Turf & Landscape - MSU Extension News - April 29, 2025

Pain in the grass: Crabgrass

Many odd grasses growing in a lawn are casually referred to as crabgrass, but the danger in treating all odd grass species the same is that they may have different lifecycles and require different tactics for successful control.

Read More

Managing Golfer Expectations to Help Conserve Water

Trying to meet golfer expectations plays a big role in how courses are managed, especially when it comes to watering. Any golf course that wants or needs to use less water will have to manage expectations and build support among golfers for water conservation efforts to be successful. No matter what your water-saving goals are, this article has strategies that will help you educate golfers, get productive feedback, and adjust expectations to match any changes in water use.

Read Featured

Addressing ice storm damage to trees

Winter is always a challenging time for landscape trees in Michigan. One of the most significant and lasting impacts of winter on trees is ice and snow damage. Last week’s ice storm in southern lower Michigan coated trees with up to half an inch of ice. This amount of ice can weigh down tree branches and cause significant breakage. Often the weight of ice results in high crown breakage, though trees can also split or lose major limbs.

Read More

REGISTER

Ornamental Grasses in the Garden

May 22, 2025

6 - 7:30 p.m.

MSU Extension - Macomb County

21885 Dunham Rd.

Clinton Twp, MI 48036

Free to the public

Timing crabgrass preemergence applications in spring

Spring hasn’t officially arrived but with the snow quickly disappearing and temperatures forecast to be in the 50’s and even 60’s in some parts of the state in the next week, interest in spring lawn care is blooming. When is the best time to apply preemergence herbicides is a common question as spring arrives and lawns start growing again.

Read More

Gardening in michigan - msu extension - March 11, 2025

Testing for contaminants in soil, water and plants

The MSU Extension soil testing service offers a variety of analyses through the Home Lawn and Garden Soil Test Mailer and the commercial soil test bag. These tests provide information on soil nutrients, pH, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity (CEC), along with detailed, personalized recommendations for fertilizer and soil amendments that make it easy for residents to select and apply the correct products for their lawns and gardens

Read More

USGA Green Section Record - March 21, 2025

Understanding the Risk When Applying Different Rates of Carfentrazone-Ethyl After Bensulide on Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens

Carfentrazone-ethyl is used to treat silvery-thread moss, but what is the risk of turf injury if bensulide has already been applied to control grassy weeds? This research has answers.

Read Research

Let’s Roll out of Winter.

Thomas A Nikolai PhD,
The Doctor of Green Speed and King of Customer Satisfaction
& Eric Galbraith Research Technician Extraordinaire

February 12, 2024 Research Technician Eric Galbraith initiated a daily double rolling putting green study at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center. My request was simple, everyday there is no snow on the plots please double roll them and periodically take green speed measurements.

READ MORE

Money Well Spent – Or Not?

Everything in golf course maintenance and renovation seems to be getting more expensive, so make sure that your course is spending money wisely and investing in future success. In this article, Brad Klein shares some of the smart ways he's seen courses spending money recently, and some of the expensive mistakes that can be made. Spending more money on something doesn’t guarantee good results, you want to spend money on the right things in the right way.

Read More

Dr. Kevin Frank - MSU - February 18, 2025

The Current Situation of Ice on Putting Greens
Kevin W. Frank

to 31 with high temperatures once again at 40 °F or higher followed by up to ½ inch rain on January 31 and then temperatures below freezing starting on February 1, another potential ice forming event.

Read More

Why I Strive for Excellence Rather Than Perfection

Striving for perfection might sound good, but in the naturally imperfect world of golf course maintenance, being a perfectionist can lead to problems. In this article, superintendent Chris Tritabaugh explains how focusing on excellence rather than perfection helps his team prioritize and deliver outstanding results at Hazeltine National with a high level of job satisfaction. Whether it's a big project or daily maintenance, this approach has proven successful for them and it could work well for you too.

Read More

Celebrating the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation’s 50 years of impact at MSU

Since 1974, philanthropic support from the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation has strengthened MSU’s world-renowned turfgrass program.

Read More

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD - DECEMBER 6, 2024 

Are You Managing Putting Green Organic Matter or Is It Managing You?

While developing a standard method for putting green OM sampling and testing, we took samples from hundreds of greens across the country and learned a lot about OM levels and management.

Read Research

Pest management - msu extension - November 29, 2024

Herbicide plan for the 2025 season

Already thinking about your herbicide program for 2025? We are too. This article will highlight key resources including problem weeds from 2024, herbicide programs for 2025, restricted used pesticide (RUP) credit opportunities for your license, how to obtain a new license and how to comply with Bulletins Live! Two.

Read More

Gardening in michigan - msu extension - november 22, 2024

Michigan Christmas tree market looks steady for the 2024 season

Consumers heading out to retailers will notice that the Christmas retail season continues to start earlier and earlier. Some big box stores and grocery chains had real Christmas trees available for purchase a couple weeks ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving start date.

