Light Reading

Here is a recent note sent out from one of the legends in our industry.  We've seen most of what he references in this article: Misery Loves Company Peter H. Dernoeden, Ph. D Since spring, the story has been mostly of prolonged periods of overcast and rainy weather –interrupted by heavy downpours. July was for some incredibly hot and dry. It’s been one for the books, and the effects have been on display on golf courses, sod farms, home lawns and other professionally managed turfs. Inability to mow for long periods, and the need to get equipment out before turf has properly drained, has resulted in lots of scalping and mechanical damage. Crabgrass, goosegrass and many broadleaf weeds have flourished. According the Steve McDonald MSc. (Turfgrass Disease Solutions), “it has been a major disease year.” In addition to the usual’s, like brown patch and dollar spot, gray leaf spot has been especially damaging since late July. According to Steve, severe GLS outbreaks in perennial rye developed in mid-to-late July, and have continued almost unabated in the absence of frequent applications of fungicides. Gray leaf spot also has been observed in tall fescue sod fields on Delmarva. Maladies favored by long periods of wet and overcast weather, including yellow spot and blue-green algae, are commonplace.  Some mangers survived with less significant problems and thought that the Labor Day turn would be the end, but not quite. The overcast, rainy and extremely humid weather (heat indexes often > 100oF) following Labor Day provided a “coup de grace ” for some. To add insult to injury, weeds are now germinating in abundance and soon will dominate poor stands. Although inconspicuous, weeds like annual bluegrass, ground ivy and many others are now “blowing out of the ground.” Renovations, overseeding, new seeding, fertility, pest management and general maintenance will present more challenges, but at least sunshine, and cooler and less humid weather has arrived. Let’s take a picturesque look at the Misery of 2018.   Heavy and cold spring rains ruined seedings, even when erosion control methods were installed; March 2018. High winds and wet soils compounded spring problems; March 2018. Heavy downpours began in May. In July they were alternated with periods of drought as well as very high heat and humidity. July heat and drought takes its toll at this golf club, whose pump house goes down; July, 2018. Extreme heat damage in a tall fescue lawn, despite an in-ground irrigation system; July, 2018. Scald (damage caused by standing water and heat) in newly laid sod; late May 2018. Gray leaf spot became active in mid- July, and continues to be damaging. Courtesy of. S. McDonald. Brown patch blighted many acres of tall fescue lawns, sod fields and roughs in July and August 2018. Goosegrass out-competes spring seeded tall fescue  and was treated too late with  Pylex; August, 2018. Blue-green algae in areas thinned by brown patch and mechancial damage in a green; Sept., 2018. Scalping and mechanical damage to a green when mowed too wet; Sept., 2018. The lousy 2018 weather even depresssed Turkey's. Thanks for reading!