Fall 2020
Expanding Opportunities with
Stormwater Landscaping Plus:
Slate of 2021 Officers
included in this issue
Deep South Turf Expo 2020 Reinvented: Tournament, Trade Show and Tailgate
Timing of Herbicide Applications Affects Damage to Bahiagrass and Seedhead Suppression
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Fall 2020
TOP FEATURES 8
8
ATA Member Spotlight —
Joe Collins, CSFM
Upcoming Events — 10 DSTE 2020 Reinvented: Tournament, Trade Show and Tailgate
Cover Story — 12 Expanding Opportunities with Stormwater Landscaping
Feature Article — 16 Timing of Herbicide Applications
Affects Damage to Bahiagrass and Seedhead Suppression
10
DEPARTMENTS
12
6
From the President’s Pen
6
ATA Annual Sponsors
11
ATA 2021 Officers and Board
18
Calendar of Events
18
Index of Advertisers
Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
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 © 2020 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 Jefferson City, MO. 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
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From the President’s Pen >>>
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
A STRANGE YEAR As
we continue to get closer to normal life, we are still dealing with COVID-19 issues. I’m sure many of you have made major adjustments to your everyday operations. Seeing the lights at our local soccer complex gives me a sense of normalcy. I know from areas I have visited that many of you guys have been busy. Some of the fields look as good as I have ever seen them. I encourage you to use this time to continue the talks with your athletic directors and coaches about rest time for the sports fields and the importance for safe, playable surfaces. Luckily, we are getting plenty of rain and that is always a blessing. This has been a very strange year for our board. We face constant unknowns and we haven’t met in person since the Sports Turf Field Day in Florence on March 11th. We are, however, working for you and continuing to meet through online and phone conferences. We have been pulling together names for future board positions, and we have an impressive list of people that will continue to push this association to greatness. We recently had a meeting regarding our financials, and I want to assure you our association is financially sound due to good stewardship by our board and good member engagement in attending our events. I also wanted to touch on our scholarship opportunities for members’ children. If you have a child that has been accepted to the college of their choice, you can access the online scholarship application on our website, alaturfgrass.org. Certain criteria must be met, and the guidelines are also posted on the website. Historically, we have tried to give one scholarship for underclassmen, and one for upperclassmen. A lot of thought and discussion goes into awarding these scholarships. It is very important to make sure all areas of the application are completed. We would like to host some events prior to the end of the year, but we have to make sure we are following guidelines set forth by the state. I’ve missed seeing you guys. As of now, Deep South has been reinvented as a golf tournament and tradeshow on the course at The Preserve in Biloxi. You will find more information about the changes to come, including the date, which has changed, in the article in this issue (page 10). The Expo is a great partnership between Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana turfgrass and golf associations. Education and networking opportunities are second to none at the Expo and we will go forward better than ever in 2021. In the meantime, please consider attending the Tournament, Tradeshow and Tailgate this year! I will be stepping down soon, so I want to thank the entire Board for serving under these difficult times; it has been strange. I especially want to thank our long time Educational Advisors, Dr. Dave Han and Dr. Jim Jacobi. We lean on them often and they never let us down. Brad Barron and Jim Crockett will be rolling off the Board this fall, so thank them for their service the next time you see them. And I can't forget our Executive Director, Melanie Bonds; she is the force behind the association that keeps it running smoothly . Lastly, I hope my successor, Joe Collins, CSFM, has a year with less governmental social restrictions, so ATA can return to our normal schedule of events in 2021. Joe has been a strong Vice President and will serve ATA well as President. Our slate of officers and directors is published on page 11, so please take a look at who will be serving next year. We are always looking for members to step up and move into a role representing their segment of the turfgrass industry, so if you would like to serve on the board in 2022, please let us know.
