Basic Watering Techniques
A drip or trickle irrigation system is similar to a soaker hose but is installed for long-term use in one location. Many simple systems are available that are permanently installed and last three to five years before ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Proper Fertilization Of Home Lawns
Nitrogen can really "green up" a lawn. However, some forms of it are very mobile and can leach through the soil to contaminate the water supply if not properly applied. The nitrate form of nitrogen (NO3) can move ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Avoiding Exposed Roots
Cracked and raised pavement or bumps in the lawn caused by roots can be an annoying and sometimes hazardous elements in the urban landscape. Surface roots from trees can be caused by a variety of factors, but the ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Maintaining Lawns
Lawns can use an inch or more of water per week in hot, dry weather. If rainfall does not provide this much water, the lawn should be watered when the soil begins to dry out, but before the grass actually wilts ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Fertilizing Lawns
urea, ammonium sulfate, and calcium nitrate. Slowly available sources contain water insoluble nitrogen (WIN) from urea formaldehyde (UF), UF based products (methylene ureas), sulfur coated urea, natural organics ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Indicator Plants In The Lawn
In lawn area what we want is essentially a large area monoculture (only a few grass species and varieties) that we cannot till or mulch to control weed development. There are several weed killers that can be sprayed ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Thatch -- Is It A Problem For Lawns?
Thatch is more than just an accumulation of grass clippings at the soil surface. Thatch is an intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that lies between the soil surface and the zone of ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Producing Quality Turfgrass In Shaded Areas
The shade canopy tends to moderate temperature fluctuations by lowering daytime temperature and keeping it warmer at night by preventing release of the heat. This moderating effect on temperature helps humidity ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Selecting Professional Lawn Services
Lawn service companies are beginning to address homeowner concerns over excessive use of pesticides and pesticide drift with alternative lawn care programs. They offer such options as a fertilizer-only option, a ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Selecting Turfgrass
For lawns of the Northern Piedmont and areas in and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the cool-season species, Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue, will produce the best year-around turf on home lawns. Other cool ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Turf Management In Dry Times
Under drought conditions, Kentucky bluegrass wilts and becomes off color before tall fescue, and if water remains limited, Kentucky bluegrass turns straw-colored and becomes dormant. Once water becomes available ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Should I Sod?
Sodding may have advantages, but it has problems, too. The initial expense of sodding is prohibitive for some. The limited sod mixture selection may be a handicap in certain environments such as shade or where one ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
