| InteractiveTurf
Newsletter |
Let it Grow, Let it Grow, Let it Grow
Weather review:
Some warm air from the southwest finally found its way into Illinois
the past week, driving temperatures into the upper 80s to low
90s for three whole days! Dew point/humidity levels were fairly
low however, and the warm-up wasn’t too uncomfortable. Summer
is here, such as it is. In general, we remain in a cool and dry
weather pattern. For most of Illinois, temperatures are averaging
3 to 4 degrees below normal for the month of June , and we are
at about 50% of average precipitation at most stations. In June
of last year, we had 7-8 days with high temps >90 F and 13-14
days > 85 F in the Chicago area; so far in 2003 we have had
2 days >90 F and 4 days >85 F… But who is complaining!?!?
Other than a few frosty mornings, June has been a great month
to grow some grass.
Diseases:
The recent warm-up hasn’t been enough of a driving force to stimulate
a summer disease pattern in northern Illinois. We have received
reports of some active brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
in central and southern Illinois over the last week or so. In
the suburban Chicago area, we have observed some heat stress type
symptoms on Poa annua and Poa trivialis the last
couple of days. There has also been some minor activity of Rhizoctonia
zeae on Poa annua (causing yellow rings), but no major outbreaks
have occurred as happened last year in early June. Dollar spot
activity is consistently reported in central IL, but remains slow
in the Chicago area (first it is too cold, then it is too hot).
Insects:
There have been some interesting developments on the insect front
over the last few days. Japanese beetle adults have been found
from several sites in central and southern Illinois, as far north
as Bloomington and also in the Quad Cities area. Adult JB emergence
has been running a few days ahead of our growing degree day model
(which was very accurate last year), and could occur in some south
or western suburbs over the week or two. In fact, yesterday while
pulling up some weeds we found some ugly looking pupating larvae
that probably JBs developing.
Also, we have gotten a report of damage from black turfgrass
Ataenius larvae in fairways. BTA damage often occurs in fairways
(less often on tees or greens) that are adjacent to a wooded area,
fence-line or tree-line, since the adults overwinter in leaf litter
and duff in those areas. Watch for small, irregular areas of wilting
turf, even where rainfall or irrigation has maintained adequate
soil moisture.
We have noticed and had other reports of small, irregular mounds
of sand appearing on greens from mid-day into the afternoon, usually
with no ant activity visible. Upon further review, there appears
to be a small, bronze colored beetle tunneling into greens and
pushing the sand up to the surface. Phil Nixon, extension entomologist
at the U of I said the beetle is similar to a corn seed beetle,
which burrows into cold, wet soils and feeds on slow or non-germinating
corn seed. AND NO, there has been no corn planted in these greens!
So if you see any strange piles of sand on your greens in the
afternoon, look for a tunneling beetle about 1-2 inches below
the surface!
Weeds:
We continue to monitor our Poa annua seedhead suppression trials,
as the Poa is continuing to seed rather steadily this year. Our
first applications were made on April 18, and we did a follow-up
application of some treatments (e.g. Proxy + Primo) on May 15.
Once we get the data tabulated, we will report the results in
the Research Update section of InteractiveTurf. Algae and moss
reports are still common across the region. Another new treatment
has been devised for moss control – BAKING SODA!! A few
spots of moss were treated with baking soda at our Cantigny research
site, and so far the results have been very good – the treated
spots turned bronze within 24 hours. We will continue to monitor
the area to see if repeat applications are necessary. A number
of superintendents are trying baking soda, if we get any reports
on application techniques or turf phytotoxicity, we will pass
those along. Also for more info, check the recent issue of Goldom
for an article about what could be the standard in moss control
(although it is still a little early).
+++++++++++++++++++++++
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
|
