June and July brought a mix of weather patterns to the Southeast, impacting various states differently. Most of Florida experienced typical afternoon showers, providing much-needed moisture. Other areas, such as parts of Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas, have continued to face drier conditions. Unpredictable weather patterns make it challenging to plan and execute daily activities like mowing, and can really complicate cultural practices, pest control and renovation projects. A few pest-related challenges that courses are experiencing this summer have stood out in my travels.
Presence of armyworms: Armyworms have made their presence known throughout the Southeast and have been a big problem at construction projects where new turf has recently been installed – both sod and sprigs. Consider applying the insecticide Acelepryn (chlorantraniliprole) to the necessary turf areas for long-lasting control of armyworms and fall webworms.
Mole cricket activity: Several courses I have visited had breakthroughs thanks to excessive rain, which weakened applications completed earlier in the year to control mole crickets. For detailed information on mole cricket biology and control, check out the Green Section Record article “They Came From Outer Space.”
Fairy ring pressure: Significant fairy ring pressure has been observed over the past couple of months, affecting not only putting greens but also tees and fairways. This is one of the more complex diseases to control, so preventative measures are the best strategy against this pesky fungus. Preventative control applications are typically completed in March when the turf is actively growing and soil temperatures are consistently above 60 F in areas such as Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. In Florida, the turf must be actively growing with soil temperatures above 70 F. Curative control can be tricky, and recovering from the damage takes a long time. Effective curative control products include Pedigree (flutolanil), Velista (penthiopyrad), Densicor (prothioconazole) and tebuconazole. Additionally, proper cultural practices, water management and wetting agent usage will go a long way in preventing future flare-ups.
Weeds gone wild: If you struggled with weed control this year, start planning for next year now. While fall and winter control of Poa annua is essential, it's also important to think ahead to the spring and summer of 2025. If your course uses oxadiazon for preemergence control of grassy weeds, you'll need to adapt to the new EPA ruling that limits its application to only 30% of the golf course property.
In addition to getting a handle on the pests listed above, there are a lot of other ways to set your course up for success as summer winds down. August into early September is an excellent time of the year to get in one last core aeration. The conditions will still be optimal for turf to heal and be ready for fall golf. Be sure to evaluate the weather and present turf conditions before deciding on how aggressive you want to be, and also be cautious of disease pressure that aeration can exacerbate, such as Pythium root rot.
If you’re one of the many courses in the Southeast undergoing a renovation or other major project, hopefully the work is in the final stages of completion. August is a critical time to finish planting and establishing new turf so you’re prepared for the fall season. If you’re in Florida, you have a bit of extra buffer time since most courses going through renovations in the Sunshine State have projected opening dates in early December.
The end of summer is near! Remember that obtaining healthy turf conditions is about endurance, not a quick dash. Good planning and execution through the remainder of summer will set you up well for a successful fall and winter golf season.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org