MTC Turf News - Winter 2024

SOLUTIONS

SHADY

for

LAWNS PLUS >> Highlights from the MTC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

12

MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL

303 S. Talbot Street #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663

ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com www.mdturfcouncil.org

MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by:

Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064

Phone: 615-790-3718

Fax: 615-794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com

2024 MTC OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Brandon Sands Manager of Ground Services

Howard County Public Schools System 8800 Ridge Road Ellicott City MD 21043 410-313-2577 (o 667-240-4065 (c Brandon.Sands@hcpss.org

VICE PRESIDENT

Patrick Coakley Dura Edge Products 1121 Oakwood Lane Bel Air, MD 21015 410-241-3013 (c pcoakley@duraedge.com

SECRETARY

Brian Hogan Calvert Co. Parks and Rec. 4187 Red Oak Dr. Huntington, MD 29639 410-474-6204 Brian.Hogan@calvertcountymd.gov

TREASURER

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 © 2024 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. 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 advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Katy Cooper 303 S. Talbot St #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-496-0750 (c treasurer@MDTurfCouncil.com

IMMEDIATE

PAST PRESIDENT

Ben Ellis – Superintendent The Courses at Andrews 2806 Brewster Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-0122 (c Golfturf54@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vernon W. Cooper 303 S. Talbot St #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-742-6618 (c ExecDir@MDTurfCoucil.com

Three-Year Director Terms

Jason Beauchamp

Collins Wharf Sod Farm 25361 Collins Wharf Rd. Eden, MD 21822 443-783-5222 (c jason@collinswharfsod.com

Jamie Schwartz Turf Equipment & Supply Co. 8015 Dorsey Run Rd. Jessup, MD 20794 240-839-2923 (c jamieschwartz@ turf-equipment.com

Matt Coates

MNCPPC-Hyattsville 7721 Polk Street Hyattsville, MD 20785 301-918-4716(o 202-579-6939 (c Matthew.Coates88@gmail.com

Two-Year Director Terms

Amanda Stillwagon Calvert Co. Park & Safety Div. Chief 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-610-3959 (o 704-877-8810 (c Amanda.Stillwagon@ Calvertcountymd.gov

Randy Finn Antietam Tree & Turf 405 N. Burhams Blvd Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-667-4208 (c 301-791-3500 (o JRF@AntietamTree.com

Brian Haga Scientific Plant Services P.O. Box 62 Brooklandville, MD 21022 410-321-0970 (o 410-371-2325 (c Brianh@spsonline.com

One-Year Director Terms

Logan Freeman – Superintendent Mountain Branch Golf Club 1827 Mountain Road Joppa, MD 21085 208-866-6380 (c Lfreeman@ mountainbranch.com

Fred Johnson

MNCPPC – Dept. of Parks &

301 Watkins Park Drive 240-882-4539 (c 301-218-6833 (o Frederick.Johnson@ pgParks.com

Stephen King

McHale Landscape Design 6216 Leapley Rd 240-319-5689 (c stephenk@mchalelandscape.com

“ Change is always needed for continued growth and success.”

This is true for just about anything you do in life. This is especially true for organizations like the MTC.

Ihave had the pleasure and honor of serving on the MTC Board since 1975. In the last 49 years I have been the MDA advisor to the Board, Vice President, President. For the last 11 years I have had the pleasure of serving as the Executive Director. In that time, we have seen a lot of changes occur in the MTC. One of the most significant changes that I am most proud of is the expansion of membership from approximately 300 in 2013 to over 1400 in 2024. This success is all due to the professionalism of turfgrass professionals like you.

However, part of the aforementioned change is the need to ask for help as my health is challenging me every way we turn. Just a quick list of what has been and is going on:

• Pre-Covid, I developed the need for lumbar back surgery but due to Covid it was classified as “elective” and was postponed until Aug 2023. Those who attended the 2020, 2021, and 2022 MTC Winter Conference and Trade Show saw me navigating with a cane.

• The surgery was a great success, and everything was looking great during rehab until mid-November when it became more and more difficult to move with loud clicking and popping coming from my hips and legs. At the 2023 conference you may have seen me sitting or being pushed in a wheelchair. After extensive testing and visits to specialists it was determined both hips need to be replaced with the right being the first to go.

