Mississippi Turfgrass - Winter 2021

WINTER 2021

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

Native and Natural Roughs for Southeastern Golf Courses PLUS

Meet our 2021 MTA President, Keair Edwards

Turfgrasses for the 21st Century

Our goal is to produce the highest quality, innovative turfgrass on the market today while providing the best customer service. Our affiliation with several research and development professionals gives us access to some of the best varieties of turf available for difficult applications. We are also a grower of Tennessee Crop Improvement Association Certified Turfgrass.

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WINTER 2021

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

FEATURES

7 Event News —

The Deep South Turf Expo: Looking Forward to 2021

10 Cover Story —

Native and Natural Roughs for Southeastern Golf Courses DEPARTMENTS

6 From the MTA President

7 Index of Advertisers

8 News From MTA

8

WINTER 2021

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

Native and Natural Roughs for Southeastern Golf Courses PLUS

Meet our 2021 MTA President, Keair Edwards

ON THE COVER: A tall fescue area at Alotian Club, Roland, AR; Superintendent Koji Mitchell.

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More:

THETURFZONE.COM

10 4 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

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twitter.com/theturfzone THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 5

FROM THE MTA PRESIDENT

SUPPORT and COMMITMENT F

irst, allow me to say as the new president, I am elated to serve and look forward to continuing work with the members of MTA. As we maneuver through unprecedented times, we have had to adjust the ways we do things and how we reach our communities. However, our commitment and relentlessness to serve our community has not wavered.

MTA would like to continue to help its members as much as possible, and I am proud to announce that we are better equipped to provide everyone with information on events and opportunities on the MTA website (msturfassociation.org). I hope that we will start to exhibit a sense of normalcy and have face-to-face interactions sooner rather than later, but until that time comes, we will continue to support one another from afar. I look forward to continued networking, supporting, and hearing all the great ideas amongst MTA members.

Winter is approaching and it is the time of year where things begin to slow down within the turf industry. During this time, I encourage you to spend it with your loved ones and catch your second wind, because before we know it, spring will be upon us. I pray that everyone remains safe and has a joyful holiday season. Thank you for your continued support.

Keair Edwards MTA President

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Keair Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Alan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart (662) 312-9335 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Jeremy Tate Tate’s Turf LLC (662) 209-0023 ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu

DIRECTORS Specialty Distribution

Butch Pugh PO Box 9168 Searcy, AR 72145

Cell: 662-545-5664

www.agrainc.com

Fax: 501 268-0606

Email: butchpugh@gmail.com

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright ©2021 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTA. 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 insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Chris Hussey, Sod Rep Hussey Sod Farm (662) 840-0512 Jimmy McPherson, Golf Rep MSU Golf Course (662) 610-3260 Todd McCullough, Grounds and Landscape Rep City of Louisville (601) 416-3292 Corey Garrison, Central Rep Country Club of Jackson (901) 490-4547 Frank Ogletree, South Rep Hattiesburg Country Club (601) 543-5033 Seth King, Industry Rep. Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796

FACULTY ADVISOR 6 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

Jay McCurdy, Ph.D. (662) 325-2331

EVENT NEWS

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Agra Turf, Inc..................................................6 www.agrainc.com

Bayou Bend Turfgrass...................................15 www.bayoubendturfgrass.com

Harrell’s LLC................................... Back Cover www.harrells.com

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021

By Melanie Bonds, Alabama Turfgrass Association Executive Director

HollyFrontier Speciality Products................13 www.hollyfrontierlsp.com

Leading Edge Communications......................5 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

Progressive Turf Equipment Inc.....................5 www.progressiveturfequip.com

RD Murphy, LLC.............................................15 www.rdmurphy.com

Riebeling Farms, Inc.....................................15 Southeast Turf Maintenance.........................15 www.southeastturf.com

R

egrettably, our plans for the 2020 Deep South Turf Expo did not come to fruition this year. Initially cancelling the Conference and Tradeshow due to Covid-19, the DSTE board planned to offer a scaled down tradeshow at The Preserve Golf Course, along with the Scramble Tournament and a Tailgate reception. Due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the hurricanes that devastated many homes and businesses along the Gulf Coast, and economic considerations on the part of many employers, a decision was made to cancel the Tournament, Tradeshow and Tailgate planned for October 26, 2020 as well.

I would like to thank our vendors who came out strong in support of this year’s event.

They are anxious to re-connect with their customers and we appreciate the efforts they made for the 2020 Tournament, Tradeshow and Tailgate. We are blessed, truly blessed, and we hope everyone will thank those listed below who were willing to support the scaled down Expo financially.

