NALP COOL SEASON TURFGRASSES
CH5 (OTHER CULTURAL PRACTICES,
MOWING, THATCH MANAGEMENT,
AERATION, IRRIGATION) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Do leaf clippings contribute to thatch? - Answer-No, they may be present but they do
not contribute to the thatch layer because that are easily broken down
What compound makes up about 25% of thatch? What are the other two main
components of thatch? - Answer-Lignin - 25%
cellulose and hemicellulose
Does lignin break down easily? - Answer-No, it is resistant to decay by microorganism.
But cellulose and hemicellulose decompose more easily.
What are the benefits of thatch? - Answer-A thin layer of thatch provides insulation
against temperature extremes and fluctuation in soil moisture. Thatch on sports turf can
provide resiliency, soften players impact o the surface, and improve footing.
What are the problems related to heavy thatch? - Answer-Thatch can heat up and dry
quickly, roots that grow roots in patch are vulnerable to desiccation. Scalping turf
because mower wheels sink into thatch can be another problem, it can also increase
pest problems and can stop pesticides and herbicides from reaching the soil
What does the book list as the main culprits of thatch build up? - Answer-Thatchy
turfgrass species, acid soils and reduced microbe activity, pesticides, and aggressive
fertilization.
What does a thatch prevention program center on? - Answer-appropriate species and
cultivar selection, liming, core aerations, and proper pesticide and fertilizer use.
What growth types should grasses have if you wish to have low thatch? - Answer-Bunch
type, grasses that grow by stolon and rhizomes can cause thatch build up.
How does core aeration help with thatch levels? - Answer-Core aerations alleviates
compactions and improves air movement in soils, thereby increasing microbial activities
and breakdown of thatch, it also physically removes thatch.
, How does our fertilization increase thatch? - Answer-Adding too much Nitrogen can
increase production of roots and stems, it can also acidify soils which reduces the rate
of thatch breakdown
Will preventative thatch measures help on thatch layers that are 1 or more inches thick?
- Answer-No, thatch must be physically removed to reduce thatch.
What sort of machine should be used to remove thatch? How does it work? - Answer-
Vertical mowers - they have blades that are perpendicular to the soil's surface which
slice into thatch and bring up organic debris which are then collected.
Power rakes - they have vertically rotating wire tines that remove thatch.
What are some problems that can occur with vertical mowers? - Answer-You can
remove too much thatch and severely thin the turf. You can also remove roots that are
growing in the thatch and weaken or kill the turf. If there is more than 2 inches of thatch
it is practically impossible to remove thatch without greatly thinning the lawn.
Should you remove thatch when the turf is under stress? Why or why not? - Answer-No,
this increases the chance of injury and decreases the recovery potential of turf.
What conditions can bring about compacts in lawns? - Answer-Soils that receive regular
foot traffic and/or vehicular traffic.
Soils that have high amounts of clay.
What is compaction and why is it bad for soils? - Answer-Compressed and dense soils
that have reduced air movement. Compacted soils contain less oxygen and increased
levels of CO2 and other toxic gasses. This results in poor root development and thin
turf.
Also causes slow water infiltration leading to poor soil drainage.
What is aeration? - Answer-The process of alleviating soil compaction by removing
small cores of soil and turf from the lawn, thus, creating a system of large pores through
which moisture and air can move into the soil
Does aerating equipment with solid tines actually aerate the soil? - Answer-No, it just
pushes the thatch and compaction the the sides of the pores, does not actually remove
anything.
What is one downside of core aerating? - Answer-Making several passes will thin the
lawn because turf is being removed. The grass will recover, but the thin lawn can allow
weeds to move in.
CH5 (OTHER CULTURAL PRACTICES,
MOWING, THATCH MANAGEMENT,
AERATION, IRRIGATION) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Do leaf clippings contribute to thatch? - Answer-No, they may be present but they do
not contribute to the thatch layer because that are easily broken down
What compound makes up about 25% of thatch? What are the other two main
components of thatch? - Answer-Lignin - 25%
cellulose and hemicellulose
Does lignin break down easily? - Answer-No, it is resistant to decay by microorganism.
But cellulose and hemicellulose decompose more easily.
What are the benefits of thatch? - Answer-A thin layer of thatch provides insulation
against temperature extremes and fluctuation in soil moisture. Thatch on sports turf can
provide resiliency, soften players impact o the surface, and improve footing.
What are the problems related to heavy thatch? - Answer-Thatch can heat up and dry
quickly, roots that grow roots in patch are vulnerable to desiccation. Scalping turf
because mower wheels sink into thatch can be another problem, it can also increase
pest problems and can stop pesticides and herbicides from reaching the soil
What does the book list as the main culprits of thatch build up? - Answer-Thatchy
turfgrass species, acid soils and reduced microbe activity, pesticides, and aggressive
fertilization.
What does a thatch prevention program center on? - Answer-appropriate species and
cultivar selection, liming, core aerations, and proper pesticide and fertilizer use.
What growth types should grasses have if you wish to have low thatch? - Answer-Bunch
type, grasses that grow by stolon and rhizomes can cause thatch build up.
How does core aeration help with thatch levels? - Answer-Core aerations alleviates
compactions and improves air movement in soils, thereby increasing microbial activities
and breakdown of thatch, it also physically removes thatch.
, How does our fertilization increase thatch? - Answer-Adding too much Nitrogen can
increase production of roots and stems, it can also acidify soils which reduces the rate
of thatch breakdown
Will preventative thatch measures help on thatch layers that are 1 or more inches thick?
- Answer-No, thatch must be physically removed to reduce thatch.
What sort of machine should be used to remove thatch? How does it work? - Answer-
Vertical mowers - they have blades that are perpendicular to the soil's surface which
slice into thatch and bring up organic debris which are then collected.
Power rakes - they have vertically rotating wire tines that remove thatch.
What are some problems that can occur with vertical mowers? - Answer-You can
remove too much thatch and severely thin the turf. You can also remove roots that are
growing in the thatch and weaken or kill the turf. If there is more than 2 inches of thatch
it is practically impossible to remove thatch without greatly thinning the lawn.
Should you remove thatch when the turf is under stress? Why or why not? - Answer-No,
this increases the chance of injury and decreases the recovery potential of turf.
What conditions can bring about compacts in lawns? - Answer-Soils that receive regular
foot traffic and/or vehicular traffic.
Soils that have high amounts of clay.
What is compaction and why is it bad for soils? - Answer-Compressed and dense soils
that have reduced air movement. Compacted soils contain less oxygen and increased
levels of CO2 and other toxic gasses. This results in poor root development and thin
turf.
Also causes slow water infiltration leading to poor soil drainage.
What is aeration? - Answer-The process of alleviating soil compaction by removing
small cores of soil and turf from the lawn, thus, creating a system of large pores through
which moisture and air can move into the soil
Does aerating equipment with solid tines actually aerate the soil? - Answer-No, it just
pushes the thatch and compaction the the sides of the pores, does not actually remove
anything.
What is one downside of core aerating? - Answer-Making several passes will thin the
lawn because turf is being removed. The grass will recover, but the thin lawn can allow
weeds to move in.
