Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
This season has begun (an understatement). We are out of the shoots on a racehorse named '2012'. This horse would travel faster than we had ever experienced. The trouble was, in a week we were still particpating in golf course superintendent education in places like Elcona Country Club in Bristol, IN and Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, IL. In between symptoms had begun to appear, usually circular and of a color indicative of plant stress (yellow if you are Poa and a red-purple if you are bent). It would be a week of new issues: Rhizoctonia patches on a fairway (but which Rhizoc?), dollar spot beginning on a green and tee, continued development of fairy ring on greens, and yellow tuft flaring up in the usual wet fairway areas. Can you believe that was just on Sunshine Course in Lemont? Never have we seen everything begin all at once.
It had something to do with 9 consecutive days of highs that broke every record in the book and, that's 147 years worth! Now it has rained, it has cooled. It's officially spring and every bloom is vying for our attention: star magnolia, pear, redbud, saucer magnolia, forsythia, crabapples and viburnum. When out, take some time and just let it in. In short, enjoy this unprecidented spring!Click here to view the March 23, 2012 Scouting Report.
Enjoy Spring 'officially' this first weekend (according to calendar. It even has begun to rain - right on cue!
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
630-685-2307 dsettle@cdga.org Weather Blog
Timothy A. Sibicky, MS
Manager of Turfgrass Research
630-685-2310 tsibicky@cdga.org Research Blog
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