Kansas State University

search

K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Category: Educational resources

Extreme Heat Precautions and Safety Tips

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

Heat is one the leading causes of weather-related deaths and injuries in the United States and it’s hitting higher temps here in Kansas. Excessive heat causes hundreds of deaths every year. Heat can affect people in a variety of settings and while dangerous heat is associated with the summer season, it can occur in the spring and fall as well.

The risk

When exposed to high temperatures your body sweats, which evaporates to cool your body. Hot and humid weather challenges your body’s ability to cool itself because your body sweats a great deal to try to maintain your body temperature. Over time this increased sweating leads to dehydration and your body temperature becomes elevated.

Increased levels of humidity make this worse as the high water content of the air hampers the evaporation of sweat on your skin. This can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Those most at risk for heat illness include infants, children, the elderly, overweight people and those who are ill or have certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a mild form of heat illness that may develop after days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate fluid intake.

If not treated, heat exhaustion may become heat stroke. A person suffering from heat exhaustion may have cool moist skin. Their pulse rate will be fast and weak and their breathing will be fast and shallow. Additional warning signs of heat exhaustion include:

  • Heavy sweating
  • Paleness
  • Muscle cramps
  • Tiredness
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fainting

Heat exhaustion first aid

  • Drink cool beverages without alcohol or caffeine.
  • Move to an air-conditioned environment.
  • Take a cool shower, bath or apply cold compresses.
  • Rest

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious of heat-related illnesses. It occurs when the body is unable to cool itself because the ability to sweat fails. A victim’s body temperature will rapidly rise within a few minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent injury if it is not treated quickly. Warning signs of heat stroke vary but can include:

  • An extremely high body temperature — above 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Red, hot and dry skin without sweating.
  • Rapid, strong pulse.
  • Throbbing headache.
  • Dizziness.
  • Nausea.
  • Confusion.
  • Unconsciousness

Heat stroke first aid

  • Call 911 immediately. Untreated heat stroke may result in death or disability.
  • Move the victim to a shady and/or air-conditioned area.
  • Cool the victim rapidly using whatever means available such as a cool shower or bath, garden hose, or sponging with cool water.

Prevention

Like many hazards, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of heat illnesses:

  • Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine.
  • Limit strenuous outdoor activities.
  • Wear light colored, light weight clothing.
  • Use sunscreen.
  • Take breaks in the shade as often as possible.
  • If working in the heat, increase workloads gradually. Allow new employees and workers who have been off for more than a week more frequent breaks.
  • Change your schedule so outdoor work is performed early or very late in the day.
  • NEVER leave kids or pets in vehicles.
  • Check on the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.
  • Be aware of the symptoms of heat illness and take action if you see someone at risk.

Resources
OSHA has employer and worker information and resources to help prevent heat illness. Visit https://www.osha.gov/heat

Sources

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.

Wet Spring will Likely Lead to Quick Drought Response as Summer Approaches

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Jack Fry, Professor and Commercial Turf Extension Specialist

It’s been a wet spring through much of Kansas.  In Olathe, KS there has been 11.3 inches from March 1 to June 10.  Frequent rainfall reduces the necessity for grasses to produce deeper roots, and also enhances more shoot growth.  As summer approaches and an extended period of time without rainfall occurs, drought stress will be occurring more rapidly that it sometimes has.

Uniform irrigation is important so that water is distributed nicely over a lawn, golf course, sports field, or other area.  In addition, you can estimate the amount of water that has been lost from the turf over time, which is called evapotranspiration (ET).  Evapotranspiration includes water evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the leaves.  Here is a site from Kansas State University that provides weather information and allows you to determine the level of ET that has occurred:

https://mesonet.k-state.edu/

You can click on the location near you on the KS map when this website comes up.  Then, go to the upper left corner of mesonet (click on the 3 lateral bars) and select any information desired.  To determine water use, go to weather – historical weather – enter the dates that are of interest for you.  After doing so, click submit and you’ll see weather details returned.  On the far right of the image, click on grass ET and you’ll see an estimate of ET for that area.  Here’s an example of the ET that I looked at for Olathe, KS:

The ET that you see is based upon a formula called Penman-Monteith, which uses temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind to create the estimate.  As a reminder, the ET that you view is based upon assumption that the soil moisture is high.  In other words, as soil dries down in a turf area, the ET is likely going to be lower than estimated on this site.  That said, this information is useful to provide guidance on the amount of irrigation that may be needed to apply to the turf area. To confirm the amount of water applied from your irrigation system, use a sprinkler gauge that indicates the amount of water applied for a given amount of time.

Deeper, less frequent irrigation will enhance rooting as time progresses.   To do this, you may desire to wait until you begin to see wilt occurring on the turf.  As an alternative, you can determine what the soil moisture measurement is when wilt is just beginning and irrigate just prior to that soil moisture level.  As summer heats up and less rainfall begins, it is quite likely that following this strategy will still require irrigation be applied often due avoid extensive wilt.  It is possible that over time, irrigation frequency can be reduced.

