In some parts of the upper Mid-West, winter will just not go away! Even in locations where it is not still snowing, the precipitation has been cold, cold rain and air temperature 12-15 degrees below normal. Those that love to fish (not ice fish), in MN and WI are headed for one of the latest ice outs on record (talk about good 'indicators' as to the timing for various turfgrass management practices being put into a cocked hat!).
In any event, the interval between various cultural practices, i.e. seedhead suppression, crabgrass control, core cultivation, topdressing, over-seeding, etc. are going to be put into a compressed mode of action. It is important that when these circumstances happen, that you are able to be nimble with you timing, prioritizing of your actions, and thinking. I cannot over emphasize the thinking part of the previous statement. Stay in a pro-active rather than re-active management approach, do not panic, nor knee-jerk what you impliment and things will work out just fine.
At this time of year, your turf will mostly react to things you cannot control (soil temperature, weather patterns, etc. Therefore, you cannot force the issue, you can only manage it. It is said that patience is a virtue and I know that being patient is difficult, particularly when there are golfers with even less patience than you beating on your door for action.
This is the time to practice and refine your communication skills, both written and oral in order to keep everyone from employees to end users on the same page.....
More later this week as conditions change, for better or worse depending on where you are!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
As was predicted the weather has turned much warmer in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S.
Showers and some T-storms are putting down precipitation that is made up of relatively warm water, which can rapidly increase soil temperatures, particularly near the surface where new roots are initiating growth from crown buds.
New rooting of creeping bentgrass and Poa annua in green's height situations, appears to be a 'neck and neck' proposition (which bodes well for the creeping bentgrass). Usually, the Poa annua has a bit of a competitive advantage when it comes to early rooting, but it doesn't not appear to be much this year.
Earthworm activity has substantially increased of late, so Mother Nature's aerifiers are doing their job, but making a bit of a mess in the process. These critters can disrupt the chemical barrier provided by preemergence herbicides which reduces effectiveness (even more so that mechanical core cultivation). Dr. Dave Shetlar at The Ohio State University is a valuable resource for you with regard to reducing earthworm populations.
As an aside, the book 'Managing Turfgrass Pests' published in the early 90's by myself, Dr. Peter Dernoden, and Dr. Shetlar has been recently revised and should be available to you by the end of this month. Many updates, photos, and new cultural control strategies have been added to this second edition.
Showers and some T-storms are putting down precipitation that is made up of relatively warm water, which can rapidly increase soil temperatures, particularly near the surface where new roots are initiating growth from crown buds.
New rooting of creeping bentgrass and Poa annua in green's height situations, appears to be a 'neck and neck' proposition (which bodes well for the creeping bentgrass). Usually, the Poa annua has a bit of a competitive advantage when it comes to early rooting, but it doesn't not appear to be much this year.
Earthworm activity has substantially increased of late, so Mother Nature's aerifiers are doing their job, but making a bit of a mess in the process. These critters can disrupt the chemical barrier provided by preemergence herbicides which reduces effectiveness (even more so that mechanical core cultivation). Dr. Dave Shetlar at The Ohio State University is a valuable resource for you with regard to reducing earthworm populations.
As an aside, the book 'Managing Turfgrass Pests' published in the early 90's by myself, Dr. Peter Dernoden, and Dr. Shetlar has been recently revised and should be available to you by the end of this month. Many updates, photos, and new cultural control strategies have been added to this second edition.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
READY, SET, GO!
It appears that spring is about to arrive in most of the northern most states after a long winter and a spring that has been stubborn to show up. With warmer weather patterns now developing, cool season turfgrasses will get 'kick started' by this warming as they have re-hydrated and have become physiologically prepared for regrowth.
Annual bluegrass seedheads will begin to emerge rather rapidly leaving a smaller window for proper timing of PGR applications. Remember to supplement what ever growth regulators you might be using, with foliar nitrogen and bio-stimulant sources. These supplements will enhance the activity of the chosen PGR and facilitate movement throughout the plant. Carefully examine some of the Poa plants in order to monitor seedhead development in the 'boot stage' of development. When developing seedheads are visible, application timing is right!
