It's Back

There are currently some patches of discolored Bentgrass on the tees and fairways.  So, does that mean the soil is dry?  While off-color turf certainly may be dry, there are several other possible causes as well.  This would include dormancy, insect damage, or a turf disease. 

This last option is the cause of what we're presently seeing on the Bentgrass.  Specifically, this is a root-borne pathogen called Take-All Patch.  With diseases that attack the roots, by the time you see it on the foliage, the damage is done. 

Because we've had this disease show up to some extent each spring, we took a preventive approach to controlling it by making some applications of Manganese earlier in the year to areas where we typically see damage.  Unfortunately, we have seen little difference in the treated areas from untreated check plots.

The good news is that while Take-All Patch may temporarily discolor the turf, it rarely lives up to its name.  Like most turf diseases, it operates in a relatively narrow temperature range--once we get into warmer summertime temperatures, Take-All is no longer active.  Going forward, we will look at other treatment options, including the use of fungicides to prevent this disease from occurring.

A patch of Take-All Patch on #5 tee.