Spring is just around the corner

Spring is just around the corner

by | Mar 21, 2023 | General Updates, Weeds

Spring Awakening: Golf Course Season Kicks Off with Turf Pest Diagnostic Focus

As the sun peeks out from the cloudy winter skies and the temperature rises, golf enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the start of the golf course season. While the players are honing their swings and preparing their equipment, turf managers are also gearing up for a busy season ahead. A key aspect of managing golf course greens is turf pest diagnostics, with the primary focus on keeping the grass healthy and pristine. In State College, PA, we are hitting the perfect timing for controlling annual bluegrass seedheads.

Turfgrass Waking Up

The transition from winter to spring marks a significant change in the life cycle of turfgrass. As temperatures rise and daylight hours increase, the grass begins to break dormancy and enters a period of active growth. This is a critical time for turf managers, as they must carefully monitor the health and vigor of the turf and address any issues that may arise. For those managing bentgrass greens, this is the time when anthocyanin build up in patches can sometime mimic disease activity. These patches will disappear as the turf starts to grow.

 

Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Control

Annual bluegrass, also known as Poa annua, is a common turfgrass species found on many golf courses. Although it can provide a playable surface, it is not the most desirable grass for golf courses due to its propensity to produce seedheads, which can affect ball roll and overall playability.

As we enter the prime seedhead production period in State College, PA, it’s essential for turf managers to focus on implementing effective control measures. This is usually done by applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) that suppress seedhead formation and reduce the overall Poa annua seed bank on the greens.

Timing Is Everything

Applying PGRs at the optimal time is crucial for effective seedhead control. The ideal window for application is when the turfgrass is just beginning to break dormancy and before the seedheads start to emerge. To determine the best time to apply PGRs, turf managers can monitor growing degree days (GDDs), which is a measurement of accumulated heat units. The target GDD range for effective PGR application is typically between 200-500 GDDs, depending on the product being used. At Penn State we hit 200 GDDs this week and seedhead treatments have gone out.

Best Practices for PGR Application

  1. Choose the right PGR: Select a product specifically designed for annual bluegrass seedhead control, such as mefluidide (if you still have any) or combinations of ethephon + trinexapac-ethyl or prohexadione calcium.
  2. Follow label instructions: Read and adhere to the recommended application rates and guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
  3. Monitor weather conditions: PGRs are most effective when applied under mild temperatures and adequate soil moisture. Avoid applying during extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain or drought.
  4. Keep an eye on GDDs: Monitor GDDs to help determine the most effective window for PGR application.
  5. Record your results: Keep a log of your PGR applications, including the date, product, rate, and weather conditions. This will help you refine your approach in future seasons.

Conclusion

The start of the golf course season is an exciting time for both players and turf managers. As the turfgrass wakes up and begins to grow, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and address any potential pest issues promptly. Also note that turfgrass in our area isn’t going to really move until some warmer temps make their way here. Despite The Masters being on TV soon, remind your members that we don’t live in Georgia!

Prime disease season is here

Prime disease season is here

by | Jul 1, 2022 | Disease

Much of Pennsylvania has hot (and some wet) weather forecasted. While temperatures look to be in the low 80s in areas like Erie and Scranton, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia temperatures will be in the upper 80s and low 90s for the next week or two. Regardless of the daily highs, it’s the nightly highs that look to stay consistently above 60F that should have you on high alert. Disease season is upon us. Happy Fourth of July!

Poa annua etiolation

Diseases

We have received a few samples of bacterial wilt in the past two weeks as well as some suspected white leaf. Neither of these diseases are all that common in any given year, but it seems to be showing up on several golf courses in the Northeast. The hardest part of both of these is that there’s not really much that can be done do control the disease from a chemical perspective. You can’t spray your way out of this one. Instead, cultural practices need to be adjusted that don’t always make the golfers happy. For bacterial wilt, raising mowing heights, reducing mowing frequency, only mowing when the turf is dry and avoiding any abrasive practices are important. If you’re seeing any small spots on your Poa or etiolation of individual plants on your greens, it’s a good idea to send a sample for diagnosis. For white leaf, we are throwing in the towel as management options are not known. There is the potential of this phytoplasma being spread by insects so perhaps an insecticide application may help.

