AgriLife: What is That in My Lawn?
What is that in my lawn?
Green Kyllinga
If you have a lawn or take care of lawns you probably have noticed a particular weed coming up recently. This is weed is a sedge (recognizable because it stems are angular instead of rounded) known as green kyllinga. According to The University of California IPM services, green kyllinga is a perennial plant that grows best in moist or wet areas that receive full sun, but it can survive some shade and drying once established. Green kyllinga grows well in warm weather from April through October. It is dormant in winter but remains green in warm climates where freezing doesn’t occur. It can yellow in the winter but doesn’t turn brown when it goes dormant. When left unmowed, green kyllinga can reach a height of about 15 inches but will adapt and grow in a prostrate manner if mowed. The plant produces a network of numerous underground stems (rhizomes) and can root and send out new leaves at each stem node. If green kyllinga rhizomes are removed and chopped into pieces, new plants can be produced from each node or stem section. Rhizomes in soil will begin to produce long, narrow leaves that are 1 to more than 5 inches long as temperatures rise in the spring. Chemical control of green kyllinga may be achieved with preemergent herbicides applied before the seeds germinate, with selective postemergent herbicides for established plants or with a combination of preemergent and postemergent herbicide treatments. The use of herbicides can be very effective if combined with cultural methods such as water management and exclusion of green kyllinga from turf and landscape areas.
IMPACT
Green kyllinga can be a major weed problem for turfgrass and landscape managers. In turf it forms a weak sod that gives poor footing for athletic fields and golf courses. Although green kyllinga is most often a problem in bermudagrass, it has been found in cool-season turf species as well. Green kyllinga has a texture and color that varies from normal turfgrass species and reduces the aesthetic quality of the turf. Also, green kyllinga grows faster than most turfgrass species, which gives infested turfgrass an undulating or irregular surface in as little as two days after mowing. Once a few plants become established in turfgrass or ornamental areas, spread can be rapid. In warm weather, rhizomes can grow by more than 1 inch per day, forming thick mats in just a few weeks. Mowing, foot traffic, and cultivation spread both seed and rhizomes. This allows the production of new plants and hastens spread.
MANAGEMENT
The best management approach is to prevent new infestations by excluding and monitoring for the weed. Thoroughly clean mowers and cultivation equipment before moving from infested to weed-free areas. If solitary plants of green kyllinga are found, they should be grubbed out (i.e., remove the entire plant, roots and all) and the area monitored for several months to ensure removal was complete. When green kyllinga infests ornamental plantings, it forms a dense mat that crowds out desirable species and reduces the vigor of those plants that survive. Because of the extensive rhizome system in established stands, hand pulling or hoeing to remove green kyllinga usually is futile unless done repeatedly over a long period of time. Digging out plants and surrounding soil with a shovel is likely the best approach for removing rhizomes, although plant removal can be very expensive and not always successful. Once established green kyllinga will continue to spread unless control measures are taken.
Turfgrass and ornamental areas should be well maintained to promote maximum vigor and make these plantings as competitive as possible to hinder invasion by the weed. Dense turfgrass and ornamentals will shade the soil surface, making establishment of green kyllinga seedlings difficult. Irrigation systems should be adjusted and managed to eliminate wet conditions that favor green kyllinga.
Turfgrass
Controlling green kyllinga in turfgrass requires a combination of control procedures. Wet or overwatered areas in turfgrass provide ideal habitat for a green kyllinga invasion. To reduce the chance of invasion or slow the invasion into turfgrass, don’t overwater the turf. If low areas stay wet, improve drainage or reduce water applications in that area. Early grubbing of solitary infestations has been successful when practiced diligently. Spot spraying isolated plants with glyphosate can be helpful, but the turfgrass also is killed, leaving open areas that allow reestablishment of kyllinga or invasion of other weed species. The open spots should be overseeded or patched with sod to establish a vigorous turf. Mowing and nitrogen fertilization also affect the growth of green kyllinga. In one study on hybrid bermudagrass, low mowing (i.e., 1 inch compared to 2 inches) resulted in increased green kyllinga seed germination and growth in established turf provided with adequate nitrogen. However, in newly established turf where there was significantly more green kyllinga present, the mowing height didn’t have as great an effect, and additions of nitrogen resulted in increased turf cover and less spread of green kyllinga. Unfortunately, eradication wasn’t possible with any mowing height or nitrogen rate.