• The specialists’ visits before surgery began again. Things were going well until the visit to the cardiologist who ordered a nuclear stress test. Long story short, I had a heart catheterization at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore on Friday, February 2. They are doing the test at the University of MD Hospital in the event “additional cardiac intervention, such as by-pass surgery is required.”

As all this progressed, I went from not being able to lift much to not being able to walk up and down stairs to my office, to not being able to walk at all without a walker, to not being able to even sit in an up-right position for any length of time without significant pain and discomfort.

Add to all this the numerous doctor visits, tests, and other medical appointments and I needed help.

Fortunately, the Officers and Board of Directors of the MTC stepped up and are keeping the MTC going strong, especially Past President and Webmaster Ben Ellis. Ben is picking up the lead on time-sensitive projects such as a spring recertification class in Easton on March 13 to provide for the usual August class we cancelled last fall due to my back surgery. Also, anyone needing the “Procrastinators Recertification Virtual Class” mark your calendar for Friday, June 14 and an in person “Early Bird Class” back in Easton on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Lastly mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 10 for the MTC 49th Annual Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show at Turf Valley Resort.

Ben’s Contact information is:

Ben Ellis • 2806 Brewster Rd • Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-9122

• GolfTurf54@gmail.com

Ben and I will be in constant contact but especially regarding anything which is time sensitive, please contact Ben or President Brandon Sands. I will reply and assist as I can. I thank you for all you past and continued support and your help making the MTC even bigger and stronger as we prepare to enter our 50th year.

So if payments have been slow to be processed, please bear with us as we make these changes for the MTC and You.

Vernon Cooper

MTC

Executive Director

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rick Boldissar

Turf & Seed Section

50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401

Work: 410-841-5968 • Cell: 443-791-2896

Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov

Kelly Love

Pesticide Regulation

50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5710 • kelly.love@maryland.gov

Tim Zang

Urban Nutrient Management

50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401

Work: 410-841-5955 • Cell: 410-980-9084 tim.zang@maryland.gov

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture

Dr. Mark Carroll

Environmental & Pesticides

2132 Plant Science Bld. College Park, MD 20742

Campus: 301-405-1339 • Farm: 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu

Dr. Fereshteh Shahoveisi

Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology

2110 Plant Science Bld. 4291 Fieldhouse Dr. • College Park, MD 20742

301-405-4355 • fsh@umd.edu

David Funk

Turf Farm Manager

395 Green Meade Dr. • College Park, MD 20740

Farm: 301-314-6300 • Cell: 301-335-4208 dfunk@umd.edu

Institute of Applied Agriculture: Geoffrey Rinehart

Turfgrass Management

2113 Jull Hall • 4196 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742

Campus: 301-405-4692 • Cell: 253-592-3528 rinehart@umd.edu

Professor Emeritus:

Dr. Tom Turner

Turfgrass Nutrients / Extension 624 Woodsman Way • Crownsville, MD 21032

Farm: 301-314-6302 • Cell: 410-353-8859 tturner@umd.edu

Dr. Kevin Mathias

Turfgrass Entomology

66 Eddins Lane • Ruckersville, VA 22968

Cell: 301-233-2211 • jkm@umd.edu

Dr. Peter Dernoeden

Turfgrass Pathology

18086 White Oak Dr. • Milton, DE 19968

Home: 302-329-9281 • Cell: 302-359-9943 pd@umd.edu

2024 MTC Officers & Board of Directors

PRESIDENT

Brandon Sands Manager of Ground Services

Howard County Public Schools System 8800 Ridge Road Ellicott City MD 21043 410-313-2577 (o 667-240-4065 (c Brandon.Sands@hcpss.org

TREASURER

Katy Cooper

303 S. Talbot St #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-496-0750 (c treasurer@MDTurfCouncil.com

ONE YEAR DIRECTOR

Logan Freeman

Superintendent Mountain Branch Golf Club 1827 Mountain Road Joppa, MD 21085 208-866-6380 (c Lfreeman@mountainbranch.com

