Ben Campbell, University of Georgia; Alicia Rihn, University of Tennessee; & Julie Campbell, University of Georgia The Green Industry consists of wholesale nursery, greenhouse, turfgrass sod producers, landscape design, construction/maintenance firms and wholesale and retail distribution firms (e.g., garden centers, home stores, mass merchandisers with lawn/garden departments, brokers/rewholesale distribution centers,...

Recent dry weather encouraged the use, and possible overuse, of irrigation systems. Followed by tropical conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and humidity, there have been reports of a jelly-like substance growing in turf. The jelly-like matter is Nostoc, a genus of cyanobacterium formerly classified as blue-green algae. The algae —...

About a week ago, I heard from a couple of sod producers that spring sales of turfgrass sod were strong and they were worried about potential shortages of popular species like Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. I wondered if these were isolated incidences or an industry-wide issue. As the University of Georgia...

We are witnessing outbreak populations of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in residential, and public lawns across Georgia at this moment (as of 30 Aug. 2021). The caterpillar stages of fall armyworm feed on the turfgrass leaf blades and stems. The turfgrass can go from a perfect green to complete brown...

1. Time to scout for gray leaf spot Gray leaf spot is a fungus disease that affects St. Augustinegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in Georgia. Hot humid summer weather and high nitrogen levels can make turf susceptible to this disease. The fungus causing the disease is Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe...