Fusariummy

I get it. I talk a lot about turf disease and fertilizer but it is only because I think that the two things are closely related. More specifically, I think the amount and types of diseases on our grass are closely related to how fast the grass is growing. Not too shabby From what I have seen over the past few years of intense growth rate monitoring and reduction in fungicide use is that if we can grow that grass at the right rate, we can reduce the amount of disease significantly. The trouble is that it isn't that easy to figure out what is the right speed. Further complicating matters is that if you add too much fertilizer, you cannot take it back and are stuck with grass that is either growing too fast which can lead to all sorts of issues at certain times of the year. I have used the Growth Potential mathematical model to predict nitrogen needs, clipping volume and many other things to try and help me get it right and each year that I further refine my fertilizer timing and rate...

I had a blast speaking in Atlantic Canada last week about fertilizer. Photo: Micah Woods Soil biology has always been one of those things that confuses the hell out of me. It's a complicated thing and there are plenty of people that will tell you how you can make your soil biology better (whatever that means) but the consistency of results and expense just don't make sense to me. If soil biology was that easy, everyone would do it. If you ask any turfgrass scientist about soil biology they will probably admit that it plays an important role in plant health but there are very few things that we can specifically do to make positive changes in soil biology as far as science in concerned. Results from products that promise to improve soil biology are mixed and this fact is part of the reason I think that a lot of people don't use these products. I also think that a lot of people use these products because we do appreciate the importance of soil biology and as usual, want to tak...