2004 Season Review: Turfgrass Overview

Zac Reicher, Extension Turfgrass Specialist and Glenn Hardebeck, Turfgrass Research Agronomist, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University

An unusually wet and cool summer made for ideal growing conditions for turf throughout the state as well as ideal conditions for dollar spot, which ravaged lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses. The mild summer conditions also allowed both Poa trivialis and Poa annua to survive well into the summer without their annual thinning. However, drought besieged the state from early August to early October causing substantial thinning of lawns and other non irrigated turf areas. More importantly, it exacerbated turf damage from annual white grubs leading to widespread damage. Severe grub damage was unexpected since a wet summer tends to distribute egg laying over all turf areas rather than concentrating it in irrigated areas, as would occur during typical drier summers. Renovation of severely damaged areas as well as normal September fertilization practices were either delayed or ineffective due to the lack of rainfall. Additionally, broadleaf weed herbicide applications made typically in September were also delayed or ineffective because of dry conditions. Thankfully, rains returned in October and these combined with extended growing conditions well into November and December left turf areas in average to above average condition across IN going into the winter.