MTC Turf News - Fall 2011

Managing Wear & Tear

on Athletic Fields

Best Turfgrass Cultivars for MD Preemergence Annual Bluegrass Control

in Fairway-Height Zoysiagrass

8

14

18

22

contents • Fall 2011

4

7

UPCOMING EVENT

14 TURF TALK

22 RECENT EVENTS

Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament, October 13, 2011

8

COVER STORY

18 TURF TIPS

Managing Wear & Tear on Athletic Fields

MTC Turf News

Preemergence Control of Annual Bluegrass in Fairway Zoysiagrass

Best Turfgrass Cultivars for Maryland

The Natural Green Turfgrass Conference, and the June 8 MTC Board Meeting

departments 06 26 28 30

P resident’s Message L egislative Update Industry News UNIVERSITY OF

MD TURF TEAM 30 Calendar of Events 30 Advertisers index

MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 12 Pressie Lane | Churchville, MD 21028 (240) 413-4312 | www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 ( phone) 615-794-4524 (fax) info@leadingedge communications.com

2011 Board of Directors PRESIDENT

Vernon W. Cooper All States Turf Consultant St. Michaels, MD 410-745-9643 (office) 443-742-6618 (cell) vernon@allstatesturf.com

Bob Shumate Calvert Co. Parks & Rec. Prince Frederick, MD 410-535-1600, ext 2225 410-610-9007 (cell) shumatrr@co.cal.md.us Bill Warpinski Central Sod Farms Centreville, MD 800-866-1387 410-827-5000 billw@centralsod.com

TWO YEAR DIRECTORS Randall Pinckney Manor Country Club Rockville, MD 301-929-1707 240-286-1989 (cell) rpinckney@mail.manorcc.org

Lester Dubs Pasadena, MD 443-623-1745 (cell) ldubs@verizon.net

Jamie Roell Anne Arundel Co. Rec. & Parks Millersville, MD 410-222-6250 443-370-2582 (cell) rproel09@aacounty.org

SECRETARY/TREASURER

OPEN

VICE PRESIDENT

Cheryl A. Gaultney Churchville, MD 410-836-2876 (home) 410-322-8275 (cell) sandqueen10@aol.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Nick Gammill American University W. Hyattsville, MD 202-885-2340 (office) 202-498-8020 (cell) ngammill@american.edu

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Michelle LoConte Montgomery Village, MD 240-413-4312 (office) 240-597-1420 (fax) mdturfcouncil@verizon.net

THREE YEAR DIRECTORS

ONE-YEAR DIRECTORS Rick LaNore MRW Lawns, Inc. LaPlata, MD 301-870-3411 (office) 301-609-1852 (cell) rick127928@rocketmail.com Bill Patton, Sr. Turf Center Lawns Spencerville, MD 301-384-9300 (office) 301-980-3094 (cell) turfcenterlawns@yahoo.com Kevin Monaco Turf Equip & Supply Jessup, MD 20794 410-799-5575 (office) 443-250-1182 (cell) kevinmonaco@turfequipment.com

Harry Kenney Agrium Advanced Technologies Ellicott City, MD 800-235-6138 410-375-6148 (cell) hkenney@agriumat.com

fall 2011

5

President’s Message

Attention,

All Maryland Turfgrass Professionals!

R ecent information has surfaced that there may be a correlation between damage to trees and shrubbery beds and the use of Imprelis herbicide to control broadleaf weeds in turf. This product is manufactured by DuPont and is touted as being safer and more environmentally friendly than many of the chemicals we have used in the past. The damage from Imprelis seems to be especially hard on Norway spruce and white pine trees, but other damage is also being reported in some states.

Please take a moment to check out this website with one of many articles and reports — http://www.freep.com/article/20110710/NEWS06/107100467/New-lawnchemical-chief-suspect-mysterious-deaths-trees Dennis Howard, chief of the Maryland Department of Agriculture Pesticide Regulation Section, is trying to determine the extent of the damage here in Maryland. Dennis is not interested in looking at your records or procedures; he is only trying to learn how many turfgrass professionals are having non-target plant-damage issues of any kind, and he needs our help. If you have used — or are currently using — Imprelis and have seen damage after the application, please notify Dennis or Rob Hofstetter as soon as possible. Both can be contacted by phone at 410-841-5710, or Dennis by email at howarddw@mda.state.md.us and Rob at hofsterj@mda.state.md.us. Helping MDA will only help us as an industry and you as a professional.

According to DuPont’s website, the company is also looking into this issue and recommends that you not use this herbicide in close proximity to spruce and pine trees until answers can be determined. For more information, go to www2.dupont.com/professional_products/en_us/products_and_services/ Imprelis/index.html However, if you read other verbiage, it appears that DuPont is (of course) following the company line of “most cases involve improper applications and/

or mixture with other herbicides.”

This does not seem to be the case, as reported by other states. How often have we heard similar statements when other products have failed?

This is exactly why MDA needs to be involved.

MDA is now — and always has been — a friend to the turfgrass industry in Maryland. Dennis assures me that any rumors of his department being on a “witch hunt” are the farthest from the truth. MDA is simply trying to determine the extent of the problem in Maryland, which may very well provide documentation if this issue should have to go to litigation.

So, step up, and notify MDA now if you have damage after application of Imprelis, and stay tuned to the MTC website at www.mdturfcouncil.org for additional information and recommended actions.

Vernon W. Cooper MTC President

UPDATE!

At time of going to press with this issue of MTC Turf News, DuPont has issued a suspension of use and sale for Imprelis Herbicide. If you have any product or have used any product, please contact MDA. You may also like to see the article from Reuters, dated Aug. 11, 2011 at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/us-dupont-imprelis-idUSTRE77A4VS20110811.

Don’t Forget! January 9–10 • 35th Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Show College Park, MD 6

MTC Turf News

Upcoming Event

Save the Date! • October 13, 2011

23rd Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament • Queenstown Harbor

On

October 13, come out to Queenstown Harbor in support of the MTC at the 23rd Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament! This event is held in fond memory of a true turfgrass professional — Angelo Cammarota — in support of the University of Maryland Turfgrass Research projects at its facility in College Park, Maryland.

A golf course superintendent who worked at numerous clubs in Maryland over his long career, Cammarota also opened and operated his own landscape business in New Jersey. He served as president of the Mid-Atlantic

Association of Golf Course Superintendents in 1966–1967, and a few years later, he became one of the founding members of the Maryland Turfgrass Council. He finished his career at Hobbitts Glen Country Club in Columbia, Maryland.