TWO YEAR DIRECTOR

Amanda Stillwagon

Calvert Co. Park & Safety Div. Chief 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-610-3959 (o 704-877-8810 (c Amanda.Stillwagon@Calvertcountymd.gov

THREE YEAR DIRECTOR

Jason Beauchamp

Collins Wharf Sod Farm 25361 Collins Wharf Rd. Eden, MD 21822 443-783-5222 (c jason@collinswharfsod.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Patrick Coakley

Dura Edge Products

1121 Oakwood Lane Bel Air, MD 21015 410-241-3013 (c pcoakley@duraedge.com

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Ben Ellis

Superintendent The Courses at Andrews 2806 Brewster Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-0122 (c Golfturf54@gmail.com

ONE YEAR DIRECTOR

Fred Johnson

MNCPPC – Dept. of Parks & Recreation

301 Watkins Park Drive

Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 240-882-4539 (c 301-218-6833 (o Frederick.Johnson@pgParks.com

TWO YEAR DIRECTOR

Randy Finn

Antietam Tree & Turf

405 N. Burhams Blvd Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-667-4208 (c 301-791-3500 (o JRF@AntietamTree.com

THREE YEAR DIRECTOR

Jamie Schwartz

Turf Equipment & Supply Co. 8015 Dorsey Run Rd. Jessup, MD 20794 240-839-2923 (c jamieschwartz@turf-equipment.com

SECRETARY

Brian Hogan

Calvert Co. Parks and Rec. 4187 Red Oak Dr. Huntington, MD 29639 410-474-6204 Brian.Hogan@calvertcountymd.gov

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vernon W. Cooper

303 S. Talbot St #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-9643 (o & h 410-745-8867 (f 443-742-6618 (c ExecDir@MDTurfCoucil.com

ONE YEAR DIRECTOR

Stephen King

McHale Landscape Design 6216 Leapley Rd

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 240-319-5689 (c stephenk@mchalelandscape.com

TWO YEAR DIRECTOR

Brian Haga Scientific Plant Services P.O. Box 62 Brooklandville, MD 21022 410-321-0970 (o 410-371-2325 (c Brianh@spsonline.com

THREE YEAR DIRECTOR

Matt Coates

MNCPPC-Hyattsville 7721 Polk Street Hyattsville, MD 20785 301-918-4716(o 202-579-6939 (c Matthew.Coates88@gmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Membership in the Maryland Turfgrass Council

It’s

that time again when your MTC Dues are due to be renewed. Many members renewed their dues when they registered for the MTC Annual Conference and Trade Show in December 2023, but if you didn’t renew your dues at that time, you can do it now.

Please note that there is a very slight increase in dues for 2024 across all categories that take effect February 1, 2024. The Board considered the need and the amount of the increase for several months before making the final decision to require a small increase. This increase is needed to keep up the support of the University and MDA programs Turfgrass Programs, we are still lower than our surrounding States such as VA, NC, and OH.

The MTC Dues year runs from February 1 to January 31 the following year. This allows you “member discounts” at all MTC events including the 2024 MTC Annual Winter Conference on December 10, 2024, at Turf Valley Resort

Membership numbers in the MTC have continually increased, with right now we have 1360+ members and are glad to have you and your crew as members.

The MTC, as an umbrella organization of all the turfgrass, green industries and suppliers in Maryland and the surrounding area is open to any turfgrass professional, green industry professional and supplier in the area.

One benefit of membership is our constantly monitoring legislation, both state and local, that can greatly affect our industry and livelihood. It is so important when we go to testify before the state legislature, county governments or other ruling bodies to be able to say that we are here representing 1360+ turfgrass and

green industry professionals, including you. If you are aware of possible legislation or rule changes in your area, please notify us so we can join the fight.

Additionally, your dues help support the University of Maryland Turfgrass Research and other Turfgrass Programs including their students in both the 4 year and 2-year programs. As well as promoting quality turfgrass production and maintenance, making turf and playing surfaces safer for our children and improving the state’s waterways including the Chesapeake Bay.

