Rutgers Turf Blog https://turf.rutgers.edu Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:58:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://turf.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-block-r-512x512-1-32x32.png Center for Turfgrass Science https://turf.rutgers.edu 32 32 https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/uncategorized/smothered-grass/ Smothered Grass https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971141690/0/rutgersturfblog~Smothered-Grass/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:58:25 +0000 https://turf.rutgers.edu/?p=4508       ]]> What are the odds that this area of the lawn, smothered by shredded clippings in 90-degree temperatures, is going to make it? Answer: Not good. Classic example of not mowing often enough, and then when mowed, it was done with dull blades. Also, no effort to scatter the large, thick clumps of clippings. Projected outcome: […]

      
]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/fall-brings-opportunities-for-perennial-weed-control/ Fall Brings Opportunities for Perennial Weed Control https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/971141693/0/rutgersturfblog~Fall-Brings-Opportunities-for-Perennial-Weed-Control/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:25:04 +0000 https://turf.rutgers.edu/?p=3824      

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 ]]> Cooler fall weather is a prime opportunity to control warm-season grassy weeds like nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi). Fall is a particularly good time to control nimblewill because the increased competitiveness of cool-season turfgrass enhances the effectiveness of herbicide programs. Nimblewill is a warm-season perennial grass that thrives in shady, moist environments but is commonly found in […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/uncategorized/what-does-the-fling-with-spring-mean-for-weed-emergence/ What Does the Fling with Spring Mean for Weed Emergence? https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/874033136/0/rutgersturfblog~What-Does-the-Fling-with-Spring-Mean-for-Weed-Emergence/ Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:16:32 +0000 https://turf.rutgers.edu/?p=3645       ]]> The region enjoyed warmer than average temperatures last week and into the weekend before things cooled off on Monday and now remain seasonal. While warmups like we saw last week are not uncommon in March, the extended 5- to 6-day duration of warm weather has Forsythia in full bloom across much of the region. What […]

      
]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/good-time-to-assess-drainage/ Good Time to Assess Drainage https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/872041442/0/rutgersturfblog~Good-Time-to-Assess-Drainage/ Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:49:22 +0000 https://turf.rutgers.edu/?p=3618      

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 ]]> The soil that supports our lawns, sports fields, golf courses, and other land uses begins to recharge (store) with water as the evapotranspiration rate drops off during autumn and continues to decline to a very low rate during winter. Water storage in soil is good since that provides the water needed to support green-up and […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/summer-weeds/ Summer Weeds https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247268/0/rutgersturfblog~Summer-Weeds/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:58:21 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1460      

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 ]]> It finally feels like summer in New Jersey. Rain, humidity, and warmer temperatures, especially at night, mean that warm-season weeds are growing quickly. Of particular concern are summer annuals like crabgrass, goosegrass, and spurges. Yellow nutsedge and false-green kyllinga are warm-season perennials are also enjoying the weather. These weeds are now growing more quickly than […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/time-to-control-yellow-nutsedge/ Time to Control Yellow Nutsedge https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247271/0/rutgersturfblog~Time-to-Control-Yellow-Nutsedge/ Sat, 10 Jun 2023 01:07:42 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1431      

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 ]]> Now is the ideal time to control yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). This plant is a perennial that grows best during the heat of summer and survives the winter through underground tubers. While the drought may have limited nutsedge emergence in unirrigated areas, it is visible and rapidly growing in irrigated beds and lawns. Yellow nutsedge […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/weeds-of-early-spring/ Weeds of Early Spring https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247274/0/rutgersturfblog~Weeds-of-Early-Spring/ Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:17:50 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1408      

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 ]]> With warmer weather comes plant growth. The most conspicuous plants in the lawn and landscape right now are winter annuals such as hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), and chickweeds (Stellaria media and Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare), to name a few. In lawns, these winter annuals are typically found in […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/spring-green-up/ Spring Green-up https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247277/0/rutgersturfblog~Spring-Greenup/ Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:24:16 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1389      

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 ]]> Rain late last week combined with rising soil temperatures has initiated green-up of some cool-season grasses in central New Jersey. Soil temperatures have been slowing increasing over the last few weeks. Currently, the 24-hour and 5-day rolling averages for soil temperature are 47 degrees F at Hort Farm 2 in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Keep […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/mild-winter-what-does-it-mean-for-overseeding-of-turf-or-dormant-seeding/ Mild winter, what does it mean for overseeding of turf or dormant seeding? https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247280/0/rutgersturfblog~Mild-winter-what-does-it-mean-for-overseeding-of-turf-or-dormant-seeding/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:56:31 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1379      

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 ]]> Typically, turf management isn’t on top of the to-do list in mid-February. But winter in New Jersey isn’t typical typical this year. The statewide average temperature in January 2023 was 41.0°, which was 9.3° above the 1991–2020 normal and ties with 1932 as the mildest January since records commenced in 1895. For more details on […]

]]> https://turf.rutgers.edu/blog/japanese-stiltgrass-control-in-turf/ Japanese Stiltgrass Control in Turf https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/756247283/0/rutgersturfblog~Japanese-Stiltgrass-Control-in-Turf/ Sun, 05 Feb 2023 13:54:31 +0000 https://turfblog.rutgers.edu/?p=1373      

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 ]]> Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a C4 summer annual grassy weed commonly invasive to forests. It can be problematic in lawns. Often it is problematic in shaded areas adjacent to an infested forest. But we have observed infestations in full sun turfgrass areas where you would normally expect crabgrass to be the predominant summer annual. […]

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