Alabama Turf Times - Fall 2013

Fall 2013

Build It,

and They Will Come...

Back

Possible Herbicide Damage

to oak trees?

Plus, Special Inside —

ATA’s Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow,

October 29–31, 2013

Fall 2013

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Top Features ATA Member Spotlight — 8 John W. Carter, Incoming ATA President Upcoming Events — 10 ATA’s 2013 Turfgrass

Conference & Tradeshow...

October 29–31, in Auburn

Cover Story — 12 Build It, and They Will Come... Back Turf Talk — 20 Metsulfuron Potentially Damaging

Oaks Trees when Applied to Turfgrass

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Departments 6 6 7

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www.AlaTurfgrass.org 4

From the President’s Pen ATA Annual Sponsors News from ATA Slate of 2013–2014 ATA Leaders

Calendar of Events Advertiser Index

On the cover: Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Ruggiero.

The Alabama Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Alabama Turf Times, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Alabama Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2013 by the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Alabama Turf Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertion please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

From the President’s Pen >>>

Looking Back,

Looking Ahead Wow,

this past year has really flown. I guess the old saying is true — “Time waits for no man.” Let me just say that it has been a real pleasure to have served as your president this past year. I am pleased with the progress of the ATA, the participation of our members and the outlook for the future.

We have had very good support for the events of this past year. Recently, we had a large group of 66 fishermen participate in the Mole Cricket Classic Fishing Tournament. I expect great participation at the ATA Annual Conference in October as well. On behalf of the board of directors, we thank you for supporting the events of the ATA. Without your participation, this would not be the great organization

that it is. I would also like to thank our sponsors — without them, we could not exist. Let me also thank Tricia Roberts for doing an outstanding job; she makes the whole organization function properly.

It has been a goal of the board of directors to grow the membership of the ATA. Over the last several years, our membership numbers have fluctuated for different reasons. Many things are beyond our control, but it is still our desire to see an increase in the participation of the turfgrass professionals in this state by adding members to this organization. By increasing our membership, we will become stronger, drawing from more resources, thus creating a greater opportunity for networking with others. Please encourage those that you know in the

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2013 ATA Sponsors Gold

Silver

Bronze

•B eard Equipment Company • Greenville Turf & Tractor • Golf Ventures, Inc. • Harrell’s, Inc. • Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

•A AT — Direct Solutions • Ewing • John Deere Landscapes • Syngenta T & O Products

• • • • • • • • •

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AGRI-AFC, LLC Agromax Aquatrols BASF Bayer Environmental Science Humphries Turf Supply PBI/Gordon Southern States Turf Sur-Line Turf

industry to join the ATA if they are not members.

Remember — our biggest event of the year is still to come, so encourage those prospective members to attend the Annual Conference this October. I hope to see you there.

Glenn Hedden 2013 ATA President

<<< News from ATA

Alabama Turfgrass Association

2014 Slate of Officers

and Board of Directors

The

membership of the Alabama Turfgrass Association will have the opportunity to vote on the following slate of officers and directors for the upcoming year at the ATA Annual Business Meeting, to be held at the Conference on Thursday, October 31. Please make every point to attend this meeting and vote on the future leadership of your association

Alabama Turf Times is the official publication of the: Alabama Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 70 Auburn, Alabama 36831 Tel: (334) 821-3000 Fax: (334) 821-3800 Email: mailbox@alaturfgrass.org www.alaturfgrass.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Executive Director Tricia Roberts Alabama Turf Times Editor James Horton Birmingham Botanical Gardens

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Glenn Hedden Town of Loxley

Vice President John Carter

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1-year terms)

Carter Sod Farm

President

Treasurer

Montgomery Country Club

John Carter (1 year) Carter Sod Farm

Jason Cooper (1 year) Richter Landscape Co.

Past President James Bartley

Vice President

Past President

Jeremy Sutton (1 year) Montgomery Country Club

Glenn Hedden (1 year) Town of Loxley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS At–Large Richard Brackin

Treasurer Jeremy Sutton

Harrell’s, Inc.

Lawrence County Sod Farm

Jason Cooper

Richter Landscape Co.

Board of Directors

Sidney Whitaker

S & S Lawn & Landscape

Golf Cole McInnis

At Large

Lawn Care

Richard Brackin (1 year) Lawrence County Sod Farm Mark Langner (2 years) FarmLinks Golf Club Tom Luchner (2 years) Turf Tenders, LLC

Craig Jones (1 year) Alabama Lawns, Inc.

