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Greetings From Pittsburgh

November 6, 2009


This week I traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend the Agronomy Society of America meetings. The meetings are held annually and scientists from all across the world come together to present and talk about their research. I presented on the findings from my germination study that I posted on the blog last week. Part of the conference experience included a tour of Oakmont Country Club and Heinz Field.
 

Oakmont C.C. was really beautiful and we had a nice day for our tour. The weather in Pittsburgh is slightly cooler compared to our temperatures in Iowa and they receive a bit more rainfall. As a result, they manage annual bluegrass as the primary species on their putting greens. The density of poa is really impressive when it exists as a monostand (picture above). However, they do fight contamination from creeping bentgrass (that seems like a weird statement) and it appears out of place (picture to the right). We also had an opportunity to see the church pues which are much larger in person than I expected (picture at beginning of post).

The second stop on our tour took us to Heinz field. In addition to hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz field is also home to the Pitt Panthers. The field is also used for a handful of high school football games and a few miscellaneous events during the year so it receives a good amount of use. The field is Kentucky bluegrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass during the season. The middle portion of the field has a heating system underneath the turf. The field had been overseeded with ryegrass and the heated portion was covered up during our visit to promote germination of the seed and to stimulate growth of the existing turf.

The remainder of the trip was devoted to attending sessions where graduate students and professors present findings from their research. I attached links to abstracts from the talks that I found most interesting and though you might too.

Amicarbazone for Annual Bluegrass Control in Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper55369.html

Potential Use of Mesotrione in Turfgrass Systems
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper55382.html

Response of Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars and Annual Bluegrass Control with Mesotrione at Turfgrass Establishment
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper55458.html

Mesotrione as An Herbicide for Spring-Seeded, Cool-Season Turf
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper53940.html

Biochar for Sand-Based Rootzone Modification
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper53423.html

Dollar Spot Control Using Organic and Synthetic Fungicide Combinations
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper55556.html

Anthracnose Severity of Annual Bluegrass Putting Green Turf as Affected by Summer Soluble N-Fertilization
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper54138.html

Conversion of Kentucky Bluegrass Rough to No-Mow, Low-Input Grasses
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2009am/webprogram/Paper54254.html
 

Marcus Jones
Graduate Research Assistant

Category: 

Topdressing Athletic Fields


This publication discusses whether a topdressing program is the right path to take, how to incorporate a program through cultivation, general costs of topdressing, the importance of sand particle size and how much sand is needed when applied on the surface following aerification.

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Putting the Field to Bed


To insure health in the spring, an athletic field must be properly cared for before winter hits. This publication discusses how to get a fall sport field ready for the winter and how to get a spring sport field ready for competition.

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Tall Fescue Summer Performance

June 13, 2017

The last couple of weeks have been especially hard on lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses in parts of Iowa that have experienced high temperatures, drying winds, and a lack of moisture. Ideally turfgrass would receive around 1 to 1.25 inches of rain per week to stay actively growing. That has not been the case in many parts of Iowa. Kentucky bluegrass will go dormant to avoid the drought and will go off color. If the dry conditions persist, some turfgrass cover loss will be expected. Our research area is no different, we have several athletic field research plots which have not received adequate rainfall. The area's which were planted to tall fescue are still green and looking good. Another plot that looks good in these hot dry conditions is the HGT bluegrass plots. The pictures below are a good illustration of differences between turfgrasses on the same site and soil. Hopefully rainfall and cooler temperatures will bring relief for turfgrass in Iowa.  

Green tall fescue clumps in dormant Kentucky bluegrass
Picture 1. Green tall fescue clumps growing in heat stressed and dormant Kentucky bluegrass.

Green tall fescue turfgrass on the right of the picture and dormant Kentucky bluegrass turf on the left
Picture 2. Overhead shot of dormant Kentucky bluegrass (on the right) next to green and actively growing 'Revolution' tall fescue at the Iowa State Horticulture Research Station. 

Heat tolerant bluegrass is still green
Photo 3. Heat tolerant bluegrass maintaining a green appearance without irrigation at the Iowa State Horticulture Research Station in Ames.

 

Healthy turfgrass around a broken irrigation head
Photo 4. Healthy and unstressed turfgrass growing in a ring around a broken irrigation head.
 

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2019 Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals is now Available

January 28, 2019

As of today the 2019 Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals is now available. Here is what is new with this edition:

 

Changes from 2018 to 2019 edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals

 

The following sections were added/modified.

  • 2 states (MD and ND) were added as collaborators to this multi-state publication (now 16 total states).
  • No weeds were added but 21 pictures are being changed/added to provide better weed ID assistance.
  • Several minor modifications were made to the weed control efficacy tables.
  • A new Q&A on “new products added to 2019 edition” was added.
  • Change in annual bluegrass seedhead suppression info in PGR section

 

Herbicides Added

 

Trade Name (product/A)

Common Name (lbs ai/A)

Weeds Controlled

Turfgrasses

Comments

Fahrenheit

(3-12 oz)

 

 

[[W]]

dicamba + metsulfuron          (see label)

broadleaf weeds, ryegrasses

bermudagrass, buffalograss, zoysiagrass

Do not use in cool-season turf. Controls a wide range of broadleaf weeds, ryegrasses, and wild garlic/onion. Add NIS at 0.25% (v/v). Do not plant woody ornamentals in treated areas for 1 year after application.

