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Is this Spring?
Weather Update:
One of the big stories in Chicagoland this past month has been
the below normal temperatures. Both May 31 and June 1, saw average
temperatures 15 degrees below normal for this time of year. There
were many reports of frost those two mornings and some concern
over annual flower plantings. The last twelve days have all been
below normal temperatures with the month of May as a whole being
an average of 3.5 degrees below normal each day.
The other big story is the amount of rain (and violent storms)
we had this past month. So, let's look at it by the numbers...
totals varied from around the region, but most totals from IT
weather sites ranged from just under 5 inches to just over 6 inches.
Officially at Midway, we got 6.43 inches during May, which is
167% of the normal precipitation for that month (normally 3.86
inches). At O' Hare, total precipitation was at 5.29 inches, which
is 157% of the normal total. Although we probably didn't want
it all at once (with 4 storms producing an inch or more of rain),
the May rains have for now alleviated the drought situation that
we were experiencing from an abnormally dry winter.
In central Illinois, rain totals were slightly below normal for
the month of May, (Peoria - 94% of normal, Urbana - 92% of normal),
and temperatures were just slightly cooler than normal (an average
of 1.5 degrees below normal each day). Like Chicago, the first
few days of June have been cool there as well, running 10-15 degrees
below normal.
For June so far, our weather pattern does not seem to be changing
yet, with half an inch of rain in the gauge this morning (June
3) and a forecasted high not even reaching 60. I guess the question
is: will we have any type of spring this year or will we jump
right into high summer temperatures? Longer range forecasts (which
are extremely iffy) see the temperatures rising late this week
into the 70s and then into the lower 80s by early next week. Maybe
we will just have spring in middle or late June from now on...
Diseases:
Many courses in Chicagoland have reported initial symptoms of
dollar spot. These courses have mostly been located in the southern
Chicagoland area - southwest suburbs and along I-55, but just
today a report has come in from North Barrington. If conditions
hold true to last year, the activity will remain constant until
late September - early October with spikes in activity occurring
early and late in the season. . The dollar spot pathogen can be
slowed by cooler temperatures but can remain active, so although
initial reports have come in, we expect the customary spike in
dollar spot severity to occur in warmer temperatures that may
occur later in June. That being said, staying ahead of dollar
spot outbreaks with preventive or early curative fungicide applications
may be crucial at some sites to prevent damage that will recur
and get more severe throughout the summer season.
The prediction model for dollar spot, (which can be found on
your weather data page), has been going off for much of the region,
but has not been exactly perfect in its timing. Part of this could
be due to different strains of the dollar spot fungus present
at different sites. There is ongoing research concerning a strain
of the dollar spot fungus (Rutstroemia floccusum) that is active
at much cooler temperatures (maybe why we see some serious damage
in autumn). There could also be strains that are active at higher
temperatures. For this reason, your feedback concerning dollar
spot development and severity is important throughout the season
as we continually develop the prediction model and our knowledge
and understanding of this pest.
Early symptoms of take-all patch have been observed
at a couple of northern IL courses, primarily on sites that have
had the disease in previous years. The take-all pathogen (Gaeumannomyces
graminis var. avenae) is active at cool soil temperatures
when moisture levels are high. However, symptoms of infection
usually do not appear until the first warm, dry days of early
summer (generally early June in northern IL). Also, take-all patch
usually occurs fairly early in the life of a bentgrass turf (first
5 years or less), and the disease often lessens in severity as
the turf ages.
Take-all patch, summer patch and other patch diseases caused by
root-rot fungi are very difficult to control with fungicides,
and curative treatments rarely provide any improvement in symptoms.
Preventive applications of DMI and QoI fungicides can alleviate
patch symptoms in many cases, if the applications are made at
optimal soil temperatures in mid to late spring. For take-all,
we generally recommend treatments when soil temperatures first
range into the low 50s F (which has or is happening in most areas),
with a followup application 21-28 days later. For summer patch
on bluegrass, applications should be made when soil temperatures
get into the mid to upper 60s F, (which hasn't quite happened
yet in central and northern IL). In general these are early to
mid April applications for take-all patch, and mid to late May
applications for summer patch.
Weeds:
Seeding of Poa annua is probably at, or just
past, peak density in northern Illinois. Many superintendents
who are using Proxy tank mixes for seedhead suppression are reporting
good to excellent results. We have noted as much as 70-80% reduction
in our plots again this year. We are also looking at the effects
of a second application of growth regulator in mid-May, and will
follow the status of those treatments until late June.
Moss growth is now becoming more evident in infested greens, and
many queries are again coming to us for possible moss control…
We still have no good answers; some superintendents report initial
success with fall applications of Junction (copper hydroxide plus
mancozeb), while others continue to have some success with Terracyte
or Dawn dish soap. If moss is a chronic problem, you can probably
blame one or more of the following turf conditions: low mowing
heights, low N fertility, low K fertility, high Ca levels or high
Ca/Mg ratios, moisture held in/near thatch by mini perched water
table (probably from sand topdressing practices)… Take a close
look at how your greens are managed and try to correct potential
cultural problems…
Insects:
Over the last week, some significant cutworm feeding
activity has been reported in central Illinois and starting up
in southern Chicagoland (below I-80). The first cutworm siting
was noted in central Illinois on April 30, which coincided with
"intense" cutworm moth captures that also occurred on
that date. Now, three weeks after the first worm, our first real
"flush" of cutworm activity is on in the central region.
In a past newsletter and pest report, I proposed using "the
corn cutting" model as possible prediction for our feeding
activity on our turf. The model is below, and although it didn't
predict the first cutworm siting correctly, it seems to be reasonably
close for the flush of activity that is being seen in the central
region right now.
Adult May and June beetles are flying around the
front porch light and falling into the mailbox - I guess they
survived the northern IL winter after all.. We will see if there
are Japanese beetles doing the same in a few weeks. Mound building
ants have been quite active recently, and there may be some other
insects active in sand on greens and tees (possibly sod webworm???)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Thanks for your support of this, as well as all of our research
programs,
Randy Kane
CDGA
Director of Turfgrass Programs
Midwest Golf House
11855 Archer Ave
Lemont, IL 60439
630-257-8126
Lee Miller
CDGA
Manager of Turfgrass Research
Midwest Golf House
11855 Archer Ave
Lemont, IL 60439
630-257-2005 x.111
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