[compost_tea] Re: Bermuda Grass help with compost tea - dormant or distressed

From: dblsixteenout <jseegert_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:15:41 -0000

TifSport is a grass that will go dormant in the winter. The temperatures in=
 the SF areas and low amount of light in the winter have most likely caused=
 the TifSport to go dormant.

I also had a situation when I moved to my current residence where my grass =
was not growing well. I realized that the grass was not getting adequate n=
utrients even though I had properly applied time release fertilizer (before=
 I understood the benefits of ACT). I ended up spray applying the ACT on ab=
out 2-3 acres and I mixed in some Endomycorrhizae that I purchased at the f=
ollowing link:

http://www.hollandsgiants.com/soil.html

  The type I purchased (BIOGROW HYDRO-SOL)was the powder type and not the g=
ranular type. The application of endo is best applied directly to the root =
structure. With grass, the time that it takes to establish the endo coloni=
es on grass roots in undisturbed soil can often lead to a large percentage =
of the endo dying before it can be effective. Since it sounds like your roo=
ts are relatively exposed/shallow, the endo will have a better chance of he=
lping. The powdered form allowed me to spray apply it to the grass at the =
recommended rate with no nozzle clogging. The grass remained green in the=
 fall, which typically goes dormant and turns brownish during the fall/win=
ter and is still green under the snow (and didnt go dormant until almost Th=
anksgiving when it is normally dormant by October in Michigan). It appears =
that since my soil is predominantly dune sand, it allowed the endo to penet=
rate to the root structures. I am sure the application of ACT at the same t=
ime aided the process. I will have another application in the spring along =
with regular ACT maintenance applications. It also helps to apply ACT a day=
 or so prior to the endo application to allow those organisms to establish =
a foothold in the soil in preparation for the endo application which can be=
 mixed with more ACT or plain water. I am sure the combo application will h=
elp develop an extensive root system which will aid in reducing drainage an=
d runoff and top soil erosion resulting from the thinly growing grass. This=
 in turn will increase the amount of time between maintenance applications.=
  I originally heard of this through a friend who typically used endo in th=
is method on a golf course when there was a need for new turf or repairing =
turf divots. But he was quick to tell me that I would probably not see to m=
uch of a benefit to applying endo in thick and healthy grass.


--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "thomasgbowen" <thomasgbowen_at_...> wrote=
:
>
> Question to the group - a friend installed some Bermuda Grass (Tifsport B=
ermuda) in November in the San Francisco Bay Area. We had great rains in D=
ecember and nice weather in late Jan. The turf looks either very dormant o=
r very distressed as it has not kneaded, has not taken root,and is very bro=
wn. This is unusual for San Francisco. I was going to try an application =
of aerated compost tea. Does anyone care to share any ideas or recommend a=
ny supplements?
>




Received on Thu Feb 17 2011 - 01:19:06 EST

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