Located just outside Washington, D.C., Queenstown Harbor features 36 holes of championship golf on two unique layouts — The River and The Lakes. Spectacular Chesapeake Bay waterfront beauty and superior service make for an unforgettable round at Maryland’s premiere golf destination. The course is located at 301 Links Lane in Queenstown, Maryland. •

fall 2011

7

Cover Story

Managing Wear and Tear on Athletic Fields

By Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, and Erik Ervin, Ph.D., Turfgrass Physiologist, Virginia Tech

“T

hree yards and a cloud of dust!”

Many of you will recognize this as the description of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ offense many years ago under the guidance of legendary football coach Woody Hayes. For many of us “seasoned” members of the turfgrass industry, however, we remember the “cloud of dust” as being related to the types of athletic fields we played on in our younger days.

Things have improved, but unfortunately we still have a long way to go in ensuring that ALL of our athletes (young and seasoned alike) have SAFE fields to play on. The need for field safety should be your primary argument when trying to secure additional funding and support to expand or improve existing site conditions. Accidents happen, but none should be due to field neglect.

We rarely hear of any schools or parks and recreation facilities that complain of having too many fields to maintain. Due to space limitations, most facilities now over-utilize their

8

MTC Turf News

turfs and, out of necessity, have turned their primary “game” fields into practice fields.

This expanding need for sports turfs has been coupled with an explosion of artificial fields throughout the MidAtlantic area. In some situations, the typical $800,000 to $1 million cost can be justified based on use demands.

However, many schools or municipalities cannot afford this level of funding and must concentrate on working with natural-grass systems. This article details practical strategies to maximize the wear tolerance of naturalgrass fields.

Improvements in wear tolerance begin before construction Traffic management on sports fields begins during the planning and design

phase of an athletic field. Consider questions such as: (1) What sports or activities and what groups (sports teams, band, etc.) will use the field?

(2) When (what seasons) will the field be used? (3) Is space available to develop both practice areas and primary “game” areas? And for the primary game fields, remember to account for stands, concession areas, parking, traffic entry and exit, etc., in the available space.

Space is obviously a major limitation, as most of our major outdoor sports like baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse require up to two acres of playing surface. When you add the needs of track and field and possibly a marching band, there is only so much space to go around and only so much traffic a turf field can take.

Of course, any additional fields or areas designated for use also require

labor, equipment and time to maintain. So, take a careful look at the complete site, either prior to construction or in preparation for renovation, and consider how available land use can be optimized for both immediate and future needs.

What grass to use?

Transition zone states like Virginia and Maryland will never have the perfect grass for all sports and all seasons. On Mid-Atlantic sports fields, there is an ongoing surge in bermudagrass cultivars. Bermudagrass’ aggressive growth habit from midspring through mid-fall, and the improved cold tolerance of many of the more recent releases, make it an ideal choice for summer and fall sports throughout much of the region, although its dormancy phase from late fall through spring is a concern

for wear-tolerance issues in latewinter and early-spring sports.

Winter overseeding with ryegrass on a bermudagrass-based field is always an option because the ryegrass quality truly does not reach expected levels until early spring of the following year, just about the time when the weather gets really nice for spring sports. However, winter overseeding greatly reduces the vigor and health of the bermudagrass, and the transition phase back to bermudagrass is described in one word: UGLY. Still, overseeding is certainly a viable option on heavily trafficked bermudagrass fields in early spring.

The cool-season species of choice for athletic fields is Kentucky bluegrass, due to its low-mow quality, environmental persistence and its potential to both resist and recover from wear.

Another cool-season option, perennial

ryegrass also offers very high quality under lower mowing heights and resists wear well, but it suffers from poor summer persistence and a bunchtype growth habit that does not allow for wear recovery.

Bermudagrass programs

For many situations, “responsible use� programs prior to bermudagrass dormancy can maintain acceptable playability and provide a safe playing surface. One logical step is to begin to raise bermudagrass mowing heights approximately one month before an anticipated killing frost. This will help keep more biomass on the field and put more food reserves into its roots and stems.

Research at Virginia Tech has also shown that responsible nitrogen (N) fertilization programs during the fall playing season enhance late-season

fall 2011

9

Cover Story • continued

Photo 1. Marking designated practice areas with blue paint on a regulation-size bermudagrass field at George Mason University (in Fairfax, Virginia) has effectively converted one field to three, thus optimizing turf quality and field safety over several months.

Diameter

Spacing

# Holes / ft2

% Area Impacted

1/4 inch

1x2

72

2.5%

1/4 inch

2x2

36

1.2%

3/8 inch

2x2

36

2.8%

1/2 inch

2x2

36

5.0%

5/8 inch

2x2

36

7.7%

Table 1. How tine diameter and spacing affects the turf area impacted by cultivation.

growth and turf color, while promoting spring regrowth the following year. The key is “responsible” fertilization. Maintaining a balanced fertility program (appropriate pH, P and K levels, as indicated by soil tests) that doesn’t rely solely upon heavy N fertilization is how to apply this strategy.

Fall nitrogen programs can vary, but should probably follow application strategies similar to this: (1) apply no more than 1 lb. of N/1,000 sq. ft. every four weeks during the months of September and October, and (2) if water-soluble N is used, apply no more than 1/2 lb. of water-soluble N/1,000 sq. ft. in any single application. Use common sense in how long a lateseason N program continues — if a killing frost is forecast in a couple of days, do not apply the additional N because it is economically and environmentally irresponsible. And if you

10

MTC Turf News

are managing a sand-based soil, then use only controlled-release nitrogen sources that have very limited to no leaching potential.

The following spring, be patient in how quickly you try to accelerate bermudagrass regrowth. Many sportsfield managers have been burned (literally and figuratively) by pushing their turf with early-spring N applications, only to lose much of that growth to extreme cold later in April.

Only when you start to regularly mow the bermudagrass should you then be aggressive with your standard N fertility programs.

Cool-season turf programs Fertility programs for cool-season fields should emphasize: (1) moderate (1/2 lb. N/1,000 sq. ft. per month) applications during the spring sports

season, (2) light N additions during the summer (less than 1 lb. N/1,000 sq. ft. total from June through August) and (3) heavy fall applications (1 lb. N/1,000 sq. ft. per month).

This type of approach emphasizes adequate re-growth potential during the spring and summer, with higher fall amounts that function to sustain color, push roots and store food reserves.

Nitrogen programming should be coupled with once-yearly soil testing to guide lime, P and K inputs. Special attention should be paid to keeping K soil-test levels in the high-to-very-high range, since luxury consumption by the plant of K has been associated with increased leaf strength and subsequent wear tolerance. Use of fertilizer sources with N:K2O ratios of 1:1 (on sandbased fields) to 1:0.5 (on soil fields) is a good rule of thumb. Affordable supplementation of K levels during coring events can be achieved through the use of 0-0-50.

