Northwest
Region
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Extension Connections Radio Program is a weekly radio program from University of
Missouri Extension. My program is broadcast every two weeks on Tuesday.
The links below contain mp3 audio files of the program. Each link is individualized for a particular radio station with their call letters at the end of the program.
To download a mp3 audio file, RIGHT click on the appropriate link below, and choose "Save Link As", or "Save Target As".
| KKWK Agriculture Program |
KKWK AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
By: Tim Baker
Northwest Region Horticulture Specialist
University of Missouri
Extension
102 Main, Suite 1
Gallatin, MO 64640
660-663-3232
BakerT@missouri.edu
Release Date:
Monday,
July 27, 2009
Air Date: Thursday,
July
30, 2009
Title: “Green Grass: Is it always best?"
Thank you and good morning, this is Tim Baker, University of Missouri Extension Horticulture Specialist with today's program.
Most homeowners want to have a nice green lawn, but some of the practices used to attain that deep green color may not be healthy for the grass. The shade of green found in a blade of grass will be limited by its genetics. Bluegrass, as the name implies, normally has a blue-green color. Fescue is a medium green. Zoysia grass may look more like a yellow-green, upon comparison.
After genetic considerations, nutrients have the greatest effect on your lawn’s color. Most important is nitrogen, but iron, sulfur and magnesium also affect the intensity of greenness.
It often surprises people, but a dark green grass is not necessarily the healthiest grass. If the deep green color is due to excess nitrogen, the plant will suffer. The roots, for example, will be shortchanged on carbohydrates that they need, while those lost carbohydrates are sent to the leaf to stimulate vigorous green growth. If the level of nitrogen is excessive enough, the roots may actually die back, as research has shown.
For a while, the problems caused by a limited root system will not be apparent, since the leaves look so green and beautiful. But when drought and heat stress comes along, extra watering will be needed. If you get a dry winter, desiccation may occur, and the lawn could fail to recover in the spring.
Excessive fertilization may also lead to other problems, such as fungal diseases. Rhizoctonia brown patch, Pythium blight, Fusarium patch, and others are among the diseases which thrive under high nitrogen conditions.
How much nitrogen is enough? Generally, I’d like to see no more than one pound of water-soluble nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn area. For cool season grasses, apply this rate in September and once again in late spring. If you live in an area where warm season grasses grow, they can likewise receive up to two applications, but only in the early summer months.
Often I get calls from folks who are losing their lawn, either to disease or some unknown cause. They seem to have done everything right, exactly by the book. They have spent many hours and lots of money trying to establish a good lawn. While there could be many reasons for their problems, often they may be “loving” their lawn to death, by excessive fertilization.
If you still want that deep green color, try using a lawn fertilizer with iron in it. Iron is capable of enhancing color while reducing the need for nitrogen. A high quality fertilizer, used as recommended, will help lawn health and keep it beautiful. But don’t overdo it. A little may be good. A little more may make it a lot worse.
If you desire further information on this or any other topic, contact your local University of Missouri Extension Center. University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all. Thank you for your time.
University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all
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