By Jim Murphy

The Rutgers Wear Simulator being operated on the 2006 National Tall Fescue Trial.

Hope your winter is going well.

We recently published on the web a fact sheet update on Tall Fescue Varieties for New Jersey Sports Fields.

This fact sheet discusses the characteristics of traffic tolerance, turfgrass quality, and susceptibility to brown patch disease (caused by Rhizoctonia solani). Traffic tolerant varieties are more persistent under the combined stresses of wear and compaction, which are very common on sports turfs. The variety recommendations in this fact sheet are based on research conducted at Rutgers University on the 2006 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Tall Fescue Test. Data from other locations was also used for these recommendations.

By Bradley S. Park, Sports Turf Education & Research Coordinator &
James A. Murphy, Extension Specialist in Turf Management
Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS1186 | December 2012

Use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) as a forage and conservation grass increased in the United States with the release of ‘Alta’ and ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1940. It has long been used for control of soil erosion along right-of-ways such as highway roadsides. By the 1960s, ‘Kentucky 31’ became more widely recognized as a useful turfgrass in the transition zone (boundary between the temperate and subtropical climates) of the United States due to its good heat tolerance and adaptation to a wide range of soil (pH, fertility and moisture) and light conditions.

• Selecting Varieties
• Purchasing Seed
• Establishment of Tall Fescue
• Maintenance of Tall Fescue for Sports Turf
• Performance of Tall Fescue Varieties

Read more…

By Jim Murphy

As you might expect, we are receiving questions from county agents, landscapers, and property owners about saltwater flooding effects on soils and plants and the appropriate remediation. The information below may be helpful in answering these questions. (Thanks to Stephanie Murphy for pulling together a lot of this information).

Source: Read More on the Rutgers Turf Blog

Plant & Pest Advisory, Landscape, Nursery & Turf Edition, November 15, 2012

• Diseases of Turfgrass
  • Stem and Crown Rust; Stripe Smut; Take All Patch
  • Pink Snow Mold
• Announcements
  • Turfgrass Expo – December 4 – 6, 2012 at Trump Taj Mahal Casino/Resort
    This is a great opportunity to receive the latest turf management information from nationally renowned speakers.
    For additional information, please contact Cece Peabody (973) 812-6467,
    e-mail execdirector@njturfgrass.org or
    Anne Diglio (848) 932-6396, e-mail diglio@aesop.rutgers.edu.

By Jim Murphy

Many are planting new turf areas or re-seeding damaged areas using perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass has the advantage of a fast establishment rate; a full turf cover can develop within 4 weeks.

However, you need to be aware that gray leaf spot disease…

Source: Read More on the Rutgers Turf Blog

By Bruce Clarke

Have received several questions from golf course superintendents over the last few days about potential phytotoxicity from the use of Daconil Action (cholorthalonil + acibenzolar) on golf course greens and fairways.  I have worked with Daconil Action for 7-8 years and have not seen any “unique” phytotoxicity associated with that…

Source: Read More on the Rutgers Turf Blog