Another way you can help support the University Turf Programs and promote quality turfgrass is by becoming a Turfgrass Education Sponsor. There are several levels of support to fit everyone’s business for you to choose from being a “Patron” all the way up to being an “Advocate” supporter. All are listed by category on our letterhead and documents we produce and distribute like our web page.

Lastly, for the past six years, our treasurer Katy has designed and created a lap quilt using natural turf and plant patterned material. Included with this mailing is a picture to show you the 2024 quilt. Which is a departure from a turfgrass only theme and goes to include our landscape and tree members. This pattern is called “Lodge Pole Pine” and features stylized pine trees. John Shields was our lucky winner for 2023 (his second time). Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $20 and all proceeds are utilized for research. The drawing will be held during the Trade Show at the December Conference.

So please send in your dues today, consider being a sponsor and purchasing raffle tickets for research. Also, encourage your crew, competitors, and suppliers all to become members too. •

MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL’S

2024 Membership Dues and Turfgrass Education Sponsor Form

Maryland Turf Conference Recap

The

2023 Maryland Turfgrass Conference is now in the books, and what a wonderful event it was. The Maryland Turfgrass Conference is designed for everyone in the turfgrass industry to be a part of and be able to walk away with more knowledge, resources, and of course Pesticide and Fertilizer credits. Hopefully everyone walked away a little better turfgrass professional.

Before any talks were presented, we were greeted with a nice arrangement of breakfast sweets, coffee, tea, and sodas thanks to our sponsors Chesapeake Valley Seed and Landscape Supply, Harrells, and ENVU. The little pick me ups and breakfast get everyone started for a day of education.

One of the biggest benefits of attending the Maryland Turfgrass Conference is always the flexibility that attendees have in selecting sessions that they wish to listen to. No matter if you typically represent a golf course, are a sports field manager, or a lawn and landscape professional, being able to pick and choose different topics that fit your needs is a welcome conference benefit. The Maryland Turfgrass Council is here to support everyone, and this is one way we can help. A Zoom option for the Lawn and Landscape track was put to good use and is intended to again be offered next year.

The Maryland Turfgrass Councils General Meeting took place during lunch and the trade show. The Council re-elected Mr. Brandon Sands as President with Mr. Patrick Coakly serving as Vice-President. The annual MTC Turfgrass Quilt was won by John Shields with the proceeds utilized specifically for turfgrass research.

Rounding out the event the tradeshow and lunch was a success thanks to our sponsors and vendors:

Bloom

Central Sod

Collins Wharf Sod

Cover Sports

Finch Turf

Landscape Supply

Chesapeake Valley Seed

Harrells

Genesis

K&C Grounds Maintenance

Neudorff USA

Newsom Seed

Nutrien Solutions

PBI Gordon

Scientific Plant Services

Syngenta MASFMA

Without the support of these organizations the conference wouldn’t be as successful as it is.

If you happened to have missed this event, please plan to attend in 2024. The Maryland Turfgrass Council will be hosting a recertification class on March 13th at the Talbot Agriculture and Education Center in Easton, MD, and a virtual “Procrastinators” class on June 14, 2024. Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the program. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2024 Maryland Turfgrass Conference on December 10th. •

7,178

4

13.29k

105

Podcasts produced in 2023 featuring timely topics for those on the go!

41

136,159

Solutions for Shady Lawns

By Kenneth Ingram, Institute of Applied Agriculture, UMD

Growing turf in the shade is one of the oldest problems faced by turf managers. Shade is an issue for almost all the turf managers under the umbrella of the Maryland Turf Council. Residential turf managers and golf course superintendents deal with shade problems primarily from trees, while commercial turf and sports turf managers deal with shade caused by buildings and stadiums. Dry shade has been described as “gardening hell.” There are no easy solutions, and often drastic measures are taken such as massive tree removal programs on golf courses or an expensive switch to artificial turf in stadiums. There is a staggering amount of hardwood mulch used in commercial landscapes often as a turfgrass alternative which does not provide the ecosystem services of living plants. This article will focus on residential lawns where those expensive options are not practical.

