Spring is here!!
|
2004 vs. 2005 Degree Day Comparison
|
Current Total (April 7)
|
Projected Total Through
April 11
|
Location |
2005 DDs
|
2004 DDs
|
Differential
|
| Carbondale |
124
|
146
|
-22
|
| Peoria |
103
|
96
|
+ 7
|
| Bloomington |
70
|
76
|
-6
|
| Orland Park |
62
|
52
|
+10
|
| Frankfort |
60
|
52
|
+8
|
| N.Barrington |
51
|
32
|
+19
|
| Aurora |
51
|
49
|
+2
|
| Libertyville |
39
|
27
|
+12
|
|
|
 |
Base 50 degree day (DD)
maps from the Illinois
State Water Survey. Poa seedhead predictions are overlaid
on the current and projected totals. Red represents Poa seedhead
emergence (over 100 DD). Orange represents recommended spraying
of PGRs for seedhead control (50-100 DD). Degree days from the
Interactive Turf program (slightly lower than the Water Survey's
are summarized in the table on the left.
Weather
It looks like for the second weekend in a row
we are in for an above average, sunny, good for golfers - good
for revenue weekend (if only the PGA tour could get so lucky!!).
Aside from yesterday (4/7) air temperatures have been above
average for a little over a week in Chicago. This shows in the
base 50 degree day accumulations for northern Illinois, as most
of Chicagoland is running at higher DDs than at this time last
year, even though 2004 had a few warm days in March. Daffodils
and forsythia are in bloom now, (at least in the southern suburbs),
and the dandelions are even blooming in Bloomington. A major
cooldown has not been forecasted yet, with one forecaster saying
that average to above average temperatures should continue for
the next 10 days.
The storm system that was supposed to hit Chicago
on Wednesday slipped south and nailed Augusta, leaving most
of Illinois with nothing more than a drip (0.05 inches at Golf
House). Some are using the dry weather to get some projects
completed while others would've liked a little splash for the
grass. The low humidities will also remain this weekend, which
could make the difference between the lows and highs quite large
(30-40 degrees) away from the lake. The next chance for rain
is reported on late Monday or early Tuesday depending on how
the next system over Oregon tracks.
Poa Winterkill
Well, unfortunately it is obvious now that, (like
Milwaukee that got hit really hard), some courses on the north
lake shore of Chicago got some pretty serious ice or crown hydration
damage this year. There was a significant event back in January
that could have lead to this -
- click here to read January 12th newsletter) - -.
Randy has put out a press release on the CDGA website that can
hopefully break it a little easier to the golfers expecting
a totally green spring. There really is nothing to do now except
aerify, reseed, and look at it as a selective herbicide app.
Below is an excerpt of the press release...
"On many golf courses, wet snow and rain
mixed to form dense sheets of ice during this time, especially
in the northern and northwestern suburbs - extending into southern
Wisconsin. Some of these ice sheets lasted well into March (up
to 6 weeks), and were probably responsible for some of the damage
we are now observing on golf turf, especially turfs consisting
primarily of Poa annua (annual bluegrass). These ice sheets
formed and persisted over the turf in depressions where rain/snow
melt water settled, or on other poorly drained or shaded sites.
Long term coverage by ice layers is a major cause of winter
injury to Poa annua. The injury is caused by anoxia (lack of
oxygen) and accumulation of CO2 when the turf is coverd for
long periods by ice. Dormant plants lying under snow and ice
need small amounts of oxygen to survive the winter. Research
has shown that it takes 30 days or more of solid ice cover to
damage or kill a Poa annua turf, and 50 or more days to hurt
creeping bentgrass. Many damaged areas were under ice layers
for well over 30-40 days.
Another major cause of winter turf loss is a condition
called "crown hydration-freezing injury." As the winter
affected turf becomes saturated with water or covered with melting
ice and snow, and temperatures fluctuate into warmer ranges,
there is a chance that Poa annua plants warm-up enough to break
dormancy and soak up some of this water into the roots and crown
area ("crown hydration"). Sudden freezing of the water
in hydrated tissues causes ice crystals to form, which will
damage the cell walls and membranes of individual cells to the
point that entire tissues and plant organs will fail. Unfortunately,
this type of injury often goes unnoticed until spring green-up,
when large areas of turf fail to green up and begin growth in
early spring. Again, Poa annua is the major victim for this
type of injury, but other plants may also be affected."
To get to the entire article:
Click
here to go to the CDGA website.
Select Turf Topics from the menu on the left, and
then select "Winter Injury to Poa annua on N. Illinois
Golf Courses".
Poa seedheads
Poa seedheads were noted in Bloomington on Monday,
April 4th, and again here at Golf House in a southern-facing
rough height slope on the 5th. Degree days have accumulated
above the 50 mark for most of central Illinois and the southern
suburbs now, making it a good time to spray seedhead suppressors.
This weekend could push the rest of northern Illinois over 50
DDs making next week a good time to start spraying (unless
the grass hasn't greened up yet or is afflicted with winter
damage then don't spray a PGR). . If we let history be our
guide, the first seedheads begin to pop on greens about 2 weeks
after the first day that we reach 50 DDs.
So how critical is timing for Poa seedhead applications?
Well, if you are using sequential Proxy/Primo apps there really
is not a "last chance day" as was erroneously written
(by me, whoops) in an earlier emailed pest alert. There normally
is a window of about 7-10 days (which is probably now and next
week, hint, hint) to get the material down so it will be effective.
In our tests, even if you get the Proxy/Primo on after the first
early biotypes begin to swell with seed, then you will still
get fairly good control. Those that went out early this week,
which there were a great number in the southern suburbs, should
not fear either, as they should have it down in more than enough
time to catch the first flowers, and will just replenish on
the next application. Give us a call if you want to talk about
your plan this season or read our past research by clicking
here for the USGA TERO article or see the
Sponsored Research section of this website.
Some other interesting tidbits...
-- The first cutworm moths have been captured
in the southernmost counties of Illinois, so their migration
is starting.
-- I will be working with Dr. Joe Vargas on development
and timing of the early dollar spot preventative strategies
for this area. My first application will be Monday (now that's
early!!), with other first applications being made incrementally
throughout the next month or so. Stay tuned, as the results
will be forthcoming.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
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.106