There are number of different research articles below that demonstrate all turf species can get enhanced rooting with a deeper, less frequent irrigation strategy.

Tall Fescue:

Huang, B. and J. Fu.  2001.  Growth and physiological responses of tall fescue to soil surface drying.  Intl. Turfgrass Soc. 9:291-296.

Fu, J., J. Fry, B. Huang.  Tall fescue rooting as affected by deficit irrigation.  HortScience 42:688–691. 2007.

Creeping Bentgrass:

Fu, J., P. Dernoeden.  2009.  Creeping bentgrass turf response to two summer irrigation practices: rooting and soil temperature. Crop Sci. 49:1063-1070.

Jordan, J.E., R. H. White, D.M. Vietor, T.C. Hale, J.C. Thomas, and M.C. Engelke.   2003.  Effect of irrigation frequency on turf quality, shoot density, and root length density of five bentgrass cultivars.  Crop Sci. 43:282-287.

Zoysiagrass:

Qian Y. and J. Fry.  1996.  Irrigation affects zoysiagrass rooting and plant water status.  HortScience 31:234-237

Above is the photo from the zoysiagrass research noted above in 1996 (a number of years ago). The zoysia on the left had been irrigated daily for an extended period of time and then water was turned off.  On the right, zoysia had been irrigated deeply and infrequently (based upon ET measurement) and then water was turned off.  Obviously, the deeper, infrequent irrigation enhanced its tolerant to drought.

Tree and Shrub Problems in Kansas Publication Updated

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

A new version of the Tree and Shrub Problems in Kansas: Diseases, Insects, and Environmental Stresses book is now online! This guide provides an overview of different tree problems followed by an extensive itemized list of specific diseases, insects, mites, and environmental/abiotic stress problems of trees and shrubs common in Kansas, information on how to identify those problems, and guidelines for management.

https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=538&pubId=17559

 

Planting Buffalograss and Controlling Weeds

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By PhD student Dani McFadden, and Jack Fry, Professor and Commercial Turf Extension Specialist

Are you thinking about converting an area to buffalograss? It is a warm-season grass native to Kansas and much of the Midwest, with excellent heat, drought, and cold tolerance.  It is important to understand the characteristics of your site before determining if buffalograss is an adequate fit. Buffalograss grows best in an area receiving morning sun, and 6-8 hours of sunlight throughout each day. It is recommended to not plant buffalograss in poorly-drained areas or sandy soils. For non-irrigated sites, planting is recommended in the spring once soil temperatures reach 55 F. An optimum seeding rate is is 1.5 to 2 lbs of buffalograss burrs (1 to 5 seeds in a burr) per 1,000 sq. ft.

Buffalograss is dioecious, which means there are male and female plants.  In seeded areas, you can see the inflorescences (male flowers) on male plants  emerge several inches tall.  The female plant produces a flower close the soil and is not as noticeable.  Ultimately, several seeds are produced within the female burr. There are vegetative buffalograss cultivars that can be purchased which are most typically plugged for establishment.  They are generally the female plants (no visible seedheads during the growing season).

You can learn more about cultivars, establishment, and management by using these links:

K-State “Buffalograss Lawns”: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf658.pdf

K-State Turf and Landscape Blog:  https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/

National Turf Evaluation Program:  https://ntep.org/

For irrigated sites, you can delay seeding until June through July; early June planting enhances the potential for good coverage by the end of the growing season. Seed should have good contact with the soil – planting 0.25 to 0.5 inches below the soil surface is recommended.  For effective grow-in, any non-desired vegetative grasses or weeds should be removed from the area with the use of herbicides (check label to confirm time required before seeding can be done after application).

Converting an area to buffalograss can be costly and time consuming; therefore, it is important to protect the area from weed invasion. Weed control is critical during establishment, as many weeds are able to outcompete buffalograss seedlings. Mesotrione (Tenacity) is labeled for application at the time of seeding. Quinclorac (Drive XLR8) is also labeled for application any time before or after seeding buffalograss for the postemergence control of grassy weeds. Two combination products, SquareOne and Solitare, are labeled for use on established buffalograss for the control of a broad spectrum of weeds. If you are facing weed pressure, it is important to first identify the weed before purchasing the herbicide. For example, products containing quinclorac as a single active ingredient will control many grassy weeds, with minimal control of broadleaf weeds. You should always read the herbicide label for a detailed list of weeds controlled by the product, along with application rates and timings.

 

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.

New 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Released

Posted on by Cheryl Boyer
2023 Kansas USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

On November 15, the USDA released an updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/). The new map reflects data from significantly more weather stations, a sophisticated algorithm, and new tools designed to be interactive and internet-based. Users can now search by zip code for Plant Hardiness Zones detailed within a half-mile radius. New data reflects microclimates like urban heat islands and cold mountain tops.