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Deven Peek
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@leadingedge communications.com Executive Director Melanie Bonds Alabama Turf Times Editor James Horton
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Al abam a Tu rf Ti me s >>> Fall 2020
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Member Spotlight >>>
JOE COLLINS, CSFM
A “CLASS ACT” IN SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT AT SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
J
By Melanie Bonds, ATA Executive Director
oe worked in a retail plant nursery and garden center while in high school, and then at a golf course during the summers. Based on his enjoyment of those jobs, he decided to pursue a horticulture degree at Clemson. While at Clemson, Joe said, “My love of sports led me to golf course maintenance internships and an eventual Assistant Superintendent position upon graduation.” Collins’s career was nurtured during college by his advisor, Andy Weber, and afterwards by some well-known names in our industry. He was fortunate to serve in golf maintenance internships under high profile names such as William Shirley at Rivermont Country Club and Ken Mangum at Atlanta Athletic Club. Philip Hindman with Harrell’s and Tim Sullivan at the University of Alabama Birmingham also helped Joe negotiate his career. “There are some great people out there that are willing to help and offer advice. I have been fortunate to be associated with some high-quality people in our industry that have also been consummate professionals.” Joe decided to take a leap into sports turf maintenance when he heard about a position at Samford University in Birmingham. “I ran into a representative of a large grounds maintenance company at a conference. They were searching for someone to cover the athletic field portion of a new contract. It turned out that the post was at Samford. I interviewed for the job and was hired in 1995. My role has evolved over the years to my current position of Landscape and Sports Turf Manager.” One experience that molded Joe in his quest for excellence in his career was, oddly, not a positive one. Someone in a prominent position in sports turf was very dismissive of Joe. “That situation taught me how not to act! It has been a recurrent theme of mine, ever since, to treat others as I would want to be treated.” Through his work at Samford, Joe has met a lot of great people and is pleased to work at an institution that has high values and purpose. He says, “The luxury of working outside preparing spaces for events that are of high importance to our athletes, constituents, and alumni is very rewarding.” Despite the challenge of report writing and time spent in meetings, along with everpresent budget constraints due to constant demand for facility use, Joe is confident that, “I chose well for my career.” 8
One thing that sustains Joe is his love of family. Joe’s wife of 25 years is Jennifer, who is the accounting manager at a large travel management firm. Their oldest daughter is Ella (19), a nursing student at Samford. Their youngest daughter is Carys (15) who is a sophomore at Spain Park High School. In ten years’ time Joe hopes to be “looking back fondly on both of my daughter’s graduation ceremonies. I would love to be in a position where all I have to worry about is mowing a straight line!” For relaxation, Joe still finds time to play league softball with a few good friends, which he has done for years. “My goal is to keep playing until I can’t play anymore… whenever that is… who knows. I love watching my Clemson Tigers play any and all sports. Go Tigers!” Joe is a long-time member of the Sports Turf Managers Association where he is certified. He is also certified by the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association. He was voted Samford University Facilities Employee of the Year in 2018 and has participated in at least 15 conference championships teams in various sports. The ATA is honored to have Joe as our incoming President in 2021. He says, “It is truly an honor and my privilege to serve on the ATA Board alongside so many great people who genuinely care for the future of our profession. This industry has given a lot to me and afforded many moments of great professional satisfaction. I appreciate the opportunity to give a little back amongst the fellowship of my peers, whom I respect immensely.”
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Al abam a Tu rf Ti me s >>> Fall 2020
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Upcoming Events >>>
Tournament
DSTE 2020 R EIN V ENT ED Tournament, Trade Show and Tailgate By Melanie Bonds, ATA Executive Director
Monday, October 26, 2020 8 – 10 am Vendor Move-In to their assigned location on the course 10 – 12 pm Registration 12 – 4 pm Golf Tournament & Trade Show 4 – 7 pm Tailgate & Trade Show
Registration Fees: Golf Registration, per player (Includes Trade Show and tailgate)... $175 Vendor Golf Registration (Includes Tee Sign)............................... $275 Tailgate Registration and Trade Show..................................... $50 Vendor and Tailgate Hole Sponsorships...........................$1,000
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
It
is with regret that we notify you that our 2020 Deep South Turf Expo, originally scheduled for November 4–5, 2020, at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center has been cancelled. After careful consideration, our Board of Directors made this decision, since we cannot guarantee the positive and rewarding experience that our attendees and exhibitors have come to enjoy each year in Biloxi. A successful Conference and Trade Show relies on in-person networking, face-to-face business meetings and hands-on instruction and that will simply not be possible, given the continued social distancing measures that we anticipate will still be in place throughout the remainder of this year. With so much uncertainty, the board feels it prudent to forgo our education program and trade show and focus on making the 2021 Deep South Turf Expo the best ever!