In reality, only lower-event/higherbudget fields can be successfully maintained as nearly pure Kentucky bluegrass. As wear progresses, many field managers are forced to inter-seed with perennial ryegrass. On highly worn (50% to 90% bare soil) fields, research at Cornell University presented compelling evidence in favor of weekly in-season overseeding with perennial ryegrass at 3–6 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.

Ten straight weeks of overseeding during a fall playing season resulted in 80% turfgrass cover, relative to 20% cover on the non-overseeded field, at a seed cost of approximately $2,000 over 30,000 sq. ft. of the highest-wear areas on the soccer/football field.

Maximize wear tolerance by optimizing field-use characteristics Photo 1 shows the ‘TifSport’ bermudagrass practice field at George Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax, Virginia.

With the full support of the coach, the turf crew mark the “regulation” soccer field in standard white paint, but they

also designate two “short-sided” fields (running east and west) in blue where portable goals are used. This results in six separate goalmouths to be used in a rotation, and it allows them to maintain bermudagrass coverage throughout a summer camp season (running from early July through early August) and the fall soccer season (running from August through October).

Now, perhaps you don’t have a “practice facility,” but the concept applies to any field and provides a way to responsibly distribute traffic across the field and protect areas for “game” conditions.

Cultivation programs — a necessity, not a luxury The United States Golf Association recommends at least 20% of surfacearea disruption by core aeration per season on sand-based golf greens. We feel this strategy also applies to sports fields, and even greater disruption may be warranted, depending on field use.

Table 1 details the amounts of surface disruption based on coring-tine diameter and spacing. Most sports-turf managers don’t have the luxury of changing tines or using different machines, so do the best you can. The more you can disrupt the soil down to a 3" to 4" depth, the more you improve the soil.

The key is to do something — whether that’s pulling cores, spiking, slicing, etc. If you have the budget, consider the services of custom-aeration specialists who have tools that you simply cannot afford to own or maintain. If you can’t afford to deep-tine aerate every year, can you afford to do it at least every second or third year?

And when you do have the opportunity to cultivate, don’t be tentative — be aggressive! Make multiple passes, and aerate the rootzone as much as the turf can withstand and as much as you can manage for recovery.

Try to cultivate during periods of active turf growth to maximize the rate of turf recovery (and field use).

Late spring to mid-summer is ideal

fall 2011

11

Cover Story • continued

Photo 2. For the spring soccer season at Pulaski County High School (in Dublin, Virginia), enhanced turf color and growth responses are evident from applying a turf blanket over the center of the game field.

for bermudagrass. Late summer to early fall is ideal for cool-season grasses, followed by early to mid-spring.

Communicate with everyone WHY you are cultivating, and be smart about how you schedule it in field-use schedules. Also, make sure you educate your clientele that cultivation on heavily trafficked athletic fields is an

absolutely necessary preventativemaintenance strategy that will greatly improve wear tolerance.

Other proven tips

Outside the traditional growing season, explore all the opportunities that you have to repair worn areas on athletic fields. For instance, as long as the soil is not frozen, worn areas can

be tilled (with soil added, if needed), regraded and grassed with either coolseason or warm-season (yes, even dormant bermudagrass) sods. The sod can then be rolled to firm, and the only thing to pay attention to in a very dry winter is that it might require some supplemental water (but this would not be the norm).

Using a turf blanket can also help speed the sod’s establishment, and it also will promote the germination and establishment of seed used for renovation purposes. In general, the blankets accelerate spring regrowth and initial wear tolerance, as shown in Photo 2 from Pulaski County High School’s football/soccer field.

The key with turf blankets is to remember that, when you move the growth phase up in the calendar, you also must accompany the earlier growth with appropriate maintenance.

One concern is that extreme cold in the spring damages the lush new growth due to covering, and the best step you could take would be to cover your fields prior to the cold to provide some protection.

Final thoughts As you see, improving wear tolerance on natural-grass athletic fields requires year-round strategies. None of these strategies guarantees premier game conditions at any time in the season, but they certainly promote the establishment and maintenance of the safest field conditions possible for our athletes. •

12

MTC Turf News

Turf Talk

Preemergence Annual Bluegrass Control in Fairway-Height Zoysiagrass

By Peter Dernoeden, Ph.D., Dept. of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland

A

difficult-to-control weed in golf course turf, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) becomes invasive in zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) fairways in the late autumn and winter, and it often dominates the turf stand with the arrival of warmer temperatures in spring. Preemergence herbicides offer a way to control the weed, but there has been no research conducted in Maryland to identify effective and safe products for Poa control in zoysiagrass maintained at fairway height.

It has been more than a decade since research at the University of Maryland identified prodiamine (Barricade), at a rate as low as 0.38 lb. ai/A, to be effective in controlling annual bluegrass preemergence in rough-height (3") Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass that maintains its vigor from autumn to spring. Thus, it is able to compete more effectively with annual bluegrass in winter and spring, as compared to zoysiagrass, which becomes dormant in winter. It remains to be determined if prodiamine and other preemergence herbicides are effective in controlling Poa in winterdormant zoysiagrass fairways.

For decades, bensulide (Bensumec, BetaSan and others) has been the standard preemergence herbicide used

14

MTC Turf News

on golf courses for controlling Poa, largely because it is labeled for use on creeping bentgrass greens, tees and fairways. Little research exists, however, to confirm its relative effectiveness when compared to more-modern preemergence herbicides. Furthermore, there is little or no information regarding bensulide’s performance in a preversus an early post-emergence timing or its effectiveness in single versus a sequential application.

The purpose for our research

The objectives of our study were to assess various rates and timings of bensulide 4L (Bensumec) when targeting annual bluegrass in zoysiagrass and to compare bensulide to more-modern compounds, including prodiamine (Barricade 65DG), oxadiazon (Ronstar 2G), dithiopyr (Dimension 40WSP), pendimethalin (Pendulum AquaCap 3.8CS), cumyluron and paclobutrazol (Trimmit 2S). Currently, cumyuron (Japanese buttermilk or HM-9930) has not received U.S. EPA registration.

Although it has been tested by golf course superintendents, little comparative research has been conducted by universities. Paclobutrazol is a plant growth regulator (PGR) that is commonly used to suppress and reduce the invasiveness of annual bluegrass on golf courses.

Our research methods

Initiated in September 2009, this field study was conducted at the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility in College Park. The turf was a mature stand of ‘Zenith’ zoysiagrass maintained at a height of 1/2", on a soil of Keyport silt loam with a pH of 5.6 and 1.4% organic matter.

• Bensulide 4L was evaluated in two timings: a single PRE application on Sept. 3 (at 6.25 or 12.5 lb. ai/A) or a POST application on Oct. 14 (at 12.5 lb. ai/A), and sequentially on Sept. 3 and Oct. 14 (at 6.25 lb. ai/A each application).

