green world AN INDUSTRYWIDE PUBLICATION OF THE NEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Vol. 16 No. 3 Closing a Gap in Crabgrass Control Programs Ralph E. Engel, Professor Emeritus and John A. Meade, Extension Specialist in Weed Science Rutgers University Fifty years ago, management was the major recourse of the turfgrower who tried to control crabgrass in this humid climate. For the past thirty years, we have benefitted from mod­ ern postemergence and preemer­ gence chemicals. In this period, we have not had a good herbicide for small crabgrass seedlings. In the late 1940's, phenyl mercury acetate was used for control of see­ dling and younger crabgrass plants. Most commonly, this was on bent- grass turf where the chemical had val­ ue on turf diseases. This method re­ quired three to five treatments for se­ lective control and was appropriate for many turf situations. The poisonous nature of the chemical was of con­ cern, and contributed to its discontin­ uation some years before the start of intensive environmental restrictions. Following this, an appreciable num­ ber of chemicals were tried for poste­ mergence crabgrass control, but none showed convincing promise until fe- noxaprop-ethyl* was tested approxi­ mately five years ago. This chemical has been tested at the New Jersey Ag­ ricultural Experiment Station of Rut­ gers University since 1982 (Engel, 1983-5). It showed considerable prom­ ise and while several similar herbicides did also, the fenoxaprop-ethyl herbi­ cide has been tested and developed adequately for a label. The Nature and Action of Fenoxaprop-Ethyl This herbicide is an organic com­ pound with a double ring structure. It is foliar absorbed. Visible activity on the grasses is not rapid and appears in seven to fourteen days. Good kill of various young annual grasses occurs in the range of 0.08-0.25 lbs ai/a. It has no preemergence action and is not effective on broadleaf weeds. Do not combine fenoxaprop-ethyl with phen- oxies, but it can be combined with vari­ ous preemergence materials for se­ vere problems (Engel et al., 1983-85). December 1986 Turfgrass Tolerance of Fenoxaprop- Ethyl The turf-type ryegrasses have good tolerance and mature growth of Ken­ tucky bluegrass has adequate tolerance to the herbicide during late spring. It is not labeled for bentgrass turf because in­ jury is likely to be severe. Application of fenoxaprop-ethyl on annual bluegrass is not recommended. The senior author found serious injury to annual bluegrass on putting green turf in test trials with the recommended rate. It is labeled for turf of annual bluegrass and other Poa spp. Ex­ ercise proper caution when appreciable amounts of other grasses are present un­ less they are known to have tolerance. When To Apply Seedlings or young plants of crabgrass are easily killed with fenoxaprop-ethyl, but the plants increase resistance as they mature. Late spring through early summer is the prime season for applica­ tion in New Jersey, since in most years major germination of crabgrass has taken place by late June or early July. (See Fig­ ure 1) Yet in some years, later germina­ tion can occur which could necessitate a repeat application. If a retreatment is made, wait at least two weeks after the previous treatment. Applications made after the crabgrass develops mature till­ ers or begins seedheads are unlikely to be effective. Rates of Application Treatment with fenoxaprop-ethyl on Kentucky bluegrass or turf-type rye­ grasses are recommended at the rate of 0.12 - 0.25 lbs ai/a (16-32 fl. ounces of 1 Ib/gal concentrate per acre). Start with the lower rate on unknown turfgrasses with questionable turf conditions. Often two applications at the 0.12 lb rate of ai/a are better than one treatment of 0.25 lb ai/a. Lower rates of 0.05 - 0.08 lb ai/a can give significant action on crabgrass and goosegrass plants that are in a very early stage of growth. This lower range of rate needs more study to determine its effec­ tiveness where greater safety to the turf is needed. continued on page 4 Figure 1. Methods and times of attack on Crabgrass in lawn turf *FNOXPethyl = Fenoxaprop-Ethyl = (±)-ethyl 2-[4-[(6-chloro-2-benzooxazolyl) oxy] phenoxy] propanoate, an American Hoescht chemical which is now on the market as Acclaim. OPINIONS AND COMMENTS Yours and Ours A reader questioned me concerning what I wrote against finding a replace­ ment for 2,4-D in the last issue of Green World. The intent of my brief comment was to say “Theoretical re­ alism tells this is unlikely to be an easy, simple chore!” Also, I disa­ greed with the approach of using a greater total of other phenoxies. Pos­ sibly I