April 15, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 15

The USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program is funding Cornell University researchers to monitor the movement and overwintering behavior of annual bluegrass weevils.  This serious pest on annual bluegrass has developed resistance to insecticides (pyrethroids) that have kept them in check for decades.   The information will lead to better control tactics at the adult overwintering sites and during their transition from overwintering sites to the edges of fairways and putting greens where much of the damage occurs from chewing larvae. 

In the bug wars, you have to know your enemy. The more superintendents know about the biology, movement, and overwintering behavior of annual bluegrass weevils, the better they are able to target the control methods. 

Put yourself in the audience at the Green Section Conference held at the 2011 Golf Industry Show

For the 34th consecutive year, the annual Green Section Education Conference was held in conjunction with the 2011 Golf Industry Show (GIS).  This year's program, held on February 11th, addressed the theme, "Lessons Learned Come in All Forms." The Green Section's staff totals 420+ years of experience, and the session highlighted some of the lessons learned and changes witnessed in the turfgrass management field. 

We are conscious of the fact that economic challenges have made it more difficult for people to attend the GIS, and, with this in mind, we are sharing the Green Section presentations in this publication. This is the fifth and last in the series of the videos of the actual conference presentations.

Making A Career Out Of Making Mistakes

Jim Moore

Some lessons are learned the hard way - but they can be some of the most important. You might even laugh at them as the years pass. 

James F. Moore, director, Green Section Construction Education and Technology  

Watch the video 

The game of golf faces two difficult issues affecting every course in the country - environmental and economic sustainability - and both require attention. Environmental sustainability is impacted by water and wildlife issues.  Economically, the cost of maintenance and shrinking free time for golfers presents challenges. A common obstacle is unrealistic expectations about course conditioning. Fortunately, there is plenty of room to adjust expectations without damaging the integrity of the game.

To help these efforts, the USGA staff has assembled a list of questions that every facility should consider regarding best management practices (BMPs) for sustainability.  The goal is to help courses assess their own situation and develop actions to improve. There never will be an end point; the journey is one of continual progress and improvement.

This week's question:

Have you completed a tree inventory assessment? 

A guide for selecting and planting golf course trees: A basic knowledge of trees, golf course architecture, and a defined planting objective are critical to selecting new trees on the golf course 

Harvesting a valuable resource: Making the decision to undertake a large-scale tree management program is only half the battle. How to pay for it can be a daunting hurdle 

Say no to "backup tree plantings": Sometimes taking precautions is more trouble than it's worth 

Man's friend or golf's enemy?: Trees have long been known to hinder healthy turfgrass growth, but solving tree problems can be a difficult and touchy issue 

Trees vs. turf: Manage the trees on the golf course to provide healthier turf 

Pinus plastica: A simple tool for proper tree placement: Use of a temporary "tree" can help avoid problems in the future 

Using new technology to solve an old problem: Trees: A computer program pinpoints the location of sunlight and helps with tree management 

Developing a tree care program 

A Mid-Atlantic Regional Update
by Darin S. Bevard, senior agronomist 

In spite of cool, below-normal temperatures, our typical early-season pests are starting to emerge.  In recent travels on golf courses, annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) adults have been easy to find.  Applications of insecticides to kill adult weevils before they can lay eggs will need to be made soon.  The half-green/half-gold stage of forsythia is a good phenological indicator for these applications, but maintain regular scouting for weevils on your property if they have been a problem in the past.  For those who have not been affected by ABW, aggressive scouting is recommended for this insect pest, as new golf courses are impacted every growing season.

Initial applications for Poa annua seedhead control have been performed in most of the region, although northern areas have yet to reach the necessary growth stage of Poa annua for these applications.  Remember, when timing your applications, the goal is not to control the first seedheads that emerge.  Rather, the goal is to control as many seedheads as possible with the applications.  Timing is essential.  If there are any questions about timing of application, do not hesitate to contact our office.

Preemergent crabgrass and goosegrass applications should be made soon if they have not already been made.  While cold temperatures have been an issue, crabgrass germination will occur as soon as warmer temperatures persist.  Do not be lulled to sleep by this period of cold temperatures.

Read the rest of this update  

A Northeast Regional Update

Aerating when the turf is actively growing will result in much faster recovery and the restoration of good playing quality in the shortest possible time.

Spring core aeration on putting greens is an extremely beneficial management practice that is being performed currently throughout the region.  Although each year it seems like core aeration is undertaken earlier in the spring in an attempt to reduce golfer displeasure.  Course decision makers and the superintendent often adopt the principle of calculated risk philosophy when determining core aeration dates.  This principle is very straightforward.  There are risks involved with an action, in this case early spring core aeration, but there also are possible benefits of this risk.

Early spring core aeration and cold weather lead to a long recovery time while warm spring weather leads to a normal recovery time and greens free from disruption for most of the spring.  Every golf course is different, but, for many, a long recovery from early spring core aeration annoys golfers much more than a quick recovery from core aeration performed in mid-spring.  At golf facilities that want the shortest core aeration recovery time each year the solution is easy; core aerate in mid-spring once the turf is actively growing.  For areas in the southern tier of the region, this could be mid April while for golf courses farther north, this could mean early May.  Bottom line, early spring core aeration performed when the turf is not actively growing is going to lead to a long recovery time.  Some years early spring core aeration may work well, but, in most years, it will cause longer recovery.  For more detailed information, read: Core Cultivation: Timing is Everything  

Read the rest of this update. 

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