Undoubtedly everyone is waiting for this weather to end and that
includes us turfgrass managers - or maybe not! This week on my way
around the courses, meeting with superintendents it became clearly
obvious how competitive
Poa annua is, if it has the right
conditions. The last ten days have been party time for Poa and while you
may be scratching your heads, the continuation of what begun last week
is far from your control. Temperatures have been around ideal for Poa
with no consistent heat to benefit creeping bentgrass (
Agrostis stolonifera
L.) growth and this is following a long, wet winter - as I said last
week - it's not surprising that it has been a tough start on Poa control
this year. The weather data again has pointed toward cool conditions
with lower light levels over the last week and it seems that until the
middle of next week at least it will not let up. Unfortunately we cannot
put up an umbrella and turn on the heaters and so communication with
members is a key to management at this time of the year. Once the heat
returns - the growth of Poa will go into reverse rapidly and lose
density unfortunately. The biodiversity of Poa with annual and perennial
biotypes and hundreds of others in between which all have adapted to
YOUR golf course in some unique way makes them far more competitive than
bentgrass - particularly in this weather.
Click here to view the June 7, 2013 Scouting Report.
As always if you have a question or query please do not hesitate to ask and you can call or email.
Ed Nangle PhD
Director of Turfgrass Programs
Chicago District Golf Association
www.cdgaturf.org
Follow us on Twitter
@TurfResearch
0 comments:
Post a Comment