• Prodiamine 65DG was applied once on Sept. 3 (at 0.38 lb. ai/A) or sequentially on Sept. 3 and Oct. 14 (at 0.38 + 0.38 lb. ai/A).

• P aclobutrazol 2SC was applied sequentially on Sept. 3 and Oct. 14 (at 0.25 lb. ai/A).

• Cumyluron (45% F at 6 oz. product/A), dithiopyr 40WSP (0.5 lb. ai/A), oxadiazon 2G (4.0 lb. ai/A) and pendimethalin 3.8CS (3.0 lb. ai/A) were applied once on Sept. 3.

The site received rainfall or irrigation within 24 hours of each application.

Percent of plot area covered with annual bluegrass, winter annual weeds and broadleaf weeds was assessed

visually on a 0 to 100% scale, where 0 = no weeds, and 100 = entire plot area covered with weeds. Annual bluegrass developed naturally and uniformly across the study area. Winter annual weeds and other broadleaf weeds were not as evenly distributed and were present in low populations.

Our research results Annual bluegrass In Maryland, annual bluegrass typically begins emerging following a major rain event in early September, while zoysiagrass typically enters a state of winter dormancy following a few frosts in mid- to late October. In our study, annual bluegrass colonization was apparent in the dormant zoysiagrass by Nov. 23.

At this time, substantial amounts (3% to 6% cover) of annual bluegrass were evident in plots treated with Bensumec applied once at 6.25 lb. ai/A on Sept. 3; at 6.25 lb. ai/A applied twice on Sept. 3 and Oct. 14; and at 12.5 lb. ai/A applied on Oct. 14 (Table 1). Annual bluegrass cover in these same plots increased 6% to 16% in cover by Dec. 15. With the advent of frozen soils beginning in mid-December, annual bluegrass cover ratings declined (i.e., plants became smaller) as plants contracted in response to low temperatures. Over 45" of snowfall covered the study area between Feb. 5 and March 1, 2010. While there were few statistically significant differences among most treatments between Nov. 23, 2009, and March 11, 2010, plots treated with Bensumec once or sequentially at 6.25 lb. ai/A or at 12.5 lb. ai/A on Oct. 14 generally had higher annual bluegrass cover, when compared to all other herbicides and paclobutrazol (Trimmit).

The period from April 1 to April 8 was unusually warm, and annual bluegrass plants began to tiller, expand in size and produce seedheads. Prior to zoysiagrass greenup, data were last collected on April 9, 2010. On that date, 80% of untreated control plots had been colonized by annual bluegrass.

Photo 1. Study site on March 9, 2011, prior to warm weather.

Photo 2. Study site on April 9, following greenup of zoysiagrass and showing the variation of annual bluegrass cover in plots.

By April 9, only Bensumec applied once at 6.25 lb. ai/A on Sept. 3 did not reduce annual bluegrass cover significantly compared to the control.

Bensumec applied at 12.5 lb. ai/A on Oct. 14 provided poor control (39% cover = 51% control), but it did reduce annual bluegrass cover significantly compared to the control. Bensumec applied at 12.5 lb. ai/A on Sept. 3 (11% cover = 86% control) and 6.25 lb. ai/A applied sequentially (19% cover = 76% control) provided a statistically equivalent level of control.

Barricade applied once (0.38 lb. ai/A) or sequentially (0.38 + 0.38 lb. ai/A) provided 94% and 99% control, respectively. Dimension provided 98% control (1.9% cover). Barricade (0.38 + 0.38 lb. ai/A), Ronstar, Pendulum and cumyluron provided exceptional control (≤ 0.5% cover = 99% control). Trimmit-treated plots had 30% (63% control) annual bluegrass cover on April 9, which was a level of control equivalent to Bensumec applied sequentially (6.25 + 6.25 lb. ai/A).

fall 2011

15

Turf Talk • continued

Table 1. Preemergence annual bluegrass control in fairway-height ‘Zenith’ zoysiagrass, College Park, MD, 2009–2010.

Herbicide

Rate (lb. ai/A)

Dates Applied in 2009

Bensumec 4L Bensumec 4L Bensumec 4L Bensumec 4L Barricade 65DG Barricade 65DG Ronstar 2G Dimension Ultra 40SP Pendulum AquaCap 3.8CS Cumyluron Trimmit 2SC Untreated

6.25 12.5 6.25 + 6.25 12.5 0.38 0.38 + 0.38 4.0 0.5 3.0 6.0 fl. oz./A 16.0 fl. oz./A —

9/3 9/3 9/3 + 10/14 10/14 9/3 9/3 + 10/14 9/3 9/3 9/3 9/3 9/3 + 10/14 —

% P. annua cover 2009 Nov. 23 Dec. 15 5.3 bc*** 16.5 b 0.6 d 1.2 d 2.9 bcd 5.6 cd 6.3 b 11.8 bc 0.9 cd 0.3 d 0.3 d 0.2 d 0.1 d 0.1 d 0.1 d 0.2 d 0.0 d 0.0 d 0.0 d 0.1 d 0.3 d 1.5 d 11.0 a 27.8 a

Jan. 15 8.5 b 0.3 cd 1.7 cd 5.8 bc 0.2 d 0.2 d 0.1 d 0.1 d 0.0 d 0.1 d 1.9 cd 20.0 a

2010 Mar. 11 14.3 b 0.4 c 2.0 c 2.0 c 0.3 c 0.0 c 0.1 c 0.1 c 0.0 c 0.1 c 2.0 c 30.5 a

* WA = winter annuals; composite rating of mouse-ear chickweed and corn speedwell. ** BL = broadleaf weeds; composite rating of white clover, dandelion and knotweed. *** Means in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Fisher’s LSD, P ≤ 0.05.

16

MTC Turf News

Apr. 9 70.0 a 11.3 de 19.3 cd 39.0 b 4.5 de 0.5 e 0.4 e 1.9 e 0.1 e 0.2 e 29.5 bc 80.3 a

% WA*

% BL**

Apr. 10 0.4 c 5.5 ab 2.3 c 1.0 c 0.1 c 0.0 c 2.6 bc 0.6 c 0.0 c 7.3 a 0.1 c 0.1 c

Apr. 10 3.0 abc 2.0 abc 4.8 a 1.5 bc 3.5 ab 1.0 bc 2.4 abc 0.4 c 0.1 c 1.4 bc 2.0 abc 0.1 c

continued • Turf Talk

None of the chemicals evaluated delayed spring greenup or in any way discolored or injured the zoysiagrass.

Other weeds There were low levels of the following broadleaf weed species in the study area on April 9: dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), prostrate knotweed (Polygonum arviculare), corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) and white clover (Trifolium repens). The winter annual rating is a composite of chickweed and speedwell, and the broadleaf rating was a composite of dandelion, knotweed and white clover.

