This time of year many have questions about crabgrass germination and control. Below are several previous Purdue turf tips that answer the most commonly asked questions about crabgrass control. When will crabgrass germinate? When should I apply my preemergence herbicide (crabgrass preventer)? Which preemergence herbicide should I use? – Professionals How to Select a Crabgrass […]
Crabgrass is a summer annual weed that germinates in lawns each spring (click here for crabgrass identification information). Preemergence herbicides prevent emergence of crabgrass plants from the soil. These products must be applied prior to crabgrass germination which could occur as early as April 1 in southern Indiana and three or more weeks later in […]
We are happy to announce two new tools give the latest information about two hot topics: emerald ash borer and pollinator safety. New Neonicotinoid Pollinator Website available for the Green Industry. Doug Richmond and I have developed a mobile friendly website to help you answer questions you may have about how the use of neonicotinoid […]
One of our Purdue turf graduates, Lee Pilz died unexpectedly on Saturday, February 21, 2015 in Indianapolis at the age of 39. He graduated from Purdue University in 1998 with a degree in turf science and was the assistant golf course superintendent at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, Leesburg, IN. Read Lee’s full obituary here. The […]
Dandelion Biology: Dandelion (Taraxacum offinianale), is a broadleaf perennial weed that can be found in lawns, nursery crops, and landscapes throughout the United States. It has the ability to survive many different soil types, environmental conditions, and management practices; thus, it is a commonly found weed in lawns throughout the northern half of […]
Now that the snow has melted, you might be seeing some areas damaged from snow plows or other winter vehicle traffic that need repair. Seed planted now (late March) will begin to germinate in early to mid-April. The earlier in the year that you seed, the more time the turf will have for […]
This cold weather reminded me of the cold weather we experienced last winter. While it is too early to tell what effect the weather might have had on the turf, it could have damaged some warm-season turf areas in north central Indiana (like our bermudagrass and zoysiagrass areas at the Daniel Turf Research Center) where […]
The revised edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals is now available. The 96 page publication includes content on: Turfgrass Culture Weed Types Weed Life Cycles Developing a Weed Control Program Indicator Weeds Herbicide Information (use, nomenclature, classification, mode of action, movement, resistance, etc.) Control of Tough Weeds Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About […]
As this year’s golf season came to a close, the highly anticipated renovation of Purdue’s 80 year-old Ackerman Hills golf course began. In addition to upgrading the course for collegiate-level play, the refurbishment also offers a unique opportunity for students in Purdue’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program to gain valuable, hands-on, turf management experience. Source: […]
January 21-23, 2015 • Indiana Convention Center 100 S. Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Here are directions (map/directions) and parking information (parking). We look forward to seeing you this week at the Indiana Green Expo (IGE). To help you get the most out of the IGE, we want to share some highlights and the digital version of […]
Common Mallow Biology: Common mallow (Malva neglecta), also known as cheese mallow, cheese weed, and dwarf mallow, is a winter annual broadleaf weed, though it can also act as a biennial if environmental conditions that favor growth persist. It is generally found in low-maintenance turfgrass lawns, nursery crops, and landscapes. The ability of […]
Pineapple Weed Biology: Pineapple weed (Matricaria matricariodies), behaves as either a summer or winter annual and it is commonly found throughout the United States. It is a weed of both high- and low-maintenance turfgrass lawns, landscapes, and nursery crops. Its ability to tolerate low mowing heights and highly compacted soils allow pineapple weed to […]
Roughstalk Bluegrass Biology: Roughstalk bluegrass, primarily known by its scientific name (Poa trivialis), is a cool-season perennial grass that can be found throughout the Midwestern United States. Though roughstalk bluegrass can be found in landscapes, roadsides, meadows, and waste areas, it is primarily considered a turfgrass weed. It can successfully germinate in multiple environmental […]
Buckhorn Plantain Biology: Buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is a perennial broadleaf that can be found in sites that are typically dry and consist of neutral to basic soils. Like the closely-related broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), buckhorn plantain can often be found in compacted soils but does not tolerate injury from constant traffic stress. It […]
Two workshops are available for you and your crew this December. First, a new workshop, Equipment Technician Training is available. On December 11, 2014 we are hosting our first equipment technician training opportunity at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. The training is meant for anyone who has some […]
Any investment in quality continuing education opportunities benefits employees and employers alike. The 2015 Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science Online is designed to help meet the continuing education needs of any individual or organization. This 12-week program will have training sessions accessible live online on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8pm (Central Standard Time) […]
Fall is an important time to fertilizer our cool-season turfgrasses. Fall nitrogen promotes good root development, enhances storage of energy reserves, and extends color retention in cool-season lawns. Most of the benefits from late fall nitrogen will be seen next spring and summer with earlier green-up, improved turf density, and improved tolerance to spring diseases […]
Broadleaf Plantain Biology: Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) is a perennial, broadleaf weed that can be found in nutrient-poor soils; however, they prefer nutrient rich-soils that are moist and often high in calcium. Broadleaf plantain is a common weed in turfgrass, nurseries, and landscapes as it can tolerate very low mowing heights. It germinates […]
There appears to be a wide-spread outbreak of armyworms [Pseudaletia (=Mythimna) unipuncta (Haworth)] infesting residential turf across southern Indiana. These insects typically have 2 generations per year in this part of the country and we are in the midst of the 2nd generation of larvae. Adult armyworm moths lay their eggs in large masses and […]
A nerd is an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit1. Therefore, a turf nerd is someone single-minded towards turf, obsessed with turf, and a bit nonsocial. I suppose that described me pretty well. To help increase your turf nerd quotient (only nerds use words like quotient), I thought I would […]