Location:

      O. J. Noer Turfgrass Research & Education Facility
      2502 Highway M
      Verona, WI 53593
      (608) 845-2535
      FAX: (608) 845-8162
      EMAIL: plk@plantpath.wisc.edu

    General Diagnosis Includes:

    • visual diagnosis
    • microscopic examination
    • culturing for pathogens
    • disease control recommendations
    • rapid results for commercial samples by phone, FAX, or email

    Fee Structure:

    • Homeowners: $20/sample*
    • Commercial Turf:
                  Diagnosis w/ phone call $100/sample
                  Diagnosis w/ report & call $125/sample
    • Out-of-state fee: additional $25/sample
    • Nematode analysis is an additional $22/sample.

      *Homeowners are encouraged to contact their county
        extension office before sending a sample to the TDL.

    Payment:

      Clients may pay at the time of sample submission, with a check payable to the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab, or may request billing.

      You can also contract with the lab for diagnoses. For information on this please review the following Portable Document File (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to read this file. If you do not have this program, you may download it for free by clicking here.

    Submitting Samples:

    • Collect and submit samples early in the week, especially if sending by mail.
    • Send an adequate representation of the problem. Select samples from the transition zone between healthy and affected turf. Sample when symptoms are evident.
    • A 6" plug is a good size to submit. Include the roots. Plugs taken with a cup cutter are ideal. Samples collected with a soil probe are too small.
    • Submit fresh samples. Package and mail immediately. If a sample must wait, put it in a cooler or refrigerator. DO NOT SEND DEAD GRASS!
    • Package plugs with different problems separately.

     

    For more information on how to collect or package samples, please call:

    (608) 845-2535

    Submit a written description of the problem. You may download and print submission forms Here. Keep the paper separate from the sample so it doesn't get wet, and if you do not use a TDL form, please include your name, phone, FAX, mailing address, and email address if available. Include in your description:

    • the kind of grass and age of the planting
    • location of the turf (greens, fairways, tees, lawn)
    • a description of the pattern of damage and its progression over time
    • date when the problem was first observed
    • soil conditions (soil type, drainage, etc.)
    • weather conditions prior to symptom development
    • recent pesticide and fertilizer applications
    • a tentative diagnosis if you have one

     

    Office hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Mon-Fri)

    Personnel:
        Department of Plant Pathology

    About the UW-Madison Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab

The laboratory provides a nonprofit service supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UW-Extension, and the Department of Plant Pathology, UW-Madison. Its goal is to provide rapid, accurate and specific disease diagnostic information and management recommendations to turfgrass growers. Expert turfgrass specialists provide unbiased evaluations of turf diseases, weeds, insects, and environmental problems that will save clients the cost of and exposure to unneeded or ineffective pesticide applications. The laboratory is also a site of research and development of new molecular technologies which will provide rapid, accurate diagnosis of pathogens currently difficult to detect.

The above information is also available in PDF format and may be downloaded below

Date: July 5, 2003