J.D. Clarizio, superintendent at Arrowhead Golf and Athletic Club

Treated fairway without Poa annua and only desirable ryegrass

After three years of intense testing, Turf-Seed, Inc. announced a successful program for eliminating Poa annua in ryegrass fairways and re-establishing more desirable species. The real-world trials tested the herbicide Velocity(R) at Arrowhead Golf and Athletic Club in Molalla, Oregon.

Presented at Tee-2-Green’s annual breakfast at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, the program consists of applications of Velocity every two weeks at the lower rate of 10-15 grams per acre, plus using a spiker/seeder to incorporate bentgrass or perennial ryegrass seed into the treated areas, which will germinate and replace the dying Poa annua.

The program allows the superintendent to eradicate and replace Poa annua without the dramatic and sudden loss of grass. It was discovered throughout the trials that seeding must preceed the spraying of Velocity to avoid plugging the spiker/seeder with drying Poa annua.

“Once we figured out the right combination of application rate and timing, we knew we could replace the Poa annua pretty easily,” said J.D. Clarizio, superintendent at Arrowhead Golf and Athletic Club and trial host since 2002. “This whole process will make converting ryegrass fairways relatively easy compared to a total renovation project.”

Turf-Seed, Inc. is the leading producer of quality commercial turf grasses for the green industry.