Late Season Aerification Effects On the Incidence of Spring Dead Spot in Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Grown in the Transition Zone.

The utilization of ultradwarf bermudagrass has increased in the transition zone.  This study investigated the effects of late season aerification on spring dead spot incidence in 'Champion' ultradwarf bermudagrass.  Three different aerification treatments were implemented in late September of 2012 along with an untreated control.  These treatments were vertical mowing, solid tine aerification, and hollow tine aerification.  The following spring, plots were rated for percent spring dead spot and rate of recovery.  There was a high incidence of spring dead spot with the control resulting in 40% affected turf.  No significant differences among aerification treatments were observed in the first year of this study.  In addition, no signifcant difference in turf quality was observed among treatments in the fall of 2012 prior to dormancy.  Results from the first year of this study suggest that late season aerification may not have a determental effect on Champion bermudagrass.  However, it is unclear if late season aerification could be an effective tool for spring dead spot suppression.