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Posted 19 February 2007. Crop Management. Want to Know Best Time to Control Weeds? MSU Introduces New Tools to Help Track Weed Life Cycles Michigan State University. www.canr.msu.edu East Lansing, Michigan (February 8, 2007)--Whether you’re a golf course manager or a homeowner, weeds are undoubtedly one of the most challenging and frustrating management problems you face on a regular basis. From dandelions to chickweed to buckhorn to thistles, finding an effective strategy for consistently controlling these and other types of weeds is a major priority for golf course managers, landscape professionals, athletic field managers, homeowners and other green industry-related professionals.
On average, Michigan golf course managers spend upwards of $5,000 per year on chemicals and labor for controlling weeds. Lawn maintenance companies and homeowners spend an additional $26 million annually on weed control products statewide. Ron Calhoun, research specialist in the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, says that understanding the life cycles of weeds is the first and most important step in developing effective control programs. “As a rule, folks don’t start to try to figure out what type of weed it is or how to control it until the weed starts to flower,” Calhoun says. “But, for example, by the time an annual weed starts to flower, it’s usually too far into the weed’s life cycle for herbicide applications to be effective.” “Fall is far and away the best time to control broadleaf weeds in turfgrass, but for many perennial weeds, good control can also be accomplished by applying herbicide during or just after flowering,” he adds. In an effort to help guide turfgrass and landscape professionals in developing effective weed management programs, Calhoun and his colleagues have developed a Web-based program to predict weed flowering times. Weed life cycle predictions are calculated on the basis of the season and weather data collected from the Michigan automated weather station network located across the state and weather centers in Ohio and northern Indiana. “The Web program bases its predictions on growing degree-days instead of an arbitrary calendar date, which may or may not be accurate for any given year in a region. This program bases its information on actual data collected from the weather stations,” he says. “When you enter your zip code on the Web site, it pulls weather information from the weather station closest to your area and creates a customized report for bug activity, crabgrass emergence, disease breakout and other situations in your area. This is the first program of its kind.” Growers, golf course managers, turfgrass and landscape professionals, and those involved in other green industry-related professions can access the growing degree-day tracker Web site to learn more about available predictive models and how to calculate growing degree-days, and to sign up to receive customized updates for their area. The Web site address is www.gddtracker.net. There is no charge to access the site or to sign up for the customized reports. Calhoun and his colleagues have designed a poster illustrating the growing degree-day calendar and relative flowering times for common turf weeds. Posters cost $5 each ($50 for a laminated poster) plus $2.95 shipping and handling. For ordering information, e-mail info@gddtracker.net or call the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation at 517-321-1660. The poster and Web site project received funding from the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and Project GREEEN, Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU. Founded in 1997, Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Environmental and Economic Needs) is a cooperative effort between plant-based commodities and businesses together with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan’s economy through its plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop research and educational programs in response to industry needs, ensure and improve food safety, and protect and preserve the quality of the environment. To learn more about Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, visit www.greeen.msu.edu. Contact: |
