igh-capacity, rotary mowing.

width, for excellent maneuverability in conveniently located controls, and restricted areas. the cushioned, shock-absorbing seat Designed for long hours of de- with backrest, minimize operator pendable service, this unit features a fatigue. 20-gallon fuel tank, enough for a full The HR-15. The long and the short day of mowing. And, the rugged of high-capacity mowing. From Jacob- 78-hp Perkins diesel and radiator are sen. For more information, or to mounted up front, out of the way of arrange a free demonstration, contact clippings and debris, your Jacobsen Distributor. Remember, , protected by a re- lease and finance plans are available. jP* movable screen, for Jacobsen Division clean, cool operation. of Textron Inc., Plus, creature com- Racine, Wl 53403. forts like power steering, Telex: 264428. Circle No 218 on Reader Inquiry Card Ground Cover Characteristics-Characteristics of each ground cover are listed in woody will naturally be in evi- common name category. Each number listed corresponds to a particular trait below. dence.

Scientific name Common name Height Characteristics Improved landscapes Ground covers reduce maintenance while improving the landscape. Be- Aegopodium Goutweed 14" White -June podograria 1.2.4.8 sides replacing turfgrass, they can be used on steep slopes to prevent ero- Ajuga reptans Carpet bugle 3-6" Blue flowers-May sion and eliminate mowing. 1,4,5 colored foliage Small areas and wet locations where mowing is difficult, areas be- Arctostaphylos Bearberry 4" Red fall foliage neath shade trees, wooded areas, and uva-ursi 2,5,6,8,9,10 and berries spots with rock outcroppings are also suited to ground covers. Armeria maritima Thrift 6-12" Pink flowers-May Ground covers play a large role in 4,5,6,10 landscape design. Present day land- Asperu!a odorata Sweet woodruff 8" White flowers-May 1,3

Arenaria verna Moss sandwort 2" White -May Spacing depends on the 1,4,5,6 type of , its size, Au ri nia saxatilis Alyssum 6" Gold flowers-April and how quickly it will 9 spread. Calluna vulgaris Heather 10" Mixed flowers- 2.6.7.9 summer

Cerastium Snow-in-summer 6" White flowers-June scaping stresses simplicity. A few tomentosum 3,5,10 silver foliage carefully selected plants may be widely spaced to create an interesting Convallaria Lily-of-the-valley 6" White flowers-May landscape, tied together as a unit by majalis 1.4.5.8 fragrant ground covers. The ground cover forms a green, horizontal mass that Cotoneaster Rock-spray coton. 36" Red fall berries horizontalis 6,8 serves as a base or platform to trees and shrubs. Cytisue Broom 18" Yellow flowers-June Ground cover can tie together the 2,8,10 manicured and the informal, the ma- ture and the newly-planted, and the Epimedium species Epimedium 9" Pink & yellow flower various segments of the landscape. 1,7 May Since ground covers discourage foot traffic, they can be used to direct Erica carnea Heath 12" Pink & white flowers the flow of pedestrians in and out of 2,6,7 March buildings or through parking areas. Euonymus fortunei Wintercreeper 3" Colored foliage Some low-growing ground covers, 1,4,5,6,7,9 such as sandwort, thrift, pearlwort, and thyme will even grow well be- Festuca ovina Ornamental fescue 18" Blue foliage tween steppingstones, eliminating the 2 need for weeding.

