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July 27, 2012 Scouting Report – Three periods of Bentgrass Decline: Soil Temps Hover at 80°, Anthracnose, Pythium, Fairy Ring, Drought, Peter says Turf Field Day and Tim likes Flowers Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle - e DSettle@cdga.org web www.cdgaturf.org As July ends, we’ve learned a few things that a record-hot-brutal-summer can teach you! It turns our July, 2012 had three periods of bentgrass decline. In Chicago the first of our stressful periods began with the wondrous July 4th weather (a string of 100s pounded a cool humid landscape). Let’s not forget the blessed rain! Severe thunderstorms are quite common for the upper midwest in summer and Chicago is wettest in July or August - just flip a coin to see. Quite probably it could be August in 2012…unfortunately. But I digress. Back to physiological decline of creeping bentgrass. It is something that is well documented by plant physiologists by use of controlled growth chambers. They found extended periods of supraoptimal temperatures meant presto – a slow to rapid decline of creeping bentgrass plant health. Soil temperature is key because it directly effects the rootzone environment and roots are not only responsible for water and nutrient uptake, but also other things like production of plant hormones and storage of photosynthetic carbohydrates. Once we realize bentgrass isn’t creeping bentwondergrass, pieces

Fans! Creeping bent physiological decline is common in this insufferable summer. Settle 7-26-12 of a sometimes confusing summertime puzzle make sense. A newer disease to blame? Nope. Instead the senario is likely: physiological decline predisposes bentgrass to some new and unusual ‘diseases’ or disorders. However, as was true in other unusual Chicago growing seasons (1988 and 1995) certain cultural practices help greens BIG time. Read on for more physiology…

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Creeping Bentgrass Decline is Common in Summer 2012 – Physiological Decline Episode 1 Uncomplicated things like running fans, raising the mowing height, switching to solid rollers on green mowers, AND watching out for repeat wear injury by both equipment and golfer traffic. If you do not adjust quickly you risk certain loss of a few ‘trouble greens’.

Bronze bentgrass caused by physiological decline, it followed record heat and rain. Settle 7-7-12

97.7 95.6 99.9 101.1 102.6

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70.3 71.6 70.8 75.7

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80.7 82.2 83.0 84.6 84.1

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Sunshine Golf Course (Lemont - a southwest Chicago suburb)

2012 Record Heat: Conditions During 1st Physiological Bentgrass Decline

High Low Soil 2 in. RH (%)

80s soil T = physiological decline

Humidity Spike = Rainfall on June 28‐29

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Creeping Bentgrass Decline is Common in Summer 2012 – Physiological Decline Episode 2 Usually a trifecta is always at play: lack of proper air movement, lack of good rootzone drainage and lack of sunlight. You are ok until Mother Nature cranks up the heat in July and August. So, in this record-hot-brutal-summer do the right thing and allow for prompt adjustments on greens without regard for ball roll speed. If not, you will suffer the consequence – the entire club will.

First a collar, then bentgrass physiological decline affects a sodded green surface. Settle 7-18-12

90.9 92.6 94.5 90.5

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68.5 71.0 69.8 70.4

79.9 81.3 81.0

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Sunshine Golf Course (Lemont - a southwest Chicago suburb)

2012 Record Heat: Conditions During 2nd Physiological Bentgrass Decline

High Low Soil 2 in. RH (%)

soil T hovers near 80 F = phys. decline

Humidity Spike: Rainfall on July 18‐19 

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Creeping Bentgrass Decline is Common in Summer 2012 – Physiological Decline Episode 3 I didn’t even mention Poa annua or Poa trivialis, even less heat tolerant and with shallower roots. Bottomline is that we are now weak turf-wise and August is about to cometh. The chances of a cool August is unlikely given what we’ve seen so far. Superintendents and staff are tired.

