Mississippi Turfgrass - Fall 2014

Fall 2014

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

Prepping Lawns for Winter Two Championships in Two Weeks on One Course —

How Pinehurst Pulled It Off

Fungicides:

What They Do (and Don’t Do) Also, Special Inside!

Sneak Peek at the MTA Annual Conference and Tradeshow, November 10–12

Fall 2014

Contents • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine Features

8 Upcoming Event —

MTA Annual Conference and Tradeshow, November 10–12

8

10 Cover Story —

Prepping Lawns for Winter

16 Golf Course Notes — Two Championships in Two Weeks on One Course — How Pinehurst Pulled It Off

20 Sports Turf Tips — Fungicides: What They Do (and Don’t Do)

24 Recent Event —

Yarddawg Classic, June 24 at The Refuge G.C.

25 Save the Dates — Deep South Turf Expo, October 13–15, 2015

10

Departments

6 President’s Message

7 MTA Membership Application

19 Index of Advertisers

25 Calendar of Events 26 Mississippi State Turf Team On the Cover: A mixed St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass lawn.

(Photo by Dr. Christian Baldwin, Mississippi State University.)

www.msturfassociation.org 4 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

16

President’s Message

Josh Quinn

With

g n i k o o L o t d r a Forw u o Y g n i See ! e l l i v k r a in St

summer in the rearview mirror and college football here, all seems to be right again with the world. It’s really nice to slip on a jacket again for those early morning rides and watch the leaves changing.

I hope this summer was successful personally and professionally for each of you, and I hope MTA played a role in that success. I’m certain you utilized knowledge obtained through an MTA event or member that aided in your facility’s improvement.

We have another great opportunity to learn and share on November 10–12 at our MTA Annual Meeting, Conference and Tradeshow in Starkville. The conference will open again this year with our annual Dollars for Scholars golf tournament at the MSU Course. The Harrell’s team of Josh Owen, Brian Deweese, Steve Kuyrkendall and Brice McClendon will have an opportunity to defend their “weather-aided” 2014 YardDawg Classic title. I really hope we have a great turnout for this event, as the proceeds go to assist turf students financially through scholarships.

Golf will be followed by a welcome reception that is always filled with stories, laughter and sometimes dance music provided by “Jack Harper and The Crabgrass Cowboys.” Educational sessions and the tradeshow will begin on November 11 and continue through noon on the next day. Chris Hartwiger of the USGA, Dr. Ramon Leon of the University of Florida, Dr. Jac Vargo of Mississippi State and MSU’s turf team will be the speakers for this year’s educational sessions. (And, no, Dr. Vargo will not be giving an exam following his presentation on soils.)

I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope you will find a way to attend.

This year’s conference will likely be the last as an MTA-only event. The Deep South Turf Expo, next year’s conference, will be held in Biloxi in conjunction with the turf associations of Alabama and Louisiana; for details, see page 25.

I sincerely hope you and your families are doing well, and I look forward to seeing you in Starkville.

Josh Quinn 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 615-790-3718 fax 615-794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com Mississippi Turfgrass Editor James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

MTA OFFICERS

President Josh Quinn Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions (601) 906-2591 Vice President Toby Thornton Shell Landing Golf Course (601) 507-4254 Secretary/treasurer Wayne Philley Mississippi State University (662) 325-2728 Past President Jeremy Stevens The Preserve Golf Club (228)323-3667 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

Erick Coomer Greenwood Country Club (228) 860-5292 Dan Crumpton Oasis Sod Farms (662) 621-2040 Ken Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 Jeremy Ely Sunkist Country Club (228) 669-6745 Al Osteen The Annandale Golf Club (601) 214-9907

Drew Rochelle

Agri-AFC (256) 476-3890

Adam Strehle Quality Turf Services (662) 719-8029 6 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

Membership Application Box 9555 • Mississippi State, MS 39762 • 662-325-0517 (Office) • 662-325-2705 (Fax) www.msturfassociation.org The Mississippi Turfgrass Association is a non-profit organization of individuals interested in promoting and expanding the turf and landscape industry in Mississippi and surrounding states. The objectives of the organization are to: • Promote quality turf and landscape management.

•D isseminate information and educational material on turf and landscape culture.

•S ponsor needed research, scholarships for deserving students, and conferences on timely topics.

•C ooperate with other organizations in advancing educational opportunities in turf and landscape management.

Dues Annual dues are $50 for individuals and single business representative membership * $100 for businesses requesting two to four individuals receiving newsletter * Attach names and addresses for additional newsletter mailings (business only).

Any individual interested in the advancement of turfgrass or landscape management is invited to join the organization. This includes professionals in golf course and grounds maintenance, sod and seed producers, landscape contractors, landscape architects, horticulturists, agronomists, nurserymen, educators, athletic field managers, park managers, and representatives of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of turf and landscape equipment, chemicals, and supplies.

Membership year runs January 1 – December 31.

Name:*_________________________________________________________

Work Association

Firm or Club Name:______________________________________________ Street Address:__________________________________________________

Mail to: MTA, Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762

o Golf Course

City:____________________________________________________________

o Grounds Maintenance

State:___________________________________ Zip:____________________

o City/State Park Maint.

Telephone: Work: (____)________________________________________

Cell: (____)________________________________________

o Lawn Care

Email:__________________________________________________________

o Sod

Make check payable to Mississippi Turfgrass Association (MTA)

o Product Representative

If you prefer, you may pay by credit card:

o Education

o Visa

o MasterCard

o American Express

Card Number:___________________________________________________ Expiration Date:__________________________________________________

o Athletic Fields o Other

Signature:_______________________________________________________ The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 7

Upcoming Event

Here’s Your Sneak Peek at the

2014 MTA Annual Conference & Tradeshow November 10-12 • Bost Extension Center, Starkville, MS Program at a Glance Monday, November 10 10:30 a.m.

Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament (Mississippi State University Golf Course) 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Welcoming Reception Location TBA

Tuesday November 11 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Registration/Coffee & Pastries 8:45 a.m.

Welcome Dr. Jay McCurdy, Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University, and Josh Quinn, MTA President, Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions 9:00 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

Lunch & Research Updates Mississippi State University faculty and students 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Tradeshow, Dessert Social and Auction Please support our vendors!

4:00 p.m.

MTA Business Meeting and Awards Presidential Address Mr. Josh Quinn, MTA President, Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions The Importance of MTA Dr. Mike Phillips, Head of the Plant and Soil Science Department, Mississippi State University 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Herbicide Resistance — The Hard Facts Dr. Ramon Leon, Assistant Professor, University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center

Intern Interview Extravaganza with Hors d’oeuvres

10:00 a.m.

7:45 a.m.

Wednesday November 12

Break

Registration/Coffee & Pastries

10:15 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Back-to-Back Opens — How It Was Done Mr. Chris Hartwiger, Director of Course Consulting, United States Golf Assn.

11:15 a.m.

Maximize Your Pre-emergence Application: Herbicide Placement and Movement in the Soil Dr. Ramon Leon, Assistant Professor, University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center

Concurrent Breakout Sessions (45 minutes + 5 minutes for questions) Breakout Session #1 Science of Pest Management The Science behind Fungicides: How They Work Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Associate Professor, Mississippi State University

Diagnosing & Controlling Nematodes Dr. Alan Henn, Professor, Mississippi State University Pollinator-Friendly Habitats for the Turfgrass Industry Dr. Jay McCurdy, Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University Breakout Session #2 Soil Science and Management Soil Nutrient Management — Better Turf, Fewer Inputs Dr. Jac Varco, Professor, Mississippi State University Soil Testing and Reporting — What Does My Soil Test Say? Dr. Keith Crouse, Associate Professor, Mississippi State University Soil Physical Properties — Beyond the Basics Dr. Barry Stewart, Associate Professor, Mississippi State University 10:30 a.m.

Break 11:00 a.m.

MSU Turfgrass Breeding — History and Future Mr. Wayne Philley, Research Associate, and Dr. Christian Baldwin, Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University 12:00 p.m.

Adjourn and CEU/Pesticide Sign-Up

REGISTER TO ATTEND! — Register online at http://www.pss.msstate.edu/workshops/2014mta/, or complete the registration form you recently received in the mail. If you didn’t receive our 2014 Conference mailer but would like to, please contact the MTA office at 662-769-7558 or Mrs. Linda Wells at lmw218@pss.msstate.edu.

8 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

Mississippi Turfgrass Association

Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament November 10, 2014 • 10:30 a.m. Shotgun Start

Location Mississippi State University Golf Course 14279 Hwy. 182 East • Starkville, MS 39759 Host: Pat Sneed, CGCS

Fee $75.00 per player $40.00 student (boxed lunch provided)

Name:____________________________________________________________ Handicap Index:_________________ Course/Business:__________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: (____)_____________________________________________________________________________ Email Address:___________________________________________________________________________________

Payment Method:

o Check

o Visa

o MasterCard

o American Express

Make checks payable to MTA, and mail to: P.O. Box 9555, MS State, MS 39762.

Credit card:_______________________________________________________ #:Exp. date:____________________ Signature:________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, please call Mrs. Linda Wells at 662-769-7558. (Form may be faxed to 662-325-2705.)

All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Mississippi Turfgrass Association’s scholarship program.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 9

Cover Story

Prepping Lawns for Winter

By Jeff Wilson, Ph.D., Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., and Barry Stewart, Ph.D., Mississippi State University

It’s

usually around this time of year that homeowners start losing interest in their lawns. Temperatures are pleasant, the days are getting shorter, and the droning of lawn mowers is replaced by the sounds of televised football (and leaf blowers). Most of us are just happy that turf growth is slowing down and that we don’t have to mow the grass every week. Our staff is happier. We’ve made it through another busy summer.

As the days become shorter, though, our grasses tend to become a bit leggy, and holes may develop in our turfgrass culture. Now is the time to sharpen up and focus on fall agronomic practices that are important for next year’s season. What we do now has a big impact on what happens during the winter and even next spring.

The most glaring shortcomings of any lawn-maintenance regime are these: proper fall fertility and fall weed control. The two most imporTable

tant things you can do to keep your turf healthy are to apply the proper amount and type of fertilizer and to properly apply the right pre-emergence herbicide.

Fall fertility

Before we do anything, it’s a good idea to know two things. The first thing to know is the lawn’s turf species. Not all products can be used on all species, and of course, some grasses need a bit more fertility than others. For instance, centipedegrass requires very little supplemental nitrogen, and bermudagrass needs, well, a lot (Table 1).

Many homeowners and lawn care operators overlook turf type.

Because of this, they are constantly battling bermuda in their centipede or, vice versa, centipede and bahiagrass in their bermuda, not to mention clovers and other legumes. Whatever the desired species, it is up to us to manip-

Turfgrass nitrogen requirements vary depending upon species and environment.

These are just guidelines. Older, more mature lawns may need far less in order to maintain good color and turf density.

