<<< Turf Tips
Winter Turf Tips By David Han, Ph.D., Auburn University
Golf Poa problems? Many of the new ALStype herbicides do a great job of killing Poa annua selectively in warm-season turf, but be aware that these herbicides, which already tend to work slowly, generally will be even slower when it is cold. Spray on a 40-degree day, and you are likely to be disappointed. In fairways, including overseeded fairways, Velocity has shown control of Poa with some discoloration of ryegrass. An intriguing development has been pre-
liminary work with Velocity on bentgrass greens. It discolors bentgrass, but kills Poa. Also tantalizing is some work possibly showing dollar spot suppression. Velocity is not labeled for bentgrass greens right now, but stay tuned. Also, be aware that the new MSMA labels permit only spot spraying (a “spot” is up to 100 square feet), and no more than 25% of the total golf course area can be sprayed.
Lawn care Winter is a good time to plant sod, as long as you keep a few things in mind. Do not lay sod when it and/or the ground beneath are frozen. Remember that even though the sod is dormant, it will still need some water. Although in many years, there is enough rain during the winter, sod (being thin and lacking an extensive root system) will dry out
much faster than established turf. Also, remember that in the dead of winter there will not be appreciable root growth for several weeks until the soil temperature begins to rise, so secure any sod planted on slopes with staples, and be aware that heavy rainfall events even several weeks after planting may produce erosion, undercutting the sod.
Athletic turf height? If your pitchers like the feel of climbing a taller mound from the infield, you can raise the height of home plate a few inches. Remember, it’s the height of the rubber relative to home plate that counts, not relative to the surrounding infield turf. For soccer fields, pay particular attention to the six-yard box areas. If it is possible to move soccer fields even a few yards during the season, the additional effort to paint new lines is often worth spreading out the traffic.
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Alabama Turf Times >>> Wi n t e r 2011
The approach of spring means time for soccer, softball and baseball. Take a good look at fields to make sure that they are in the best condition possible before the season starts. For example, are your skinned areas in good condition? Are lips building up in the border with turf areas? Remember to stress the importance of blowing infield material back into skinned areas regularly and to use caution when dragging infields to avoid building up lips during the season. Is the mound in good condition, and is it the proper