Upcoming events:
- Cattlemen Classic and Ribeye Cook-off. October 6, 2017, downtown Sulphur Springs. A great opportunity to learn and enjoy the beef industry in Hopkins County. We will host a producer trade show with companies and support industry (starting at 2:00 PM) at the downtown area (free), a feature keynote speaker Trent Loos at the Courthouse (free) as part of the 2017 NETBIO producer meeting. The celebration continues with the cook-off competition, dinner (tickets available for $25 at Texas Heritage Bank and Brookshire’s in Sulphur Springs) and a free concert featuring Stoney Larue starting at 8:00 PM.
- Red Alliance Red Angus Production Sale. Registered Bulls, Females, and Commercial Red Angus. Oct 2, 2017 in the Hopkins County Civic Center. Sale starts 10 am / 150 head can be previewed on Sunday afternoon. Call John Macek @903-348-2138 for a catalog or www.redalliance.biz
- Private Applicators CEU and Hamburger Cook-Off. November 1, 2017. Join us to learn new techniques in weed management in pastures (1hr) hay production (1 hr), pond weed management (1 hr), Laws and Regulations related to use of restricted pesticides (1 hr), and protection of pollinators in agriculture (1 hr. IPM). Regional Civic Center. Call The Hopkins County Extension office at 903-885-3443 to register. Cost $30 lunch included.
For more information on these or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
North Hopkins Students Collecting Needed Items for Harvey Victims On September 15
Hurricane Harvey has left mass devastation on the Houston area. North Hopkins FFA students have planned a relief project to help those in need. They will be taking up community wide donations to send to the victims, both human and animal, of this destruction. Donated items can be dropped off Friday September 15 at the North Hopkins High School office or Ag Department during the school day. Students will also be collecting items from 1:00 to 6:00 pm Friday at Tractor Supply. The group hopes to collect as much as possible to send to Houston and would appreciate donations from the community. Also everyone in the community is asked to please help spread the word about the donation drive at Tractor Supply on Friday September 15 between 1 and 6 pm. A list of needed items is provided below.
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Career Online High School Newly Launched at SS Public Library
Hello Sulphur Springs media outlets and library supporters:
Friday September 15, 2017 is the launch of our new program called Career Online High School. The library has been working on implementing this program for one year along with Gale, a leading provider of library resources and a Cengage company. We have raised money for scholarships, trained staff and are now ready to kick off along with these other Texas libraries: Dallas, Frisco, Houston and Grapevine! We are in good company but will lean on the community to help in getting the word out, rather than billboards and bus signs the larger area libraries are using. We are on Facebook, and will post tomorrow; I hope you will share this great program with your friends through email and Facebook. KSST will interview us Friday morning September 15 at 8am – I hope you can tune in.
Our goal is to reach adults without a GED or high school diploma and, if they are determined, to offer them a scholarship to begin the process of advancing their careers. There will be a direct social and economic impact on our community through this program.
Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions or would like to schedule a presentation/program for your group. The Library is located at 611 North Davis Street, and our phone number is 903-885-4926.
Thanks for your support of your library and your community!