Bentgrass physiological decline affects a green which is lacking in air movement. Settle 7-27-12

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Sunshine Golf Course (Lemont - a southwest Chicago suburb)

2012 Record Heat: Conditions During 3rd Bent Decline Event

High Low Soil 2 in. RH (%)

static 80 F soil T = physiological decline

Humidity Now Remains High and Uncomfortable: Rainfall on July 24

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Weather - Indentifying Periods of Weather Associated with Bentgrass Decline in 2012

Northern Illinois Super Scout “Poa trivialis is starting to go dormant in rough. Very windy yesterday with more branches down. That makes 3 days of picking up branches this week… Spraying fairways for cut worms today – still lots moths flying. It has been difficult to judge watering needs, with the scattered thunderstorms. Trying to not water at night if T-storms are predicted but if they don’t show (like last night) then behind in watering. Using smooth rollers on greens… And another heat wave is being predicted to arrive next week.”

Hot soil: Central and Southern Illinois have endured an entire month of bent decline in 2012.

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Sunshine Golf Course (Lemont - a southwest Chicago suburb)

2012 Record Heat: July Soil T Supraoptimal = 3 periods of Bent Decline

High Low Soil 2 in. RH (%)

80s soil = decline

1st bent physiological decline

2nd bent decline 3rd bent decline

99107 109 106 106 102

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Hickory Ridge Golf Course (Carbondale - Southern Illinois)

Southern IL: Record-Hot-Brutal-Summer Continues, 100°+ Highs

High Low Soil 2 in. RH (%)

soil T above 80 F = creeping bentgrass physiological decline

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This week to a good superintendent I said “See, perennial ryegrass is candy to Pythium!!!” 1. Pythium blight. Rain plus hot summer temps meant P. aphanidermatum could be active.

A low rough area of Kentucky bluegrass sees a little thinning by Pythium blight. Settle 7-24-12

A driving range sees Pythium mycelium on highly susceptible perennial ryegrass. Settle 7-27-12

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This week I said to a serious superintendent “Yep, the second week for good anthracnose!” 2. Anthracnose basal stem rot. Outbreaks on Poa annua can be due to QoI fungicide resistance.

Anthracnose BSR attacks Poa annua but avoids resistant bentgrass on a green. Settle 7-26-12

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This week I said to a superintendent, “Darn it. That is type 1 fairy ring on your fairway!” 3. Type 1 Fairy Ring on Fairways. Rings can kill turf within a day, usually at midday wilt stress.

A type 1 fairy ring puts the hurt on a fairway. Closer inspection finds puff balls. Settle 7-26-12

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This week I said to a superintendent, “Darn it. That is type 1 fairy ring on your green!” 4. Type 1 Fairy Ring on Greens. Rings can kill turf within a day, usually at midday wilt stress.

Type 1 fairy ring puts the hurt on a green. Closer inspection finds mushroom odor. Settle 7-26-12

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This week back in the superintendent’s office I said, “I cannot believe what I just saw!” 5. Drought. The only other recent season that was of comparable drought was summer 1988.

Widespread drought is rare given irrigation: a river water source is compromised. Settle 7-24-12

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Tim Sibicky, MS - TSibicky@cdga.org CDGA Turfgrass Research Manager Brighten the Landscape With Flowers! Often times, flowers are overlooked in the golf course or landscape setting, whether their use serves as an accent to the clubhouse or even the first tee box. Flowers can significantly improve the aesthetics in almost any situation by addition of colors or textures that appeal to the eye and promote discussion. Specifically in the golf course setting, the use of flowers is not meant to detract from the turf conditions (a main reason that customers/members are there), but should be considered a positive addition to the overall experience. This week on July 25th, Sunshine Course hosted the Chicagoland Association of Golf Course Superintendents (CAGCS) monthly meeting for July. Superintendents in attendance seemed upbeat and excited to see presentations and updates for much of the CDGA Turf Program’s research, even in the 100 degree heat! The topics focused on turf variety performance during a hot summer in trials that included tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass, as well as a zoysiagrass establishment study. Additionally newer fungicide updates were given in trials located on each of 3 bentgrass greens. The evening tour concluded with a last but not least stop – the Flower Evaluation Garden. There, Greg Stack from the University of Illinois Extension provided the attendees with information on some of the newest flowering annuals. Included in 2012 are 150+ varieties of more than 20 different herbaceous flowering species.