In the untreated plots, both winter annual and broadleaf weed populations were at trace levels due to competition from and/or masking by the presence of annual bluegrass.

Winter annual levels were highest in plots treated with Bensumec (12.5 lb. ai/A applied on Sept. 3) and cumyluron. Plots treated with Pendulum and Barricade (0.38 + 0.38 lb. ai/A), though, were free of winter annual weeds. All other treatments had low and statistically similar levels of winter annual cover.

Broadleaf weed levels generally were highest in plots treated with Bensumec (except 12.5 lb. ai/A applied on Oct. 14), Barricade (0.38 lb. ai/A), Ronstar and Trimmit. The lowest broadleaf weed populations were observed in plots treated with Dimension and Pendulum. Statistically, however, there were few differences in broadleaf weed cover among most treatments.

their relative safely is unknown in the Mid-Atlantic region.

In our study, Bensumec was the least effective herbicide evaluated. Data showed that, to obtain the best possible level of control with Bensumec, it should be applied at 12.5 lb. ai/A in early September, prior to when annual bluegrass seeds begin to germinate.

Our single, mid-October application of Bensumec at 12.5 lb. ai/A provided about 50% annual bluegrass control, but its performance in this application timing was inferior to the preemergence timing.

Trimmit also may be used on creeping bentgrass greens and fairways. The 63% control provided by Trimmit (applied on Sept. 3 and Oct. 14) was agronomically significant. Given that many area superintendents apply Trimmit throughout the autumn (and as late as November and even in early December), they are likely acquiring a beneficial ancillary effect from the PGR on annual bluegrass populations. The mechanism for suppression of annual bluegrass by this PGR is unknown. It is speculated that it may simply interfere with normal rooting of emerging annual bluegrass seedlings, which either do not compete or succumb.

There were few statistical differences among Barricade, Ronstar, Dimension,

Pendulum and cumyluron; however, the complete annual bluegrass control provided by Pendulum and Barricade (sequentially, at 0.38 + 0.38 lb. ai/A) was considered exceptional. Pendulum’s ability to also effectively control winter annuals and broadleaf weeds in this study indicates that it could be a powerful tool for managing weeds in winter in selected areas on Maryland golf courses.

The results of this study are most applicable to zoysiagrass fairways, but they also may be extended for consideration for use in green surrounds and rough areas.

The annual bluegrass biotype at the study site was most likely the true annual (P. annua ssp. annua), as determined by its yellow-green color and prolific seedhead production. Annual bluegrass, however, is a genetically diverse species. It is known that there are many biotypes within a population.

For example, it has been shown that biotypes found in roughs are different from those in fairways, which in turn are different from those found growing on greens. Hence, the results of this study may only be applicable to the annual bluegrass biotype found at the research site. Thus, additional research is needed from different regions to confirm these results. •

Photo 3. Study site on April 9, showing dark-green patches of white clover in selected plots.

Summary and conclusions

For decades, Bensumec has been the standard preemergence herbicide used to target annual bluegrass on golf courses since it is labeled for use on creeping bentgrass greens, tees and fairways. Dimension also is labeled for bentgrass fairways, and some formulators (e.g., Andersons in 2010) label it for use on greens. Barricade, Pendulum and Ronstar are labeled for use on creeping bentgrass mowed above 0.5", but little research has been conducted with these herbicides on fairways, and

fall 2011

17

Turf Tips

The Best Turfgrass Cultivars for Maryland

By Thomas Turner, Ph.D., University of Maryland

S

electing the proper turfgrass species and cultivars for a specific site and use is one of the most critical decisions that a turfgrass manager can make. Selecting grasses that are not well adapted to the climate, site conditions and/or expected use and management will lead to a host of problems, including pest- and stress-related issues.

Turfgrass breeders continue to develop and release numerous new turfgrass cultivars. However, while many of these cultivars are adapted to other regions of the country, many are not adapted to the difficult environmental conditions that occur in the transition zone, which includes Maryland.

Thus, to identify cultivars that will perform well in this region, extensive cultivar trials are conducted at the Uni-

18

MTC Turf News

versity of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

These trials include the National Turfgrass Evaluation Trials (NTEP), joint Maryland-Virginia cultivar trials and individual company screening trials in Maryland.

The cultivar performance data obtained at various locations in Maryland and Virginia are reviewed annually in a joint meeting of university researchers and representatives of the Departments of Agriculture of both states. The use of recommended cultivars usually results in a turfgrass stand of higher quality and density, greater stress tolerance, lower nutrient requirements, less water usage and fewer pest problems. Also increasingly important, the environmental benefits of turfgrass are greatly enhanced by using cultivars well adapted to Maryland conditions.

The following lists of recommended cultivars consist of two groups. “Proven” cultivars represent those that have been performing well in trials in both states over a period of at least three to five years, and they have had certified seed tested by the MD and/or VA Department of Agriculture. “Promising” cultivars have shown good performance, but they have been tested in Maryland or Virginia for only two years or may be difficult to find due to limited seed availability.

The recommended cultivar lists are revised annually. Also, the perennial ryegrasses, zoysiagrasses and bermudagrasses were evaluated under fairway management in Maryland, being mowed at 1/2" to 5/8".

TURF-TYPE TALL FESCUE Proven Cultivars AST 9003 Avenger Bingo Bravo Blackwatch Cochise III Constitution Coyote II Crossfire II Dakota Davinci Daytona Endeavor Faith

Falcon IV Fidelity Firecracker LS Forte Grande Grande II Greenkeeper WAF Guardian 21 Houndog 5 Hunter Inferno Justice Magellan

Masterpiece Matador GT Monet Mustang 4 Penn 1901 Raptor Raptor II Rebel Exeda Rebel IV Regiment II Rendition 2nd Millennium Sidewinder Spyder LS

Taos Tarheel II Tempest 3rd Millennium SRP Titanium Tombstone Turbo Watchdog Wolfpack Wolfpack II

Falcon NG Falcon V Fat Cat Finelawn Xpress Firenza Garrison Gazelle II Greenbrooks Hemi Hudson Jamboree Lindbergh LS 1010 LS 1200

Montana Pedigree Renovate Reunion Rhambler SRP Rocket Shenandoah Elite Shenandoah III Skyline Speedway SR 8550 SR 8600 SR 8650 Stetson II

Sunset Gold Tahoe II Talladega Tanzania Terrier Titanium LS Toccoa Traverse SRP Trio Tulsa Time Umbrella Van Gogh

Turf-type tall fescue

Turf-type tall fescue + perennial ryegrass

Promising Cultivars Aggressor AST 7002 AST 7003 AST 9002 Barvado Braveheart Bullseye Cannavaro Catalyst Cezanne RZ Cochise IV Compete Einstein Escalade Essential

