Turf insect update from Danny Kline

Annual bluegrass weevil larvae were found in Maryland earlier this week. This means we will probably begin to see larvae in some areas of Pennsylvania next week. Seven different superintendents have agreed to send two soil samples to Penn State per week, starting next week. A salt extraction technique will be used to draw larvae from the soil so they can be counted and developmental stages examined.

Billbug adults are moving in turf, but not in large numbers yet. Looking at the 15 day forecast, conditions will remain unseasonably cool, with nighttime temperatures in the 30s. These cool temperatures should slow billbug development.

Grubs should start moving up toward the soil surface following the rain we received earlier this week. Sampling will begin next week and see if grubs are present near turf roots.

Stay tuned for more reports.

Weed of the week: Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis)

Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis) is one of the top three perennial grass weeds in Pennsylvania. Every spring I receive reports of yellow-green patches of roughstalk bluegrass invading lawns, golf course fairways, and sports fields, and this year in no exception. Three samples were sent to my office last week, and I’m sure more will arrive in the coming weeks.

Roughstalk bluegrass is occasionally used as a turfgrass on shaded sites that are poorly drained, or as a temporary grass for winter play on golf courses in the southern U.S. However, in Pennsylvania it is more common as a weed grass that grows over desirable grasses via runners or stolons. This species looks similar to other turfgrasses, except that it produces a yellow-green color, and grows in patches. Sometimes these patches are mistaken for diseased turf, and have even been sprayed with fungicides. Individual plants have a shiny appearance on the back of the leaf blade (abaxial surface), and possess stolons that creep along the soil surface and over the top of desirable turf. Roughstalk bluegrass spreads quickly during cool weather and/or in shaded areas, but tends to turn brown and die back in sunny areas during the summer. Unfortunately, this species always seems to survive the heat and drought of summer to live for another day.

Roughstalk bluegrass can find its way into turf as a contaminant in turfgrass seed, or as seed in soil that was brought from an infested area into a new site. Once it is in the stand, it’s almost impossible to determine where the roughstalk bluegrass seed came from. Seed of this species looks virtually identical to Kentucky bluegrass, and can easily escape the seed inspection process. Professional turfgrass managers should protect themselves from roughstalk bluegrass contamination by buying certified seed from high-quality sources, and perhaps employ the services of a private seed inspection lab if the seed will be used for extensive, high value plantings (such as a new golf course).

If you find this weed growing in your turf, try to suppress it before it begins to spread into large patches. Professional turf managers can try using Certainty® (sulfosulfuron); golf course managers can use Certainty® or Velocity® (bispyribac sodium) for suppressing roughstalk bluegrass.

Certainty® has worked reasonably well in suppressing roughstalk bluegrass in trials conducted at Penn State. However, it’s almost impossible to completely eradicate this species...with any herbicide. Certainty® is labeled for use on Kentucky bluegrass and for perennial ryegrass mixed with Kentucky bluegrass at rates used for roughstalk bluegrass control. Interestingly, the label lists perennial ryegrass as “an additional weed controlled”, but only at high rates (rates between 1.25 and 2.0 oz per acre). Certainty® will control tall fescue, so if tall fescue makes up a portion of your turf, you should not use this product. Certainty® is also labeled for control of roughstalk bluegrass in creeping bentgrass golf course fairways, approaches and tees.

Weed of the week – Creeping speedwell

Creeping (or slender) speedwell (Veronica filiformis Sm.) is a low growing, spreading plant that produces blue and white flowers from April to May in many Pennsylvania lawns and grounds. A member of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), creeping speedwell is a perennial which overwinters in a vegetative state, and apparently does not produce viable seed. This weed grows in dense mats and spreads quickly throughout lawns and gardens via thin stolons which root at nodes. Identification features include small roundish leaves (½ to ¾ inch diameter), with scalloped margins arranged opposite to one another on short stems. Flowering stems branch alternately off of main stems, and produce small (1/4 – 1/2 inch) attractive blue and white flowers at the ends of stems. Creeping speedwell, like all speedwells, is sometimes difficult to control with herbicides. Broadleaf herbicides containing 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba are typically found in lawn and garden centers, and may provide some control or suppression of creeping speedwell if applied when plants are flowering. Professional applicators can achieve improved control by applying Drive 75 Herbicide either alone or combined with products containing 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba. Other speedwells (corn and germander) can also be controlled with Drive 75.