On top of the bacterial wilt and white leave issues, we are now seeing dollar spot throughout the region and anticipating an upsurge of brown patch and Pythium blight. We are still a little early for gray leaf spot in our region, but we are approaching the period where preventive fungicide applications should be started in case we get some early outbreaks.

Weeds & Insects

We’re not hearing much buzz about any weeds and insects out there. Probably more of the same in dealing with summer annual weeds and annual bluegrass weevils, but in somewhat of a lull before white grubs. Keep us posted if you’re seeing or hearing anything that you feel needs to be reported on.

 

Pest Update – June 20th

Pest Update – June 20th

by | Jun 20, 2022 | Uncategorized

Diseases

The short stretch of hot weather over the past week lead to some “negative for disease” samples in the lab. In most cases, these are areas that are starting to get stressed during the hot weather. We did, however, start to see brown patch starting to show up around the state. Much of this is in areas that received rain or are irrigated. This is relatively early for the disease so I would be on the look out in the coming weeks as we hit real brown patch and Pythium weather. On top of these diseases, dollar spot is very active around the state and likely will continue. On a recent trip to a golf course in central PA, anthracnose is also moving in. So basically we are in the heart of disease season so stay alert.

Weeds

We’re past the point of preemergent herbicides for crabgrass control so if you missed the window it’s time to start thinking about post emergent control. Dr. Landschoot wrote a good article on the topic a few years ago that is still relevant. 

Insects

According to Dr. McGraw, white grub adults, especially Japanese beetles, are just now starting to fly. Otherwise, there’s a bit of a “lull in the season.” I did notice some ABW damage on our annual bluegrass research fairways at Valentine and also some damage to the collars of a golf course putting green at a Central PA facility. 

 

Weather in PA

The weather around the state is variable. Moderate temps in the low 80s will stay in place for much of central and eastern PA until this weekend or next week and then things heat up. In western PA, however, temperatures after today will be in the upper 80s and low 90s. Some possible thunderstorms, combined with the heat, could create ideal conditions for the hot-weather diseases like brown patch and Pythium blight. We are still a little ways away from gray leaf spot, but turf managers should have enough to deal with over the next couple of weeks. 

 

PSU Turf Pest Update – June 6, 2022

PSU Turf Pest Update – June 6, 2022

by | Jun 6, 2022 | Disease, Insect, Weeds

Turf pest updates from what we are seeing around the region and in the lab.

Brown Ring Patch to Pythium

Samples in our lab indicate major outbreaks of brown ring patch (aka, Waitea patch) throughout much of the central and western portions of Pennsylvania, with the Pittsburgh area being hardest hit (Fig 1). I wasn’t too surprised about seeing the disease in State College, but felt like it might have been past “prime time” for BRP in western PA. It once again goes to show that we should be predicting disease outbreaks based on weather patterns and not the time of the year. I remember seeing Microdochium patch as a graduate student at UMD this time of the year and everyone thought I was crazy. If you suspect you may have BRP, incubation in a Tuperware container on your desk should reveal the presence of mycelium. 

Speaking of Maryland, temperatures and rainfall around the mid-Atlantic have been right for several warmer diseases including Pythium and brown patch. Although we usually talk about July 4th as the hotspot for these diseases, it appears that we are going to see them early so be on the lookout and keep your preventive controls in place where warranted.

Weevil update (from Dr. McGraw)

While trial evaluations are happening this week, there are some early reports that ABW larva are absent from many of the properties he’s visiting in western PA. This may be due to a combination of reduced populations this year or (more likely) the fact that he visits the region twice per week all spring and many of the clubs are following very closely monitored recommendations for their initial insecticide timings. Regardless, there have been reports of damage in other areas of Pennsylvania as well as the surrounding regions of Ohio, New Jersey, Metro New York, and southern Connecticut. If you’re fortunate to not see much damage consider yourself lucky, but keep an eye out on any insect updates moving forward.

