As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to prepare your bermudagrass for winter. The first step that comes to mind for many superintendents is Poa annua prevention, while for others, it’s spring dead spot applications. Adjusting fertility to help the turf handle difficult winter conditions and raising mowing heights before dormancy sets in are common, too. No matter which task you handle first, consider the following as you put your bermudagrass to bed for the winter.

Effective Poa annua Control on Bermudagrass

Poa annua (annual bluegrass) competes with and often overtakes other turfgrass types, making control vital. Controlling Poa annua in bermudagrass can be done before or after the turf goes dormant.

Before the season ends, use a pre-emergent herbicide like Kade 65 WDG to kill Poa annua seedlings and ensure it doesn’t appear on your bermudagrass in the spring.

If it’s too late to apply a pre-emergent, post-emergent herbicides like Revolver and Tribute Total are specifically designed to control annual and perennial grasses, including Poa annua, on bermudagrass.

Spring Dead Spot Control for Bermudagrass

Spring dead spot is a fungal disease that can ravage highly managed bermudagrass. In the late summer and early fall, infected roots, stolons, and crowns begin to rot, leaving bermudagrass weaker and more prone to freezing injury.

When bermudagrass begins to emerge from dormancy in the spring, symptoms will appear. Infected turf will exhibit circular, straw-colored patches that are filled with still-dormant bermudagrass. These areas will eventually collapse, resulting in sunken areas that negatively impact turf health and playability.

Superintendents can prevent spring dead spot with fungicide applications and proper fertilization.

Fertility and pH Management

The right pH and nutrient inputs play a major role in preventing spring dead spot. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

  • Use slow-release nitrogen fertilizers in the fall (quick-release fertilizers can burn warm-season turf and may increase spring dead spot severity)
  • Keep potassium levels balanced to avoid winter injury and manage disease
  • Maintain adequate root zone acidity (bermudagrass root pH levels should ideally be between 5.8 and 6.2)
  • Check for potential phosphorus restrictions in your state

Spring Dead Spot Fungicide Applications

Make two applications with a fungicide like TEB 360 XL, Maxtima, or Resilia in the fall to manage spring dead spot.

Strengthen Turf with Foliar-Pak Micros Plus and Foundation Forty

For a turf species that endures heat and drought so well and often grows like it’s on steroids in the summer, winter can be bermudagrass’ worst adversary. In the transition zone, it’s likely that warm-season turf will experience difficulties come springtime. Fortunately, Advanced Turf Solutions offers Foliar-Pak products that can get bermudagrass back to summer strength quickly.

A proven combination over the last few years has been Micros Plus and Foundation Forty. Foundation Forty’s amino acid technology provides immediately available L-amino acids for improved photosynthesis, better protein synthesis, and plant stress tolerance. L-amino acids are effective nutrient chelators that improve fertilizer uptake. Micros Plus provides specific nutrients and biostimulants that target cell division and chlorophyll formation while improving the metabolism of carbohydrates and nitrogen. The amino acids complement Micros Plus by improving the plant’s nutrient uptake, translocation, and utilization.

Applications of Micros Plus and Foundation Forty should be made after the last frost. These applications are intended to be used in conjunction with regular fertilization programs. Apply Micros Plus at three fluid ounces per thousand square feet and Foundation Forty at 0.5 to one fluid ounce per thousand square feet.

Begin follow-up applications three to four weeks after the initial treatment, using reduced rates of Micros Plus. The initial rate may be used again if more aggressive growth is still desired. Micros Plus should be applied at a rate of 1.5 fluid ounces per thousand square feet, while Foundation Forty’s rate remains the same.

With the right plan and products, your bermudagrass can withstand the winter and emerge strong in the spring. For more information on how to prepare your golf course for the winter, reach out to your ATS rep.