With that said, we have begun planning for our 2021 Expo scheduled for November 1–4, 2021 which will again be held at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi. We hope many of the Covid-19 fears will have been laid to rest by then, and we are anxiously looking forward to the distribution of a vaccine to make congregating safe for everyone.

We plan to come back strong with a great education program, tradeshow and networking opportunities. So be sure to save the date for our turfgrass industry reunion in 2021! •

Sur-Line Turf, Inc............................................9 www.surlineturf.com

The Turfgrass Group..................................3, 11 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Thank You to our Exhibitors and Sponsors that Supported Our Efforts We encourage our members to support them as well

Winstead Turf......................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com

Aqua Aid Solutions Bayer

To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications:

615-790-3718 888-707-7141 ( TOLL FREE )

sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

Beard Equipment Company Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor Capillary Concrete Complete Turf Care FMC Graham Spray Equipment

Grasshopper Company Harrell’s LLC Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation Ladd’s Nufarm PBI Gordon Corporation Prime Source Redexim Turf Products Simplot T&O Sipcam Agro USA

SiteOne Landscape Supply Sod Solutions Southern Specialty Equipment, Inc. Southern Star Turf Technology, LLC Standard Golf Company STEC Equipment Sur-Line Turf, Inc. Syngenta Watertronics

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 7

NEWS FROM MTA

2020 ANNUAL MEETING NOTES Y our 2020 Annual Meeting was a first! First ever one via Zoom Webinar. Many thanks to those of you who took time out of your day to participate. All business was conducted and the new slate of Officers and Board Members were duly elected.

2021 BOARD MEMBERS ARE: PRESIDENT Keair Edwards City of Gulfport 114 Reservation Dr. Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 861-5641 kedwards@gulfport-ms.gov

SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University Box 9555 Mississippi State, MS 39762 (662) 312-9335 bastewar@pss.msstate.edu

VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Alan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course 12040 Grand Way Blvd.

Saucier, MS 39574 asullivan@viciproperties.com

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Jeremy Tate Tate’s Turf LLC 6477 Morgan Town Rd. Sturgis, MS 39769 (662) 209-0023 tatesturfllc@hotmail.com

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2020 MTA Scholarship award winners, Will Pace and Wes Casey!

DIRECTORS FOR THE ASSOCIATION ARE: Chris Hussey, Sod Rep Hussey Sod Farm 814 CR 1589 Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 840-0512 husseysod@hughes.net

Corey Garrison, Central Rep Country Club of Jackson 216 Greenfield Ridge Dr. Brandon, MS 39042 (901) 490-4547 c.garrison22@gmail.com

Jimmy McPherson, Golf Rep MSU Golf Course Box 9673 Starkville, MS 39762 (662) 610-3260 jhmcpherson@outlook.com

Frank Ogletree, South Rep Hattiesburg Country Club 61 Classic Dr. Hattiesburg, MS 39402 (601) 543-5033 FAO617@aol.com

Todd McCullough, Grounds and Landscape Rep City of Louisville P.O. Box 510 Louisville, MS 39339 (601) 416-3292 Louisvillecoliseum@gmail.com

Seth King, Industry Rep. Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor 243 Industrial Dr., North Madison, MS 39110 (601) 672-4796 sking@bennelson.com

We look forward to 2021 and resuming our usual activities.

Please check our website www.msturfassociation.org for news and updates. •

8 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

Front Row: Awardees Will Pace and Wes Casey. Back Row: Drs. Hongxu Dong, Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Jay McCurdy, and Barry Stewart.

East Mississippi Community College MTA 2020 Scholarship recipient is Grady Nabors. Congratulations, Grady!

Left to Right: Instructor Danny Smith, Grady Nabors, and Instructor Will Arnett.

Welcome NEW PRESIDENT KEAIR EDWARDS The

Mississippi Turfgrass Association welcomes Keair Edwards as the new President for 2021. Keair was a student member while attending MSU where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy with a concentration in Golf and Sports Turf Management. He continued his membership when he became Superintendent at the Gulfport and Goldin Sports Complexes.

Keair has MTA in his blood! His mentor and Dad, Ken Edwards, has been a faithful member of MTA for many years and served MTA as President. Ken was the first President of the Deep South Turf Expo. A twin (he has a sister, Kendra), Keair is very familiar with having to share everything, and you will always find him happy and willing to assist you to the best of his ability.

