Turf Talk Spring is here; some people may not think so being temps this second week of May are in the 30’s in the morning and the 50’s in the afternoon. But actually, this is what spring looks like – cloudy, dreary, rainy and, yes, sometimes sunny. It has just been a little wetter than normal. Working outdoors in this cool weather has been a joy. Any day it’s below 60 is a great day in my book. Clean-ups got off to a great start by March 13th. We were mulching a few weeks after that and had spring chemicals down by April 15th. All in all, a good start to the season. I have already started to notice the red thread is out and about. Crazy with temps in the 30’s, but yes, red thread already. You can treat it two ways. You can apply a fungicide or bump Pseudosclerotia (red threads) of up the nitrogen on your next ap- Isaria fuciformis are clearly evident plication. By the way, the next on red thread infected fine fescue. application should include an in- Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL secticide. Sod web worm will be out soon. You need to catch that first generation or you will have a repeat of last season – sod web worm from May to August. Hopefully not this season – only time will tell. On another note: Have you noticed that each year it seems the summer annuals are pushed out just a little earlier? I was so happy to see that this year all the nurseries were fully stocked by May 1. With temps in Sussex County in the mid 30s most mornings nothing says petunias like 34 degrees. You always hear people saying Mother’s Day is the time to put out summer annuals. I think there was a conspiracy between Hallmark the Greeting Card people and the growers to make Courtesy of The Old everyone think you should have Farmers Almanac geraniums in early May. You’re not supposed to though. Last year we had a good frost on May 7th. This year it was cool all of Spring. So for clarity you don’t put out summer annuals until AFTER the 1st FULL MOON in MAY – THE FLOWER MOON. Then it’s safe to put out summer annuals. And by the way, it has not changed in our area for 400 years. Now that’s something to think about… Good luck and keep growing! Greg Carpenter, CLT is co-owner of American Beauty Landscape since 1983. He attended the SUNY Farmingdale Turfgrass Program and is the Treasurer of the NJLCA. Greg also serves on the Rutgers Turfgrass Advisory Board and the Bergen Community College Horticultural Advisory Board.
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NJLCA Scholarships Available...
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ince 2006, the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association and the NJLCA Education Fund has offered scholarships to college and university students. In 2018, the NJLCA created the nonprofit 501(c)3 NJLCA Education Fund, which is funded by NJLCA and member donations, as well as a portion from the proceeds of the NJLCA’s Silent Auction at the Landscape New Jersey Trade Show, and the NJLCA/IANJ Golf Challenge. The NJLCA Education Fund is proud to announce that applications are now available for the 2019 Scholarship Program. Visit www.NJLCA.org or call 201-703-3600 to receive an application. NJLCA Member Scholarships: The Bob DeRosa Scholarship, the Roger Dammer Founder Scholarship, the Aubrey Hampton Scholarship, the Walter Powers MemoEducation Fund rial Scholarship, the Fred Gallione Memorial Scholarship and the Don Leuffgen Memorial Scholarship. ELIGIBILITY: Consideration for a scholarship will be given to any active member (dues must be current) of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association as well as their spouse, children, grandchildren or stepchildren who will be enrolled as a full-time student during the school year at a college or institution of higher learning (six scholarships available). Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0. Bergen Community College Student Scholarships: The NJLCA - Dr. Steven Fischer Scholarship and the NJLCA - Dr. Jack Fisher Memorial Scholarship. ELIGIBILITY: Consideration for a scholarship will be given to any student enrolled at Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ in a course of study related to the “Green Industry” (i.e. Horticulture, Landscape Design/Build, etc.) (two scholarships available). Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0. Rutgers University Student Scholarships: The NJLCA - Anthony Defeo Scholarship, the NJLCA - James Stewart Scholarship, and the NJLCA - Jack Caldwell Memorial Scholarship. ELIGIBILITY: Consideration for a scholarship will be given to any student enrolled at Rutgers University in a course of study related to the “Green Industry” (three scholarships available). Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIPS Applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, potential to become a leading professional, employment history, extracurricular activities and the recommendation of a current academic advisor. Previous recipients may reapply as long as they meet all eligibility requirements. Additional scholarships for students studying full time in the Green Industry may be considered.
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