1

Turf Type

Lbs. N / 1,000 ft2 / year

Application Timing

Centipedegrass

1 to 1.5

May

Bahia

3 to 4

May, June, August

St. Augustine

3 to 4

May, June, Aug./Sept.

Zoysiagrass

3 to 4

May, June, Aug./Sept.

Bermudagrass

5 to 6

May, June, July, Aug., Sept.

Tall Fescue

4 to 5

Sept., Oct., March, April

10 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

ulate agronomic practices to favor that species. If you are unsure of what turf you have, simply cut out a section that is 6" x 6" and take it to your local MSU Extension office to be identified, or send us a close-up photo that’s in focus.

The second piece of information we need at this time of year are the results of a recent soil test. To optimize turfgrass growth, we need to routinely (once every two to three years) perform a soil test.

Information on how to take a soil test is available at http://msucares. com/pubs/infosheets/is1294.pdf. Your county Extension office has a supply of soil-testing boxes and forms, as well a soil probe that can be borrowed (if needed).

A standard soil-test report will include pH, which will dictate liming practices. Soil pH and the consequent lime recommendation are very important pieces of information because soil pH affects nutrient availability. If lime is required to raise soil pH, fall is an excellent time to apply it. Winter’s timely rainfall helps integrate lime into the soil profile, and fall’s slower schedule makes liming more feasible.

The soil-test report will also include a recommended nitrogen application according to turf species and recommended supplemental nutrient applications based upon soil concentrations of phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

Most (probably all) of the “winterizer” fertilizers are developed for the cool-season grass market.

A mixed St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass lawn.

(Photo by Dr. Christian Baldwin, Mississippi State University.)

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 11

Cover Story • Continued

These grasses have suffered through the heat of July and August, and September and October are very favorable for cool-season grass growth. It is vital for these grasses to be fertilized and store some carbohydrate reserves for winter.

On the other hand, our warmseason grasses are in a somewhat different situation. Our growing season is slowing down, our days are becoming shorter, and the sun is riding lower in the sky, casting longer shadows and decreasing the quality of our light.

Although fertilizer needs are lessened, fall is not the time to neglect fertilizer inputs or mowing. The same type of “winterizer” fertilizer can be used on our warm-season grasses to stimulate growth and continue the accumulation of carbohydrate reserves. We must commit to growing our warmseason grass throughout the entire growing season.

Most of the homeowner winterizer fertilizers sold in big-box stores and garden centers contain between a 1:1 to 2:1 nitrogen to K2O (potassium oxide) ratio and, due to phosphorus (P) restrictions in some states, many no longer contain P. To help you choose a fall fertilizer, follow your soil-test recommendations. If your soil test calls for the application of P, fall is a good time to apply it. P is relatively immobile in soil and will not leach away during the winter. Research has shown that applying N and K together helps plant tissues uptake the K much better than applying K alone.

Mature stands of warm-season turfgrass need less N during the fall and no N during winter dormancy.

Of course, cool-season grasses demand more during this period due to increasing growth. For this article, we’ll focus upon warm-season fertility demands.

With that in mind, there are rare exceptions where supplemental N is needed by bermudagrass turf after roughly September 15. Those exceptions are usually bermudagrass sports fields and golf course putting greens, and even these systems demand less N 12 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

Centipedegrass requires very little supplemental nitrogen. Don’t fertilize centipedegrass prior to nearly 100% green cover. (Photo by Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Mississippi State University.)

during the waning fall season. For St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass turfs, the last fertilizer application should be around August 15 north of I-20 and September 1 south of I-20.

Turfgrass is a more complex ecosystem than many people realize. It includes not only the desired turfgrass but also soil bacteria and fungi that require N to decay thatch. Unlike turf breaking from winter dormancy (which needs to be spoon-fed N on a monthly basis), fall N demands are much less and should be applied only sparingly.

Applying N (and even Fe) to maintain turf color will leave turf looking healthy in the fall and will improve the color and fitness of the turf in the spring.

A good rule of thumb for the Southeastern U.S.: don’t apply monthly N applications to warm-season lawn grasses past September 15 in zone 7 of northern MS and past October 1 in zone 8 of southern MS. This allows for adequate N to be utilized by the plant and soil microbes before cooler winter temperatures arrive. A fertilizer containing a microbial-activated fertilizer N source would be ideal at this time of year, as its release will be tied to temperature. If we have a cool fall, less N

will be released, or if we have a warm fall, nutrient release will continue until temperatures decline. Research has consistently shown that a late-season application of N enhances both fall and spring color.

This being said, do not go hog wild. Having an excessive amount of N in the plant as it enters the winter can weaken the turf and make it more susceptible to winter freeze damage.

Lush, succulent plants also tend to be disease prone. Most importantly, overfertilized plants are unable to maximize the storage of carbohydrates.

You’ll often hear this phenomenon described as “growing shoots at the expense of roots.” For home lawns, the last application of N should not exceed 1 lb. of N, and some may argue that even this may be excessive.

This is not a case of if some is good, more is better.

Some of our winterizer products contain pre-emergence herbicides as well as fertilizer. We will discuss these products and fall weed control next.

Fall weed control

There are two basic types of winter weeds in our yards, annuals and

Cover Story • Continued

perennials. The annual weeds germinate during the fall or winter and are more easily controlled by preemergence herbicides. If not, they grow to maturity, produce seeds and then die, just to do it all again next year (job security). The perennial weeds are different in that they don’t truly die.

They just go dormant for a season.

They then grow back from the roots.

Within these annual and perennial groups, there are also grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds. They are each treated and controlled differently.

