From Weeds of the Northeast (author’s emphasis): “Prostrate knotweed is a summer annual.  Is one of the first summer annual weeds to emerge in the spring.  In turfgrass, it is most often found on hard compacted soil or areas damaged in spring or summer by traffic or trampling, including paths and walkways and athletic fields.  Prostrate knotweed is not particularly competitive; it usually survives in stressed areas where other species do not grow well or are damaged.”

So the good news is that prostrate knotweed grows where nothing else wants to grow.  It is also an annual (goes from seed to seed in one year and doesn’t overwinter as a viable plant) and is not particularly competitive; so if you relieve the conditions that favor its growth this year it is less likely to be there next year.   So the key is to relieve the areas of compaction and get turfgrass growing in its place.  The addition of calcium to the soil in the form of calcitic lime if the pH needs adjustment or as gypsum and the use of humates will help improve the soil conditions.  Continued timely aeration of the fields with overseeding this fall is the best way to care of the problem of prostrate knotweed.  Traffic (foot and vehicle) should be limited in these areas in the spring especially when soil conditions are wet.

Follow the following for some more specific information:

Self Study

Natural Turf Pro  - Professional Organic Turf Training on DVD.

 Natural, organic lawn care is the fastest growing segment of the green industry. Across the country, independent landscapers, landscape contractors and turf managers are getting ready to grow their businesses with Natural Turf Pro.

Natural Turf Pro is a powerful video learning tool – OVER FOUR HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ON TWO DVDs – designed to help you get a jump start over your competition in the fast-growing organic lawn care market.

Seminars

NESTMA, the New England Sports Turf Managers Association, is holding a Summer Field Day at Wellesley College on August 4^th.  The Keynote Speaker, Mr. Dennis Brolin, will discuss common pitfalls of sports field construction and maintenance. 

We have encountered a number of poorly constructed sports fields which makes transitioning to all natural turf care all the more difficult.  As such we’re curious to hear what Mr. Brolin has to share.

NOFA Organic Land Care is offering its NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course on August 5^th in Providence , RI.  There are also a number of advance workshops being offered at different times and locations throughout the summer.

NOFA Summer Conference is being held August 13 – 15 on the UMASS Amherst Campus.  There are 100s of seminars scheduled with many having direct or indirect bearing in the area of organic land care.

Reading Lists

The following is a short list of interesting books that will help in your understanding of organic lawn care:

Andersen, Arden. Science in Agriculture: Advanced Methods for Sustainable Farming, Austin, TX: Acres U.S.A., 2000

 Coleman, David C., Crossley, D. A. Jr., Hendrix, Paul F. Fundamentals of Soil Ecology, Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004

Nardi, James B. Life in the Soil, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2007

Sachs, Paul. Managing Healthy Sports Fields, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004

Walters, Charles. Weeds Control without Poisons, Austin, TX: Acres U.S.A. 1999