Page 29 - GM spring 2024

at the Guelph Institute
at the same time, in “flushes”, so an early-season mowing could be timed once the first flush of flowers begins to close their petals and before they set seed.
In working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the GTI put together additional suggestions to support pollinators, which includes establishing flowerbeds and flowering trees that provide more pollen that is nutritious to native pollinators. The ideal species of plant will differ based on your location in Canada. The details of this trial will be covered in a presentation at the 2024 Ontario Turfgrass Symposium.
NTEP CULTIVAR TRIALS
A perennial ryegrass National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) was seeded in October 2022, so last season was our first year of data collection. Stay tuned for more details to come, since we can’t yet draw conclusions from this limited data set.
The GTI has previously submitted data for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 NTEP tall fescue reports, which are available online. The biggest concern with using tall-fescue in cool climates is the risk of snow mould and winter damage. Microdochium patch (also called pink snow mould) was rampant in the spring of 2023, and no single cultivar exhibited significant disease resistance at our location. However, of the 132 turf-type tall fescue cultivars, a few stood out as contenders for use in southern Ontario based on their recovery after winter. The highest spring green-up
Assessing volumetric water content of the long-term surfactant trial.
Tip to support pollinators from the Guelph Turfgrass Institute and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
ratings from the trial at the GTI were documented for LifeGuard, Teacher, Bullseye, and Bar9FE MAS, and K-31. Interestingly, the best spring green-up values across all 17 testing locations, most of which are in USA, were Birmingham, DLF PS-321, PPG-TF 231, and Fayette. This highlights the importance of using data from similar climates, since cultivar performance is highly dependent on local weather.
Information from NTEP is used by individuals, plant breeders, and turf- grass researchers to identify improved environmentally sound turfgrass species and cultivars. Selecting newer, more resilient turfgrass cultivars is a suggested practice for integrated pest management. Consult a professional agronomist or refer to the NTEP website (www.NTEP.org) and select a trial that is similar to your specific climate.
THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!
The GTI expresses deep gratitude to the companies, individuals, and orga- nizations that generously supported the fundraising initiative for the establishment of our new facility, and our historical donors who supported the establishment of the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. We look forward to another great year of research in 2024.
Get connected with the Guelph Turfgrass Institute by signing up to the news- letter at www.GuelphTurfgrass.ca or connecting on social media @GuelphTurf. GM
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