On August 3, 2023 the Kansas Turf and Ornamentals Field Day will be held at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center. At least 8 stops will be included in this year’s field day with some highlights including: new zoysia cultivar release; weed, insect, and disease control; tall fescue and fine fescue variety trials; ornamental selection and management. More details will be coming– mark your calendar!
This blog post was presented last year, but we’re approaching that time of year again when crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds are approaching emergence.
As a reminder, if you want more detailed information on weed control in general, consider getting this 2022 publication that was developed by several state universities, including K-State, and was led by Purdue: “Weed Control for Turfgrass Professionals”
Preemergence herbicide applications for crabgrass, goosegrass, foxtail, and other annual grasses are underway. Here are bullet points to consider to increase the efficacy of the herbicide you use.
Maintain turf density and mow higher. Good turf density resulting from proper cultural practices for the grass you’re managing reduces encroachment of all weeds, including annual grasses. Mowing at the higher end of the recommended range has consistently shown significantly lower populations of crabgrass and other annual grasses than mowing at lower mowing heights.
Apply before emergence. Not all annual grass species emerge at the same time. For example, goosegrass emerges later than crabgrass. However, even within a species, emergence of new seedlings occurs throughout spring and summer. With most preemergence herbicides, when seedlings have emerged, they will not effectively control those plants. However, the application will control emergence of grasses beyond that date. Dithiopyr (Dimension) does provide control of crabgrass that has emerged but has not begun to produce tillers.
Use effective strategies to guide application. Calendar dates, soil temperature, flowering of ornamentals, and other strategies are all used to help guide applications and maximize herbicide residual during the period annual grasses emerge. Here are a few articles related to this subject:
How Preemergence Herbicides Work and Why They Fail (Univ. of Nebraska)
https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/methods-of-predicting-crabgrass-emergence/
https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/flowering-ornamentals-and-crabgrass-emergence/
Apply uniformly. Uniform application is critical – just like distributing paint evenly over your house is aesthetically pleasing. If you leave a section of the house unpainted, it’s clearly visible. Good annual grass control requires uniform application; if an area is not treated, it’s likely you’ll seed weed emergence there. Uniform application is achieved by proper spreader or sprayer calibration, colorants that indicate areas that have been treated with liquid products, and applying the product in two directions (half rate in each).
Split applications. Some, not all, preemergence herbicides generally provide better suppression of annual grasses when applications are split (1/2 rate each application), usually 6 to 8 weeks apart. This allows a higher level of herbicide presence on the soil surface, which will minimize weed emergence. Here’s an article from Purdue on this subject:
https://turf.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/15_AGRY_Patton_sequential20apps.pdf
Water in after application. For preemergence herbicides to be activated and ensure uniform distribution on the soil surface, irrigation (or rainfall) after application is needed.
Find more information on weed control by clicking on the tags on the blog (left column), such as “weed control,” “crabgrass,” etc., or search by category on the right side of the page.
***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.***
Don’t forget to follow the K-State Turf and Landscape Team on Twitter @KSUTURF
Also, visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/KSUTurf
K-State, Texas A&M AgriLife-Dallas, and Purdue University received a grant from the US Dept. of Agriculture (multi-state specialty crops block grant) to focus on production, establishment, and marketing of zoysiagrass sod. A primary goal of research at Olathe is to evaluate how “farm” practices, including grow-in practices at the sod producer, may influence the performance of sod after it is harvested and laid at a site.
Three zoysia cultivars sprigged in June 2021 (photo above left) and appearance of the same plot area in June 2022 (photo above right) at the Olathe Horticulture Center. Grow-in is being influenced by mowing height and nitrogen rate, which could influence thatch accumulation and performance of newly laid sod (to be harvested in spring 2023)
Learn more information about this project here: https://dallas.tamu.edu/research/farm-to-lawn-zoysiagrass-sod-project
And, if you’re a Twitter follower, this may be of interest to you: @ZOYSIARESEARCH
Checkoffs are financial contributions created through sales and support from within industry operations, including beef, pork, lamb, cotton, sorghum, watermelon, mushrooms, and many others. Discussion about U.S. Sod Industry Checkoff started with those in the sod industry in 2017. Thoughts are that it can provide support by helping to expand markets; increase demand; support marketing and scientific research; and promote industry initiatives and activities.
As part of the checkoff, farms would contribute 1/10th of one penny per square foot of sod sold. This contribution will be invested by a board of volunteer sod producers, nominated by fellow producers. Potential programs could include consumer advertising, producer promotional support, agronomic and consumer research, and customer and regulator education and outreach. Every checkoff dollar would be invested to support this goal: increase the value of every square foot of sod in the U.S. Sod Industry.
Everyone will have an opportunity to provide comments online on the U.S. Sod Checkoff plan in the near future. After comments, votes will take place only among sod producers. It must be approved by at least 50% (plus 1) of national sod producers.
