As you drive through the community, you may have noticed the sudden change in color of much of the parkway and greenbelt turfgrass in the community. Rest assured, this is part of LARMAC’s planned maintenance to keep our turfgrass looking good and healthy.
O’Connell crews lowered mower blades ("scalping") in an effort to remove the buildup of thatch in the Kikuyu turfgrass. This is the optimal time to do this as Kikuyu goes dormant in the cooler months. Once the scalping occurs, crews spread winter rye grass, which will provide a nice green appearance for our cool season. The rye seed needs extra water to get started, so these areas will receive additional water during the day for the first couple of weeks. Typically, this will occur multiple times per day in an effort to keep the seed wet to allow for germination.
This maintenance practice leads to improved aesthetics and a healthier turfgrass when spring arrives.
Additional information on Kikuyu grass:
Looking Kindly at Kikuyu Grass
Kikuyu grass at Ladera Ranch
