~~The following is the C.D.G.A. scouting report as posted by Derek Settle, PhD~~
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March 16, 2012 Scouting Report
Forget Winter, More Like Spring or Summer. Updates Begin, Winter Conferences Over, Chicago's 80° F Highs, Poa seedheads, and Tim Rates Fairy Ring!?!
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle
Things have begun early in 2012 and so here goes. So far, within the month of March, we've seen high temperatures (˚F) go from 32 to our most recent of 80, 80 and 82 (March 14-16 on Sunshine Course in Lemont). It has meant rapid green-up of turf and much, much more. New all-time high temperature records for March for one! Golf courses in the upper Midwest have already hosted quite a bit of golf. Much of this is uncharted territory and so it is accompanied with much speculation, but if you are superintendent or crew your first applications have begun -Poa annua seedheads on greens for one. If you like flowers in the landscape then star magnolia, cornelian cherry dogwood, forsythia, witch hazel and daffodils caught your eye this week.
If you are a turf specialist your phone began to ring, your email box filled up, and your camera got a workout. For my part, I was amazed in the field; fairy ring, moss sporulation, chickweed bloom, and a Poa annua seedhead or two. I also saw terrific plant health as we've experienced neither winter injury nor snow molds. We're out of the shoots early, we'll just combine art and science (golf turf management) a little earlier and learn new things along the way - 2012 begins!
Click here to view the March 16, 2012 Scouting Report.
Here goes a new turf season. Welcome aboard and happy Saint Patrick's Day weekend!
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program |
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