Mississippi Turfgrass - Spring 2023

Origins of Turfgrass, Part 3: FUTURE-PROOFING THE LAWN CARE INDUSTRY PLUS PGRs Lend A Hand

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

RECENT EVENTS

12 2023 Road Show

14 MTA Hospitality Night

COVER STORY

16 Origins of Turfgrass, Part 3 Future-Proofing the Lawn Care Industry

FEATURE

20 PGRs Lend a Hand

DEPARTMENTS

6 From the MTA President 8 News from MTA 9 Index of Advertisers 11 Calendar of Events

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.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 © 2023 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.

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DO THE SIMPLE THINGS WELL

was great to see solid attendance at the GCSAA show. I know the MSU Alumni event had over 100 attendees. Great job representing! Your 2023 Board held our first meeting of the year in mid-February at Canton Country Club. A couple things of interest came from that meeting:

1. As I touched on briefly in our last newsletter, these are important times for the long-term health of our MSU Turf Team. They need your support. Their Dean and Department Heads need to see support from the industry stakeholders. I know there are times you are unable, but if possible send someone from your organization. For many of us that have been involved in this industry and MTA for many years, it is our responsibility to educate and show the next generation the importance of networking with colleagues and supporting those working to better our industry. So, please do your part. I would also ask that many of you consider becoming involved in our board and/or committees. There are many talented young professionals with the ability to serve.

2. The State Department of Education is instituting a turfgrass curriculum for high-schoolers this fall. If you were not already emailed the curriculum, you can find it on our website: www.msturfassociation.org. This curriculum will be available to all public schools in the state of Mississippi. It would be in the best interest of all of us to reach out to our local schools and see if they are aware of the program, have the resources to teach it, and/or need assistance locally. I have had the privilege to sit in on the curriculum writing process with the MSU Research and Curriculum staff, and I am extremely excited about the opportunities this presents to students and the industry.

Spring is here and it is that time to strap in for the long haul. That hard freeze of Christmas seems so long ago! I’ll be honest, even after 30 years in the industry, the growing season is much welcomed after the rain and colder temps of winter. I am sure for all of us that the most dreadful part of the growing season is the difficult process of securing labor that will stay through the grind. It is hard enough to hire one that can show up on time, much less endure the season. In my seat I have the unique opportunity to try and mold tomorrow’s turf professionals. That can be exciting and frustrating all in the same hour on any given day. However, the one point I continually reiterate to them is to “do the simple things well.” Yet it amazes me how many folks under-value timeliness, communication, picking up after themselves, etc. I often use the analogy that we score a touchdown then miss the extra point.

We all fail at this sometimes. There is always a list, always something else to do, that often pulls us away from simply finishing the task well. It is my hope for us all that this season is one of success with all things simple done well.

Our next event together is the Yard Dawg Classic on Tuesday, June 6th. We will be back at the MSU Golf Course. It will be exciting to see the changes made by Nathan Crace during last year’s greens renovation. Jimmy McPherson and Jake Sorrels have done an outstanding job establishing the TifEagle greens.

Please feel free to reach out to any board member or myself with comments, questions, or concerns.

See you in June, if not before!

Will Arnett

EMCC’s Lion Hills Golf Course

Office: (615) 790-3718

Fax: (615) 794-4524

info@leadingedgecommunications.com

MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR Dr. Jay McCurdy MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Will Arnett EMCC – Lion Hills (662) 418-1939

VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Levi Jumper Tupelo National Golf Club (662) 213-6804

SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University Office: (662) 325-2725

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Allan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course (228) 860-8740

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

Chris Hussey / Sod Hussey Sod Farm (662) 231-3203

Scott Hampton / Golf Greenwood Country Club (601) 467-2718

Todd McCullough / Grounds / Lawn Maintenance (601) 416-3292

Evan Berry / Central Mississippi Braves (228) 304-1234

Elvin Ulmer / South City of Laurel (601) 319-6170

Seth King / Industry Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796

EX-OFFICIO

Dr. Jay McCurdy / Faculty Advisor Mississippi State University (662) 325-2331

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Highlights from the 2023 Turf Workshop

This event was held in January at the Lion Hills Center in Columbus, Mississippi. Although a really cold day, all attendees enjoyed education sessions led by an outstanding group of educators. MTA appreciates the hospitality of Lion Hills Center and East Mississippi Community College for hosting the workshop.

It has become a tradition to have a group shot with the EMCC Lion! The event was well attended!

MTA President Will Arnett presents Butch Pugh of Agra Turf, Inc. with the Bud Thigpen Distinguished Service Award. A Lifetime award, it is given to honor the recipient for years of devoted service to the Mississippi Turfgrass Association and the Industry.