Some of the most common annual winter weeds are annual bluegrass (Poa annua), sow thistle, chickweed, purple deadnettle, henbit and lawn burweed. Lawn burweed is sometimes referred to as “sticker weed” because of the burrs that poke into your feet.

Henbit has deep-purple blooms that can be attractive.

Table

Poa annua is undoubtedly the most prevalent grassy winter annual in home lawns and other fine turfs.

It sets seed in early spring. Those seed lie dormant until soil temperatures cool. Generally speaking, Poa can germinate year-round in the Southeast, but it really begins in earnest when soil temperatures drop below 70°F, around early September in northern MS and late September and early October in the southern part of the state.

Although these weeds are present all fall, most homeowners begin to notice them in mid-January. Then they call and say, “What can we spray to kill (fill in the blank)?”

We all know the answer. There’s not a product that homeowners can apply very effectively to kill all Poa. Research has shown that there is a good bit of triazine-resistant Poa in MS, meaning fertilizer products containing atrazine

Common fall-applied pre-emergence herbicides. WSSA and HRAC classification systems are provided to help herbicide applicators alternate modes of action in order to prevent herbicide resistance.

2

Timing

Mode-of-Action

WSSA Group

HRAC Group

Common Name

Trade Name

Pre

Mitotic inhibition

3

K1

dithiopyr

Dimension

Pre

Mitotic inhibition

3

K1

pendimethalin

Pendulum

Pre

Mitotic inhibition

3

K1

prodiamine

Barricade

Pre

Lipid biosynthesis inhibition

8

N

bensulide

Bensumec

Pre

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibition

14

E

oxadiazon

Ronstar

Pre/Post

Mitotic inhibition

3

K1

pronamide

Kerb

Pre/Post

Photosystem II inhibition

5

C1

amicarbazone

Xonerate

Pre/Post

Photosystem II inhibition

5

C1

atrazine

Aatrex

Pre/Post

Photosystem II inhibition

5

C1

metribuzin

Sencor

Pre/Post

Photosystem II inhibition

5

C1

simazine

Princep

Pre/Post

Cellulose synthesis inhibition

29

L

indaziflam

Specticle

Pre/Post

Lipid biosynthesis inhibition

16

N

ethofumesate

Prograss

Control may be limited due to herbicide resistance. The most common herbicide resistance in Mississippi turf is that of Poa annua to photosystem II inhibiting herbicides. Therefore, rotation of modes of action, as well as follow-up applications to ensure complete control, are recommended.

14 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

or simazine are no longer effective.

That does not mean that these herbicides are not worthwhile, as they are quite effective against other fall weeds, but there are other more effective PRE herbicides for the fall (Table 2).

The best method to control these annual weeds is with a fall pre-emergence herbicide. Homeowners often know these as “weed preventers” or as “weed-and-feed.” It is important to apply this before the weeds germinate.

The best time to do this in north MS is roughly September 15, and October 1 for south MS. This is about two weeks later than the recommended last fertilizer application. When using these combination products, it is important to get the fertilizer timing correct. The PRE herbicide will still be effective.

The winterizer weed-and-feed products can kill two birds with one stone, allowing us to apply our last application of fertilizer and a PRE herbicide at one time. Remember to look for fertilizers with a 1:1 N: K2O ratio (preferably), but a 2:1 ratio is acceptable.

Weed preventers can prevent a large majority of annual weeds from ever germinating! Again, you need to know your turf type, and you must follow the label directions. Not applying the product at the correct rate leads to ineffective control and a waste of your time, effort and money. Too much product, and/or the wrong one, and you’ll have exaggerated winter injury.

It’s important that we remember that most pre-emergence herbicides, if not all of them, are non-selective when applied at above-labeled rates. Overlapping applications seem to be the biggest mistake we see, which manifests itself as decreased spring grass health and even death. Halving the application rate and spreading or spraying in two directions can help reduce the effects of overlap.

If you prefer not to use a combination product, then the fertilizer can be applied at the correct time and the PRE product can be applied a couple of weeks later as a granular or sprayed application. In either case, read and follow the label directions. Many of

Continued

the pre-emergence products must be watered in to be effective.

It’s also important to point out that fall pre-emergence herbicides dissipate in effectiveness. That is, a Septemberapplied pre-emergence will have very little control of weeds that germinate in the spring. If you’re looking for yearround control, good luck. It will take at least a fall and spring application for adequate control of problematic winter and spring annuals in home lawns. Fortunately, a well-timed spring application can also provide lasting crabgrass and goosegrass control, as well as pick up any late winter escapes.

Our spring pre-emergence treatment is usually applied before our warmseason grasses break dormancy. Weedand-feed products are not recommended for spring applications, as the grass does not need to be fed at this time. Granular pre-emergence products

•

Cover Story

for spring should be on an inert (nonfertilizer) carrier.

especially, be mindful of pushing turf too late into the fall. v

Summary

About the authors

So to tie it all back together, remember a few key points: • Maintaining a dense, competitive lawn is the best means of competing against troublesome annual weeds.

• To maintain a thick, dense turf, continue your fertilizer applications into September, but do not apply excessive amounts of N. Follow your soiltest recommendations.

• At the same time, improper fall preemergence selection or application can inhibit turfgrass growth and even contribute to winter freeze susceptibility.

For these reasons, follow labeled herbicide rates, and consult with regional and state Extension specialists about herbicide selections. And

Dr. Jeff Wilson is a horticulturist serving northeast Mississippi with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service.

For more horticulture information, you can follow Dr. Wilson on Twitter @MSUPlantMan, or email him at jwilson@ext.msstate.edu.

