Weather
Things have been pretty cool and wet all last week. According to the forecast, we are setting up for five days in a row where there will be a significant humidex (July 2-6th). Night time temperatures will be in the 18-20°C range. There will be a risk of the warm weather diseases developing given the current forecast. Rain has been spotty over the last week, but most areas still have good soil moisture. There was some evidence of heat stress last week with heat tracks on some turf that resulted when mowers, golf carts or other vehicles drive over wilted turf.
Again, not much new dollar spot last week. The weather has been really crazy. The last couple of nights (June 29 and 30th) the night time temperatures were cool enough to bring on some new infection from Microdochium patch. We probably won’t see any symptoms because of the temperature and humidity are ramping up next week. The current forecast is for those conditions to last for 5 days. There will be some risk of brown patch developing. Know your hot spots and act accordingly. A preventative fungicide application may be warranted if you have history of this disease developing. Waitea patch symptoms could develop in the coming week as well.
There are reports of summer patch samples coming in now from the GTI Turf Diagnostics. Hot, humid conditions and thunderstorms usually bring on the disease symptoms, which incidentally is what is in the forecast, so no doubt there will be more summer patch symptoms developing. The wet spring has meant shallow roots on annual bluegrass so this will also impact the amount of summer patch we see this summer.
On home lawns there are symptoms of heat stress from last week, but generally lawns are looking pretty good. Conditions have been good for the growth of the necrotic ring spot fungus and some symptoms are showing up now with the drier weather last week.
If you do encounter a turf problem that you can’t identify, you can always send a sample to GTI Turf Diagnostics. Information on this service is available on the GTI web site. You can also email them at diagnostics@guelphturfgrass.ca or telephone at (519) 824-4120 x 58873.
I have been surprised, but we are still seeing June beetle adults here at GTI every morning. These flights should be almost over. More European chafer adult flights this week, but they have not been heavy. We have not had peak flights yet, but they are usually around Canada Day so they are probably just around the corner. I have not heard of any Japanese beetle adult flights yet. If anyone out there is seeing adult Japanese beetles, could you send me a quick email.
The annual bluegrass weevil damage is winding down now. If damage is severe from the first generation, an insecticide application on the hardest hit areas targeting the adults of the second generation might be warranted. The usual timing for this application in around July 4th. Soap flushes can be done to monitor for the adults in and around that time.
There are no reports yet of black turfgrass ataenius damage. I expect to see some damage in a week or two. There is still some black cutworm activity out there as well.
We are seeing a lot of hairy chinch bug nymphs in home lawn turf now. It is difficult at this point to predict if we will have a bad year for chinch bugs. It really depends on the weather from here on in. If things are hot and dry for the bulk of the summer you can count on a bad year for chinch bugs.
I have had a few calls reporting very severe leatherjacket infestations. Very soon, the leatherjackets will move deeper into the soil and remain there in a non-feeding stage until late August.
There is still lots of clover, black medick, chickweed and narrow-leaved plaintain in full flower right now in home lawns, golf course roughs and sports fields at the moment. With the heat and humidity that are in the forecast for this coming week it will be good to suspend broad-leaf herbicide applications, whether you are using a product like Fiesta on home lawns or a traditional three way mix on golf courses.
There is a good crop of crabgrass out there now. There could be some additional crabgrass germination with the hot, wet conditions that next week is bringing.
OMAFRA Pub 384 Recommendations for Turfgrass Management Supplement now available on line.
For products registered to control pests on turf in Ontario are listed in OMAFRA Publication 384, Turfgrass Management Recommendations. The 2011 supplement, which lists pesticide products that have received registration over the last two years, is now available on line.
I appreciate the feedback. You can reach me by phone at (519-824-4120 x 52597) or by email at pamela.charbonneau@ontario.ca.
– See more at: https://lawnsavers.com/turf-hotline-2011/turfgrass-management-agriphone-for-june-30-2011.html#sthash.orW00dws.dpuf
