Blog
Here is a very rare problem in lawns. My last blog on it was June 19, 2017 (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/turfgrass/search/content/cigarett%20paper). This sighting is from Debbie Wynkoop in Elysian, MN.
A few weeks ago we posted about fall armyworm masses being found throughout Iowa. Here is a link to an article that Dr. Donald Lewis and myself presented on the Horticulture and Home Pest News last week.
The past two months I have been watching various social media stories about how bad fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) pressure is in the states to the south of Iowa. There has been extensive damage in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas, and Missouri to name a few.
Gray Snow Mold is a common winter disease that affects a number of cool-season grass species in the northern region.
Have you noticed a lot of spider webs in yards and golf courses the past week? No it is not some leftover Halloween decorations, and you are not alone, we have had calls from all over Iowa asking about why their yards are or golf courses are covered in spider webs.
Gray Snow Mold is a common winter disease of creeping bentgrass on golf course greens in central Iowa.
Here is a new for me, Nick Christians. I have never seen one that I know of. It comes from Dr.
Here is an interesting question. Can hand sanitizer kill creeping bentgrass on greens? While we didn't see this one coming, we probably should have.
Here is an interesting question. Can hand sanitizer kill creeping bentgrass on greens? While we didn't see this one coming, we probably should have.
Here is an interesting question. Can hand sanitizer kill creeping bentgrass on greens? While we didn't see this one coming, we probably should have.
Our new ornamental grass trial at turfgrass research north of Ames, Ia is beginning to mature. The attached picture was taken on July 22, 2019. This is a demonstration trial that will be on this years turf field day on September 11. The following is a report on the project
Iowa State University Turf Club students have been busy competing in various turf competitions.
For those of you who were at the "Plant Soil Interactions" seminar that Dr.
As of today the 2019 Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals is now available. Here is what is new with this edition:
The 2018 Turfgrass Field Day was held in conjunction with the Iowa Turfgrass Institute on September 11th 2018 at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station near Gilbert, IA. Perfect weather was present for the day, and this year marked Dr. Christians 40th Turfgrass Field Day.
Many questions have come in over the past couple of weeks about what is going on in people's yards.
Rough bluegrass, or Rough Stalk bluegrass, Poa trivialis is closely related to Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). There are some important differences, however. Rough bluegrass is common in Iowa lawns. It is a source of many calls at this time of year
In recent weeks there have been a few sightings of Chinch bugs in Iowa. The lawn in the pictures is in Cedar Rapids. Typically damage is in open sunny locations in the yard. These insects can be present in great numbers in the yard over 150 per square foot.
It is Slime mold time again in central Iowa and I have had several questions on it in the past week.
I have been watching for the first crabgrass plants to emerge for each of the past 40 springs. The reason for my interest in this is that I always have some kind of crabgrass treatment going out each spring and I don’t want to miss germination. In Ames, the crabgrass usually germinate
Iowa State University Turf Club recently participated in the 13th Annual Sports Turf Managers Association Student Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Iowa State had three teams in the contest.
It is another bad fall for Windmillgrass (Chloris verticillata) in Iowa lawns. It is producing seed heads right now (Oct.
The Iowa State Turf Club recently completed a fundraiser and learning experience at Reiman Garden's. The students helped Reiman Garden's by seeding an entry area that has been under construction for the past year. The seed used was a 70% Kentucky bluegrass and 30% perennial ryegrass mixture.