News

 


LSU's Tiger Stadium has installed Celebration Bermudagrass for the 2010 football season and beyond.  "Death Valley" is just the latest LSU park to add Celebration.  The softball, baseball and soccer facilities already use this improved, dark green bermudagrass.  Click on the video to get a closer look. 

Identify what's bugging you in this 5 minute, insect description video.

EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Summer 2010

Video Notes:


Step 1 - Fertilization.  If you didn't fertilize in the Spring, you can apply a fertilizer with a 1-1 ration of nitrogen to potassium...like a 15-0-15.  The middle number is phosphorus and it can usually be zero.  If you did fertilize in the Spring, you can wait till late Summer or early Fall to do so again. 

Step 2 - Irrigation.  Don't overwater in the hot months.  EMPIRE needs about an inch of water per week either from in-ground irrigation or natural rainfall.  Wait for a sign that the grass is in need of watering before irrigating...like blades of the EMPIRE Turf wilting.  Water in the early morning hours for best results.  Too much water can lead to fungus outbreaks, like Large Patch.  

Step 3 - Mowing.  You will likely mow more often in the Summer.  Just make sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing.  Mowing too low can stress the grass and it will turn brown.  If you miss a mowing, it might take multiple mowings to get the grass back to the height you like.  Wait about 3-5 days between each mowing.  

Watch out for Hunting Billbugs.  If you have had them in the past but are free of them at the moment, treat with an insecticide application this fall.

 

EMPIRE Turf - Care and Maintenance - Spring 2010
Get your EMPIRE Turf zoysia lawn ready for Spring and Summer.  This video will guide you through some simple care instructions for getting your EMPIRE lawn looking its best. 

Video Notes:

Step 1 - MOW LOW.  For the first mowing of the year, scalp the lawn with the mower and bag the clippings.

Step 2 - Apply Fertilizer.  We recommend a 1-0-1 ratio.  (eg...(15-0-15))

Step 3 - Apply Pre-emergent herbicide to prevent summer weeds.  You can buy it already mixed in with fertilizer.

Step 4 - To prevent Billbugs and other insect pests, put down a broad spectrum insecticide containing bifenthrin.  Make sure to water any granular insecticides into the lawn.

Step 5 - EMPIRE Turf needs about 3/4 of an inch of water per week from either natural rainfall or inground irrigation.  Overwatering can lead to fungus outbreaks.  If needed, put down a systemic fungicide with an active ingredient.

 

 

 

Follow a few simple steps and get your EMPIRE Turf looking great again after the cold southern winter of 2010.

Celebration Bermudagrass has been gaining popularity in the United States for use in major stadiums. Now other countries are following suit. Recently two facilities used by some of the best soccer teams in South America and Europe have changed their grass over to Celebration.

Botafogo FR, a soccer (futebol) club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has put down Celebration on its home field of Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium, simply known as Engenhao. Botafogo FR belongs to the Major National League and recently won a State Championship.

 

 

The grass was put down last December because the Tifway 419 they were using was having issues dealing with heavy foot traffic and shade caused by the stadium overhangs. Celebration has rated best in test for both of those issues. The sod was provided by Itograss and installed by Greenleaf Gramados.

The other huge stadium recently installed hails from Spain. Spanish first division club Valencia CF put down Celebration leading into the 2009-2010 season at their home field since 1923, Estadio Mestalla. Sod was provided for the 55,000 seat stadium by Spanish company Ibergreen and put down last September. Valencia is one of the more successful clubs in Spanish football and has an extremely large worldwide fanbase.

 

 

Parks and Rec Business' February 2010 Edition article on EMPIRE Turf by Steve Yeskulsky. 

The article details the difference between drought tolerance and drought resistance and how it relates to different grass varieties.  EMPIRE's drought tolerance is highlighted in the article along with other benefits of using EMPIRE sod.  It also details some common stresses for the EMPIRE zoysia grass and some things to do to keep your lawn looking healthy.  Click the magazine cover to download the article.  The article has been reprinted with permission.

Bermudagrasses and shade usually don't get mentioned in the same breath. Bermuda cultivars just don't handle the conditions like other grass varieties. In fact, the quest to find that elusive shade tolerant bermuda has been the bane of many golf course superintendents over the years. There are a few select types of bermudagrass, however, that clearly handle limited sunlight locations better than others. The top-tested bermudagrass on the market for shade continues to be Celebration® Bermudagrass. Originally developed in Australia, Celebration has been the most consistent, best performing bermuda in diminished sunlight locations around the world. Celebration even beats out the University of Georgia's latest bermudagrass release TifGrand^TM, which was selected specifically for its shade tolerance.

In the hunt for bermuda shade tolerance, university research has put these grasses to the test. Clemson University did a two year shade study of 42 bermudagrass cultivars in 2007. This study included both Celebration and UGA's TifGrand (then known as Tift No.4). Celebration was the only grass to get a "six" rating for overall shade tolerance. TifGrand finished in a three-way tie for second in the study with a "five" rating.

Celebration is known for its high marks in wear resistance and divot recovery, but many golf course employees have seen firsthand how it deals with shade. Courses having issues with trees and shaded tee boxes have seen Celebration work when others simply would not.

Consumers in any capacity, from golf superintendents to homeowners, must remember that all grasses need some amount of sunlight to survive. In some instances, grass itself just might not be the right option. An area completely devoid of direct sunlight might call for replacements like pine straw or mulch. But it you get a few hours of sun and are in the market for a bermudagrass that has the ability to handle and grow well in a shady area, you can't beat Celebration.


2007 Clemson University Shade Study

We will be at the Turf Producers International mid-winter conference in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The conference is Feb. 1-5 at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

We will be attending the 2010 Golf Industry Show in San Diego, CA. The show is Feb. 9-12 at the San Diego Convention Center. We will be in the booth with Sod Solutions. If you are at the show come by the booth and visit with us. We look forward to seeing you there.