INDUSTRY NEWS
Tom Samples, John C. Sorochan, J. Scott McElroy and Darren L. Robinson Plant Sciences Department, The University of Tennessee
Each year, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, crabgrass, goosegrass, henbit, nimblewill, prostrate knotweed and spurge are targets of many herbicide applications. 26
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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ports turfs, unlike many lawns and utility turfs, often require the use of very specialized equipment and a high level of management. Sports turf managers routinely aerify, fertilize, lime, topdress and water athletic fields to maintain a dense stand of healthy, wear-resistant plants. Pesticides are applied to control or suppress pests such as billbug, dollar spot, large brown patch, leaf spot, red thread, sod webworm, spring dead spot and white grub. Each year, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, crabgrass, goosegrass, henbit, nimblewill, prostrate knotweed and spurge are targets of many herbicide applications. Ten myths that have emerged through the years were identified and discussed in a previous article. They are: 1) a reel mower is the most important sports turf maintenance tool; 2) persistent, high-quality sports turf can be maintained without an irrigation system; 3) nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applications will guarantee a strong, wear-resistant sports turf; 4) for best footing, bermudagrass sports turf must be deeply rooted; 5) thatch is bad; 6) core aerification has very little effect on the development of weed seedlings; 7) a roller should never be used on an athletic field; 8) each spring, perennial ryegrass is easily removed from bermudagrass
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