10/20/11
I need a Scotts Speedygreen 1000 homeowner broadcast spreader for a study. I would just need it for a few hours. Does anyone local have one that I could borrow?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Scotts Speedygreen 1000 Spreader
Nick Christians
10/20/11
I need a Scotts Speedygreen 1000 homeowner broadcast spreader for a study. I would just need it for a few hours. Does anyone local have one that I could borrow?
10/20/11
I need a Scotts Speedygreen 1000 homeowner broadcast spreader for a study. I would just need it for a few hours. Does anyone local have one that I could borrow?
Friday, October 7, 2011
DROUGHT 2
Nick Christians
October 7, 2011
This is the second installment on the drought work that we did at Iowa State in the drought of 1988. It originally was published in "LAWN CARE INDUSTRY' in Oct. of 1989.
These are jpg pictures and you will need to click on them to read them.
October 7, 2011
This is the second installment on the drought work that we did at Iowa State in the drought of 1988. It originally was published in "LAWN CARE INDUSTRY' in Oct. of 1989.
These are jpg pictures and you will need to click on them to read them.
Monday, October 3, 2011
ITI/IGCSA Benefit Tournament Recap
The 30th Annual Iowa Turfgrass Institute/Iowa Golf Course Superintendent's Association Benefit Golf Tournament was held October 3 at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. The success of this event depends on the involvement of many individuals, vendors and allied associations. Funds raised from the tournament support turfgrass research and scholarships.
 |
| Wakonda Superintendent John Temme working hard right up until the start of the tournament. Thanks for such an enjoyable day John. |
Special thanks to golf course Superintendent John Temme and his entire staff for hosting the event and having the golf course in impeccable shape. Everyone who participated was treated to beautiful weather and striking fall colors. To see what the Wakonda Staff has been up to, check out their maintenance blog, Wakonda Grounds.
Marcus Jones
Assistant Scientist
Assistant Scientist
Friday, September 30, 2011
DROUGHT OF 2011
Nick Christains
September 30, 2011
While it has been dry in Central Iowa, we have not seen the severe drought condition that is occurring in South Western Iowa. I have had an increased number of calls, particularly from lawn care professional, who are wondering about treating dormant lawns with fertilizer and wondering about weed control issues.
In the 33 seasons that I have been here at ISU, the worst drought that we saw in this area was in 1988. We did research on these issues that year and I published the work in Lawn Servicing Magazine (which no longer exists) and in other sources. Today I am posting an article based on that work. On Monday, I will post a second installment on the 1988 research.
The pages are in jpg and you will need to click on them like a picture. You should be able to then enlarge the print.
Monday, September 19, 2011
GRAY LEAF SPOT DID SHOW UP IN CENTRAL IOWA
September 19, 2011
On August 31, I posted a blog titled "Watch Out For Gray Leaf Spot".
It did show up. Here is a post from Cory Johnson, Superintendent of Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone, Ia. This is Gray Leaf spot. It showed up on September 8. These pictures are from Sept. 16. This is classic Gray Leaf Spot on perennial ryegrass fairways. They will need to reseed with ryegrass as soon as possible.
If anyone else has experienced this, send me some pictures. I suspect that there is more out there.
The first two pictures are fairway shots. It is the rye that died and there is some live Kentucky bluegrass.
Picture 3 shows a close up of live bluegrass in dead rye.
Picture 4 shows leaf symptoms on the rye.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
WATCH OUT FOR GRAY LEAF SPOT
Nick Christians
August 31, 2011
Those of you who have been around since the 90's will remember a major outbreak of Gray Leaf Spot on perennial ryegrass in 1998. This disease is caused by the fungi Pyricularia grisea. It seems to selectively hit perennial rye. Under the right conditions, it can be more devastating than Pythium blight. Like Pythium, it can kill large areas of turf over night.
In 1998, it wiped out perennial rye from Chicago to the Rocky Mountains. It was particularly hard on ryegrass golf course fairways and sports fields.
The conditions that set it off in 1998 were unusually high temperatures around Labor Day. We have not seen a major outbreak of this disease in 13 years, but tomorrow it is predicted to reach near 100 F. That is very hot for Iowa in September. If you have perennial rye that has not been treated with a fungicide, you may wan to be on the look out for this problem. Banner/Daconil was particularly effective against Gray Leaf spot in the 1998 outbreak, but there are other materials labeled for it as well. Check the label before you spray.
The pictures below were taken in 1998 on Willow Creek Golf Course in Des Moines. The dead grass is perennial rye. The only living grass is Kentucy bluegrass that was intermingled in the fairway and some patches had been used to sod around some of the heads.
Let me know if any of you see this in the next few days. Send some pictures if you do.
