WEATHER

By John C . Fech and Bradley R . Jakubowski

Wide fluctuations in moisture , temperature and wind patterns make small problems into big ones . A few manifestations of these include anthracnose , pythium blight and take all patch , billbug and white grub infestations , cankers in tree trunks , gaps in sprinkler system coverage , and desiccation of both turf and ornamentals . All of these become so much more severe when the weather hits hard and fast . Whether it ’ s on the field or in the surrounding landscape , these influences are significant . Fortunately , there are some tried-and-true techniques that can lessen their impact .

WHAT ’ S EXTREME ? Extreme … really ? These days ? What ’ s extreme ? It used to be that extreme meant expanding the NCAA basketball playoffs from 32 to 64 teams and Elvis Presley ’ s dancing on the Ed Sullivan show . Now , with the LIV and PGA tours joining up and the extreme number of entertainment streaming options compared to just a few years ago , the paradigm of “ extreme ” may have shifted a bit .

In the sports field management world , “ extreme ” could have several meanings . It could mean that changes and options in turf species / cultivars are possible now , whereas 20 years ago they were unheard of . Mowing heights and techniques are another example . The tolerance of turf and ornamental plants to various pathogens and insects is always on the minds of the plant breeders ; and , as such , may lessen or magnify the damage from these pests , depending on how they are managed .

EXTREME IS STILL EXTREME . BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ? For us to address extremes , we first need to establish or recall a baseline in management operations ; for example , the average tolerance to winter cold and moisture for a given sports turf species or ornamental shrub . Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are species that have seen more implementation on both sports turf facilities and golf

Considerations of right plant , right place is imperative for turf and ornamentals on sports facilities and campus grounds – especially in transition zones and when records indicate that certain plants thrive in some years and struggle in others . Photos by John Fech , UNL

34 SportsField Management | November 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com