The effect of mixing perennial ryegrass with turf-type tall fescue on red thread disease. In general, perennial ryegrass should not be mixed with turf-type tall fescue, due to increased disease problems

FINE FESCUE Proven Cultivars Berkshire (hard fescue) Chariot (hard fescue)

Firefly (hard fescue) Gotham (hard fescue)

Longfellow II (chewings) Predator (hard fescue)

7 Seas (chewings) SR 5130 (chewings)

Intrigue 2 (chewings) LaCrosse (chewings)

Navigator II (creeping red) Radar (chewings)

Spartan II (hard fescue) Zodiac (chewings)

Wendy Jean (creeping red)

Promising Cultivars Epic (creeping red) Fairmont (chewings)

fall 2011

19

Turf Tips • continued

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

Proven Cultivars

Proven Cultivars Impact Juliet Liberator Midnight Nu Destiny NuGlade Princeton 105

Apollo Award Beyond Brilliant Courtyard Diva Everglade Excursion Granite

Quantum Leap Raven Skye Sudden Impact Touche Yankee

Affirmed Applaud Apple GL ASP 6004 Buena Vista Catalina II

Charismatic II GLSR Divine Exacta Gator 3 Homerun

Jet Line Drive GLS Manhattan 4 Palmer V Paragon GLR

Silver Dollar Soprano Stellar Stellar GL Uno

Promising Cultivars Fiesta 4

Promising Cultivars Blue Tastic Bluestone Emblem 4-Season Ginney II Hampton LS 4000

Alexa II Aries Aura Barrister Belissimo Bewitched Blue Note

Mystere Nuchicago Rhapsody Rhythm Solar Eclipse Zinfandel

BERMUDAGRASS Proven Cultivars Contessa (seeded) Patriot (vegetative) Quickstand (vegetative)

Additional Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for mixing with tall fescue:

Promising Cultivars

Dura Blue Thermal Blue

Latitude 36 (vegetative)

Thermal Blue Blaze Wildhorse Leaf spot of Kentucky bluegrass.

Riviera (seeded) Sovereign (seeded) Tifton 10 (vegetative) TifSport (vegetative)

Vamont (vegetative) Yukon (seeded)

Northridge (vegetative)

Bermudagrass winter hardiness is a major consideration for cultivar recommendations.

Summer patch of Kentucky bluegrass.

ZOYSIAGRASS Proven Cultivars Compadre (seeded)

Meyer (vegetative)

Zenith (seeded)

J-36 (seeded) J-37 (seeded) Marquis (vegetative) Sunburst (vegetative)

Zen 400 (seeded) Zen 500 (seeded) Zorro (vegetative)

Promising Cultivars

Cultivar evaluation trials identify disease-prone cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass.

20

MTC Turf News

Cavalier (vegetative) Companion (seeded) Himeno (vegetative) J-14 (seeded)

Recent Event

Maryland Sod Is Green, Getting Greener and Staying Green

nothing better to filter water, stabilize soil and protect our Bay than good healthy turfgrass.

If a sod farmer were not an excellent steward, he would not remain in business long. The soil and the water are needed as much for his livelihood as they are for any other turf professional, perhaps even more. Sod farmers utilize professional consultants, field scouting and integrated pest management (IPM) programs, and they have eyes on their fields each and every day. Unlike other farmers who look to maximize the volume of their crops, a sod farmer has a fixed volume and strives to provide a top-quality product. The use of extra fertilizer or unnecessary pesticides is often problematic to top quality and definitely is detrimental to profit margins and a good bottom line. Best management practices (BMP) are a sod farmer’s best friend. Part of these BMPs for sod growers is to always be looking into new and additional ways of managing the crop while reducing the amounts of (or even need for) fertilizer and pesticides.

By Vernon Cooper, MTC President

M

aryland sod growers have taken a double rap from the public, the environmentalists and the government for far too long.

You see, sod farmers are not only like those other “un-natural green” companies running golf courses and lawncare companies who spread and spray all those nasty chemical fertilizers and pesticides, BUT they are also “farmers” who (everyone “knows”) are the reason for ALL the pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, too many people — people often in high decision-making places — actually believe the misperceptions stated in the paragraph above.

This is why we have school systems installing artificial fields that are not only hot but also are scientifically proven to be harmful and possibly carcinogenic to our children. This is why we now have state laws and reg-

22

MTC Turf News

ulations that restrict applications of nitrogen fertilizer to 0.9 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. regardless of university research that shows 1.0 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. to be best. This is why we have the EPA encouraging homeowners to take out at least 40% of their turf and put in impervious surfaces, shrubs and trees with mulch.

Unfortunately, these same people do not look to science, or even talk to the professionals, before jumping into the “field of public demand” to save their jobs, get additional votes and develop un-needed programs that cost all of us money.

If the truth be known — if you take time to look at the science and/or talk with the professionals who call themselves sod farmers — you very quickly see that they are absolutely stewards of our environment, especially the Chesapeake Bay. We all know there is

The Natural Green Turfgrass Workshop, April 1, 2011 With this in mind, the Maryland Turfgrass Association (MTA) and St. Mary’s College of Maryland sponsored a “Natural Green Turfgrass” conference and workshop on April 1, 2011, at St. Mary’s College. While it is totally impractical, if not impossible, to produce an “organic” turfgrass in Maryland or anywhere in the transition zone, the purpose of the conference was to present other methods and materials to produce sod, while reducing the need for fertilizers and chemicals.

The speakers for the day included: • Paul Tukey (Falmouth Maine): As SafeLawn’s spokesman, Tukey is America’s foremost public speaker on the subject of natural lawncare and environmental awareness. He often consults with municipalities and lawncare professionals about making the organic lawncare transition.

•K evin Mercer (our host): With more than ten years of experience in golf course maintenance and management at prestigious courses, Mercer has been the superintendent of grounds at St. Mary’s College of Maryland for more than six years. Here, he not only manages sports fields, general grounds and sustainable areas, but he also teaches as an instructor for the College of Southern Maryland for Principles of Turfgrass Management and Sports Turfgrass Management. Mercer has given sustainability lectures for sports turf, locally and nationally. He has worked closely with the Dept. of Natural Resources and is an environmental steward for the State of Maryland through the Audubon International. Through his commitment to the environment,

he has successfully led his campus to become the first college grounds and sports fields in Maryland to achieve certification through the Audubon Sanctuary program.

• Stephen Duke, Ph.D.: Dr. Duke is the director of the USDA/ARS Natural Products Utilization Research Program at the University of Mississippi. He has more than 35 years of research experience, exclusive of graduate training. He is the author of 190 research articles published in refereed journals, 170 peer-reviewed reviews, essays or commentaries and

Kevin Mercer, speaker and superintendent of grounds at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

On our tour of the grounds at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

fall 2011

23

Recent Event • continued

one book, for a total of 361 nonabstract, peer-reviewed publications.

