Turf Tips Archives
Time is Running Out for Preemergence Control of Crabgrass
The below average temperatures the last few days has delayed crabgrass germination and thus premergence annual grass herbicides should still be effective if applied this week in the northern half to 2/3rds of the state. Most of the preemergence herbicides do have some post-emergence properties that will burn back small crabgrass (one or two leaf […]
Watch for Breakthrough from Early Preemergence Herbicide Applications
The extremely dry spring may reduce the effectiveness of preemergence herbicides. The products must be watered-in or rained-in to move them below the canopy and down to the soil where they will be effective. Herbicides not watered-in may also photodegrade faster than those wateredin. Early research showed a 44% loss in three days of preemergence […]
Rhizoctonia Large Patch (Zoysia Patch)
As our zoysiagrass fairways and tees are greening up this spring, we will soon begin to see the symptoms of Rhizoctonia Large Patch (zoysia patch). Rhizoctonia Large Patch (RLP) is the only major disease of zoysiagrass in Indiana. The pathogen is favored by moderate temperatures and long dew periods in the spring, fall and during […]
Slowly Greening Lawns
Many lawns are slow to green-up this year and it is mostly due to the presence of Kentucky bluegrass. Even though Kentucky bluegrass is the best lawn grass for the Midwest, it is much slower than perennial ryegrass and tall fescue to green up in the spring (photo). A little patience, some rain, and some […]
Spring Dandelion Control for Professionals
Many turf areas did not get treated for broadleaf weeds last fall because of the dry weather. Though fall applications are most effective for controlling broadleaf weeds, spring applications are warranted for new lawns or areas that did not get treated last fall. Spring applications will be most effective if you wait until dandelions are […]
Tan Patches in an Otherwise Green Lawn
Tan patches in an otherwise green lawn at this time of the year are likely due to either slow-greening warm-season grasses or snow mold. The most common tan patch right now is warm-season grasses like nimblewill or zoysia (photos). Time, warming temperatures, and rainfall are the cures for most of these patches and they should […]
Dark Green Patches in Otherwise Lighter Green Lawn
Patches of tall fescue or perennial ryegrass are currently much greener than Kentucky bluegrass (photos). Patches of these two grasses are prominent right now as the bluegrass is just starting to green up. Give it another week and the bluegrass will catch up with the tall fescue or ryegrass. No control is needed to remove […]
Star of Bethlehem, Spring Beauty Emerging in Shaded Areas
Star of Bethlehem and Spring Beauty are currently emerging and flowering in shaded areas. Both plants have pretty white flowers with the Star of Bethlehem having six petals while Spring Beauty has only five petals . The Star of Bethlehem was once planted as an ornamental while the Spring Beauty is native. Both plants are […]
Dandelions: Friend or Foe?
The annual bloom of dandelions is already here in southern Indiana and just around the corner in the rest of the state. Though some find dandelions attractive and some may actually eat them in salads or wine, others consider dandelions as weeds and try to control them in a lawn. The optimum time to control […]
Buyer Beware: Annual Ryegrass is Not a Persistent Turfgrass Species for Indiana Homelawns
There are many cool-season turfgrasses suitable and adapted to home-lawns in Indiana. They include; Kentucky bluegrass, turf-type tall fescue, fineleaf fescue and to a certain extent even “perennial” ryegrass. Many new lawns are established using seed because it is much less expensive than sod. Unfortunately, in many instances inexperienced homeowners or landscape contractors often purchase […]
Herbicide Delays after Seeding
Almost all herbicides will affect turfgrass seedlings and application delays are usually needed following seeding. Following is information gleaned from available labels of most herbicides or herbicide types that would be used in Indiana . This is intended to provide a general idea of the limitations of each active ingredient, but please refer to the […]
Tracking Growing Degree Days
Many of our pest problems in turf can be at least partially predicted through growing degree day models (Poa annua seedheads is one example). Most of the models use a base temperature of 50 (abbreviated as GDD50) assuming 50 degrees is the temperature when most of our biological activity starts occurring. GDD50 for IN can […]
Spring Weed Control or Seeding?
With last year’s late summer and fall drought, many areas are in need of reseeding. The question comes up about seeding and weed control: should the weeds be controlled first or should the seeding be done first? This seems like a simple question, but it’s fairly complex depending on the turf and weed species present […]
Timing of Preemergence Herbicides
If a preemergence herbicide is justified on a turf area, the timing of application is important. In theory, applying too early will expose the herbicide to soil microbes and processes in the soil that may break it down, allowing crabgrass to germinate during the latter part of the summer. Conversely, applying too late may miss […]
To Fertilize Lawns or not to Fertilize: That is the Question
For the vast majority of homeowners, resist the urge to fertilize now. Fertilizing now can encourage too much growth and could lead to problems later this summer such as poor root growth and disease. Additionally, since spring rains play havoc with mowing schedules, nitrogen fertilization can further complicate your mowing schedule by causing grass plants […]
Control Them Now
Now is a very good time to spend a little extra effort in controlling those pesky moles. Recent warm, wet weather has returned these nasty little turfgrass destroyers back to the surface of the soil where they are making runs throughout the turfgrass. March and April are ideal times to control moles because this is […]
Mid-winter Mole Activity
Mole activity is becoming more apparent with the recent warm weather. Large piles of soil on the lawn surface are evidence of the moles subterranean mining. Unfortunately control of this pest still depends on trapping or possibly a mole-hunting cat or dog. Techniques such as drowning with water, poisoning with car exhaust, shocking or vibrating […]
Raffle Winners at Turf Expo
A special thanks goes to the exhibitors who donated raffle prizes for the Turf Expo. Following are the winners of each prize. Exhibitor Prize Winner Aerification Plus Pair of Pacers tickets Feb.16 vs Portland Trailblazers Steve Stringer Aerification Plus Pair of Pacers tickets Mar 31 vs Miami Heat Dave Padgett Ameri-Turf 2-50# bags RTF Tall […]
Thanks for Attending or Helping with Another Successful Midwest Turf Expo
On behalf of the Turf Program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF), I’d like to thank everyone who helped with and/or attended the 2005 Midwest Turf Expo on January 18-19 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis . The Expo provides tremendous positive exposure for the Turf Program and the MRTF, and it could […]