This report estimates the cost and return of a centipedegrass sod farm in Louisiana. Materials, inputs and scheduling reflect the average situation in Louisiana.

Soil compaction and lack of aeration are death on turf.

Poa infestations are usually combated with herbicides. Several options exist with preemergence herbicides applied in the early fall for Poa control on golf courses that will not be overseeded. However, most of these herbicides are not labeled for golf greens.

Iron chlorosis results when green chlorophyll in leaf tissue fails to develop properly. Iron chlorosis first develops in new growth and as the condition worsens, leaves appear yellow or almost white.

Mole crickets cause millions of dollars in turf and grass damage each year. Their burrowing in the soil breaks up the soil and causes roots to dry out. Identification, life cycle and control included.

Phosphorus (P) is a major essential nutrient in plants and soils, but is often eyed as an element of concern. Following our BMPs for P fertilization should yield adequate growth, color and pest resistance without harmful pressures on our water’s quality.

There are several state-regulated horticulture professions and two occupations that require a license or permit in Louisiana.

A properly designed and operated irrigation system will ensure that the critical factor of soil moisture will be there to sustain healthy plant growth.

Most high-end golf courses in Louisiana play on high-speed, dense, ultra-dwarf bermudagrasses like TifEagle, Champion or Mini Verde. These new-generation grasses can be wonderful but unforgiving compared to older grasses like TifDwarf or TifGreen.

Large patch (formerly called brown patch) is the most common disease of warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. This article decribes the disease and how to manage it.

It takes some knowledge and research to select turfgrass species and varieties that are adapted to your site and that will perform well under their intended use and time of planting.

Centipedegrass is a popular lawn grass in Louisiana. Although centipede is a low-maintenance grass, proper management is still important. This publcation covers factors that contribute to centipede decline: improper plant nutrition, cultural practices, and soil and water conditions.

The turfgrass cover on playing fields definitely affects the play of the game. Field speed, ball roll and safety are all very much related to the turf condition. An attractive field is inspirational to the team and a pleasure to watch play on.

Soil salts affect turf mostly by withholding moisture from plant tissues. They may also compete for uptake of nutrient ions. Try these suggestions to manage a soil salinity situation.

Managing nematodes in golf greens is quickly going to change over the next two years. The current nematicide that is being use is being phased out.

Whether renovating your field or planting a new one, a good, strong start is the key to success.

With the ever increasing demand for faster, more competitive putting green surfaces, superintendents are finding blue-green algae encroachment on putting greens an all too common theme.

Knowing what is in your soil and what it needs is a basic and first step to a good crop and plant health. This off-season time is a good time to get this information and find the products you will require.

The chemical analysis of a soil sample has been worked out and calibrated so that the numbers reported mean something useful to the client. However, the results are only as good as the sample is representative of the area and crop’s root zone.

Consumer Reports magazine released its second annual lawn care poll in the May issue. See the results.

Turfgrasses provide functional, economic, recreational, health and safety, environmental and aesthetic benefits to Louisiana.

There are several things that will give all athletic fields success in keeping adequate turf cover on the field. Simply put, you must grow grass, avoid wearing it out and don’t have a mud pit.

Areas that receive a lot of traffic usually become compacted. Soil particles are packed closer together, creating a root zone where there is little air, poor percolation of water and a tough medium for roots to grow in. The most effective form of relief for a compacted lawn is core aerification.

Mowing in the morning will give a longer time of high quality play during hours of play than mowing in afternoon or evening because of the way grass grows.

The reality of the myth that gypsum added to a lawn or garden will definitely improve soil tilth and strength, falls into the realm of agricultural practices being misapplied to ornamental landscapes.

Some people believe a turfgrass sod farm will eventually look like a strip mine because top soil is depleted with each harvest.

Louisiana sod farm situation for 2008.

Winterizing is an attempt to toughen plant tissues for the winter freezes much as you would add antifreeze to your car’s radiator for freeze protection.

