Mississippi Turfgrass - Spring 2017

Spring 2017

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

The Time for Scouting Turfgrass Diseases Is During Spring Greenup...

Or, in Other Words, Now!

Weed Management Strategies for ornamental landscape beds and ground covers

spring 2017

Contents • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine Features

8 Upcoming Event —

YardDawg Classic at Old Waverly Golf Club, June 20, 2017

10 Landscape Corner —

Weed Management Strategies for Ornamental Landscape Beds and Ground Covers

14 Golf Course Notes —

The Time for Scouting Turfgrass Diseases Is During Spring Greenup…

Or, in Other Words, Now!

18 Recent Events —

Snapshots from the MTA Hospitality Night at the GCSAA Conference & GIS

Departments

6 From the MTA President

10

20 News from MTA

21 Industry News

21 Mississippi State Turf Team

22 Calendar of Events 22 Index of Advertisers

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright ©2017 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association.

Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here.

Permission requests should be directed to MTA. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

14

From the mta president

Here’s to Another

Erick Coomer

Great Year for MTA!

It’s

springtime in Mississippi and has been for most of the past several months, as our winter was rather mild. I’m sure most of us have been taking advantage of this great weather, and so has our turf. I hope this message finds you, your families and your grass doing well.

In February, the Alumni Hospitality Night at the Golf Industry Show and the GCSAA Conference in Orlando was a great success. Nearly 130 people were in attendance. This was an excellent opportunity to catch up with old friends and alumni. Thank you to Mrs. Linda Wells, as well as Tricia Roberts and Melanie Bonds, for their hard work in organizing such a great event.

Upcoming events to mark on your calendar

The annual YardDawg Classic will be held on June 20 at Old Waverly in West Point, MS. The golf at this event is always exceptionally fun. Thanks to Brad Suggs and his staff for hosting this event. Cottages will be available onsite for those interested in staying overnight, since we will have the opportunity to get in two days of golf. Mossy Oak Golf Club has offered a special rate for anyone wanting to play the Monday before the YardDawg. This is a wonderful opportunity to play the state’s newest golf course.

The MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day is planned for August 22 in Starkville.

This event will host industry leaders from the region, and it is a great way to see firsthand the research that our MSU turf team has been working on this year.

The 2017 Deep South Turf Expo will be on November 7–9 in Biloxi. This event continues to be a great event since its inception in 2015.

These events give us plenty of opportunities to educate ourselves with the current trends and research in turfgrass in our state, as well as to network with peers. I hope you all will take the time out of your busy schedule to take advantage of these opportunities, as the MTA is working hard to create and grow these events.

Here’s to a great growing season!

Erick Coomer 2017 MTA President

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com Mississippi Turfgrass Editor James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

MTA OFFICERS

President Erick Coomer The Bridges Golf Course (228) 860-5292 Vice President David Leon Turf & Aquatic Specialties, LLC (601) 529-2458 Secretary/Treasurer Wayne Philley Mississippi State University (662) 325-2728 Past President Paul Welborn Lawn and Pest Solutions (662) 316-1347 Administrative Secretary Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu

Directors

Jay Coalter Castlewoods Country Club (601) 317-1641 Dan Crumpton Oasis Sod Farms (662) 621-2040 Keair Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 Al Osteen (601) 214-9907 Jeremy Tate Tate’s Turf LLC (662) 209-0023 Reuben Wedgeworth Agri-AFC Purvis, MS (601) 498-0750

6 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

upcoming event

2017 Yard Dawg Classic June 20, 2017

old Waverly Golf Club

Fee

Team Entry Fee: $400 Individual Entry Fee: $100 Student Entry Fee: $50

DEADLINE TO REGISTER

June 13, 2017

8 :00 Registration & Practice Rounds 9:00 Shotgun Tee Off

One Magnolia Drive

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association invites you to participate in the 15th Annual Yard Dawg Classic Golf Tournament at the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, MS.

Player List

Note: You will note that you can form your own team. Individuals who wish to play and do not have a team will be assigned to a team by the tournament committee. Your team members do not have to be MTA members — they can be a friend, family member, green committee member, etc.