Read More

Gardening in Michigan - MSU Extension - November 5, 2024

Melanie Fuhrmann joins MSU Extension consumer horticulture team in Oakland County

I am thrilled to join Michigan State University Extension as the new consumer horticulture educator serving Oakland County. In this role, I will coordinate the Oakland County Extension Master Gardener classes and volunteers and collaborate with local communities, agencies and partners to make research-based gardening practices more accessible and impactful. I am eager to support community efforts to create more beautiful, inclusive and accessible landscapes.  

Read More

turf and landscape - MSU Extension - October 14, 2024

Attend MSU’s Turf School short course in December

The Michigan State University Turf School is a course designed to teach the basics of turfgrass science as well as the practical techniques of managing turfgrass. The school will be team-taught by MSU turfgrass faculty and staff. The curriculum is designed to deliver a wide range of turfgrass management topics including basic soils and soil management, turfgrass species identification, selection and physiology, turf establishment and renovation, fertilization, proper pesticide use and environmental stewardship.

Read More

USGA Green Section Record- October 18, 2024

Creative Cart Paths

Hard-surface cart paths can have a negative impact on aesthetics and playability, but some golf courses need paths in certain areas. Loose aggregates may be an option worth exploring.

Read More

Getting a start on weed control in the fall

The more moderate weather conditions last winter led to extensive winter annual and perennial weed growth this spring. Winter annual weeds including chickweed, purple deadnettle, henbit, several mustard species and glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed (marestail) can form dense weed mats that can be difficult to control with spring burndown herbicides. These difficulties can arise from insufficient spray coverage, fluctuating spring temperatures, and timeliness of the burndown herbicide application due to uncooperative spring weather.

Read More

USGA Green Section Record - September 20, 2024

How To Make Your Backyard Putting Green Dream a Reality

Anyone who loves the game of golf has probably dreamed of having their very own putting green at home. There’s no question it can be a lot of fun, but building and maintaining your own green also tends to be more complicated and expensive than people expect. There is a lot to consider and plenty that can go wrong. This article takes you through the key considerations and will help you make decisions about synthetic versus natural grass, location and size of the green, construction methods and much more. We spoke with backyard putting green builders and people who maintain them so you can learn from their experience, get some tips for success, and fully understand the commitment involved.

Read Featured

WILX - 10

Mid-Michigan Matters: MSU to provide grass for FIFA World Cup

Dr. Trey Rogers with MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources shares his experiences with WILX Taylor Gattoni, discussing research and providing turfgrass for the World Cup.

Watch Video

Tips for seeding lawns in September

Reduced weed competition from summer annuals such as crabgrass, cooler temperatures and shorter day length that results in less time for soil drying all facilitate turf establishment. In many cases, home lawns don’t need complete reestablishment, but only reseeding of small areas or interseeding into a thin lawn to increase density. The following are five tips from Michigan State University Extension for fall seeding success.

Read More

The Secrets of a Successful Turf Reduction Program

Reducing the amount of irrigated turf on a golf course is a great way to save water, but this strategy is not without challenges. Deciding how much turf to remove, and where, can be contentious. Courses also need to figure out a replacement for irrigated turf and a management program for turf removal areas that keeps golfers somewhat happy. In this article, we cover the steps necessary to plan and implement a successful turf reduction program. We look at specific examples from courses that have done it and share the lessons they learned along the way, including the importance of setting realistic expectations about how these areas will look and play.

Read More

Moving On Up: Going From Superintendent to General Manager

For superintendents, deciding to pursue a general manager position can be a long-term career goal or an unexpected opportunity. No matter how it happens, an increasing number of veteran greenkeepers have made the move in recent years and it’s a trend that’s likely to continue. The skill set of a modern superintendent translates well to a general manager role, but there are definitely plenty of new things to learn. Brad Klein talked with multiple superintendents who became general managers to get their thoughts and suggestions for others who may want to follow this path.

Read Next on the Tee

Making Sense of Remote Sensing

Remote sensing technology has the potential to make golf course maintenance more efficient and effective, but there are some limitations to the tools currently available. In this article, we dive deep into some of the remote sensing products and services being offered in the golf course maintenance industry. We look at how they work and how to incorporate them into daily maintenance routines. We also cover ongoing research into how these technologies perform in a turf context.

Read Featured

MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics names new director

The new director of both Plant & Pest Diagnostics and the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network is Jan Byrne, PhD. Byrne has worked at MSU as the plant pathology diagnostician since 1999, after earning a B.S. in plant science from Cornell University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology from MSU. In addition to her diagnostic role, Byrne teaches plant pathology to students in the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology and has served as the associate director for the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network since 2003.

Read More

The buzz on the new insect/arthropod diagnostician at MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics

After 44 years of dedicated service, Howard Russell, also known as Bugman, has retired from Michigan State University. He spent the last 37 of those years as the Michigan State University (MSU) insect/arthropod diagnostician.Starting this summer 2024, Sarah Hughson, PhD, has returned to her home state of Michigan to join MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics as the new arthropod diagnostician. She earned her B.S. in biology from Saginaw Valley State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, focusing on western corn rootworm research.

