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Ryegrass contamination on Bentgrass greens

10 posts
  1. Jessie Creencia
    Jessie Creencia avatar
    0 posts
    1/11/2019 11:01 AM
    Has anyone had issues with ryegrass contamination on bent greens? Appreciate any comments on how you battled it. I'm retired superintendent and took a job with a golf course in Colorado, I'm trying to help out in solving this problem.



  2. Michael Wagner
    Michael Wagner avatar
    0 posts
    1/18/2019 11:01 AM
    I don't mean to be rude but are you (or they) 100% sure it's ryegrass? Just seems odd to me that with today's practices that this would or could be an issue.



  3. Corey Eastwood
    Corey Eastwood avatar
    80 posts
    1/18/2019 11:01 AM
    Jessie I hope you are well. I can't believe Rye-grass could stand that low of cut.

    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired

  4. Michael Wagner
    Michael Wagner avatar
    0 posts
    1/19/2019 9:01 AM
    Corey Eastwood, CGCS said: Jessie I hope you are well. I can't believe Rye-grass could stand that low of cut.

    I agree. I have see a lot of contamination at a .500 but not at .125. I have seen pearlwort contamination on a green that I suppose it's possible could be misdiagnosed as ryegrass without close inspection. I'm not sure what else it could be other than a misdiagnosis.



  5. Stephen Johnson
    Stephen Johnson avatar
    0 posts
    1/22/2019 8:01 AM
    Sorry I don't have an answer for the ryegrass problem, but for others to say ryegrass at an 1/8" is unlikely what about courses that still overseed greens with ryegrass?



  6. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    1/22/2019 2:01 PM
    Stephen Johnson, CGCS said: Sorry I don't have an answer for the ryegrass problem, but for others to say ryegrass at an 1/8" is unlikely what about courses that still overseed greens with ryegrass?


    I agree. Still a few holdouts doing it this way down here in Florida. Lower end clubs that mow around that .125" in winter on Rygrass overseeded TifGreen 328. Actually a pretty decent surface....



  7. Kyle Fick
    Kyle Fick avatar
    4 posts
    1/23/2019 9:01 AM
    Jessie,

    I surely don't have an answer but have witnessed rye grass contaminated greens before. No reason to say where but it was in the southern Rocky Mountains at a fairly moderate elevation. If I recall correctly, the staff had used a seeder spiker unit on some tees, didn't get it completely cleaned out and then spiked some seed into greens as well.

    A couple issues came to my mind as well, the seed gates had to be too far open for bentgrass if spiking it in, that rye shouldn't have even fit down the hole. And why o why not shop vac the seeder out. Needless to say, it was in a pattern and doing well. I wish I could remember the maintenance practices, but it's been a decade or so.

    I guess one question hasn't been asked, how contaminated are these surfaces? Are we talking the perimeters of the greens, all the way through the putting surface, just a spot here and there? All 18, one or 2, can you please define a little more?



  8. Michael Wagner
    Michael Wagner avatar
    0 posts
    1/23/2019 10:01 AM
    Kyle Fick said: Jessie,

    I surely don't have an answer but have witnessed rye grass contaminated greens before. No reason to say where but it was in the southern Rocky Mountains at a fairly moderate elevation. If I recall correctly, the staff had used a seeder spiker unit on some tees, didn't get it completely cleaned out and then spiked some seed into greens as well.

    A couple issues came to my mind as well, the seed gates had to be too far open for bentgrass if spiking it in, that rye shouldn't have even fit down the hole. And why o why not shop vac the seeder out. Needless to say, it was in a pattern and doing well. I wish I could remember the maintenance practices, but it's been a decade or so.

    I guess one question hasn't been asked, how contaminated are these surfaces? Are we talking the perimeters of the greens, all the way through the putting surface, just a spot here and there? All 18, one or 2, can you please define a little more?

    These are good points. I suppose I shouldn't have been so dismissive. I think if it is a small amount probably cutting it out and replacing it would probably be the best option. I highly doubt there are any products out there that could selectively take out ryegrass. If there is a lot of it and they really want it gone it might not be a bad time to look at regrassing to a newer bentgrass variety.



  9. Jessie Creencia
    Jessie Creencia avatar
    0 posts
    3/5/2019 12:03 PM
    Thank you for all the replies, sorry took so long to respond back, been busy with all the snow. I have not examine the greens that closely but I have been told that it is rye grass. There are several greens that has the contamination, I would say the worst contamination has 20+ % rye. I agree on how the rye had survived the low .125" height of cut over the years. The superintendent and I have had some interesting conversation about that. I will look at the greens more closely this spring when the snow is gone and report back. Again thanks for the replies.
    Hey Corey, I'm doing well, trying to stay busy. I missed you at the GIS in San Diego. I thought I was getting my 25 year CGCS watch this year but have to wait till next year in Orlando. Hope all is well with you, say hello to Susie.
    Jessie Creencia,CGCS



  10. Michael Rogers
    Michael Rogers avatar
    2 posts
    3/8/2019 9:03 AM
    Hello Jessie, Axial from Syngenta with active ingredient, Pinoxaden, is registered in Colorado. It came on to market in UK about 10 years ago for ryegrass in fine grass species like agrostis and fescue on greens.

    Check into it. I have never used it as I dislike leftover clumps of ryegrass anywhere on the course. I am in southern Spain where 419 is not strong enough to overcome ryegrass on fairways as many courses do overseed with rye, 328 is strong enough. We do not overseed at all as we think autumn and spring transitions are more problematic than a bit of brown for a few months.The 419 in fairways and roughs is much better for it for the other 9 months.

    Saludos Michael

    Marbella Golf Country Club



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