Hedera helix English ivy 3" Selection criteria 1,4,5,6,8,9 When choosing ground covers, there Hemerocallis Daylily 18" Varied flowers are several items to consider—light, species 1.2.3.9 summer soil requirements, and desired main- tenance levels to name a few. Hosta species Hosta, funkia 12" Violet flowers-June Don't overlook foliage, for some 1,2,8,9 unique foliage are unusually colored and add certain highlights. These could include bronze or green-leaved ajuga, blue festuca, silver snow in summer, or 1. SHADE Plants for low light conditions. 6. EVERGREENS Most desirable as they purple wintercreeper. 2. DRY SOIL Plants for poor, dry soil. These supply a green cover over the ground the will generally become pests where growing entire year. Flowers-white candytuft, gold al- conditions are good, so use them with 7. HIGH MAINTENANCE These will require yssum, pink creeping phlox, and blue caution. extra care, such as trimming or pruning, so ajuga-add needed color to the landscape. 3. WET SOIL Plants that will tolerate wet be prepared. Boston creeper has brilliant fall conditions and poor drainage. 8. LOW MAINTENANCE Plants requiring 4. RAPID INCREASE When funds are slim, little attention. color, and cotoneaster has a fine dis- time is tight and space is large, use plants 9. FOR SLOPES Those with a heavy root play of berries. that will grow rapidly and cover the ground in systems that will hold soil in place. The accompanying table outlines short period of time. 10. FOR THE SEASHORE Plants that will the characteristics of the most popular 5. LOW GROWERS Plants for neatly tolerate salt air. trimmed areas close to buildings. of the ground covers. It may aid you in choosing plants Nothing is more effective and longer lasting than CHIPCO® RONSTAR* G herbicide. When you're up against tough competitors like crabgrass and goosegrass, play to win. Protect your golf turf with CHIPCO RONSTAR G herbicide. No other herbicide can match it for preemergent control. No other herbicide can give you such excellent control for a whole season with just one early application. No other herbicide is so tough on grassy weeds yet so safe on all major turf grasses—with no root minin1 g or inhibition. And it won't FOR SALE TO. P COMMERCIAL h;ar m nearby trees, ornamentals LAN DSC API SE/ECWVO, PREEMERG or ground cover either. of annual grasses anc vroorty Ornamenta In short, no other herbicide can ACTIVE INGREDIENT: match the winning form of Oxndlazon (2-fort-butyl-4. CHIPCO RONSTAR G. INERT INGREDIENTS Don't lose your grip on crabgrass or goosegrass this season. Get your hands on CHIPCO RONSTAR G herbicide. Rhone-POulenc Inc., Agrochem- ical Division, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. (ikVRHÛNE* POULENC CHIPCO RONSTAR Spread the word.

CHIPCO* and RONSTAR* are registered trademarks of Rhdhe-toulenc inc. Ground Cover Characteristics-Characteristics of each ground cover are listed in based on their height, light require- common name category. Each number listed corresponds to a particular trait below. ments, soil preference, quick cover capabilities, maintenance, use, ever- Scientific name Common name Height Characteristics green characteristics, and special characteristics such as flowers, fruit Iberis Candytuft 12" White flowers-May or foliage. sempervirens 6,8 Planting Juniperus Sargent juniper 6-12" Even though you can plant ground chinensis 2,5,6,8,9 covers throughout the growing sea- sargenti son, early spring is the ideal time. Spring plantings will be well estab- Juniperus Shore juniper 6-12" lished by winter, which will help pro- confería 2,6,8,9,10 tect them from freezing and thawing. Juniperus Creeping juniper 6-12" Steep banks should be mulched with horizontalis 2,6,8,9,10 salt hay or straw until the ground

Lamium species Lamium, Nettle 6" Yellow & pink flower 1,2,4,5 colored foliage Ground covers are spicata Liriope 8" Purple & white 1,4,6,8 flowers beneficial wherever a variegated foliage uniform, growing carpet Mesembryanthemum Ice plant 6" Varied flowers is needed without 2,4,5,9 spring & summer having to cope with the Lysimachia Moneywort 2" Yellow flowers-June nummularia 1,3,4,5 maintenance of

