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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Category: Educational resources

Planting Buffalograss and Controlling Weeds

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

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

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

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

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

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:

Insect Heroes of Pollination

By Frannie Miller, Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator

All around us, insect superheroes are industriously keeping us fed and our world moving forward whether we take time to notice them or not. Did you realize that pollinators like bees, wasps, butterflies, and bats are responsible for pollinating one out of every three bites of food we eat? The stability of our food supply relies on more than 200,000 species of pollinators. As we celebrate National Pollinator week (June 19-25, 2023), it is a good time to focus on insects which may not get as much glory for providing pollination as those we commonly hear about, like honeybees.

For example, tiny insects called thrips (order Thysanoptera) can play a big role in eating and spreading pollen. Thrips feed on pollen and are quite messy. It is estimated a single thrip can get up to 10 to 50 pollen grains on his body, which does not seem like much, but since they are often present in large numbers that can equate to a lot of pollen movement. These insects fly from plant to plant using the stigma as a landing and take-off point. The pollen is easily transferred from the insect to the stigmas during this process. Thrips are important to the pollination of sugarcane and the mahogany tree, but it is important to point out too many thrips can also cause plant damage and transmit diseases, so their presence is not always wanted.

Hoverflies (order Diptera) also known as flower flies are “incidental” yet prolific pollinators. The adult flies hover over flowers to drink the nectar. Pollen is transferred between the fly and the flower when their hairy bodies brush up against the stigma of the flower. Hoverflies may not carry as much pollen as bees, but they visit the flowers more frequently. These insects prefer small, flat flowers which allow easy access to the nectar, but they do visit a wide variety of our global food crops and flowers.

Hoverfly

For those of us who like eating chocolate, then the chocolate midge (order Diptera) is of extreme importance. These midges seem to be the only creatures which can find their way into the long, twisty, intricate flowers of the Cacao tree to provide pollination. Their pollination duties are most active at dawn and dusk to be in sync with when the flowers are fully open. This pollination allows the prized seed pods to form, which are needed to produce chocolate. Interestingly enough these insects are threatened by clearing cutting of the rain forest as they need the damp rotting leaf litter on the forest floor to thrive.

Chocolate Midge drawing from Insect Art Contest by Lillyon R.

These are just a few examples of the limited knowledge of the true depth of pollinators. In the state of Kansas, it is estimated that there are over 400 different native bee species.

We can help pollinators by growing a diversity of pollinator-friendly plants to help increase the availability of food sources. Check out the publication “Pollinators and Beneficial Insects”(https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3588.pdf) for a list of possible plants. In celebration of National Pollinator week, consider purchasing one new food or nectar plant to plant in your landscape or doing your own research to identify one lessor known pollinator. You can also place a shallow dish of water on the ground to provide water for pollinators. Help to inform others about the importance of pollinators and inspire them to make a difference!

Hot/humid = brown patch season

Megan Kennelly, K-State Dept of Plant Pathology

 

Hello everyone,

Some of our mornings have had that “tropical” feeling lately! We are getting some reports of brown patch activity in tall fescue. So far it’s more from the eastern side of the state which of course does have more moisture.

Brown patch is favored by humid weather with nighttime lows around 70 degrees or above. It can occur when the nighttime lows are above 60 though.

The disease can have distinct patches OR be “diffuse/blotch” as shown in these photos:

Patchy

 

 

 

That is a little confusing, right? Tall fescue can also suffer from drought, grubs, general stress, etc. So – how do you tell if it is brown patch? Take a close look at the leaf blades as shown in the photos below. First, you’ll notice that tall fescue has a lot of prominent veins with a rough texture. That is ONE way to help tell it is tall fescue and not something else.

For brown patch look for a tan spot, irregular shape, with darker brown border:

Finally, if it is very moist/dewy you might see some cobwebby fungal growth – look closely here. That dries up very fast once the sun hits and the turf dries off, though.

 

To help prevent the disease you can make the site less favorable:

  • avoid irrigating in the late afternoon/evening to prevent long periods of leaf wetness
  • improve airflow
  • avoid excess fertilizer

There are a lot of fungicides labeled for brown patch. Here is a great guide for commercial lawn care:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ppa/ppa1/ppa1.pdf.

Brown patch is on page 12, and I will not repeat all those details here. You can click and get a ton of helpful tips right there. Keep in mind that as with most diseases preventative applications work better than after the disease has kicked in. Also – turf fungicides don’t magically turn the turf healthy again. New, green grass needs to GROW and when we hit full summer stress that is slow to happen.

Finally, if you need help with a turf diagnosis you can email me (kennelly@ksu.edu) and/or send a sample to me here at KSU via the Plant Diagnostic Clinic.

Quick tips on a good sample:

2022 Turf Research Report

 

 

The 2022 K-State Turf Research Report came out in early August.  Some highlights of reports included this year:

  • Tall fescue establishment using covers and drip irrigation – CLICK HERE
  • Tall fescue performance under low maintenance conditions in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Trial (NTEP) – CLICK HERE
  • Creeping bentgrass performance in NTEP – CLICK HERE
  • Influence of herbicides on establishing zoysia from sprigs – CLICK HERE
  • Impact of aerification zoysia thatch and rooting – CLICK HERE
  • New zoysiagrass genotype performance compared to Meyer – CLICK HERE

To see all the research reports together, CLICK HERE

Horticulture Service Industry Safety Training Resources

By Dr. Cheryl Boyer

Winter is usually the best time for training. However, if you are onboarding new employees, you might want to check out these K-State Research and Extension publications on safety in the horticultural services industries. They’re available in both English and Spanish.

Would you like to see more publications in Spanish? If so, which ones? Click through the bookstore offerings (https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/) to see what is most valuable to you, and let us know.