Dr. Jay McCurdy is an assistant professor at Mississippi State University.

Follow Dr. McCurdy on Twitter @MSTurfgrass, or email him at jmccurdy@pss.msstate.edu.

Dr. Barry Stewart is an associate professor at Mississippi State University.

Follow Dr. Stewart on Twitter @DrTurfdirt, or email him at brs40@pss.msstate.edu.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 15

Golf Course Notes

Two Championships, Two Weeks – One Golf Course!

How the Staff at Pinehurst Course #2 Pulled It Off

By Chris Hartwiger, USGA

H

osting one U.S. Open is a monumental challenge for any golf course. Hosting the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open on the same golf course in back-to-back weeks is unthinkable. Or is it?

The USGA and the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club (in Pinehurst, NC) discussed the possibilities of back-toback championships and concluded that both organizations were up to the challenge. Course #2 at Pinehurst would serve as the venue to crown two Course #2 at Pinehurst no longer has traditional bermudagrass roughs; instead, the rough is composed of sandy areas with wiregrass and many other plant species.

16 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

national champions in consecutive weeks. The U.S. Open would be contested between June 12-15, 2014, and the U.S. Women’s Open would be held the following week, June 19-22.

Goals for the Opens

As the USGA and Pinehurst began to plan for the Opens, goals began to fall into place. First, the USGA wanted to offer similar championship tests for both fields. In other words, if the male competitors were hitting seven irons,

on average, into the putting green on a given hole, the course should be set up so that the women were hitting seven irons, also.

Since hole locations and green speed play key roles in the relative difficulty of a hole, a second goal was to use similar hole locations and green speeds for the men and women for each of the four days of competition. Finally, the playing quality and health of the creeping bentgrass on the putting greens needed to be managed through

Golf Course Notes • Continued

The talented hand-watering team used the precise application of water to manage firmness while maintaining bentgrass health during both championships.

the U.S. Open in a way that ensured smooth and fast surfaces for the U.S. Women’s Open.

What about the rough?

Imagine having to cut acres and acres of bermudagrass rough after the winning putt in the U.S. Open is holed on a Sunday evening and before U.S. Women’s Open practice rounds begin on Monday morning at 7 a.m. Fortunately, the decision by the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club to hire Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to return the golf course (prior to the Opens) to designer Donald Ross’ original intent rendered this as nothing more than a hypothetical exercise. The Coore/ Crenshaw team removed all the bermudagrass rough from the course!

Today, Course #2 consists of bermudagrass tees, fairways and surrounds mowed at essentially one height of cut, with the putting greens mowed at another. The rough outside the fairways is composed of sandy areas with wiregrass plants and over 80 other native species. The rough is never mowed, and the difficulty of these areas rises and falls with the seasons and the amount of rainfall the course has received recently.

These changes allowed the USGA to keep all the same or similar heights 18 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

of cut for the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open on the tees, fairways, roughs and surrounds. The mowing operations from one championship to the next were seamless.

the right amount of water — not too much or too little. Firmness was maintained in the desired range for both championships.

Firm and fast

The weather cooperated almost perfectly in the spring, in the weeks leading up to the championships and during the championships themselves.

In the Southeast, the spring weather was nearly ideal for bentgrass growth, with little to no heat stress. In the two weeks leading up to the U.S. Open, it didn’t rain at all. This is rare in the Southeast.

Finally, over eight days of competition in both championships, just under one inch of rain fell in one event on the night following U.S. Open Round 1. For golf course superintendents, the best-case scenario before and during a championship is to be in control of the amount of water the golf course receives.

Firm and fast is a goal at all USGA championships. While this can be accomplished safely on bermudagrass fairways and surrounds if the weather cooperates, keeping creeping bentgrass firm and fast for two to three weeks is more challenging. A central element of the multi-year buildup to the Opens was to increase the amount of topdressing sand applied to the creeping bentgrass putting greens. Our desire was to produce firm putting greens without placing them under significant moisture stress during the U.S. Open. We targeted the Tuesday before the U.S. Open as the day to reach desired firmness.

The USGA TruFirm was an indispensable tool used each day to measure putting green firmness. This information, along with soil moisture readings taken by the Pinehurst staff, was used to not only determine the amount of water needed to keep the bentgrass healthy but also to manage the firmness. The hand-watering team became experts at applying just

Weather makes a difference

People bring it all together

The best plan can be down on paper, but if it is not executed properly, goals will not be achieved. The agronomy staff at Course #2 was led by superintendent Kevin Robinson and his two assistant superintendents, Alan Owen and John Jeffreys. They bought into

the goals of the back-to-back championships, and they brilliantly led a staff of more than 100 volunteers and Pinehurst employees.

The model used for on-course workers for these two championships was different from most major championships. There were few volunteers outside the local area due to the difficulty in making a two-week commitment to volunteer and a lack of housing.

Instead, Kevin and his team welcomed assistance from employees from the other seven courses at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. This allowed some of the staff to rotate off and on different shifts during the two weeks of the championships. Also, with approximately 40 golf courses in the Pinehurst area, there is an ample supply of golf course crewmembers.

Kevin and his staff worked in cooperation with numerous superintendents to provide several crewmembers from each to round out a top-notch crew.

This model proved to be an effective one. Although the agronomy team worked both early and late when not many people were around, they took the plan that was on paper and made it a reality on the turf. Without this dedicated staff, the goal of backto-back Opens would not have been a reality.

The results say it all

The back-to-back championships on Course #2 were a major success.