Mark Irwin (1 year) City of Foley

Institution Paul Patterson

Golf

Sod

Lawncare Craig Jones

Cole McInnis (1 year) Willow Point Golf & C.C.

Chad Lambert (2 years) Sur-Line Turf

Institution Paul Patterson (1 year) University of Alabama-Huntsville

Tres’ Wilkinson (2 years) South Dallas Turf

Ex Officio/ Education Advisors Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University Jim Jacobi, Ph.D. AL Cooperative Extension System v

Industry Steve Sanderson AGRI-AFC, LLC

University of Alabama Huntsville

Alabama Lawns

Parks & Recreation Mark Irwin City of Foley

Sod Tres’ Wilkinson South Dallas Turf

EX OFFICIO/ EDUCATION ADVISORS Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University

Jim Jacobi, Ph.D.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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A l ab ama Tu rf T im es >>> Fall 2013

Industry

Park & Recreation

Willow Point Country Club

ATA Member Spotlight >>>

ATA Member Spotlight on

John W. Carter,

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Incoming ATA President

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By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director

How

many landscapers would like to have an endless supply of sod whenever they need it? With the shortage of sod that we’ve seen this year, it would be a dream situation. Well, our incoming association president, John Carter, is living that dream. He is the owner of both Carter Landscaping, Inc., and Carter Sod Farm.

John grew up in the green industry in Elmore, just northeast of Montgomery. His grandfather, Coley Church, started a landscaping business back in 1956. His father, John D. Carter, expanded the business with the addition of a sod farm in 1972. Then John purchased the business in 1989 and has continued to grow it in areas that his predecessors never imagined. John’s green thumb can be seen all over the tri-county area (Montgomery, Elmore and Autauga).

Besides being committed to the Alabama Turfgrass Association and serving as our incoming president, John volunteers his other free time to his community. John has been an active member of the First Baptist Church Wetumpka for 23 years; he is a firefighter with the Wetumpka Fire Department and a volunteer for the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief; and he is a certified scuba rescue diver.

John and his wife, Angie, have been blessed with two sons during their 25 years of marriage: Cole (age 22) and William (age 18). Cole, a chip off the old block, is a firefighter with the City of Auburn and a student at Auburn University, pursuing a turfgrass management degree. William is a senior at Edgewood Academy in Wetumpka.

Who knows, maybe we’ll see a fourth generation added to John’s business in the near future.

John brings experience, enthusiasm and determination to his leadership role with ATA. Look for some great accomplishments for the Alabama Turfgrass Association under his reign. v

upcoming Event >>>

ATA’s Annual Turfgrass

Conference & Tradeshow Set for October 29–31!

By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director

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The

Alabama Turfgrass Association is headed back to Auburn for the 43rd Annual Turfgrass Conference and Tradeshow with a few new friends… the Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association will be joining us. We have planned another great conference this year, with exceptional speakers and educational sessions for every turf manager.

The Conference will feature over fifteen hours of educational sessions designed to give turfgrass managers a cutting edge on their skills. Attendees will come away from this meeting with new information, helpful tips and useful suggestions to use in their turf-management programs. Our featured speakers are industry professionals, turfgrass specialists, professors and researchers who will share their great knowledge with you. Take advantage of this economical opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry.

If you or someone from your company needs to take the OTPS or OTPC license, this is the perfect opportunity!

We are offering a study session on Tuesday, October 29, and the examination on Thursday afternoon, October 31, immediately after the conference. Participants will be required to purchase

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the three study guides prior to the class (offered on http://www.aces.edu/anr/ pesticidemgt/) and pay the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for their examination fee prior to taking the exam.

Our tradeshow will have an exciting new venue, the new Auburn Arena.

Come mingle with the exhibitors on the floor where the Auburn Tigers play basketball. During the last hour, the tradeshow will have a reception, followed by the Membership Dinner and Auction on the Scholarship Terrace, just one level up from the arena floor.

Everyone is invited to attend — we even included your ticket to the dinner in the registration fee this year. Our live auction will feature our auctioneer, Jimmy Collins, and our famous yelpers, Wayne Bassett, Randy Bodine and Lee McLemore, CGCS. We are currently seeking donations for the auction, so if you are able to donate something, we will greatly appreciate it. Be sure to bring your checkbook to the dinner, as you will be able to score some great items at fabulous prices.

