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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Author: Teresa Roberts

Wind Chill Analysis Tool from Kansas Mesonet

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Christopher “Chip” Redmond, Kansas Mesonet Manager, via Agronomy eUpdates

The forecast for the coming week consists of bitter cold air, the coldest of the 2023/2024 winter season thus far. However, the temperature does not always give the air that nip. The “feels like” temperature is also usually influenced by the wind. We call this the wind chill.

What is the wind chill?

When temperatures drop below 50oF and wind speeds are greater than five mph, the “Feels Like” temperature is lower than the actual temperature. Wind chill can be calculated in two ways: 1) using the chart below or 2) mathematically. Wind chill values decrease as the wind increases and/or the temperature decreases. This means that despite it being 0oF on a very cold morning when factoring in the wind (for example, 20 mph), it can feel like a much colder temperature (in this example, -22oF).

This colder “feels like” temperature can make you feel chilled quicker and lead to other problems such as frostbite much quicker. Exposure time estimations of frostbite issues at 0 degrees F with no wind is 30 minutes, while 0oF and 55 mph winds are less than 10 minutes of exposure. Wind chills can be determined by the following chart from the National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-wind-chill-chart):

Where can you access wind chill data?

The Kansas Mesonet makes viewing the wind chill very easy! We have put together a webpage depicting the current wind chill via a gradient map here: https://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/. It can also be accessed via the menu in the top left (Menu à Weather à Wind Chill)

The map defaults to the current wind chill but also has a selection at the top where you can change the map to view temperature and wind speed/direction. Since these are the two ingredients for the wind chill, it tells the complete story. The table below the map also displays each station’s wind chill, temperature, and wind data in sortable columns. By clicking the column headings, that particular column will sort from lowest to highest values. Click it again, and it will reverse the order. You can also select a specific station either on the map or in the data table, and it will display the specific information for that location.

How many hours has the temperature been below freezing?

Winter wheat and cover crop producers still have an interest in the cold temperatures. The freeze monitor data is available on our webpage as well. It allows you to track the hours below 32 or 24oF thresholds useful for permafrost development or winter wheat/cover crop damages.  You can access this information via the menu in the top left (Menu > Weather > Freeze Monitor) or at mesonet.ksu.edu/weather/freeze

Stay warm and safe on these chilly days! Winter has only just begun.

Visit with Industry Representatives at the Kansas Turf and Landscape Conference Trade Show

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

Register for the Kansas Turf and Landscape Conference and chat with various turf and landscape industry exhibitors!

The 73rd annual Kansas Turfgrass and Landscape Conference, held November 29 & 30 (Wednesday and Thursday), 2023 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan also hosts a trade show to see all the latest products and supplies from local and national vendors.

Vendors will have a booth with representatives present for the following companies:

Interested in being part of the trade show as an exhibitor or as sponsor for the event? Register online or contact Christy Dipman for more information at cdipman@ksu.edu or 785-532-6173.

 

Fall is for Planting

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Jason Griffin, Professor and Extension Specialist, John C. Pair Horticultural Center Director

We’ve all heard it and probably repeated it. But why is this slogan so common-place, and is it accurate…Is Fall really a good time to plant?

First, there is the emotional side. As summer fades away and yields to cooler temperatures, more frequent rain events, and beautiful fall colors; it just feels like the right time to plant a new tree or shrub.

Second, there is the economic side. Many nurseries offer fall specials on their inventory. The simple truth is that any plant that does not sell, has to be moved and stored for overwinter survival. This involves labor, consumes valuable space, and uses mulch or plastic to protect the plants from freezing winter temperatures. Nurseries would prefer to sell plants rather than store them.

Last, there is the plant side. Is fall a good time to plant a new tree or shrub? Yes, and here is why. The primary job of a newly planted tree or shrub is to grow roots for survival. New roots are necessary for balled and burlapped plants to replace the ones lost during the harvest process at the nursery. If it’s a container plant, new roots are necessary to explore the soil and find nutrients and moisture necessary for long term survival. For the first year of a new plant’s life, it’s all about the roots!

So why plant in Fall? Woody plants have two primary seasons for growing roots, and it’s NOT winter or summer. Frozen soil and slow metabolism prevent much root growth in during winter in cold regions of the country. Frequent droughty conditions combined with searing summer temperatures limits root growth during a hot summer. In Kansas we have both. Most root growth on woody plants occurs during spring and fall in the temperate region.

