Use of 2,4-D for Weed Management to ContinueTuesday, April 10, 2012
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that is has denied the 2008 petition of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to cancel the use of the herbicide 2,4-D for weed management.
The EPA commented that after reviewing all of the available data that they had no concern over 2,4-D and would not re-open the safety assessment of the herbicide. Read more
Save the Date : 2012 UT Turf & Ornamental Field Day Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The 2012 University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Field Day will be held on September 13th, 2012 at the East TN Research & Education Center in Knoxville, TN. This unique educational event offers attendess the ability to learn about the latest trends in managing both turfgrass and ornamental landscape plants. Numerous pesticide certification points will be available.
One of the largest and fastest growing field day events in the United States, the University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Field Day features current research on strategies for managing weed, disease, and insect pests of turf and ornamentals. Additionally, programs will present new information on cultural management strategies to maximize quality. Over 400 individuals attended this event last year. Come see what the excitement is about in 2012!
More information on the 2012 University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Field Day will be available this summer. Press Release Regarding UT Turfgrass ResearchThursday, March 15, 2012
The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) recently distributed a press release regarding a study conducted by the University of Tennessee turfgrass weed science team.
 The research effort identified a biotype of annual bluegrass resistant to glyohosate at Humboldt Golf & Country Club (Humboldt, TN). This was the first documented case of glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass in bermudagrass turf.
The full press release is available here.
Annual bluegrass infestations may be more problematic than normal throughout much of Tennessee after the warm and wet weather much of the state has seen this winter. More information on annual bluegrass control in warm and cool-season turf can be found here. Starting Thinking About CrabgrassSaturday, March 10, 2012
Weather has warmed throughout Tennessee and things are in bloom. Keep your eyes on blooming forsythias as they provide a window into crabgrass germination.
 Crabgrass plants germinate once soil temperatures (at ~ 2 inches deep) measure greater than 55 F for four consecutive days and nights. Consequently, forsythias also produce bright yellow petals under these same conditions.
Preemergence herbicides for crabgrass control should be applied prior to crabgrass germination. Turfgrass managers intending to use preemergence
herbicides for crabgrass control should apply these materials while forsythias are still showing bright yellow blooms. Applications made after these petals have dropped from branches will tend to be less effective.
See our fact sheet for more information on crabgrass control in Tennessee Tennessee Superintendent Wins National HonorMonday, March 05, 2012 Congratulations to Paul Carter, CGCS, head superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (Ooltewah, TN) on being named the 2011 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year. The award recognizes a superintendent who has makes significant contributions to the golf course industry.
Paul certainly fits that description as he has used his agronomic skills to transform the course at Harrison Bay State Park with a focus on environmental stewardship. Audobon International recognized Paul's efforts by Certifying the Course as a Cooperative Sanctuary. The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay received the Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation in 2009. Paul's nutrient management program, use of vegetative buffer strips around wetlands, and conversation of more than 40 acres of managed turf to a naturalized state have led to The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay being named a Groundwater Guardian Green Site by The Groundwater Foundation. Recently, the USGA Green Section provided The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay a grant to assist in documenting the breeding activities of bald eagles that nested behind a green on the course. More information on this project, including live streaming video of the eagles, can be found at harrisonbayeaglecam.org
As the turfgrass management industry drives to become more sustainable, individuals like Paul Carter are leading by example. More on his recent award can be found here and as part of Paul's blog regarding golf course maintenance at the facility. New Research Projects UnderwayWednesday, February 15, 2012 The growing season may be just arriving but the UT Turfgrass Weed Science Team already has several exciting new projects underway.
 Several studies are evaluating the new herbicide, indaziflam, used to control annual bluegrass, smooth crabgrass, goosegrass and other annual weed species in bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and other warm-season turfgrasses. Research is evaluating the effects of application placement on weed control as well as how weed maturity affects efficacy. These research efforts will assist turfgrass managers in designing weed management programs involving this promising new herbicide.
 Patrick Jones, a MS candidate in Turfgrass Weed Science, has initiated research evaluating the effects of preemergence herbicides on turfgrass nutrient uptake. His findings will provide a better understanding of how preemergence herbicides affect susceptible species. Later this spring once bermudagrass breaks dormancy, Patrick will begin another project evaluating the effects of preemergence herbicides on bermudagrass divot resistance and recovery. Patrick will evaluate treatments using our Direct Impact Version of Testing, or DIVOT, apparatus seen below.
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