Centipedegrass is a popular lawn grass in Louisiana. Although centipede is a low-maintenance grass, proper management is still important. This publcation covers factors that contribute to centipede decline: improper plant nutrition, cultural practices, and soil and water conditions.

A lawn can be as functional as it is beautiful if planned properly. Recommended varieties, degree of shade, planting and establishment and other site considerations are included.

Although the earth’s crust is about 5% iron (Fe), we still see iron deficiency in plants. This may be because of a problem with the plant roots, soil and/or environment. This publication includes tips on how to care for your turfgrass.

St. Augustine disease is a virus disease that affects St. Augustine grass across the Gulf States. This fact sheet describes the disease and how to mange it. Color photos are included. (PDF Format Only)

Without good irrigation and resources to do so, allowing your turf to go dormant during extended summer drought may be the best management practice.

Two-thirds to three-quarters of the golf game is affected by the green; thus your first dollars should go toward a well-performing green.

Increased emphasis on safer sports turf has evolved greatly over the past years. About 20 years ago, two-thirds of reported sports injuries occurred on practice fields. Those fields were less maintained than game fields.

This is a PDF chart of 2009 (home and commercial) recommended lawn and turfgrass herbicides and their general usage.

Numbers and lines on turfgrass are best applied with specially formulated turf paints. These materials are not toxic to leaf blades and allow them to breathe.

Acidic soils (low pH) cause more gardening problems in Louisiana than any other soil factor. They affect so many other soil factors in both pest management and soil fertility.

The analysis or "formula" listed on the fertilizer bags tells you what is inside. This information lets you apply the proper amount of fertilizer.

A properly constructed and maintained playing surface is an important component of the overall athletic facility. This publication includes information on the construction and maintence of athletic field turfgrass.

Some lawns were lost to the flood waters and some were only hurt in spots. Dead areas will have to be replanted, or a weed patch will result. Some forethought before planting may save time, effort and money.

Mushrooms in lawns and moldy foods can be health hazards for your dogs, according to LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Steve Nicholson.

A simple but accurate way of checking the output of your sprayer is the H 128 method of sprayer calibration.

Grass clippings are a constant in yard maintenance, but fall introduces leaves into the mix. This year the nuisance is worse because hurricanes and storms have defoliated more trees.

In mid-April it’s time to do two things – pay taxes and fertilize your lawn. If you’ve already taken care of the taxes, now you should decide whether or not to fertilize your lawn.

There is a lot of play on the skinned areas of a ball field. Proper maintenance is required for safety and quality play.

We are all familiar with low-growing, running grasses like the St. Augustine and centipede used to cover lawn areas, and, in most gardeners’ minds, all other grasses are simply weeds. Ornamental grasses, however, are an often overlooked group of herbaceous perennials that thrive in our climate and will grow beautifully with minimal effort.

Louisiana has an abundant supply of water; even so, the demand for water sometimes exceeds the amount readily available. This publication will help homeowners and turf managers make better irrigation choices as to when to irrigate and how much.

Bermudagrass sod is a tough, fine-textured, aggressive, warm-season turf that's just perfect for a pretty lawn or well-performing athletic turf. It does not tolerate shade, so overhangs and trees are a big problem.

Simple and common materials to control weeds in lawns.

The good mowing practices are okay with most lawns and tall-cut turf. Tall cut grass often has more abuse tolerance by nature of more leaf area and more root mass. Low-cut turf does not have these extended benefits to draw from and requires the best mowing practices to sustain decent quality.

A good sports field doesn’t just happen. Even well constructed fields will be worn out if over used or abused.To better sustain your current turf surface this year, manage these prime considerations.

Layering of very different soil types creates root problems. If you can, always avoid sodding a sand-based root-zone area with native-soil-based sod.

Some sand bunkers are a nightmare to maintain. The structural stability of sand on a slope is a function of slope, type of sand and the amount of water. Knowledge of the following principles will show you where your problem lies and suggest what to do about it.

