HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 MTC Annual Conference & Trade Show
Major Pests and Control Programs for the MD Turfgrass Industry
PART 2: LAWNCARE
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303 S. Talbot Street #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com www.mdturfcouncil.org
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2025 MTC OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Brandon Sands Manager of Ground Services Howard County Public Schools System 8800 Ridge Road Ellicott City MD 21043 410-313-2577 (o 667-240-4065 (c Brandon.Sands@hcpss.org
VICE PRESIDENT
Logan Freeman – Superintendent Mountain Branch Golf Club 1827 Mountain Rd Joppa, MD 21085 208-866-6380 (c lfreeman@mountainbranch.com
SECRETARY
Brady Scales – Sr.Assist Super Congressional Country Club 8500 River Rd. Bethesda, MD 20817 301-469-2000 x3775 (o 443-604-6788 (c bscales@ccclub.org
TREASURER
Brian Haga Scientific Plant Services 6301 Blair Hill Lane Baltimore, MD 21209 410-321-0970 (o 410-371-2325 (c brianh@spsonline.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Vernon W. Cooper – Agronomist 303 S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-742-6618 (c ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com IPP/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ben Ellis – Superintendent The Courses at Andrews 2806 Brewster Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-0122 (c Golfturf54@gmail.com
Three-Year Director Terms
Frederick Johnson Senior Park Manager 7401 Bock Road Fort Washington, MD 20774 240-882-4539 (c Frederick.Johnson@PGParks.com
Stephen King McHale Landscape Design 6216 Leapley Rd. Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 240-319-5689 (c StephenK@mchalelandscape.com
Harlyn Goldman, CGCS The Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort 940 Resort Drive Roanoke, WV 26447 304-269-8861 (o Hgoldman@stonewallresort.com
Two-Year Director Terms
Jason Beauchamp Collins Wharf Sod Farm 25361 Collins Wharf Rd. Eden, MD 21822 443-783-5222 (c Jason@Collinswharfsod.com
Matt Coates MNCPPC-Hyattsville 7721 Polk St. Hyattsville, MD 20785 301-918-4716 (o 202-579-6939 (c Matthew.Coates88@gmail.com
Sara Lechlider Newsom Seed a DBA of SiteOne Landscape Supply P.O. Box 510 Fulton, MD 20759 240-418-7676 (c 240-554-0359 (o Sara@NewsomSeed.com
One-Year Director Terms
Kimberly Bowling Central Sod Farms 920 John Brown Rd. Centreville, MD 21617 410-827-5000 (o 410-991-9034 (c Kim@CentralSodMD.com
R. Grant Putman Quantico Creek Sod farm 27616 Little Lane Salisbury, MD 21801 443-366-7784 (c grant@qcsod.com
John Fowler Amazing Grass P.O. Box 1243 Bel Air, MD 21014 510-331-0211 (c John@amazinggrass-pts.com
EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Dear Members and Supporters of the Turfgrass Council,
As we step into 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on our shared achievements and look ahead to the exciting opportunities that lie before us. It is truly an honor to serve as your President and to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of professionals.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Conference in December. It was a great day and a great turnout. I want to give a special thank you to our speakers, vendors, and sponsors. Without all of you, the day would not have been such a success.
This past year, we have faced challenges and embraced opportunities with resilience and determination. Thanks to your hard work and commitment, we’ve made tremendous progress in advancing the turfgrass industry. From groundbreaking research initiatives to successful educational events, we continue to demonstrate the vital role turfgrass plays in enhancing our communities, improving environmental quality, and supporting recreation and sports.
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a year of growth and innovation. We will continue to expand our reach, provide resources that empower our members, and advocate for the interests of the turfgrass industry. Some of our key goals for the year include:
• Enhancing Education and Training: We plan to host more workshops and events to ensure our members remain at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.
• Fostering Research and Innovation: By supporting cuttingedge research, we aim to uncover new solutions for sustainable turfgrass management.