Sure Power
(2-3.5 pts)

 

[[NY]]

2,4-D +

triclopyr +

fluroxypyr +

flumioxazin
(see label)

broadleaf weeds

Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue

Do not use on creeping bentgrass or turf with significant annual bluegrass. Controls a wide range of broadleaf weeds. Wait at least four weeks after applying before reseeding or sodding. Avoid broadcast applications when daily high air temperatures are forecasted to exceed 80°F. Adding an adjuvant is not recommended and may increase turf injury risk. This herbicide is quick acting with results visible in 2-3 days.

Manuscript

(9.6-19.2 fl oz)

 

 

[[W]] [[L]]

pinoxaden

(0.03-0.06)

Crabgrass, dallisgrass, ryegrass, thin paspalum

bermudagrass,  zoysiagrass

Specialty herbicide for specific grass control within certain turfgrass species. Use as directed spot treatments to targeted weeds. Tank-mix with Adigor surfactant or MSO at 0.5% to 1.0% (v/v) to increase performance. The formulation contains a safener called cloquintocet-mexyl.

Foundation

(3.25-4 pts)

 

[[NY]]

2,4-D + triclopyr + dicamba + sulfentrazone

(see label)

controls many broadleaf weeds

annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue

Controls a broader spectrum of weeds than 2,4-D alone. Not for use on putting greens or tees. Do not apply when temperatures are greater than 90°F. Provides yellow nutsedge suppression only. For newly seeded areas, delay application until after second mowing. Do not use adjuvants.

Triad Select

(1.8-4.0 pts/A)

2,4-D + MCPA + dicamba

(see label)

controls many broadleaf weeds

annual bluegrass, bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, zoysiagrass

Controls a broader spectrum of weeds than 2,4-D alone. Avoid applications when temperatures are greater than 90°F. Delay reseeding 4 weeks after treatment. Do not apply to newly seeded grasses. Limit of 2 applications per year.

Triad SFZ Select

(2.75-4.0 pts/A)

 

[[NY]]

2,4-D + MCPA + dicamba + sulfentrazone

(see label)

controls many broadleaf weeds

annual bluegrass, bermudagrass, buffalograss, creeping bentgrass, fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, zoysiagrass

Controls a broader spectrum of weeds than 2,4-D alone. Not for use on putting greens or tees. Avoid applications when temperatures are greater than 90°F. Delay reseeding 3 weeks after treatment. Do not apply to newly seeded grasses until mown twice. Limit of 2 applications per year. Do not use adjuvants.

Momentum 4-Score
(3.5-4.5 pts)

 

[[NY]]

2,4-D + fluroxypyr + triclopyr + sulfentrazone

(see label)

broadleaf weeds

annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue

Controls a broader spectrum of weeds than 2,4-D alone. Not for use on putting greens or tees. Do not apply when temperatures are greater than 90°F. Provides yellow nutsedge suppression only. For newly seeded areas, delay application until after second mowing. Do not use adjuvants.

Products that are labeled for use in only warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, buffalograss, and zoysiagrass) or predominantly warm-season turf are indicated with this symbol: [[W]]. Do not use these products on cool-season turf except by label directions.

Products with sale and/or use restrictions in New York state or Long Island, New York (Nassau and Suffolk counties) are indicated with this symbol: [[NY]]. Refer to the label for more information.

Products only registered in specific states (primarily those states with significant bermudagrass turf) are indicated with this symbol: [[L]]. Check with your state regulatory agency and local suppliers for availability.

 

Herbicides Table Entries changed

Trade Name (product/A)

Common Name (lbs ai/A)

Weeds Controlled

Turfgrasses

Comments

Xonerate 2SC
(3-6 fl oz)

 

 

 

 

 

[[NY]]

amicarbazone
(0.04-0.09)

annual bluegrass and some broadleaf weeds

bermudagrass, buffalograss, creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, zoysiagrass

Do not use on golf course putting greens. Apply in spring for annual bluegrass control. Do not apply in summer or fall. Apply when daily high temperatures are 55-80°F. Irrigate soon after application with 0.1 to 0.2 inches of water. Turf quality of Xonerate 2SC treated areas with >10% annual bluegrass will be temporarily reduced. Do not apply to areas where mefluidide has been applied in the previous three months.

 

 

 

Herbicides added (new ingredient(s) or a new combination)

  • Manuscript (pinoxaden) – bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass (labeled in 9 states in our region)
  • Sure Power (2,4-D ester + triclopyr + fluroxypyr + flumioxazin)
  • Fahrenheit (metsulfuron + dicamba)
  • Triad Select (2,4-D amine + MCPA + dicamba)
  • Triad SPZ Select (2,4-D amine + MCPA + dicamba + sulfentrazone)
  • Momentum 4-Score (2,4-D amine + fluroxypyr + triclopyr + sulfentrazone)
  • Foundation (2,4-D DEA + triclopyr + dicamba + sulfentrazone)

 

Herbicides now listed

  • Boulder 6.3 (triclopyr ester)
  • SUREPYC (sulfentrazone)
  • Scepter (imazaquin)
  • Fahrenheit (metsulfuron + dicamba)
  • SedgeMaster (halosulfuron)
  • Halo 5WDG (halosulfuron) – contains surfactant
  • Halo 75WDG (halosulfuron)
  • E-2 (2,4-D + fluroxypyr + dicamba) – same as Escalade 2 but for sod farms
  • Aim EC (carfentrazone) – for sod farms
  • Topeka (dicamba) – for sod farms
  • Rifle (dicamba) – for sod farms
  • Detonate (dicamba) – for sod farms
  • Strut (dicamba) – for sod farms
  • Panoramic 2SL (imazapic)
  • Patriot (metsulfuron)

 

Herbicides New Formulations

  • Xonerate 2SC (amicarbazone)

 

 

 

 

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