10
Rather than completely miss an opportunity to have our group come together this year, the DSTE is going to host DSTE 2020 Reinvented: Tournament, Trade Show and Tailgate! Tournament will be hosted by The Preserve Golf Course on Monday, October 26th. This will allow us ample space to socially distance and gather, while keeping the spirit of the DSTE alive for next year. October will be a great time to play this Certified Silver Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Golf Course. One of the only 21 golf courses in the world to receive this prestigious designation, the Preserve is committed to helping protect the natural environment, while maintaining pristine playing conditions. Judging from the popularity of past DSTE Tournaments at this course, they have succeeded! Many thanks to Jeremy Stevens and Stephen Miles, CGCS for hosting the tournament, and their dedication to the Deep South Turf Expo since its inception!
Trade Show In addition to the golf tournament we are offering opportunities for our vendors to showcase their products during the tournament by displaying throughout the course during the golf tournament. Players and attendees (aka customers) will come by on their golf carts, or people carriers, and visit with vendors. Vendor registration includes exhibit location and entrance to the tailgate celebration. Since we will have limited space, we suggest vendors register ASAP.
Tailgate The Tailgate Picnic, which was so popular last year, is being reprised. Whether you golf or not, we encourage everyone to come by for the Tailgate, sample a variety of delicious food, listen to some great music, and gather with their peers. Please SAVE THE DATE! There will be rooms available at the Beau Rivage for $109 on Sunday and Monday nights, October 25 — 26. While it is of primary importance to the Deep South Turf Expo mission to offer an outstanding education conference each year, there were many factors that determined that we would be unable to host the wonderful program that had been planned. Even a scaled-down live version of this conference would be difficult. Our host hotel, the Beau Rivage, has been mandated to reduce occupancy and many universities have eliminated travel of their faculty during this time. In addition, many of our exhibitors have had travel budgets frozen and could not confirm that they would be able to exhibit until this fall. Our committee is still working on making some offerings that would enable our attendees to get points on a digital platform. As soon as confirmation can be made, we will promote and share this information. The Deep South Turf Expo Board and staff wish you and your family a safe fall. Whether you play in the golf tournament or not, we hope you will come to the tournament and tailgate. We miss you all and would love to see you there!
ALABAMA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 2021 SLATE OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Joe Collins, CSFM Samford University Vice President Ben Anderson Arrowhead Country Club Secretary/Treasurer Ben Williams City of Alabaster Past President Deven Peek Full Bloom Landscapes, LLC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Golf Patrick Pierce Grand National Golf Club Industry Chris Moras Ground Works Distribution Institution David White University of Alabama at Birmingham Lawn Care Reynolds Cook Southern Lawns Park & Recreation Heath Puckett Guntersville State Park Sod Randall Murphy Murphy Turf Farms At Large Darrel Arnold Heritage Lawn & Tree Care Tony Culberson Bayer
EX OFFICIO / EDUCATION ADVISORS David Han, Ph.D. Auburn University Jim Jacobi, Ph.D. Alabama Cooperative Extension System
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Al abam a Tu rf Ti me s >>> Fall 2020
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Cover Story >>>
STORMWATER LANDSCAPING FOR GREEN INDUSTRY By Dr. Eve Brantley
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
Background
