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…Read more about Common Mallow[Read More]
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…Read more about Pineapple Weed[Read More]
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…Read more about Roughstalk Bluegrass[Read More]
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…Read more about Buckhorn Plantain[Read More]
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…Read more about December Workshops for the Crew: Weed Identification & Control (Herbicide Workshop) and NEW Equipment Technician Training Workshop[Read More]
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)…Read more about 2015 Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science Online (For Professionals)[Read More]
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…Read more about Is it Too Late to Apply My Last Nitrogen Fertilization?[Read More]
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…Read more about Broadleaf Plantain[Read More]
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…Read more about Armyworms Invade Indiana[Read More]
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…Read more about Words You Might Hear a Turf Nerd Use[Read More]
Prostrate Spurge Biology: Prostrate Spurge (Euphorbia humistrata) is a summer annual broadleaf weed that can be found in dry/sandy and/or nutrient-poor soils along with compacted, weakened or disturbed turfgrass and landscape sites. Look for it first in driveways and sidewalks or in potted plants in a landscape or nursery as temperatures…Read more about Prostrate Spurge[Read More]
A common question this time of year is whether to plant turf seed now and control weeds later OR to instead control the weeds now and then seed later. Here are my thoughts. Cool-season turf seed mixture. Option 1 for areas with mainly broadleaf weeds and a few annual grasses: Plant now and control weeds…Read more about Plant Turf Seed or Control Weeds First?[Read More]
Typical conversation about fescues. Bill: What kind of grass do you have? Bob: Fescue. Bill: What kind of fescue? Bob: You mean there’s more than one kind? Bill: Yes. As I travel around the region and give presentations or respond to email and phone questions, it is very common for me to enter into a…Read more about Fescue. You mean there’s more than one kind?[Read More]
The best time to seed a cool-season lawn is in the late summer to early fall. Adequate soil moisture, warm soil, and limited weed pressure allow for excellent seedling growth. Normally, we recommend seeding between August 15 and September 15 as the optimum seeding window. However, due to our cool summer and a…Read more about Start Seeding Cool-Season Turf Now[Read More]
Water is necessary to initiate the germination process in seeds. As the seed imbibes water, enzymatic reactions within the seed trigger the germination process. Enzymes breakdown the energy stored inside the seed endosperm and this energy is used by the seed embryo for growth. The first visible step in the germination process is the emergence…Read more about Watering Newly Seeded Areas[Read More]
On Tuesday, July 15, 2014 the Purdue Turf Program, the Purdue Green Industry Working Group and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation successfully hosted the Turf and Landscape Field Day. Jackets were needed at this year’s field day as the high temperature was 69 °F which is the coolest field day on record! The Turf and…Read more about 2014 Turf and Landscape Field Day a Success[Read More]
Birdsfoot Trefoil Biology: Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a perennial broadleaf weed that is often found on drought-prone and low-fertility soils. It germinates from seed primarily in the spring but sometimes in the fall depending on temperatures. The plant quickly spreads into large colonies by developing stolons and rhizomes during the…Read more about Birdsfoot Trefoil[Read More]
Weed management next to sidewalks is difficult for several reasons outlined below. These “hot spots” for weed invasion become quite evident during summer as weeds encroach and turf quality declines. The below section outlines some of the causes for hot spots and how to best manage weeds in these areas. Soils are shallow in these…Read more about Weed Management Next to Sidewalks and Driveways[Read More]
The Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15, 2014. This annual one-day event with the objective of providing professional turf and landscape managers exposure and educational opportunities with the latest research and technical resources. Over 500 have pre-registered for the event. The Field Day features turf and landscape research tours, afternoon…Read more about The Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day is Tomorrow[Read More]
WHAT: An Indiana Pesticide Clean Sweep Project designed to collect and dispose of suspended, canceled, banned, unusable, opened, unopened or just unwanted pesticides (weed killers, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.) is being sponsored by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC). This disposal service is free of charge up to 250 pounds per participant. Over…Read more about 2014 Clean Sweep Dates Now Available[Read More]