• Strengthening Advocacy: We will work closely with policymakers and stakeholders to promote the value of turfgrass and secure a strong future for our industry.
• Building Community: Networking and collaboration are at the heart of our Council. This year, we’re introducing new initiatives to connect our members and celebrate their achievements.
None of this would be possible without you, our members. Your dedication, expertise, and passion drive our mission forward. I encourage each of you to get involved, share your ideas, and take full advantage of the resources and opportunities the Council offers.
As we embark on this new year, let us remember that our work has a profound impact. Together, we are not just cultivating turfgrass, we are cultivating a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment. Here’s to a successful and prosperous 2025 for the Turfgrass Council and its members!
As always, let’s keep growing together.
Your President,
Brandon Sands
M STAY CONNECTED IN 2025
aryland Turfgrass Council Members and Family, thank you all for a terrific 2024 year. We are looking forward to everyone getting back into growing quality turfgrass in 2025.
Many of you may have seen my name come up a little more over the past several months in mailings, emails, and other correspondence. Our long time Executive Director Vernon Cooper is working towards his retirement, and it was the plan of the MTC Board of Directors to transition someone into the position. Throughout the year you are welcome to direct any questions to Vernon or myself to help in any way possible.
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Maryland Turfgrass Conference at Turf Valley Resort. The event was a huge success with over 350 attendees, sponsors and vendors present. Everyone seemed to be pleased with the format we provided and wants to continue having successful conferences like these while we move into the future. Anyone who successfully completed their Verification forms and signed into the conference had their Pesticide and/ or Fertilizer Licenses information sent to the various states for approval before the end of 2024.
Dues and
Educational Sponsors
The 2025 Dues are ready to be collected. If you have not already submitted your dues, you have the option of mailing in your membership dues, emailing the information over, or joining and renewing on our website. If you have questions about what option of membership is best for you, please reach out so we can assist.
Companies or individuals who would like to participate in our yearly Education Sponsor Program are welcome to complete the forms and email them back. This is a great way to promote your business and help in a larger way by supporting the Maryland Turfgrass Council and its mission and the turfgrass industry professionals in Maryland.
We look forward to serving everyone in 2025. Although almost a year away, please mark your calendars for the Maryland Turfgrass Conference celebrating our 50th anniversary on December 16th. Celebrate where we have been and where the future is going to take us.
Ben Ellis Assistant Executive Director
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rick Boldissar
Turf & Seed Section
50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 Work: 410-841-5968 • Cell: 443-791-2896 Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov
Kelly Love
Pesticide Regulation
50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5710 • kelly.love@maryland.gov
Tim Zang
Urban Nutrient Management
50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401
Work: 410-841-5955
Cell: 410-980-9084 tim.zang@maryland.gov
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Dr. Mark Carroll
Environmental & Pesticides 2132 Plant Science Bld. College Park, MD 20742 Campus: 301-405-1339 Farm: 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu
Institute of Applied Agriculture
Geoffrey Rinehart Turfgrass Management 2113 Jull Hall • 4196 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 Campus: 301-405-4692 Cell: 253-592-3528 rinehart@umd.edu
Professor Emeritus:
Dr. Tom Turner
Turfgrass Nutrients / Extension 624 Woodsman Way • Crownsville, MD 21032 Farm: 301-314-6302 Cell: 410-353-8859 tturner@umd.edu
Dr. Kevin Mathias Turfgrass Entomology 66 Eddins Lane • Ruckersville, VA 22968 Cell: 301-233-2211 jkm@umd.edu
Dr. Peter Dernoeden
Turfgrass Pathology 18086 White Oak Dr. • Milton, DE 19968 Home: 302-329-9281 Cell: 302-359-9943 pd@umd.edu
Logo
* List your Company and have your Web Page linked from the MTC Web ‘Sponsors” Page
* List your Company and have your Web Page linked from All the MTC E-Blasts
* Quarterly we blast an advertisement of your choice, for your company to the MTC blast list
* Single booth at Turfgrass 2025 is free of charge
* Your Company Name and Sponsorship will be shown on ALL our Letterhead * Your Company Name and Sponsorship will be shown on ALL our Letterhead * Your Company Name and Sponsorship will be shown on ALL our Letterhead if space allows
* List your Company and have your Web Page linked from the MTC Web ‘Sponsors” Page
* List your Company and have your Web Page linked from All the MTC E-Blasts
* Yearly we blast an advertisement of your choice, for your company to the MTC blast list
* List your Company from the MTC Web ‘Sponsors” Page
Your Company Name and Sponsorship will be shown on ALL our Letterhead if space allows
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL’S
REGISTRATION
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:
It is time to once again update your MTC Membership or to join the largest Professional Turfgrass Organization in the State of Maryland.
