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 Anthracnose attack as weather warms up- April 2008  Anthracnose basal rot is now widespread on sports turf surfaces (above), reports Ruth Mann of STRI. During the winter months, symptoms are seen as individual annual meadow-grass plants becoming yellow. The youngest leaf may turn brick red in colour and a black rot may be present at the base of the stem (below). Anthracnose is caused by Colletotrichum cereale, which can cause two types of disease depending on the weather conditions. During warm summer months foliar blight may develop. This is often mistaken for drought stress. Any areas that appear droughted should be checked for the presence of acervuli and the hair-like structures called setae (below). Irrigation at this time can exacerbate damage, as it helps to spread the spores of the disease and make further infection more likely. Under cool, wet conditions basal rot may develop. It is common for basal rot to develop on areas that were infected with foliar blight during summer…

 Tech Notes - Issue 11 - July 2009Fairy Ring Management and Control Typical autumnal conditions of warm wet/dry cycles have prevailed for the last couple of weeks, resulting in the flaring up of some spectacular Fairy Rings, reports Dr Ruth Mann of STRI.Many basidiomycete fungi living in the soil or thatch can give rise to Fairy Rings. Growth may be in distinct rings, or in ribbons and arcs, depending on the ring. Some very strange patterns can be observed! We place the Fairy Rings (or Faerie Rings) into three categories, depending on the visual symptoms in the grass sward. Type 1 - Rings appear as dead rings of grass perhaps edged by dark green, stimulated growth. Type 2 - Rings appear as darker green grass with stimulated growth. Type 3 - Rings appear to not damage the sward visually, but have fruiting bodies (mushrooms or toadstools) present.The basidiomycete fungus does not directly affect the grass, but changes the environment that supports the growth of the grass,…

Log In Log in or register now for our services shown below! 5 Day Weather and Disease SummaryYou know how important this is. We are proud to have access to a detailed weather forecast that can help you manage your week.  Disease Risk MapsPredictive turf pest and disease maps updated daily with a 6 day forecast of disease risks for your location. Also soil temperature maps and grass growing potential.  Historic ChartsView historic charts of our weather & disease predictions for your location.

NemaTrident is a range of beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes developed for targeted control of key soil-dwelling pests of sports and amenity turf - along with specific tools and agronomic strategies for consistent and effective results.

 Golf clubs that sign-up for the Syngenta Operation Pollinator project to provide food and habitat resources for pollinating insects will now receive a free poster of a Guide to Bees of UK and Ireland. The extra-large full colour poster is designed to hang in the clubhouse, to give members and players an indication of what they can look out for around the course.Syngenta Turf & Landscape Communications Manager, Karen Roberts, reports there has already been great interest in the project's training courses, with more than 200 greenkeepers and course managers attending over the summer. "Those that have already signed up for the project and got going with establishing the pollen and nectar wildflower areas will be sent their posters. We would urge more clubs thinking about habitat creation to sign up now and make this a truly industry-wide initiative."   She believes that Operation Pollinator creates a great opportunity for greenkeepers and club managers to communicate with members…

 As winter starts to creep in and your thoughts turn to the year ahead, give a thought for the plight of our native pollinators too,writes STRI Ecological Consultant, Sophie Vukelic. These insects, including bees and butterflies, are a vital part of our environment but are sadly reducing in numbers. Pollinating insects maintain the ecology of any golf course and, by cross pollinating flowers, contribute to the health of the local environment in which golf is played. Syngenta are keen to encourage every golf club to create appropriate habitat, protect and conserve existing habitats and, importantly, enhance and extend the connectivity of flower rich grasslands to support these insects.So, why not start to think about transforming your golf course by introducing Operation Pollinator areas - a stunning and wildlife-enhancing addition on any golf course!It is no secret that many pollinating insect species have been in decline over the last 40 years - with some now in a precarious position. So let's all…

 Hot, dry summer conditions puts incredible stress on turf plants. At a time when the golf course is in highest demand, the effects on turf quality can be disastrous. Syngenta Technical Manager, Dr Simon Watson, advises that pre-stress conditioning of turf and management techniques to alleviate stress can help to enhance the playing experience demanded by today's players this summer.Key causes of summer stress in turf include:• Heat• Lack of water• Nutrient deficiency• Reduced root mass• Wear and tear from heavy play Remember that on a sunny day the temperature within the short dense turf grass on greens, where air movement is limited, can reach up to 10°C higher than ambient air temperature, adding to turf stress. With smooth ball roll and consistent green surface quality key requirements for players' assessment of turf quality, minimising the effects of turf stress is essential to enhance the playing experience. The Syngenta Golf Player Survey identified dry and bare patches on greens and…

Pre-stress conditioning turf Hot, dry summer conditions puts incredible stress on turf plants. At a time when the golf course is in highest demand, the effects on turf quality can be disastrous. Syngenta Technical Manager, Dr Simon Watson, advises that pre-stress conditioning of turf and management techniques to alleviate stress can help to enhance the playing experience demanded by today's players this summer.Key causes of summer stress in turf include:• Heat• Lack of water• Nutrient deficiency• Reduced root mass• Wear and tear from heavy play Remember that on a sunny day the temperature within the short dense turf grass on greens, where air movement is limited, can reach up to 10°C higher than ambient air temperature, adding to turf stress. With smooth ball roll and consistent green surface quality key requirements for players' assessment of turf quality, minimising the effects of turf stress is essential to enhance the playing experience. The Syngenta Golf Player Survey identified dry and…

 Find out how Primo Maxx can cut the time and cost of fairway managment.