Do you remember the first time you searched a creek for crayfish, swam in a river, skipped stones across a lake, or chased the Gulf waves? Chances are you’ve had a lot of opportunity to explore the more than 132,000 miles of rivers, streams and shorelines in Alabama. As you travel across the state, notice that it’s never very far between seeing a creek, river, or wetland. This network of water resources provides recreation, drinking water, power generation, and industry for the state, while also boasting the most freshwater fish diversity in the country. With urban and suburban areas increasing, planning, implementation, and maintenance of water friendly practices by turfgrass managers plays an important role in protecting local water quality. Stormwater landscaping may be available on most of your work sites including commercial developments with large parking lots, parks and sports complexes, streetscapes, golf courses, school grounds, residential developments, and more. There is a connection between management of green spaces and water quality. When you ask people what the number one cause of water pollution is, they likely picture big pipes spilling out dirty water. While this was once the source of most water quality problems, the Clean Water Act provided oversight and rules for what may be discharged into surface waters by industry and municipalities. Water quality has improved, but we still have streams, rivers, lakes and bays that are impacted by polluted stormwater runoff, or nonpoint source pollution. This pollution is the number one cause of degraded waters in the United States. Pollutants such as oil and gas from streets and parking lots, excess fertilizer from suburban areas, sediment from land disturbing activities, and pet waste wash into stormdrains, roadside ditches, and streams with each rainstorm. The health of our local streams, rivers, lakes, and bays is a reflection of how we manage our landscape. What we do in a stream’s watershed is directly linked to the health of that stream. A watershed is the area of land that, when it rains, that water drains to a common water body — nature’s boundary lines. Turfgrass managers may inexpensively and effectively manage green spaces and the stormwater that moves across and through them protecting healthy waters that we use for safe drinking water supply, fishing and boating opportunities, landscape amenities, and is home to an amazing array of life. • Get a soil test. • Apply fertilizers at the proper rate, using the correct application method, and best time to maximize plant uptake and minimize runoff. 12
1
Stormdrain
2
Grassed Swale
3
Rain Garden
•U se water wisely — irrigate only when needed and in the early morning. Check for leaks and nozzle direction. Use mulch to reduce water loss in plant beds. Consider using rainwater harvesting. • Only rain should enter the stormdrain — avoid blowing grass clippings, leaves, excess fertilizers or other materials into stormdrains. • Keep soil covered — limit erosion with temporary and permanent seed or mulch to protect from soil loss. • Consider implementing practices such as grass swales, rain gardens, and more to slow and clean stormwater. • Manage a streamside vegetation buffer along streams and ponds to filter stormwater. Pollinator plants may be incorporated for an aesthetically pleasing look that is also ecologically valuable.
Don’t Guess — Test!
One of the best ways to protect streams also protects your wallet. Knowing the fertilizer needs for lawns and applying only the required amount means that chemicals (and money) aren’t wasted. One application of excess fertilizer may not be a big deal, but 100 excess fertilizer applications in a watershed can create problems such as harmful algal blooms. ATA members can help get the word out to homeowners and others about the importance of proper fertilizer application rate and timing to promote a healthy landscape and improve stormwater runoff. Simple tips and planning make a big impact. Inform others how to soil test, avoid applying chemicals before a rain event, create ‘water zones’ for plants with similar water needs, and incorporate native plants in landscapes that are adapted to your area to reduce inputs and add benefits to pollinators.
Stormdrain Connection
Turfgrass managers should remind people that only rain should go down a drain. The stormwater flowing across urban and suburban landscapes to stormdrains (Photo 1) is not treated before entering local waters. That means, whatever the stormwater is carrying has the potential to get into your stream, river, or lake. Lawns and other turfgrass areas play an important role by increasing stormwater infiltration that minimizes excess fertilizer reaching stormdrains. If we approach managing green spaces to limit pollutants that are allowed to move off site, we’re taking an important and smart stewardship approach. Also, allowing grass clippings, fallen leaves, or other yard waste to be blown into a stormdrain can lead to clogging that results in localized street flooding.