Americans love their trees. It is an interesting subject with some excellent written works that look at this phenomenon from historical, psychological, and scientific perspectives. The latter being that Maryland is in the Eastern Deciduous Forest biome and the climax vegetation is woody plants. Together with the emphasis on sustainability these days we as turf managers must face the fact that trees are here to stay. But as turf managers we also know that Americans love their lawns. That eastern forest understory is often not desirable for homeowners. It is fairly useless for recreation, blocks views, is often decimated by deer browsing, and ticks are a serious issue anytime plants are more than ankle high. So many turf managers together with homeowners “hold out” for turfgrass in these situations often with marginal results. Traditional management programs for shady turf sites usually included the following:

• Increased mowing heights to maximize the photosynthetic leaf area.

• Canopy and root pruning of trees for increased light.

• Overseeding with shade tolerant turfgrasses, primarily the fine fescues.

• Adjusting irrigation regimes to counter surprisingly droughty conditions from tree root competition.

Perhaps the only new recommendation in the past 30 years, and one not utilized enough in my opinion is the use of the plant growth regulator Primo™ (Trinexapac-ethyl). By regulating plant hormone levels in shaded grass plants thicker turf is often the result.

In years past when the battle for turf in the shade was abandoned alternative groundcover plants were used, often with beautiful results. Bugleweed (Ajuga sp.), Vinca/Periwinkle (Vinca minor), Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), Liriope, (Liriope sp.), English Ivy (Hedera helix), and Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) seemed to be viable solutions. But alas, we learned that these plants are non-native and out of favor now, and in the case of the latter two extremely invasive. There are several native groundcovers for sunny areas but a dearth of shade tolerant native groundcovers. Recently however, there has been an explosion in the number of sedges (Carex spp.) in the marketplace which have “game changing” possibilities for shady lawns.

The genus Carex contains thousands of plants. There is actually a division of botany devoted to the study of sedges called caricology. First of all, for turf managers, these plants are not the dreaded weeds Yellow and Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) commonly called sedge that are menacing to Maryland turf. Carex sedges do have the “edges” on leaf blades and the threesided stem like the Cypress sedges but similarities end there.

Carex woodii (Wood’s sedge)

PRO

multi task multi tool ƒ

Research recently published by Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research at the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin, DE narrowed the vast number of Carex species to those suitable for the Mid-Atlantic region. Sixty five species were studied and five showed tremendous potential for mowed or unmowed lawn alternatives in the shade. Those species are listed the following table:

Sedges require less input than traditional turfgrass species and have the added benefits of being sources of food and habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife. Unmowed sedges have interesting and attractive seedheads as well. For more information refer to the publication Carex for the Mid-Atlantic Region at https://issuu.com/mtcuba/docs/22034-carex_reportfinal121922?fr=sMWI3ZDU2ODU5NjY •

Carex woodii (Wood’s sedge)

Building on its stellar reputation earned in the regular trial, Carex woodii was also a top-rated plant in the mowing evaluation. Performing exceptionally well in both sun and shade, this species developed into dense mats that efficiently covered ground and suppressed weeds.

Carex eburnea (bristle-leaf sedge)

Carex eburnea has the narrowest foliage of any sedge in the trial and is quite similar in appearance to fine fescue turfgrass. This species forms low-growing clumps that spread very slowly over time. Carex eburnea occurs in rocky soils and outcrops in the wild and could be a great lawn option in dry sites.

Carex socialis (low woodland sedge)

Carex socialis is a species that was dramatically improved by mowing in this evaluation. Unmowed plants became weak after the first years of the trial, but when mowed, this species bounced back with surprising vigor. In full sun C. socialis developed dense, impenetrable clumps that would be the envy of any turfgrass enthusiast.

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)

Carex pensylvanica is a tried-and-true species in the landscape that unsurprisingly was a good candidate for mowed Carex lawns. This species gently covers ground although there are small gaps present in the carpets of foliage that are exploited by opportunistic weeds.

Carex jamesii (James’s sedge)

The dark-green foliage of this plant is put into direct focus when it is mowed, and individual plants make consistent and orderly clumps. Since Carex jamesii is not rhizomatous and does not have a large footprint when mowed, many closely spaced plants would be needed to work as a lawn substitute.