Hope Cain, Public Library Director
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Paris Coach Sees Potential in His Team Going Into Friday Night’s Game; Paris Won Last Year
The Wildcats host Paris Friday night at The Prim for Homecoming. Steve Hohenberger is in his fifth year as Paris Head Coach after a long tenure as an assistant and head coach at Irving Nimitz. His Paris team is 1-1 so far this season with a 47-20 win over Terrell and a 45-13 loss last week to Pleasant Grove. Last year Paris had a good run in the playoffs and Coach Hohenberger feels they have the potential to do that again. However he stresses it’s early and he says his team has work to do. Coach Hohenberger says the Paris offense has struggled so far with execution. They are working with a new quarterback this year and Coach Hohenberger says Paris has had two injuries in the offensive line. Both are seniors and they haven’t been able to return yet. Coach Hohenberger says the Paris receivers are young and inexperienced. However colleges are very interested in two big Paris tackles that weigh 300 pounds or more. Coach Hohenberger says the Paris defense should turn out to be a good one, but like the offense, he says they are still a work in progress. They do have six defensive returning starters this year. Coach Hohenberger was a North Lamar quarterback in high school. One of his blockers was Jeremy Offutt, the current Wildcats offensive line coach. Chris Owens, now the Wildcats Golf Coach, was on Coach Hohenberger’s staff at Irving Nimitz. Coach Hohenberger expects the Wildcats game to be a big test for Paris Friday night.
Paris Game Last Year
From the sports history files, we go back about one year ago to September 9, 2016 as the Wildcats played Paris at Wildcat Stadium in Paris. Paris came out on top, 36-35. The Wildcats actually scored first as running back Lawrence Worth ran for a touchdown from four yards out and the Wildcats had a 7-0 lead with 10:18 to go in the first quarter. Paris rallied back with two short TD runs and they led 14-7 at the end of one quarter. The second and third quarters were good ones for the Wildcats. Quarterback Ryan Humphries threw two TD passes in the second quarter and another in the third quarter. His first touchdown pass went to Simeon Taylor and covered 37 yards. Humphries also found D.J. Hall for a 32 yard TD strike. The Wildcats were up 21-14 at the half. In the third quarter, Humpries hit Cor’Tavius Pruitt from 13 yards out for a TD and the Wildcats led 28-14 after three quarters. Paris scored twice to tie the score at 28-all with 6:18 left. Humphries teamed up again with Taylor for a 49-yard TD pass and the Wildcats moved in front 35-28 with 3:55 left to play. Paris had one final drive in them and they scored with just 1:33 left to play. The dagger was a two point run after the touchdown and Paris led 36-35. The Wildcats still had 1:33 to play but their final drive stalled at around the 30 yard line in the Paris end. The Wildcats are hoping for a better outcome in 2017.
100 Reserve Seats Added at Prim Stadium
There are some more reserved seats available for the Friday Paris game and for the rest of the Wildcats home season. Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens said Thursday morning that due to demand for reserved tickets, the reserve ticket section at Gerald Prim Stadium has been expanded by 100 seats. They are located at the top of Section B and they all have the blue seats in them.
He said there were about 50 seats left for the Paris game. Coach Owens said you may purchase single game seats at the reserve ticket window on Friday night.
Those who are interested in purchasing a season ticket packet in the new section, see Dwayne McMeans at Sulphur Springs High School during the week.
North Hopkins Tax Swap Will Maximize State Funding For Local Needs
Several information meetings have been conducted in the North Hopkins Independent School District to provide an overview of a proposed Tax “Swap” Ratification Election. Superintendent Darin Jolly said the tax swap will enable the district to maximize state funding without raising local rates. The additional money will used for what Jolly calls “big ticket” items including transportation fleet needs, parking improvements and expansion, energy efficiency upgrades for increased savings, and instructional needs for facility and equipment for 21st century learning.
The purpose of the election is to allow the district to move $0.13 from the Interest and Sinking (I&S) (debt payment) tax rate to the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate. This move will not increase the total tax rate. The proposed change generates the same projected local tax revenue – $981,648, because the pennies are just “swapped” between M&O and I&S, but the move increases the projected state revenue by $251,635 for the 2017-2018 school year.
