Author: Zac Reicher

I have received a number of email questioning the wait for seeding after glyphosate applications. Glyphosate has no soil activity and will therefore not affect seedlings when seeded even the same day of application. However, for maximum control of tough-to-control...

Though much research over the years has shown that when fertilizer is applied properly to turf, it does not leach or runoff. The key to this is proper application as careless applications can cause problems. Following is a quick list...

With the returning rains in the state, now is the most important time to fertilize cool-season turfgrasses like creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall or fine fescue. September fertilization is crucial on all turf areas regardless if it...

Though many parts of central IN was lucky enough to get significant rainfall this week, many parts of the state have not. Below is the Rainfall Deficit Map as of Aug 15, courtesy of the Indiana State Climate Office. This...

Eight weeks or more of high temperatures with minimal rain has taken a toll on turfgrasses around the state. Though some local areas in central IN have received ample rain in the last week, many areas are still very dry....

With the renovation season fast-approaching, questions abound about how much perennial ryegrass to use in a P. rye/K. bluegrass mix. Perennial ryegrass germinates quickly and provides quick cover and soil stabilization when used in a blend. However, too much perennial...

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the 2007 Midwest Regional Turf Field Day a success on Tuesday, July 17. Though we had rain for the first time in at least 19 years that dramatically affected the day,...

Crabgrass is starting to breakthrough in hotspots next to walks and drives, southern exposures, and in thin turf. Though many are quick to question the effectiveness of the specific preemergence herbicide used last spring, the vast majority of the breakthrough...

As summer stresses start to take a toll on our cool-season grasses on greens, more questions are arising about the potential of nematodes. We found ring and stunt nematodes in many of our samples from last year, but we're not...

Tired of the way your lawn looks? If it hasn't looked up to par this summer reseeding your lawn is an option. Mid-August is the best time to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn, but planning should...

The small white flowers of white clover are very visible right now and it may appear that clover is taking over, especially under-fertilized turf areas. Clover is a legume and is very competitive under low N conditions, so increasing annual...

Crabgrass and yellow nutsedge are really starting to flourish. Unfortunately, our options for control of either weed are becoming limited. Plus the hot temperatures increase the risk for turf damage with any herbicide applied now. The best current option for...

There's still time to register for the Midwest Regional Turf Field Day that will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette . The variety and quality of research tours...

Though West Lafayette was lucky enough to get significant rainfall yesterday, not many other places in the state were as lucky. Below is a state rainfall map, courtesy of the Indiana State Climate Office. This information and much more weather...

Maintaining lawns and other turf areas is fairly straightforward in the cool and wet weather of the spring and fall, but things get tougher once the heat and drought set in. We are currently seeing a wide variety of problems,...

Typical advice in the paper and TV is to raise the mowing height during drought to help the turf area stay green. However, this is very simplified advice which needs clarification. Here are some well-researched facts: • The higher you...

There are many questions about turf survival in drought with the on-going drought in most parts of the state. Though we understand many of the mechanisms turf survival in drought, it's hard to duplicate all of the potential situations on...

Don't forget to register for the Midwest Regional Turf Field Day that will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette . This is a great opportunity for turf professionals...

Poa trivialis is now common in sports fields, possibly due to as little as one contaminated seed source from the many overseedings done on sports fields. Once germinated, Poa trivialis spreads via stolons which may be further spread during every hollow tine aerification. Poa...

Ground ivy and violets are currently flowering and at their peak of beauty, but these two weeds remain tough to control in Indiana . Like almost all broadleaf weeds, flowering indicates a point in their lifecycle where they are susceptible...