General
Have You Limed Lately?
Most people have heard of pH, which refers to whether something is acidic or alkaline. But did you know that your soil’s pH level can dramatically affect the health (and, consequently, the look) of your turfgrass? For a basic understanding, pH is an abbreviation of the “power of hydrogen” — the “p” is short for…
Read MoreCare for Your Winter Lawn
Once winter weather arrives, you lawn will mostly rest until spring returns. Mowing, fertilizing and aerification are no longer needed, except perhaps for cool-season lawns that are still growing. However, weed control and periodic irrigation may be required. Follow the tips below to help keep your lawn healthy as the temperatures continue to drop. Tall…
Read MoreCrumb Rubber in Artificial Turf on Sports Fields Continues to Cause Concern
A recent report and video posted on the website of NBC News described the growing concern of the general public, particularly families with children, on whether crumb rubber in artificial turf is safe to play on. A women’s soccer coach at the University of Washington, Amy Griffin, has accumulated a list of 63 soccer goalkeepers…
Read MoreWhat to Do Now for the Fall Lawn
As lawns begin to come out of the stresses of summer heat and humidity, now’s the time to give them a bit of extra attention to prepare for winter. Follow the tips below to keep your lawn looking its best this fall. Fertilize cool-season lawns in September and then again in November. Core…
Read MoreFall Armyworms Are Marching
Photo courtesy of David Shetlar, Ph.D., Ohio State University. The larval (caterpillar) stage of the fall armyworm moth can cause serious damage to lawns. In summer, the moths lay clusters of eggs in cotton-like, greenish-white masses on structures (houses, mailboxes, fences, signs, etc.), shrubs and trees, and the newly hatched larvae drop down to…
Read MoreTime to Treat for White Grubs!
A common turfgrass pest throughout our region, white grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles, most commonly those of Japanese beetles, green June beetles, May and June beetles, oriental beetles and southern and northern masked chafers. These grubs feed on the roots of the grass, which reduces its ability to use water and nutrients. Consequently,…
Read MoreDavid Bradley of Turf Mountain Sod Joins The Turfgrass Group
After garnering 25 years of turfgrass and sod-production experience at Turf Mountain Sod in Hendersonville, NC, David Bradley has now joined The Turfgrass Group. “We are thrilled to welcome such a knowledgeable, well-respected professional to our company,” said Aaron McWhorter, co-owner of The Turfgrass Group with Ken Morrow. “Through devoting most of his career…
Read MoreArtificial Turf Melts Athletic Shoe in Texas
Last week, the MSN Sports website posted an article — and a rather alarming photo — of the melted underside of a shoe worn in practice by a high school football player in Texas. The team plays on synthetic turf, which can get much hotter than natural grass. To read the article and see the…
Read MorePest Alert — Fire Ants
Yes, the mounds of red fire ants are unsightly eyesores in turfgrass and landscape settings, but more importantly, their inhabitants can be hazardous to anyone who happens to disturb their abode. One fire-ant sting may not be terribly painful, but fire ants tend to attack in large numbers and then sting in unison due to…
Read MoreNotice to Consumers: Beware of Sod Imposters
Here at The Turfgrass Group, a large part of what we do is to protect the intellectual property of our exclusive certified varieties: Zeon Zoysia, JaMur Zoysia, L1F Zoysia, TifGrand Bermudagrass, T-10 Bermudagrass and TifBlair Centipedegrass. More importantly, in doing so, we also protect the genetic purity of these varieties, in which we and our…
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