1__________________________________________________________ 2__________________________________________________________ 3__________________________________________________________ 4__________________________________________________________

Lunch Provided A wards Ceremony Following the Tournament

Payment Information

o Check

Special Bonus!

Play Mossy Oak Golf Course the day before (Monday, June 19) for $50!

Tee times can be arranged online: www.MossyOakGolf.com. Fore caddy required for every foursome.

8 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

o Visa

o MasterCard

o American Express

Make checks payable to MTA, and mail to: P.O. Box 9555, MS State, MS 39762.

Please bring a door prize to share!

Discount rate available for cottages at Old Waverly: $135 per night.

(662) 494-6463 Ask for Lodge; the code is MTA.

Westpoint, MS 39773

If paying by credit card, your signed entry may be mailed to the address above or faxed to: 662-325-2705.

Credit card information — Can not be sent via email!!

Credit card #:_______________________________________________ Exp. date:_ _________________________________________________ Signature:___________________________________________________

Your participation supports MTA’s Scholarship Program and turfgrass research at Mississippi State University. Thank you!

MTA

Box 9555 Mississippi State, MS 39762 662-769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu www.msturfassociation.org

Landscaper corner

Weed Management Strategies for Ornamental Landscape Beds and Ground Covers

By James McCurdy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University

W

eed control in ornamental landscapes is challenging. The diversity of plant material within these systems and the types of weeds that occur are much different than those in dense monoculture turfgrass. The use of mulches and frequent soil disturbance further compounds the complexity of weed control.

Just like in turf systems, cultural practices are the most important underlying reason for a successful, weed-free landscape. But unlike maintained lawns, ornamental landscapes require a larger degree of planning and preparation in order to maximize their success.

Design and preparation

The most crucial step in ornamental bed preparation is planning prior to construction. Planning plant material and making sure that the soil and site characteristics accommodate those plants are fundamental to successful landscapes. For instance, not all plants necessitate soil renovation; many can 10 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

readily handle wet, poorly drained soils or, alternatively, dry and un-irrigated conditions. Weed suppression depends upon healthy plants that compete with weeds for resources, such as nutrients, sunlight and water.

Water management is an important part of successful landscapes. An important function of any landscape is to mitigate stormwater runoff. The key to this function is that water infiltrates slowly through the natural soil rather than being forced to run off quickly into sewers and streams.

Too often, however, landscape designers treat ornamental beds as water confluence features where water is meant to flow and channel rather than slowly infiltrate. This mistake leads to increased disturbance of mulch and havens for weeds. Creative hardscapes can help ease these issues and also facilitate non-selective weed-control options (Photo 1). These hardscapes are semi-pervious and accommodate excess runoff without soil erosion.

Dense plant canopies and year-round cover provide more weed suppression than even the best herbicide program.

Achieving this density often requires multi-tiered plantings of upper canopy plants supported by underlying ground covers. Ground covers not only suppress weed growth, but they also enable easy preemergence herbicide selection, as they are usually perennials (Photo 2).

Mulch is part of the solution and part of the problem

Mulch quality and thickness are critical to successful ornamental landscapes.

Mulch is meant to cover the weed-seed bank and prevent seedling establishment.

If the mulch is too thick, however, it compromises preemergence herbicide control — these herbicides become bound to organic matter rather than penetrating to the site of seedling germination. If mulch is too thin, weed seeds emerge with ease.

Mulch is rarely weed free. When

Photo 1

aerobically composted, mulch should achieve temperatures greater than 135°F (high enough to sterilize most weed seed). Too often, though, mulch is not turned and aerified properly during this initial process; thus, internal temperatures fall and the pile fails to sterilize.

If you’re stockpiling your own mulch, use medium-sized piles that are turned more often and monitored regularly for internal temperature. Keep in mind, the longer mulch is composted, the more nitrogen is lost, so long-term composting isn’t necessarily encouraged.

Furthermore, keep weeds controlled near storage areas. Non-selective herbicides, such as Roundup (glyphosate), have almost no residual within mulch and are easily applied to control problematic weeds that frequently pop up near mulch piles.

