Around the Industry - November 2023

WWW.MICHIGANTURFGRASS.ORG . @MITURFGRASS . NOVEMBER 2023

November 2023

MICHIGAN TURFGRASS FOUNDATION

Fall News Notes is Out! News Notes (A Publication for the Turfgrass Professional) is now online! The Fall Issue includes the Michigan Turfgrass Conference Guide, research news, recaps from the turf season and more!

Read the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Magazine

Dan Meersman on Autonomous Mowers, Leadership and More From robot mowers to education and leadership, Dan Meersman is a pioneer in the golf course maintenance industry. In our latest episode, we caught up with the third-generation superintendent to discuss how his role has evolved at The Philadelphia Cricket Club and the fleet of robots he has helping him maintain three golf courses and various other turf areas around the facility. He’s been very happy with his robot mowers so far and sees even more promise on the horizon.

USGA Green Section Podcast

Nostoc: The mysterious green jelly on your lawn Within the category of “What is it?” lives a strange-looking organism called by many names. Referred to as star jelly or star slime, these names harken back to beliefs that this organism had fallen from the dust of shooting stars, whereas the name witch’s butter speaks to its slippery nature. Following a period of rain, Nostoc may appear suddenly in lawns, pastures, paved surfaces, stones or roofs, which may be why people associated it with having celestial origins, seemingly coming out of nowhere.

Read the MSU Pest Management Digest article

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WWW.MICHIGANTURFGRASS.ORG . @MITURFGRASS . NOVEMBER 2023

The grasscarrying wasp: A solitary wasp that builds an unusual nest

MSU Extension announces statewide public listening sessions in November and December MSU Extension is holding a series of public listening sessions at various locations across the state as part of an ongoing strategic direction process. These sessions will begin in late November and continue through mid-December. Through these sessions, the organization hopes to gather input from a diverse group of people to determine where MSU Extension is, what is working well and opportunities for improvement.

Read the MSU Turf/Landscape article

Fall options to control johnsongrass Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) is an aggressive perennial weed that is difficult to control given its extensive rhizome system. However, its rhizomes are also one of johnsongrass’ largest weaknesses because they are not very cold tolerant. Therefore, fall tillage practices that bring rhizomes to the soil surface and expose them to freezing winter temperatures may reduce the population over time. However, like other perennial weeds, tillage will cut rhizomes into small pieces that can then be spread throughout the field.

Read the MSU Turf/Landscape article

Gardening in Michigan

“It is hard to control johnsongrass once it is well-established. Taking control of johnsongrass before it takes control of your non-infested fields is a high priority.”

Read the MSU Pest Management article

Oak wilt continues to be a major problem across the state of Michigan, killing high numbers of red oak trees every year. This means it is important for all of us to understand what we can do to help prevent the disease. Learning how it is transmitted, recognizing signs of the disease, and knowing what we can do to effectively manage the disease will prevent the loss of many oak trees in Michigan.

We can all help prevent oak wilt

As the interest in preserving pollinators continues to grow, it is helpful to find out more about the variety of native wasps and bees that can be found in our own backyards. You may encounter a grass-carrying wasp in a bee hotel if you have created one with a variety of different-sized tubes.

In tubes occupied by grass wasps, you will likely find blades of grass sticking out of the tube.

“The most effective way to prevent new infections is to avoid pruning oaks during the high-risk period for the disease. This period is from April 15-July 15, though many people choose to avoid pruning oak trees growing in the yard during the entire growing season.

The best and safest time to prune is in the winter months when oak wilt risk is lowest.”

Conference Registration Now Open The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation exists to promote safe, healthy turf surfaces for all Michigan residents. The goal of our annual conference is to present the latest findings in turfgrass management, fertility, soils, diseases, weeds, pesticides and other timely topics pertaining to the industry.

2024 Michigan Turfgrass Conference January 9th - 11th Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE TURF NEWS . WWW.MICHIGANTURFGRASS.ORG