2-Year Alumnus Prepares Augusta for Tiger's Return

Owen readies Augusta to test golf's greatest

It’s Masters week in the world of golf, and all eyes are on Augusta (Ga.) National GC and the course preparations being overseen by its Class A member Brad Owen [Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Alumni]. Great weather should bookend forecasted scattered thunderstorms on Thursday, as sunny skies and highs in the 90s lead up to sunshine, 70s and a 7 m.p.h breeze this weekend. No. 12 is Augusta’s signature hole and arguably the most famous and difficult par 3 in the world. Although it requires only a short iron to a narrow green guarded by Rae's Creek, the unpredictable winds make proper club selection nearly impossible. Any shots short of the pin usually slope back into Rae's Creek. This year, Augusta is debuting a new, huge, state-of-the-art practice facility with a 400-yard range, an arced practice tee that can accommodate about three dozen players, two fairways split by a v-shaped formation of pine trees located about 235 yards out, and four target greens at varying distances – including a replica of No. 2. The short game area features two greens, five bunkers and auxiliary tees, and a large putting green.

Republished from GCSAA This Week

Weed of the Week: Bittercress

Bittercress is one of the first broadleaf weeds to appear in PA lawns during early spring. A member of the mustard family (Cruciferae), it can act as a winter or summer annual, or as a biennial. This weed can overwinter in a vegetative state, or it can germinate from seed during cool, moist conditions. Bittercress is a prolific seed producer, and can produce several generations during a single growing season. Identification features include a rosette of pinnately-compound leaves, with a terminal leaflet. Seedheads are erect, branching, and produce small (1/4 – 1/2 inch) white flowers at the ends of stems. After petals drop, long (1 inch), narrow pods form, and abruptly dehisce, shooting seeds two to three feet from the pod. Bittercress can be controlled with most conventional broadleaf herbicide mixtures.

Be on the lookout for annual bluegrass weevil adults

By Danny Kline, Project Data Specialist, Entomology Dept.

Golf course superintendents in central and western PA should be on the lookout for annual bluegrass weevil adults. Adults were observed at Bucknell C.C. late last week, and with the warm temperatures over the weekend, more adults should be on the move. Other monitoring sites in Western PA and West Virginia have reached or exceeded the 100 - 120 degree day mark. The late Dr. Paul Heller used to say that adults begin to come out of their over wintering sites between 100 and 120 degree days. Also, forsythia at full bloom to almost 1/2 gold and 1/2 green is consistent with the adult movement.

When numerous adult annual bluegrass weevils are observed, an application of an insecticide (pyrethroids are often used to control adults) may be warranted. Keep in mind that we are having a very unusual spring, so insect lifecycles may not be as predictable as we would like. More updates will be provided as the year progresses.

Golf Turf Management Class of 2010!

Congratulations to Penn State's Golf Course Turfgrass Management graduating class of 2010! On March 6, students within the program received their certificates in front of friends and family at the traditional graduation ceremony at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Families, friends and faculty gathered on Saturday to celebrate the 2010 graduating class. Guests were greeted with a slide show of images from the past two years and also a video of what the students thought about their time at Penn State and what the future holds for them (video to be posted soon to YouTube).



Highlighting the event was the student-chosen guest speaker Joe Hughes. Mr. Hughes is the General Manager and Head Golf Professional at the Penn State Golf Courses and also an instructor within the Golf Turf Management Program. Joe's speech focused on the need to build strong relationships across all facets of the golf facility and highlighted the importance of family in your personal and professional life. Joe received a round of applause when he announced the pregnancy of his wife Dayna and the soon to be addition to his own family.

In addition to the rewarding of the Certificates, several students received scholarships for their hard work throughout the program. To learn more about the individual graduates, visit 2010 alumni section.

Penn State has been training professionals in the golf course turfgrass management industry since 1957.  With the graduating class of 2010, there are a total of 1570 alumni from the program.  Penn State alumni can be found throughout the world and some of the most prestigious golf courses around. This week, two of our alumni (William "Marsh" Benson and Brad Owen) can be found in Augusta, Georgia as they prepare Augusta National for The Masters.