Dr. Cale Bigelow Sabbatical

Just a quick note from across the pond. I will be on study-leave/sabbatical for fall semester from 15 Aug. - 31 December, 2011. I will be collaborating with colleagues interested in urban ecology and studying alternative low input turfgrass systems in Europe (primarily the United Kingdom). Please note that during this time I will have limited access to my Purdue email but will do my best to check it at least weekly. Do not be offended if my responses are slow, I have not forgotten about you, things are just slower over here...! If you call my office phone I will be checking that number very infrequently you are better off to send me an email cbigelow@purdue.edu or simply call Jennifer Biehl directly 765-494-8039. In my absence, the Turf Team (Drs. Gibb, Jiang, Latin, Patton, Richmond and of course Ms. Jennifer Biehl) are more than able to help answer any questions you might have regarding turfgrass in Indiana. You can find loads more information on our turf home page. www.agry.purdue.edu/turf

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Imprelis® Update: Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Order. Q&A

The following post provides an update on Imprelis® herbicide in a Question and Answer format.

Q: What action has the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) recently taken concerning Imprelis®?

A: The OISC issued a stop sale, use, or removal order (SSURO) on August 1, 2011 for the herbicide Imprelis®. The OISC has reason to believe that DuPont Imprelis® Herbicide, EPA Reg. #352-793, when used as directed or in accordance with commonly recognized practice, has caused injury to non-target vegetation, except weeds to which it has been applied, and is therefore MISBRANDED. Therefore, the OISC is hereby issuing a STOP SALE, USE OR REMOVAL ORDER (SSURO) to DuPont Professional Products. This SSURO requires DuPont Professional Products to cease all sale, distribution and use of DuPont Imprelis® Herbicide, EPA Reg. #352-793, in the State of Indiana, effective immediately. This SSURO pertains to any and all quantities and sizes of DuPont Imprelis® Herbicide, EPA Reg. #352-793, within the ownership, control or custody of DuPont Professional Products wherever located. In addition, DuPont Professional Products shall not commence any movement of this product from any present location without prior written approval from the OISC. Any person violating the terms or provisions of this SSURO shall be subject to civil or criminal penalties as set forth in IC 15-16-4.


Q: What is the stance of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning Imprelis®?

A: On August 11, The EPA issued a SSURO for the herbicide Imprelis®. Previously, the EPA issued a letter to DuPont on August 3, 2011 stating two concerns. First, that the EPA is considering issuing an SSURO (described above). Second, the EPA is concerned about the lack of information that is being provided by DuPont to the public concerning the efficacy of Imprelis®. The EPA “strongly encourages DuPont to reconsider” providing information related to the phytotoxicity studies related to effects on trees. More information about Imprelis, including EPA registration of the herbicide, is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/imprelis.html


Q: What action has DuPont taken to comply with the OISC?

A: DuPont is implementing a voluntary suspension of sale of Imprelis® herbicide. More information is available at http://www.imprelis-facts.com/ and at (866) 796-4783.


Q: Can I still apply Imprelis® herbicide in Indiana if I have some leftover?

A: No. The SSURO issued by OISC does not allow the continued use of existing Imprelis® herbicide.



Q: What do I do if I have leftover Imprelis® herbicide?

A: DuPont has stated that they will initiate a product return and refund program in mid-August 2011. More details about this will be shared when they become available.


Q: Where can I get more information from DuPont about Imprelis®?

A: Website (http://www.imprelis-facts.com/) and hotline ((866) 796-4783) are available.


Q: Where can I get more information from Purdue and the OISC about Imprelis®?

A: Read news alerts from the Office of Indiana State Chemist at http://www.isco.purdue.edu/, read more from the Purdue University Turf Program at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/, and received updates from the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/.


Read past documents created on July 22, 2011

A Homeowner’s Guide to Suspected Imprelis® Herbicide Injury in the Landscape

A Turf Professional’s Guide to Suspected Imprelis® Herbicide Injury in the Landscape


Aaron Patton, Turfgrass Extension Specialist



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Turf: Dead or Alive?

Many areas in Indiana have received recent rains to their lawns. Some lawns have greened-up and others are still brown leaving many wondering whether their lawns are dead or alive. Below are some images that illustrate the process of determining whether or not your lawn is dead or alive.

Step 1. In an area of suspected dead turf (brown areas), pull at the brown (dead) leaf blades.

Step 2. After pulling up some of the dead leaf blades, examine the ground closely and look for signs of new growth. All new turf growth comes from the crown of the plant (turf) and these crowns are located at or near the soil surface.

Step 3. If you find new turf emerging in these dead areas then that is good news that your turf will recover from drought and heat injury. If not, wait a few more weeks and reexamine these areas.


Step 4. If no new growth is occurring in areas you might need to reseed these spots. For lawns with bunch-type grasses such as tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, reseed dead spots larger than 3 inches in diameter. For Kentucky bluegrass lawns, reseed dead spots larger than 6 inches in diameter (about the size of your hand, or at least mine). Since Kentucky bluegrass has rhizomes (underground stems) it has a greater recuperative capacity than bunch-type grasses. The photo below shows a bare area between clumps of perennial ryegrass.

Aaron Patton, Turfgrass Extension Specialist


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Certainty Turf Herbicide Label Changes

Monsanto recently updated the Certainty® Turf Herbicide label 2011-1 on packaged goods. These changes are effective on product packaged and shipped after May 2011. All cool season turfgrass uses for Certainty have been removed from the 2011-1 label. The product can still be used on warm-season turf. The label change also adds nursery and landscape recommendations for preplant, directed and over-the-top applications in ornamentals and groundcovers.

Q: What does this mean?

A: Product packaged before these changes can continue to be used according to label directions in cool season turf, but any Certainty® purchased in the future will be labeled only for use in warm-season turf like bermudagrass and zoysiagrass.


Q: Certainty® worked well on yellow nutsedge in Kentucky bluegrass, what should I use now?

A: Many herbicide options are available for sedge control in cool-season turf including bentazon (Basagran), LescoGran), halosulfuron (SedgeHammer, ProSedge, others), mesotrione (Tenacity), sulfentrazone (Dismiss), and sulfentrazone containing herbicides (Echelon, Q4 Plus, Solitare, Surge,TZONE).


Q: Certainty® was labeled for rough bluegrass control in Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass, what should I use now?

A: Velocity is the only other turf herbicide labeled for rough bluegrass control, but it is only labeled for sod and golf course use. Rough bluegrass control in residential and commercial lawns will now need to be controlled with non-selective applications of glyphosate.


Q: Certainty® was labeled for suppression and partial control of quackgrass. Are there alternatives for selective quackgrass control in cool-season turf?

A: No. Certainty® was the only herbicide labeled for selective control of quackgrass in cool-season turf (primarily Kentucky bluegrass). Quackgrass will now need to be controlled with non-selective applications of glyphosate.


Aaron Patton, Turfgrass Extension Specialist




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