Wayne Philley receives Honorary Membership in MTA. This is a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to a member who has served the Mississippi Turfgrass Association for at least 15 years. Presenting the award is MTA President Will Arnett.

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MTA Hospitality Night at GCSAA

We had another great event on February 8th in Orlando! We had 110 in attendance from all the associations represented. It is always good to see friends and colleagues and catch up with what has happened since we last saw one another.

We could not have held it without the support of all our loyal sponsors pictured!

Thank You!!

Kayla Cook, Linda Wells and Amanda Miles are ready to welcome guests.

ORIGINS OF TURFGRASS, PART 3

FUTURE –PROOFING the Lawn Care Industry

By Jay McCurdy Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Extension Specialist Department of Plant & Soil Sciences Mississippi State University

Recent, rapid urbanization has driven the development of urban green space in the United States and abroad. The world population has almost doubled since 1970, and more than 80% of U.S. citizens reside in urban areas. As a result, much traditionally rural, agricultural, and wild land has been converted to lawns, parks, sports surfaces, etc. for aesthetics, recreation, and ease of maintenance.

Simultaneously, cities and suburbs are filling with folks who are willing and able to change their habits to fit their belief systems—supporting wildlife conservation, reducing inputs like water and fertilizer, and decreasing fossil fuel use. Those trends will continue, so how can the turf industry meet the needs and demands of an increasingly ecologically and socially conscious society?

TURFGRASS HAS A ROLE TO PLAY

Lawns and other grasslands are important in built environments. They offer greater noise and heat abatement than pavement, hardscape, and synthetic landscaping. However, turf does

not replicate the cooling and shading effects of tree canopy, nor does it fill the habitat void left after clearing and removing natural environments for communities.

Turf provides erosion control, nutrient infiltration, and a familiar, low-maintenance aesthetic. Historically, one of turf’s main benefits has been line-of-sight for protection and separation from other humans and the wild—think roadside visibility, fire abatement, pest control, and home defense. With time, those practicalities have developed into the quintessential “American lawn.” Urban citizens worldwide recognize grasslands maintained as turfgrass lawns or open green spaces, such as parks, for their recreational and social functions as well as their aesthetics.

Problems arise from reliance upon any one system. Turf often lacks species richness, and many modern management practices are ecologically insensitive. For instance, turfgrass’s role in carbon sequestration is often touted, but the positive effect of sequestration may be nullified by management practices such as the seed, sod, and transport to establish, mowing, pest management, irrigation, and fertilization. The literature suggests that even modestly maintained lawns may be net greenhouse gas emitters. Most importantly, lawn-age limits the peak sequestration—that

Lawns are not going away, but how we manage them is changing.

is, once a lawn reaches a certain age (30 to 70 years old), the carbon released through decay equals that absorbed in growth (Gu et al., 2015; Tidåker et al., 2017). Regardless of the net balance, reducing fertilization and mowing frequency are essential to minimizing environmental harms (Law & Patton, 2017).

Repeated pesticide and fertilizer application, as well as mowing, favors monoculture rather than plant biodiversity, although biodiversity is generally a key indicator of healthy ecosystem function. The detriments of “industrial” monoculture lawns have been much-discussed, but few arguments have focused on suitable alternatives for the typical suburban homeowner. Our collaborations with others in the southeast (see RefugeLawn.com) promise new plant materials and systems that incorporate forbs for pollinator habitat, but changing a societal norm like monoculture turfgrass is a slow process and will not be for everyone.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Lawns are not going away, but how we manage them is changing. New approaches to sustainable lawn and land care will incorporate the following principles:

1 ) Plant material selected for low inputs.

Preempting regulation requires good science, and there’s no better science than appropriate species and variety selection. Evaluation efforts like the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA), and others are trying to guide selection. Considerations include drought and shade tolerance, nitrogen requirements, and required mowing frequency. Progress is also being made to increase lawn diversity by including legumes for nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling, as well as flowering forbs for pollinator habitat.

2 ) Improved soil–plant interactions.

Broadly, this involves understanding nutrient cycling within living systems and the underlying effects of soil microflora and fauna. These interactions may improve carbon sequestration, reduce fertilizer and irrigation requirements, and substantially reduce inputs in turfgrass systems. We have much to learn but focusing on plant health is undoubtedly our industry’s new direction. The difficult part is educating the average consumer.

3 ) Reduced input.

Lawns are relatively high-input agronomic systems. Nitrogen fertilization, chemical pest management, and mowing require energy expenditure, typically fueled by the burning of hydrocarbon-rich fuels. Equipment and noise emissions from internal combustion engines are key concerns associated with lawn maintenance.

