Before the RFP do you know your turf?

It's that time of year again: time for 2025 landscape budgeting and planning. The first question you should ask is, do you know your turf?

Before advancing with your 2025 landscape plan, determining which turf Warm-Season or Cool-Season you have across your portfolio is one of the initial questions your team must answer. What are the lawn care requirements of each to ensure optimal results? Have the necessary adjustments been made to your 2025 RFP or Scope to enhance outcomes, maintain consistency, and manage expenses effectively?

What is the Difference Between Cool- and Warm-season Grasses?

"Although the scientific difference between cool- and warm-season grasses rests in how each performs photosynthesis, it all boils down to this: Cool-season grasses grow best during the mild months while warm-season grasses grow best during the warmer months." (“Quick Guide to Cool-season Grasses | TruGreen”)

Seasonal Patterns of Turf Grass

Cool-season grasses follow a seasonal pattern throughout most of the country:

·?????? After emerging from dormancy in the spring, cool-season turf quickly grows

·?????? The grass tolerates summer, but drought and high heat may cause it to turn brown and go dormant.

·?????? As the fall brings cooler weather rain, growth resumes.

·?????? Growth continues until the soil freezes.

·?????? Cool-season turf grass remains active throughout the year in certain parts of the country, particularly the Pacific Northwest.

TruGreen? suggests using a customized fertilization schedule for cool-season turf grass based on your lawn’s needs. For example, overfertilization in the springtime can stimulate rapid shoot growth, in turn reducing your lawn’s root development and carbohydrate reserves. The benefit here is added density, but is the cost for your lawn worth it?

Another example is late fall fertilization. This takes advantage of a time when shoot growth is slowing but root growth is still happening. Plus, applying nitrogen to your lawn in the fall significantly boosts the production of carbohydrates, which are stored up for the next growing season. This improves your chances of enjoying an early spring green-up.

Warm-season grasses follow a seasonal pattern throughout most of the country:

·?????? During cold weather. When soil temperatures fall below 50°F, warm-season grasses turn brown and go dormant (no food or green leaf production) until spring brings about warmer soil temperatures.

·?????? During spring green-up. Green-up may start when soil temperatures warm, but this process can take weeks, thanks to changing air temperatures. During this transition, proper turf grass management is vital.

·?????? During growth. As soon as your nighttime soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F, warm-season turf grasses will break dormancy and start to grow again.

·?????? Warm-season turf grass remains active throughout the entire year in certain parts of the country where soil temperatures remain warm enough, including subtropical regions such as South Florida.

·?????? Warm-season turf grass experiences the bulk of its root growth during the summer and late spring. You can fertilize during this time to stimulate root growth, but most of the energy stored is used for shoot growth. TruGreen? prefers a customized fertilization schedule for warm-season turf grass.

·?????? Finally, weed control or lack of drives most of the spring complaints. Do you have the correct weed control program in place? How do you know? Did you have the correct fall weed control applied? If not, you are going to see plenty of weeds this spring. We can help. Have you adjusted your fall lawn applications for this year? This is one of the most important steps you can do now to control POA Annua for those warm season lawns. Lots to think about. Not sure, let’s talk.

At TruGreen National Accounts we can help with your portfolio needs and the science side of your exterior maintenance i.e., fertilization, weed/crabgrass control, insect/disease control, flea/tick control, mosquito control and more. We listen to you and then create customized programs for your portfolio based on science, markets, and grass types.

We can help you address your lawn care challenges, leave the science to us. Take the time to get it right and make the change for 2025. Want to learn more? Let's talk.

EJ Martinez

National Account Director

TruGreen Commerical Services

[email protected]