Two great champions were crowned, Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie. By any measure, whether scoring, firmness, green speed or clubs hit into the greens, the course played similar for both fields. The creeping bentgrass putting greens met and exceeded expectations for both championships and made it through both weeks with flying colors. Both fields were able to putt on championship-caliber greens for the entirety of their respective championships. The collaboration of the USGA and the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club succeeded, and the dream of back-to-back championships is now a part of golf history. v

Index of Advertisers Ardington Grinder Products..................13 www.reelgrinders.com

Jackson Sand........................................19 www.jacksonsand.com

Agra Turf, Inc........................................23 www.agrainc.com

KWMI / K & W Products, Inc..................17 www.KWMIequipment.com

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

Oasis Sod Farm.....................................23 www.oasissod.com

Bayou Bent Turf.....................................23 www.bayoubendturf.com

Oldham Chemicals Co............ Back Cover www.oldhamchem.com

Boshancee Nursery Inc........................19 www.boshanceensy.com

Smith Seed Services.............................23 www.smithseed.com

CoverSports USA...................................15 www.coversports.com

Sur-Line Turf, Inc..................................23 www.surlineturf.com

Harrell’s LLC............................................5 www.harrells.com

The Turfgrass Group................................2 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Humphries Turf Supply..........................26 www.humphriesturf.com

Winstead Turf Farms... Inside Back Cover www.winsteadturffarms.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 ©2014 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. 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, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 19

Sports Turf Tips

Fungicides:

What They Do (and Don’t do)

By David Han, Ph.D., Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, Turfgrass Management, Auburn University

Y

our turf has a disease! What do you do? Reach for a fungicide?

What kind? And what’s the best way to use it? What exactly do fungicides do? How can you maximize your chance of getting a good result from a fungicide? In this article, we will go over some basics of fungicides, how they are used and tips for maximizing their effectiveness. Fungicides are classified in several ways: when they are used, how they move (or don’t move) inside a plant, their chemical structure and their mode of action (how they kill a fungus, or prevent it from growing).

Time of use

Fungicides can be used both preventively, before any disease symptoms are present, and curatively, after disease occurs. This distinction is important because some fungicides are much better suited for one of these uses than others. For example, fungicides that work by activating a plant’s natural defense responses to infection must be used preventively. By the time a disease is ravaging a plant, its defenses are already being overcome.

Although a fungicide application made after disease symptoms appear is called curative, it’s important to remember that fungicides don’t actually bring dead plants back to life. If a lawn or field is suffering from a disease, a curative fungicide application can stop the dead patches from getting bigger. But for the turf to recover 20 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

takes either good growing conditions for the grass to fill back in, if it can spread vegetatively, or to re-establish via new seed, if it can’t spread vegetatively. This is why turf managers should be much more aggressive about treating (and preventing!) diseases at the end of the growing season: it is harder to repair damage at that time than during good growing weather.

Movement in a plant

Some fungicides are able to be absorbed into plant tissue and moved in a plant’s vascular system, while others are not. In general, fungicides that do not move inside a plant are called contact fungicides. These fungicides work by coating the leaf with a protective fungicide barrier that will prevent any spore or piece of fungal mycelium that lands on a leaf from growing and being able to infect the plant. Since contact fungicides protect only the plant parts that are sprayed, they are useless for treating root diseases like spring dead spot, summer patch, Pythium root rot or anything else that infects below ground.

Because the contact fungicides work outside the plant, they must coat the entire leaf on both sides. Getting even spray coverage can be tricky in turfgrass, which has many small leaves that overlap each other. This is why fungicide labels specify using large volumes of water, often as much as 5 gallons per 1,000 square feet (over 217

gallons per acre)! This is much more water than is used for spraying herbicides, but it is needed to ensure there is enough fungicide solution to cover every leaf thoroughly.

One problem that turf managers often have is they have only one sprayer, and setting it up for both herbicide and fungicide applications can be time consuming. The time it takes to refill a sprayer tank also must be taken into consideration when deciding on spray volumes for fungicide applications over large areas, like multiple-field sports complexes, but the large volumes are on the label for a reason.

Nozzle design also can have a large impact on the effectiveness of fungicide applications. In general, nozzles that produce many smaller droplets or droplets that are designed to shatter into many tiny droplets on impact (flat fan or air-inductiontype nozzles) give better results than raindrop-type nozzles designed to produce fewer, large droplets. However, smaller droplets also drift much more easily.

Air-induction nozzles may offer the best combination of reduced drift and good coverage.

Some fungicides can be absorbed into a leaf and diffuse around different parts of a single leaf, but they do not enter a plant’s vascular system and so cannot be transported from leaf to leaf. These are called local penetrant (sometimes also “locally systemic” or “translaminar”) fungicides.

Dead patches of ryegrass on an overseeded baseball field. These patches will remain unsightly until the bermudagrass greens up and spreads over them.

Spring dead spot in a bermudagrass football field.

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 21

Sports Turf Tips • Continued

Local penetrants, by entering a leaf and diffusing through it, reduce the need for absolutely perfect spray coverage, although they are not able to move down from a plant’s leaves to the roots and so are, like the true contact fungicides, not effective against root diseases.

With both true contacts and local penetrants, the recommended re-application intervals are relatively short, on the order of five days to two weeks, depending on the individual product and disease pressure. New grass leaves that formed since the last application are not protected, and the fungicide coating can be susceptible to being washed off the leaves or degraded by sunlight. The tradeoff for a relatively short window of protection is that contact fungicides usually are the cheapest.