Myosotis Forget-me-not 4" Blue flowers-May turfgrass. scorpioides 3,5

Pachysandra Pachysandra, spurge 6" Insignificant flower terminalis 1,4,5,7,9 cover is well established. Spacing depends on the type of Phlox subulata Creeping phlox 6" Pink flowers-May plant, its size, and how quickly it will 5,8 spread. One plant per square foot is a good Sagina subulata Pearlwort 4" White flowers- rule for herbaceous material with fur- 1,5,6 summer ther distance for larger woody plants. Closer spacing results in faster cover, Saponaria Soapwort 3" Pink flowers- ocymoides 1,2,5,8 summer but it is more costly. Small bulbs can be added when planting ground Sedum species Stonecrop 5" Varied-spring & covers for spring color in between. 3,4,5,7,9 summer Once established, a ground cover needs little maintenance. Keep well Thymus vulgaris & Thyme, Mother 2" Rose flowers-May weeded while growing, and weeding serpyllum of Thyme will not be needed in the future. 5,6 Watering and fertilizing require- ments of most ground covers are low. Tiarella Foamflower 8" White flowers-May Some plants may become aggressive cordifolia 1,2,4 and can be kept out of paths and Veronica Speedwell 4" Blue flowers- turfed areas with brick or metal edg- officinalis 1,4,5,8 summer ings. If they become overcrowed, they should be thinned out. Vinca minor Periwinkle, myrtle 3" Lavender flowers- When a quick, temporary ground 1,4,5,6,8,9 May cover is needed, select an annual flower. The most reliable are sweet alyssum, portulaca, annual vinca, lob- elia, annual candytuft, and annual 1. SHADE Plants for low light conditions. 6. EVERGREENS Most desirable as they phlox. 2. DRY SOIL Plants for poor, dry soil. These supply a green cover over the ground the will generally become pests where growing entire year. More information on ground covers conditions are good, so use them with 7. HIGH MAINTENANCE These will require is available free of charge from Bedding caution. extra care, such as trimming or pruning, so Plants Inc., a non-profit trade associa- 3. WET SOIL Plants that will tolerate wet be prepared. tion that distributes information on the conditions and poor drainage. 8. LOW MAINTENANCE Plants requiring 4. RAPID INCREASE When funds are slim, little attention. selection, planting, and care of annuals time is tight and space is large, use plants 9. FOR SLOPES Those with a heavy root and perennials. that will grow rapidly and cover the ground in systems that will hold soil in place. For your copy, send a self addressed, short period of time. 10. FOR THE SEASHORE Plants that will stamped envelope to Ground Covers, 5. LOW GROWERS Plants for neatly tolerate salt air. trimmed areas close to buildings. 210 Cartwright Boulevard, Suite W, Massapequa Park, NY 11762. WT&T Bayleton. Because beauty this fragile needs protection this powerful,

Every flower is unique. As unique as a snowflake, systemically, inside the plant. And that means and just as fragile. Easy prey for the spoilers— control is not only effective, but lasting—up to powdery mildew and other fungus diseases. 30 days and longer. lb protect your precious plants, there is Tb prevent or cure such diseases as pow- powerful ®BAYLETON 25 Turf and Ornamental dery mildew, flower blight, leaf blight, and rust fungicide. Nothing else works better or in both nursery stock and greenhouse plants, lasts longer. get BAYLETON. Powerful protection for fragile BAYLETON works so well because it works beauty. Always read the label before use.

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BAYLETON. IT STOPS BAYLETON is a Rea TM of the Parent Company of Farbenfabriken Bayer GmbH. Leverkusen THE SPOILERS. THE PATCH DISEASES At least 17 exist and the symptoms of some are similar. A positive identification is necessary for control and treatment.

by Dr. Houston Couch, Virginia Polytechnic institute and State University

Necrotic ring spot of Kentucky bluegrass. Rhizoctonia yellow patch of Kentucky bluegrass.

