This winter has been cold and long. From December 2013 through February 2014, Indiana had it’s 9th coldest winter on record and its coldest since 1979, 1978 was coldest on record (Fig. 1). With such cold temperatures, many are worried about winterkill. Fig. 1. In the past 120 years, this was the 9th coldest…Read more about Cool-Season Turf Winterkill: Potential Losses and a Pathway to Recovery[Read More]
With the winter snows finally melting away many are often surprised to find a series of tiny trails on the surface of their lawns and turfgrass fields. These are vole highways. Voles are often called meadow or field mice. While they are similar to a house mouse in general size and shape, they…Read more about Melting Snow Reveals Tiny Trails[Read More]
Correct diagnosis is the most important step you can take toward fixing plant problems. We took the best photos we had in our libraries and put them in our apps to help you become better plant managers. The Purdue Plant Doctor suite of smart phone apps will help you diagnose and find recommendations to manage…Read more about Use Purdue Plant Doctor Apps for Android and iPhones to Fix Plant Problems[Read More]
With colder than normal temperatures in Indiana this winter, we are anticipating some minor winter damage. To help prepare for this we are publishing a three part series on this topic to help turfgrass managers prepare for what may await them in the spring. Look forward to the following topics over the next week. Part…Read more about Warm-season Turf Winterkill 2014: What Can you Expect and NOW WHAT?[Read More]
From a turf disease perspective, evidence of the severity of this winter is apparent in the extent of snow mold development. Symptoms of Typhula snow molds (gray snow mold and speckled snow mold), and/or pink snow mold are obvious throughout Indiana and the Midwest. Typhula snow mold pathogens are adapted to grow and infect at…Read more about Snow Molds in the Winter of 2013-14[Read More]
In January (January 8-10, 2014) the Purdue Turf Program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation hosted the Indiana Green Expo (IGE) in cooperation with the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association. The IGE is Indiana’s most comprehensive green industry educational conference and trade show. It is a time of education, new products and networking with industry…Read more about Another Successful Indiana Green Expo Despite the Polar Vortex[Read More]
Winners of the first ever Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) Green Awards were announced just a few weeks ago at the Indiana Green Expo in Indianapolis during the MRTF Distinguished Service Award Reception. The purpose of this award is to recognize MRTF member facilities that show outstanding environmental stewardship, who implement the highest standard of…Read more about MRTF Green Award Winners Announced![Read More]
Article from: Purdue Agriculture News (2/27/2014) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Despite a couple of recent mild weather days that made us think spring could be near, the Indiana State Climate Office says winter isn’t going away anytime soon.While it isn’t abnormal in Indiana for snow and cold temperatures to linger into mid-March, current weather models…Read more about Winter likely to keep a frigid grip on Indiana into late March[Read More]
Two teams of Purdue students traveled to San Antonio, TX to participate in the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Annual Collegiate Challenge sponsored by Hunter Industries on 24 January, 2014. During the two-hour competition, teams were divided into students pursuing either a 4-year or 2-year degree. All competitors were required to properly identify turfgrasses, weeds,…Read more about Purdue Turf Students Place 3rd at the Sports Turf Managers Association Annual Student Challenge[Read More]
Following recent flooding in their office due to a water line break, “the Office of Indiana State Chemist & Seed Commissioner has restored operational status for most of its internal activities of licensing, registering, and responding to telephone calls. As of Tuesday, January 21, all staff reported to their regularly assigned duties. The laboratories continue…Read more about Status: The Office of Indiana State Chemist & Seed Commissioner[Read More]
January 8-10, 2014 Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN While the weather outside is frightful today (Monday, January 6 2014) and tomorrow (Tuesday, January 7 2014) it does look to improve considerably by week’s end with highs near 40 degrees for the Indiana Green Expo (January 8-10, 2014). Don’t miss out on Indiana’s largest turf and landscape…Read more about Weather warms up at week’s end for the Indiana Green Expo (January 8-10, 2014)[Read More]
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…Read more about 2014 Turf Weed Control for Professionals, Now Available[Read More]
January 8-10, 2014 Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN Education schedule, workshop descriptions, speaker highlights, exhibitors and trade show events found at www.indianagreenexpo.com or click here for IGE 2014 Brochure. Speakers We are excited to bring in a great group of speakers in the turf sessions this year. Highlighted speakers include: Eric Baumeister,…Read more about Indiana Green Expo 2014[Read More]
Many are asking is how late in the year can I apply a broadleaf herbicide to control dandelions, white clover, ground ivy and other broadleaf weeds. Generally, the best answer is that broadleaf herbicides can be applied in Indiana until mid-November and still provide effective control. This timing is +/- 2 weeks depending upon your…Read more about How Late is Too Late to Control Broadleaf Weeds?[Read More]
It is that time of year when leaves are falling faster than you can rake them in many places. It is important to rake leaves when there are many leaves on the ground (so many that you can’t see the turf underneath) so that heavy layers of leaves will not shade out, smother, and kill…Read more about What To Do With All Those Falling Leaves?[Read More]
After 10 years working in the Turf Program at Purdue, Jennifer Biehl is taking a new position. She will start her new position as Assistant Director of the Global Supply Chain Management Masters Program in Purdue Krannert School of Management the week of September 16. If you have any questions, comments or concerns for the…Read more about Jennifer Biehl Moves to New Position[Read More]
As part of an ongoing effort to raise consciousness about the potential threat to pollinators posed by neonicotinoid insecticides, the USEPA recently unveiled new pesticide labeling criteria.The new labels will contain a bee advisory box and icon with information on routes of exposure and spray drift precautions. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/C186766DF22B37D485257BC8005B0E64 The recent announcement focuses on products…Read more about New Insecticide Labels to Increase Focus on Pollinator Protection[Read More]
Common Bermudagrass Biology: Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is the most commonly used turfgrass in the southern United States, but it is also a difficult-to-control weed in northern turf. Bermudagrass is a drought tolerant, warm-season, perennial grass species that tolerates low mowing and actively spreads vegetatively by both rhizomes and stolons…Read more about Common Bermudagrass[Read More]
This article provides a 2013 update of this issue and what we hope will be the last and final update on Imprelis. This update addresses some of the frequently asked questions about Imprelis® in 2013. 2013 Imprelis® Update: Tree Maintenance, Replacement, and Disposal (PDF) (08/13) For a complete review of the facts and a more…Read more about 2013 Imprelis Update: Tree Maintenance, Replacement, and Disposal[Read More]
The use of ride-on sprayer/spreaders by lawn care operators (LCOs) and the sports turf industry has increased dramatically since they were introduced in the 1980s. Ride-on equipment offers a number of competitive advantages over walk-behind spreaders and the hand-gun/hose-reel type of application. This publication addresses specific procedures for separately calibrating the pesticide sprayer and the…Read more about New Publication: Calibrating Ride-on Sprayers and Spreaders[Read More]