should have made these two statements and quit. Besides its effectiveness, two as­ pects of 2,4-D control of dandelions are of special interest. •••This herbi­ cide can be used in spot treatment of these weeds far in excess of the re­ quired rate. I have used this chemical at 8 and 10 times the rate without kill­ ing or seriously harming mature lawn turf of Kentucky bluegrass. This type of safety range is unlikely with most herbicides. I say this knowing one pound per acre on seedling turfgrass- es or bentgrass greens can be fatal. Spot treatment of dandelions with 2,4-D may not seem like the biggest deal, but many carry a mist bottle with a 2,4-D solution on the mower to man­ age total control, which should be the ultimate goal for this weed. ••• A sec­ ond feature is the lack of a threat of 2,4-D resistant dandelions after forty years of abundant use. It is remarka­ ble that a few resistant plants have not been isolated and become a real problem. □ REE 1986 OFFICERS OF THE N.J.T.A. Joe DeSantis, President Jack Poksay, Vice President Ralph Engel, Secretary Joseph Dodgson, Treasurer Dave McGhee, Past President Henry Indyk, Expo Chairman EXECUTIVE BOARD Samuel Leon Richard Hurley Joseph W. Manning, Jr. James Stewart Robert Dobson William A. Nist David Pease Ed Milewski William Waddington WE CAN HELP YOU GROW better quality turf Jonathan Green stocks more bluegrass, fine textured rye­ grass and turf-type tall fescue varieties than any other seed house in the mid- atlantic and eastern states. Jonathan Green stocks an entire range of insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and specialty turf products for professional lawn services, golf courses, municipalities, sod growers, hydro-seeders and all landscape contractors. Jonathan Green provides you with product information, custom turf care programs and prompt knowledgeable attention to your particu­ lar turf problems... large or small. FOR THE FASTEST SERVICE IN THE EAST Jonathan Green CALL FARMINGDALE, NEW JERSEY 07727 IN NEW JERSEY 201-938-7007 1-800-526-2303 OUT OF STATE Sustaining Members — NJTA 1986-87 AABAR, INC. A & A Lawn Sprinklers A-L Service A. Lombardi Landscaping Aquarius Irrigation Supply Aqua-Flo Aquashade, Inc. Arthur's Landscape & Irrigation Co. Atlantic Distributors Barefoot Grass Lawn Service Barnes Landscape Basking Ridge Golf Course, Inc. Bellusci Landscaping Brickman Industries, Inc. Brouwer Turf Equipment Bruedan Corp. Bunton Turf Products, Inc. W. A. Cleary Corporation Chevron Chemical Co. Coastline Equipment Co. Coger Farms & Garden Ctr. D & J Landscaping Double Eagle Equipment Co. Dow Chemical USA Even when we were with you, this we com­ manded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. — II Thessalonians 3:10 Sustaining Members — NJTA 1986-87 cont. Du Brows's Nurseries Elite Land Care Evergreen Lawn Sprinklers Fairway Colf Car, Inc. Farmstead Golf & CC Fertl-Soil Turf Supply, Inc. Fiddlers Elbow CC Florence Landscaping SVC., Inc. Forest Hill Feld Club Garfield Williamson, Proform Gimni Cricket, Inc. Green Grass Landscape Svc., Inc Grass Roots Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc. Homestead Landscaping Homestead Lawn Sprinkler Co., Inc. Horizon Estates Hummer Turfgrass Systems, Inc. International Seeds Irrigation Unlimited Inc. Jade Run Turf & Sod Farm Jep Sales, Inc. Jesco, Inc. Jimni Krickett, Inc. Keystone Lawn Spray, Inc. L & M Irrigation, Inc. Lawn Doctor I Matawan Lawn Doctor Mountainside/Cranford Lebanon Chemical Co. Lee Rain, Inc. Leon’s Sod Farm Leonard Reinhardt, Inc. Lesco, Inc. L J. Makrancy & Sons Lofts Seed, Inc. MacAndrews & Forbes Co. Metro Milorganite, Inc. Middletown Sprinkler Co. Monsanto Agricultural Products Co. Montco I Surfside Morris Co. Park Commission National Lawn Serv., Haines & Son Newton Country Club Nor-Am Chemical Co. Paige Electric Corp. Panther Valley G & CC Partac Peat Corp. Pfeiffers' Pfarms Equip. Co. Pocono Turf Supply QQ’s “The Trailer Place” Rapp Sod Farm Reed’s Sod Farm Reid Sod Farm Rick's Cycle Center Rockland Chemical Co. Rosedale & Rosehill Cemetery Royal Lawns of Monmouth Rumson Country Club O.M. Scott & Sons Sands Country Club Seacoast Labs Spring Irrigation Co., Inc. Storr Tractor Co. Superior Chemical Product Surf Landscaping Sweetin’s Landscaping, Inc. Toms River Lawn & Sprinkler Inc. Trenton Country Club Tuckahoe Turf Farms Vaughan Seed Co. Washington Twp. Parks & Rec. Wildwood Golf & CC Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Wilpat Turf Sprinklers, Inc. Woodbridge Center Woodruff/Lerco Lawns of So. Jersey Effect of Mowing and Sweeping Clip­ pings on Divot Healing and Knotweed Content by Eggens, J.L., Pierce, N.L., Hoyt, V. and Creed, R. from Aqnual Turfgrass Research Report of the Ontario Agriculture College In 1984, plots of a fairway previously mowed at 2.0 cm were mowed at both 2.0 cm (9 blades, pull mower) and 1.1 cm (triplex greensmower). In 1985, the 2.0 cm plots were maintained with and without sweeping of clippings and the 1.1 cm plots of 1984 were mowed to 0.9 cm with and without sweeping. Me­ chanical divots were taken July 2, 1985. Four weeks later, healing was greatest in the unswept 2.0 cm turf. This effect disappeared by weeks 5 and 7. Knotweed Polygonum aviculare L. content was similar for the two heights of cut when clippings were un­ swept. Sweeping clippings increased knotweed for both heights of cut. The increase was greater with the 2 cm than with the 0.9 cm. [Ed, comment: Healing of divots was more rapid at four weeks with the high­ er cut and unswept clippings. This may have resulted from lower temper­ ature and better growth. Clippings could aid some diseases, but if dis­ ease was an obvious factor, it would have been reported. The increase of knotweed with sweeping suggests a disturbance of the canopy that aids the weed’s development. It would be of interest to run a test that compared clipping removal with a catcher and a sweeper. A“ thank you” to our Royal Canadian friends for this study and information. The Fascination of Golf Golf started off with a great advan­ tage over many other sports: you did not have to be a young, fast, beautiful­ ly coordinated athlete to play it ac­ ceptably. As a result, it found ready converts among the two sexes and people of all ages. They soon discov­ ered that once golf gets you in its grip, it never lets you go. On the other hand, there was Andrew Carnegie de­ claring thoughtfully that golf was "an indispensable adjunct of high civiliza­ tion,” and on the other, there was the story of the Scotsman who threw his clubs into the ocean after a bad round and nearly drowned trying to rescue them. Both statements added up to about the same thing. by William Smart Hudson Valley Foreground Wilfred Mac Donald, Inc. 340 Main Avenue Clifton, NJ 07014 201-471-0244 •Jacobsen • National • Giant Vac •Cushman •FMC •Olathe • Gravely • Broyhill • Howard • Smithco •Terra-Care From Weed Notes -JM The first step in greatness is to be —Samuel Johnson honest. The 2,4-D-less Lawn Herbicide Another company, the Andersons, has introduced a broadleaf weed her­ bicide which does not contain 2,4-D. It does contain a compound called BREAK-THRU, chemistry unknown. A university researcher indicates that the three-way combination of BREAK- THRU plus clopyralid, which is being sold in Canada as Lontrel, combined with Dow’s TRICLOPYR appears to be the best non-phenoxy herbicide com­ bination available. The LONTREL, in- cidently, is 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid. You might recognize this as related to picloram or TORDON, which makes one say "Oops!” as one remembers that this compound is going to be used on turf near trees and shrubs. Prodiamine 65WDG Dave Eastman, now of Sandoz Crop Protection, sends me a label which in­ dicates that this compound has an ex­ perimental use permit for turf and or­ namentals. It is an active compound that may very well find a niche in the turf and ornamentals market. People try to live within their income so that they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can't live within its income. —Robert Half Parkmaster The Professional for large areas. The Toro Parkmaster mows swaths from 30 inches to 181/2 feet wide -up to 80 acres a day With a 7 or 9 unit hydraulically controlled frame, it has a compact pattern of gangs for easy mowing, easy transporting. The Parkmaster is the mowing tractor built to take Spartan gangs. Comes with powerful gas or diesel engine with cab and roll over protection system (ROPS) optional TORO Storr Tractor Co 3191 U.S. Highway 22 Somerville, NJ 08876 201/722-9830 The professionals that keep you cutting. Labor even the most humble and the most obscure, if it is well done, tends to beautify and embellish the world. —Gabriele D’Amnunzio BEAM CLAY THE PROFESSIONAL S CHOICE . . . SINCE 1922 BEAM CLAY IS THE RED BASEBALL MIX USED BY THE U.S.A. AND CANADA. PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ACROSS SPECIAL MIXES FOR PITCHER'S MOUNDS, HOMEPLATE AREAS & WARNING TRACKS. BOTH AVAILABLE IN BULK OR BAGS 201-637-4631 201-637-4191 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK GREAT MEADOWS, N.J. 07838 PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP-DRESSING HEAT TREATED CONTROL THATCH, PROMOTE HEALTHY TURF & SMOOTH PLAYING SURFACES Closing a Gap in Crabgrass Control Programs continued from page 1 the label for any adjustment on rate or treatment Interval. This group of chemicals Is more active In hot, dry weather and less active In cool, moist weather. Turf discoloration may be se­ vere but the Kentucky bluegrass lawn recovers nicely with good growing weather In late August - September. In summary, we believe fenoxaprop- ethyl will be a valuable herbicide for control of crabgrass In the young see­ dling stage on such areas as sunny lawns, ryegrass tees and athletic field turf of Kentucky bluegrass-ryegrass or tall fescue turf. Maintaining total control of crabgrass Is the best and easiest program. Persistent good management and discretion In use of chemicals will give good control. Engel, R.E. and Bussey, C.W. 1983. Poste­ merge crabgrass control with fenoxaprop- ethyl on Kentucky bluegrass turf. Rutgers Turfgrass Proceedings 14:67-70. Engel, R.E. and Bussey, C.W. 1984. Com­ bining fenoxaprop-ethyl with preemerge herbicides for crabgrass control Rutgers Turfgrass Proceedings 15:184-189. Engel, R.E. 1985. Complementary action of postemergence and preemergence herbi­ cide combinations on control of Digitaria is- chaemum Muhl. and D. sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (Crabgrass), Proceedings of the Fifth International Turfgrass Research Confer­ ence. 5:691-698. country club greenskeeper Lebanon Pro Professional Turf Products Condition of the Turf A good turf that is making healthy but not lush growth appears to be the best condition for treatment. Droughti­ ness is not favorable. It is emphasized again that treatments on seedling turf are not recommended. While fenoxaprop-ethyl enters the leaves and translocates to the growing points of the tillers, good spray cover­ age is important. If for no other rea­ son, a coarse, open pattern of spray would permit many of the small see­ dling crabgrass plants to escape treat­ ment in this easy-to-kill stage. Turf that is moved at closer heights of cut offers a better chance for the spray mixture to reach the crabgrass blade. This also suggests spraying ap­ proximately 24 hours after mowing to minimize interception of the spray by the regrowth of turf. Also, turf clip­ pings should be removed before spraying to avoid their interference. Follow-up of Fenoxaprop-Ethyl Treatments With good control and favorable growing weather in late August and September, fertilization will help the turfgrasses make good late season growth, resist crabgrass next year, and give prime appearance. If crabgrass is present after early August, more abrupt action can be taken. On small turf areas and with only a few crabgrass plants, hand re­ moval by cutting the roots at the soil line should assure fewer crabgrass plants next year. If crabgrass is present in large quan­ tities, a methyl arsonate compound (DSMA, CAMA and MSMA) can be used at this season for a quick knock­ down of the crabgrass plants and for prevention of seed production. The herbicide toxicity of this chemical is such that it does not require a poison label. Kentucky bluegrass type lawns in sunny areas have more tolerance of this herbicide and offer best results. Usually two applications at seven to ten day intervals are required. Follow Green World is published three times a year by the New Jersey Turfgrass Asso­ ciation, P.O. Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Consulting editors: Ralph En­ gel and Rich White; production editor and layout artist: David Crismond. Lebanon TOTAL TURF CARE P. O. Box 189, Dayton, NJ 08810 P. O. Box 180, Lebanon, PA 17042 A division of Lebanon Chemical Corporation R O C K L A N D FERTILIZERS COMBINATIONS OF NITROFORM I.B.D.U. S.C.U. And And WITH INSECTICIDES PRE-EMERGENCE CRABGRASS KILLERS HERBICIDES GRANULAR LIQUID SELECTIVE AND TOTAL FUNGICIDES GRANULAR FLOWABLE WETTABLE POWDERS INSECTICIDES GRANULAR LIQUID WETTABLE POWDERS DOES IT ALL Ask your supplier or write: ROCKLAND CHEMICAL CO., INC. ® Passaic Ave., West Caldwell, N.J. WILD FLOWER MIX The low-maintenance beauty treatment for any landscape Pinto - beautiful to look at and easy to maintain. Ideal for parks, roadsides, golf course roughs, Indus­ trial sites. Perennials and annuals that reseed themselves and give you a painted pic­ ture of reds, blues, pinks, yellows - year after year. Available either as 100% wild flowers or as a Meadow Mix combined with a fescue to aid soil stabilization. Pinto Wild Flower Mix... the natural way to a perma­ nent, beautiful landscape. Lofts Seed Inc. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (201)356-8700 LOFTS For more information call John Morrissey or Marie Pompei at (800) 526-3890.