urfgrass "patch" diseases are At present, there are 17 known Plant stress caused by extremes in among the most difficult to patch diseases of turfgrasses. Various air temperatures, deficient or excessive Tdiagnose. members of this disease group occur soil moisture levels, improper mowing, The classic patch symptom pattern throughout the year on both warm- or improper fertilization practices can is characterized by the blighting of the and cool-season grasses (see Table 1). also result in a browning of turfgrass in majority of the leaves of the plants in a All of the complexities of diagnosis irregularly shaped patches. section of otherwise green turf. are highlighted within this group of In addition, the primary field diag- diseases. nostic features for many of the patch Dr. Houston Couch is professor of For example, some of the more dra- diseases closely resemble each other. plant pathology in the Dept. of Plant matic symptoms associated with cer- One symptom pattern, the "frog-eye" Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Sci- tain patch diseases can also be effect, is common to several of these ence at the Virginia Polytechnic In- brought on by a variety of causes diseases. It is roughly a circular area of stitute and State University in other than the pathogenic activity of blighted grass with a center of green, Biacksburg, Va. microorganisms. apparently healthy plants. continued on page 90 PENNCROSS, PENNEAGLE AND PENNWAY have stepped up production to meet your demand Over the years your demand for Penncross, then Penneagle, and now Pennway and PSU 126 creeping bentgrasses has risen with their increased popularity on tees, greens and fairways. We have planted more of the Tenn Pals' to meet your demands, but like all good things, this production takes time. So, if in the meantime, someone offers to sell you something that's "almost as good," remember ... our production is up and coming! Tee-2-Green Corp. PO Box 250 • Hubbard, OR 97032 • 1-800-547-0255 • TWX 510-590-0957

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Penncross field near Hubbard, OR. The distinctive stripes in the field identify it as the only true Certified Oregon Grown Penncross bentgrass seed. NOR-AM's TURF PRODUCTS DON'T SIMPLY NOURISH YOUR TURF... THEY PROTECT IT Now achieve fine turf with fewer problems...thanks to NOR-AM's Total Turf Management Program. This unique program brings you a broad selection of high-performance products that assure healthier turf with better root development, fewer insect problems and less disease destruction. As a service to the industry, NOR-AM has developed a Total Turf Management Program. This program includes a turf management calendar guide, brochures on turf diseases, insect control and fertilization techniques, in addition to timely turf management reports. To enroll in this helpful program, fill out the coupon below or contact your local NOR-AM sales representative.

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P.O. Box 7495 I Title Wilmington, DE 19803 I Address Attn: Communications Dept. _ City State Zip L...... J Nitroform® Slow predictable release by soil bacteria provides constant 38% nitrogen when most needed for even, sustained growth. Nitroform reduces the risk of nitrate con- tamination, decreases thatch build-up, is nonburning and nonstreaking, resists leach- ing even in sandy soil, and assures better root development. Turcam® An advanced broad-spectrum carbamate insecticide that controls white grubs, chinch bugs, sod webworms, mole crickets and many other turf and ornamental pests. Turcam is odorless, works well in spray equipment, won't tie up in thatch, won't damage turf or ornamentals, and should be your product of choice when long residual control is required. Proxol® Economical Proxol 80SP Insecticide works fast on surface-feeding sod webworms, armyworms and cutworms, and readily penetrates thatch to control grubs. Proxol is easy to apply as a spray, has no unpleasant odor, and no long-term residual build-up in the soil. Prograss® A selective herbicide that effectively con- trols annual bluegrass, crabgrass and other troublesome weed species. Acti-dione® Broad-spectrum family of turf fungicides that provide four-season disease control. Acti-dione has proven to be effective without creating resistance problems. Acti-dione TGF® can be tank-mixed with Bayleton® or Daconil® to complement or improve disease control with significant cost- per-acre savings. Banol® Specialized fungicide that controls and phytophthora in turf and ornamental plants. Preventative control with Banol stops the spread of pythium by mowers, foot traf- fic and surface water; it also means fewer applications, lower rates and savings in labor, fuel and equipment.

