If the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, come see us.
Hello, again!
In 1931, while judging at a Sorghum Show, Dr. E.N. Fergus was informed about a patch of grass on the hillside on the W.M. Suiter Farm in Menifee County in eastern Kentucky that stayed greener longer than other cool-season grasses. Being the agronomist he was, Dr. Fergus checked the pasture out and noticed how it not only prevented erosion on the hillside, but also provided a good pasture for grazing. It was cold out, so the ability the grass showed to keep its dark green color in winter also impressed the scientist. Wanting to test the seed, Dr. Fergus asked Mr. Suiter to harvest about a pound of seed, which was then planted at the University of Kentucky Experiment Station in 1932. From this sorghum judging trip in 1931, Kentucky 31 - The Wonder Grass (K-31) was born. This tall fescue was the mainstay in cool-season lawns for decades. As far back as I can remember, K-31 came in 50 pound burlap bags, which now are collectible!
Universities have for years been testing, improving and introducing new strains of tall fescues. Actually, Kansas State University is part of the NTEP, the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, which is at the forefront of turfgrass research. In
1979, Rebel turf-type tall fescue was introduced as an improvement over the old standard K-31. With a lower growth habit, finer texture, darker green color and a denser turf, Rebel soon became a homeowner favorite.
Tall fescue still required more water than warm-season turf varieties, so there was still room for improvement. With the advances that have come out of NTEP, we now have tall fescues that are much more heat, drought and disease tolerant. I think we have all learned over the past year that we can have a good looking cool-season lawn with a lot less water; even watering just one day a week has worked for us.
Maybe you are filling in a few spots in your lawn, or maybe wanting to renovate with the newest varieties of turf-type fescues, like Johnson's Blue Ribbon Tall Fescue Blend. Now is a good time to get started.
The first step in the renovation process is to kill out what is presently in the yard. With a treatment of Hi-Yield Killzall Weed and Grass Killer, the actively growing foliage will absorb the product, taking it systemically to the roots, killing the grass in 7-10 days. Once dead, the area may be seeded with grass seed at that time. There is no residual in the soil to inhibit seed germination. By spraying mid- to late-summer, you’ll have ample opportunity for respraying any spots missed. As always, read and follow label instructions.
Once the existing turf/weeds/bermudagrass is dead, The area can be cut short, grade addressed where needed, area verticut and seeded. Apply ferti-lome New Lawn Starter at seeding time along with an application of ferti-lome Green HuMic which adds beneficials to the soil. Two applications this fall with ferti-lome Winterizer will get the new turf established early in the season.
Stop by the stores for one of our Lawn Renovation Seminars this Saturday, August 2nd, at either store at 10:00 a.m. for detailed information on your particular lawn care project this season.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