Crabgrass and other weeds

Crabgrass is pretty much hitting its stride these days throughout the state and preemergent control is obviously long gone. It is important to note the tillering stage of the crabgrass if you’re going with a post or early-post herbicide as some of these do well with early and late stages, but not those in the middle. One area of interest for us at Valentine is the vast difference in crabgrass populations between our recently renovated fairway vs our established ryegrass fairway. Not surprisingly, the area that was recently renovated has higher populations that are farther along. This once again reinforces the notion that a well-established lawn is one of the best measures to prevent crabgrass populations from getting out of control. Along with crabgrass, we continue to see high populations of dandelion and clover and suspect that if you haven’t had any goosegrass germination yet that you should soon expect it to be emerging.

 

Fig 1. Brown ring patch symptoms on a golf course fairway.

Fig 2. Mycelium of Waitea circinata, causal agent of brown ring patch, following incubation in a Tuperware container.

Seedheads, dollar spot and more.

Seedheads, dollar spot and more.

by | May 23, 2022 | Disease, Insect, Weeds

The entire state of Pennsylvania finally received some warmth over the weekend with some regions cracking 90F on Saturday. Although temperatures held in the 80’s on Sunday, this week continues to track back to the high 60’s to mid 70’s. However, warmer temperatures are set to return this weekend and this is where active pests will start to pick up.

Weeds

As has been reported previously, this has to be one of the worst year for Poa seedheads on record. We continue to see seedheads flourish in all areas from putting greens to home lawns. Having said that, seedheads in the lower cut turf does seem to be subsiding quicker than in turf sites maintained at a higher height of cut. The broadleaf weeds are in full swing as well and crabgrass has germinated throughout the state. If you missed your preemergence timing, you might want to consider your postemergent options.

Diseases

We have continued to see Microdochium patch active during recent periods of cooler temperatures in combination with moist conditions. I suspect that this will subside by the weekend as warmer temperatures move in. Dollar spot popped up in Central PA this past weekend and I suspect it’s been in the warmer parts of the states for a bit longer. Look for dollar spot to take off in the next couple of weeks as it becomes the number one nemesis on everyone’s minds. Luckily, we are still early for summer time diseases like brown patch and Pythium, but don’t let the calendar dictate your decisions. Pay attention to the forecast and make decisions accordingly.

Insects

According to WeevilTrak, annual bluegrass weevils are in Stage 3 throughout much of the state with the exception of northeast PA. Traditionally cooler, the Scranton area weevils are stuck in Stage 2. Keep an eye out for any current updates from Dr. McGraw on Twitter.

 

Warmer Temperatures Moving In

Warmer Temperatures Moving In

by | May 10, 2022 | Disease, Insect

Colder temps and rain

This spring has seemed to be never ending for turfgrass managers in Pennsylvania and the surrounding regions, but we may be finally getting into some better growing conditions. While many have been battling winterkill caused by some early warm temperatures followed by some deep freezes, it seems that things are starting to look up around the state.

Last week we experienced some persistent rain that placed itself over much of central and eastern Pennsylvania. Relatively cool temperatures meant that the grasses were not growing much and the excessive rain caused some minor headaches. At the Valentine Research Facility, our plots were under water for a period of time. According to Dr. McGraw, the heavy rains also resulted in a massive emergence of the marsh crane fly in central PA.

Diseases developing just south of us

A quick trip to visit Dr. Fereshteh Shahoveisi, the new turfgrass pathologist at the University of Maryland, made me realize just how much of a difference a couple hundred miles south can make on pests. Dollar spot has been active in the Washington, D.C. area for about 3-4 weeks already and they were also experiencing some spring dead spot and large patch damage on bermudagrass and the excessive moisture likely isn’t helping things. Take all patch on newly established bentgrass has also been reported.

Short term outlook

Looking at this week’s weather forecast for Pennsylvania, it looks like much of the state will be in the mid 70s to low 80s with scattered showers. Those of you in warmer areas may need to be on the lookout for dollar spot, but the cooler areas might be a couple of weeks away. As always, the moisture and relatively mild temperatures should have you on the lookout for a variety of early spring diseases including brown ring patch, cool temperature brown patch, and even Microdochium patch. We’re still a few weeks away from the thick of it, but so far this year is looking like it will be a pretty active disease season.

Sending samples

If you have any issues that require a look, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are happy to take a look at any samples you would like to have diagnosed. It’s always best to have a positive ID to ensure that your management strategies are targeting the right pests.

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