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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Month: June 2020

Brown Patch on Tall Fescue

By: Ward Upham

(Article from June 30th, 2020 Horticulture e-Newsletter)

We have been receiving numerous reports of brown patch showing up on tall fescue. This disease is favored by warm night temperatures and extended periods of leaf wetness. If you go outside in the morning and the lawn is covered with dew and the temperature is in the high 60s or higher, it means that conditions are getting right for brown patch. The fungus is primarily a leaf pathogen and does not attack the roots. During severe outbreaks, the fungus may invade the lower leaf sheaths and crown and kill plants. But in most cases, the turfgrass can recover from brown patch. This recovery may take two to three weeks, depending on weather. To read more, visit the Horticulture e-Newsletter: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/2020/June30_2020_26.pdf

Yellow Nutsedge Control

Revised by Brooke M. Garcia, original post by Dr. Jared Hoyle

We have been receiving some precipitation recently across the state of Kansas. Even if you have received little rain in your area, you may be seeing yellow nutsedge popping up everywhere. Yellow nutsedge does favor moist soils but it can also grow in well-drained sites.

 

One of the easiest ways to identify yellow nutsedge is by a couple special features;

  • erect
  • persistant
  • yellow inflorescence
  • gradually tapering leaves to a sharp point
  • tubers not in chains
  • triangular stem

To control yellow nutsedge, if you can get applications out before tuber production then you will see increased control. But beware, yellow nutsedge will continue to grow as long as the environment is favorable for growth, so more than one application may be necessary.If using a herbicide application timing is critical. During mid-summer, yellow nutsedge starts making tubers and if you apply herbicides before tuber production you will get better control. If you wait until the yellow nutsedge is big and starting to make tubers then you will be playing catch-up all year. So sooner is better.  Don’t wait for it to get too big.

Here are some options for yellow nutsedge control for turfgrass professionals;

  • pyrimisulfan (new herbicide that provides yellow nutsedge control)
  • sulfentrazone
  • halosulfuron
  • iodosulfuron
  • mesotrione
  • bentazon
  • triflozysulfuron
  • flazasulfuron
  • sulfosulfuron

There are many different products out there that contain these active ingredients so just make sure you have an active ingredient that has yellow nutsedge control! Also make sure you check for turfgrass tolerances.

Always remember to READ THE LABEL for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and specific instructions before application.

***Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for identification purposes and does not imply recommendation or endorsement, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned by Kansas State University.***

Be sure to follow our KSU Turf Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KSUTurf

Today is the start of…. National Pollinator Week!

By Brooke M. Garcia

Happy National Pollinator Week! National Pollinator Week occurs every year around mid-June. This year, June 22-28th, 2020 is dedicated to celebrating pollinators and promoting how we can protect them in the landscape and/or environment. What can you do this week to protect or promote a pollinator?

Here are some ideas to show your support:

  • Plant native plants in the landscape
  • Educate employees on pesticide safety
  • Display pollinator artwork and outreach materials in your office lobby
  • Highlight Pollinator Week in a newsletter, blog, or magazine
  • Host a nature walk or pollinator expert lecture

Use the hashtag #pollinatorweek to promote pollinator week, events and resources shared.

For more information about National Pollinator Week, you can visit the official website.

Visit our K-State Pesticide Safety and Integrated Pest Management Facebook page to stay tuned with educational topics related to pollinators, pesticide safety, and IPM.

Upcoming #KStateGardenHour Topics – REGISTER NOW!!!

By Brooke M. Garcia

The K-State Garden Hour is a successful online webinar series, hosted by K-State Research and Extension. Each week, the series is hosted on Wednesdays from 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. CST. This virtual series will provide information on a variety of horticultural topics, as well as highlight educational topics related to plant selection, entomology, plant pathology and integrated pest management.

Here are the upcoming topics for the month of July:

To learn more about any of the topics featured, visit the K-State Garden Hour webpage: K-State Garden Hour Webinar Series

Each webinar in the series has a separate registration page. You will need to click on each webinar that you would like to attend. Please preregister for each session online. 

You can also find, promote and share each webinar on Facebook, via the Facebook Events

If you have any questions, please email our team at ksuemg@k-state.edu.

Consider Postemergence Crabgrass Control When Plants are Young (Now)

By Dr. Jack Fry

Crabgrass is now becoming quite visible. If you didn’t apply a preemergence herbicide, or had some crabgrass emerge even where it was applied, now is the time to consider postemergence control. If a preemergence herbicide was applied, but you’re still seeing crabgrass, there may have been variability in uniformity of delivery over the area to which it was applied. If new sod was laid recently, it’s common for crabgrass to emerge through the seams. Control is easier when plants are young, for they are rapidly growing and have a thinner leaf cuticle. Make sure the crabgrass plant isn’t under stress before you apply the herbicide; rainfall or irrigation on the area within a few days prior to application can help ensure the herbicide is absorbed and translocated. Dr. Hoyle wrote a nice summary of best approaches to postemergence crabgrass control here:  https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/postemergent-crabgrass-control

In addition, consider purchasing Turf Weed Control for Professionals, which was developed by cooperatively by numerous universities in the Midwest, including K-State. It can be purchased as a hard copy or a PDF download here:  https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=TURF-100

Young crabgrass emerging in a stand of zoysiagrass in Olathe this week.  Postemergence herbicides are most effective when crabgrass plants are young, and not under drought stress.