| Q: |
What are the advantages of Penkoted seed? |
| A: |
Penkote is a protective coating developed by Pennington in the early 1960’s. Penkote contains:
- A fungicide to protect seedlings from deadly fungi, like pythium, found in the air and soil. There are millions of fungi spores in the air and soil at all times.
- A natural insecticide to protect seeds from soil insects.
- A growth hormone to encourage root growth, making a stronger more vigorous plant.
- Tests have proven that the patented Penkote green color makes seed less attractive to birds.
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| Q: |
How much or often should I water? |
| A: |
Water should be applied often enough to keep the soil moist during the germination period. Once the seed has germinated, maintain a consistent watering schedule depending on current weather conditions. Over watering, or watering so often that the water does not have the time to soak into the soil and creates constant "puddling" can cause disease problems that seriously inhibit growth.
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| Q: |
How do I get rid of old grass to plant new? |
| A: |
- During any growing season spray the established lawn with a non-selective herbicide labeled for lawn use such as Eliminator Weed and Grass Killer*. Be sure and read the instructions on the label.
- After your lawn turns brown, plant your new lawn according to planting instructions. Never plant immediately after applying a herbicide.
*You can find these or other comparable products at Wal-Mart Lawn and Garden Centers.
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| Q: |
How soon after I apply weed and feed or a pre-emergent can I successfully plant? |
| A: |
Usually 3-4 weeks after applying a Weed and Feed and 4-6 months after applying a Crabgrass Preventer. The chemicals and fertilizers stay resident in the soil long after your application and are too strong for the young seedlings to survive.
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| Q: |
When is the best time to plant? |
| A: |
- Warm Season grasses such as Bermuda and Centipede- Constant soil temperature of 70 degrees.
- Cool season grasses such as Fescue and Bluegrass – Early fall or early spring.
- Our Master Turf varieties are mixtures of both warm and cool season grasses. All mixes are regionally formulated.
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| Q: |
How much fertilizer do I need? |
| A: |
Figure the size of your property and deduct for non-lawn area.
- 1 ACRE is 43,560 sq. ft.
- 3/4 ACRE is 32,670 sq. ft.
- 1/2 ACRE is 21,780 sq. ft.
- 1/4 ACRE is 10,890 sq. ft.
Determine the type of fertilizer you want to use.
- A 40# bag of 10-10-10 covers 4,000 sq. ft.
- A 40# bag of 13-13-13 covers 5,200 sq. ft.
- A 40# bag of 34-0-0 covers 13,600 sq. ft.
- A 40# bag of pelletized lime covers approximately 1,000 sq. ft. Conduct a soil test and see lime chart for correct amount of lime needed.
Figure the number of bags needed for coverage of your lawn.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS BEFORE APPLYING PRODUCT.
FOR DETAILED SOIL ANALYSIS AND FERTILIZER NEEDS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT ABOUT PERFORMING A SOIL TEST.
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| Q: |
When is it safe to apply fertilizer before and after planting my new lawn? |
| A: |
- There are three schools of thought concerning the application of fertilizer before planting:
- Fertilizer will promote the growth of existing weeds and weed seed imbedded in the soil.
- If not allowed to activate before seed germination, fertilizer can burn the tender seedlings.
- Fertilizer applied properly before seeding, can strengthen the seedlings, allowing them to choke out any weeds and create a stronger stand.
- After planting, you should wait at least 30 days after the seed has germinated to apply a fertilizer. After applying your fertilizer, be sure to provide with sufficient amounts of water so as not to burn the young seedlings.
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| Q: |
Why aerate? |
| A: |
To loosen the soil and provide necessary oxygen to the roots and room for the roots to grow.
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| Q: |
What grows best in shady areas? |
| A: |
If your site is shady, there are mixes for partially and fully shaded sites. The mix that is best for your lawn depends on the amount of shade you have. Master Turf Sun and Shade is suitable for lawns with 50% shade and Master Turf Shady is suitable for lawns with 70% shade.
The shade under tree cover tends to be extremely acidic, so it is highly recommended to perform a soil test and apply lime as needed.
You can also consider pruning the trees allowing for additional sunlight to seep through.
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| Q: |
How do I repair bare spots? |
| A: |
- Mow the area closely and remove all debris; leaves, dead grass, etc.
- Rake the soil to prepare seed bed.
- Plant your seedlings according to planting instructions.
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| Q: |
What Is the proper way to store my grass seed? |
| A: |
As long as you keep your grass seed in the driest condition possible, it should last longer. It does not need to be stored in an area that gets hotter than 70 degrees or on a concrete floor where it might be affected by moisture. These two factors could likely result in very little germination.
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| Q: |
When is the best time to mow my lawn after germination? |
| A: |
- After your grass plant has reached maturity, approximately 60-90 days after germination for a Bermuda lawn. Fescues can be mowed after reaching 5-6" in height.
- Be sure to follow the mowing height recommendations located on the back of each Master Turf bag. Be sure that you set your mower at the recommended height for the particular grass seed type you are planting.
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| Q: |
What should be my mowing schedule? |
| A: |
- Begin mowing early in the spring to help keep weed plants from producing seed. This will help cut down on the use of herbicides.
- Each type of grass has a height where it does best. Be sure to follow the mowing height recommendations located on the back of each Master Turf bag.
- To keep the tips of your grass blades from appearing brown and ragged-looking, always keep your mower blades sharp.
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