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| ~~The following is the C.D.G.A. scouting report as issued by Derek Settle, PhD~~ |
July 29, 2011 Scouting Report
Record
Wet July: Brown Patch Peaks, Pythium Blight, Physiological Decline of
Bentgrass and Poa, Type 1 Fairy Ring Begins, Tim recaps Wisconsin's
Turfgrass Field Day, and Peter sees and says Agrostis ipsilon
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle - DSettle@cdga.org/Weather Blog
A
week of plant health fallout. It was not entirely unexpected because as
of last week we had just experienced our hottest air and soil
temperatures. But one more thing happened that tipped the balance and on
Friday, July 22 it began to rain. When the deluge was over, July 2011
had become Chicago's wettest since 1889. It was almost unbelievable
since nearly all precipitation had occurred in just 6 days (9.75 inches
at O'Hare). Not surprisingly strange things began to happen in the
landscape and certain fungal diseases went wild. For example, brown
patch development in fairways went beyond what seasoned superintendents
had ever experienced. Then there's why overly wet rootzones are our
worst enemy. Midsummer is never a good time for cool-season turfgrass
because any additional downward spiral of turfgrass health can be
difficult to reverse until cooler weather returns. Root biomass/length
are at their lowest levels and what's left root-wise has impaired
function because of high soil temperature. Turf plants in physiological
decline display abnormal photosynthesis and respiration, yet
concentrated wear continues on a daily basis (the life of a golf green).
Often the only recourse is a well-timed cultural method such as
needle-tine aeration. If it sounds as if I'm exaggerating or blaming the
weather too much, guess again. Though today I did learn it could be
worse. My colleague Dr. Megan Kennelly relayed Kansas had just
experienced 11 of 14 days with highs of 100° or greater. I then checked
and saw Wichita, Kansas hit a record high of 107° - even my mom is hot!
Click here to view the July 29, 2011 Scouting Report.
Hang
in there as good news is on the horizon. The extended forecast is
showing a slight cool-down (highs in mid-80s) is to begin next Tuesday.
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program |
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