Pinestraw mulch is not weed free either, mostly due to the way it is harvested with a straw bailer under pine plantation. It does not undergo a com-

Creative hardscapes improve moisture management, decrease Placeholder for photo caption. disturbance and facilitate the easy use of non-selective herbicides.

posting event. It is not clear how this impacts its utility as a mulch; however, yearly reapplication of pinestraw does contribute to increased bed disturbance and likelihood of weed introduction, especially of unusual weeds like Microstegium and deer tongue, which are normally only found under forest canopies.

Cloth weed barriers are relatively cheap (sometimes less than 10¢ per square foot), but they are rarely used during initial installations around home and commercial landscapes. In some instances where new landscape beds are installed, or old beds are being redesigned, this option makes sense, as long as these areas will not contain living ground covers or annuals.

Common weeds

Ornamental landscape weeds fall into two general categories: annuals that spread by seed and perennials that spread by vegetative material, such as rhizomes and stolons. Table 1 lists some of the most troublesome weeds. Annual weeds are generally easier to control, due to their vulnerability to preemergence herbicides. Control of perennial weeds, such as poison ivy, nutsedge, Florida betony and dollarweed, is largely accomplished by mechanical weed control (hand pulling or hoeing) and postemergence herbicides.

Preemergence herbicides

Preemergence herbicides prevent seedling establishment by affecting young

table 1. Troublesome ornamental landscape weeds.

Annual Weed Species Crabgrass

Digitaria spp.

Goosegrass

Eleusine indica

Foxtail

Setaria spp.

Broadleaf-signalgrass

Brachiaria platyphylla

Barnyardgrass

Echinochloa spp.

Chamberbitter

Phyllanthus urinaria

Annual sedges

Cyperus spp.

Kyillinga

Kyllinga spp.

Doveweed

Murdannia nudiflora

Spreading dayflower

Commelina diffusa

Pigweed

Amaranthus spp.

Virginia buttonweed

Diodia virginiana

Chickweed

Stellaria media

Woodsorrel

Oxalis spp.

Perennial Weed Species Bermudagrass

Cynodon spp.

Florida betony

Stachys floridana

Nutsedge

Cyperus spp.

Dollarweed

Hydrocotyle spp.

root or leaf growth, but very few of them control more mature seedling plants. Preemergence herbicides must be applied preventatively for full effect, thus many landscape managers apply them at timings prior to major weed emergence. A typical application prior to crabgrass emergence, when soil temperatures at a 1" depth are below 55°F, is early enough to prevent many The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 11

landscape corner • Continued

control grasses within broadleaf plantings. For instance, bermudagrass or crabgrass control can be accomplished by applying labelled rates within non-grassy plants, like mondograss, liriope, monkeygrass and other broadleaf plantings. Caution: Make sure you use a sprayer that has been thoroughly rinsed and cleaned. The only way to be absolutely sure a sprayer is clean is to keep it free from herbicides that could harm a select group of plants. Many applicators have a “broadleaf-safe and Roundup-free” pump-up sprayer.

Broadleaf weed control

Photo 21

Monoculture plantings suppress weeds and are easily Placeholder for photo caption. maintained with preemergence herbicides.

other spring emerging weeds. However, preemergence herbicides degrade over time and may have to be reapplied for lasting effect. Typical reapplication timings range from six to eight weeks after the initial applications.

Unlike turf scenarios, there is an intense secondary flush of weeds beginning in roughly late May through June. These weeds include yellow and purple nutsedge, doveweed, chamberbitter and foxtail. Most likely, these weed flushes are less noticeable in maintained turf due to the competitively growing turf cover. Additionally, excess moisture from routine irrigation cycles tends to promote year-round weed seed germination in landscape beds. In order to control these weeds, second or even third preemergence herbicide applications may be needed. Cultural control measures might also include once-a-week irrigation rather than daily cycles, as well as an extra layer of mulch during this timing.

Preemergence herbicide formulations

Preemergence herbicides are formulated as either liquid or granular-applied 12 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

products. Each formulation has some distinct advantages. Liquid applications tend to saturate thick mulch layers and penetrate to the soil layer where most seed are lodged. Granular products may be able to penetrate dense plant canopies without applicators having to tromp through sensitive ornamental beds; however, caution should be used since granular products can lodge in the sensitive whorl of many plants.

