IATurf Blog has moved to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/turfgrass/

Iowa State University Turfgrass is pleased to announce the launch of its fully-featured website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/turfgrass/. The new site has extensive content including blog posts, publications, research reports, and news from across the state of Iowa. The highly successful IATurf Blog that reaches thousands of individuals will now be accessible from your tablet and phone. Don't worry, we made sure to add all the previous blogs to the new site!

The new website is designed to assist turf managers across Iowa with a one-stop shop for everything turfgrass. The website focuses on making information available to all individuals with a vested interest in turf industry, as well as highlight specialized advice and turf solutions. As part of our objective to provide critical information on the turf industry, Iowa State is proud to introduce the new website. Along with the launch of the new website, there are nine new publications added to the Iowa Extension store.

The first set of publications address common homeowner questions.  As temperatures warm and the calendar steadily marches forward, people across Iowa will soon find themselves working in their yards on a regular basis. With this work in mind, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has published four publications to serve as guides for residential yardwork. The full press release highlighting the publications can be found here! The following publications can now be found on the new site under the publication tab.

“Sodding a New Lawn”, (HORT 3033)
“Mowing Your Lawn”, (HORT 3047)
“Management and Control of Summer Patch” (HORT 3049)
“Organic Turfgrass Fertilization” (HORT 3031)

In addition to the general homeowner publications, five new publications focused on athletic field management were released. These focus on the planning required to keeping Iowa athletic fields aesthetically pleasing and more importantly safe. Managing traffic, interseeding and general maintenance of the field before, during and after the playing season are all important aspects to providing a smooth, even playing surface.

The full ISU press release can be found here! The following publications can also be found on the new site under the publication tab.

“Preventing Compaction on Athletic Fields” (HORT 3020)
“Tips for Athletic Field Seeding and Irrigation” (HORT 3022)
“Managing the Field within the Field” (HORT 3046)
“Putting the Field to Bed” (HORT 3048)
"Topdressing Athletic Fields" (HORT 3050)

Check out the new website and let us know what you think!

SPEEDWELL IN DES MOINES IN BLOOM

Nick Christians
March 11, 2016




The picture below is from Larry Ginger of American Lawn Care.  It is of Speedwell at the edge of a lawn in Altoona, Iowa, by Des Moines.  This is likely Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) also known as creeping Speedwell, Common Field Speedwell, or Winter Speedwell.  It is commonly found in Iowa, although I do not see a lot of it in central Iowa.  It has opposite, rounded, toothed, leaves and forms a dense mat runners in the lawn.  It generally lives as a winter annual and likely germinated in the fall of 2015.   It is surprising to see it in bloom in early March.

Speedwell is known for its heart shaped seed pod (see below).  This picture was taken on campus from another sample of common speedwell.

It is difficult to control with standard broadleaf herbicides and may persist when other broadleaves have been controlled.  Applying 2,4-D alone will unlikely be successful. A combination product with at least 3 ingredients, including dicamba and a pyridine such as triclopyr or fluroxypyr will likely give the best control. Repeat applications may be necessary. 

 Nick Christians
January 29, 2016

Georgeanna Heitshusen leaves today for the Super Bowl internship sponsored by the Toro company.  Georgie is the first female to win the internship.  This honor goes to one turf student each year in United States.  She is the 3rd ISU student in the last 5 years to be chosen for this honor.

Josh Lenz, a turf graduate student at ISU and former internship winner, is also at this year's Super Bowl helping to prepare for the game.


 

 You can find a news clip on Georgie and the Internship at:

http://whotv.com/2016/01/28/super-bowl-internship-takes-root-for-isu-student/