Read More

Broadleaf helleborine: A weedy orchid invading lawns and flowerbeds

Broadleaf helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) is quickly becoming a problem for lawns and gardeners this spring and summer. We have had multiple samples submitted to Michigan State University Plant and Pest Diagnostics. This plant is in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, and is sometimes referred to as a “weedy” orchid. It was intentionally introduced from Europe and is spreading throughout Michigan in lawns, flower beds and along driveways.

Read More

Is maintaining bermudagrass rough under trees a constant struggle at your golf course? Switching to turf-type tall fescue in heavily shaded areas can be an effective solution to tree troubles.

Read More

USGA Green Section Record - July 5, 2024

Figuring Out Fairway Topdressing

Topdressing fairways can be a beneficial practice, but it is expensive and must be done properly to avoid creating agronomic issues. The goals of a fairway topdressing program are to improve the growing medium and playing conditions in the fairways, but it will take time and patience to get the desired results. This article will help you decide if fairway topdressing makes sense at your course and will guide you through some of the key steps in planning and implementing a successful program.

Read More

Pest Management - MSU Extension News - June 13, 2024

Aerial application: A sign of spring crop production

Beginning in late May, aerial applications are a relatively common sight in Michiana agriculture. Most pesticide treatments are applied by ground applicators and are not as visible as aerial application. However, aerial application offers the advantage of covering more acres per day by one applicator than ground application systems

Read More

Top Lawn Care Tips

Along with helping golf courses achieve the best playing conditions possible, USGA agronomists also get plenty of questions about routine lawn care. To help out everyone that is trying to get the best from their yard, we polled our staff to get their top recommendations for successful lawn care. You shouldn’t expect your yard to look like a golf course, but our staff has a few simple tips that should put you ahead of the game on your street.

Read More

Turf & Landscape - MSU Extension News - August 25, 2023

Dealing with storm-damaged trees

Dealing with a yard full of damaged trees can be an overwhelming and sickening feeling for homeowners. In some cases, the decision of what to do with a damaged tree is obvious, but often the decision of whether to try to keep a tree can be difficult. If you are a homeowner or someone who advises homeowners, there are several good resources to assist with the process of assessing storm damage to trees after a storm.

Read More

What Makes a Good Green Committee Chair?

The green committee chair can play a key role in the success of a golf course maintenance operation and the club as a whole, but some don’t approach the job with the right motivations or get enough time to learn through experience so they can leave the course in the best situation possible. In this article, Brad Klein draws on decades of experience working with clubs and specific examples from around the country to highlight strategies for being a successful green committee chair – and some important mistakes to avoid

READ MORE

Native plants suitable to grow near a drainfield?

Landscaping over your Septic system whether a formal garden or informal one can be tricky. You want to have a beautiful yard but not at the expense of damaging your onsite waste water system.

READ MORE

New Putting Green Irrigation System Saves Water

Golf has a water problem.

Each year, golf courses around the U.S. spend billions of dollars to keep fairways and putting greens lush and thriving. Depending on where a golf course is located, many courses around the world spend around $1 million each year on irrigation. Meanwhile, more and more golf courses face irrigation restrictions and water rationing.

Putting greens are especially difficult to keep perfectly watered. The grass is grown on a soil mixture that’s predominantly sand, allowing it to drain excess water during rain events. But because sand doesn’t hold water, the grass must be irrigated daily.

That’s a problem that MSU’s Hancock Turfgrass Research Center is working to solve. Thom Nikolai, MSU senior academic specialist, and his team are one year into a cutting edge putting green irrigation project.

READ MORE

Creating captivating containers
I eagerly look out the window. YES! It’s sunny. I pull up the weather app while I drink my morning coffee. YES! The lowest temperature in the 10-day forecast in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Michigan State University Extension has a table on statewide frost-free dates, which is a great reference for historical averages, and the climatologists are predicting above average temperatures and rainfall for the rest of the month. What does this mean? It’s time to shop for plants!

READ MORE

When is it safe to clean up my yard this spring?
Bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators must spend the winter in sheltered locations to stay alive in northern climates. However, pollinators are a diverse group. They shelter through the winter in a variety of habitats and emerge on their own schedules. Planning spring cleanup to prevent harm to pollinators means learning about where they might be and when they might be moving to the next stage of their life cycle. In Michigan, some pollinators will emerge on the first warm sunny days of the year while others will remain in their winter shelters until June or July

READ MORE

Cart traffic causes turf issues at many golf courses. While you may not be able to decrease the number of carts on your course, you can limit their impact with these strategies.

READ CENTRAL UPDATE

Grass photography tips for ID: Help us help you!
Identifying grasses can be very tricky, but taking clear photos of key features can help speed along the process. Check out these steps to get the most out of your grass ID requests with Ask Extension, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University Plant & Pest Diagnostics and beyond.

READ MORE

Scholarship applications are opening soon for MSU Extension’s fall online Foundations of Gardening course
Want to plan ahead for a fall gardening course from Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension)? MSU Extension’s next Foundations of Gardening course runs from Sept. 3 – Nov. 19, with live sessions taking place on Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. The online format enables you to participate from home with a variety of learning materials, including videos, readings and weekly live speakers

READ MORE