Use Water Wisely
Green Industry + Green Infrastructure
Landscape and turfgrass professionals have a unique opportunity to integrate rainwater, plants, and soil in a way that benefits their clients on multiple levels from aesthetics to improved water quality. Green infrastructure is an approach to managing stormwater that mimicks natural water flow by slowing stormwater down and allowing it to soak into the ground before directing it to traditional stormwater infrastructure like stormdrains. Slowing stormwater runoff and allowing it to soak into the soil is key to filtering out the pollutants that it may be carrying. Lawns and other turfgrass areas play an important role by increasing stormwater infiltration and capturing excess fertilizer before it reaches stormdrains that empty into local streams. Popular green infrastructure practices include permeable pavement, rain gardens, grassed or vegetated swales, and bioretention cells. Stormwater can create concerns as it drains across a landscape. There are practices that may be implemented by turfgrass professionals that target infiltration and storage of water to improve quality and help decrease the quantity of runoff. Grassed swales (Photo 2) are a common practice that also help with reducing stormwater pollution. These shallow, open channel vegetated swales may be used along roadsides, in parking lots, residential subdivisions, commercial developments and on school campuses. An added benefit to incorporating grass swales is infrastructure costs may be reduced by eliminating the need for curb and gutter to traditional stormwater systems. Grass swales that use sod are less likely to encounter establishment issues as the sod provides a quick and dense cover. An often-used practice is a rain garden system that is designed to capture, store, and drain stormwater within 48 hours of a rainfall. Rain gardens (Photo 3) are shallow depressions that are sized to catch the first inch of rainfall (where most of the pollutants are concentrated). The size of the garden depends on the impervious area it is draining, but a typical rule of thumb is 10–20% of the watershed. Rain gardens are typically suggested for residential or small commercial applications and may be sized from 60–1000 ft2. An infiltration test should be conducted to determine if an area is appropriate for the installation of a rain garden. If the soils drain in less than 36 hours, it is likely you’ll have success with a rain garden. Plants for a rain garden must be able to tolerate periods of drought and saturation. Species that tend to perform well include tickseed (Coreopsis spp.), coneflower (Echinacea pupurea), inkberry (Ilex glabra), and muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris). Bioretention cells are similar to rain gardens in their function, but typically treat stormwater from a larger watershed and use a specialized media that allows for infiltration and stormwater pollutant removal. Bioretention cells have flexible siting requirements and can be installed within existing home or commercial landscapes, including yards, medians, cul-de-sacs, and other public spaces. They are not appropriate in areas with steep or unstable slopes due to the risk of erosion. Take a look at the medians or vegetated landscape features the next time you’re in a parking lot. 13
Al abam a Tu rf Ti me s >>> Fall 2020
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a typical American family uses around 320 gallons of water per day. Of this, 30 percent, or 96 gallons, is for outdoor water uses and most of that is for lawn and garden irrigation. A surprising statistic is that more than 50 percent of outdoor water that is applied is actually wasted. Water smart actions like watering in the early morning and only when needed can save water, energy, and money. Installing soil moisture sensors and checking that nozzle heads are not sprinkling the street or your neighbor will help with effective irrigation. If you’re looking for ‘free’ water, rainwater harvesting is an ancient practice that is still popular. Rain barrels or
larger cisterns capture rain and store it for use at a later time. A 1,000 square foot roof top will provide 600 gallons of water in a one-inch rain and Alabama on average receives 55 inches of rain a year.
Cover Story >>> Continued
Do these parking lots allow for stormwater to flow into a treatment area (bioretention) or around them (raised curbs)? Several communities across Alabama have incorporated bioretention cells into large paved areas as a way to improve stormwater. ATA members may consider keeping a vegetated buffer or streamside forest along waterways. Deeply rooted native
vegetation acts as a filter, slowing stormwater and trapping pollutants before they get to our streams. Plant roots anchor the soil and help minimize erosion of property. Along streams, forest leaves provide shade to cool streams in the summer and serve as a source of food for stream critters in the winter after they fall. Not all green is good, however. Invasive species such as
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Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
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Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) create dense monocultures that may not provide optimal wildlife habitat, limit native plant regeneration, and create unsightly thickets that are difficult to penetrate. To create or recreate a native streamside forest, you can choose to set aside ‘no-mow’ zones that are managed infrequently and recommend planting shrubs and trees such as river birch (Betula nigra), Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), and silky dogwood (Cornus amomum).