And that’s not all the fun we’ve packed into this Conference! On the opening day, October 29, we have a golf tournament planned at Saughatchee Country Club. This private course is

located just minutes from the host hotel and has been totally renovated this year. The Club will also be the location of our Welcome Reception that evening. So, even if you’re not a golfer, come out and experience the atmosphere at this beautiful facility.

For our non-golfers, we will offer a walking tour of the Auburn University sports-turf facilities, including JordanHare Stadium, Plainsman Park and the new indoor practice facility. Put on your walking shoes, and take this tour with our very own sports-turf manager, Eric Kleypas, serving as tour guide.

Come and learn some new tips and techniques to help you maintain your turfgrass, network with your peers, talk with vendors and earn your CEU and pesticide re-certification points, all while having a great time at the Annual Turfgrass Conference and Tradeshow in Auburn on October 29–31. Visit www. alaturfgrass.org to register for the Conference, and call the Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center at 1-800-228-2876 to make your hotel reservations. Then, come to Auburn on October 29 and enjoy all the festivities, education and tradeshow. We look forward to seeing you there! v

SCHEDULE at a Glance TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. OTPS & OPTC Training

11 a.m. Golf Tournament (Saughatchee Country Club)

12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Conference Registration Open (AU Hotel)

2 p.m. AU Sports Complex Walking Tour

5 p.m. Welcoming Reception (Saughatchee Country Club)

7 a.m. Continental Breakfast (AU Hotel) 7 a.m.– 12 p.m. Registration Open (AU Hotel)

8 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. General Session (AU Hotel, Auditorium)

8 a.m. “Physical Properties and What They Mean to Turf Managers” Dave Doherty, ISTRC

10 a.m. “Weed Control” Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Auburn University

11 a.m. Turf Bowl Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University

12:30 p.m. Lunch & Auburn Research Update (AU Hotel)

2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Tradeshow & Reception (Auburn Arena) 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Membership Dinner & Auction (Auburn Arena)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. AGCSA, ATRF & ATA Business Meetings & Continental Breakfast (AU Hotel)

12 p.m. Adjournment 1 p.m. OTPS & OPTC Examination

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Breakout Sessions (AU Hotel) Thursday Breakout Sessions Turfgrass Management

Pest Management

Landscape Management

Golf Course Management

“Protecting the NeoNicotinoids” Murphy Coy, Auburn University

“Controller Maintenance for Irrigation Systems” Tom Shannon, Ewing

“Life in the Shade May Be Less Stressful for Some Bermudagrasses” Christian Baldwin, Ph.D., Mississippi State University

10 a.m.

“New Options for Weed Management in Turf” Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Auburn University

“Fumigants: What’s Next?

Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida

“Traffic- and Shade-Tolerant Species” Phillipe Aldair, Auburn University

“How to Get More Oxygen into Your Greens’ Rootzones” Dave Doherty, ISTRC

11 a.m.

“Changes in Atrazine & Simazine Application Practices” Sonya Thomas, ACES

“Soil Chemistry” Beth Guertal, Ph.D., Auburn University

“Technology for Turf Managers” Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University

“Maintenance of Ultradwarf Greens” Rod Lingle, Memphis Country Club

9 a.m.

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“Origins of Invasive Plants” Stephen Enloe, Ph.D., Auburn University

Cover Story >>>

Build It, and They Will Come…

By James Horton, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

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The

Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League began their baseball legacy in 1885 and played at historic Rickwood Field from 1910 to 1987. In 1988, they moved to the suburb of Hoover and played there for 25 years in what was then a new stadium with club boxes and suites (Rickwood had neither), as well as overall better playing facilities.

The City of Birmingham wanted the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox back and took the attitude, “Build it, and they will come back.” Mayor William A. Bell of Birmingham said, “It was time to bring them home.” The City partially funded the project with a new lodging tax with the idea that the new sports facility would spur commercial development in the area around the stadium. Two downtown locations were considered, but finally a four-block area at the corner of 14th Street South and 1st Avenue South was chosen across the street from the new urban park known as Railroad Park.

Finally the Barons’ ownership and City of Birmingham officials came to terms, and the project took on life with great urgency. On February 2, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony took place, and four days later, demolition of the buildings on site started. Opening day was scheduled for April 10, 2013, so there was no time to waste.