• Our Membership year runs from February 1 to January 31 of the following year.
• Currently our membership is just under 1,400 members and we would love to count you on our ranks.
• Advantages of being a member include:
Discounts for professional training sessions to provide recertification for your Pesticide & Fertilizer Applicator License for Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
CEU Credits for Professional Trade Organizations such as Golf Course Superintendents Asso., Maryland Licensed Tree Expert, Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council, and other organizations you request help with obtaining CEU credits.
Full time Lobbyists in Annapolis monitoring actions by the Maryland Legislature, leading testimony when necessary and offering other assistance to the Officers and Board of Directors for action to strengthen Professional Turfgrass Management and Production. Opportunities to form and develop networking opportunities to assist and increase your business.
Simply complete the form on page 9 for all memberships and utilize this page for company memberships up through Silver membership or simply utilize a blank page of paper. Completed forms and payment are completed utilizing the information on page 9 and this page.
Our 50th Anniversary edition of our Membership Directory, by individual and Company, will be published this Summer, you won’t want to not be included so join or renew your membership today.
PRESIDENT
Brandon Sands Manager of Ground Services
Howard County Public Schools System 8800 Ridge Road Ellicott City MD 21043 410-313-2577 (o 667-240-4065 (c Brandon.Sands@hcpss.org
VICE PRESIDENT
Logan Freeman – Superintendent Mountain Branch Golf Club 1827 Mountain Rd Joppa, MD 21085 208-866-6380 (c lfreeman@mountainbranch.com
SECRETARY
Brady Scales – Sr.Assist Super Congressional Country Club 8500 River Rd. Bethesda, MD 20817 301-469-2000 x3775 (o 443-604-6788 (c bscales@ccclub.org
TREASURER
Brian Haga Scientific Plant Services 6301 Blair Hill Lane Baltimore, MD 21209 410-321-0970 (o 410-371-2325 (c brianh@spsonline.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Vernon W. Cooper – Agronomist
303 S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-742-6618 (c ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com
IPP/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ben Ellis – Superintendent The Courses at Andrews 2806 Brewster Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-0122 (c Golfturf54@gmail.com
Three-Year Director Terms
Frederick Johnson
Senior Park Manager 7401 Bock Road Fort Washington, MD 20774 240-882-4539 (c Frederick.Johnson@PGParks.com
Stephen King McHale Landscape Design 6216 Leapley Rd. Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 240-319-5689 (c StephenK@mchalelandscape.com
Harlyn Goldman, CGCS The Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort 940 Resort Drive Roanoke, WV 26447 304-269-8861 (o Hgoldman@stonewallresort.com
Two-Year Director Terms
Jason Beauchamp Collins Wharf Sod Farm 25361 Collins Wharf Rd. Eden, MD 21822 443-783-5222 (c Jason@Collinswharfsod.com
Matt Coates MNCPPC-Hyattsville 7721 Polk St. Hyattsville, MD 20785 301-918-4716 (o 202-579-6939 (c Matthew.Coates88@gmail.com
Sara Lechlider Newsom Seed a DBA of SiteOne Landscape Supply P.O. Box 510 Fulton, MD 20759 240-418-7676 (c 240-554-0359 (o Sara@NewsomSeed.com
One-Year Director Terms
Kimberly Bowling Central Sod Farms 920 John Brown Rd. Centreville, MD 21617 410-827-5000 (o 410-991-9034 (c Kim@CentralSodMD.com
R. Grant Putman
Quantico Creek Sod farm 27616 Little Lane Salisbury, MD 21801 443-366-7784 (c grant@qcsod.com
John Fowler
Amazing Grass P.O. Box 1243 Bel Air, MD 21014 510-331-0211 (c John@amazinggrass-pts.com
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE
MARYLAND CONFERENCE TURFGRASS