Resources
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has several resources that may help with selecting water quality landscape features that are both attractive and functional. Check out resources in the Landscaping web resources to learn more about drought tolerant landscapes (https://www.aces.edu/blog/ topics/landscaping/drought-tolerantlandscapes-for-alabama/) and Alabama Smart Yards (https://www.aces.edu/ blog/topics/landscaping/smart-yardlandscapes/). Questions about how to take a soil test and where to send it? Visit the Extension web page with step by step directions (https://www.aces. edu/blog/topics/crop-production/homesoil-testing-taking-a-sample/). If you’d like to dig deep into stormwater management practices used in green infrastructure, check out the Alabama Low Impact Development Handbook that is available for download (http://adem.alabama.gov/ programs/water/waterforms/LIDHand book.pdf). The handbook has chapters outlining planning, design, and maintenance for commonly used stormwater practices in urban and suburban areas. Thinking about rainwater as a resource for landscaping and incorporating practices that can slow and infiltrate water before it reaches our local water ways can make a huge difference in the overall health of our drinking water supplies, recreational opportunities, and natural wonder of our state. For more information on Alabama’s water resources, ongoing projects, and special events visit www.aces.edu/aws. The Alabama Watershed Stewards program provides excellent information on how each of us may play a role in protecting and improving water resources.
Al abam a Tu rf Ti me s >>> Fall 2020
15
Feature Story >>>
Timing of Herbicide Applications Affects Damage to Bahiagrass and Seedhead Suppression By Dave Han, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist and Adam Boyd, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University
The major disadvantage of bahiagrass is that it produces many tall, unsightly seedheads. These grow quickly, and can be two or three feet high only a few days after mowing. Mostly because of its seedheads, bahiagrass is not a popular choice for home and commercial lawns in areas where appearance is a high priority. Seedheads can also be a hazard on roadsides if they grow tall enough to block drivers’ views. Although mowing twice per week can control bahiagrass seedheads, this is often not practical. There are chemical methods to suppress seedhead formation and growth in bahiagrass. Low rates of herbicides such as imazapic (e.g. Plateau), metsulfuron (e.g. Escort, Manor, MSM Turf), sulfometuron-methyl (e.g. Oust) and glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) can be used to suppress seedhead formation (Murphy et al., 2005). These so-called “sub-lethal” rates still can produce unacceptable injury in bahiagrass (Yelverton et al. 2011). Some research (Sellers et al., 2011) has indicated that adding 2,4-D, an auxin mimic broadleaf herbicide, can safen metsulfuron application somewhat in bahiagrass pastures. Aminocyclopyrachlor is an auxin-mimic herbicide that is labeled for use on turf under the trade name ‘Method.’ Aminocyclopyrachlor has been shown to both suppress seedheads in bahiagrass for at least 60 days after treatment and also to stunt and discolor bahiagrass at high rates (Durham et al., 2011). In this project, we looked at a combination of aminocyclopyrachlor (as Method) and a product containing the herbicides foramsulfuron, iodosulfuron and thiencarbizone (Derigo) for seedhead control and damage to an established stand of bahiagrass on the roadside along US Highway 231 north of Wetumpka, Alabama. We also tested metsulfuron (MSM Turf) at very low rates. Derigo is labeled for seedhead suppression in bahiagrass, but it recommends that sprays begin after the bahiagrass is fully green. ALDOT often wishes to make herbicide applications in the spring before bahiagrass is fully greened up (H. Peavey, personal communication), to control late winter broadleaf weeds. We made single applications of various herbicides commonly used on roadsides by ALDOT beginning on April 1, 2019 to determine how early application, before bahiagrass greenup was complete, affected both phytotoxicity and seedhead suppression. The latest application was made on May 27. The herbicide treatments in this study were:
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
• Derigo (2 oz/acre) + Method (4 oz/acre)
B
ahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) is a commonly-used grass for utility turf (roadsides, airports, etc.) and lawns in the southeastern United States. In Alabama, it is planted extensively by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) as a permanent ground cover along roadsides (ALDOT, 2018). It is also used at many airfields, construction sites, utility rights of way, and some lawns. Bahiagrass has many advantages: it can be easily established by seed, is inexpensive, has an extensive root and rhizome system, has excellent drought tolerance, and does not require heavy fertilization.
