Preventative sprays influence summer disease severity in turf grass
Spring has been very nice to the golf course superintendents this 2008 season. We are having a record wet and cool spring. Supers have told me and turf product distributors too, that they have missed a dollar spot spray this spring. Some are bragging about their savings. My personal belief is that the 55 to 65 degree preventative sprays influence summer disease severity.
Application skippers don’t count your chickens just yet. These supers may become frantic in the very near future as 90 degree temperatures head our way in the coming weeks, combined with high soil moisture and very high humidity. I sure do wish I had air conditioning.
Preparation for summer stress offers members better playing turf
Golf course superintendents that prepare for summer stress are generally able to offer their golf club members more consistent playing conditions. And from what I can tell, those that operate preventative programs are sticking to their schedule. The current weather calls for hot temperatures starting this week end and continuing through the middle of next week.
Supers are looking for recommendations for prep for the up coming heat, several of which wanted to talk about Trinity fungicide.
Tips for turf maintenance
A customer called about pressure on their greens at a new course with no poa on greens. We went with a tank mix of Trinity at 1.5 and regular Primo rate. If it hurts the poa that’s good. Trinity does not broaden the bentgrass leaf as some Sls do.
Two other customers have poa greens and wanted to know about growth regulator effects. I discussed my strategy of letting Primo application run to the back end of it’s regulator effect and then apply Trinity fungicide at one ounce. Then observe the growth regulation effect from Trinity. Customers can then decide what amount of Primo needs to be applied in their next growth regulator application.
For Trinity fairway rates and disease control, especially for dollar spot, I would increase rates on all fairway sprays to 1.5oz/M. There will be a lot of dollar spot pressure this coming week.
See ya next week either in the field or here on Turf Talk.
