Issues and Answers with Turfgrass

Ronald Calhouncalhoun@msu.edu

Michigan State University Extension

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

“Pesticides are a shortcut to cultural

practices.”-the Yard Doctor, 2006

My Perfect Lawn

Today

Species

Turfgrasses of Michigan: Characteristics and Adaptation

Turfgrass Species

Recommended -----------------Relative Tolerance-----------------Mowing Height

NitrogenRegime

Irrigation Requirement

Heat Cold Drought Shade Wear (inches) Per year

Kentucky bluegrass Yes Fair Good Medium Poor Medium 2 - 4 Medium to High(2 to 6 lbs. N) Yes

Tall Fescue Yes Good Poor Excellent Good Good 2.5 - 4 Low to Medium(1 to 2 lb.s N) Seldom

Perennial Ryegrass Yes PoorVeryPoor

Fair Fair Good 1.5 - 2.5 Medium to High(2 to 6 lbs. N) Yes

Annual Ryegrass Yes*VeryPoor

VeryPoor

VeryPoor

Poor Poor 1.5 - 2 Medium to High(2 to 6 lbs. N) Yes

Fine FescuesSheep, Creeping Red,

Hard

Yes Fair Medium Good Excellent Poor 1.5 - 3 Low(< 2 lb.s N) Seldom

Zoysiagrass No Excellent Medium Excellent Good Excellent 0.5 - 1.5 Low to Medium(1 to 2 lb.s N) Seldom

Buffalograss No Excellent Medium ExcellentVeryPoor

Fair 2 or > Low(< 2 lb.s N) Seldom

Bermudagrass No Excellent Poor Good Poor Excellent 0.5 - 1.5 High (6 lbs. N or >) Yes

* Only as a temporary cover during establishment.

Bunch Type -Tillers

Stoloniferous - Stolons

Rhizomatous -Rhizomes

My Perfect Lawn

Today

Fertility

Species

Jim Dandy Lawn Fertilizer20 - 10 - 10

Guaranteed AnalysisTotal Nitrogen (N)..................................... 20%

Ammoniacal Nitrogen......................... 5%Urea.................................................... 15%

Available Phosphate (P2O5)....................... 10%Soluble Potash........................................... 10%

Derived from: Urea Nitrogen, AmmoniumPhosphate, Muriate of Potash.Equivalent to: 700 lbs CaCO3

Net Wt. 50 lbs

Text

J.T. Dandy Fertilizer Company4444 Farm Lane

East Lansing, MI 48824

TreatmentCrabgras

s

1.5” height 317

3” height 93

1.5” heightHoliday plan

129

3” heightHoliday plan

7

Lawn Weed BMP II (2 Lawn Weed BMP II (2 years)years)

MSU Soil Test Reports

2001-2002 Summary of 500 Samples

apply 0.5-1.0 lb P2O5

apply 1.5-2.0 lb P2O5

no apps.

My Perfect Lawn

Today

Fertility

Species Mowing Height

6”

4”

4.5”

3” 3”

2”

1.5”1”

The One-Third RuleThe One-Third Rule

Desir

ed

Mow

ing

Heig

ht

Mow

ing

follow

ing

1/3

Ru

le

Plant response to mowing heights

Continual Scalping

6”

•Kentucky bluegrass

•Mowing Height

•2 or 4 inches

•Fertilizer Program

•None or Holiday Plan (3# N/M/YR)

•Herbicide Treatment

•None, Trimec Classic or Confront

BMP plots at MSUBMP plots at MSU

2”, non-fertilized2”, non-fertilized 4”, non-fertilized4”, non-fertilized

4”, 34”, 3## N/M/YR N/M/YR 4”, 34”, 3## N/M/YR, Trimec N/M/YR, TrimecPictures from May 10, 2004

2”, non-fertilized2”, non-fertilized 4”, non-fertilized4”, non-fertilized

4”, 34”, 3## N/M/YR N/M/YR 4”, 34”, 3## N/M/YR, Trimec N/M/YR, TrimecPictures from Jul 13, 2004