If the warmer weather pattern holds, summer annual grasses (particularly smooth crabgrass), could still germinate early. Monitor soil temperature (remember to measure soil temperature in the upper half inch of the profile) and when the temperature is 55F in the morning before heating from the sun occurs, for three days in a row, make your preemergence application and be sure to irrigate it into the ground. Incidentally, this phenomenon coincides very closely with the first petal fall of forsythia (a good phenotipical indicator).
Your comments are always welcome and let's get the growing season started!!!
Dr. Tom-Turfgrass Expert
It appears that spring is about to arrive in most of the northern most states after a long winter and a spring that has been stubborn to show up. With warmer weather patterns now developing, cool season turfgrasses will get 'kick started' by this warming as they have re-hydrated and have become physiologically prepared for regrowth.
Annual bluegrass seedheads will begin to emerge rather rapidly leaving a smaller window for proper timing of PGR applications. Remember to supplement what ever growth regulators you might be using, with foliar nitrogen and bio-stimulant sources. These supplements will enhance the activity of the chosen PGR and facilitate movement throughout the plant. Carefully examine some of the Poa plants in order to monitor seedhead development in the 'boot stage' of development. When developing seedheads are visible, application timing is right!
If the warmer weather pattern holds, summer annual grasses (particularly smooth crabgrass), could still germinate early. Monitor soil temperature (remember to measure soil temperature in the upper half inch of the profile) and when the temperature is 55F in the morning before heating from the sun occurs, for three days in a row, make your preemergence application and be sure to irrigate it into the ground. Incidentally, this phenomenon coincides very closely with the first petal fall of forsythia (a good phenotipical indicator).
Your comments are always welcome and let's get the growing season started!!!
Dr. Tom-Turfgrass Expert
Welcome to Dr. Tom - Turfgrass Expert
Welcome to my turfgrass blog...
I have spent over 40 years in the turfgrass industry, beginning as an undergraduate student at Iowa State, then a graduate student at Virginia Tech, and then a professor of turfgrass science at The Pennsylvania State University until my retirement as Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Science. I have taught many turfgrass courses (both resident and on-line), conducted research, consulted, published a turfgrass pest management book, written several hundred scientific journal and trade magazine articles, provided turfgrass management expertise to golf courses nationally and internationally, and have provided expert witness testimony in a number of court cases (all of which lead to successful outcomes for the client). My intentions for this blog are to provide timely information for the implementation of successful turfgrass management strategies for golf courses, athletic fields, lawns, commercial properties, and sod production operations world wide.
Additionally, this blog is intended to be interactive and a forum for the exchange of ideas and the advancement of current concepts for successfully managing all turfgrass systems. Further, with linkages to other social media sources, the information found herein will be useful for 'setting the record straight' on issues that require my expertise and experience. I look forward to hearing from all that are interested.
Dr. Tom -Turfgrass Expert
I have spent over 40 years in the turfgrass industry, beginning as an undergraduate student at Iowa State, then a graduate student at Virginia Tech, and then a professor of turfgrass science at The Pennsylvania State University until my retirement as Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Science. I have taught many turfgrass courses (both resident and on-line), conducted research, consulted, published a turfgrass pest management book, written several hundred scientific journal and trade magazine articles, provided turfgrass management expertise to golf courses nationally and internationally, and have provided expert witness testimony in a number of court cases (all of which lead to successful outcomes for the client). My intentions for this blog are to provide timely information for the implementation of successful turfgrass management strategies for golf courses, athletic fields, lawns, commercial properties, and sod production operations world wide.
Additionally, this blog is intended to be interactive and a forum for the exchange of ideas and the advancement of current concepts for successfully managing all turfgrass systems. Further, with linkages to other social media sources, the information found herein will be useful for 'setting the record straight' on issues that require my expertise and experience. I look forward to hearing from all that are interested.
Dr. Tom -Turfgrass Expert
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