Happy New Year! If you are still setting goals (and we all should be) for 2025, how about attending the 50th anniversary Maryland Turfgrass Conference on December 9, 2025. You read that right, for 50 years MTC has been uniting green industry professionals to achieve one goal – educate and support the professionalism of the Green Industries in Maryland. So, what is next with the joyous hustle and bustle of the holidays behind us and license recertification behind everyone that attended the MTC conference on December 10, 2024, at Turf Valley? Let’s take a moment to reflect on the conference and the importance of what we have accomplished. Networking. Above and beyond everything else, the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from saying hello and shaking hands with a peer, previous co-worker, teacher, supplier, mentor, competitor or friend is priceless.
Nearly 400 industry peers gathered at the MTC conference at Turf Valley to socialize, educate and energize (the catered lunch was nothing short of spectacular as well!). If you are reading this and missed the conference, it is a must-do in 2025.
There is not another local organization that has earned the support of the industry like MTC. If you are not one of the nearly 1,400 lawncare, landscape, golf, sports, sod, supplier and educator MTC members who have made the commitment to support their careers while advancing the green industry, you are challenged with making it a goal for 2025 to support MTC. If you attended and missed seeing someone you hoped you would, contact them and make sure they are a part of something special on December 9, 2025.
More time to mingle, visit sponsors and enjoy fellowship was the motivation to reorganize the meeting structure this year. The more time we can spend together in the great room before breaking out into targeted education, the more unified our organization becomes. Richard Reinhardt of Percy Public Affairs, the lobbyist that MTC annual dues and conference admission supports, kicked off the conference with an overview of the victories we earned during the 2024 legislative session and the challenges that lie ahead in 2025. Brandon Sands, MTC President led a brief meeting to elect officers and board members for the next year.
Education breakout sessions included specific tracks for Lawn & Landscape, Golf and Sports Turf. While the sessions are targeted at the audience, attendees are free to attend any session they are interested in. We are grateful to all the attendees, sponsors and educators that contributed to the success of the conference and look forward to doing it again, bigger and better on December 9, 2025. If you any suggestions or comments to share about the conference, please visit us at https://www.mdturfcouncil.org/Contact We would love to hear from you.
Mark your calendars now to make sure you attend the 50th Anniversary Conference on December 9, 2025. I look forward to seeing you there.
Brian Haga
MTC Vice President
Major Pests and Control Programs for the MD Turfgrass Industry in 2023
Lawn Turf, Part 2: CARE LAWN
By Dr. Kevin Mathias
Aphone survey was conducted in the fall of 2023 to determine the key turfgrass pests within the turfgrass industry. The survey asked turfgrass professionals what their major pest problems were within the areas of insect, weed, and disease problems and what type of control programs were used. The following article covers the major pest problems and control actions taken by lawn care businesses in Maryland. Also, the survey looked at pest control options in Montgomery County, Maryland due to more restrictive legislation regarding pesticide choices.
Lawn Turf
The major lawn turf consisted of a tall fescue/ Kentucky bluegrass mixture while turfgrasses such as zoysiagrass and the fine fescues were minor turfgrasses in lawn turf.
Major Pest Problems
Weed Pests
Weeds were considered the predominant pest of lawn turf and far outweighed insect and disease related issues. Also, more ‘call back’ type service was required with regards to weed related issues. The major grass weeds mentioned were Japanese stiltgrass and crabgrass followed by rough bluegrass and common bermudagrass.
