Friday, September 26, 2014

Manage Spring Dead Spot with Fungicide Application Now

Did your Bermudagrass lawn suffer from spring dead spot disease this year? The UGA Extension publication "Identification and Control of Spring Dead Spot", by Extension specialists Alfredo Martinez, J.B. Workman, and F. C. Waltz, explains that the disease is especially prevalent after a hard winter, such as the one we experienced last year. This means that any Bermudagrass lawn affected this past growing season had plenty of company.

Even though it may seem counter-intuitive, chemical controls for spring dead spot (SDS) should be applied in fall, when soil temperatures are still above 60 degrees F, according to Martinez et al. This application can help prevent re-emergence of the disease next year.

SDS first shows up in late spring. The publication says this about signs of infection: "As turfgrass 'greens up,' well-defined circular patches of dead, bleached-out grass are noticeable in affected areas. Non-infected bermudagrass resumes growth, accentuating the infected areas."

The authors add, "Patches can get larger year after year." To avoid this outcome, altering cultural practices to promote good health of the lawn is important. One practice in particular is to avoid  applying more than a half-pound of nitrogen fertilizer per thousand square feet after mid-September; another is to consider applying a potassium fertilizer, at the rate of one pound potassium per thousand square feet, in fall.

The Turf section of the Georgia Pest Management Handbook, homeowner edition, by Extension homeowner IPM specialist Elizabeth Little, agrees with these recommendations, and includes a listing of currently recommended products for controlling SDS. Regardless of the product selected from the list, be sure to follow label recommendations and safety precautions.

The Turf section of the handbook linked above, which also contains information about insect and weed control in lawns, lists specific cultural practices that can help to manage SDS:
  • "Avoid late summer or fall applications of nitrogen fertilizers which may enhance disease severity.
  • Use ammonium sources of nitrogen fertilizer from spring through early August.
  • Control weeds in affected turf to enhance recovery from spring dead spot.
  • Apply moderate to high levels of phosphorus, potash, and minor elements.
  • Improve drainage of turf.
  • Reduce thatch.
  • Use preventive fungicide applications in late September and October."

Monday, September 15, 2014

Upcoming Events



Fall Landscaping Activities
Tuesday, September 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Presented by Cobb County Extension Horticulture Agent Neil Tarver, at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Free and open to the public, but please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Indoor Plants
Thursday, September 18, 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Presented by Cobb Extension horticulture staff member Amy Whitney, at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Free and open to the public, but please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Green Industry Update
Tuesday, September 30, 8:30 a.m. (registration until 9 a.m.) to noon. Recertification credits: 21/23/24/27 = 3 hours; ISA = 2.5 hours; Private = 1 hours. $10 per person at the door; Pre-register with cornelius.tarver@cobbcounty.org or by calling 770-528-4070. Reduce pest problems with proper tree selection and planting, Joe Burgess, Georgia Forestry Commission; Control spring turf diseases with fall fungicide applications, Neil Tarver, UGA Extension in Cobb County; Interpreting pesticide labels is key to pesticide safety, Milton (Micky) Taylor, UGA Dept. of Entomology.

Bluebird Trail Tour
Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. –Noon. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the 2.3-mile Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

Thyme to Read Book Club
Friday, October 10, 10:30 -11:30 a.m. Book club sponsored by Cobb County Master Gardeners will meet at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). This month’s book is The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton. November’s book will be The Founding Gardeners, by Andrea Wulf. Schedule and information can be found at www.cobbmastergardeners.com. Free and open to the public.

Landscaping and Septic Tanks
Friday, October 10, noon-1:00 p.m. Presented by Cobb County Extension Horticulture Agent Neil Tarver, as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Trees of Our Lives: Small Native Trees for the Landscape
Tuesday, October 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m.  Presented by Master Gardener Dawn Hines, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton, 30126.


Friday, September 5, 2014

Cover Crops for the Home Garden

The GA FACES article "Fall cover crop will boost spring garden soil's nutrient content", by UGA's Sharon Dowdy, explains that home gardeners who are planning to give the vegetable garden a rest this winter can take a simple step to help next year's garden.  The key is to grow a cover crop instead of simply leaving the garden fallow.

Dowdy interviewed UGA Extension sustainable agriculture specialist Julia Gaskin to get the scoop on cover crops. Gaskin explained that cover crops can add organic matter and nitrogen to the soil. The choice of which cover crop to grow will depend on the needs of the garden.

For added nitrogen, Gaskin recommends crimson clover and Austrian winter peas; to suppress root-damaging nematodes, tillage radishes and mustards are a good choice. Cereal rye (winter annual ryegrass) excels in suppressing weeds.

For all the cover crops, the additional organic matter, from tilling the cover crop under in spring, is a great boost to home gardens. Gaskin explained the gain this way: "Boosting up soil matter is critical for encouraging healthy soil biology, which helps to make nutrients available for plants.”

Cornell University's article "Improve your soil with cover crops" lists additional benefits of growing cover crops in the garden:  "Cover crops help to retain the soil, lessen erosion, and decrease the impact of precipitation on the garden by slowing the runoff of water. They also reduce mineral leaching and compaction, and suppress perennial and winter annual weed growth. The top growth adds organic matter when it is tilled into the garden soil. The cover crop's root system also provides organic matter and opens passageways that help improve air and water movement in the soil."

UGA's Gaskin said that cover crops need to be sown in the garden before the end of September in the Piedmont region of Georgia, which includes Cobb County. For gardeners who are interested in taking a break from tending vegetables, planting a cover crop within the next few weeks can be a great option.

(For fuller information, select the linked article titles above.)