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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Author: Jack Fry

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.

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.

Round-Up Herbicide(s) No Longer Just Contain Glyphosate

Posted on by Jack Fry

For many years, Round-Up herbicide was recognized as a non-selective herbicide that contained glyphosate and was used to take out all vegetation.  Round-Up is now sold as multiple different products containing many different combinations of herbicides.  The University of Tennessee team recently composed a document that provides details on Round-Up.  All should pay close attention to active ingredients contained within each Round-Up herbicide now sold.

Details from Tennessee here:

UPDATE ON ROUND-UP BRANDED HERBICIDES FOR CONSUMERS

2024 Resources for Turfgrass Disease and Weed Control

Posted on by Jack Fry

 

 

 

 

 

Two separate documents have been released that are quite helpful for those needing specific information related to turf disease control and weed control.  Chemical Control of Turfgrass Diseases 2024 was recently released by Univ. of Kentucky, Rutgers Univ., and the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison.  This is a cost-free document which you can access by clicking on the above link.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, a new release for weed control was recently put out:  Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals 2024 Edition.  Purdue University leads the changes in this weed information and over the years contributions have been made by those at universities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas (K-State), Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  The link above will take you to access to this document which requires a low-cost purchase.  You can also find this available at the check-in table at the K-State Turf and Landscape Conference in December, 2024.

Conference Speaker Highlights: Dr. Chase Straw

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.  These individuals include Matt Cavanaugh, golf course superintendent in MN; Dr. Chase Straw, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M Univ.; and Dr. Aaron Patton, Professor at Purdue Univ.  Dr. Chase Straw is highlighted here.  Chase will have the following presentations: “Be Precise – Reducing Water in Fairways with Precision Irrigation”; “Spray Application Technology in Turf and Landscapes”; “Field Variability and Its Impacts on Athletic Field Surface Interactions”; “Dealing with Natural and Synthetic Turf – Panel Discussion.”

View the program and mail the completed the paper registration form with payment OR you can register online at: https://2023turfandlandscapeconference.eventbrite.com
You receive a discounted rate if you register before November 22.   Sponsorship Opportunities are also available.

Conference Speaker Highlights: Matt Cavanaugh

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.  These individuals include Matt Cavanaugh, golf course superintendent in MN; Dr. Chase Straw, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M Univ.; and Dr. Aaron Patton, Professor at Purdue Univ.  Matt Cavanaugh highlighted here – more information on others coming soon.  Matt will have the following presentations:  “Work is Hard – Why Not Have Some Fun!”; “No Mow Fine Fescue Areas – What Works and What Doesn’t;” “You’re Doing What?”

View the program and mail the completed the paper registration form with payment OR you can register online at: https://2023turfandlandscapeconference.eventbrite.com
You receive a discounted rate if you register before November 22.   Sponsorship Opportunities are also available.

 

Conference Speaker Highlights: Dr. Aaron Patton

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.  These individuals include Matt Cavanaugh, golf course superintendent in MN; Dr. Chase Straw, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M Univ.; and Dr. Aaron Patton, Professor at Purdue Univ.  Dr. Aaron Patton is highlighted here.  Aaron will have the following presentations:  “The Impact of Spray Tank Water on Pesticide Performance”; “Identifying and Controlling Tough Broadleaf Weeds”; “Growing Turf in Low-Light, Shaded Environments”; “How to Handle Excessive Shade on the Golf Course” (Panel Discussion).

View the program and mail the completed the paper registration form with payment OR you can register online at: https://2023turfandlandscapeconference.eventbrite.com
You receive a discounted rate if you register before November 22.   Sponsorship Opportunities are also available.

Nitrogen Rate and Fungicide Had Big Impact on Brown Patch in Tall Fescue this Summer

Posted on by Jack Fry

If you were at field day on August 3rd, you likely saw the experimental area that was highlighted by Dr. Megan Kennelly.  A turf-type tall fescue blend has been treated the past two years as either: High N level; or Low N level.  High level involved 4.5 lbs of N/1,000 ft2/yr  (Months applied listed in lbs N/1,000 ft2 – 1 in April; 1 in May; 1.5 in Sept.; 1 in Nov) and low N level was 1.5 lbs of N/1,000 ft2/yr (single application in September).  In addition, half of the plots receiving these treatments either received two fungicide applications from azoxystrobin (Heritage) each growing season or none.  You’ll see a photo below of how N impacted brown patch on tall fescue.  More details will come out in the 2024 K-State Turf Research Report.  Bottom line summaries:

  • High N levels provided high quality turf, but fungicide application was required to maintain it when brown patch infection began.  Turf receiving high N without fungicide declined quickly in quality starting in July.
  • Brown patch levels were comparable in July in turf receiving high N from standard urea, humic coated urea, or combinations of 50% slow release + 50% quick release N.
  • Low level N generally provided turf quality that was at or just below an acceptable level (but not high quality) and had little brown patch even when fungicides were not applied.

    Impact of N level on brown patch in tall fescue with no fungicide application.