This work is highly cited (see Web of Science). He is also co-inventor of one pending patent.

• Kurt Vanclief: A fellow sod grower in Ameliasburg, Ontario, Canada, Vanclief is also a director of the NSGA (Nursery Sod Growers Association). The NSGA is the only organization in the Northern Hemisphere that certifies turfgrass sod growers who produce sod with lim-

ited chemical management and was here to tell us how it is done.

As diverse as our speakers were, so were their messages — but all presented new and different methods, materials and thoughts on producing a greener sod by greener methods. The day also included a tour of the St. Mary’s campus, showing how many of these methods are being utilized. Also, many of the methods and materials are already being implemented on our sod farms, and those expand and comple-

ment the BMPs already used every day on Maryland sod farms.

Maryland sod is produced utilizing the least amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as environmentally possible. Turfgrass sod cools the environment, produces oxygen, filters water, stabilizes soil, is esthetically pleasing to look at and is not harmful or carcinogenic to our pets or children.

Maryland Sod is much “greener” than artificial plastic grass and it is MADE IN THE USA. •

MTA Honors Jim Claxton

The

Maryland Turfgrass Association (MTA) dedicated its Natural Green Turfgrass Conference and Workshop on April 1, 2011, to a friend of the entire turfgrass industry — Jim Claxton.

Jim came to Maryland in 1989 and immediately began supporting the Maryland turfgrass industry. His first position was doing commercial sales for Cloverly Hardware, an independent Southern Sates dealer. In 1994, he accepted an opportunity to join Newsom Seed and has served the Maryland sod and seeding industry ever since, continuing to support his “friends” today.

A native of Iowa, Jim received his B.S. degree in agriculture from Iowa State University in 1973. After college, he returned home to raise hogs and corn on his family’s farm.

As a farmer, Jim was fully aware of how some salesmen can be more of a pain or hindrance than a help (you know the ones, where you try to hide when you see them coming down the lane). So, Jim decided when he went into sales that he would not be a hindrance to anyone.

Jim has always strived to be more than a salesman. He has always tried to listen because he feels his job is to work with his customers and be someone they can rely on for honest and accurate information. Jim has always been a problem solver, giving 100% to find the answer. If he did not know the answer, he would contact those who would. If it turned out he had a product that would fix the issue, he was glad to make the sale, but correcting the problem was always his primary priority, even if it meant sending the customer to a competitor.

It is because of this work ethic and Jim’s constant search for knowledge that the MTA is further honoring Jim by the creation of the “Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund” to provide scholarships to current turfgrass students or college-bound children of turfgrass professionals. The scholarship fund was started with a banquet in Jim’s honor on April 1, immediately after the Natural Green Turfgrass Conference. The event was held at the Ridge VFD with 60+ attending. MTA currently has $9,000 in the fund and hopes to begin offering scholarships next year. Donations can be made to:

The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund c/o The MTA P.O. Box 389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 As you may or may not be aware, Jim is battling cancer, and this fight has been going on for five years. However, Jim is still working and taking care of his friends. You can follow Jim on his website at www.turfjim.com.

Please join with us in keeping Jim and his wife in your prayers. •

Jim Claxton, with Newsom Seed 24

MTC Turf News

continued • Recent Event

MTC Board of Directors Meeting, June 8, 2011

On 1

2

June 8, a special group of wise and knowledgeable turfgrass professionals attended the MTC Board of Directors Meeting. All MTC past presidents were invited to attend, in order to discuss topics important to MTC, and more than half of all former presidents came, including Emory Patton, John Strickland, Ben Stagg, Robert Lynch, Stephen Potter, Diana Patton, Mark Schlossberg, Tracy Stearns, Dave Cammarota, Rick LaNore and Bob Schumate. The guidance and experience of the organization’s former leaders were sought to prevent “reinventing the wheel.” MTC thanks all who took time out of their day to attend and continue to serve so generously for all members of the association. • Photo 1: MTC current and former leaders, at the June 8 MTC Board of Directors Meeting.

Seated above (left to right): Ben Stagg (1987 MTC president), Tracy Stearns (1999–2000), Diana Patton (1995–1996), Emory Patton (1975–1976 and 1985–1986) and Vernon Cooper (2011–2012). Standing (left to right): Rick LaNore (2005–2006), John Strickland (1979–1981), Robert Lynch (1998–1989), Steve Potter (1991), Cheryl Gaultney, Dave Cammarota (2003–2004), Bob Schumate (2007–2008) and Mark Schlossberg (1997–1998).

Photo 2: Catching up with friends — (left to right) Bill and Diana Patton, with John Strickland.

Photo 3: After dinner discussions — (left to right) Kevin Monaco, Bill Warpinski and Doug Lechlider.

3

Photos courtesy of Lauren Dubs. fall 2011

25

Legislative Update

Letter to the

Turfgrass Community

about the Fertilizer Use Act

26

MTC Turf News

From Mark I. Schlossberg, Pro-Lawn-Plus, Inc./MAGI

I

would like to address Maryland’s professional turfgrass-management community, which includes the lawncare and golf course maintenance industries, about the recently passed fertilizer legislation in this year’s Maryland General Assembly Session and some ongoing coverage in the media.

The Fertilizer Use Act This bill was passed in the Maryland General Assembly on the final day of the session as HB 573. This compromise bill was agreed upon by leaders in various sectors of our industry working with the Chesapeake Bay Commission (CBC). Though this bill will cost our industry some money and will change the way we do business somewhat, I feel like the adjustments we have to make will not jeopardize our businesses and golf courses. And the fact that we now will have fertilizer pre-emption means that we won’t have to worry about local jurisdictions making their own fertilizer laws.

We were able to get the final date for fall N and P applications extended to December 1. We’ll still be able to apply K, limestone and other soil conditioners between December 1 and March 1. We were also able to get allowances for controlled-release nitrogen at higher rates and an exemption for organic fertilizer P applications. From my understanding of the bills, the certification/training portion will take effect in October 2012, and the date restrictions will not take place until the fall of 2013.

I know that some people in our industry feel like we gave in too easily and should have fought harder against the legislation. The reality is that if we would have killed it this year, most likely something more harsh would have been on the table for 2012. Our neighboring states of Virginia and Pennsylvania are negotiating with the CBC right now and will have legislation similar to ours by early next year.

It is important for you to know that one of the reasons we supported this legislation was that we, as an industry, wanted to get the message out to some of our allies — like the farm community and soil conservation people, as well as our customers, members and the general public — that we are willing to do our part. We might not feel that the changes required in the bill will help the Bay. But, now, farmers will not be able to complain that the lawncare/golf course industries are not doing their part. We will be able to say that we are willing to contribute to the reduction of N and P output.

