chemical care
Practicing Prevention
BY CINDY RATCLIFF T
Proper cultural practices are the best defense against turfgrass disease and the misapplication of fungicides.
here are some 100 different diseases that affect turfgrass, each with a different method of cure and prevention. Trying to customize a program that defends against
each specifi c disease would be impossible. There is a better way. Your best defense against turf disease is to create a healthy, vigorous turf through proper cultural
practices (correct mowing height, irrigation sched- ule, fertility program). The healthier the turf, the less likely it is to become diseased. Prevention should rely on these cultural practices fi rst, with fungicides applied only when necessary. When environmental factors come into play that make it almost impossible to stave off turf disease, you also need to know when and how to introduce
May 2012 / TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE 61
