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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Invited Speakers at the 2024 K-State Turf and Landscape Conference

Posted on by Jack Fry

We are fortunate to have three great out-of-state speakers join us at the Kansas Turf and Landscape Conference this year.

Register online before this Friday, November 22 for a discounted rate!

 

Dr. Becky Bowling (left) is the Extension Specialist in the Plant Science Department at the University of Tennessee.  Her research and extension efforts have focused on evaluating and communicating best management practices for turfgrass to promote environmental stewardship and resource-use efficiency in turfgrass systems and related  urban green spaces with an emphasis on water efficiency, water capture, and water quality protection.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Wendell Hutchens (left) is an assistant professor of turfgrass science in the Horticulture Department at the   University of Arkansas. His main areas of expertise are turfgrass pathology, precision management of turfgrass pests using emerging technologies, and winterkill mitigation strategies in warm-season turfgrasses. His  research program is centered around maintaining healthy turfgrass and combating turfgrass stressors with     traditional cultural and chemical practices, as well as with cutting-edge new technology.

 

Dr. Fred Whitford (left) is the Clinical Engagement Professor and Director, Pesticide Programs at Purdue University.  His focus is on extension outreach, pesticide safety education, pesticide registration and regulation, insurance, and environmental safety audits. 

 

 

 

 

Check out the KTF Turf Conference Document to see when these speakers will be presenting. A great opportunity to learn information about turf and landscape management and to earn pesticide credit.  More information can be found on our website at: https://www.k-state.edu/turf/events/index.html

First Green Event: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)

Posted on by Jack Fry

GCSAA’s First Green program brings students out of the classroom to a local golf course for a fun, hands-on field trip to explore the living laboratory that is the golf course! Since 2018, over 15,000 students nationwide have participated in First Green learning about the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) skills used every day by golf course superintendents and their  teams. Presenters will share their insight on First Green, including the numerous events that have taken place in Kansas, and the impact it is having on schools and students and how you can get involved in your community.

These events are very useful for young children and allows them to connect with things that occur at golf courses, including potential future career options.  The event highlighted here was conducted on October 23, 2024 at Sykes/Lady Overland Park Golf Course.  Doug Melchior, K-State graduate, is the manager of Golf and Grounds, City of Overland Park, KS.

There were five different stops that covered different things related to golf courses:

  • Grasses, seeding, and insects
  • Creating putting holes on the putting green
  • Putting on the green to earn rewards
  • Architectural lay out of golf course holes
  • Managing irrigation

Allowing children to explore and learn more about golf courses can potentially create their interest for career involvement.  In my opinion, similar activities could also be helpful for other organizations that are involved in turf and landscape, and other horticulture-related organizations.  Creating interest from young children could result their involvement in horticulture-related companies.

Above and below you will see several photos that were taken at Overland Park where 6th grade student from the Catholic school “Prince of Peace” visited First Green from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m on October 23rd.

Leann Cooper (Director, First Green and Workforce Development, GCSAA) will be presenting more information about First Green at the Kansas Turf and Landscape Conference this year.  You will find it beneficial to hear more about First Green!  Find the post with more details on the upcoming conference here in this blog.

Impressive Awards for K-State Turfgrass Science Graduate Students

Posted on by Jack Fry

Three turfgrass science graduate students attended the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) meeting in San Antonio, TX from November 10 to 13, 2024.  Their focus of attendance was within the group CSSA (division C5, Turfgrass Science).   All of those graduate students received awards, which is quite impressive.  Details of the awards for each are shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olayemi Ojeokun (above), who will graduate with a Master’s degree in December, 2024 in Horticulture and Natural Resources (HNR), received a first place award for a “Turfgrass Ecology” poster competition. Her poster presentation title was “Comparison of Root Development of Zoysiagrass Cultivars and Genotypes for Drought Avoidance Traits.”  Olayemi also received a Bridge Scholar Award.  Dr. Jack Fry is Olayemi’s M.S. advisor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Nwachukwu (above),  who is pursuing a M.S. degree in HNR, received a 2nd place award for the poster competition of “Turfgrass Water Conservation.”  The title of his poster was “Germination and Establishment Speed Differences of Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars.” Emmanuel was also awarded the Chris Stiegler Turfgrass Science Graduate Student Travel Award and the Encompass Fellow Program Award.  Dr. Ross Braun is Emmanuel’s advisor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parul Mandal (above), Ph.D. student in HNR, was one of the recipients of the Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award.  Photo above is with her advisor, Dr. Ross Braun.

