Managing Kentucky Bluegrass in the Managing Kentucky Bluegrass in the

Heat at University ofHeat at University of EvansvilleEvansville

Bob Dale

Supervisor of Grounds

University of Evansville

Kentucky Bluegrass in Kentucky Bluegrass in EvansvilleEvansville

Why??!!Why??!!

Favorable Characteristics of Favorable Characteristics of Bluegrass Bluegrass

Excellent densityExcellent densityGood surface resiliencyGood surface resiliencyGood recovery from damageGood recovery from damageExcellent spring and fall colorExcellent spring and fall colorModerate drought toleranceModerate drought tolerance

Does Bluegrass Fit Our Does Bluegrass Fit Our Seasons of Play?Seasons of Play?

January 18January 18thth Start of Practice (Baseball\ Start of Practice (Baseball\Softball)Softball)

February 18February 18thth Home Opener Home OpenerMid-end of May: Last Regular Season Mid-end of May: Last Regular Season

GameGame

Seed Variety SelectionSeed Variety Selection

Used NTEP trials (USDA) Used NTEP trials (USDA) www.ntep.orgwww.ntep.org

Qualities RatedQualities Rated

Winter ColorWinter ColorTransition Zone QualityTransition Zone QualitySpring GreenupSpring GreenupGenetic ColorGenetic ColorMowing Height at 1-2”Mowing Height at 1-2”Summer Patch ResistanceSummer Patch ResistanceDrought ToleranceDrought Tolerance

Qualities WeightingQualities Weighting

Trans. Zone Quality 3XTrans. Zone Quality 3XSpring Greenup, Summer Patch Spring Greenup, Summer Patch

Resistance, Drought Tolerance 2XResistance, Drought Tolerance 2XAll others 1XAll others 1X

Mild Soil Temp AdjustmentMild Soil Temp AdjustmentAbout 4-5 degrees FAbout 4-5 degrees F

December ‘01December ‘01

Good Communication is KeyGood Communication is KeyElement to MaintenanceElement to Maintenance

Document problem areas, stress factors Document problem areas, stress factors and environmental conditionsand environmental conditions

Share those with coaches (These are X’s Share those with coaches (These are X’s and O’s to them)!!and O’s to them)!!

Aeration is varied between hollow and Aeration is varied between hollow and solid tines and from 1”-5” depthssolid tines and from 1”-5” depths

When Necessary, We When Necessary, We ImproviseImprovise

Signage and Communication are Signage and Communication are Key ElementsKey Elements

Limit Traffic Whenever Limit Traffic Whenever Possible or NecessaryPossible or Necessary

Common Diseases of Cool Common Diseases of Cool Season GrassesSeason Grasses

PythiumPythiumBrown PatchBrown PatchDollar SpotDollar SpotNecrotic Ring SpotNecrotic Ring SpotSummer PatchSummer Patch

Summer PatchSummer PatchUse of high potassium organic fertilizer with Use of high potassium organic fertilizer with

fair amount of sulfur (4%) and Banner Maxxfair amount of sulfur (4%) and Banner MaxxRaise mowing height from 1-1/4” to 2”Raise mowing height from 1-1/4” to 2”Avoid frequent irrigationAvoid frequent irrigation

How We Control Problem How We Control Problem DiseasesDiseases

FERTILIZATIONFERTILIZATION

Combinations of organic, IBDU and WSN Combinations of organic, IBDU and WSN sourcessources

6#N per year, all others based on soil tests (2x\6#N per year, all others based on soil tests (2x\year) and tissue testing on the sand based areayear) and tissue testing on the sand based area

Micronutrients every two weeks in the summerMicronutrients every two weeks in the summer Make certain of late season fertilizationMake certain of late season fertilization

How we leave it in November, is what we will play How we leave it in November, is what we will play on in February!!on in February!!

Weed ControlWeed Control

Primarily spot treatments in MayPrimarily spot treatments in MayA poor stand of grass is not a result of A poor stand of grass is not a result of

weeds. Weeds are a result of a poor stand weeds. Weeds are a result of a poor stand of grassof grass

Summary of our Most Summary of our Most Difficult ProblemsDifficult Problems

Disease Disease Control with combination of cultural and Control with combination of cultural and

chemicalchemicalTiming and height of mowing Timing and height of mowing Judicious wateringJudicious watering

Summary of Difficult Summary of Difficult ProblemsProblemsSummer PlaySummer Play (Tournaments in June, July (Tournaments in June, July

and August)and August)Insist on knowing the schedule well in Insist on knowing the schedule well in

advance and prepare the field for those eventsadvance and prepare the field for those eventsYou don’t want to have your fungicide You don’t want to have your fungicide

application nearing its end of effectiveness application nearing its end of effectiveness just prior or during a 3 day long tournament!just prior or during a 3 day long tournament!

Build the moisture level slowly prior to, and Build the moisture level slowly prior to, and water heavily following the tournamentswater heavily following the tournaments

Summary of Difficult Summary of Difficult ProblemsProblems

Slow Establishment of BluegrassSlow Establishment of BluegrassSeed as early in fall as possibleSeed as early in fall as possiblePre germ when possible…as a last resort, we Pre germ when possible…as a last resort, we

might use some ryemight use some rye

Summary of Difficult Summary of Difficult ProblemsProblems

Slow Establishment of BluegrassSlow Establishment of BluegrassSeed as early in fall as possibleSeed as early in fall as possiblePre germ when possible…as a last resort, we Pre germ when possible…as a last resort, we

might use some ryemight use some ryeRecognize bluegrass is a very heavy feeder Recognize bluegrass is a very heavy feeder

that needs 1#N every growing month during that needs 1#N every growing month during establishment establishment

Know Your FieldKnow Your Field

Recognize and correct problems earlyRecognize and correct problems earlyDocument problems and times they occur Document problems and times they occur

to prevent them in the futureto prevent them in the futureShare your findingsShare your findingsLook at your field daily, if you want to be Look at your field daily, if you want to be

outstanding in OUR field…..outstanding in OUR field…..

You Better Be Caught Often You Better Be Caught Often Out Standing InOut Standing In YOUR YOUR Field!Field!

Questions or CommentsQuestions or Comments