Postemergence herbicides

Reliance upon preemergence herbicides is key to weed-free landscapes, but unlike maintained lawns, some amount of hand weeding and application of non-selective herbicides will be required.

In this regard, properly training employees to scout for sensitive plant material is key to minimizing loses.

Grass control

The grass herbicides (AKA: ACCase Inhibitors) include Segment (sethoxydim), Fusilade II (fluazifop), Envoy Plus (clethodim) and Acclaim Extra (fenoxaprop). When applied appropriately, these herbicides selectively

Most ornamental plantings contain broadleaf plants. Roses, azaleas and boxwood are good examples. Herbicides that commonly control broadleaf weeds — such as 2,4-D, Banvel (dicamba) and Turflon Ester (triclopyr) — are observably not safe on broadleaf ornamentals.

However, some of these materials may have labels that allow usage as long as there’s no contact with ornamental foliage, bark or roots. Caution should always be used, as all of these herbicides have the potential to be volatile and/or be taken up by roots.

Another group of herbicides that commonly controls both broadleaf and grassy weeds are the ALS inhibitors, such as Image (imazaquin), Manor (metsulfuron-methyl) and Sedgehammer (halosulfuron). This group of herbicides has a broad range of selectivity and should only be used when the label allows it.

There are a few very useful outliers for broadleaf and sedge control within ornamentals. Basagran (bentazon) is a photosystem II inhibitor. It is often used for yellow nutsedge control and is labeled in ajuga, boxwood, impatiens, English ivy, marigolds, ornamental cabbage and petunia. Sedgehammer primarily targets sedges and can be applied around the base of woody ornamentals.

Image is a commercial and homeowner product that can be applied within most ground covers (including liriope, Asiatic jasmine, juniper and hosta) to control sedges, kyllinga, pigweed, deadnettle, clover, hairy bittercress, chickweed and sometimes sicklepod.

table 2. Common preemergence herbicides for ornamental landscapes. Site of Action (SOA) is listed according to the Weed Science Society of America. Landscape managers should rotate SOAs within season and across years in order to avoid herbicide resistance. This is not an exhaustive list and should not imply product recommendations.

Always read and follow label directions.

Active Ingredient

SOA

Example Product

5

Hi-Yield Atrazine, Scotts Bonus S

atrazine

5

Princep

simazine

3

Hi-Yield Dimension

dithiopyr

3

Surflan, Balan

oryzaline

3

Pendulum 2G

pendimethalin

3

Pendulum Aquacap

pendimethalin

3

Lebanon Treflan 5G

trifluralin

3+14

Harrell’s 4.8G

trifluralin + oxyfluorfen

3+15

Freehand

pendimethalin + dimethenamid

3+21

Snapshot

trifluralin + isoxaben

3+21

Gemini

prodiamine + isoxaben

3+21+14 Showcase

trifluralin + isoxaben + oxyfluorfen

14

Goal

oxyfluorfen

14

Ronstar, RegalStar

oxadiazon

14

SureGuard, BroadStar

flumioxazin

14+8

Goose and Crab

oxadiazon + bensulide

15

Tower

dimethanamid

15

Devrinol 2G

napropamide

21

Gallery

isoxaben

20

Casoron 4G, Barrier

dichlobenil

29

Specticle G

indaziflam

Summary

Given proper training and resources, managing ornamental landscapes can add value to your organization and services offered. Just like most turf scenarios, combining cultural methods with preemergence herbicides is often the most effective strategy within ornamentals. v The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 13

Golf course notes

The Time for

Scouting

Turfgrass Diseases

Is During Spring Greenup...

Or, in Other Words, Now!

By Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mississippi State University

In

Mississippi, spring greenup occurs during the period between the March equinox and the June solstice. When the turfgrass is transitioning from winter dormancy to spring greenup, what diseases might we expect to encounter? The answer depends upon the turfgrass species, the management regime, the environmental conditions and the diseases that were active the previous year. The disease triangle sums up the previous questions the turf manager may ask: host (turf species), environment (temperature, rainfall, management regime) and pathogen (previous diseases and any unexpected newcomers). A fourth factor, TIME, may not always be on your side (Rolling Stones, 1964) but instead on the side of disease development. To get a jumpstart on your disease monitoring, a fundamental review of turf diseases will be presented here.