Kansas Officials Confirm Emerald Ash Borer in Nemaha County

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

The Kansas Forest Service has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer on a private residence in Nemaha County, the second new sighting found in a Kansas county this year.

closeup, emerald ash borer damage on tree limb
Emerald Ash Borer damage on tree limb

KFS, working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension, confirmed a live insect on Oct. 14. Officials say the pest had been suspected in the area for several years, but only recently have they found a live insect, which is required to make the detection official.

Earlier in 2024, state officials confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer in Lyon County.

The emerald ash borer is an exotic, invasive beetle from eastern Russia and northeastern Asia that likely was brought to the U.S. in infested packing material. The beetle threatens urban and rural forests by killing North American ash species and their cultivars.

KFS officials note that at least 70 million ash trees have already been destroyed due to the emerald ash borer, and as many as 9 billion North American ash trees will eventually be functionally rooted out and destroyed from the continent.

The discovery in Nemaha County makes 15 Kansas counties in which the emerald ash borer has been confirmed, including Wyandotte (2012), Johnson (2013), Leavenworth (2014), Douglas (2015), Jefferson (2015), Atchison (2016), Doniphan (2017), Shawnee (2017), Miami (2019), Jackson (2019), Brown (2022), Osage (2022), Franklin (2023) and Lyon (2024).

See map of current counties affected in Kansas.

Forest officials say landowners should learn the signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer in their ash trees, including thinning canopies. As the feeding progresses, trees may begin to sucker (a process called epicormic sprouting) where branches appear near the trunk or lower canopy. Eventually, small D-shaped holes may appear in the bark.

Landowners are encouraged to create a replacement plan for the ash trees on their property to ensure a continually healthy canopy as ash trees decline. A landscape with many types of trees is more resilient to insect, disease and environmental threats that exist or could occur in the future.

Those seeking treatment or removal of ash trees in a county where the insect has already been detected should consult an arborist. A listing of certified arborists in Kansas is available online.

Landowners, especially those in counties where the insect has not already been detected, are encouraged to report suspected cases of emerald ash borer to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or to the Kansas Forest Service.

All Kansans are reminded of the recommendation to avoid bringing firewood from another state or county where emerald ash borer has been previously detected. Use local sources for firewood.

The Kansas Forest Service, in partnership with K-State Research and Extension, continues to offer workshops and educational training in counties with detected populations of emerald ash borer, as well as those communities not yet affected by the pest.

More information on resources about treatment of infected trees is available online from the Kansas Forest Service.

Discounted Rate for Turf & Landscape Conference if Registered before November 22

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The 74th Annual Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held on December 4 & 5 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan. The conference is an excellent way to learn about turf and landscape management, visit with old friends, network with new ones, and see all the latest products and supplies from local and national vendors.

The conference has been approved for commercial pesticide recertification hours:
1 Core hour
3A – 7 hours
3B – 7hours

GCSAA education points and International Society of Arboriculture CEUS will also be available by attending the conference.

You receive a discounted rate if you register before November 22.

Visit https://www.k-state.edu/turf/events/index.html for more information.

We hope to see you in December!

Sugarcane Beetle Causing Damage to Turfgrass in SE Kansas

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Raymond Cloyd, Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Entomology/Plant Protection

We have received several inquiries from Southeast Kansas regarding black beetles causing damage to turfgrass. The black beetles are adults of the sugarcane beetle, Euetheola humilis (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The sugarcane beetle is native to the USA and is also called the rough headed corn stalk beetle.

