to properly irrigate established lawns in Grand Junction, Colorado.

  Most irrigation controllers (clocks) have a seasonal percentage adjust or water budget feature which allows the controller to automatically change the amount of water your lawn receives each month of the growing season. This PDF file takes you through the process of setting your controller to use this feature.

• Watering during the winter
  Newcomers to Western Colorado are often amazed to hear they need to water outdoor gardens and lawn areas during the winter. Except for the mountains, much of Western Colorado is free of snow and relatively dry during the winter months.

• Watering Established Lawns in Western Colorado
  Cool-season Grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass)
  This discussion answers the following questions:
  • How do I know when my turf needs water?
  • Does the time I water influence disease problems?
  • Can I water every day?
  • What time of day is the best time to water?
  • How deep do I need to water?
  • How much water will it take to wet my soil to the proper depth?
  • How long will it take to apply the proper amount of water?
  • When designing a sprinkler system, what do I need to consider?
  • What affect does temperature have on the amount of water applied?
  • Do I need to water during the growing season even if it is raining?
  • Do I need to water my lawn during the winter?

• Watering Turfgrass and Disease Potential: Leaf Wetness

  Leaf wetness influences the initiation and development of many fungal and bacterial caused plant diseases. The longer the leaf surface is wet, the greater the risk of infection and the greater the number of infections per leaf. Information is provided giving specifics on when cool season turf grasses should be watered to avoid or reduce disease problems.

• Winterizing Sprinkler Systems
  Winterization primarily consists of expelling all the water from the irrigation system and equipment. This is necessary because water freezing to ice during cold weather will break pipes, fittings, valves, sprinklers, pumps, etc. It may not be as simple as it may first appear. This must be done correctly to assure there are no costly repairs and replacements to make in the spring at system start-up.

• Selecting a Landscape Maintenance Contractor
  Information to help you make the right decision.