When I asked Keair how he first got involved in the business, he said “I grew up around the industry. My dad was in the industry for over 20 years and when he would do contract maintenance jobs, he would hire me. By the time I was about to graduate high school, I needed to figure out what the next phase of my life would consist of, and it was a no brainer that I would go to college and learn about becoming a professional turf manager.”

When I asked Keair how he got to his current job, he answered, ”I started as an intern. We had a large tournament coming up, and while I was working the director over the department pulled me to the side and basically asked me if I would be interested in the position when it comes open.”

The daily challenges, whether large or small, are the things he enjoys most about his job. The greatest challenge he finds is trying to get users to understand that the turf needs to rest too. A ten-year goal is to move “up the ladder” and become a Director or something similar.

While not working, Keair enjoys working on his antique car, watching college football (Hail State!) and a few NBA games and a little fishing when he has the time.

Keair is a member of the Sports Turf Managers Association and has received the 2016 STMA Field of the Year (Parks & Recreation) and 2016–2019 STMA Environmental Certified Facility and the 2020–2023 Environmental Certified Facility.

As you can see, MTA is in good hands for 2021! •

By Linda Wells, MTA Administrative Secretary

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 9

COVER STORY

NATIVE NATURAL ROUGHS AND

FOR SOUTHEASTERN GOLF COURSES

By Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mississippi State University

G

olf course designers and maintainers are increasingly interested in low-maintenance rough and natural areas.

Labor shortages and maintenance costs are partially responsible for this trend. The general public’s growing interest in the environmental benefits of golf courses also contributes to the trend. Numerous sources establish the benefits of native and natural roughs. Although not discussed in length, benefits include: • Aesthetics • Reduced inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, equipment hours, and labor costs • Improved stormwater retention and runoff water quality • Temperature modification • Wildlife habitat inclusion

This article covers several important topics regarding native golf course roughs in the southeastern United States, including species selection, establishment, and maintenance.

Southeastern states share similar environmental and socioeconomic conditions that influence course design and play.

These conditions, while not unique, distinguish southeastern golf course design and maintenance from that of other regions. For instance, many architects and aficionados desire the aesthetics of a links-style, fine fescue rough, but in the Southeast, this is rarely practical or sustainable.

The Southeast’s humid subtropical climate is characterized by warm and moist summer months. Annual rainfall can exceed 50 inches. Much of that rainfall occurs during the active growth period of warm-season plant species, which dominate the playing surfaces where golf is played year-round. Contrast this with the temperate oceanic climate of Scotland, for instance, where annual rainfall is roughly half that of the southeastern United States and the temperature range is ideal for cool-season species. For these reasons, species selection, culture of native areas, and expectations for golf courses in the southeastern United States should be soundly based.

It is important to differentiate native and naturalized species.

Native plants originated locally and predate European settlement.

Naturalized plants are not native but grow, reproduce, and maintain viable populations without human intervention. These definitions may seem academic, but an owner’s or architect’s specification of one or the other may have real and lasting consequences.

Natural areas in the southeast are not limited to grasses. They may be composed of trees, broadleaf forbs, sedges, and rushes.

Each of these species plays an integral part in a healthy ecosystem.

Many American golfers and superintendents are familiar with the look of fine fescue roughs on links-style courses, such as Chambers Bay or Oakmont. Unfortunately, fescues often fail to persist in the mid to coastal Southeast and are rarely “low maintenance.” Despite the availability of many suitable native and naturalized grasses, superintendents are often unfamiliar with their characteristics.

Tall Fescue Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is common in golf course natural areas throughout the Southeast. It is a cool-season grass native to Europe and Asia but has been naturalized in many places outside of its native range. Many pastoral golf settings (Sweetens Cove, Old Waverly, and Jackson Country Club) have mixtures of tall fescue and the native warm-season grasses little bluestem and broomsedge. Tall fescue is only moderately drought tolerant compared to most warm-season alternatives; nevertheless, it persists well in much of the mid and deep South. As a cool-season perennial, it is best established in the fall. It tolerates relatively low mowing heights in the moderate climate of the Southeast’s transition zone but generally does not require mowing to propagate by seed, as seed heads ripen in midsummer. The further south one goes, the less tolerant of mowing it becomes. For this reason, it grows well in complex with other species but is difficult to maintain as a monoculture. Frequent reseeding is required if monoculture stands are desired.

A tall fescue area at Alotian Club, Roland, AR; Superintendent Koji Mitchell.

10 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

continued on page 12

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COVER STORY • Continued

Native Warm-Season Species Warm-season species predominate power line and transportation rights-of-way throughout the Southeast, and the golf course industry has renewed interest in including them in native roughs.