Sugarcane beetle adults are 1/2 of an inch (13 millimeters) long, black, with distinct punctures or indentations that extend along the length of the body (Figure 1). The front legs have four serrations that allow the adult to tunnel through the soil. Sugarcane beetle adults are active in spring and feed during the night. Adults are attracted to light sources at night. Sugarcane beetle adults walk across the turfgrass in the early morning. Adults tunnel into the soil and remain in the soil during the day, which allows them to avoid predators and exposure to direct sunlight. Sugarcane beetle overwinters as an adult in the soil and there is one generation per year.

In the spring, females can lay between 30 to 60 eggs in the soil during their lifespan and then die after laying eggs. Sugarcane beetle larvae emerge (eclose) from eggs after approximately 10 days, and are white grubs with a red head and six yellow legs. There are three larval instars (stages between each molt) with the third instar larvae 1-1/4 of an inch (32 millimeters) long. Larvae are located in or below the thatch layer.

Larvae and adults can damage turfgrass by feeding on the roots, stems, and leaves (blades). Sugarcane beetle adults cause damage to warm season turfgrasses, such as, bermudagrass and zoysiagrass associated with golf courses, home lawns, and sod farms. In addition, sugarcane beetle adults can damage tall fescue lawns. Adults can also damage turfgrass when tunneling through the soil. In addition, mammals including: armadillos, birds, moles, and raccoons can cause substantial damage to turfgrass when searching for sugarcane beetle larvae and adults.

Sugarcane beetle populations can be managed by properly irrigating and fertilizing turfgrass to maintain health and vigor, which can mitigate damage caused by sugarcane

beetle larvae and adults. Furthermore, turn off all lights in the area at night to avoid attracting adults.

Pyrethroid based insecticides can be applied to manage sugarcane beetle adult populations in turfgrass. Apply insecticides when adults are initially present in the spring. Insecticides are more effective against adults that just emerged from overwintering than adults that are present later in the season.

Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Training

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The K-State Research and Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Program will be hosting two (2) commercial pesticide applicator recertification training opportunities for Right-of Way, Industrial Weed and Noxious Weed (categories (6, 7C, 9A) this fall.

Date                 Location               More Information/Schedule
Oct 30, 2024      Virtual via Zoom    Training Flyer
Nov 12, 2024     Salina, KS             Training Flyer

Registration may be mailed using the training flyer or completed online.

Call Frannie Miller with the Pesticide & IPM Program at (620) 241-1523 or email fmiller@ksu.edu for additional information regarding the above trainings.

Commercial applicators may obtain recertification training credits any time during their active three year certification period. Commercial applicators have until December 31 of the year of expiration to earn credits. It is the commercial applicator’s responsibility to obtain the required credits.

The renewal period will open in October of the year of expiration. Make sure your renewal application and recertification fees are received by KDA by the December 31 expiration date of their certification to maintain continuous certification. For those who attended complete training during their certification period, the application form and fees will be accepted for 30 days following the certification expiration date. If certification fees are not paid to KDA by January 30, the applicator will be required to take the examinations to restart the certification process.

Credits may be viewed through the commercial applicator’s KDA Portal account.

More opportunities to earn commercial pesticide applicator credits can be found on the KDA website at: https://portal.kda.ks.gov/PAF/PafTraining/TrainingEventList. If you have questions, please contact the KDA Pesticide & Fertilizer Program by e-mail at kda.pestfert@ks.gov or call 785-564-6688.

Fall Seeding Tips

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Dr. Jack Fry, Professor and Extension Specialist

  • September is the optimum time to seed cool-season grasses.
  • Use good quality, certified seed; avoid seed with significant levels of “weed” and “other crop.”  More information HERE
  • Use recommended seeding rates with good distribution – more than one direction; seeding at rates too high can cause issues with disease and environmental stress.
  • Seed to soil contact is critical!