When a turf manager or homeowner calls about a problem in the turf and they suspect a disease, in my training as a turfgrass pathologist, I ask the question, “What is the host (turf species)?”

The answer then dictates the line of questioning and subsequent conversation to determine whether abiotic/ biotic agents of non-infectious diseases, or more importantly, biotic agents of infectious diseases, are the problem.

So, you may ask, “What are biotic/

14 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

abiotic agents of non-infectious diseases?” We begin with the biotic or living, non-infectious agents. If the turf stand appears to have a “disease,” the damage may be due in large part to algae, black-layer, moss or insects.

Algae, moss and weeds colonize areas of reduced turf density that may have been damaged due to insect feeding or abiotic agents of disease. Apparent chlorosis and necrosis on a putting green may be the result of black-layer, a physical condition resulting in a lack of oxygen and subsequent root dysfunction.

Abiotic or non-living agents are classified under chemical, physical and mechanical conditions that make up the environment in which the plant is growing. The chemical conditions include pesticides, salts (animal urine), fertilizers, nutrient deficiencies and chemical spills. Mechanical conditions include mower injury, scalping, and leaf and crown bruising, as well as damage due to excessive traffic. Temperature extremes, water, snow or ice accumulation, shallow and/or poor quality soils, buried construction debris, soil compaction, thatch accumulation and competition from shrubs and trees constitute the physical agents of abiotic, non-infectious diseases. These conditions may be the underlying causes that predispose the turf to infectious diseases, most notably caused by fungi.

The following table lists the common diseases of warm-season turfgrasses that may be observed during spring greenup in Mississippi.

Pythium blight and leaf spot

Pythium blight and leaf spot may be confused, since both foliar diseases occur during spring greenup under similar environmental conditions, particularly on putting greens (Photo 1).

Both diseases cause random areas of blighted turf that may initially appear very dark to black and turn necroticbrown over time. Both can exhibit streaking of blighted turf with the movement of water or mowers.

The plant symptoms are distinctly different and can be used as a diagnostic feature (Photo 2). Plant symptoms of Pythium blight include irregular, black lesions that appear on all leaves. Leaf blight will occur, causing a wet-wilt appearance within the turf canopy. In contrast, plants affected with leaf spot will have lesions ranging from tiny pinpoint purplish-black on the second to third leaf with larger black lesions and blight on the older leaves. The leaf spot pathogen(s) attack the older senescing leaves, causing chlorosis and necrosis in the lower turf canopy.

The first step in controlling Pythium blight and leaf spot is to get the disease identified. Fungicides that control

A

B

A

B

Photo

Photo

1

2

Bermudagrass putting greens exhibiting symptoms of Pythium blight and leaf spot. (A) Foliar symptoms of Pythium blight include irregular, black lesions developing on juvenile leaves and leaf blight on older leaves. (B) Leaf spot symptoms first appear as pinpoint dark-brown to black spots that expand the length of the leaf, resulting in blight. Leaf spot symptoms develop on older leaves and progress up the plant to younger leaves.

Bermudagrass plants displaying symptoms of Pythium blight and leaf spot. (A) Foliar symptoms of Pythium blight occur on all leaves, regardless of age. (B) Leaf spot symptoms rarely occur on the developing leaf, folded in the bud or the first true leaf.

Dark-brown lesions develop on leaf sheaths of warm-season turfgrasses infected by Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of large patch. A basal rot causes the plants to easily detach from stolons.

Photo

4

Photo

3

Large patch symptoms, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, in a St. Augustinegrass residential lawn. The distinct orange color at the margin of the patch indicates the disease is active. Photo credit: Rob Webb.

