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The following written by Jim Claxton


    Welcome to the Transition Zone,  where it’s too far north for warm season grasses and too far south for cool season grasses.  In the Midwest, we don’t have the humidity and disease issues that we do here.  Back there, the turf grows beautifully with moderate fertilization. 

I found quickly that I needed to learn everything over again.

    As I am sure most of you know, living in Maryland and trying to maintain a beautiful turf is easier said than done.  Tall fescue does better than any cool season grass available.  Big improvements have been made in tall fescue for blade width and color.  The biggest problem with tall fescue is Brown Patch disease.  However, it is typically not lethal.  Once the cooler weather of the fall emerges, the turf will usually recover.

    Studies have been done showing that the addition of 5-10% Kentucky bluegrass to a tall fescue mix is advantageous.  They work synergistically, making for a healthier turf.  Since tall fescue has a tap root and does not spread, it will not repair damage done due to disease or traffic.  With Kentucky bluegrass in the mix, the turf has the ability to fix itself over time.  Kentucky bluegrass spreads using rhizomes, filling in weak and damaged areas of turf.

    It is not recommended to use perennial ryegrass in the Transition Zone.  It is typically very susceptible to disease. However, many seeding contractors use a small amount of perennial ryegrass in their mixes.  They do this because it germinates very quickly, helping to stabilize soil, protecting it from erosion during rain events.

    There is a new line of hybrid bluegrass varieties entering the market.  These varieties have been developed using varying amounts of Texas bluegrass crossed with Kentucky bluegrass.  The introduction of Texas bluegrass into the plant increases the heat tolerance of the bluegrass plant.  Varieties such as Thermal Blue, Dura Blue and Thermal Blue Blaze have created a whole new area where bluegrass can be utilized.

    Disease issues in the Transition Zone can be a huge problem.  Our high humidities coupled with high temperatures create the perfect environment for turf diseases.  Dr. Pete Dernoeden and Dr. Tom Turner with the University of Maryland have written many extension publications to help manage turf in Maryland.  They have publications on almost every facet of establishing and maintaining a healthy turf.  I have included many of those publications below.

    Also, I have included links to the web site at NC State.  They have an absolutely phenomenal web site.  Even though they are farther south, they are still located within the Transition Zone.  Most recommendations will be similar.

Link to Maryland State Highway Specs

Landscaping Specs

Link to TURFNET.COM

www.turfnet.com

CONNECTING GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS WORLDWIDE


MAINTENANCE CALENDARS

Bermudagrass Athletic Field Maintenance Calendar

Bermudagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass Athletic Field Maintenance Calendar

Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Calendar

Tall Fescue, Fine Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn Maintance Calendar

 

TURFGRASSES

Bentgrass, Creeping

Fescue, Fine

Bermudagrass

Fescue, Tall

Bluegrass, Kentucky

Ryegrass, Annual

Bluegrass, Rough

Ryegrass, Perennial

Buffalograss
Zoysiagrass


DISEASES

Turfgrass Disease Identification

Algae Large Patch Pythium Root Rot
Anthracnose Leaf Spot Red Leaf Spot
Brown Patch Melting Out Red Thread
Copper Spot Microdochium Patch Rust
Damping Off Net Blotch Slime Mold
Dollar Spot Pink Snow Mold Spring Dead Spot
Fairy Ring Powdery Mildew Summer Patch
Gray Leaf Spot Pythium Blight White Patch
Gray Snow Mold Pythium Root Dysfunction Yellow Patch
  Yellow Tuft  


Insects

Bees Fire Ants Scoliid Wasps
Chinch Bugs Formica Ants Sod Webworms
Cicada Killer Wasps Ground Pearls Springtails
Crane Fly Larvae Hornets Twolined Spittlebugs
Cutworms Japanese Beetles White Grubs
Fall Armyworms Mole Crickets Yellowjackets
Fall Armyworms (ENT128) Rhodesgrass Mealybugs  


WEEDS

Turfgrass Weed Identification
Barnyardgrass Foxtail, Green Plantain, Broadleaf
Bermudagrass Foxtail, Yellow Purslane, Pink
Bluegrass, Annual Garlic, Wild Ragweed, Common
Bluegrass, Rough Goosegrass Ryegrass, Annual
Buttercup, Bulbous Henbit Ryegrass, Italian
Buttercup, Hairy Horseweed Ryegrass, Perennial
Buttercup, Smallflower Ivy, Ground Sandbur
Carpetweed Johnsongrass Sedge, Annual
Chickweed, Common Knawel Spurge, Prostrate
Chickweed, Mouseear Knotweed, Prostrate Spurge, Spotted
Clover, White Lespedeza, Common Spurweed
Crabgrass, Large Lespedeza, Sericea Stiltgrass, Japanese
Crabgrass, Smooth Nimblewill Vetch, Common
Dallisgrass Nutsedge, Purple Vetch, Hairy
Dandelion, Common Nutsedge, Yellow Violet, Wild
Deadnettle, Purple Orchardgrass Woodsorrel, Yellow
Dock, Curly Oxalis  
Fescue, Tall Pennywort  


OTHER TURF PESTS

Clover Mites Moles
Crayfish Mole Man  
Earthworms Nematodes
Millipedes Voles


Link to theTurf Council Web Site

DISEASES

☞Collecting and Shipping Turfgrass Samples   TT-3

☞Brown Patch TT-15

☞Dollar Spot TT-16 

☞Summer Patch  TT-18

☞Red Thread & Pink Patch  TT-24

☞Fairy Rings TT-23

☞Diagnosing Diseases TT-32

☞Diagnosing Common Lawn & Athletic Field Diseases TT-38 



WEED CONTROL

Broadleaf Weed Control  TT-49

    Crabgrass & Goosegrass Control TT-43e

    Grass Weed Control  TT-46

CARING FOR A NEW LAWN

Caring for a Newly Seeded Lawn TT-67

    Maintaining a Lawn TT-63

    Irrigating  TT-62

RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS & MIXES

   Recommended List for Maryland & Virginia (TT-77) 

2009

2008

2007

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

Nutrient Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass Seeding TT-116

    Guidelines for State Property & Commercially Managed Turfgrass  TT-115

    Guidelines for Sod Farms  TT-114

WILDFLOWER SEEDING

   Wildflower Seeding and Maintenance  TT-70

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