Turf Management Updates and Subscription
You can listen to a recorded message by telephoning the local number 519-826-3414 or 1-888-290-4441. The reports are also available online. They are available as a text document and also as a podcast. The easiest way to get these weekly reports is to go to the subscribe/unsubscribe button at the Turf Management Report at the OMAFRA web site and subscribe. That way you will get an email and a link each time a new Turf Management Report is posted. If you are interested in subscribing to the podcast, simply click on the podcast button on the OMAFRA website and follow the instructions.
Many golf courses with damage have had seed germinate already because of the mild temperatures that we had in late March and mid-April. Those that were able to use covers at night have had the best success. The cool night temperatures are slowing the growth of the new seedlings right now. It has also been very dry and irrigation is needed daily to keep the seedbed on overseeded greens moist. Some golf courses have sodded injured areas in hopes of a quicker recovery from winter injury. Surprisingly enough, some of the annual bluegrass areas are coming back on their own more quickly than you would expect because of the early start of the season and the mild temperatures.
We are at least 10 days to 2 weeks ahead of normal with our growing degree days this spring. This is most evident by looking at the early flowering of forsythia. It is very cool at the moment, and this will slow down the plant phenology. The temperatures for the weekend are supposed to be between 18-22ºC with showers.
Ontario IPM Accreditation for Golf Courses
As you know the IPM accreditation program for golf courses became mandatory as of April 22, 2010. Some of the forms that are required for the annual desk audit are still being modified. I would keep a close eye on the Integrated Pest Management Accreditation Program website over the next few weeks to make sure that you are using the most up to date forms for the remainder of the season. Public works also had to enroll in an IPM certification program by April 22, 2010. The details on both programs can be found in the related links below.
Disease activity is minimal
Dr. Katerina Jordan, of GTI Turf Diagnostics is in the lab ready for turf samples to arrive. Information on this service is available at the link below on the GTI web site. You can email them at
diagnostics@guelphturfgrass.ca or telephone at (519) 824-4120 x 58873. There has been a small flare up of Fusarium or Microdochium patch and we will expect to see more as a result of the rain and cool temperatures on Sun. April 25, 2010. Some of the samples coming in have winter injury. There is a chance of seeing some yellow patch or cool weather brown patch, but probably not until after the rain comes this weekend.
Early emergence of annual bluegrass weevil and BTA
Still lots of reports of annual bluegrass weevil adults. A soap flush (15-30 mL of dishwashing liquid in 4 L of water) will work well to detect the adults. Monitor the edges of fairways, near tree lines where there is a history of annual bluegrass weevil damage. Unfortunately, the thresholds that have been developed for annual bluegrass weevil are numbers of larvae per area and the controls that are available are best to target the adults as they migrate from their overwintering sites, so we don’t really know the relationship between the number of adults in a soap flush and potential damage. According to Dr. Pat Vittum, entomologist from University of Massachusetts, the best time for applying Acelepryn™ is when forsythia are at the half green/half gold stage. Another recommendation is to only spray a swath of turf on the perimeter of the fairway because we know based on research observations that the first generation of ABW infest the edges of fairways. If you are going to target annual bluegrass weevil adults preventatively, that application should be done in the next week or so. For all the details from Dr. Pat Vittum see the related links below.
According to our GTI Scout, Erica Gunn, the black turfgrass ataenius have been flying since last Wed.. I have seen some today although they aren’t in high numbers here yet. This all makes sense because I have also seen bridal wreath spirea in bloom which signals the peak migration of black turfgrass ataenius adults. Once we get some consistent warm temperatures, we should see some sustained adult emergence. The soap flush mentioned above for annual bluegrass weevil adults will also detect the black turfgrass ataenius adults.
I have had a few emails about grub damage in a few areas this spring. So far thought they are few and far between. If you are encountering grubs on a golf course, it is best to wait until June or July and apply one of the preventative products that are listed in OMAFRA Publication 384, Recommendations for Turfgrass Management. If you are a lawn care operator, municipal sports field manager or homeowner, you need to wait until Aug. or September and apply insect parasitic nematodes.
Leatherjackets are feeding at the moment but they are not causing any damage. If leatherjackets do start to cause some damage and soil temperatures are > 12ºC then it may be warranted to applySteinernema carpocapse nematodes. Research results from spring trials conducted at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute gave 30% control using the Steinernema carpocapse . The timing of this treatment would very much depend on soil temperature. Soil temperatures at GTI at the 5cm depth are now at about 8-10ºC, but there may be some fluctuation and I would recommend waiting until at least a couple of weeks before considering using nematodes.
Weed control products and timing
In most areas dandelions are almost in full bloom. Well, if you are in lawn care you are probably thinking about your options for weed control for this spring. Not to worry, you have lots of time to get those broadleaf weeds under control. As far as the new iron chelate product Fiesta™ is concerned, it has been posted on the MOE Environmental Registry on April 22, 2010. It will stay up there until May 22, 2010. After that it needs to be classified by Onatio Pesticide Advisory Committee. It is looking promising that it will be available for spring broadleaf weed control. Temperatures are still too cold to apply Sarritor. It works best when daytime temperatures range from 18-24ºC. It is difficult to predict when we will have sustained temperatures in that range so keep you eye on the Weather Channel. It is still forecast to be cool tomorrow, but Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun are forecast to be in the mid teens to low twenties.
We are definitely in the application window for corn gluten meal for pre-emergence crabgrass control. The timing is usually around the time that the forsythia are in full to late bloom. In Guelph, forsythia are in mid-late bloom at the moment. I have seen some crabgrass germination in sunny protected areas on bare soil. For best results either apply corn gluten meal when rain is expected or water the product in within 2 days of application.
– See more at: https://lawnsavers.com/turf-hotline-2010/turfgrass-management-agriphone-for-april-28-2010.html#sthash.Z5qJTrfq.dpuf