Dormant-season sodding can be successful. Planting dormant grass is simply more risky; winter environmental conditions may end up taking some of the sod. In some cases, risks have to be taken.

If you want to apply granular products correctly, you will need to use the correct spreader pattern setting, swath width, and rate setting. This article will tell you how to achieve this.

Many people think that grass just grows and grows and you can’t wear it out. The truth is that most fields are over used and under maintained. Assessing wear also helps with field maintenance schedules and budgets.

Our warm-season grasses don’t like low temperatures. Some may show off colors because of chilling injury. Don't confuse this with disease and don't make it worse.

Interest in commercial sod production has risen because of increased demand for an instant turf by many building contractors and their customers. This publication discusses basic cultural practices and equipment required to produce quality sod. (PDF Only - Rev 04/08)

The term ‘topdressing’ is used for both the material used and the process of adding a thin layer of material to the surface of a sod or seed bed.

A general overview calendar of bermudagrass maintenance options for athletic turf managers.

A simple calendar for general weed control activities on sports fields.

Several useful and applicable reference articles for sod farming.

To harvest an acre of sod on a sod farm will require more than an acre to be cut because it is virtually impossible to harvest all the grass as a saleable item. Losses will come from several sources.

Sports turf grown on a sand-based root zone requires special attention since it is sand and not soil. This management is more like a hydroponic culture.

The soil's pH (acidity level) is a basic foundation of soil fertility and productivity. It is 'step one' in plant production.

A lawn that’s properly cared for and healthy will resist weeds and other pest problems. Following the best management practices (BMPs) in this publication should help keep your lawn in good condition. 32-page, full-color guide. Cost: $5 plus tax (free shipping). To order this book, use the Order Publication link below.

The green industry is the production, sale and maintenance of ornamental plants and related products. The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of the green industry on Louisiana’s economy.

(Distributed 7/25/03) Sometimes you must pick up lawn waste or trash that can include leaves, pine needles and grass clippings as well as twigs, seed pods from trees, pine cones and other debris. There are tools designed for such jobs, says LSU AgCenter engineer Dr. Richard Parish.

LSU AgCenter experts say soil contamination in Jefferson and Orleans parishes from flooding after this summer’s hurricanes may not be as serious as originally feared. Initial results of tests conducted in October indicate no need for special preparations to the soils prior to planting and that there should be no danger for individuals digging or planting in the soil.

All grasses should be "brought back" in April. A good strong start helps prevent weed establishment.

If you overseeded your lawn or athletic fields last fall, you should help your turf out of that "fix," says LSU Agricultural Center horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. The warm-season grass will be trying to re-establish itself as the cool-season, overseeded grass grows strong.

If handled the wrong way, centipede lawns can develop a lethal syndrome.

(Distributed January 2004) In January and February, outdoor gardening activities are limited. Why not prepare for spring?

Maintaining good Bermudagrass turf primarily includes adequate fertility, mowing and weed control, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed May 2004) A recent Florida study showed that a sodded St. Augustine lawn, even on a sandy soil with 10 percent slope, was very effective in retaining the applied N (nitrogen). Sod was fertilized with a standard 1 pound. N/1000 square feet. every other month during the growing season. Researchers found less than 2 percent of the applied N was lost as leaching down through that soil. This loss occurred essentially with fresh applications and higher rainfall.

As we move into August, heat and humidity make you think twice before working outdoors. In wet summers, the extra turf growth and extra mowing also may squelch your enthusiasm. But spending less time in your yard could lead to a loss of general soil fertility.

(Distributed 7/25/03) Does your lawn have ruts or stripes caused by mower tires? Have you ever envied the beautiful checkerboard and diagonal patterns on golf greens and sports fields? You can counteract the ruts and improve the look of your lawn with a little forethought and change in your mowing patterns, according to LSU AgCenter engineer Dr. Richard Parish.

(Distributed 7/25/03) Fertilization is one way to promote rapid recovery of worn turf areas on athletic fields. But time is running short to restore the grass, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.