UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After Last Year's Drought And This Spring's Drenching, Many Lawns Are In Pretty Bad Shape. But A Turfgrass Expert In Penn State's College Of Agricultural Sciences Says Almost Any Lawn Can Be Rehabilitated.

"Restoring a deteriorated area on your lawn can be time-consuming and somewhat expensive," says Peter Landschoot, associate professor of turfgrass science. "But before you pour time and money into renovation, make sure you have addressed any underlying problems that caused the turfgrass to deteriorate in the first place."

Landschoot says turfgrass can deteriorate for a variety of reasons, but most problems can be corrected by renovation, better lawn maintenance and selecting the proper turfgrass species and variety. Landschoot lists some turf deterioration causes and the best corrective steps.

Shade Problems -- Pruning and tree removal can greatly improve a lawn that is plagued by too much shade. "There are three turfgrass species -- creeping red fescue, Chewing's fescue and hard fescue -- that are adapted to shaded conditions," he says. "Be sure to consult the seed label to make sure one or more of these species are included before buying any turfgrass mixture designed for shade." Landschoot says trees may need to be pruned in heavily shaded areas. "Even shade-tolerant grasses need some sunlight," he says. Poor Drainage -- Drainage problems can be alleviated by breaking up compacted soil or by installing drainage tile in the lawn. "If puddles keep appearing in low spots, the lawn might have to be regraded so water will drain," Landschoot says.

Soil Fertility and Acidity -- A soil test can indicate whether a lawn needs to be fertilized, or whether the soil is too acidic and needs an application of lime. Soil testing kits are available at a nominal fee from any Penn State Cooperative Extension county office. "Simply mail in your sample and a testing laboratory will return a recommendation of how much fertilizer or lime to apply," Landschoot says.

Pests -- Insects and other pests -- including Japanese beetle grubs, sod webworms and several others -- can cause extensive damage to lawns. "In order to control insects, you have to know what you are fighting," Landschoot explains. "If you can't identify a pest, bring a recent sample to an extension office. You also should buy a good book on lawn care. Most lawn books have excellent pictures of the common insect pests of turfgrass."

Thatch -- Thatch is a tightly woven layer of decomposed grass stems and roots that develops beneath the growing grass blades, but above the soil surface. The roots of turfgrass also can grow into thatch, which causes the roots to dry out during dry periods in the summer. "Thatch can prevent the movement of water, fertilizers and pesticides into the soil," Landschoot says. "Thatch builds up over a period of years and must be removed using a thatching machine, which usually can be rented from a garden center or rental outlet."

Mowing -- Mowing a lawn seems easy, but Landschoot urges homeowners to remember two simple mowing guidelines: Mow frequently so that you don't remove more than a third of the total grass blade surface; and, if the lawn is mown regularly, you don't need to remove clippings. "You should mow most lawns to a height of at least 2 inches as long as the grass is growing," he says.

Plant the Right Species -- Many reputable lawn and seed companies prepare special turfgrass mixtures to meet the needs of certain sites and climates. Landschoot says homeowners should research turf seed mixtures and ask for recommendations from knowledgeable professionals before buying any grass seed. Grass seed also has a limited shelf life, so homeowners should check the date on seed mixtures before purchasing.

Landschoot recommends using perennial ryegrass to seed dead patches or thicken existing lawns. He warns that annual ryegrass should not be used for high-quality lawns. Sunny lawns can be seeded with tall fescue or a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues or perennial ryegrass. Shaded lawns can use the species listed in the section about shade problems. "Don't grab the first bag of grass seed you see on a shelf," Landschoot says. "Take the time to read what turf species are included and what conditions are best for vigorous growth."

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EDITORS: Contact Gary Abdullah at 814-863-2708 or gxa2@psu.edu (e-mail).

Contact:

Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-863-9877 fax #222