Early voting by personal appearance beginnings Tuesday, September 19, 2017 and ends October 2nd. Early voting hours are 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each weekday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. on October 2, 2017 at the North Hopkins ISD Secondary Office, located at 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. Voting on Election Day, October 6th will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the North Hopkins ISD Administration Building Board Room, located at 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
Homecoming Royalty Named in Friday Pregame Activities 6:30 p.m. at Prim Stadium
This is Homecoming week at Sulphur Springs High School. Sixteen Homecoming nominees, who are hoping to be selected as Homecoming queen, have been chosen by the high school student body.
The nominees are Alyssa Abron, Karlee Adams, Makenzie Alexander, Allie Avery, Gracie Boyer, Vanessa Diosdado, Hannah Dixon, N’sya Dugan, Aubrey Faulks, Anden Hammack, Maggie McGlamery, Jacie McKinney, Kate Potts, Anna Sapaugh, Imani Taylor and Mieke VanBenthem. Interviews and pictures of the homecoming court are available on Tuesday September 12 Channel 18 News. (The interview begins at the 6:30 mark in the video.) High School Assistant Principal Vanessa Abron, who coordinates Homecoming activities, says this is the largest Homecoming court that she can recall since she became involved with Homecoming back in 1998.
There will be at a Homecoming Pep Rally Friday afternoon at around 3 p.m. on September 15. Homecoming nominees will be presented at Prim Stadium prior to the Wildcat/Paris game. The court will be introduced and the Homecoming Queen announced beginning at 6:40 p.m. Friday.
What Might Have Been; Lady Cats Face Hallsville at 4 p.m. Friday
Nineteenth century American poet John Greenleaf Whittier once penned the proper sentiment for Tuesday night’s Lady Cat 3-2 loss at Texas High. “For all sad words of tongue and pen. The saddest are these. It might have been”. The Lady Cats were poised to win in Texarkana when the Lady Tigers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
In set five, the Lady Cats had a 12-9 lead when a timeout was taken. Coming out of the break, Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness says the Lady Cats missed a serve and then seemed to lose focus. The Lady Tigers scored the match’s last five points to win set five, 15-12. Coach Maness calls the back and forth match unbelievable. He says Texas High is a good team. Coach Maness says his two middle blockers played well Tuesday night. Both Autumn Tanton and Mieke VanBenthem had 12 kills apiece. Coach Maness says it was a tough loss but he says a good Hallsville team is coming up next for the Lady Cats.
The Friday game has been moved up to 4 p.m. Five Lady Cats are in the Homecoming Court and the extra thirty minutes for the game should allow them to play and to participate in Homecoming activities before the Wildcats’ football game Friday night.
Herd Wins First Varsity Match; Team Tennis 1-1 om District
Wildcats Team Tennis Coach Tony Martinez was pleased with his team’s 14-5 district win over short-handed Marshall at the Wildcat Tennis Complex Tuesday afternoon. The win evened the Wildcats district record at 1-1.
Coach Martinez awarded the Wildcat Ball to freshman Katie Beth Herd, who won her first varsity match. Herd won in girls’ singles despite losing a first set, 6-0. Herd won set two, 6-0 and then captured the match with a 10-7 tiebreaker win. Senior Jazzmin Cruz, who just took up tennis a few months ago, won her girl’s singles match, 6-1 and 6-0 despite a slight heel injury.
The Wildcats got strong plays from the boys. Captain Alex Benitez led the way along with Jonah Kirkpatrick and Blaine Flemens. The boys’ doubles team of Chase Crouch and Logan Schumacher won their match against Marshall, 8-3. Coach Martinez may have found a mixed doubles team for the future. He put youngsters Aaron Lucas and Heather Harris together and they won. Coach Martinez said they played well together and picked each other up. Coach Martinez said his message to his team before the match was a simple one. He told them to have fun, compete and make sure they hit the ball over the net and let their opponents hit into the net or out of bounds. After the match, the team celebrated three players with birthdays Tuesday: Zoe Wilson, Schumacher and Lucas. Coach Martinez said the Marshall coach chose to leave some players at home for team rules violations, such as missing practices.