Historic design

Corporate Realty Development, LLC, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC and Robins &

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Morton teamed together as co-developers for the new ballpark. HKS Sports & Entertainment Group (Dallas, TX), in association with Birmingham firms Hoskins Architecture and Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio, handled the design, with Robins & Morton and A. G. Gaston named as contactors.

The overall design is impressive, and the architecture blends into the local landscape not by accident. The architectural team did their research of historic Birmingham icons and used those ideas to build something special.

The roof structure over the suites was inspired by Sloss Furnace (former iron mill now listed as a National Historic Landmark), and the stadium seating arrangement resembles Rickwood Field, with third-base seating ending just beyond the infield, while the firstbase seating wraps just around the right-field foul pole. The light towers also boast the “X” cross-bracing that casts shadows onto the field similar to Rickwood. Even the masonry was meant to resemble historic downtown buildings, with the color blend and variation selected intentionally.

All visitors approaching the west side of the stadium along 14th Street South will be dwarfed by the huge letters spelling “BIRMINGHAM” along the exterior wall. This is no sign, but a clever use of steel siding turned in different directions, providing shade inside the stadium from the setting sun while still allowing air flow. Future stadium upgrades will utilize LED lights in an array of colors and patterns to

Back

illuminate this iconic feature. The stadium has three entrances and actually will serve as a city park, open every day (except on game days) for people to walk through, connecting Rail Road Park with points south of the stadium.

Numbers tell the story

During construction, crews had to blast and dig through fingers of rock more than 40 feet deep in order to lower the playing field approximately 18 feet below street level. During this process, a 2,600-gpm underground spring and two sinkholes were discovered, which slowed work for a time,

Above: Regions Field, the new home of the Birmingham Barons, hosted its first game on April 10, 2013. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Ruggiero.)

Inset: Photo courtesy of Barons Media Relations.

line. The field is 320' deep down the left-field line, ending with a 12' wall; 325' deep down the right-field line, also ending with a 12' wall; and 400' deep to dead center. The wall is 8' tall from left center to right center.

The facility capacity is 8,500 (6,250 fixed seats, plus 2,250 general admission and group areas). The main concourse runs 360 degrees around the field. The stadium has 23 fully furnished private luxury suites, a 400-seat club lounge and a 6,500-ft2 banquet room with 15'-tall windows along three walls, providing views of the field, downtown and Rail Road Park. The stadium has a 42' X 25' high-resolution HD10 video

screen in left field, 2 ribbon boards and an auxiliary scoreboard, with a total of 1, 179,648 LEDs in the 4 displays. Food and drink (local vendors only) can be purchased everywhere, with 52 permanent points of purchase and 6 mobile carts.

Near the main entrance, the stadium also offers the Sports Depot Team Shop, offering a wide variety of souvenirs. Beyond the outfield wall, playground equipment, inflatable attractions and a wiffle-ball field are available for kids. Families will enjoy the picnic areas, homerun porch under the scoreboard, grass seating berms and batting cages.

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and above-average rainfall didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help the work schedule either. However, work proceeded, with steel and concrete finally rising from the site day by day.

Built in just over 14 months, the resulting structure is incredible, with stunning views of the city skyline from every seat. The cost of construction for the stadium alone was $42 million. Adding land acquisition and site prep, the total cost was $64 million.

Regions Financial Corp. pays $500,000 a year for the privilege of naming the ballpark Regions Field. The field points east, with the hometeam dugout located along the first-base side-

113 days into stadium construction, on May 28, 2012. <<< Cover Story (Photo courtesy of Barons Media Relations.)

Field staff

At the heart of Regions Field, of course, is the turfgrass, and the person responsible for keeping the pulse of the stadium strong is Daniel Ruggiero, head groundskeeper. Daniel (age 30) has worked in professional baseball for ten years, the last seven as head groundskeeper — five with the Barons’ organization and two for the Mobile Bay Bears. During the early part of his career, he trained under Darren Seybold, previous head groundskeeper for the Barons at Hoover before going to major league baseball and currently serving as director of athletic surfaces at The University of Tennessee. They remain good friends today and in regular contact.

Maintaining the field is not a oneman show. Daniel’s assistant is Andrew Batts. Most of the time, they work together, especially on game day, but between home series, they can sometime take an off day, with one or the other handling the workload. They work well together, with Andrew saying, “Daniel is a great teacher who will sometimes throw you out there to see what you can do. He won’t let you fail — he wants to train you to succeed, so you can move on.”