DANDELION CLOVER

2002 2002

2” ONLY 94 65

4” ONLY 70 25

2” HOLIDAY 35 15

4” HOLIDAY 22 10

2” TRIMEC 3 5

4” TRIMEC 7 2

2” CONFRONT 1 4

4” CONFRONT 1 1

2” HOLIDAY TRIMEC 1 0

4” HOLIDAY TRIMEC 2 0

2” HOLIDAY CONFRONT 0 0

4” HOLIDAY CONFRONT 1 0

BMP Results (five BMP Results (five years)years)

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

My Perfect Lawn

Today

Fertility

Species Mowing Height

Irrigation

My Perfect Lawn

Today

Fertility

Species Mowing Height

Irrigation

Cultivation

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

Root Feeding Insects

Grubs:

Japanese beetle

European chafer

June beetle

Black turfgrass ataenius

Aphodius granarius

Japanese Beetle-Larvae

Damage: Feed on roots in May and early

June and again in Sept. and October Moisture stress causes damaged turf to turn brown

Appearance: White C-shaped grubs to 1”

Threshold: 15-20 per sq. ft. on irrigated turf 5-10 per sq. ft. on non-irrigated turf

Japanese Beetle-Adult

Adults emerge in July - early August.

Dark metallic green beetle, half inch long.

Adults feed on wide range of ornamentals.

Eggs deposited in turf July - August.

Japanese Beetle

Larvae mature to 1/2 to 1 in. late Sept.

Damaged turf may die from root pruning.

Grubs move deeper into soil to overwinter.

Larvae pupate to beetles following June.

Japanese Beetle

Skunks and raccoons may rip up turf looking for larvae.

Irrigated turf has a tremendous ability to recover.

Monitor populations.

Insecticides should be watered-in to reach the larvae.

Japanese Beetle

Control is highly variable. 50 to 80% control Check 3 weeks after treatment

Beetle traps do not provide control. Biological insecticides.

Variable results Check for latest efficacy information and new products

European Chafer-Larvae

Damage: Feed on roots in early May - June

and again in Sept. - Oct. Damaged turf may turn brown

Appearance: White C-shaped grub up to 1”

Threshold: 15-20 per sq. ft. on irrigated turf 5-10 per sq. ft. on un-irrigated turf

European Chafer-Adult

Light brown, stout body, clubbed antennae, half in. long

Adults emerge in late June and July - about 2 weeks earlier than Japanese beetle

Similar one year life cycle

European Chafer Information

Grubs feed longer in the fall (early Nov.) and return to the surface sooner (early April) than JB.

Damage threshold and control similar to Japanese beetle.

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

Preemergence Barrier

Pick a date?Pick a date?

20012001 20022002

Crabgrass emergence by month.Crabgrass emergence by month.

May51%

May0%

Soil temp better…Soil temp better…

20012001 20022002

Crabgrass emergence by month.Crabgrass emergence by month.

60-70 degrees F85%

<60 degrees F0%

60-70 degrees F66%

Tunnel through the soil looking for grubs, earthworms, other insects and animals.

Surface can be disrupted by raised ridges and soil piles.

Moles

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

www.msuturfweeds.netwww.msuturfweeds.net

Weed ID on the Weed ID on the WEBWEB

Top Ten List

•Crabgrass

•Moles

•Broadleaf Weeds

•Mulching Leaves

•Organic

•Renovation

•Fertilizer

•Mowing

•Watering

•Grubs

What is organic?

What is natural?

What is a chemical?

Define the terms...

Establish the goals...

Everything in life has risk...

Relative ToxicityProduct LD50 (mg/kg)Gasoline 40Caffeine 150Aspirin 1200

Table Salt 3000Vinegar 3000

Glufosinate 5000Glyphosate 10000

www.turf.msu.eduwww.turf.msu.edu

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