A fungicide that is able to move throughout an entire plant is called systemic. Systemic fungicides are generally very useful in preventive applications because they are able to be absorbed by and remain present in a plant for several weeks. Re-application intervals for these types of fungicides are generally in the two- to fourweek range. However, most systemic fungicides can only move upwards in a plant. If they are absorbed by the roots, they will be moved to leaves, and they will move from lower leaves to newer leaves, but they will not move from leaves down to roots. The only exceptions to this rule are the phosphite fungicides.

Because systemic fungicides are actively taken up by plants, they can be effective against root diseases — provided that there are actually roots there to absorb the fungicide!

The problem with root diseases is that aboveground symptoms often don’t appear until the root system is almost totally destroyed. In some cases, such as spring dead spot, symptoms don’t appear until months after the initial infection. In almost every case, it is much, much better to use a preventive application than a curative application to fight root diseases.

22 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

It is very difficult to predict where a root disease will occur without complete and accurate records. With most root diseases, the fungus stays in the soil year after year, and disease occurs in the same areas over and over again when the weather is favorable for the fungus. So, keeping good records of a disease occurrence will allow the proper preventive applications to be made before the next outbreak.

When making fungicide applications to prevent a root disease, remember that the fungicide must move down through the canopy, through the thatch and into the soil before a root can absorb it. Many times, a preventive fungicide application will fail because it wasn’t sprayed using enough water to wash it through the canopy (or it wasn’t irrigated after application) or because the fungicide became bound to organic matter in an excessively thick thatch layer. Again, following label directions for spray volume and irrigation and managing the thatch layer are critical factors in using fungicides successfully against root diseases.

Even then, sometimes root diseases defy fungicides. Anyone who has ever fought a fairy ring knows how difficult it is to control with a fungicide. The hydrophobic soil that fairy rings produce does not allow for good fungicide penetration. New formulations, wetting agents, aggressive aerification and the like can help, but sometimes very little seems to work.

Mode of action and fungicide resistance

Mode of action refers to the specific biochemical processes in a fungus that a fungicide interferes with in order to kill it, or at least stop it from growing. Many different modes of action are available in the fungicides labeled for use on turfgrass: some fungicides interrupt a fungus’ cell division; some interfere with cell wall or cell membrane synthesis; some disrupt a fungus’ ability to make DNA, RNA or proteins; some stop energy production; and some have more than one mode of action.

One mode of action relatively new to the turfgrass market is the activation of plant-defense responses.

Chemicals that do this are not toxic to fungi, but they “fool” plants into activating their array of physical and biochemical responses to infection before they are exposed to a fungus.

This, in turn, boosts the plant’s ability to resist infection and reduces disease incidence and severity. As noted above, however, this works only if the defense-response activator is applied before any infection takes place. This type of fungicide does not work as a curative application.

While many different modes of action are available, many of the most popular fungicide products for turf contain ingredients with the same mode of action. This brings up the potential problem of fungicide resistance. Fungi are highly diverse, and repeatedly spraying the same mode of action selects for any resistant individuals that happen to be present in a given population. If they are, then they multiply, while susceptible ones are killed. Soon, the majority of the fungal population is resistant, and the fungicide stops working to prevent disease.

Modern fungicides tend to have very specific sites of action in fungi. For example, many target just one enzyme in a fungus, binding to it and making it no longer able to function. This is good, since it means that the fungicides are very specific and less likely to cause harm to non-target organisms. But it is also bad from a resistance standpoint because it means that all that has to happen for a fungus to become resistant is a small change in that one enzyme such that the fungicide can no longer inactivate it. This happens in nature, and often just one or two mutations are enough to make a fungus resistant.

Because of the potential for many turfgrass diseases to become resistant to fungicides, managers have been advised for years to rotate modes of action or to tank-mix more than one mode of action at a time in a given

Continued

application. The international Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC, www.frac.info) maintains a listing of currently registered fungicide active ingredients and their modes of action. They are sorted into groups of individual ingredients that share the same mode of action, and each group is assigned a unique code.

Recently, manufacturers have begun placing the FRAC mode of action group codes on their product labels. This is a tremendous help to the turf manager who is trying to manage resistance, as now it is immedi-

ately obvious which products contain ingredients that have the same mode of action. Now, it is possible to tell at a glance whether rotating to a given product will actually mean switching modes of action.

It is important to remember, though, that even though resistance has been documented in many turfgrass diseases, not every failed fungicide application is due to resistance. It is still more common to see fungicides fail due to improper calibration, reading labels incorrectly, not using enough spray volume and/or the wrong noz-

•

Sports Turf Tips

zles, and plain old misdiagnosis of the disease. Nevertheless, if you suspect resistance, it is a good idea to contact your local Extension agent or plant pathology lab. They will be able to assist you in identifying possible problems with your fungicide application and, if needed, can collect samples and screen them for resistance. v Editor’s note: A version of this article was originally published in SportsField Management magazine (www.sports fieldmanagementmagazine.com).

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The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 23

Recent Event

2014 YardDawg Classic,

June 24 at The Refuge Golf Course

By Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University, and Linda Wells, MTA Administrative Secretary

First Place Team,

sponsored by Harrell’s: Brice McLendon, Josh Owens, Steve Kuyrkendall and Brian DeWeese.

We

had a first! It was the first time, to our knowledge, that we had to halt the YardDawg Classic due to weather.

Most teams played an abbreviated six holes. Despite the foul weather, everyone had a great time and enjoyed the door prizes and visiting with friends and colleagues.

MTA wants to thank Nathan Crace and Bill Whatley for hosting the classic at The Refuge Golf Course. The facility was in excellent shape and is an example of sustainable golf design that doesn’t compromise playability and classic aesthetics.

