Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
It's dry and we like it. Maybe we shouldn't so much but you have to understand it distances our memory of July's flood. July was THE month that really challanged us with rain, more rain, and rain. It happened at peak summer heat when kids stay near the pool. Since that time kids are back in school, sorry Nathaniel, and we've begun to notice a change or two. Daylength continues to shrink and now lasts about 13.5 hours. For example, today's light began at 6:02 am and ends at 7:47 pm. Our longest summer day saw the sun's rays from 5:15 am to 8:30 pm. It means we continue to cool and at 2 inches the soil temp now reads 73° - down from 85.5° on July 21st.
Still there is trouble in the landscape. I continue to make frequent visits to help superintendents identify the strange. Things like Pythium blight where it shouldn't be (triggered by last weekend's storms). Or creeping bentgrass that just won't act right (still on physiological vacation) since it's now overwatered by having to baby Poa no-roots annua on the same green. Or summer patch gone wild across much of a fairway or even down the middle of a couple greens. Or type 1 fairy ring causing dead rings on a green. Still, as long as we remain vigilant it's going to be ok because this growing season is cooling. Golfers continue to enjoy a wonderful period without rain - meanwhile, we just have to look after those roots. Dear Roots, please grow.
Click here to view the August 19, 2011 Scouting Report.
Have a nice August weekend!
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org
Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310
tsibicky@cdga.org
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