Disease

Pathogen

Management Practice†

Plant Part

Pythium blight Pythium spp.

greens, overseeded turf

foliar

Leaf spot

Bipolaris, Exserohilum spp.

all turf situations

foliar

Large patch

Rhizoctonia solani

all turf situations

foliar

Dollar spot

Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

all turf situations

foliar

Ink spot

Curvularia malina

all turf situations

foliar

Leaf rust

Puccinia spp.

all turf situations

foliar

Spring dead spot

Ophiosphaerella spp.

golf course turf, sports fields

root

† The diseases listed in this table are more likely to develop under these management practices, but can occur under other turf situations.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 15

Photo

6

A bermudagrass plant infected by Curvularia malina, causal agent of ink spot. Black mycelium can be observed colonizing the stems and leaves of infected plants with the aid of a hand lens.

Photo

5

Ink spot symptoms on a zoysiagrass putting green. Small, chocolate-brown to black spots first appear and coalesce into large, irregular patches in the turf. Foliar symptoms of ink spot consist of black spots that develop into lesions with necrotic, dark-brown centers surrounded by dark, brownish-black margins (insert).

Pythium diseases are not labeled for leaf spot diseases; therefore, an accurate disease diagnosis is critical. It is beneficial to initiate a preventive fungicide program coupled with proper fertility and cultural management practices that are conducive for turf health during spring greenup.

Large patch

Large patch gets its name from the very large, circular areas of affected warm-season turfgrass. When active in the spring, the edge of the patch will appear bright orange, often referred to as “orange-firing” (Photo 3). Large patch is more prevalent in areas of poor drainage and waterlogged soils.

The pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani, infects the leaf sheath and causes a basal rot. A field diagnosis may be made by the ease at which the plant is removed from the stolon (Photo 4).

The leaf tips of affected turf will dry out due to the damage sustained in the leaf sheath and base of the plant.

Large patch often occurs in both spring and fall. Therefore, 2 preventive fungicide applications, 28 days apart 16 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

Photo

7

A turf profile removed from the edge of a spring dead spot patch in a bermudagrass fairway. Note on the left side of the sample, green leaves are supported by an underlying robust root system.

In contrast, dead leaves and a diminished, dead root system are consistent with spring dead spot symptoms caused by Ophiosphaerella korrae.

in the fall, and 1 application in the spring at 50% greenup are effective for reducing large patch occurrence.

Ink spot

Ink spot is a newly characterized disease caused by a novel fungus, Curvularia malina. Ink spot is favored by extended periods of rain during the spring and fall. You may have seen ink spot symptoms and referred to the disease as Curvularia blight.

Small, chocolate-brown to black spots first appear and often coalesce into large, irregular patches in the turf.

Foliar symptoms of ink spot consist of small purplish-black spots that develop into lesions with necrotic, dark brown centers surrounded by dark, brownishblack margins (Photo 5). Black mycelium can be observed colonizing the

stems and leaves of infected plants with the aid of a hand lens (Fig. 6). Ink spot occurs on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass managed primarily as putting greens, tees and fairways. In contrast, symptoms of Curvularia blight look similar to drought-stress, and the leaves have chlorotic or yellow lesions.

Due to the fact that ink spot was just recently published as a new disease of warm-season turfgrasses (TomasoPeterson, et al. 2016), limited information on fungicide efficacy is available.

Disease pressure is reduced when periods of rainfall subside and favorable growing conditions persist for the turfgrass.

Dollar spot and leaf rust

Dollar spot and leaf rust may occur during spring greenup and can persist

Continued

under low nitrogen rates. Generally, in warm-season turfgrasses, nitrogen fertility can be adjusted to control these foliar diseases.

Spring dead spot

Spring dead spot (SDS) is considered the most important disease of bermudagrass because the roots are attacked.

Circular, dead patches up to three feet in diameter become evident during spring greenup and persist into early summer. The disease is caused by three species of Ophiosphaerella, with O. korrae being most prevalent pathogen found in Mississippi.

The appearance of symptoms in the spring results from a root system that undergoes infection throughout the previous growing season. Affected roots and rhizomes are weakened and often killed, preventing the distribution of carbohydrates from roots to shoots during spring greenup (Photo 7).