This trend seems to have gained traction after Pinehurst No. 2 renovated mown rough in favor of wider fairways surrounded

Senesced little bluestem, Mossy Oak Golf Course, West Point, MS; Superintendent Brad Suggs.

by penal vegetation and natural waste areas in 2011. There has since been a growing demand for that same aesthetic, unfortunately often without proper consideration of costs, plant availability, or agronomic practicality. What works in sandy Coastal Plains soils rarely works in the chalky prairie soils of the Black Belt or the red dirt of the Piedmont. Some species that work well across almost all southeastern environments are described below.

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is perhaps the most prevalent native warm-season species on golf course roughs in the Southeast. It tolerates most soil pH conditions and is relatively easy to establish from seed. Commercially available varieties and local populations may have different heights, plant vigor, and even color. When growing in rich soils as a monoculture, little bluestem can reach heights greater than 5 feet. Under typical conditions where it is paired with tall fescue or bermudagrass, however, its height may be less than 3 feet.

Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) has a large fluffy inflorescence. It is common in open fields and waste areas of the southeast. It grows well alongside its equally as common cousin broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus). Both prefer acidic soils but grow well in almost all low-maintenance areas. These two species are challenging to propagate by seed because of a fluffy appendage that makes them difficult to spread or drill. If using a drill, it should be equipped to handle fluffy seed types.

Other Native Species

The golden seed head of indiangrass.

A mixed native warm-season grass rough that contains spartina, bushy bluestem, wiregrass, and broomsedge, Preserve Golf Course, Vancleave, MS; Superintendent Stephen Miles.

12 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

In addition to those previously mentioned, several warmseason grasses tolerate full sun, including purple muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), purple top tridens (Tridens flavus), wiregrass (Aristada species), and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). Height and biomass can be an issue with lowland and upland switchgrass (Panicum virginicum), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), but they too can be attractive additions.

Very few native warm-season grass species thrive in shaded conditions, such as woodland margins. Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) or upland switchgrass can persist, but these plants reach heights of 6 to 8 feet.

Several native cool-season grasses can be used for maintaining green color and texture through winter. They include those that are less dense than tall fescue but mimic its height and texture.

These may be planted in conjunction with other warm-season grasses or may be planted alone. Southeastern wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus) needs full sun. Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) does well in partial shade. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) prefers moist soil and partial shade. Riverbank wildrye (Elymus riparius) does well along creeks and rivers. Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrics), a woodland edge species, does well under deciduous trees.

In wetland margins, lowland switchgrass may be used, but this species may reach heights of 10 feet or more. Several spartina species, including prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinate), are common along the Gulf Coast of the Southeast. Hardy sugarcane (AKA Silver plume grass; either Saccharum alopecuroides or S. giganteum) is very tolerant of wet areas but plant height may be 8 to 10 feet.

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COVER STORY • Continued

Keys to Establishment Vegetation control prior to tillage and planting is critical. Multiple applications of nonselective herbicides (typically glyphosate), sometimes a full year in advance, are necessary to control weeds like bermudagrass, johnsongrass, dallisgrass, and vasseygrass before seeded establishment.

While fall seeding is best for cool-season species like tall fescue, native warm-season grasses are typically seeded in the spring when soil conditions are warmer than 55 degrees. Native grasses are slow to establish and require some additional consideration. It may take three or more years to reach a mature, dense stand.

Weed control during this time may be aided by application of Plateau (imazapic), which is safe on many native warm-season species but will control most cool-season species, including tall fescue. Plateau will control young crabgrass and will suppress bermudagrass and dallisgrass but has little effect on broadleaved weeds. The exposed soil of slowly establishing native warmseason roughs is an open invitation for warm-season annual

Little bluestem area that has been mown midsummer to improve playability at Mossy Oak Golf Course, West Point, MS; Superintendent Brad Suggs.

Little bluestem, one week after burning in mid-December.

broadleaved weeds like Virginia buttonweed, tropic croton, chamberbitter, and poorjoe. A broadleaf herbicide like Crossbow (2,4-D and triclopyr) or NativeKlean (2,4-D and aminopyralid) is often warranted during the first few years of establishment.

Complicating weed control further is the fact that these native roughs can grow so tall that a standard boom sprayer cannot pass over them. For this reason, a single nozzle boomless sprayer is sometimes required for late-season applications.

