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Tough Year for Summer Patch Disease

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I have seen as much disease damage on turf this summer as any year since I began living and working in New Jersey (1991).

summer patch disease on hard fescue
Severe summer patch disease on hard fesuce at Hort Farm No. 2 in July 2013.

The hot humid weather has been ideal for summer patch and brown patch diseases.

Summer patch disease is caused by a root infecting pathogen, Magnaporthe poae. Wet weather combined with high air (soil) temperatures are thought to be very conducive to the development of summer patch disease.

I have observed more damage from summer patch disease on hard fescue turf than Kentucky bluegrass this year. This is likely due to the fact that more people are growing varieties of Kentucky bluegrass with better tolerance to this disease than was the case 20 or more years ago.

The Rutgers turfgrass breeding program is working on improving the tolerance of hard fescue to summer patch disease.

There are some cultural techniques that [Read more…] about Tough Year for Summer Patch Disease

Are there Organic Alternatives to Glyphosate?

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We receive requests for information on “organic” alternatives to glyphosate (e.g., Roundup), especially for “trim” sprays on paved areas, sidewalks, skin surfaces on ball fields, etc.

The research on organic non-selective herbicides that are being marketed as replacements to glyphosate (for example, Roundup) is growing but it is much more limited that what you can find on more conventional herbicides; however, we have been evaluating some products. Our results indicate that [Read more…] about Are there Organic Alternatives to Glyphosate?

Are there Organic Alternatives to Glyphosate?

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Main Content

We receive requests for information on “organic” alternatives to glyphosate (e.g., Roundup), especially for “trim” sprays on paved areas, sidewalks, skin surfaces on ball fields, etc.

The research on organic non-selective herbicides that are being marketed as replacements to glyphosate (for example, Roundup) is growing but it is much more limited that what you can find on more conventional herbicides; however, we have been evaluating some products. Our results indicate that [Read more…] about Are there Organic Alternatives to Glyphosate?

Crabgrass Emerging

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Back on May 24, I posted about my observation of crabgrass emerging in areas that had very thin turf cover and very high levels of crabgrass seed in the soil. Crabgrass is now emerging from areas with healthier turf and good density (and has not received a preemergence herbicide application). Recent and forecast rains are likely to [Read more…] about Crabgrass Emerging

Crabgrass Emerging

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Back on May 24, I posted about my observation of crabgrass emerging in areas that had very thin turf cover and very high levels of crabgrass seed in the soil. Crabgrass is now emerging from areas with healthier turf and good density (and has not received a preemergence herbicide application). Recent and forecast rains are likely to [Read more…] about Crabgrass Emerging

Dollar Spot Activity Flares Overnight

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The high humidity of last night (28-29 May) caused dollar spot disease to escalate. Until last night, symptoms on unprotected susceptible turf were minor.

The cottony fungal growth (mycelia) of dollar spot, which is easily seen at early morning hours during wet humid weather.

Susceptible grasses grown under low N fertility will typically have [Read more…] about Dollar Spot Activity Flares Overnight

Crabgrass is Emerging

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Very small first and second leaves of emerging crabgrass can be seen now in open turf areas.

During the last couple weeks, we have seen crabgrass emerging from open turf areas that were previously infested with crabgrass. Crabgrass emergence will probably occur later than this on better maintained turfs with a dense canopy.

If crabgrass is emerging, it is too late for most preemergence herbicides to be useful. However, dithiopyr (trade name Dimension) is a commonly used preemergence herbicide that also provides effective postemergence control of crabgrass (but not goosegrass). For postemergence control, dithiopyr should be applied [Read more…] about Crabgrass is Emerging

Slow Green-up of Kentucky Bluegrass

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There are numerous elite varieties of Kentucky bluegrass (Compact Types) that have excellent tolerance of leaf spot, summer patch, and stripe smut diseases. Many varieties produce a very attractive, dense, compact (low growing) turf with dark green color during the summer.

Some elite varieties of Kentucky bluegrass exhibit slow spring green-up (plot in center foreground).

[Read more…] about Slow Green-up of Kentucky Bluegrass

Injury on Sports Fields

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For those interested in sports turf, there is a new study that suggests a greater potential for ACL injuries on the most recent (third-) generation of synthetic turf compared to natural grass. The news report also states that third-generation synthetic turf  had higher levels of injury compared to first- and second-generation types of synthetic turf (shorter blade length). Click here to view a news report on that study.