Care of Perennial Rye Grass Lawns
Introduction
This article was written specifically for the perennial rye grass
lawns in Auckland, New
zealand, which is warmer
than in Germany where I lived for many years and gained most of my
experience
in managing cool season grasses, but the basic principles apply for
both regions.
Perennial Rye grass (Lolium perenne) (Deutsches
Weidelgras) is a magnificent grass that can produce the most
desirable lawn imaginable if it is cared for correctly, however it is a
high production grass, which needs expert care to keep it at its best.
Being a high production grass perennial rye needs high inputs of water
and nutrients so as to be able to maintain a high growth rate, this
results in the need to be cut frequently. If one does not follow the
basic rules of rye grass culture and care then one is going to become
very disappointed, one is not going to be able to successfully
grow this specie of grass in Auckland.
Mowing
The poor cultural practices of mowing infrequently, removing more than
one third of the leaf blade at one time, mowing too low and scalping
are the single biggest factors in destroying a high quality healthy rye
grass lawn.
Anyone can push a lawn mower, only a suitably trained and qualified
lawn care expert can mow your lawn correctly. The vast majority of
lawns
that are in a poor condition are so as a direct result of being mowed
incorrectly.
The golden rule when it comes to mowing a rye grass lawn is to mow
frequently and not too low. Never ever scalp a rye grass lawn.
As a rule of thumb do not remove more the one third of the length of
the grass leaf blade at any one mowing.
Top quality rye grass turf such as found on top class, golf courses,
rugby and soccer fields etc. are usually cut on a daily basis during
the peak growing period and two to three times a week during the off
peak season.
For the best results use a real mower. Always keep the blades sharp
in particular where a rotary mower is used.
Never cut a premium quality lawn with a mower that has been used on
a sub standard lawn in particular one infested with weeds without first
thoroughly washing and cleaning the underside and blades of the mower
to
remove weed seeds and fungus spoors. Never use an edge cutter to cut
your
lawn, edge cutters (weed eater) are made for edging not for mowing.
Fertilizing
Fertilize your lawn applying small quantities of fertilizer frequently,
the use of a slow release fertilizer is preferable.
Liming
To ensure that the pH range of the soil stays at the optimum for
healthy rye grass growth the lawn will need an application of lime once
a year the amount depending on the conditions. A simple soil pH test
will give an indication as to when and how much needs to be applied.
Watering
Rye grass does not like to be dry, keep it well irrigated taking into
account that it also does not want to be drowned.
Scarifying and aeration
From time to time your rye grass lawn is going to need scarifying and
aerating. Once per year should be sufficient for a domestic lawn.
Top dressing
To keep the lawn level and the surface even an annual top dressing and
levelling needs to be carried out in the spring. A compost sand mix is
the ideal top dressing material
Over seeding
It is essential to overseed your lawn at least twice a year to keep
it in tip top condition. Overseed once in spring and again in autumn.
Grass plants just as all other living organisms age and with ageing
comes a reduction in vigour. In addition some plants become infected
with disease, or are affected by various environmental stresses and
die. If these plants are not
replace the lawn in time becomes sparse, looks tired an open invitation
for
weeds.
Fungal diseases
In the hot humid summer months rye grass is often the victim of various
fungal attacks,
Red Thread (Laetisaria fuciformis)
If moist grass is viewed closely, the pinkish gelatinous growth of the
fungi and tiny cotton wool like tufts of spores may be seen. In drier
conditions, tiny red threads of the red thread fungus may be observed
extending from the leaf tips. The grass itself may show irregular
patches of dead and dying leaves, giving the lawn a ragged appearance.
The disease is restricted to the leaves and is not usually very
destructive.
Red thread is spread by water, feet and mowing. Infections are most
common on slow growing grass stressed by compaction, drought, low
temperatures or inadequate fertility.
Cultural Management:
It is possible to prevent or reduce red thread
through good lawn care practices. Soil pH should be maintained at
6.5-7.0.
This disease is most common in nitrogen deficient turf.
Chemical Management:
Fungicides are not recommended except in extreme cases.
Rust (Puccinia spp.)
There are many different rust fungi that can infect lawn grasses, but
they all have in common the production of reddish, yellowish or orange
spores that give "rusts" their name. There is usually not enough time
for
spores to be produced on lawns that are mowed regularly, so epidemics
are
not usually severe.
Cultural Management:
The most important way to avoid rust infection
on lawns is to keep the turfgrass growing vigorously so that it will be
mowed before spores can be produced.
Chemical Management:
Fungicides are not recommended for rust
diseases on lawns except in extreme cases.
Ecoman
Sports Turf and Lawn Expert
I have considerable experience with establishing and managing
both warm
season as well as cool season grasses which has been gained in Durban,
South Africa,
Wilhelmshaven, Germany
and Auckland, New Zealand.
Sports Turf Construction Experience
My sports turf construction experience includes the
construction of many
sports fields for football, rugby hockey and cricket, golf course
greens,
bowling greens, turf wickets in Durban, South
Africa
over a period of more than 25 years mostly while working for the Durban
Parks
Department, which were all planted to warm season grasses in particular
Cynodon
dactylon varieties. I also constructed and renovated a number of
football
fields and rugby fields in New Zealand.
Amenity Turf
Construction
Experience
Most of my amenity turf construction experience comes from
over 28 years
constructing and maintaining parks and gardens for the Durban Parks
Department,
I also gained valuable experience as a private contractor constructing
parks
and establishing cool season grasses mostly for the North Shore City
Council in
Auckland New Zealand.
Sports Turf and Amenity
Turf
Maintenance Experience
Most of my sports turf and amenity turf maintenance
experience comes from
the maintenance of a large number of parks, sports fields, road verges
etc that
were under my direct care as a
horticulturist then later as a horticultural manager during the 28
years that I
was employed by the Durban Parks Department
Domestic lawn
Establishment and
Maintenance Experience
My domestic lawn establishment and maintenance experience has
been
gained on warm season grasses in Durban
and on
cool season grasses in Wilhelmshaven, Germany and Auckland, New
Zealand.
My first experience with domestic lawn care was gained as a young child
helping
my father do his annual spring treatment of our own domestic lawn up
until
today where I still do all my own lawn care including the cutting of my
own
lawn. I have also cared for lawn for commercial clients in South Africa, Germany
and New Zealand
over a period of over 40 years.
For a number of years I over seeded portions
of my own domestic lawn in Durban
in winter with
cool season grasses to maintain a lush green lawn in areas that Cynodon
dactylon had been planted.
Academic Achievements
Certificate
in Turf Grass Management (Cum
Laude)
Best
Student Turf Grass Management Association
1984
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