Turf Tips Archives
Keep mowing and don’t set the mower down
Many people ask how long to continue mowing into the fall. The answer is to keep mowing as long as the grass continues to grow which is normally into late October or early November. Frequency of mowing can decrease but continue to mow into the fall. Also avoid the urge to set the mower down […]
Don’t Give Up Yet, November Fertilization is Critical
A November application of fertilizer is extremely important to keep your lawn healthy and looking good this fall and next year. Late fall N promotes good root development, enhances storage of energy reserves, and extends color retention this fall. Most of the benefits from late fall N will be seen next spring and summer with […]
How late can you seed?
We are out of the optimum window for seeding turfgrasses in Indiana. However, many are still hoping to seed. Following is a summary of our studies in the early 90’s on seeding at less than optimum times of the year. For optimum establishment, seeding should be done in late August or early September. Waiting […]
Little Time to Improve Athletic Turf This Year
Though weather this summer and fall wasn’t as bad as last year, we’ve still had our share of thin turf and fall events are taking their toll on the cool-season grasses. The perennial cause is the naturally shallow rooting of Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass at the same time that football and soccer seasons get […]
Keep Mowing to Mulch Those Tree Leaves!
The trees are dropping their leaves and it is important to prevent a heavy layer of leaves from building-up on your turf before winter. Heavy layers of tree leaves will shade the grass can smother and kill grass yet this fall. Plus tree leaf cover favors a damaging winter turf disease called snow mold. The […]
MRTF Golf Day at Coyote Crossing on Oct. 12
Openings are still available for the MRTF Golf Day on Oct 12 at the Hale Irwin-designed Coyote Crossing Golf Club in West Lafayette. This is the eighth annual event held to promote turfgrass research, raise awareness of the Purdue Turfgrass Science Program, and provide an enjoyable day of golf. It’s an early morning event starting […]
Broadleaf Control Improves Later in Fall
We found that herbicides applied from October 1 through November 1 improved long-term ground ivy control compared to the same herbicides applied in September. Our speculation is that weeds are killed either directly by the herbicide when applied later in the fall or weakened to the point that they succumb to winterkill. Herbicides applied earlier […]
MRTF Golf Day at Coyote Crossing on Oct. 12
Openings are still available for the MRTF Golf Day on Oct 12 at the Hale Irwin-designed Coyote Crossing Golf Club in West Lafayette. This is the eighth annual event held to promote turfgrass research, raise awareness of the Purdue Turfgrass Science Program, and provide an enjoyable day of golf. It’s an early morning event starting […]
Helping Fall-use Athletic Fields
Fall use athletic fields are taking a beating right now. To help those fields, fertilizing aggressively with 1.0 lb N in September and again in October will help. Fertilizing is the most inexpensive but effective way to improve any sports field. Though it’s easier said than done, aerifying during extended breaks in practices or games […]
Open Season on Dandelions, Clover, and Other Broadleaf Weeds
Those dandelions, clover, and other broadleaf weeds that were a problem all summer should be controlled this fall. The period from late September through all of October is the ideal time to control broadleaf weeds in turfgrass because broadleaf weeds are most susceptible to herbicides at this time. The turf and weeds must be green […]
New Era begins for Ross-Ade stadium turf
The Purdue Boilermaker’s 60-35 win this past Saturday was not only the first test for the football program but also the first real test and a historic milestone for Purdue’s newly renovated field. The beginning of this season marks a new era in Purdue football as Ross-Ade stadium becomes the only Big-10 stadium with a […]
Crabgrass Problem Revisited
The tremendous crabgrass pressure mentioned in earlier Turf Tips deserves more attention and the most common question is “Why is it so bad this year?”. The obvious answer to this is the above average heat and humidity during July increased disease pressure and thinned or weakened turf. Crabgrass germinated in these new gaps and quickly […]
Why New Lawns Fail?
It is increasingly common for newly-established lawns to thin or completely fail within a year. There are many reasons for this to occur but here are my top ten: 1. Poor soil – heavy clay in today’s subdivisions is not conducive for quality turf, so good soil preparation is required, see number 3. 2. Poor […]
Funny Colors in Your Turf?
From the parts of the state with adequate rainfall, we have received reports of turf with white, black, gray, red, orange, purple, and or rust-colored powder (see photo). This is slime mold, a fungus-like organism that often occurs during prolonged warm and wet weather. Slime molds appear to damage turf, but their effects are only […]
Now is the Time to Seed Cool-Season Turf
Late summer is the best time to establish Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass from seed. Between August 15 and September 15 is optimum seeding time in the northern half of Indiana, from September 1 to September 30 is optimum in the southern half of Indiana. It is critical to seed as […]
Gray Leaf Spot Update
There have been several reports of gray leaf spot outbreaks throughout Indiana and the lower Midwest during the past two weeks. The disease will develop over a broad range of environmental conditions (not just hot and wet). Our research results showed that the presence of inoculum is the disease-limiting factor north of the Ohio River. […]
Turf Field Day Held July 18
Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make the 2006 Midwest Regional Turf Field Day a success on Tuesday, July 18. A hot steamy morning with thankfully a brisk breeze greeted the almost 650 attendees. Attendees had the opportunity to view the latest in turfgrass research, visit with Purdue specialists, see the most modern equipment […]
Overseeding creeping bentgrass into thinning Poa annua
The recent heat may unfortunately favor early exit of Poa annua from golf turf. However, there is a silver lining to this. Rutgers reported that overseeding creeping bentgrass directly into a Poa stand in summer is effective for gradual conversion when done July 1. Rutgers produced significant (>25% cover) of bentgrass within 12 months of […]
Summer stress of Poa annua, Poa trivialis on Golf Courses
Persistent air tempertatures of 90F and soil temperatures greater than 80F combine with high humidity and adequate rainfall (in some areas) is doing in the Poa annua (annual bluegrass)and Poa trivialis (rough bluegrass)on golf courses. After a week or two of these conditions, Poa annua greens and fairways will start to thin and die in […]
Summer stress of Poa annua and Poa trivialis in Lawns and Sports Fields
Persistent air temperatures of 90F and soil temperatures greater than 80F combine with high humidity and adequate rainfall (in some areas) is also doing in the Poa annua (annual bluegrass) and Poa trivialis (rough bluegrass)on lawns and athletic fields. Patches of these fine-bladed grasses seemingly die overnight with even a minimum of drought stress. Though […]