Recently, Momma Fidanza celebrated her 95th birthday! People often ask me: “What is her secret to longevity?” It could be the Mediterranean diet, or genetics, but I think it’s her priorities in life: faith, family and friends. Let’s take a look at turf research from 95 years ago, in 1930.
John Monteith Jr., Ph.D., (1893-1980) provided a detailed review on weed control in putting greens in the August 1930 issue of the USGA Green Section Record. Let’s see if Monteith’s insight from the 1930s holds up in 2026.
Monteith listed these weeds as the most troublesome on golf course greens: crabgrass (Digitaria sp.), chickweed (Stellaria sp.), white clover (Trifolium sp.), annual bluegrass (Poa annua), goosegrass (Eleusine sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) and plantains (Plantago sp.). Mowing height-of-cut for greens was much higher in the 1930s compared to today. Annual bluegrass is still a persistent and troublesome weed in greens, but it also produces a desirable putting surface for some golf courses.
Monteith described two approaches to “… successful and economical weed control: (1) weeds already in turf must be removed or destroyed by some method which will prevent their spread and perpetuation by seeding, and (2) precautions must be taken to guard against weed infestation from all probable sources.” A pocketknife and steady hand were required to control weeds in greens in the 1930s. There also was an emphasis on using weed-free seed and weed-free stolons.
Topdressing with compost was a common agronomic practice back then. These composts supplied small amounts of organic matter and plant nutrients and helped to produce a smooth playing surface. Great care was taken to use weed-free compost.
Maintaining dense turf was considered a good strategy for keeping weeds out of greens. What about fertilizers for weed control? Monteith evaluated ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, urea, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium nitrate, composts, bone meal, cottonseed meal and soybean meal for their ability to control various weeds on greens. None of the fertilizers produced an acceptable weed control option. Lower weed populations were associated with healthier and dense turf — thus, fertilizers improved the competitiveness of the turf. Therefore, in the 1930s, the ability to “… increase weed resistance of turf” was achieved by maintaining healthy and dense turf.
What about soil pH? Monteith experimented with lime applications to adjust soil pH, and he stated: “From the weed control standpoint, therefore, soil acidity does not offer any simple solution of the problem of better putting greens.”
What about chemical weed control options? In the 1930s, there were no actual herbicide pesticide products commercially available for weed control on golf courses. Sodium chlorate, calcium chlorate, iron sulphate and common table salt were applied on fairways and roughs for postemergence weed control but not recommended for greens because the risk of turf damage was too great. Standard recommendations with these chemical compounds were to “handle them with extreme care” and “conduct a test on a small area of a putting green first before applying them to the entire green.” Therefore, back in the 1930s, golf course turf managers had to conduct their own research or product evaluation trials to see if the compounds were safe for their greens and effectively controlled the weeds. Lead arsenate, corrosive sublimate (mercury chloride) and calomel (another mercury chloride) were used for insect and disease control, but a secondary or “non-target” effect was weed suppression or control. Therefore, lead arsenate and sometimes mercury chloride became relied-upon “herbicides” for weed control, particularly for annual bluegrass. Remember, this was 95 years ago.
Monteith served in World War I as a major in the U.S. Army. From 1928-1942, he was in charge of the USGA Green Section’s Advisory for Educational Service and Research. He received a citation for Meritorious Civilian Service for his work in World War II with natural grass airfields, and he was the first recipient of the USGA Green Section Award in 1961.
Source: Monteith Jr., J. 1930. Controlling weeds in putting greens. The Bulletin of the United States Golf Association Green Section 10(8):142-155.
Mike Fidanza, Ph.D., is a professor of plant and soil science in the Division of Science, Berks Campus, at Pennsylvania State University in Reading, Pa. He is a 24-year member of GCSAA.