Buckeye Turf Newsletter

Winter 2025-2026 | Published January 15, 2026

Molly Nelson
February 05, 2026

Editor's Note

By Tyler Carr, Ph.D.

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Buckeye Turf Newsletter! We have introduced a new quarterly format designed to be read in a single sitting, presenting all components on one page. This edition offers insights into the upcoming growing season and updates on ongoing research at The Ohio State University.

We need your input: After reading, please complete the short survey at the bottom of this newsletter. Your feedback directly shapes future research, Extension programs, and the topics we cover. It takes less than two minutes and helps us make this newsletter more useful for your work.

Tips for Better Control of Crabgrass - Plan Now for 2026

By Dave Gardner, Ph.D.

Preemergence herbicides are applied in the spring for the control of annual grassy weeds such as crabgrass. Products that contain pendimethalin, prodiamine or dithiopyr are the most often recommended due to their duration and efficacy. These products will work better if applied in early April (but prior to germination) compared to applications made in March.

In areas with severe pressure consider a later application of a product that has both preemergence and postemergence activity. Both Echelon (sulfentrazone + prodiamine) and the liquid formulation of dithiopyr have preemergence and postemergence activity on 1-2 leaf crabgrass and therefore can be applied between the 10th and 20th of May in central Ohio. You can also apply quinclorac tank mixed with a preemergence herbicide. This later timing provided, by far, the most effective control of crabgrass (pre or postemergence) in trial work conducted at the OTF Research and Education Facility in 2025.

Control crabgrass postemergence with fenoxaprop, quinclorac, mesotrione or topramezone. Application timing is complicated. The bigger the weed, generally, the more difficult control will be. But control of leaf stage crabgrass in June will often be followed by more crabgrass germination following herbicide application. Timing is also dependent on product used. For example, fenoxaprop tends to be very effective on leaf stage crabgrass but its control of tillering crabgrass is variable. Quinclorac is effective on leaf stage crabgrass and late stage (>5 tiller) crabgrass but can be inconsistent when crabgrass is between 2 and 5 tillers (roughly June 10 to July 1 in central Ohio). Topramezone seems the most flexible when it comes to application timing.

Regardless of herbicide used, if you make a postemergence application before weed seeds have stopped germinating, in most cases you will get a few weeks of suppression followed by a new population of crabgrass from seed. Thus, lasting control of crabgrass tends to occur with applications made after July 1. For late stage (>6 tiller) crabgrass, research has found that application of a ½ label rate of quinclorac (e.g. Drive) combined with either a ½ label rate of topramezone (e.g. Pylex) or a ½ label rate of mesotrione (e.g. Tenacity). This combination has provided better than 90% control in our trials.

Seeding Options: Navigating Trade-Offs in Challenging Conditions

By Tyler Carr, Ph.D.

Autumn has long been considered the ideal time to establish cool-season turfgrasses, but one critical component has been largely absent during the seedling establishment phase over the past two seasons: water. Drought conditions during the summers and autumns of 2024 and 2025 created significant challenges for anyone seeding without supplemental irrigation. If you experienced these conditions, you may be asking yourself, “What’s next?”

In turfgrass management, timing trade-offs matter as turfgrasses seeded in April or May often benefit from plentiful rainfall and favorable temperatures. However, these spring seedings carry the risk of incomplete establishment before summer stress. Turf that fails to survive the summer puts you right back where you started in the previous fall, creating a frustrating cycle.

Another option to combat this issue is dormant seeding, which involves planting seed when temperatures are too cold for germination. The timing for dormant seeding is not an exact science yet, but generally it should occur when soil is not frozen, allowing the seed to be worked into the soil and reduce movement during heavy rainfall. Dormant seeding can lead to earlier establishment than spring seeding because germination begins as soon as conditions allow. However, seed may remain on the surface for weeks or months, increasing the risk of loss from erosion or wildlife.

Turfgrass management does not happen in a vacuum. Sometimes, unconventional practices are necessary to achieve desirable results. As you plan for 2026, weigh the trade-offs carefully, especially with Ohio’s unpredictable weather.

Research Spotlight

By Henry Rice

I’m a Master's student advised by Dr. Shaohui Wu, the Turfgrass Health Specialist at OSU. Our lab works with a variety of turfgrass pests and the IPM tactics used to control them, from annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) to white grubs, chinch bugs, turfgrass ants, etc. My thesis is specifically focused on ABW—the most destructive pest of short mown turfgrass in the Northeastern United States with an expanding range, including Ohio. My research focuses on developing practical, integrated management strategies for this pernicious insect. By studying reproductive biology, host plant performance, and chemical control methods for ABW, our work aims to provide golf turf managers with the needed information to make practical and economical decisions when managing this pest.

My current work is split into three different tracks, including:

Monitoring ABW populations across the state and tracking their reproductive phenology by examining the developing reproductive system in the overwintered generation in correlation to population dynamics.
Examining ABW host plant tolerance and resistance of various bentgrass cultivars.
Evaluating the effectiveness of new chemical products and timing of application against ABW larvae.

As ABW continues to spread to new golf courses in our state and across the region, I expect my research contributes to sustainable and effective IPM programs for managing the pest.

Relevant publications from Henry:

Survey on annual bluegrass weevil in Ohio Golf Courses (Golf Course Management)

Annual Bluegrass Weevil (Factsheet)

Black Cutworm in Turfgrass (Factsheet)

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Ask the Turf Team

By Tyler Carr, Ph.D.

Any turfgrass manager recognizes this pattern: bare soil where people cut corners instead of following sidewalks. These “desire paths” form because people naturally choose the shortest route, or the path of least resistance. Once a trail appears, it becomes the preferred option, and turf recovery becomes difficult.

The best way to prevent damage is to plan for it. Where shortcuts are unavoidable, install concrete or paver paths or widen sidewalk corners to match walking patterns. Use low-profile fencing, bollards, or shrubs to block shortcuts and guide movement. Mulch or gravel strips can provide a durable alternative where turf cannot survive. For areas that must remain grass, choose wear-tolerant species, interseed often, and relieve compaction with aeration. Temporary fencing during establishment can protect vulnerable spots.

Managing shortcuts means designing for real behavior, not ideal behavior, to keep turf functional and attractive.

Quarterly Turfgrass Operations Checklist

By Tyler Carr, Ph.D., Dave Gardner, Ph.D., & Shaohui Wu, Ph.D.

Attend a winter educational conference to stay current on products and management strategies.
Review and update your chemical inventory: dispose of outdated products and plan your 2026 application schedule.
Build your 2026 application program: determine products, timings, and rates for fertilizers and pesticides. Consider opportunities to reduce inputs while maintaining performance.
Conduct a site analysis to identify areas likely to need herbicide treatments this year.
Inspect drought-stressed turf from last summer. White grub populations may have been reduced or delayed, which could lead to damage later in the season or next spring.
Service and calibrate all equipment to ensure accuracy and efficiency before the growing season begins.
On golf courses, remove or prune trees that limit light or air movement.