It is certainly a smelly day at HCC on the golf course. The reason for this is a chemical called Bensulide. Bensulide is a pre-emergent chemical used to prevent Poa annua from germinating. We apply this during the 3rd week of August each year. Poa annua starts germinating in late summer and early fall. Therefore, Besulide forms a chemical barrier in the soil that is safe on creeping bentgrass but prevents 90% or more of the seed from germinating. As you know, Poa annua turf seeds in the Spring. The seed falls off the plant, lays dormant over the summer and germinates in the fall. Therefore, any turf management plan that has the goal of eliminating Poa annua populations needs to include this important chemical application. Unfortuantely, the product has a pungent odor that will be gone tomorrow. It needs water to move it into the soil and activate it. Therefore, greens were watered for 8 minutes this morning and will be irrigated tonight for another 12 minutes.