Skip to main content

Interesting food for thought


Carbohydrates — The Real Plant Food

Lawn fertilizers are often marketed as ‘plant food’. Although most people realize that nutrients from fertilizers are required by plants for proper growth and development, they may not realize that fertilizers are not really plant food. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, a chemical reaction in leaves involving water, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and light energy. The end products, carbohydrates, are used by plants for energy and growth and are the true plant food.

Carbohydrates can be stored in stem and crown tissues when they are made faster than they are used. Storage is greatest in fall and is beneficial since the plant needs carbohydrates for recovery from injury when turf is damaged by pests, drought, heat, and mower injury the following year. Depletion of carbohydrates is fastest in spring, especially under low mowing heights and high nitrogen fertility. If depleted too quickly, the turf may go into the summer months in a weakened state. This is one reason why turfgrass professionals do not apply excess amounts of nitrogen and mow below optimum heights of cut in spring.

Prepared by Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass science
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Importance of Early Spring Pre-Emergent Weed Control

The Key to a Weed-Free Lawn: Early Spring Pre-Emergent Weed Control As the first signs of spring begin to appear, homeowners across the country start dreaming of lush, green lawns. However, achieving that picture-perfect yard requires more than just hope and sunshine. At Lawn Doctor, we know that the secret to a beautiful lawn lies in proactive care, and one of the most crucial steps is early spring pre-emergent weed control. Let's explore why this treatment is so important and how it sets the stage for a successful lawn care season. What is Pre-Emergent Weed Control? Pre-emergent weed control is a preventative measure that targets weed seeds before they have a chance to germinate and grow. Unlike post-emergent treatments that kill existing weeds, pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier in the soil that stops weed seeds from developing into mature plants. The Importance of Timing When it comes to pre-emergent weed control, timing is everything. Early spring application is crucial ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Heat tracking in lawns

We have recently noticed a few instances of a somewhat rare phenomenon in the lawn care industry that we would like to point out in an effort to better communicate to both our customers and those interested in lawn care.  Along with the previously posted summer stress issues for the lawn in this blog, we wanted to bring up a more recent issue which is very rare but is currently a potential for lawns across the Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, Lake Forest and Waukegan area.  This recent phenomenon is referred to by some in the industry as heat tracking. Heat tracking occurs when pressure is applied to the lawn from foot traffic, lawn mowers, fertilizer spreaders or anything else that can compress the leaf tissue down to the ground below.  When  this pressure is applied at the exact time frame (usually early afternoon at the peak heat of the day) that the turf is at its wilting point or entering dormancy stage it breaks the leaf tissue at the base o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mosquito Control Services for Kenosha

  Mosquito Control Services for Kenosha Mosquitoes spread discomfort, stress, and disease, so when these pests occupy your yard, it's important to take action right away. With professional mosquito control in Kenosha from the experienced professionals at Lawn Doctor of Southeastern Wisconsin, you can count on convenient and effective solutions that target these pests from all angles. We are proud to get rid of mosquitoes, disrupt their offspring, and defend your yard from incoming swarms! Our LD Mosquito Control Service Plans in Kenosha Our most popular mosquito control option is our LD Mosquito Control service plan. This ongoing support package includes consistent ongoing service to keep your yard protected from these pests. Each visit includes: Prevention.  We start every treatment with a full property inspection to find and destroy their eggs and larvae clusters. Since mosquitoes can only reproduce in standing water, we look for these areas and drain them whenever...
Post a Comment
Read more