August 31, 2011
Those of you who have been around since the 90's will remember a major outbreak of Gray Leaf Spot on perennial ryegrass in 1998. This disease is caused by the fungi Pyricularia grisea. It seems to selectively hit perennial rye. Under the right conditions, it can be more devastating than Pythium blight. Like Pythium, it can kill large areas of turf over night.
In 1998, it wiped out perennial rye from Chicago to the Rocky Mountains. It was particularly hard on ryegrass golf course fairways and sports fields.
The conditions that set it off in 1998 were unusually high temperatures around Labor Day. We have not seen a major outbreak of this disease in 13 years, but tomorrow it is predicted to reach near 100 F. That is very hot for Iowa in September. If you have perennial rye that has not been treated with a fungicide, you may wan to be on the look out for this problem. Banner/Daconil was particularly effective against Gray Leaf spot in the 1998 outbreak, but there are other materials labeled for it as well. Check the label before you spray.
The pictures below were taken in 1998 on Willow Creek Golf Course in Des Moines. The dead grass is perennial rye. The only living grass is Kentucy bluegrass that was intermingled in the fairway and some patches had been used to sod around some of the heads.
Let me know if any of you see this in the next few days. Send some pictures if you do.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
HORTICULTURE GREENHOUSE DEDICATION-SEPT. 3, 2011
Nick Christians
August 25, 2011
The new greenhouses are now ready for use. If any of you would like to attend the dedication, come to campus on Sept. 3.
The new $4 million teaching and research greenhouse complex on central campus replaces the original horticulture greenhouses built in 1913. It extends along the south side of Horticulture Hall, home of the department of horticulture. The facility includes space-efficient teaching and research areas equipped with state-of-the-art environmental control and innovative plant production systems.
The greenhouse complex is partitioned into several compartments dedicated to research, teaching and student club activities. A computerized control system monitors and regulates environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity in each greenhouse compartment, providing optimal conditions for plant growth and a first-rate experience for students and researchers.
The project was made possible through private donations and funding from Iowa State University.
Architectural Firm: Baldwin White Architects, Tom Baldwin and Dusica Stankovic
Engineer: Howard R. Green Company
Civil Engineer: Snyder and Associates
Structural Engineer: Raker Rhodes Engineering
General Contractor: Story Construction
Subcontractors: Albert J. Lauer Greenhouse, Inc., Jaspering Electric,
L.A. Fulton & Sons
Construction and Project Management
Project Manager – Mark Huss
Construction Manager – Lynn Burnett
Department of Horticulture – Jeffery Iles, chair;
Richard Gladon and Pete Lawlor
Horticulture Teaching & Research
Greenhouse Complex
August 25, 2011
The new greenhouses are now ready for use. If any of you would like to attend the dedication, come to campus on Sept. 3.
Welcome
Jeffery Iles
Chair, Department of Horticulture
Remarks
Gregory L. Geoffroy
President, Iowa State University
Wendy Wintersteen
Endowed Dean, College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dwight Hughes
B.S. 1970 Horticulture
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Winston Beck
Senior Horticulture Major
Closing
Jeffery Iles
Following the dedication ceremony, tours of the
Greenhouse Complex will be available.
Horticulture Teaching & Research
Greenhouse Complex
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 2 p.m
Jeffery Iles
Chair, Department of Horticulture
Remarks
Gregory L. Geoffroy
President, Iowa State University
Wendy Wintersteen
Endowed Dean, College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dwight Hughes
B.S. 1970 Horticulture
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Winston Beck
Senior Horticulture Major
Closing
Jeffery Iles
Following the dedication ceremony, tours of the
Greenhouse Complex will be available.
Horticulture Teaching & Research
Greenhouse Complex
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 2 p.m
The new $4 million teaching and research greenhouse complex on central campus replaces the original horticulture greenhouses built in 1913. It extends along the south side of Horticulture Hall, home of the department of horticulture. The facility includes space-efficient teaching and research areas equipped with state-of-the-art environmental control and innovative plant production systems.
The greenhouse complex is partitioned into several compartments dedicated to research, teaching and student club activities. A computerized control system monitors and regulates environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity in each greenhouse compartment, providing optimal conditions for plant growth and a first-rate experience for students and researchers.
The project was made possible through private donations and funding from Iowa State University.
Architectural Firm: Baldwin White Architects, Tom Baldwin and Dusica Stankovic
Engineer: Howard R. Green Company
Civil Engineer: Snyder and Associates
Structural Engineer: Raker Rhodes Engineering
General Contractor: Story Construction
Subcontractors: Albert J. Lauer Greenhouse, Inc., Jaspering Electric,
L.A. Fulton & Sons
Construction and Project Management
Project Manager – Mark Huss
Construction Manager – Lynn Burnett
Department of Horticulture – Jeffery Iles, chair;
Richard Gladon and Pete Lawlor
Horticulture Teaching & Research
Greenhouse Complex
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