To access a list of resources regarding the Sod Checkoff, CLICK HERE
To view a recorded video (38 min) from Dr. Casey Reynolds, Executive Director of Turf Producers International, CLICK HERE
Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS is quite unique. Northbridge bermudagrass comprises the soccer field used for Sporting KC, and the first home game is on March 11th. In the past, it has been typical for those hosting games in early spring, on which bermudagrass is the focus, to overseed with a cool-season grass, such as perennial ryegrass in the fall. This enhances fall and spring color and helps protect the underlying bermudagrass. However, overseeding with perennial ryegrass also results in significant competition for the bermudagrass to succeed. Children’s Mercy Park had a different strategy for enhancing early spring color and promoting growth during cool weather.
How is it that bermudagrass is fully green in Kansas in February? Casey Montgomery, Director of Turf Operations for Sporting KC, had a subsurface heat system installed in the field. The heat is produced through electricity – ribbons are buried at 8 inches deep and run 6 inches apart through the field. From late autumn until early February, soil temperature will be at 50 F (at 8 inch depth). Temperature is increased to 70+ F starting in February.
In addition, the field is frequently covered when necessary, and also receives “grow lights” to enhance photosynthesis in early spring. All of these are impressive strategies for stimulating growth and health of bermudagrass. However, soil heating systems and supplemental lighting aren’t factors that most managers overseeing bermudagrass sporting fields would be able to include in their operating budget. This unique approach in enhancing bermudagrass green up and growth on professional sports turf is quite impressive!
The option for spring seeding is approaching. Cool-season grasses may have been seeded in the winter months, or can be seeded in spring – preferably in March and April in Kansas. Cool-season seed germination typically starts when the soil temperature reaches 50 F. Of course, fall seeding is preferred, but we are often dealing with situations where turf quality needs to be improved with spring seeding. One of the difficult problems is dealing with the emergence of summer annual weeds as the desired turfgrass species you’ve seeded begins to emerge. Here are herbicides that can be applied at the time of seeding to suppress summer annuals:
Tupersan (active ingredient siduron)
Siduron is a preemergence herbicide that can be used on cool-season grasses. It does provide weed suppression, but don’t expect the same level of weed control that we get with products that are commonly used on fully established turf. It is approved for used on colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue. To view a Tupersan label, CLICK HERE
Tenacity (active ingredient meotrione)
Mesotrione inhibits photosynthesis in weeds once absorbed by shoots or roots. It originated based upon biochemicals observed in the plant called bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus). It suppresses weeds as they absorb the herbicide at time of emergence and can also be used as a postemergence product. Midwest grasses for which it is labeled include buffalograss, Chewings fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. To view a Tenacity label, CLICK HERE
A number of other herbicides can be used once turfgrass reaches a point of maturity after seeding. Find more details about postemergence herbicides that can be used after seeding, and all information about turf weed by getting a copy of the 2022 edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals
Find more information on weed control by clicking on the tags on the blog (left column), such as “weed control,” “crabgrass,” etc., or search by category on the right side of the page.
***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.***
The 72nd Annual Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference is just 6 weeks away! It will be held on Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan, KS. 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.
Out-of-state speakers who will be coming:
Dr. Roch Gaussoin, Turf Specialist, Univ. of Nebraska
Dr. Paul Koch, Turf Pathologist, Univ. of Wisconsin
Dr. Zane Raudenbush, Davey Tree
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.
A copy of the program and registration form is attached OR you can register online at
https://2022turfconference.eventbrite.com
You receive a discounted rate if you register before November 22.
Hotel Headquarters
Hilton Garden Inn (410 S. 3rd St., Manhattan.). Room rate: $104
Reservations can be made online by October 30 at
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/mangigi-turf22-df47fcb7-e314-4351-a6db-8d614d9462f9/
OR, call the hotel directly at (785) 532-9116 (please mention you are part of KS Turfgrass Assn. Group code KSTF
Dr. Ross Braun presents an overview of the benefits of September seeding in this 2-Minute K-State Turf Extension Video. CLICK HERE!
Want to improve your online presence by upgrading your new and social media strategies? Then the 2022 Insight Summit conference is for you! Learn how to collect analytics and which measurements matter, create compelling and engaging visual content to share online, and increase engagement with your audience and potential customers. Details and Registration – CLICK HERE
Attendees will hear about tree maintenance, management of invasive plants and pests, tree planting, and improving wildlife habitat.
Details and Registration – CLICK HERE
Dani McFadden, Ph.D. student in Horticulture and Natural Resources, is conducting research on the impact aerification on zoysia thatch reduction and root development. This research is presented in greater detail in the
K-State 2022 Turfgrass Research Report: CLICK HERE TO READ
Dani summarizes results of the research in this two-minute extension video:
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