Turf Tips Archives
What Was That? Flying Green June Beetles Will Get Your Attention
Green June beetles Cotinus nitida have been flying in many areas across the Midwest and although they are harmless, their sheer size can be very intimidating to folks who don’t recognize them. These large, attractive, emerald and copper colored beetles (Fig. 1) are one of several species of scarab beetles whose larvae are known as […]
2015 Turf and Landscape Field Day a Success
On Tuesday, July 14, 2015 the Purdue Turf Program, the Purdue Green Industry Working Group and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation successfully hosted the Turf and Landscape Field Day. Rubber boots were needed at this year’s field day due to all the recent rains and we even had to extract a couple of cars from […]
Look Out for Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Turf
Herbicide resistance can be defined as the acquired ability of a weed population to survive an herbicide application that previously was known to control the population. The number of herbicide resistant weeds has been rapidly increasing in agriculture in recent years. Currently, 459 unique cases of herbicide resistant weeds exist globally, with 246 species (143 […]
What’s Next in the Forecast?
June 2015 was the wettest month on record in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, but I don’t have to tell you that if you live in one of these states as you’ve experienced it firsthand. But what’s next? Here are some predictions of what we might face weather-wise in the upcoming weeks and months. Precipitation: […]
Wet Weather Makes a Great Environment for Yellow Nutsedge
Yellow nutsedge is a troublesome, difficult-to-control turf weed. Information on its identification is available in a recent weed of the month blog posting. Wet, summertime conditions like we are now having favor its growth and development. Understanding this plant’s biology will help in determining the best control methods. Two Purdue publications are also available to […]
White Grub Season is Here
This is the time of year when annual white grubs begin to infest turfgrass and, in the Midwest, we are blessed with an assortment of different annual white grub species. This group of insects produces one generation each year with the adults becoming active by early June. Adults lay eggs in turf and 1st instar […]
Postemergence Crabgrass Control
As crabgrass grows larger and larger this spring into summer, you’ll need to know just how big it is before selecting the right product for postemergence control. Read my recent article to turf professionals at Turf Republic: Just How Big is Your Crabgrass? For homeowners, look for products that contain quinclorac such […]
Quackgrass
Quackgrass Biology: Quackgrass ( Elymus repens) is a cool-season perennial that vigorously spreads by rhizomes. It is a sod-forming grass that can crowd out desirable grasses and even other weeds. Quackgrass has been shown to be allelopathic, which means it releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. Large, nearly pure patches of […]
Japanese Beetle Adults Emerging
We’ve been seeing a smattering of Japanese beetle adults in our traps for the last few weeks in West Lafayette, but it appears their numbers are starting to increase as we head toward the end of June. Expect to see emergence come into full swing over the next two weeks in this part of the […]
Rain, Rain Go Away?
There are a lot of wet areas out there right now as pockets of Indiana have received more than double their monthly expected rainfall. Rain is a good thing but as we know it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Saturated soils reduce turf health and cause issues related to mowing […]
Turf and Landscape Field Day on July 14, 2015
On Tuesday, July 14, 2015 the Purdue Turf Program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation will host the Turf and Landscape Field Day. The Turf and Landscape Field Day is Indiana’s largest green industry field day. This will be the third year with landscape research tours added. Specialists from four different departments in the College […]
Bermudagrass Winterkill Again?
Some are suffering through another year of bermudagrass winterkill in Indiana. Much different than last year where winterkill was widespread and there were many different causes (too cold, too wet, too shaded, etc.), the primary cause for winterkill in 2014-2015 in Indiana appears to be confined to immature bermudagrass. Those that were not able to […]
Orchardgrass
Biology: Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), is a clump-forming, or bunch-type, cool-season grassy weed found throughout the Midwestern United States. It is typically used as a type of grazing or forage grass in pastures but it can be a weed in turf. It’s bunch-type growth pattern, light blue-greenish color, ability to tolerate partial shade, and rapid […]
Rounds 4 Research: Auction is Open! Support the Purdue Turf Program
The 2015 Rounds 4 Research auction is now open. The auction will run from June 8 to June 21 with proceeds going to support turf research at Purdue and in Indiana through the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, advocacy and education programs for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. This […]
Is it Safe to Aerify after Applying a Preemergence Herbicide?
It is not uncommon for me to receive questions regarding whether it is OK to aerify an area when you’ve already applied a preemergence herbicide to control crabgrass. Will aerifying break the herbicide barrier and reduce my crabgrass control? The answer to this and more can be found here in a recent post I wrote […]
European Chafer Causing Serious Damage in Northeastern Indiana
Although reports of spring white grub damage have been relatively uncommon in Indiana in recent years, there have been a growing number of cases in the northeastern part of the state. The European chafer Rhizotrogus majalis Razoumowsky is apparently at the root of several reports of large scale and severe damage to turfgrass this spring. […]
Hunting Billbug Larvae Overwintering in Indiana
We recently discovered that the hunting billbug is capable of successfully overwintering in the larval stage as far north as West Lafayette Indiana. This insect is mainly a pest of warm-season turfgrasses such as Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass and has become a perennial problem in parts of the state where these grasses are cultured. Although we’ve […]
Smooth Crabgrass
Smooth Crabgrass Biology: Smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum), is a summer annual grassy weed that is found throughout the Midwestern United states. Closely related to large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), these three species are often considered to be the most problematic weeds in lawns due to their ability to survive extremely […]
How to Keep Turf Areas Around Sidewalks From Failing
Last year I posted a turf tip on why it is so difficult to manage turf around sidewalks and driveways. I encourage you to read that post (Weed Management Next to Sidewalks and Driveways) as it provides recommendations for weed control, etc. in these areas as well as how to prevent weeds and encourage healthier […]
Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue Biology: Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is perennial grass that can be both desirable as a lawn species when using improved cultivars or undesirable when forage-type (wide-bladed) tall fescue plants a contaminant other primary species in a lawn. For all of you nerds out there like me, you might be interested in know that […]