  • If renovating an existing stand of turf, mow low to reduce competition with seedlings and help improve seed contact with soil.
  • Aeration, slit seeding, topdressing, or raking to cover seed are methods of enhancing seed-to-soil contact contact. If thatch levels are high, seed-to-soil contact may be difficult to get without thatch reduction first.
  • Aeration brings soil the surface, and is often done in concert with vertical mowing, which breaks up cores and also creates small furrows in which seed can make contact with soil.
  • Slit seeders create furrows in the soil surface and drop the seed into them.
  • Topdressing or raking loose soil in a tilled area covers seed and ensures contact.
  • If the desire is to convert from one species to another, and a reasonable stand of turf exists, it will have to be removed before conversion happens. Removal is typically accomplished with a nonselective herbicide.
  • Managing a high-traffic athletic field? Consider allowing for presence of a “seed bank” through the playing season.  More information HERE
  • Starter fertilizers, that contain nitrogen and phosphorus, help enhance establishment.
  • Light, frequent irrigation is needed the first few weeks after planting, and may be required several times daily, depending upon weather.

Thinking Ahead to Factors that Can Impact Freeze Injury of Warm-Season Grasses

Posted on by Jack Fry

 

Winter injury in certain areas where warm-season grasses grow in the transition zone is not unusual.  Specifically, here are the things that can have a significant impact on winter injury of zoysiagrass and bermudagrass:

 

 

 

  • Selection of a less cold hardy warm-season grass: There is a relatively short list of bermudgrass and zoysiagrass cultivars that are best adopted to the transition zone, including Kansas. Here are a few of each of those species that are relatively good through winter, but that doesn’t mean they can’t suffer winter injury:

Zoysiagrass – Meyer, Innovation, Zenith (seeded), Chisholm

Bermudagrass – Tahoma 31, Latitude 36, Northbridge, Yukon (seeded), Monaco (seeded)

 

  • High Nitrogen levels: High levels of nitrogen fertilizer through the growing season, or nitrogen applied in the fall can have a more significant impact on winter injury.

 

  • Shade: Shade reduces photosynthesis and carbohydrate production by grasses, and can significantly reduce the potential for a species/cultivar to survive cold temperatures.  Trimming trees or removing them may be required to enhance cold hardiness.

 

  • Traffic: Significant traffic on the soil and turf prior to winter can have a significant impact on the turf and result in higher levels of winter injury.  Traffic control (not allowing excessive traffic) and effective aerification can help enhance its survival.

 

  • Excessively wet soil: It’s not unusual for warm-season turf that sits in a low area (often on golf course fairways) where water accumulates can have a greater impact of winter injury.  High levels of water in the soil will impact these grasses when severe cold arrives.  Improved drainage can help protect these areas.

 

  • Lack of snow cover: Snow is very beneficial to protect warm-season grasses prior to excessively low temperatures.  For example, several years ago we had snow cover in Olathe, KS when temperatures were at least -15 F and no winter injury occurred.

 

  • Grass not fully acclimated for cold temperatures: There is a greater chance of freezing injury if temperatures get quite low when the grass had not fully acclimated to cold. Example – excessively low temperatures in November or December can have a significant impact.  Likewise, the same may occur during late winter or early spring when warmth approaches and then that is followed by excessive cold.

 

  • Exposure to wind on high level areas: This can often cause desiccation in winter if exposed to strong wind when there is no snow cover.  If expected in the near future, it may be useful to apply water on these elevated areas before the excessive cold arrives.  Or…some type of cover to protect the surface.

Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference – December 4 & 5

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn
in Manhattan on December 4 & 5 (Wednesday & Thursday).

The conference is an excellent way to learn about turf and landscape management, visit with old friends, network with new ones, and see all the latest in products and supplies from local and national vendors.

Sessions include Basic Turf, Nursery & Landscape; Disease, Insects & Weeds;
Sports Turf; Golf Course; Dealing with Pests.

The conference has been approved for the following:
State Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credit Hours include
1 Core Hour 3A—7 hours 3B— 7 hours. GCSAA Education Points and Intl. Society of Arboriculture CEUs will also be available.

Visit https://www.k-state.edu/turf/events/index.html for more information including online registration, the official program, and hotel room rates at the Hilton Garden Inn.