Rather incredible to think but based of the GDD tracker for people in northern Ohio time is now getting close to being passed optimum for both pre-emerge applications and applications of materials for seed head control – it also means golf season is just around the corner. Managing very wet soils and reducing early season wear and compaction is going to be difficult for many for the next month and so patience will be critical. Further to that – communication with memberships and golfers will be important this week as they lay their eyes on the beauty of Augusta.
Issues on the disease front seem to have been limited so far this spring – certainly there were no reports of Typhula spp. and it seems with the melting of snow and warmer temperatures in both January and February, Microdochium nivale has also failed to make much of an impression. Some activity has been noted with Rhizoctonia showing up around the ATI campus and also Laetisaria fuciformis showing up on slow growing lawn height turfgrasses. Its early in the season but scouting and staying on top of issues now will help for the rest of the summer!