Daniel and Andrew have two full-time interns and two part-time game-day workers. Besides maintaining the field, this crew also maintains the landscape and irrigation around Regions Field. Needless to say, they have their hands full.

Daniel, however, tries to keep life in perspective. His wife (Desiree’) and their two daughters (Taylor, age 2, and Sydney, age 5) are sometimes seen at the games with Daniel. After a recent Friday night game during the follow-up fireworks show, Daniel and Taylor were seen together, riding the infield machine and pulling the nail drag across the clay.

Installing gravel, drainage, irrigation and sand-peat mix, early March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Ruggiero.)

Early in the design phase of the project, Daniel was given approval to recommend a short list of companies to be considered for the playing-field construction, including turfgrass installation. Daniel began the process by con-

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Field construction

Cover Story >>> Continued Installing the infield, early March 2013.

(Photo courtesy of Daniel Ruggiero.)

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Fa ll 2 013

tacting his network of friends in the business. Only a couple of companies were asked to make a presentation, with Precision Turf, LLC (Lilburn, Georgia) being awarded the contract.

As happens all too often, though, construction problems and delays occurred with the mortar-and-brick portion of the stadium, giving Precision a very small window to complete its work. Starting in January, a four-

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man crew did what it could, inch by inch, as parts of the field were made available, but it was not until February 21 that all other trades vacated the field.

Daniel and Andrew worked daily with the Precision crew. “It was key that we worked with Precision Turf to build this field,” Daniel said. “We saw everything being done and worked together to overcome any unforeseen

obstacle, including the weather.”

Before Precision started, the field was nothing more than a huge hole in the ground with mostly a solid-rock bottom. Approximately March 1, the crew began by installing 10 inches of 87 stone, followed by six inches of 57 stone, to facilitate drainage. All stone was purchased locally.

Within the 57 stone, the drainage lines, irrigation supply and zone lines were installed. Each zone can be isolated back to the irrigation control room. The Toro irrigation system has 10 zones, 60 heads and 10 quick couplers. Using a flat pipe design, the drainage system was spaced every 15 feetacross the field.

Next, a geotech fabric was laid on top of the gravel before 10 inches of USGA 90%:10% sand-peat rootzone mix was installed. A total of 4,000 tons of sand-peat mix was blended at Superior Product’s quarry (Jemison, AL) by Bulk Aggregate Supply of Atlanta. Superior also provided 2,000

<<< March Cover15,Story Installing theContinued turfgrass sod, 2013.

(Photo courtesy of Daniel Ruggiero.)

tons of sand used as the base for the infield and warning track areas.

Precision used Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. (Columbia, TN) to supply the clay and conditioner for the infield and warning track material for the field’s perimeter. Every layer of gravel, along with the sand, sand-peat mix and infield clay, was laser graded.

The infield clay has a 0.25% slope, front to back. All grass surfaces are flat.

Precision contacted with John Bowen Turf Company (Enigma, GA) to grow the 96,435 ft2 of certified Tifway 419 bermudagrass necessary to sod the entire playing field. The grass was grown on a certified sand-based field mix to prevent layering problems once installed. The grass was fertilized, watered, sprayed, mowed and overseeded to Daniel’s and Precision’s specifications. The 42-inch rolls were harvested, sent to Birmingham and installed March 15–17.

The schedule was tight, and with the April 10 opening day just 24 days away, Daniel and Andrew began the process of growing grass.

• 1 /10 lb./1,000 ft2 13-0-44 soluble fertilizer (Agrium) • 0.65 ozs./1,000 ft2 Regal Crown (Regal Chemical Co.) Five days after installation, 750 lbs. of Polyon 20-0-20 were applied, and the grass was mowed for the first time at 1/2 inch, followed by watering. Six days after installation, root development was checked, showing the roots had grown in by 2 inch; the grass was mowed for the second time and sprayed again, followed by watering.

On March 24, one week after the grass was installed, it was rolled for the first time with a double-drum, six-ton roller, sprayed the third time and watered.

Fungicides were rotated and applied every 14 to 21 days.