The University of Illinois Flower Evaluation Garden is looking bright and filled with color. Varieties of Petchoa (Petunia x Calibrachoa) are favorites of 2012, seen in the closest five rows. For final 2011 results see http://urbanext.illinois.edu/trialgarden/2011/about.cfm. Sibicky 7-25-12

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Flowers add color to the landscape on Sunshine Golf Course and surrounding Midwest Golf House. Varieties of Impatiens, Begonia and Portulaca are being evaluated here. Sibicky 7-26-12

A bentgrass variety trial provides attendees with an opportunity to see differences. Settle 7-25-12

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Peter Westfall - pwestfal@purdue.edu CDGA Turf Research Intern, Purdue University CDGA Turf Field Day for the Chicagoland Association of Golf Course Superintendents On Wednesday July 25 the monthly Chicagoland superintendent meeting was held at CDGA Golf House in Lemont, IL. So, of course along with the meeting we set up a field day on Sunshine Course to showcase our variety trials, as well as our fungicide trials. Even in the 100 degree heat after a long day of work, we had a great turn out of about 20 people including golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, and university researcher Dr. Tom Voigt.

Dr. Derek Settle talks about Tall Fescue for use on bunker embankments. Westfall 7-25-12 We began at the tall fescue variety trial where we discussed the use of turf-type fescues on places like bunker faces and even in inner roughs where there is lots of shade. Tall fescue varieties have excellent drought and shade tolerance and the only downside is their susceptibility to Rhizoctonia solani, more commonly known as brown patch. As we continued we looked at both the NCERA bentgrass variety trials maintained at green and fairway heights. We tried to highlight the best cultivars, one of Dr. Derek Settle’s favorites being PennA-1, an aging creeping bentgrass cultivar with many great characteristics such as heat/drought tolerance. However many of its features are now seen in newer cultivars that have better disease resistance to dollar spot like Kingpin, 007, and Tyee to name a few. The last cultivar study we looked at was the Kentucky bluegrass, which is one of my favorite studies this year. Why? It has been looking very good almost all season and has given us some things to talk about (i.e. billbugs, crabgrass, and drought resistance). Some of the favorites within the trial of 50+ varieties were Perfection, Bewitched, and Prosperity. As we walked we highlighted some of the new experimental products on our greens as well as the three different rotational DMI, QoI fungicide programs. Our final stop was to look at the flower trial planted by Greg Stack from University of Illinois extension.

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Everything looked very good this year as I’m sure you’ve read Tim Sibicky’s report (above). After our field day Scott Pavalko graciously hosted us at Cog Hill’s clubhouse for a delicious and one of a kind Dubsburger. Special thanks to all those who attended the field day and thank you for your continued support of the CDGA’s turf program – diagnostics, research, education.

Sunshine Course is signed out and readied for a turfgrass research field day. Sibicky 7-25-12

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Final Images

A sign of Fall. I spot aster in a bed of prairie flowers at Coyote Run Golf Course. Settle 7-26-12

A sign of Fall. I spot my first acorn in a rough at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club. Settle 7-26-12

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The cicada killer wasp, Sphecius speciosus, is nonaggressive/relatively harmless. Sibicky 7-27-12

At Coyote Run Golf Course the compass flower, Silphium laciniatum, is in bloom. Settle 7-26-12 A week of hot July weather. We saw more rain… as soils hovered at 80 degrees. Derek, Tim, Chris, Peter, Anthony and Niki – The CDGA Turfgrass Program