Cultural management practices that reduce thatch buildup and compaction while promoting vigorous root development throughout the growing season are necessary to reduce SDS. Preventive fungicides are also relied on for SDS control. The recommended application time of fungicides labeled for SDS is fall. Typically in Mississippi, the first application is made in late September or early October, followed by a second application in 28 to 30 days. Under “normal” fall conditions, the soil temperatures during those months range from 60°F to 75°F. Some fungicide labels state a soil temperature range for application timing. The fall of 2016 was anything but typical. Soil temperatures were still in the 80s in early October; however, based on the calendar, it was time to make that fungicide application.

Spring greenup in 2017 will be interesting to see if the calendar-based fungicide applications for SDS control were effective. Reports from the Carolinas indicate reduced SDS efficacy of fungicides, most likely due to improper timing based on the calendar and not soil temperatures. Continued effort is warranted in determining optimal fungicide timing for SDS control.

Summary

Scouting for early indications of disease and referring to disease history are effective tools for disease management in turf. Understanding the factors that affect the turf health and the influence that environmental conditions have on turf health, as well as pathogen activity are means for turf disease prevention.

•

golf course notes

Reference

Tomaso-Peterson, M., Y.K. Jo, P.L. Vines, and F.G. Hoffman. 2016.

Curvularia malina sp. nov. incites a new disease of warm-season turfgrasses in the southern United States.

Mycologia. 108(5): 915–924. v

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 17

recent event

Angie Chrestman (Associate Director, MSU Career Center) and Linda Wells (MTA Administrative Secretary) at the MSU booth during the GCSAA Conference & GIS in Orlando.

Charley Crell and David Brown.

Jim Kwasinski and Bubba Jones.

Snapshots from the

MTA Hospitality Night at the GCSAA Conference & GIS, February 8 HOSPITALITY NIGHT SPONSORS — Thank You!

18 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

Wayne Wells and Bob McCurdy.

Our

event was held at Miller’s Ale House in Orlando, and a good time was had by all (130!)!

Our party has become a favorite activity of all the associations participating — MSU Alumni, Alabama GCSA, LA-MS GCSA and Gulf Coast GCSA. We especially want to thank all our sponsors for their support! v

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 19

News from MTA

A Busman’s Holiday L

inda Wells, MTA’s administrative secretary, took a “Busman’s” holiday last fall while in North Carolina. Craig Walsh, superintendent at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, hosted Linda, Dr. Wells and their son Michael on a tour of the golf course. Craig is a 1997 graduate of the Golf & Sports Turf Management program at MSU. It was a beautiful day, and the golf course really looked great!

Craig and his staff are busy getting the course ready for the Wells Fargo PGA Tournament in May 2017. v Pictured above: Craig Walsh, superintendent at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC, is a 1997 graduate of MSU. Shown with MTA’s Linda Wells.

20 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Spring 2017

industry news

Gulfport SportsPlex Awarded

STMA Environmental Certification

By Ken Edwards, CSFM, Former Turf Manager (retired), Gulfport SportsPlex

For

the past year and a half, the Gulfport SportsPlex, along with 16 other facilities around the country, piloted the environmental certification process for STMA. In September 2016, the Gulfport SportsPlex and its turf manager, Keair Edwards, became one of the first six facilities in the nation to achieve the certification. Keair was presented the certification plaque by the Gulfport mayor and his staff at the council meeting held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Although I had started the process, Keair took the initiative to finish it within the first four months of his employment as the facility’s turf manager. I think this accomplishment speaks highly of MS State University and its turf program.

The program was developed to document the environmental stewardship of STMA members and is awarded to the facility at which they work. The program involved an assessment that is scored by STMA. Certified facilities must achieve 80% compliance on 10

sections. If the facility passes, the next step is to engage an attester to conduct a walk-through of the facility to validate environmental practices. If verified, the facility is designated an STMA Certified Facility for Environmentally Responsible Management. v

Mississippi State Turf Team Gary Bachman, Ph.D. Associate Extension/ Research Professor Specialty: Ornamental Hort.