This aggressive approach was conducted with great care many times over, using various products per Daniel’s supervision. He made sure every application of granular fertilizer was applied in two directions. Eventually, spray applications averaged once

Grow-in and maintenance

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With the daily schedule planned days ahead for the three-acre field, the next few weeks were very busy for Daniel and his crew, and every task was recorded. For instance, just before sod installation began, Daniel applied the following products from Gulf Coast Organics to the sand/peat soil base (these products were spun-in using a Sand Pro): • 20 lbs./1,000 ft2 4–3–4 organic fertilizer • 7 lbs./1,000 ft2 Granular GreensGrade Humic Acid Starting the day after the grass was installed, the grounds crew applied 2,000 lbs. of 5-4-0 organic fertilizer, sprayed a tank mix containing 7 products and then watered the field. The tank mix contained: • 3 ozs./1,000 ft2 Astron (Floratine Products) • 6 ozs./1,000 ft2 MAX Minor Package (Harrell’s) • 3 ozs./1,000 ft2 12-0-0 U-Max with 6% Iron (Harrell’s) • 3 ozs./1,000 ft2 Earth Max (Harrell’s) • 3 ozs./1,000 ft2 Nitrate Plus 6-0-0 (Harrell’s)

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Continued <<< Cover Story

The exterior wall of the stadium’s west side (the main front entrance) features a clever use of steel siding that provides shade inside the stadium, allows air flow and proudly spells out the Barons’ hometown. (Photo courtesy of John Shadrick.)

Birmingham’s Regions Field was played at 7:05 p.m. before a capacity crowd of 8,505. The Barons won 9–5 over the Mississippi Braves and went on to sweep the 5-game series. Two months later, on June 10, they defeated the Jacksonville Suns 7–3 and took the Southern League North Division First Half Championship.

Interestingly, the Barons passed the 2012 season ticket total of 204,269 in the first home game of the second half.

Currently, attendance stands at 282,013 with 21 games left, plus the playoff.

The City had accomplished its goal — “Build It, and They Will Come… Back! v

The results

On April 10, 2013, the first ballgame at

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A l ab ama Tu rf T im es >>> Fall 2013

or twice per week, with the computerized spraying system made even easier with the foam-marking equipment.

Most of the equipment used to maintain the field was purchased from Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation, Inc., with Jason Gattina and Andy Cook providing sales assistance. Daniel said, “The real reason we are with Toro is because of the service we receive from their mobile service technician, Michael Smith. He is great to work with and has never let me down when I was in a pinch.”

Every day, between spraying, mowing and watering the grass, the grounds crew worked to put the finishing touches on the field. They installed the conditioner to the infield clay, spread warning track material, worked on the bullpens, set base anchors and completed the drains along the walls. When it wasn’t raining, the crew watered the field to promote deep roots. The grass was mowed daily, March 25–29, to achieve the pattern on the field. On March 29, the crew painted the foul lines for the first time.

On April 2, the team arrived to start practicing in the new stadium. April 4–8, the Barons played an away series.

On April 9, the field was mowed, sprayed and watered one final time before the opening game. On April 10, the foul lines were painted, and the field prepared for the opening game.

Turf Talk >>>

Metsulfuron Potentially Damaging Oaks when Applied to Turfgrass

By Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept. of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science, Auburn University, and Jim Jacobi, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathologist, AL Cooperative Extension System

This

past spring, numerous complaints were made regarding damage to oak species in areas treated with metsulfuron for broadleaf weed control. Symptoms include stem dieback, delayed leaf appearance and the proliferation of stems and leaves at the base of old stems and branches.

In extreme cases, trees have not fully leafed out, or leaf appearance has been delayed up to two months. More commonly, trees appear bushy due to excessive stems and leaves at the base of old stems, with the top 18" to 24" of stem failing to leaf out (see photos).

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Fa ll 2 013

Metsulfuron’s advantages

Metsulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide commonly used for broadleaf weed control in numerous turfgrass species.

It is sold (and has been sold in the past) under various product names, including Amtide MSM 60 DF, Manor, Blade and MSM Turf. It is particularly effective for control of broadleaf weeds and bahiagrass. With low drift potential, it has not been previously reported to move off-target to cause damage to non-target species. It also has no noticeable odor. Sold as a 60% water dispersible with a net package weight normally measured in the ounces of product per bottle, metsulfuron is typically used at only between 0.25 and 2.0 oz./a of formulated product.

With all its characteristics — low use rate, small product size, effective weed control, excellent turfgrass safety, low potential for off-target movement and no smell — metsulfuron is an ideal herbicide for turfgrass management.

