The winter months are slipping away quickly and we are only two weeks from begining our IPM program. Starting March 1st we begin our degree day counting. Degree day modeling is the backbone of our integrated plant management program. Trapping has also become a good method for us to compare to the degree day models.
Two years ago, we began to create our IPM program to fight back from the loss in 2007. We began trapping Billbugs to help understand our population and started tracking growing degree days and used degree day models to help anticipate insect development. We have had significant success from our program over the past two season on insect and disease control.If we can take a second to reflect, the golf course three years ago had reduced playing conditions. Rough was pocketed and thin throughout. Bunker faces were in need of sod work and tee surrounds, were nearly gone. Insect management was a large part of restoring the rough around the greens and the south facing slopes. Our disease and insect management has done a great job protecting the fairways and ensuring course quality year round.
This year will be a successful year in pest management.
If you have any questions about how we monitor insects or scout for disease please contact me.
Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS
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