The major broadleaf weeds were white clover, oxalis, and wild violets followed by ground ivy, spurge, and smartweed. Although not a broadleaf weed, nutsedge was considered a major weed pest.
The Percentage of Lawn Care Operators Indicating Nutsedge and the Following Broadleaf Weeds as Pests
Figure 3. The predominant lawn weeds found on Maryland lawns in 2023.
Figure 2. Japanese stiltgrass is considered a highly invasive summer annual grass in Maryland lawns
Figure 1. Grass weeds mentioned as major weed pests in Maryland lawns.
Major Grass Weeds as Reported by Lawn Care Operators
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Grass Weed Control
Weed control programs for summer annual grasses consisted of cultural and chemical control options. Herbicide options centered on the use of preemergence herbicides with Barricade (prodiamine) and Dimension (dithiopyr) listed as the products of choice. Since Japanese stiltgrass is the major summer annual grassy weed which germinates earlier than crabgrass two applications of a preemergence herbicide are often required. The first application is done in late fall with a second application in the spring. For crabgrass control and other summer annual weeds Dimension or Barricade provided acceptable control.
Weed control for rough bluegrass and bermudagrass require more custom type applications. Bermudagrass competitiveness was reduced with Acclaim (fenoxaprop) or Acclaim and Turflon (triclopyr) applications. Also, non-selective Round-up (glyphosate) applications followed by reseeding was performed in limited situations. For rough bluegrass the only herbicide of choice was a Round-up application followed by reseeding. [Editor’s Note: Since this survey, Velocity PM has been labelled for rough bluegrass suppression on home lawns.]
Broadleaf Weed Control
For broadleaf weed control the phenoxy based herbicides were the product of choice consisting of 2,4-D, mecoprop, and dicamba in two- and three-way combinations. For more difficult to control weeds such as wild violets, triclopyr was often used in combination with 2,4-D or by itself.
Nutsedge control herbicides listed included the following: Dismiss (sulfentrazone), Sedgehammer (halosufuron), and Solitare (sulfentrazone and quinclorac).
Insect Pests
Insects were not a major pest problem on Maryland lawns based on the 2023 survey. Though white grubs were listed as a pest problem, their damage to Maryland lawns was minor and spotty. The fall armyworm outbreak in 2021 was of some concern to lawn care operators even into the 2023 growing season.
Control action for white grubs varied with regards to a preventative versus a rescue type application or on an as needed basis. If a preventative approach was used, then two criteria were often used to determine if an insecticide was applied. The criteria were: 1) was there a history of grub damage and or 2) the customer would have to sign up for that specific treatment.
Acelepryn (chlorantraniprole) was the insecticide of choice for preventative control while Dylox (trichlorfon) was used for rescue type applications. White grub control insecticide applications varied from as low as 5% to over 50% of lawn care customers.
Disease Pests
Due to favorable conditions such as moisture and temperature, disease development occurs regularly in Maryland lawn turf. Since the majority of lawn turf consists of tall fescue or tall fescue- Kentucky bluegrass mixture the major diseases reported were brown patch and red thread followed by Pythium, dollar spot, and gray leaf spot.
Diseases Most Often Reported as Key Diseases in Lawn Turf
The fungicides listed by lawn care operators often consisted of combination products containing two fungicides with different modes of action. For example, the fungicide Armada consists of Bayleton (triadimefon) and Compass (trifloxystrobin). Both of these fungicides have different modes of action and also increase the overall efficacy and spectrum of disease control. Fungicide applications were generally done on an “as-needed basis”.
Montgomery County Lawn Care Pest Control Options
In 2015 Montgomery County, MD passed legislation that would restrict pesticide options for pest control in lawn turf. The legislation requires any pesticide applied to lawn turf meet OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) certification or carry an EPA Exemption 25(b) label.
Implementation of the law was to initially begin in 2016 on county owned property and to private lawns by 2018. However, court challenges to this new legislation pushed the timeline of implementation back to 2019-2022 time period. For example, the city of Rockville did not enforce this new law until 2022.
