Turf Professional
Overseeding creeping bentgrass into thinning Poa annua
Dry and hot conditions 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 when done July 1. Rutgers produced significant (>25% cover) of bentgrass within 12 months […]
Velocity for Poa annua control….Potential and Precautions
Velocity (byspribac) was registered for Poa annua control in creeping bentgrass last November, so this is the first summer of potential widespread use. As with all new pesticides, we’ll learn more of the finer details as we use it. We have a number of studies at Purdue currently and I just stopped at a course […]
Free Registration for New MRTF Members at Field Day
If you are not a member of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, you can join now and receive one free registration to the MRTF Field Day on July 26. Other benefits of joining include reduced registration rates at all of the educational events sponsored by MRTF, regular mailings of newsletter and factsheets to help professionals […]
Facts and Advice on Turf Survival in Drought
There are many questions about turf survival in drought with the on-going drought in most parts of the state. Though we understand many of the mechanisms of turf survival in drought, it’s hard to duplicate all of the potential situations on research plots across the country and it’s difficult to give definite “black and white” […]
Quicksilver Receives 24C Registration for Moss on Greens in Indiana
FMC’s QuickSilver T&O herbicide has just received special local 24(c) registration for control of silvery thread moss in putting greens in Indiana. Though Quicksilver (carfentrazone) is used widely as a quick knockdown contact broadleaf herbicide, it has good efficacy on silvery thread moss. The recommended rate for moss is 6.7 fluid oz/A (0.154 oz/1000 ft2 followed […]
Midwest Regional Turf Field Day on July 26
Gear up for the Midwest Regional Turf Field Day that will be held on July 26 at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center in West Lafayette. This is a great opportunity for turf professionals to view the latest in turfgrass research, talk to Purdue specialists about turf and ornamental issues, and visit with […]
Early Dollar Spot Applications Make Sense
Dollar spot has arrived on golf courses. The standard mid- to late May fertilization of 0.75-1.0 lb N/1000 sq. ft. with primarily slow release N should have helped minimize some dollar spot. On golf courses with a long history of dollar spot, first and foremost review the fertilization practices and increase the annual N if […]
Update on Black Cutworm
Significant weather events from the south usually are responsible for the movement of the black cutworm moths into our area each spring beginning as early as March. Black light traps stationed throughout the state have failed to catch many black cutworms this year to date. This is good news for our industry and may spell […]
Interactive Turfgrass Identification Tool now available
After about 9 months of development a concept of mine has finally borne fruit. This week we rolled out the interactive, self-guided, online turfgrass identification tool, located at: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tool/index.html. Now you can probably identify the mystery grass in your lawn from the comfort of your own computer. If you still can’t identify it, you can always […]
Fertilizing Sports Turf
Fertilizing sports turf is critical in order to maintain turf vigor in spite of intense wear and tear. However, too little fertilizer or poorly timed fertilizer are common mistakes on sports complexes. Following are our recommendations for sports field fertilization: Apply fertilizer just prior to the season to insure aggressive growth Apply60% or […]
Fundraiser Golf Tournament for Don LaPierre
A good friend of the Indiana turf industry, Don LaPierre, has recently been diagnosed with cancer. A fundraiser golf tournament for Don and his family will be held on June 21st at Greenfield Country Club in Greenfield, followed by a live auction. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Don and his family. […]
Which is it, Annual Bluegrass or Kentucky Bluegrass?
Kentucky bluegrass is currently producing seedheads that are difficult to mow and create an uneven appearance. However, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is also producing similar looking seedheads. It’s important to distinguish the two because Kentucky bluegrass is highly desirable in a lawn, but annual bluegrass is a weed. It is a weed because it is […]
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) in Full Bloom in Lawns and Athletic Fields
Annual bluegrass is now very common in lawns and athletic fields, though it has been a problem on golf courses for years. Annual bluegrass is a lighter green than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, and will thin and die during the heat and drought of August in Indiana. It’s especially noticeable now because of it’s […]
Bentgrass Species and Cultivar Selection Impacts Annual Bluegrass Invasion in Renovated Bentgrass Fairways
Along with the warmer spring temperatures two things are certain; crabgrass will eventually germinate and annual bluegrass will profusely flower. For anyone managing bentgrass fairways or considering a bentgrass fairway renovation some of our recent research results will be of particular interest and provide some food for thought. There has been some mild interest in […]
Time is Running Out for Preemergence Control of Crabgrass
The below average temperatures the last few days has delayed crabgrass germination and thus premergence annual grass herbicides should still be effective if applied this week in the northern half to 2/3rds of the state. Most of the preemergence herbicides do have some post-emergence properties that will burn back small crabgrass (one or two leaf […]
Watch for Breakthrough from Early Preemergence Herbicide Applications
The extremely dry spring may reduce the effectiveness of preemergence herbicides. The products must be watered-in or rained-in to move them below the canopy and down to the soil where they will be effective. Herbicides not watered-in may also photodegrade faster than those wateredin. Early research showed a 44% loss in three days of preemergence […]
Rhizoctonia Large Patch (Zoysia Patch)
As our zoysiagrass fairways and tees are greening up this spring, we will soon begin to see the symptoms of Rhizoctonia Large Patch (zoysia patch). Rhizoctonia Large Patch (RLP) is the only major disease of zoysiagrass in Indiana. The pathogen is favored by moderate temperatures and long dew periods in the spring, fall and during […]
Spring Dandelion Control for Professionals
Many turf areas did not get treated for broadleaf weeds last fall because of the dry weather. Though fall applications are most effective for controlling broadleaf weeds, spring applications are warranted for new lawns or areas that did not get treated last fall. Spring applications will be most effective if you wait until dandelions are […]
Herbicide Delays after Seeding
Almost all herbicides will affect turfgrass seedlings and application delays are usually needed following seeding. Following is information gleaned from available labels of most herbicides or herbicide types that would be used in Indiana . This is intended to provide a general idea of the limitations of each active ingredient, but please refer to the […]