Internal combustion engines power most lawn maintenance equipment, but that is rapidly changing. Stakeholders and operators are adopting electric-powered equipment to conserve fuel, reduce noise, and simplify use. Studies of the cost of electric mowers over a 10-year lifespan, factoring in production costs and fuel emissions, suggest at least a 30% decrease in CO2 emissions by switching to battery-powered mowers (Saidani and Kim, 2021). The emissions are further reduced when renewable energy sources are used to generate electricity.

Many incentives and regulations are guiding the move from gasoline- to electric-powered vehicles, but those initiatives have historically had little effect on the lawn care industry. That trend is changing. For instance, California law (AB1346) will effectively ban gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE) of 25 horsepower or less on January 1, 2024, subject to court injunctions and feasibility studies. The battery-powered outdoor equipment industry is adapting, and not just in California.

Even modern electric-powered mowers are not yet widely capable of performing the functions of internal combustion engine

mowers; however, reliable autonomous mowing devices have arisen simultaneously. The installation and maintenance of these devices is a whole new market.

4 ) Lawn for lawn’s sake?

We are witnessing rapid transformation on many fronts. The public perception of landscapes and their roles in society is changing. We are riding a post-pandemic high of outdoor recreation interest, but societal norms, market forces, and regulation inevitably coalesce to challenge entrenched ways of thinking.

For a preview, we must consider regional trends. We see movement toward low-maintenance, live-and-let-live roadsides, parks, and lawns throughout much of Europe. Minneapolis has a program to interseed nitrogen-fixing legumes into lawns. The “No-Mow-May” and “Let-It-Bloom-June” initiatives focus on providing pollinator habitat in England. The U.S. golf industry has done a tremendous job promoting natural areas as beneficial for wildlife (and budgets).

I am both nervous and excited about these challenges. I am not disparaging turf, but I know that turf is only one part of a living, functioning built environment. We need defensible, science-based rationales for why lawns are important and how to improve them. We must also realize that lawn for lawn’s sake is not a winning argument. Our toughest challenge is to make turf both societally and ecologically positive. •

REFERENCES

Gu, C., Crane II, J., Hornberger, G., & Carrico, A. (2015). The effects of household management practices on the global warming potential of urban lawns. Journal of Environmental Management, 151, 233-242.

Law, Q. D., & Patton, A. J. (2017). Biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in cool-season turfgrass systems. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 26, 158-162.

Saidani, M., & Kim, H. (2021). Quantification of the environmental and economic benefits of the electrification of lawn mowers on the US residential market. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 26(6), 1267-1284.

Tidåker, P., Wesström, T., & Kätterer, T. (2017). Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from turf management of two Swedish golf courses. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 21, 80-87.

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PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS

LEND A HAND

Take Auburn University’s campus for example. With over 700 acres of landscape to maintain, the use of PGRs is primarily limited to maintenance hazards. “We’d like to start using more PGRs on campus, but right now, we are only using them around fences and barriers that are difficult to mow around,” said Wes Miller from Auburn University Landscape Services. So, why aren’t PGRs more widely used in landscape management? The research convincingly favors their applications regarding enhanced blooming, improved plant health, and less frequent pruning. Like many changes to common practice, market penetration and adoption rates are primarily driven by economics. That is exactly what the research could not demonstrate convincingly. At least, not 10-20 years ago when most of the work was conducted. Things have changed. Today, the value-added proposition is less about economics and more about labor conservation.

Since discovering and understanding plant hormones, plant growth regulators (PGRs), both naturally and synthetically derived, have been used to suppress or promote plant growth. Their applications have varied from industry to industry to address varying critical issues. In the 1950s, early adopters like the grape and apple industries primarily used PGRs for blossom and fruit thinning to improve marketable yields. The floriculture industry has used PGRs extensively for half a century to meet the plant specifications of their picky clientele (I’m looking in the mirror here). In the 1970s, utility arborists began applying PGRs commercially to combat the age-old problem of trimming trees away from utility lines. But for the professional landscape operator, PGRs haven’t become mainstream. Instead, their utilization has been more niche.

With an evaporating labor pool and demand for services at an all-time high, landscapers like Toby Hughes with Auburn Grounds Inc. have begun incorporating PGR products into their management practices. For them, it wasn’t as much about economics as it was about managing labor reallocation and boosting morale. “Our guys dislike pruning. It was easy to convince them to spray PGRs instead of picking up the hedge trimmers.” Others, like Dennis Pritchett from JubileeScapes think it’s a “winwin, a game-changer. Our customers receive a healthier plant, and we save three or four crews a summer of pruning. The manufacturers are doing a better job educating and that’s helping us communicate the advantages to our clients.” The manufacturers are noting the change as well. “I’ve had about twice as many requests to present on landscape PGRs this year compared to the last three or four years prior,” Dr. Kyle Briscoe, Senior Technical Development Manager with SePRO, remarked. He added, “I think the labor market is driving a lot of first-time use.”