Weed Pests
The common weeds included plants such as crabgrass, Japanese stiltgrass, bermudagrass, clover, oxalis, and nutsedge and mirrored what was mentioned earlier except that there
Figure 4. Major diseases reported to occur on lawn turf.
were less control options available. Also, the majority of pesticides that meet the new Montgomery County requirements were for weed control purposes. The following herbicide products used were as follows; Fiesta, corn gluten meal, A.D.I.O.S, and Homeplate.
The herbicide Fiesta was most often used for selective broadleaf weed control in lawn turf. Multiple applications (2-4) were required to get acceptable control. The active ingredient in Fiesta is a chelated form of iron known as FeHEDTA. Aso the herbicide A.D.I.O.S. is a salt-based product containing several different salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride and has labeling for broadleaf weed control in turf but can also be quite injurious under certain environmental conditions. The non-selective herbicide, Homeplate, consists of the fatty acids caprylic and capric acid. All three of these herbicides lack systemic type activity and require repeat applications.
Figure 5. The major type of herbicides used in lawn turf in Montgomery County MD in 2023.
The preemergence herbicides that contain corn gluten meal contain proteins that interfere with root growth during weed seed germination of small seeded grassy and perennial weeds. It is also a source of nitrogen (10% by weight).
With regards to insect control, only white grubs were considered a key pest with only the insecticide containing Bt galleriae (grubGONE) used for control in Montgomery County, MD. Often diseases such as brown patch and others were mentioned but were not treated.
Due to restrictive measures in Montgomery County on selecting pesticides, a number of lawn care operators would prefer to emphasize primary cultural practices such as higher mowing heights, irrigation practices, and proper fertility programs to combat and reduce pest activity. If pest damage did occur, then overseeding or reseeding of a lawn was performed instead of applying a pesticide. One such lawn care business who often had noticeable weed encroachment during the summer months, such as nutsedge and Japanese stiltgrass, had reduced visual turf quality during this time period. However, they would then implement a fertility and aerification program followed by overseeding in early fall. By late fall the turfgrass stand masked the presence of any weed issues and consisted mostly of a green and uniform stand of tall fescue (Figures 6 & 7). Other lawn care operators also stated that instead of applying a OMRI listed pesticide they would rather offer an overseeding program that would result in an increase in turf quality.
Summary
Weeds are considered the major pest problem in lawn turf in Maryland. Japanese stiltgrass was the most invasive annual
grass problem followed by crabgrass. Preemergence herbicides such as Barricade and Dimension were the preferred herbicide to control these weeds.
The major broadleaf weed was white clover. Several more difficult to control weeds were wild violet and oxalis. The auxin-based herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba were used individually or in combination with each other. However, for the more difficult to control weeds triclopyr by itself or combined with an auxin-based herbicide was used. If nutsedge was present then Dismiss, Sedgehammer, or Solitare was applied to reduce the nutsedge population.
Insect pests were minor with white grubs considered a key insect pest. Acelepryn was the preferred insecticide for controlling white grubs preventatively while Dylox was used as a rescue type treatment.
The weather in the Mid-Atlantic region favors a number of diseases throughout the growing season. Brown patch and red thread were the two major diseases mentioned as key pests on lawn turf. Disease control using a fungicide was mainly done on a “as needed basis” and would normally consist of a fungicide combination that would combine different modes of action.
Due to restrictions in pesticide choices in Montgomery County, MD lawn care operators would rely more heavily on primary cultural practices such as mowing, fertility, and irrigation to reduce pest problems. If turfgrass loss did occur then reseeding or overseeding programs were performed rather than relying on OMRI based products for pest control. However, the major OMRI based pesticide that was applied was FIESTA and was used multiple times to reduce broadleaf weeds in lawn turf. •
Figure 6. Japanese stiltgrass encroachment in a tall fescue stand. Summer of 2023.
Figure 7. A uniform stand of a tall fescue lawn after overseeding (late Oct. 2023).