For Kansas, most of the state shifted about a half zone warmer. We still have pockets of Zone 5 in the north, but the range of Zone 7 in the southern part of Kansas is more extensive. As industry professionals, we should continue to focus on recommending plants that can handle Zone 5 plant hardiness because we will continue to experience extreme weather events. However, many of the more southern communities in Kansas can also expand their plant palette with species originating in slightly warmer climates–horticulture is always an adventure with new-to-us species and cultivars. These zone changes may also reflect longer season extension for some food crops.

The USDA Risk Management Agency uses the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to set crop insurance standards. Other scientists use the data in models that might indicate the spread of weeds, insects, or diseases.

It’s important to note that these warmer plant hardiness zones do not indicate global climate change. Data used for this map is extensive, about 30 years worth at over 13,000 weather stations, but it is not the required 50 to 100 years of data that will provide reliable evidence of global climate change. It simply reflects greater available detail, tools, and methods.

More information can be found at the USDA Press Release and Map Creation web pages.

We will work on reviewing and updating our plant recommendation publications for Kansas. Let us know if you have questions or thoughts–please reach out!

 

Online Marketing Course for Horticulture Businesses

Posted on by Cheryl Boyer

Next week, the 7th annual Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE) Insight Summit Course launches. There is still time to register! The course covers all aspects of digital marketing through the lens of agriculture with many specific horticulture examples. It is primarily a self-paced online course (with videos, interactive learning tools, and lots of unbiased, research-based information) with Zoom sessions and office hours (with me!).

Topics covered include trends in social media, CREE Research, building your business’s narrative, establishing a new-media baseline, analytics, e-newsletters, Instagram, e-commerce, improving visual content, cybersecurity, and more!

Each participant will receive access to the online course, access to the national team of experts, an exclusive Insight Summit Facebook group community, a set of printed resources mailed to you, an online strategy for your organization or business, and lots of ideas and plans for content development and delivery.

The investment price of Insight Summit is $199. You will receive hands-on experience in an intimate setting from the comfort of your own workspace. All you need is access to a webcam and high-speed internet to participate.

Take back the trajectory of your business with the tools and strategies provided through the 2023 CREE Insight Summit. I can’t wait to see you there!

 

Safety Training Resources for the Landscaping and Horticultural Services Industry

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Cheryl Boyer, Professor and Extension Specialist, Nursery Crop Production and Marketing

At the Turf and Ornamental Field Day earlier this month, I mentioned a suite of KSRE resources for the turf and landscape industry focusing on safety. Many participants were interested in these publications—perhaps for in-house training this winter or on an as-needed basis for new and returning employees. In addition to the links below, there is a similar set of safety resources for the fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty foods manufacturing industry—let me know if you would like help finding them in the KSRE Bookstore.

Instructor Guide

Guide to Managing Health, Safety, and Environmental Risks for Employers and Supervisors

Aerial Lift Safety

Back Injury Prevention

Chipper/Shredder Safety

Motor Vehicle Safety

Mowing and Trimming Safety

Skid Steer Loader Safety

Tree Trimming Safety

While these items were published in 2008 and 2009, much of the content is relevant and consistent with current safety recommendations. Would you support updating these written resources or additional learning tools like videos or hands-on workshops? If so, please contact me (crboyer@ksu.edu) with your ideas or willingness to write a letter of support for a grant application. Thank you for caring about the safety of people working in our industry!

Water Conservation Practices in Kansas Landscapes

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Cheryl Boyer, Professor and Extension Specialist

While some parts of Kansas are experiencing relief from drought (let’s celebrate with far Western Kansas!), significant portions of the state continue to need water. The current map of Kansas on the U.S. Drought Monitor shows only 9 of our 105 counties with no drought. That means that 91% of Kansas counties are experiencing some combination of abnormally dry, moderate drought, severe drought, extreme drought, or exceptional drought.

Having enough water for human needs and health will always (and should) take priority over landscape use. So how do we adapt? Here are some best practices for water conservation in the landscape. Use these ideas as regular practices for your work and as opportunities to educate consumers on ways they can contribute to our ongoing water needs.

  1. Make a plan.
    • Consider factors on each site that may affect water use, like steep slopes, shading, and overall landscape goals.
  2. Improve soil conditions.
    • Get a soil test! Identify nutrient status, organic matter content, and pH to help you identify needs and approaches.
  3. Choose appropriate plants.
    • Understanding which plants can tolerate Kansas conditions, as well as the specific site conditions for the project, will help place the right plants in the right place.
  4. Water slowly, deeply, and infrequently.
    • Observe the weather and water based on plant needs. Soaker hoses, drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, and micro-drip water bags/buckets are all good options to achieve this best practice.
  5. Use mulch.
    • Organic mulch will increase soil quality as it breaks down while keeping soil cooler, reducing weed pressure, and helping soil retain water.

 

For more information (for yourself or to share on your organization’s online platforms) based on learning style, check out: