Getting a functional website and blog up and running takes more time than one might think... but it's slowly coming along. Here's what's going on lately...
Ants continue to be more than a nuisance, and many places have taken such hold that knockdown controls only seem to be effective for about a week. The only solution is to keep on them, by any means possible. Broadcast sprays, spot sprays with hand cans, shaker baits carried on the mowers... just keep at it.
Disease pressure continues to be light to moderate. Dollar spot is around just about wherever you go, but to this point has been tolerable and easily managed. Brown Patch made an appearance during our week of hot and muggy weather, and recently a few more reports of Take-All have been heard.
Clover... lots of clover again. There's a couple theories on why there's so much clover out there right now. First, the cool dry spring wasn't ideal for controlling broadleaf weeds. Others have admitted the clover was bad enough at spray time that they got a good kill but it was so thick that there was clover underneath clover that didn't actually see herbicide. A third reason, that I think may be often overlooked is that clover does well in low N conditions... and with the budget crunch and rising costs of fertilizer the last couple years lots of fairways and especially roughs are getting less N than in the past. As we get closer to fall and start thinking about broadleaf applications, give a little consideration to possibly an extra shot of fertilizer as well.
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