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• Derigo (3 oz/acre) + Method (4 oz/acre) • MSM Turf (0.125 oz/acre) • MSM Turf (0.25 oz/acre) Since metsulfuron will kill bahiagrass at regular label rates, we used very low rates in an attempt to achieve seedhead suppression with minimal phytotoxicity. Each treatment was applied as a single application on either April 1, April 14, April 29, May 13 or May 27, then followed through August and rated for bahiagrass coverage and seedhead suppression.
Results
FIGURE 1: Bahiagrass cover on July 1, 2019, after single herbicide applications on the dates given.
Bahiagrass damage was much less severe when herbicides were applied early in the season, and was progressively worse as the season wore on. As expected, the air and 4" soil temperature increased over time (Table 1). In plots sprayed on April 1, there was almost no injury in the Derigo + Method plots and 60–70% bahiagrass cover in the MSM plots by July 1. The amount of living bahiagrass in the MSM plots declined in plots that were sprayed later, with the least cover in plots sprayed in late April and May (Figure 1). For Derigo + Method, the bahiagrass cover was good in plots sprayed through April, but more damage occurred in plots sprayed in May, when soil temperatures were in the 70s and 80sºF. Bahiagrass damage was unacceptable in MSM plots sprayed after April 1, but remained acceptable at the low rate of Derigo until May 13. Seedhead suppression was excellent in the Derigo + Method treatments at both rates of Derigo through August 8. For plots sprayed on April 1, this meant that the single application of Derigo + Method suppressed seedheads for more than four months. In mid-August, ALDOT made an herbicide application over the top of all of our plots, so we ended data collection. With MSM, seedhead suppression was observed on August 8 in all plots except for those sprayed on April 1 (Figure 2). Unfortunately, these were the only plots with more than 50% bahiagrass coverage. In this study, MSM treatment alone did not produce lasting seedhead suppression without unacceptable high damage to the bahiagrass (Figure 3).
TABLE 1: Air and Soil temperatures at time of herbicide applications
FIGURE 2: Bahiagrass seedhead coverage, rated as percent of untreated check, on August 8, 2019 following single herbicide applications on the dates given. FIGURE 3: Example of damage to bahiagrass by a late (May 27) application of metsulfuron (MSM Turf).
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Feature Story >>> Continued
The April 1 applications occurred when the soil temperature was still less than 60 degrees F and the bahiagrass was not fully greened up, but there was little phytotoxicity and good seedhead control in the Derigo treatments. This opens up the possibility of scheduling herbicide applications for seedhead control during the spring greenup period, which is not currently a standard practice.
Bottom Line:
•D erigo + Method suppressed seedheads through August even when sprayed as early as April 1. • This was before the bahiagrass was fully green. • Earlier applications resulted in less phytotoxicity in all treatments. • MSM Turf was too damaging to use after April 1. • Derigo + Method was too damaging after April 14. This research was sponsored by the Alabama Department of Transportation.
References
Alabama Department of Transportation. 2018. Standard Specifications for Highway Construction.
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Gannon, T.W. and F.H. Yelverton. 2011. Application Placement Equipment for Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) Suppression Along Roadsides. Weed Tech. 25:77-83.
Yelverton, F.H., McCarty, L.B. and T.R. Murphy. 2007. Effects of imazameth on the growth of Paspalum notatum. Int. Turfgrass Soc. 8: 1085-1094.
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Sellers, B.A., Ferrell, J.A. and G.E. MacDonald. 2011. Safening metsulfuron with 2,4-D Amine in Bahiagrass. Southern Weed Sci Soc Proceedings 64: 108.
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Durham, M.W., Farrell, J., MacDOnald, G., and B. Sellers. 2011. Aminocyclopyrachlor Injury Potential in Roadside Turf. Southern Weed Sci Soc Proceedings 64: 155.
Murphy, T.R., L.B. McCarty and F.H. Yelverton. 2005. Turfgrass plant growth regulators. Pages 705-714 in: L.B. McCarty, Ed. Best Golf Course Management Practices, 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle Riverm NJ: Prentice-Hall. Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Fa ll 2020
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