Brian McDonald

Senior Faculty Research Assistant

Content by Brian McDonald

How long should my lawn be?

Q: My husband has decided to let the lawn grow tall because dog play is tearing up the lawn. He thinks that is best to keep the grass stronger. I read from multiple sources we should keep lawn 2 to 3 inches and ...

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Fairy rings in my lawn?

Q: Several brown, dead rings have formed in my lawn this summer. They seem to coincide with a type of mushroom. Are the mushrooms causing this? Is there any treatment short of applying a fungicide that is effective? Will the lawn recover on its own?

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Tips for Making Your School IPM Plan Complete

Oregon Integrated Pest Management coordinators and other school staff from Oregon school districts, education service districts, community colleges, private K-12 schools and federal Head Start programs collaborated to ...

Tim Stock, Alyssa Cain, Emily Braithwaite, Alec Kowalewski, Brian McDonald, Clint Mattox | Aug 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

What is the best way to manage Poa annua in my lawn?

Q: About 80 percent of my 10,000 square foot lawn is Poa annua. Do I need to start over by killing everything, tilling, soil prep and replanting seed? Or, is there a gradual way to regain control? If I do kill and ...

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Managing Microdochium Patch in Pacific Northwest Turfgrass

Those round, brown rings that appear on your lawn in spring may just be a passing problem. But if you manage a golf course, you may want to take steps to control Michrodochium nivale, the fungus that ...

Clint Mattox, Brian McDonald, Alec Kowalewski | Jun 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Irrigation Rates and Frequencies for Western and Eastern Oregon Turfgrass

When trying to minimize irrigation inputs, the best turfgrass species for the Oregon climate include perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in Western Oregon, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in Central/Eastern Oregon and...

Alyssa Cain, Alec Kowalewski, Brian McDonald, Clint Mattox | Jan 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing crane fly in lawns

Crane flies are large, gangly insects that do little damage as adults. But crane fly larvae are known for chewing through patches of lawn, damaging roots as grass starts growing in spring. Learn how to prevent damage to your grass with simple maintenance and irrigation practices.

Alec Kowalewski, Brooke Edmunds, Brian McDonald, Emily Braithwaite | Dec 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Is there a "no mow" lawn in my future?

Q: My so-called lawn needs help — it consists of clumps of grass with bare spots between. My small yard is completely fenced with a large apple tree shading much of it, so the grass gets at most 3 to 4 hours of sun ...

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Winter Cutworm: A New Pest Threat in Oregon

Damage from winter cutworm (the common name for the larval stage of the large yellow underwing moth) is a growing concern. In 2015, large numbers of larvae were observed around homes, within golf courses, and ...

Jessica Green, Amy J. Dreves, Brian McDonald, Ed Peachey | Jan 2020 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Retail Lawn Seed Mixtures for Western Oregon and Western Washington

This publication describes the benefits of choosing the right cultivar, species, blend, or mixture. It will also explore the advantages of seed coating and other preplant packaging options, such as fertilizer and ...

Stan Baker, Alec Kowalewski, Brian McDonald, Rob C. Golembiewski | Mar 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Fertilizing Lawns

Explains how to optimize a fertilization program for a home lawn. Discusses how to select and use fertilizers, the roles of various elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, pH, calcium, magnesium, and iron)...

Tom Cook, Brian McDonald | Oct 2013 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Best time to aerate?

Q: When is the best time of year to aerate my yard? My yard is Kentucky bluegrass. I live in Eugene, Oregon.

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