Controlling Thatch in Lawns
What is Thatch? Thatch is a dense, spongy collection of living and dead grass stems and roots lying between the soil surface and green grass leaves in established lawns. As a grass plant grows, the...
Category: Lawns
Bermudagrass Mite
The bermudagrass mite (Eriophyes cynodoniensis), also called bermudagrass stunt mite, is a very small, elongate, creamy white or translucent-colored mite that requires a magnification of 15x to 20x...
Identifying & Managing Beach Vitex
What is Beach Vitex? Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is an exotic, deciduous, woody shrub that does not grow tall but forms thick patches by long runners at the soil surface. It is in the same...
Conservative Turfgrass Irrigation
Turfgrass irrigation, along with mowing and fertilizing, is one of the basic management tools we implement when entrusted to the care of turf. Although the application of water to a turf to maintain...
Turfgrass Cultivation
One definition of cultivation is the act of improving or working the soil to enhance plant growth. This process works well in landscaped beds or vegetable gardens. However, in a turf situation where...
Turfgrasses for the Carolinas
For over 50 years the lawn has been an integral part of the landscape. In many ways it can be viewed as the canvas of the landscape. Lawns are used to define the shape of an area, provide pathways...
Winterizing Lawns
By August, lawn winterizing products are fairly easy to find in the lawn and garden section of retail stores. This may lead one to think that winterizing is a common practice. There are, however,...
Selecting a Lawn Grass
The lawn is an integral part of the landscape. It is the canvas on which the rest of the plantings are placed. Turfgrass that is properly placed and well maintained will enhance any landscape. On...
St. Augustinegrass
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) grows best during the warm (80 to 95 °F) months of spring, summer and early fall. It grows vigorously during this time and becomes brown and dormant in...
Centipedegrass
Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) was introduced into the United States from seed found in the baggage of Frank Meyer, a USDA plant explorer who disappeared on his fourth trip to China in...
Bermudagrass
Bermudagrasses (Cynodon species), also called wiregrass, are planted throughout South Carolina. They are used primarily on golf courses, athletic fields, tennis courts, bowling greens and...
Lawn Renovation
Renovation is the improvement of a turfgrass stand without complete reestablishment. Reestablishment refers to complete destruction of the old stand, thorough site preparation and replanting....