Welcome to the “Turf Agriphone” sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This message is being recorded for the week of June 8-15, 2001.
We are having some beautiful weather at the moment. It is even getting warm. Even though the cool wet weather is over there may be some Fusarium patch activity lingering for a week or so. If we get cool nights with some heavy dews, there could be some new symptoms developing. You can expect to see some “melting out” occurring if we get some hot weather in the next week or so. Again, according to work done at GTI by Dr. Brenda Walsh, we should start seeing the first dollar spot epidemic when irises and peonies are in full bloom. I know in the Guelph area both those species are just starting to bloom, so be on the lookout for the first signs of dollar spot.
We have found some small ataenius grubs in the greens here at GTI. Damage usually begins on collars and the edges of fairways. These areas will first appear drought stressed, but on closer examination of the soil you will see the small white grubs feeding on the grass roots. Curative applications of insecticide work best if the areas are irrigated before they are treated and irrigated immediately after treatment. My summer student and I looked at European chafer grubs this morning here at Guelph. They are still not showing any signs of pupating. We found some that were very small still. They looked like they were only second instar. The cool weather so far this spring seems to have slowed their development down.
Hairy chinch bugs have returned to the turf from their overwintering sites now. Females are probably laying eggs at the moment. We will keep you posted on when we start to see this season’ s nymphs developing.
Turfgrass scale adults are laying their eggs now. These scale insects can be found at the base of bluegrass plants. Adult females will have a cottony mass attached to their bodies, which is filled with eggs. These eggs hatch into crawlers around the end of June, beginning of July. For more information on scale visit http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/turfscal.htm
There is probably another week left of ideal conditions for post-emergence herbicide treatment. All the rain and high winds have made it a bit difficult in May for lawn care companies to apply herbicide treatments.
As far as crabgrass is concerned, we are getting close to the window where Dimension will not be affective. Dimension can be used up to the 3 leaf stage. If the crabgrass is tillering, it is best to move to Acclaim Super.
Fertilizer applications that were applied earlier this spring are just starting to kick in after the rain and the warm weather. If you are using a fertilizer that requires microbial breakdown, it should be kicking in very shortly. Try to avoid the temptation of putting on more fertilizer. Be patient. The cool temperatures have really slowed down things like microbial activity.
Again, thanks for phoning the Turf Agriphone for this week. The next agriphone message will be recorded on Fri. June 15, 2001. – See more at: https://lawnsavers.com/turf-hotline-2001/turf-agrifax-week-9-2001-june-8th-2001.html#sthash.8dF4svNp.dpuf