Coastal Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (228) 546-1009 gbachman@ext.msstate.edu Clarissa Balbalian, M.S. Diagnostics Lab Manager Specialty: Plant Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2146 cbalbali@ext.msstate.edu Donna Beliech Area Extension Agent IV Rankin Co. Extension Service Phone: (601) 825-1462 donnab@ext.msstate.edu John Byrd, Ph.D. Professor Specialty: Invasive Weed Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-4537 jbyrd@pss.msstate.edu

Geoff Denny, Ph.D. Associate Extension Professor Specialty: Commercial Ornamental Horticulture Phone: (662) 325-1682 gcd42@msstate.edu Alan Henn, Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Ext. Plant Pathologist Phone: (662) 325-4535 ahenn@ext.msstate.edu Lelia Kelly, Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Consumer Horticulture North MS Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (662) 566-2201 leliak@ext.msstate.edu Blake Layton, Jr., Ph.D. Extension Professor Specialty: Ext. Plant Entomologist Phone: (662) 325-2085 blayton@entomology.msstate.edu James McCurdy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Extension Specialist and Weed Scientist Phone: (662) 325-2331 jmccurdy@pss.msstate.edu

Mississippi State Turf Team

Wayne Philley, M.S. Senior Research Associate Specialty: Turfgrass Breeding and Evaluation Phone: (662) 325-2728 wphilley@pss.msstate.edu

Jason Ruffin Research Associate Specialty: Turfgrass Mgmt., Turf Research Facility Manager Phone: (662) 325-2640

Mike Phillips, Ph.D. Department Head and Professor Dept.: Plant and Soil Sciences Phone: (662) 325-2311 jmp657@msstate.edu

Barry Stewart, Ph.D. Associate Professor Specialty: Sports Turf Science Phone: (662) 325-2725 bastewar@pss.msstate.edu

Wayne Porter, Ph.D. SE Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Horticulture Phone: (601) 482-9764 wporter@ext.msstate.edu

Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2593 mariat@pss.msstate.edu

Michael Richard Extension Associate Specialty: Sports Turf Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-2311 mpr160@msstate.edu

Jeff Wilson, Ph.D. Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Ornamentals, Landscape, Turfgrass, Fruits and Vegetables North MS Res. & Ext. Center Phone: (662) 566-8019 jwilson@ext.msstate.edu

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 21

Calendar of Events

Advertiser Index

June 20

October 18–20

July 16–18

October 18–20

August 22

October 20–23

15th Annual YardDawg Classic and Golf Course Management Workshop Old Waverly West Point, MS

NALP Legislative Day on the Hill (National Association of Landscape Professionals) Washington, D.C.

Mississippi State Turfgrass Research Field Day Rodney Foil Plant Science Research Center Starkville, MS

SEPTEMBER 26–28

NRPA Congress and Expo (Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

New Orleans, LA

LANDSCAPES 2017 (Formerly the PLANET Green Industry Conference) Louisville, KY GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

ASLA – Annual Meeting & Expo (American Society of Landscape Architects) Los Angeles, CA

November 7–9

Deep South Turf Expo Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Conference Center Biloxi, MS

Digital Marketplace

22 • Mississippi Turfgrass • spring 2017

Agra Turf, Inc........................................22 www.agrainc.com Agri-AFC,LLC...........................................3 www.agri-afc.com Bayou Bend Turfgrass...........................22 www.bayoubendturf.com Boshancee Nursery, Inc........................19 www.boshanceensy.com Color-Flex Distance Markers................13 www.color-flex.com CoverSports USA.....................................7 www.coversports.com Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply.................. Back Cover www.ewing1.com Jackson Sand........................................17 www.jacksonsand.com Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation.....................5 www.jerrypate.com JNT Turf Solutions LLC...........................13 www.air2g2.com KWMI/K & W Products, Inc......................9 www.kwmiequipment.com Leading Edge Communications............20 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com O2YS Corporation..................................17 www.o2yscorp.com Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc............7 www.progressiveturfequip.com RD Murphy, LLC.....................................20 www.rdmurphy.com Riebeling Farms, Inc. . .........................13 Southeast Turf Maintenance.................20 www.southeastturf.com Southern Athletic Fields.......................22 www.safdirt.com Sur-Line Turf, Inc..................................19 www.surlineturf.com The Turfgrass Group....Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Winstead Turf Farms... Inside Back Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com