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IMPORTANT: Please remember always to read and follow care- Circle No. 140 on Reader Inquiry Card fully all label directions when applying any chemical. SPRING PATCHES, from page 86 At present, nine patch diseases are structures on the root and crown known to be capable of producing this surfaces. type of symptom: spring dead spot of Development of necrotic ring spot bermudagrass; fusarium patch; rhi- generally occurs during the cool, wet zoctonia yellow patch; necrotic ring weather of spring and fall. During Ap- spot; take all patch; pythium blight; ril and May, heavy outbreaks of the fusarium blight; rhizoctonia blight, disease have been noted after pro- and sclerotium blight. longed periods of rainfall. At times, a positive diagnosis of a Field research reports from Wash- patch disease can only be made after ington and Wisconsin indicate that there has been a thorough review of Chipco 26019 and Banner provide the environmental conditions pre- good control of necrotic ring spot, ceeding problem development, an while Bayleton has been found to be evaluation of the current manage- ineffective in controlling the disease. ment program for the grass (including mowing practices, fertilization rates Take-all patch and dates, watering practices, and the Take-all patch (ophiobolus patch) af- record of pesticide application), and a fects Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, series of laboratory-based tests on dis- red fescue, tall fescue, and bentgrass. eased plant tissue and soil samples It is generally considered to be only a collected from the affected area. serious problem in bentgrasses. In order to be successful in on-site New outbreaks, usually appearing identification of patch diseases, the in late spring, are characterized by identifier must: dead spots of grass a few inches in 1. Know what diseases could be oc- diameter. Initially, under stress con- curring in the stand of grass at the ditions, the leaves of affected plants time in question; may range in color from bronze to a 2. Be familiar with all of the pri- H M-' bright reddish brown. Eventually, mary and secondary field symptoms Dr. Houston Couch they fade to a light tan. of each of these diseases; In time, these areas may increase to 3. Be able to recognize the particu- two feet or more in width, and de- lar field symptom patterns unique to One symptom pattern, velop "frog-eye" patterns as the cen- each disease. ters are invaded by the more resistant In this article we will review the the 'frog-eye' effect, is grass species. key diagnostic features of the spring common to several of Ultimately, the roots of affected patch diseases of turfgrasses, high- plants will rot. Therefore, during the light the weather and management these diseases. It is final stage of disease development, conditions that favor their develop- the plants are easily pulled loose from ment, and give the control practices roughly a circular area the soil. for each. of blighted grass with a Outbreaks of take-all patch are most severe during periods of pro- Necrotic ring spot center of green, longed rainfall. The disease will usu- Necrotic ring spot is a newly recog- apparently healthy ally first appear along drainage slopes, nized disease of turfgrass in North in low areas, or in locations where America, reported from the Pacific plants. there has been excessive irrigation. northwest, northeast, and north cen- Although initial outbreaks usually tral sections of the U.S. occur during cool, moist growing con- This disease is particularly de- appearance. ditions, often times the overall symp- structive to Kentucky bluegrass and At times, the initial sites of disease toms will continue to increase in bentgrass, but also affects ryegrass, may coalesce to form large, irreg- severity during periods of stress from red fescue, tall fescue, and chewings ularly-shaped zones of blighted grass. hot, dry weather. fescue. Under weather conditions favora- Take-all patch is more severe In the early stages of disease devel- ble for necrotic ring spot, reddish- when the soil is alkaline. The disease opment, necrotic ring spot is seen as brown borders may develop between will be more prevalent on grass grow- irregular patches of grass that have a the patches of dead plants and the ad- ing in soils that are light-textured, low general appearence of drought injury. jacent healthy grass. in organic matter, or low or unbal- The plants are often stunted or dis- Also, the thatch may decompose anced with respect to nitrogen, phos- colored, turning various shades of rapidly in the patch areas, leaving de- phorous, and potassiuiq. red, yellow or tan. These areas be- pressions that give a "sunken pocket" Take-all patch is most severe on come dull tan to brown as the disease appearence to the turf. bentgrass that has been seeded on re- progresses. Necrotic ring spot is incited by Lep- cently-fumigated soil. The individual areas of dead grass tosphaeria korrae. Laboratory exami- Take-all patch is incited by are usually more or less circular in nation of the diseased plants reveal Gaeumannomyces graminis var. outline, and may range from a few the dark brown strands (mycelium) of avenae. This fungus produces dark inches to several feet in diameter. the fungus growing over the surface of brown thread-like strands (my- When these patches first develop, the crowns and roots. celium) on the surface of the diseased the extent of leaf blighting within This can be a valuable aid to diag- roots and lower leaf sheaths, serving them is usually universal. However, nosis, but must be used with some as an aid in laboratory diagnosis. One many of the affected areas soon as- caution, for the fungus that incites must distinguish it from similar struc- sume a distinctive "frog-eye" take-all patch also produces similar tures produced by the fungus that continued on page 96