Trees planted in spring have only a few weeks of peak root growth before Mother Nature unleashes the environmental stresses that come with summer weather. However, trees planted in fall have the long fall and early winter season to grow roots before they go dormant. As the soil warms in spring, they get another season of root growth prior to the stress of summer in Kansas. Fall planted trees, therefore, have the advantage of two full seasons of root growth before summer drought and heat strike. It’s not too late. As long as the soil isn’t frozen at your planting site, you can still get plants in the ground. So is spring a bad time to plant? No, spring is a great time to plant. Those trees just need a little more TLC during that first summer than fall planted trees.

Happy planting!

Cool Fall Weather = Large Patch Season

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Megan Kennelly, Professor, Turfgrass Disease Management & Development

Here in Kansas we see our most severe large patch symptoms in spring, but we can see it in fall, especially if conditions are cool and wet. Here, also, we’ve had pretty good success at suppressing spring symptoms with applications the prior fall.

We at KSU and others have been busy trying to tackle this disease in recent years, especially with the increasing interest in zoysia. For a review of research across the transition zone you can check out this article in Golfdom:

Don’t get overmatched: Dispatch that large patch

Understanding Herbicide Interactions

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Dani McFadden, Graduate Research Assistant, Horticulture and Natural Resources

It is that time of year when winter annuals and cool-season broadleaf weeds start emerging. Understanding how your herbicide is interacting in the soil and within the plant is important for effective weed control. Let’s take a shallow dive into the world of herbicide interactions so you’ll better understand the process a plant undergoes after an application.

Mode of action explains the entire sequence of events that happens from herbicide application to plant death, this includes the uptake, translocation and metabolism. This term is often confused with mechanism of action or site of action, which is the specific location at the cellular level where the disruption occurs. Contact herbicides (ex. diquat) injure the plant wherever they touch the plant, and often work quickly. We find that contact herbicides are more effective on small annual weeds compared to perennial weeds. Systemic herbicides (ex. glyphosate, 2,4-D) must be absorbed by the plant and then move throughout. In contrast to contact herbicides, systemic herbicides are very effective on perennial weeds. Since systemic herbicides are able to translocate to different parts of the plant, they are able to kill perennial weeds at the roots, tubers, and/or rhizomes.

So, how are commonly used herbicides effective against weeds? First, the herbicide needs to effectively contact the plant (more critical for contact herbicides compared to systemic herbicides) and then be absorbed by the plant. The compounds will then move to the site of action, and if there is enough toxicity within the site of action the plant will ultimately die.

 

Understanding the life cycle and biology of weeds will increase performance of the herbicide. However, there are several factors that can affect the uptake, translocation, and metabolism of the herbicide once it reaches the plant. Plant barriers such as waxy cuticles on the leaf surface or the casparian strip (a band-like wall that blocks the movement of water and solutes in vascular plants) can reduce herbicide uptake. Furthermore, climatic conditions and properties of the herbicide can influence efficacy. Here are some properties of herbicides that will help you understand how it will perform in certain environments at or following application:

  • Water solubility (Kow) is important because it affects behavior in the soil, formulation of an active ingredient, and separation of the herbicide into the plant. If herbicides have a high Kow they will be less soluble in water.
  • Soil adsorption (Koc) focuses on the retention of herbicide compounds and what influences persistence and availability of the herbicide. Many factors affect how herbicides are adsorbed, such as: moisture, clay content and organic matter, and soil pH. The Koc affects the herbicides tendency to bind to soil particles.
  • Volatility and particle drift is the physical drift that occurs during or immediately after application, with smaller droplets being more likely to drift than larger droplets. Furthermore, it is important to note that if the vapor pressure of the herbicide is high, then potential for non-target plant injury increases. Factors increasing volatility after herbicide application include: higher temperatures and increased soil water content. In addition, broadleaf herbicides containing high ester content are more volatile. To reduce volatilization applications can be incorporated into the soil or applied when weather conditions are favorable.

For plant absorption and translocation, herbicides must cross several barriers. It is important to read the herbicide label before use. If a surfactant is recommended, then one should be utilized. A surfactant can aid in decreasing surface tension and increasing absorption.

Topramezone app on goosegrass

Having knowledge on: 1) the biology and life cycle of the weed you are controlling; 2) properties of the herbicide you are applying; and 3) environmental conditions and soil factors at your site will aid in effective weed control.

It is imperative to always READ THE LABEL before applying herbicides for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and important instructions for 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.***

2023 Turf & Landscape Conference Discounted Registration Rate Prior to November 22

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The 73rd Annual Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held on November 29 & 30 (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.

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.

Contact Christy Dipman at cdipman@ksu.edu or 785-532-6173 for more information.

Hotel Reservations Updated

The Hilton Garden Inn has sold out of rooms. You can get a discounted rate at the following hotels within walking distance to the conference:

  • Fairfield Inn ($108) Group Code: Kansas Turfgrass Foundation (KTF)
    785-539-2400
  • Holiday Inn Express ($99) Group Code: KTF
    785-539-1857

Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Trainings Offered This Fall

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The K-State Research and Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Program will be hosting multiple commercial pesticide applicator recertification training opportunities this fall.

Date        Training and Category                                                 Location 

Oct 16      Ag Wildlife (1C)                                                         Hays
Oct 30      Right-of-Way, Industrial Weed, Noxious Weed (6, 7C, 9A) Wichita
Nov 1       Ag Plant (1A)                                                            Salina
Nov 6-7    Forestry, Ornamental, Turf, Interiorscape (2, 3A, 3B, 3C)  Virtual
Nov 28     Aquatics (5)                                                             Emporia

Registration may be mailed 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.

2023 Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference Registration Now Open

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

The Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan on November 29 & 30 (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.

Vendors will be on hand showcasing their latest products and supplies. The conference brochure will be online soon and the exhibitor and sponsorship information is online at www.kansasturfgrassfoundation.com or register online at https://2023turfandlandscapeconference.eventbrite.com

Vendor/Sponsor information—https://2023exhibitorregistration.eventbrite.com

The conference has been approved for the following:

State Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credit Hours:
1 Core Hour       3A—7 hours        3B— 7 hours

GCSAA Education Points and Intl. Society of Arboriculture CEUs will also be available.

How to Protect Trees from Elm Leaf Beetles

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Maddy Rohr, K-State Research and Extension News Service

Prevent damage now by using insecticides, says K-State horticulture expert.

Managing plant pests is a common garden task, but Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini says using preventive methods in the fall also is important.

“There are typically two generations of elm leaf beetles each year,” Domenghini said. “They overwinter as adults and emerge from their protective shelters in early spring. As elm trees develop leaves, the beetles move in and females begin laying eggs.”

Young Elm Leaf Beetle larvae are dark-colored, hairy grubs. Older larvae are yellow with two long, dark stripes. Adult beetles have green and yellow stripes.

“Larvae hatch and spread throughout the tree to feed. Larvae reach maturity within four weeks and seek shelter to pupate,” Domenghini said. Larvae may travel to the bottom of the tree or in cracks of bark.

Domenghini said larvae cause most of the damage by skeletonizing leaves of elm trees. Adult beetles chew holes through the leaves resulting in a change of color to brown and dropping.

Preventive methods include several insecticides. Healthy trees that have not been greatly affected should not be sprayed in the fall.

Larvae and adult sprays include acephate (Acephate, Orthene), spinosad (Natural Guard Spinosad, Conserve, Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew, Monterey Garden Insect Spray), lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide).

Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.

Article originated from K-State Research and Extension News

National Turfgrass Evaluation Program: Access Kansas Results and those from Many Other States

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Jack Fry, Professor and Commercial Turf Extension Specialist

The National Turfgrass Evaluation program is a cooperative effort between the non-profit National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, Inc., and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  NTEP is headquartered at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.  NTEP started in 1980 with J.J. Murray.  For many years, Kevin Morris has been overseeing NTEP.

Zoysiagrass NTEP spring green up in 2023 at Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center.

NTEP trials are underway at three locations in Kansas.  At Olathe, trials are being done on fine fescue (planted in 2020), tall fescue (planted in 2020), and zoysiagrass (planted in 2019).  The fine fescue and tall fescue trials are low maintenance trials in Kansas, but not at all locations, which are mowed at 2.5 inches, receive no supplemental irrigation, and are fertilized with only 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. applied annually in autumn.

 

 

The zoysiagrass NTEP trial in Olathe is mowed at 0.75 inches 2 to 3 times weekly and receives 1 to 1.5 of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. applied annually in early summer.

At the John C. Pair Center, the NTEP bermudagrass trial (planted in 2019) is being done and you’ll also find a specific article in the 2023 Turfgrass Research Report regarding their performance:  https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol9/iss5.

Graduate student Dani McFadden evaluating creeping bentgrass NTEP trial at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, KS.

In Overland Park, the NTEP creeping bentgrass putting green trial (planted in 2020) is being conducted at Milburn Country Club and maintained as they do other putting greens at the course.  Steve Wilson, golf course superintendent at Milburn CC, has been very courteous to allow use of their nursery green area for this trial to be conducted and he oversees management of the site.

 

 

 

 

You can view data Kansas and multiple other locations from 2021, 2022 and many other years for trials conducted.  The NTEP website allows access to data and results from all NTEP trials.  Find information here:  www.ntep.org