Next year’s event is tentatively scheduled to correspond with the 50-year celebration of the MSU turfgrass program, to be held in conjunction with the Summer Turfgrass Field Day. v

Second Place Team, sponsored by Ladd’s: Greg Brodd, Justin Murray Walker Sory and Ellis Bridgers (not pictured).

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!

• Agra Turf, Inc. • Agri-AFC • BASF • Beard Equipment • Ben Nelson Golf & Utility Vehicles • FMC • GreenPoint Ag • Greenville Turf & Tractor • Harrell’s • Innovative Turf • Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation • Ladd’s • WinField Solutions

Also, Congratulations to Our YardDawg Winners 24 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

Third Place Team, sponsored by BWI: Trey McClellan, Herb Rabalais, Ronnie Britt and Billy Key.

Save the Dates!

Introducing the

Deep South Turf Expo Coming October 13-15, 2015 to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi!

By Linda Wells, MTA Administrative Secretary

For

years, there has been much discussion about having a regional turf conference. Many turf managers remember the days of the Southern Turfgrass Conference and long to have an event where you can reminisce with old industry friends.

Industry suppliers have begged for the return of a regional show, turfgrass managers have asked for it, and several turf-related organizations have discussed it.

Well, the day has come to make it a reality! Mark your calendars for October 13-15, 2015, for the inaugural Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi, MS, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center.

We need everyone’s support of this endeavor to make it a success, and we ask that you make your plans to attend. Although this is a joint-effort from the following organizations, every turf manager from near and far is welcome and encouraged to attend: Mississippi Turfgrass Association, Alabama Turfgrass Association, Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association, Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Louisiana-Mississippi Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The conference will offer top-notch educational opportunities, with breakout sessions designed for sod producers, lawn care operators, sports turf managers and golf course superintendents. And of course, we will offer CEUs from all major organizations and pesticide recertification points from all southern states.

Planned for your entertainment is a golf tournament at one of the beautiful golf courses on the coast, a boating excursion for our water lovers, a luau-themed dinner overlooking the Mississippi Sound and a luncheon on the tradeshow floor.

More details will be announced as they are made available. Exhibitor contracts will be available this fall. For now, plan on coming and joining this great movement to have a superior tradeshow and educational conference in the Deep South! v

Calendar of Events

October 14–16

NRPA Congress and Expo (Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

Charlotte Convention Ctr. Charlotte, NC

October 22–25

School of Grounds Mgmt. and Green Industry Expo Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

October 28–30

ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference and Tradeshow (AL Turfgrass Association) Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center Auburn, AL

November 10

Dollars for Scholars Golf Tournament MSU Golf Course Starkville, MS

November 10–12

MTA Annual Conference and Tradeshow Bost Conference Center Starkville, MS

January 13–16, 2015 STMA Conference and Exhibition Denver, CO

February 21–26, 2015 Golf Industry Show Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

October 13–15, 2015

Deep South Turf Expo Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Conference Center Biloxi, MS

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine • 25

Mississippi State Turf Team

Gary Bachman, Ph.D. Associate Extension/ Research Professor Dept. Coastal Research and Extension Center Specialty: Ornamental Hort.

Phone: (228) 546-1009 gbachman@ext.msstate.edu

Blake Layton, Jr., Ph.D. Extension Professor Dept. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, & Plant Pathology Specialty: Extension Plant Entomologist Phone: (662) 325-2085 blayton@entomology.msstate.edu

Clarissa Balbalian, M.S. Diagnostics Lab Manager Dept. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, & Plant Pathology Specialty: Plant Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2146 cbalbali@ext.msstate.edu

James McCurdy, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Specialty: Turfgrass Extension Specialist and Weed Scientist Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Phone: (662) 325-2331 jmccurdy@pss.msstate.edu

Christian Baldwin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Specialty: Turfgrass Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-8280 cmb907@msstate.edu

Wayne Philley, M.S. Senior Research Associate Specialty: Turfgrass Breeding and Evaluation Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Phone: (662) 325-2728 wphilley@pss.msstate.edu

John Byrd, Ph.D. Professor Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Specialty: Invasive Weed Mgmt.

Phone: (662) 325-4537 jbyrd@pss.msstate.edu Geoff Denny, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Specialty: Commercial Ornamental Horticulture Phone: (662) 325-1682 gcd42@msstate.edu Alan Henn, Ph.D. Extension Professor Dept. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, & Plant Pathology Specialty: Ext. Plant Pathologist Phone: (662) 325-4535 ahenn@ext.msstate.edu Lelia Kelly, Ph.D. Extension Professor Dept. North MS Research and Extension Center Specialty: Consumer Hort. Specialist Phone: (662) 566-2201 leliak@ext.msstate.edu

26 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Fall 2014

Mike Phillips, Ph.D. Department Head and Professor Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Phone: (662) 325-2311 jmp657@msstate.edu Wayne Porter, Ph.D. Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Horticulture Dept. Ext. Southeast Region Phone: (601) 482-9764 wporter@ext.msstate.edu Barry Stewart, Ph.D. Associate Professor Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences Specialty: Sports Turf Science Phone: (662) 325-2725 bastewar@pss.msstate.edu Maria Tomaso-Peterson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Dept. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, & Plant Pathology Specialty: Turfgrass Pathology Phone: (662) 325-2593 mariat@pss.msstate.edu Jeff Wilson, Ph.D. Regional Extension Specialist Specialty: Ornamentals, Landscape, Turfgrass, Fruits and Vegetables Dept. North MS Research and Extension Center Phone: (662) 566-8019 jwilson@ext.msstate.edu