Posted: February 25, 2021
Stations used to monitor growing degree days
Weather station positioned beside a golf course fairway
Today we installed a growing degree day monitor at Country Club of Harrisburg. Riding around the golf course in the snow can be a good time. Thankfully, Scott Fischer, Superintendent of CC of Harrisburg provided us with a good 6 wheel drive vehicle for our trip.
The monitor is used to monitor growing degree days at the site. This data will be collected once a week through August and will be analyzed and compared to the emergence of phenological indicator plants; (such as forsythia) and adult annual bluegrass weevils. This allows us to continue to refine the timing of pesticide applications to control the annual bluegrass weevils.
Tomorrow we will be installing a growing degree day monitor in western PA at Butler Country Club. Having these stations around the state gives us the ability to help golf course superintendents make good timing decisions for controlling this damaging turf insect.