Mowing and Burning Native and naturalized species propagate by seed. Golf course superintendents may leverage this characteristic to manipulate stand density. Cool-season grasses disseminate their seeds during the summer. Warm-season grasses disseminate their seeds during the fall and winter. Seed propagation relies upon open, exposed soil, which may be achieved by grazing, mowing, or burning.

Tall fescue evolved under grazing pressure rather than seasonal burning, but mowing is a common substitute. Most species native to the southeast evolved under grazing or periodic burning, and thus mowing is a viable substitute.

For playability, one may wish to decrease plant density in natural areas so that golfers can find balls. This is achieved by mowing at suboptimal times. For erosion control or aesthetics, one may wish to increase plant density. This is achieved by favoring the desired plant species. Most courses will strategically mow or burn parts, but not all, of their rough on an annual basis.

For seed dispersal and increased stand vigor of native warmseason species, mowing or burning should occur when seed heads are ripe and plant material is senesced (dry and brown). The recommended mowing height for most natives is at least 8 inches.

Tall fescue tolerates relatively low mowing heights (~4 inches).

Many superintendents favor a mixed stand of tall fescue and native warm-season grasses like broomsedge and little bluestem.

Shifting a population away from tall fescue and towards native warm-season grasses is easy to achieve with winter burning followed by two applications of Plateau (in roughly April and June). Alternatively, introducing cool-season species with fall seeding of tall fescue or native cool-season grasses can be aided by suppressing the growth of native warm-season species with summertime mowing.

Flowering Plants and Pollinator Habitat Introduction of flowering plant species is rarely discussed in context with establishment of biodiverse golf course rough. The topic deserves its own essay, but the same techniques mentioned above may be used to favor the seeded establishment of pollinatorfriendly forbs and wildflowers. These species are far less tolerant of the herbicides mentioned thus far. In fact, Mississippi State University research indicates that very few herbicides are safe across the typical species found in southeastern flora. The ACCaseinhibiting herbicides, like Fusilade (fluazifop), Poast or Segment (sethoxydim), and Acclaim (fenoxaprop), that control grasses, are useful during the establishment of broadleaved species and can be applied at rates that allow tall fescue and most native warmseason grasses to recover. Halosulfuron (Sedgehammer, Manage, Prosedge, etc.) is useful for sedge control and is safe across

14 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • WINTER 2021

most grass and forb species. Controlling annual broadleaf weeds within mixed grass and forb areas relies upon spot treatment for control, but low rates of Image (imazaquin) or Basagran (bentazon) are moderately tolerated by established stands of many flowering plant species.

There are two approaches one might choose to establish pollinator habitat in native and natural roughs of the southeast: 1) Pollinator refuge “islands”. These islands would intentionally be forbs rather than grasses. Start clean. Prepare a seed bed by controlling all vegetation and tilling prior to seeded establishment of a seed mixture.

This will result in more uniform density.

Grasses can be kept at bay using repeat applications of ACCase-inhibiting herbicides. 2) Mixtures of grasses and forbs.

These mixtures mimic what naturally happens in prairie environments of the southeast. Experience suggests that starting forbs in established grass is easier than trying to establish grasses and forbs simultaneously.

This is because of the need for herbicidal control of many weeds during the early establishment period. A better strategy may be to establish native/naturalized grasses in years 1 and 2 then thin grasses mechanically or chemically to interseed flowering forb species in spring of a subsequent year.

Parting Thoughts Low maintenance does not mean no maintenance. These areas require a unique skillset, trained labor, specialty equipment, and knowledge. Native and natural areas are penal. Owners, architects, and other stakeholders should be involved in course design and the development of a strategy that leads to long-term success. That strategy should include flexibility and patience. This longterm approach can be aided through signage and written communication that educates golfers and helps our colleagues in the proshop. Most importantly, enjoy the process.

These areas are fascinating to watch as they ebb and flow throughout the seasons. •

Citations: Richard, Michael P., Jesse I. Morrison, and James D. McCurdy. “Effects of preemergence herbicides on establishment of little bluestem and sideoats grama golf course rough.” Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management 6, no. 1 (2020): e20051.

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 15

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For more information about POLYON® Fertilizer and the POLYON® Guarantee, visit www.harrells.com/polyon or contact your sales representative today!

STEVE KUYRKENDALL Golf- Mississippi skuyrkendall@harrells.com (601) 953-1847

JAMES BARTLEY Turf & Landscape- Mississippi jbartley@harrells.com (334) 707-5134

BRETT DRINKWINE Golf- Gulf Coast bdrinkwine@harrells.com (251) 689-3288

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