West of Cascades

Poa pratensis L.

Introduction:

(Agrostis sp.)

Introduction:

What is a low maintenance lawn? Who sets the standards? An honest answer to both of these questions is probably "I don't know". By my standards most people in western Oregon already have low maintenance lawns. Their lawns are mowed sporadically in spring, occasionally in summer and fall and not at all in winter. A clear majority don't irrigate at all and of those who do, few irrigate consistently. Perhaps seventy percent of these homelawns are never fertilized and very few are ever treated with herbicides for weed control. Sounds pretty low maintenance to me.

Preliminary Report

Objective

The primary objective of this trial is to determine whether repeated applications (2, 3, or 4) of Proxy (ethephon) or Proxy + Primo (trinexpac-ethyl) causes phytotoxicity to Providence creeping bentgrass maintained at putting green height. A secondary objective is to evaluate turf quality of putting green turf treated with Proxy, Proxy + Primo, or Trimmit (paclobutrazol) growth regulators. The Trimmit was applied at two rates alone and with additional fertilizer.

NTA Final Report June 9, 2009

Purpose

By using balanced NPK + micros applied at a low rate (3.25 lbs N/1,000 sq ft/yr) or a high rate (6.5 lbs N/1,000 sq ft/yr), we are trying to determine if total annual NPK with or without added calcium, sulfur, or humates has any measurable impact on putting green turf quality, Microdochium patch disease, anthracnose disease, and/or turf species composition.

Note:

The information presented below is in the form of a progress report and all data are considered preliminary.

Purpose:

Using balanced NPK + micros applied at a low rate (3.25 lbs N/1000 sq ft/ yr) or a high rate (6.5 lbs N/1000 sq ft/yr), we are trying to determine if total annual NPK with or without added Ca, S, or humates has any measurable impact on turf quality, Microdochium patch disease, Anthracnose disease, and/or turf species composition.

Methods:

As I drove into campus this morning, I noticed several sprinkler systems running.  After a week of on and off rain, day temperatures in the 70s and night temperatures in the 40s, it is time to reduce watering times and/or days or even better, turn the irrigation system off.  The turf is using very little water this time of the year and it will allow the turf to naturally harden off as the winter months approach.  An additional benefit of turning your irrigation system off is that the lack of moisture will greatly reduce the survivability of European Crane Fly eggs.  So, turn the irrigation

Previous work reported by Crystal Fricker at Pure Seed Testing Inc. demonstrated that it is possible to develop tall fescues and fine fescues that have relatively good tolerance to low rates of glyphosate. This trial is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate tolerance of tall fescues and other grasses to glyphosate at rates that are effective in controlling annual bluegrass.

Shade Trial – Area 4
Seeded Spring 2003

Introduction:

Final Report, June 29, 2009

Objective

The primary objective of this trial was to determine whether repeated applications (2, 3, or 4) of Proxy (ethephon) or Proxy + Primo (trinexpac-ethyl) caused phytotoxicity to ‘Providence’ creeping bentgrass maintained at putting green height. A secondary objective was to evaluate turf quality of putting green turf treated with Proxy, Proxy + Primo, or Trimmit (paclobutrazol) growth regulators.

Materials and Methods