Why is my grass thinning out?
Shade is the cause of most stand losses. All turfgrasses requires sunlight to grow. If the sun does not hit the ground, consider shade tolerant ornamental or ground covers. Soil compaction is the second most frequent cause of stand loss. Check for compaction by forcing a 6 inch bladed knife or screwdriver into moist soil. You should be able to push the blade in with just your thumb over the end of the handle. These two factors are responsible for 80 percent of turf problems in Mississippi.
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Having “stickers” in your yard can be quite the nuisance. Stumbling upon a patch of stickers while walking barefoot is a painful experience. Plus it’s painful for your four-legged family members! Formally known as lawn burweed, these winter annuals are no fun to deal with.
Every year, lawns and pastures become targets for late-summer grass-eating caterpillars, making it important to watch for the usual suspects and some culprits that are less common.
And just like that, we’re three-fourths through the year! Cooler temperatures will be here before we know it, hopefully sooner rather than later. Even though we all know the heat will stay around a little longer, it’s time to start preparing for fall and winter.
Mississippi State University Extension professionals offer training and expertise annually at a research field day, and the event will happen in 2020, just differently.
Since the best-managed sports fields are the safest, the Mississippi State University Extension Service is offering two workshops in February to improve the skills of field managers.
Field management workshops will be held Feb. 11 in Booneville and Feb. 18 in Columbus. Each event lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. with lunch provided. There is no cost to attend.