Turfgrass

Uneven fertilization Fertilizer injury Management Problems

Dog urine Drought

Bird damage Dull mower blade

Insect Problems

Sod Webworm CT: per square foot 1 year life cycle (1 to 3 generations) Control: beneficial nematodes (Scanmask) Sevin, Spinosad, Merit, MACH 2, Tempo Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)

Billbug CT: 30 – 50 per square ft One year life cycle Control: beneficial nematodes Sevin, Diazinon, MACH 2 (for larvae) Merit

Black Turfgrass Ataenius Life cycle: one to two generations per year CT: per square foot Control: beneficial nematodes (Scanmask or Cruiser) Sevin, Merit, MACH 2, Bt

May/June Beetle CT: 3-4 per square foot Life cycle: 1 to 4 years Control: Sevin, Merit, MACH 2 nemotodes (Scanmask, Cruiser), Bt

Disease Problems

Pink Snow Mold (Fusarium nivalis) Avoid heavy fall fertilization Avoid heavy snow accumulation when shoveling snow Apply fungicides to affected areas in fall and early spring

Gray Snow Mold (Typhuyla sp.) Avoid heavy snow accumulation when shoveling snow Spread snow or apply black fly ash or graphite Apply fungicides to affected areas in late fall

Melting out (Helminthosporium sp.) Aerate to reduce thatch in early spring Avoid single heavy nitrogen application in spring Water deeply and infrequently

Necrotic Ring Spot (Leptosphaeria korrae) Aerate to reduce thatch in early spring Nitrogen fertilizer applied frequently at low rates Deep, infrequent water Mow 2.5 to 3 inches Replant with resistant varieties

Summer Patch (Magnaporthe graminicola) Aerate to reduce thatch in early spring Nitrogen fertilizer applied frequently at low rates Deep, infrequent water Mow 2.5 to 3 inches Replant with resistant varieties

Fairy Ring (Basidiomycete sp.) Fertilize adequately to mask effects of disease Aerate to improve water penetration in rings Prostar fungicide provides suppression

Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe graminis) Don’t plant in heavy shade, or use shade varieties Water deeply and infrequently Apply fungicides where there’s a history of mildew

Weed Problems

Black medic (Medicago lupulina) Apply postemergence broadleaf herbicides during periods of active growth from late spring through early summer and again from early through mid-autumn (dicamba, triclopyr) Hand pull

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Apply postemergence broadleaf herbicides from early through mid-autumn (all broadleaf herbicides) Hand dig, include complete root

Knotweed (Polygonum supina) Apply postemergencebroadleaf herbicides in spring (dicamba, triclopyr), pre-emergent herbicides when forsythia bloom Hand pull

Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia spp.) Apply postemergencebroadleaf herbicides in spring (triclopyr), pre-emergent herbicides when forsythia bloom Hand pull

White Clover (Trifolium repens) Apply postemergencebroadleaf herbicides in mid- spring to early summer and/or mid to late fall when actively growing (dicamba, triclopyr) Maintain turf density and health through proper culture. Do not fertilize heavily with phosphorus.

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) Maintain turf density and health through proper culture, avoid seeding in fall; hoe or hand pull Apply postemergence herbicides from mid through late spring and again from mid to late autumn. Preemergence herbicides should be applied in late summer before germination.

Plantain (Plantago major, or lanceolata) very tolerant of harsh compacted, wet or dry conditions physically remove short, tough root system when the soil is moist Apply herbicides spring or fall (combination of 2,4-D &/or MCPP, dicamba, triclopyr, clopyralid)

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) low maintenance areas and roadsides biennial, reproduction by seed consistent mowing and good nitrogen fertilization create competitive turf

Wild violet (Viola papilionacea) colonize shaded, well fertilized, moist areas and easily out-compete cool-season turf hand digging of small clumps can be very effective if the entire root system is removed. Herbicides have limited effectiveness (combination product repeatedly applied beginning in May)

Annual weedy grasses preemergent control applied 2 weeks prior to germination (soil temp = 55º to 58º for several consecutive days)