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Here is a short turf management IPM (and weather) update for the first week of September, 2K.
Unfortunately, as predicted by MENACEONE and Uncle Dom, severe heat and humidity has finally found its way into northern Illinois for the first time this summer; at least it waited until September! Most of the heat in the US this summer has been locked up in the southern tier of states, especially from AL west to TX.
The northern boundary of the heat has stayed south and west of Illinois for most of the summer (except for Bloomington?), but this week some of the hot, humid air has leaked into the northern half of Illinois.
Weather Update
I suspect that some Pythium and Brown Patch symptoms are popping up here and there, but I don't expect any serious damage since the days are shorter and nights cooler than in July or early August.
Current forecasts call for much cooler and dryer air to push back into the upper midwest by Monday or Tuesday.
However, I suspect that some heat and drought stressed turf areas are showing up, and will continue to do so through the holiday weekend.
Poa annua is especially susceptible at this time of the year because accumulated traffic/compaction, wear stress, etc have made roots shallow and "weak".
Many of you may have to be out syringing and hand watering hot spots on Sat through Mon afternoons, especially if you have some weak Poa that you don't want to lose before the club championship (!)?
Diseases
Reports of Gray leaf spot on perennial ryegrass have been trickling in slowly.
We are now in the prime time for disease activity, so be on the look-out for sudden yellowing, thinning, and pockets of severe blighting on ryegrass fairways and in irrigated roughs.
GLS can be distinguished from Pythium or brown patch by the presence of leaf spots and yellowing on older leaves, and sudden wilting and collapse of younger leaves with little or no aerial mycelium (especially no fine, gray mycelium spreading from leaf to leaf as with Pythium and brown patch).
If you have any sudden loss of rye or fine leaf tall fescue turf, be sure to contact me, or to get a diagnosis.
NOTE TO SUPERINTENDENTS
On Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expanded the warning about tread separation of Firestone AT type tires to include larger tire sizes (eg 16" vs. 15") and some other models, including some older models like the Baja.
Many of you drive Ford Rangers, Expeditions, and F150 pickups with Firestone tires, so I would advise you to check on the tire models on your vehicles and look for any problems on those tires.
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