Source of Grass

 Foundation stock of FLoraTeXTM bermudagrass will be re-
leased to licensed growers only. FLoraTeXTM will be grown
under strict certification standards to maintain its genetic pu-
rity. Information regarding availability of foundation stock may
be obtained from Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., P.O.
Box 309, Greenwood, Fla. 32443 or Texas Foundation Seed
Service, College Station, Texas 77843.

Establishment

 Best time to plant FLoraTeXTM bermudagrass is during
spring and summer months from April through August. It may
be established vegetatively by means of sprigs, plugs, or sod.

Seedbed Preparation
 Regardless of method of planting, seedbed preparation be-
fore planting is very important for success of any new turf. All
old vegetation should be removed. Soil surface should be uni-
formly graded and cleared of debris. Amendments such as
colloidal phosphate or weed-free organic matter should be
added. If soil is very sandy, addition of colloidal phosphate at
a rate of 5% by volume (a uniform layer 5/16 inch thick over
the area) or peat at a rate of 10% by volume (a uniform layer
5/8 inch thick over the area) is a good investment. Organic
matter would be beneficial for only a few years, while colloi-
dal phosphate would last indefinitely. Either of these amend-
ments increases water and fertilizer holding capacity of soil.
Amendments should be thoroughly mixed into the upper 6
inches of soil.

 A soil analysis is necessary to determine nutritional status
of soil. A pH, calcium, and magnesium analysis will deter-
mine need for chemical amendments. For most turf areas,
magnesium is soon depleted. For this reason, dolomite should
be used when lime is recommended. Follow recommenda-
tions of your local county Extension office. Any limestone or
sulphur should be uniformly incorporated into the root zone at
the same time other amendments are incorporated.

Sprig
 Sprigging is the cheapest vegetative planting method. A
sprig is an individual stem of grass without adhering roots and
soil. Sprigs, containing at least two nodes per propagule, are
usually planted end to end in shallow furrows spaced 6 to 12
inches apart. Cover most of the sprig with soil and firm by
rolling or stepping on the furrow. Stolonizing is another method
of sprigging where sprigs are uniformly distributed over the
entire soil surface at a rate of 5 to 10 bushels per 1000 square
feet and then pressed into the soil surface with a notched coulter.
The area is then rolled and watered. This method provides
very fast coverage since an entire area is uniformly planted.


Sprigs have no root system and, therefore, are quite perish-
able. Light, frequent, daily waterings are necessary for the
first few weeks until a root system becomes established.

Plug
 Plugging is the planting of 2- to 4-inch circular or square
pieces of sod. A plug is a miniature piece of sod which con-
tains a mature plant with an intact root system and adhering
soil. Plugging is very labor intensive and costly, requiring from
3 to 10 times more planting material compared to sprigging.
Plugs may be planted on 1- to 2-foot centers. Obviously, a
closer spacing will provide faster coverage. Although plugs
are not as perishable as sprigs, water should be applied one to
two times per day during the first few weeks of establishment.

Sod
 Sodding is a most expensive method of vegetative propaga-
tion but this is usually compensated by having an 'instant' lawn.
Sod pieces should be fitted together as tightly as possible in a
brick-like fashion on a well-prepared, moistened seedbed.
Although sodding is a least perishable vegetative propagation
method compared to sprigs and plugs, be sure to moisten un-
derlying soil with daily supplemental water during the first few
weeks of establishment.

Fertilization
 When new grass shoots appear after planting, a complete
fertilizer with minor elements such as a 16-4-8 or a 6-6-6 should
be applied. During the establishment phase, nitrogen should
be applied at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet
every 3 to 4 weeks until a solid stand of grass is achieved.

Mowing
 Begin mowing at a 1-inch height of cut when grass reaches
1.0 to 1.5 inches in height. Use a mower with a sharp blade.
Do not mow when the grass is wet. Do not remove clippings
as they may reduce fertilizer need by 20 to 30%.

Maintenance

Watering
 Bermudagrasses as a group have quite low evapotranspira-
tion (ET) rates. FLoraTeXTM bermudagrass ranks in the upper
two-thirds among commercially available bermudagrass culti-
vars in terms of a low ET rate. Under a high evaporative stress
environment and nonlimiting moisture conditions, ET rate could
reach as high as 4.5 mm (0.18 inches) per day for a few days
during the year. More typically, however, ET rate would be
one-half that amount or less, during most of a growing season.
When this is combined with superior dehydration avoidance
and drought resistance, irrigation requirements for FLoraTeXTM
turfs would be quite low. Most probably, irrigation would be