Author: Turf Tips

We captured the first Japanese beetle adults of the year last week in our traps on the Purdue Campus. These traps are located in an area where emergence tends to take place much earlier than at most locations, so don’t...

  Purple Deadnettle    Biology: Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a common winter annual broadleaf weed found throughout the US. It is closely related to another winter annual broadleaf, henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Both have vibrant purple flowers that can been...

Black Cutworms have started showing up in light traps around Indiana. This means they will soon laying eggs, if they haven’t already.  Superintendents should be on the lookout for evidence of feeding damage on greens and tees. Also, remember that...

I have had several emails and weed samples submitted recently of an unknown grass. In each case, the sample was annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). Annual ryegrass is a common ingredient in low quality seed mixtures. It appears in the spring...

Tips for Mowing Wet Turf Sharpen your blades if you have not yet this spring. Mow in the afternoon when the leaf blades are dry if possible to reduce clumping of the grass blades. However, it is fine to mow...

Despite proper cultural practices, crabgrass may still remain problematic in certain turf areas. The best approach to controlling crabgrass is to use a preemergence herbicide such as dithiopyr (Dimension), pendimethalin (Pendulum), prodiamine (Barricade), prodiamine + quinclorac (Cavalcade PQ), sulfentrazone +...

Seeding in spring is difficult and unsuccessful if not done correctly. However, there are many in Indiana who didn’t seed last fall but still need to seed this spring to help fill in thin areas from last summer’s drought. The...

We are finally through a cold March and into what appears to be a normal April. The graph below compares January, February, and March in 2012 and 2013 to our 30 year normal weather averages for those months.    ...

  Large Crabgrass    Biology: Large crabgrass ( Digitaria sanguinalis ), smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum), and to a lesser extent southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) are all species found in the Midwest that are collectively referred to as crabgrass. Large crabgrass...

A year ago we had record high temperatures and we were scrambling to apply preemergence herbicides for crabgrass control. On March 22 last year, I had crabgrass germinating in my garden! However, this year I can tell you that crabgrass...

Monitoring growing degree days can be an effective way to better time applications and increase your weed control. A helpful website (www.gddtracker.net) is available to help you monitor growing degree days for timing herbicide and plant growth regulator applications. What...

  This post kicks off a new series that we will be posting via turf tips called, “Weed of the Month”. In each post we’ll discuss a timely weed (one that you’re seeing at that particular time of year) and...

Calling all cool-season putting green managers!!! Real-world feedback needed….   We are following up on an article we published in Golf Course Management Magazine last fall titled “An economic comparison of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass maintenance practices”. We are...

The weather looks great this week for a winter conference. Since it doesn't look like there will be any snow to push or shovel, we invite you to come to the Indiana Green Expo. Don't miss Indiana’s most comprehensive green...

  The revised edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals is now available. The 96 page publication includes content on: Turfgrass Culture Weed Types Weed Life Cycles Developing a Weed Control Program Indicator Weeds               Herbicide Information (use, nomenclature, classification, mode...

As we remember back on 2012, the drought and the early spring warm-up were two of the biggest topics of the year and drew the most visits to our blog. Here were the top 6 posts of 2012. 1 My...

Join us for the MRTF Golf DayMonday, October 1, 2012Highland Golf and Country Club, Indianapolis, INRegistration Deadline: 9/24/2012Registration Form (PDF format)Register on-line for your team at https://www.mrtf.org/php/Registration.php?pid=5489Continue to shop and add the game package https://www.mrtf.org/php/Registration.php?pid=5542If you have any questions/comments/concerns please...

Gwen Daniel Gwen H. Daniel, Age 91, of Westminster Village, West Lafayette, IN.Gwen was born on June 28, 1921 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She received her BA degree from Quachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She married William H. Daniel...

Now is the time to be seeding a lawn, but in some communities water restrictions and bans are preventing homeowners and lawn care professionals from renovating/reseeding damaged lawns following this summer’s drought. August 15 to September 15 is considered to...

I was recently forwarded a video from one of our Extension educators in Vanderburgh County, Larry Caplan, that I thought I would share with you. The video chronicles the “misadventures” of a homeowner who simply wanted to control the weeds...