Turf Tips Archives
Crabgrass and Yellow Nutsedge
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 crabgrass is quinclorac (Drive or Quinclorac), which has the best activity among all the post […]
Midwest Regional Turf Field Day on July 17
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 and other opportunities will make this one of the best field days yet. Topics include […]
Misery loves company: Yesterday’s state rainfall map
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 information is available at www.iclimate.org
Lawn blemishes exposed by drought
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, all of which are enhanced by the dry conditions. Problems that we are seeing include: […]
Don’t raise the mowing height during drought
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 mow a grass plant, the deeper the roots. • Deeper roots mean a larger reservoir […]
Facts and Advice on Turf Survival in Drought
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 research plots across the country and it’s difficult to give definite “black and white” recommendations […]
Early Japanese Beetles
It seems that the Japanese beetles have been arriving early for the last few years but this year is truly an exception. The first Japanese beetles of the year were observed in central Indiana on the 3rd of June. This is a full week earlier than we have EVER seen them here before. Normally, Japanese […]
Midwest Regional Turf Field Day on July 17
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 to view the latest in turfgrass research, talk to Purdue specialists about turf and ornamental […]
Early billbug activity
It appears that our unseasonably warm spring has pushed the activity of many insects as much as 2-3 weeks ahead of traditional expectations. Among the turfgrass insects that are showing up early this year are the billbugs. These insects over-winter as adult weevils and become active in the spring when soil temperatures reach about 50°F, […]
Controlling Poa trivialis in sports fields
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 trivialis is shallow rooted, has poor wear resistance, is extremely susceptible to dollar spot, and often […]
Controlling ground ivy and/or violets
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 to herbicide application. Even though applications now can produce visible damage, long-term control does not […]
Brown Ring Patch / Waitea Patch
There are sporadic reports of brown ring patch (formerly called Waitea patch) from across the Midwest . Interestingly, the disease currently is causing concern in southern California as well. The risk of structural damage (a.k.a. dying turf) is greater on putting greens than on turf mowed at a half inch or higher. Otherwise, effects are […]
We need help tracking new white grub species
The presence of two potentially serious white grub pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants has recently been confirmed in three northern Indiana counties; Porter, St. Joseph and Allen. The European chafer and Asiatic garden beetle are similar in biology to their cousins, the masked chafer and Japanese beetle, yet differ enough in behavior, habitat and […]
Weed Control in Newly Seeded Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass seeded or sprigged into damaged areas will require weed control to maximize establishment. Most herbicides carry precautions on use in sprigged bermudagrass, but few carry recommendations on use in seeded bermudagrass because of the newness of seeded varieties. Following is a table of herbicide recommendations gleaned from the latest research on seeded bermudagrass. Herbicides […]
Bermudagrass Winter Survival and Cultivar Selection
With the bermudagrass damage in southern IN and Kentucky , we are fielding many questions on cultivar survival. Following is our winterkill data from 2003 of bermudagrass grown in West Lafayette under fairway conditions. Combining this data and other data from across the country, I would recommend in order the following cultivars of bermudagrass for […]
Winter damage on bermudagrass
As bermudagrass begins to green up in southern IN and Kentucky , it is apparent that moderate to severe winter damage has occurred. Though we may be a little premature because full green-up and growth is still a week or two away depending on temperatures, it’s important to start formulating a strategy to repair the […]
Brown Tracks in Lawn
With the mild drought stress over the last week, lawns are extremely susceptible to cosmetic damage from mowers, spreaders, and human traffic (photos). Drought stress may not have been easily visible before mowing. Turf likely was at the drought stressed stage where footprints (or mower tracks) remain in the turf and don’t snap back like […]
Late May is Good Time to Fertilize Lawns
The annual phase of rapid cool-season shoot growth of cool-season grasses is nearly complete, though it was diminished this year because of the dry and cool weather. It’s now time to consider fertilizing your lawn because fertilizer now will not dramatically increase vertical growth as long as moderate nitrogen rates are used and it will […]
Seedheads Make for Tough Mowing
With the bizarre weather this spring, growth patterns of our cool-season grasses are inconsistent across the state. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass are either producing or soon will be producing seedheads. This natural phenomenon is induced primarily by daylength, but varies among species and cultivars. Seedheads detract from the appearance of a turf […]
Lawns turning brown overnight?
We have received a number of calls, email, and electronic photos inquiring about brown patches to entire lawns turning brown apparently overnight (see photos). Following are the three most likely culprits: • Seedheads – Especially on perennial ryegrass lawns, seed heads mowed by an even a marginally sharp blade will fray and turn brown as […]