Summer stress is a significant issue in the management of cool-season turfgrasses, particularly for species such as annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass. In this 60-minute webinar, Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D., outlines some details to help you get ready for the season. Summer stress can result in significant weakening of turf, while enhancing susceptibility to additional stresses such as traffic, disease, insect, and/or weed infestation. Using appropriate management practices as an integral part of an IPM program prior to and during summer stress periods can promote the health and persistence of turfgrasses, and thus reduce reliance on pesticides. The effects of various agronomic practices on basic turfgrass physiology and stress preconditioning will be discussed, with a focus on fairway and putting green management.
Original presentation date: May 5, 2022
Education points: 0.10
About the Instructor
Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned her bachelor’s in biology and Ph.D. in plant biology from Rutgers University. She effectively utilizes her background in turfgrass physiology to research critical problems concerning the mechanisms of turfgrass adaptation to different abiotic stresses. Her research addresses some major concerns of the turfgrass industry, including low temperature injury and water deficit. DaCosta continues to develop an innovative research program in the area of stress physiology, enhancing the present research and educational initiatives of the turf program at the University of Massachusetts. She is a member of the New England GCSA chapter and has previously taught both seminars and webinars for GCSAA.