For those looking for an extra hand, it’s essential to understand the various PGR formulations available in the market and how they might be best utilized.

Photo 1: Maintenance hazards, like this temporary fence adjacent to a busy road, pose a risk to those tasked with regularly maintaining it. This is a perfect niche application for PGRs to assist with risk management.

By Paul Bartley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University

Contributing: Jeff Atkinson, Ph.D., Harrell’s and Alex Hedgepath, Auburn University

GRANULAR

It’s challenging to beat the simplicity of a granular application. Measure the application area, weigh the granules, and evenly distribute them across the treatment area. Perhaps this simplicity and our familiarity with granules often lead to misapplications and varying results. You understand if you’ve

Product Tradename

ever striped a yard following a granular fertilizer application. Timing is critical with this formulation. Depending on several factors (species, plant size, and environmental conditions), granular applied PGRs need time for release, uptake, and translocation to the meristematic regions of the plant. As a general suggestion, these products are best used immediately after pruning.

Active Ingredient Applications

Cutless 0.33G

Flurprimidol

Herbaceous ornamentals, groundcovers, and woody shrubs

Cutless Shrub and Tree Sculptor Flurprimidol & Paclobutrazol Shrubs and trees 4 – 12' in height

Photo 2: This photo of boxwood edging was taken 4 months after pruning. Cutless 0.33G was applied to the edging right of path. Boxwoods to the left of the path were untreated.

FOLIAR SPRAYS

Does calibration keep you up at night? Rest well knowing that concentration with liquid foliar applications of PGRs is most important. Relative to granular products, foliar applications are fast acting. For these reasons, foliar applications have quickly become the preferred method of PGR application in the landscape.

Product Tradename

Atrimmec

Cutless QuickStop

Shortly after a flush of new growth, mix the appropriate concentration and apply evenly until drip occurs. Leaf cuticle thickness, plant vigor, and environmental factors may influence the longevity of regulation. For the savvy landscaper, a combination of granular and foliar spray products may extend the effectiveness of PGRs. As always, follow the label to avoid exceeding application thresholds.

Active Ingredient Applications

Dikegulac-sodium

Flurprimidol

Bonzi Paclobutrazol

Anuew

Trimmit 2SC

Prohexadione calcium

Paclobutrazol

Primo MAXX Trinexapac-ethyl

Edgeless Flurprimidol Trinexapac-ethyl

Shrubs and groundcovers, flower and fruit suppression

Herbaceous perennials, groundcovers, and shrubs

Herbaceous bedding plants and shrubs

Warm and cool season grasses

Warm and cool season grasses

Warm and cool season grasses

Banded applications to warm and cool season grasses

Photo 3: Uniform coverage is key with foliar PGR sprays. This dwarf Burford holly was treated with Cutless Quickstop on the left, and untreated on the right side of the shrub.

SOIL INJECTION

Trees are often the most significant investment and liability in the landscape. Whether they are century-old oaks, newly planted ‘Princeton’ elms, or established sugar maples in the middle of a construction zone, arborists and urban forestry specialists utilize PGRs to minimize tree stress. As it’s often impractical to apply a foliar spray, the preferred application method for trees and large shrubs is direct soil injection or drenching around the trunk’s basal flare. Like granular applications, these products will take time to translocate to the meristematic regions of the stems. As always, read the label carefully. The dosage requirements for trees vary by species sensitivity and size.

I was told Burton Sperber, founder and “Head Gardener” of ValleyCrest Companies, once said, “The economy can slow, but

the grass always grows.” If the grass…or woody ornamentals… are growing a little too quickly for you, consider the new value proposition PGRs have to offer. •

*The products mentioned in this article are only examples of PGR products, not an exhaustive list or an endorsement of any product*

Author: Paul Bartley, Ph.D. has been an Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture at Auburn University since 2019. His appointment is 60% Research and 40% Teaching. He received his B.S. and Master of Science at Auburn University and his Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture Science from North Carolina State University. He can be reached by email at paul.bartley@auburn.edu.

This article was originally printed in Alabama Turf Times, Winter 2022 and is reprinted with permission.

Photo 4: For trees and large shrubs, soil injection around the basal flare is the most efficient application method.

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