Purdue News
Purdue News
A Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service turfgrass specialist said he expects grasses to survive, but some places may need a little help.
Zac Reicher said: "Turfgrasses in the Midwest can easily withstand submersion for a week or more when soil temperatures are less than 60 degrees, and plants should be able to survive submersion much longer if soil temperatures are near 40 degrees, as they are now. I would expect very little turfgrass death this spring directly due to submersion."
To improve recovery of turfgrass that's been submerged, Reicher said, immediately remove debris, silt and sand after water recedes. He suggests using a combination of shovels, rakes and water hoses for the job. Regular raking may be needed throughout the season to break up any remaining crust.
"If the grass isn't green after the water recedes and doesn't green up with adjacent non-flooded areas," Reicher said, "consider vigorous aerification followed by reseeding this spring."
He said this task should be done as soon as possible, definitely by mid-May, for best results. Homeowners can rent a machine for aeration, or a lawn-care business can provide the service, according to the specialist.
For more information on spring lawn seeding, Reicher recommends Extension publication AY-20, "Seeding Turf Areas in the Spring." It's available for 50 cents (Indiana residents should add 3 cents for sales tax) by writing: Media Distribution Center, 301 S. Second St., Lafayette, IN 47901-1232. Or, you can find it and additional Purdue turf information on the World Wide Web at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/agronomy/turf/turftips.htm
Source: Zac Reicher, (765) 494-9737; e-mail, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu
Writer: Andrea McCann, (765) 494-8406; e-mail, mccann@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