I want to thank everyone who came to Annapolis for meetings, called and emailed legislators and acquiesced on issues that they really didn’t want to, etc. Both environmental committees in the General Assembly appreciated us working together with the CBC to get this bill passed. I feel that our support of this legislation will help us immensely in the future when there are bills introduced that we oppose.

research that shows that turf is as much as (or even more of) an environmental protector than an overabundance of trees. We all like trees, as well, but as turf professionals, we know that once a tree canopy gets too dense, we tend to see runoff of sediment, which carries nutrients into the Bay.

We, as turfgrass professionals, are really the only ones who are going to stand up and fight for what we know is a great way to protect the environment. Don’t be afraid to speak up for the benefits of turf. Hopefully, in the near future, more research will be forth coming that will back up our beliefs. •

Negative press about turfgrass One more issue I want to mention is the ongoing negative press that our industry receives, despite our support of the new law. What everyone needs to realize is that the environmental community is generally anti-turf.

It’s not only about fertilizer and pesticide usage. It’s also about the need for gasoline-powered lawn mowers to cut the turf. They don’t understand that turf sequesters more carbon than the lawn mowers used to cut it. They don’t care that a nice turf cools the environment, reduces dust and noise, prevents runoff and provides a safe playing surface for children to play.

They prefer trees, mulch and gravel.

In my new position as a member of the Baltimore County Planning Board, I see the Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas remediation guidelines, and I see that turf cover is discouraged in critical areas. The guidelines promote trees, both large and small. What our industry needs now is good university

fall 2011

27

Industry News

Fisher & Son Company Expands Its Southern Reach

with the Integration of Herod Seeds in Virginia

E

arly this past June, Fisher & Son Company struck a deal with Herod Seeds in Virginia to fold Herod’s into its business under the Fisher & Son Company (FSC) brand.

Currently, Fisher & Son Company services clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The exciting roll-up with Herod’s allows Fisher & Son Company to extend its client base and service reach further across Virginia and Maryland, as well as beyond, into West Virginia and North Carolina.

“We are thrilled to welcome both the Herod Seeds’ staff and customers to the Fisher & Son Company family,” said Mike Fisher, president of FSC. “Blending Herod Seeds’ exceptional service record and thorough industry knowledge in the Virginia market with Fisher & Son’s brand strength and extensive range of specialty products

28

MTC Turf News

will create exciting and tangible benefits for all of us. Combined, our companies now offer 114 years of experience, value and quality to every turf and landscape professional in the area.”

Established by Norman Herod in 1979 in Richmond, Virginia, Herod Seeds became one of the state’s leading wholesale suppliers of professional turfgrass and landscape materials and supplies. Expanding from its central office in Richmond, the company opened its first branch in Manassas in 1997, with a second branch in Virginia Beach in 1999 and a third branch in Lynchburg in 2005, effectively providing service to the entire state, as well as to Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina.

In 2003, Herod Seeds became a second-generation family business when son Ned Herod took the com-

pany’s reins. Ned will remain with the business as Specialty Products Director for Fisher & Son Company, championing the unique FSC brands.

“The Fishers and I have been good friends for a long time, and we quickly recognized the similarities in our companies’ cultures,” said Ned. “We’ve discussed this option to join our companies for years, especially since Fisher & Son brings so much to the table for my employees and myself. We’re delighted that we found a way to make this work, and I’m looking forward to a great future for all of us.”

Established in 1928 and a fourthgeneration corporation now owned by first cousins Anne Fisher and Mike Fisher, Fisher & Son Company provides products and services to turf and horticulture professionals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Based in Exton, Pennsylvania, the firm serves

customers throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, with five warehouse/customer-service centers (in PA, MD, DE and VA).

Herod Seeds’ former customers in Richmond and Virginia Beach will continue to be serviced from those locations, while customers near the Manassas branch will now be serviced by Fisher & Son’s distribution center in Chantilly, VA. These new Fisher & Son branches will become part of the company’s Southern Division, based in Chantilly and headed by newly named district manager Glenn Smickley, CGCS. “They say that two heads are better than one,” Fisher said. “In this case, the synergies between our two companies are an unbeatable combination, in Virginia, particularly for all our current and future customers.” •

fall 2011

29

Turf Industry Calendar of Events

October 13

Angie Cammarota Memorial Golf Tournament Queenstown Harbor Queenstown, MD

index of advertisers

January 11–13, 2012

All States Turfgrass Consultants, LLC .............12

Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD

www.basf.com

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show

BASF....................................... Inside Back Cover

Buy Sod.............................................................5 www.buysod.com

January 16–19, 2012

October 18

VTC Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show

MD Certified Professional Horticulturist Exam

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

Plant Identification MD Dept. of Agriculture Annapolis, MD Contact: (410) 823-8684

February 10–11, 2012

October 27–29

Green Industry & Equipment Expo Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY

January 9–10, 2012 35th Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show

Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD

Chesapeake Green 2011 — A Horticulture Symposium

MD Institute of Technology Linthicum, MD

February 27 – March 2, 2012

Golf Industry Show & GCSAA Conference Las Vegas, NV

Capitol Sports Fields . .....................................16 www.capitolsportsfields.com

Collins Wharf Sod Farm...................................27 www.collinswharfsod.com

CoverSports USA.............................................11 www.coversports.com

East Coast Sod & Seed............Inside Front Cover www.eastcoastsod.com

Ernst Conservation Seeds................................29 www.ernstseed.com

Mid-Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers (MAATEM).......................................27 Mid-Atlantic Turf Equipment, LLC ...................11 www.midatlanticturfequipment.com

Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc....................................5 www.oakwoodsod.com

Quali-Pro.........................................................21 www.quali-pro.com

Summit Hall Turf, Inc......................... Back Cover

www.summithall.com

Syngenta Professional Products .....................29 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

January 10–14, 2012

The Turfgrass Group....................................3, 13 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

STMA Annual Conference & Exhibition

WinField Solutions, LLC...................................27 www.winfieldsolutionsllc.com

Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA

Wood Bay Enterprises, Inc.................................7 www.woodbayturftech.com

University of maryland turfgrass team Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D. Dept. of Agronomy University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1337 pd@umd.edu

Tom Turner, Ph.D.

Mark Carroll, Ph.D.

Kevin Mathias, Ph.D.

Dave Funk

Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-4431 tturner@umd.edu

Dept. of Agronomy University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1339 mcarroll@umd.edu

Institute of Applied Ag. University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 jkm@umd.edu

Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-8195 dfunk@umd.edu

MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC 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, MTC Turf News, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright ©2011 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. 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.

30

MTC Turf News