Tag: Homeowner

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The rain and 90F temperatures have boosted the growth of both crabgrass and yellow nutsedge in the last week or two. Unfortunately, our options for control of either weed are becoming limited. Plus the hot temperatures increase the risk for...

Fountain grass and other ornamental grasses have added tremendously to the urban landscape. However, we are now seeing some of these grasses escape from the ornamental beds into the turf. One in particular is fountain grass (Penisetum spp) because it...

We have received a number of calls, email, and electronic photos inquiring about current brown patches in the lawn. Dollar spot is active throughout the state and could be causing problems in lawns. Dollar spot causes very noticeable lesions and...

The first Japanese beetles of the year were observed in central Indiana last week and now is a great time to review the biology and control of these pests. Japanese beetle adults pupate from larvae in late spring and begin...