Spring is when we find Poa producing seeds like crazy, potentially making the greens bumpy. In order to reduce the seeds' impact on ball roll, multiple applications of two plant growth regulators are made on the greens. So how do we know if these preventative treatments really worked?
With many plant protectant applications, we try to leave an untreated check plot, which serves a couple of purposes. First, it allows us to see how effective our treatments were. In this case, if there is little difference from a treated to an untreated area, perhaps we need to revisit our plan for controlling Poa seeds.
Secondly, it shows us if the specific inputs to the turf are really needed. For example, if we are spraying preventatively for Take-All Patch on fairways, a check plot (which may be an acre of untreated fairway) helps us to know if we need to continue making these applications, or not. That is, if both the treated and untreated areas don't have Take-All, then is there really a need to continue making treatments in the future?
Having the greens covered throughout the winter and into March adds another variable which we need to account for when timing these Poa seed applications. Obviously the tarps capture heat and create a much different growing environment than a green without a cover is experiencing. This will change the timing of Poa seed production. While far from perfect, it does look like our treatments have worked fairly well this year.
