Scouting Report: June 25th

The start to summer was looking great at Prestwick Country Club this week.

This was the first official week of summer. Summer is the time of year that we prepare for most. Most of what we do year round involves summer stress management. Think of everything we do during the shoulder seasons that is geared towards alleviating summer stress.

The morning shade we eliminate. The cultivation practices we employ. The new drainage lines we dig. The newer grasses that we seed. All of these shoulder season projects are about to pay dividends.

The Air2G2 being used at St. Charles Country Club.

Maintaining or promoting adequate oxygen in the rootzone is critical for a healthy turfgrass system.

In addition to getting air into the rootzone, promoting air movement above the canopy is equally important.

The use of fans near putting green surfaces helps promote air movement in tree-lined areas.

Many of these cultural practices are aimed at reducing the effects of environmental stressors. Unfortunately, these environmental stressors can also create opportunities for pests.

Weeds

Crabgrass was observed in areas along the north shore this week.

Crabgrass is a warm-season grassy weed that can out-compete cool-season grasses for water and sunlight.

It’s not surprising to see crabgrass in Illinois. This weedy grass is more common in the southern portion of the state. However, it can establish itself further north. This crabgrass population was spotted in a creeping bentgrass fairway along the north shore area of Chicago this week.

Insects

Ant mounds may cause a disturbance in ball roll on putting green surfaces.

Ant mounds are getting increasingly problematic on putting green turf. These mounds can disrupt the smoothness of the canopy and may cause the golf ball to go off line.

Dr. David Smitley from Michigan State University recently commented on ant mound control strategies for golf course fairways and greens.

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation - Ant Mounding on Tees, Greens, and Fairways - Dr. David Smitley

A Japanese beetle was observed this week in Illinois. This is not the casual agent for dollar spot.

Japanese beetles are populating many areas right now. These adults tend to do three things: feed, mate, and lay eggs. These insects are notorious for feeding and defoliating many ornamental trees. In time they lay eggs that eventually turn into root feeding larvae.

Without knowing any better, I would think this beetle is also the causal organism for dollar spot.

Diseases

Dollar spot was attacking putting green surfaces in areas north of Chicago. Certain biotypes appear to be less susceptible.

The rise in temperatures and humidity has triggered dollar spot activity this week. This disease is the most economically important disease in North America. Meaning, more resources are devoted to controlling this disease than any other.

Dollar spot can be suppressed without chemical intervention. Introducing less susceptible grasses is an option. Morning dew removal or rolling is another management strategy that is also frequently cited. Supplying the turf with addition fertility inputs is another management tactic.

However, these are solely suppressive tactics.

Season-long control of dollar spot will likely involve the use of fungicide sprays. Fortunately, many chemical options exist for dollar spot control. This is driven, in part, by the need for these chemistries and through the commitment of industry manufacturers and university cooperaters in developing these solutions.

There are many fungicides that can perform well on dollar spot.

Our understanding of fungicidal control of dollar spot has also given rise to supplemental management tactics that can mitigate the amount of chemical needed to control this disease.

Various fertilizer programs that include nitrogen or iron may also provide suppression of this disease. For example, Ron Townsend (CDGA Research Manager & University of Wisconsin graduate student under Dr. Paul Koch) is developing various nitrogen fertilization programs to limit the severity of this disease.

Alternatively, plant defense activators such as Civitas and acibenzolar-S-methyl have also demonstrated efficacy against dollar spot.

However, it is no surprise that the diseases that are causing the biggest headache this summer are those that we are less familiar with.

Bipolaris leaf spot was evident on creeping bentgrass putting greens in central Illinois this week.

Creeping bentgrass is prone to a few leaf spotting diseases this time of year. Red leaf spot and Bipolaris leaf spot. These diseases share overlapping field symptoms and can occur over similar environmental conditions. Fortunately, management strategies for thwarting these diseases overlap as well.

Symptoms of Bipolaris leaf spot can also be diffused. This can mimic other diseases such as anthracnose.

Bipolaris leaf spot was diagnosed earlier this week in central Illinois on a few creeping bentgrass putting greens. Initial outbreaks are often observed in May or June on creeping bentgrass turf in Illinois. The severity often increases with hotter temperatures.

Spores of Bipolaris sorokiniana. These spores can be disseminated through wind or rain splash.

It is no surprise that this disease has spawned after recent thunderstorm activity in the state. Bipolaris leaf spot primarily spreads through spore dispersal via wind and rain splash.

Brown ring patch was frequently observed this week on stands of annual bluegrass.

While leaf spotting diseases were hounding stands of bentgrass, other diseases such as brown ring patch (Syn. Waitea patch) have been affecting annual bluegrass recently. Brown ring patch can occur during the spring, summer, and fall months in Illinois.

Looking ahead

Frequent shots of unseasonably cool weather may be store for us during the next 10 days. This could mean that diseases such as brown ring patch and leaf spotting diseases may be hanging around a bit more this summer.

Visit to a botanical garden

Damage from a woodpecker.

Visited a botanical garden and got to see how our ornamental plants and trees were holding up. I observed some severe woodpecker damage.

Sap was oozing out of the damaged areas on my visit.

Another name for woodpeckers are sapsuckers. Makes sense.

Traffic patterns were visible in between the garden beds.

I also saw very distinct traffic patterns in between the garden beds. You can see that most people don’t walk all the way down the rows. They stop three quarters of the way down and walk back.

A lady beetle was enjoying the sights on a shelf mushroom.

There were some nice shelf mushrooms on a few trees as well. I went to check it out and I wasn’t alone. A lady beetle was also taking in the scenery.

Final image

Putting green reconstruction at North Shore Country Club.

Putting green reconstruction at North Shore Country Club. I visited the property earlier this week and got to see some of the renovation efforts. Exciting times and I look forward to seeing the progress this summer.

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