Further increasing its use, metsulfuron is now extremely cheap. While 20

metsulfuron is typically sold at less than $20 per acre of use, new active ingredient products typically range in the $100 per acre of product. Thus, using metsulfuron can save managers money. From our observations only, metsulfuron has gone from a higher-priced, marginally used herbicide to one of the primary broadleaf weed control herbicides used in warm-season turfgrass.

Prior to a large drop in price, metsulfuron was used minimally, with a single application of 0.5 oz./a per year being a normal scenario, and applications were made most often during the summer. In our observations for 2012 and 2013, multiple applications are now being made in spring and fall for broadleaf weed control, a practice that was not common until recently.

Our recommendations

It is noteworthy to point out that all of these applications are perfectly legal and are made according to label recommendations. In no cases have we observed any evidence of over-application or pesticide mismanagement.

Metsulfuron-induced oak toxicity

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A l ab ama Tu rf T im es >>> Fall 2013

After extensive investigation (in collaboration with industry representatives, lawn and landscape managers and pesticide distributors), however, it is our conclusion that metusulfuron is inducing toxic effects on the following oak species: Nuttall oak, Shumard oak and willow oak. In our observations, the following trees and ornamentals have been minorly affected: crape myrtles, hollies, red maple and southern magnolia. Lastly, the following species have shown no signs of injury: lacebark elm and Japanese zelcova. Until we have more information, however, we recommend using metsulfuron with caution around trees not listed above.

In areas of observed injury, fallfollowed-by-spring metsulfuron applications were the most likely to induce injury. However, we have also observed spring- or fall-only applications that induced oak injury. In no instances have we observed injury from summer applications, although such a situation remains a possibility.

Please note that only observations of injury and alignment with historical pesticide records have been investigated.

This investigation has been a process of elimination of all possible injury suspects, including all possible herbicides used, insect-induced damage and

potential plant pathogens. At this time, we have no empirical (research-based) data to substantiate these observations, which is needed for future recommendations. It is quite possible that 2013 has been an aberration and that the level of oak injury we have observed this year will not be seen again. It is also quite possible that such injury will occur next year if changes are not made.

The most prudent course of action is to limit the use of metsulfuron to no more than one application per year at a maximum rate of 0.5 oz. per acre.

Do not make applications directly to the roots of sensitive oaks or under the canopy of these trees. We do not recommend discontinuing the use of metsulfuron, but we want you to be aware of the potential damage that could occur.

In all cases, read and review the herbicide label carefully for any product you buy. Always follow the herbicide label, and treat the label as a contract between you and the manufacturer. The label always supersedes any any word-of-mouth recommendation or advice. v

Turf Events >>>

October 29–31

2013 ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center Auburn, AL January 8

ATA Road Show Seminar Loxley Civic Center Loxley, AL

January 15

ATA Road Show Seminar Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham, AL

January 21–24

2014 STMA Conference and Exhibition Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio, TX

January 22

ATA Road Show Seminar Richard Beard Building, AL Dept. of Agriculture Montgomery, AL

January 29

ATA Road Show Seminar Troy University Dothan, AL

February 5–6

2014 Golf Industry Show Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL

February 12

ATA Road Show Seminar Jaycees Building Huntsville, AL

February 24–28

TPI Mid-Winter Conference (Turf Producers Intl.)

Orlando, FL

Index of Advertisers >>>

AGRI-AFC, LLC www.agri-afc.com.........................................................3

Southern States Cooperative www.southernstates.com...................................9

Agriguard............................. Inside Front Cover

Sur-Line Turf Inc. www.surlineturf.com...............................................18

Ewing Irrigation www.ewing1.com...................................................18 FMC Professional Solutions www.fmcprosolutions.com...................15, 17, 19 Greenville Turf & Tractor www.greenvilleturf.com......Inside Back Cover Harrell’s LLC www.harrells.com.................................................. 5

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Fa ll 2 013

Humphries Turf Supply www.humphriesturf.com................................. 22 Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation www.jerrypate.com........... Inside Front Cover Riebeling Farms, Inc............................................15 Southern Specialty Equipment www.ssequip.net..........................................................17

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The Andersons Technologies, Inc. www.andersonsgolfproducts.com...................... 16 The Turfgrass Group................. 14, Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Tri-Est Ag Group Inc. www.triestag.com.....................................................21