Shade

Article Photos and Table Credit: Carex for the Mid-Atlantic Region by Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research

A Contrarian’s Guide to Autonomous Turfgrass Robotic Technology

By J. Scott McElroy, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences

Auburn University

Asa scientist, I hesitate to make predictions such as those a fortune teller might reveal. I wince when I hear people speaking with absolute certainty that this or that will happen in the future. That some team will win, some politician will lose, or that some event will occur is often pure speculation. Absolute predictions are nonsensical, and an affront to probabilistic thinking. To think probabilistically is to think in terms of the percentage of probability that something will occur. This is the foundation of good science.

Having said that, it is highly probable that in the next 10 years autonomous technology will gain a significant portion of the professional and consumer market in the United States. I base this prediction on four pieces of evidence:

1. Robotic technology has already captured a significant portion of the technology in Europe.

2. All major brands that market traditional mowing technology or mowing equipment are developing robotic technology.

3. At one count there were over 40 additional startups and companies developing all manner of robotic technology, including mowers, painters, and sprayers.

4. The labor shortage will be sustained into the foreseeable future and could potentially increase (https:// www.wsj.com/articles/america-still-has-a-workershortage-d0c65166).

The Husqvarna 535 AWD hill climber.

But here I am addressing the “Contrarian’s Guide to Turfgrass Robotic Technology.” To the robotic contrarian, any positive arguments I present regarding this technology will likely fall on deaf ears. To the contrarian, only seeing is believing. Once my prediction has come true, the contrarian will adopt the technology as self-evident. Don’t get me wrong. Skepticism is a good thing. However, a complete understanding and realistic expectation of what robotic technology can do and where the technology is going is necessary to the healthy skeptic. I want to convince the contrarian that instead of waiting for the technology to be tested by fellow industry partners, they should begin testing and evaluating it themselves. With that in mind, I present this article to the contrarian on fundamentals of robotic technology today.

“The Technology is Just Not There Yet.”

This is the contrarian’s favorite phrase. In frustration I respond, “Where is There?” or even “What is There?”. If the technology has not arrived at the point where it can be adopted, what are its current limitations?

What irks me so much about this critique is the underlying assumptions about imagined technological characteristics that may not even be possible. The contrarian’s perception of automation is that the technology can be easily set up with little or no planning or understanding of the technology. That it may be deployed for use with little, or no, oversight. The phrase, “The Technology is Just Not There Yet,” is normally rooted in some technological advancement in artificial intelligence, or machine learning, that the contrarian has developed based on their perception of technological development, or maybe even a touch of science fiction.

My response is “The technology is what the technology is.” 2022 might as well have been ten years ago when it comes to robotic and autonomous technology in the United States. 2023 saw an incredible number of major advances. These include allowance for extended range connection to 4G and network RTK systems; daisy chaining of reference station signals for greater lengths; creation of virtual zones that can vary in direction, speed, and height of cut; and mobile deployment across multiple sites. The technology launched in 2023 will be the basis of robotic technology for the next five to ten years.

To the contrarian, if you were talking about 2022, I agree. The technology was not “there” for the professional user. It was largely restricted to wire boundary units, mowing randomly at a single fixed zone height. But 2023 completely changed the game.

Autonomous vs. Semi-Autonomous

Before discussing the technology that now makes robotic automation possible, let me make a rather large distinction in technology – Autonomous vs. Semi-Autonomous Technology. Now and in the future, it will be extremely difficult for any mowers with traditional mowing implements to be fully au-

An example of an RTK beacon –The Echo Robotics Wifi Beacon.

The Tiny Mobile Robots Field Painter

tonomous simply due to liability. As I have been told (I am not an expert on liability, nor am I a lawyer) liability has been and will continue to restrict deployment of certain technology. Such technology – semiautonomous technology – will require an operator to be watching it while it is completing its task. It will not work at night and will likely not have a fixed position point for deployment. It will need to be taken to the location by hand for deployment. Fully autonomous technology will likely be small, lightweight equipment weighing approximately less than 300 lbs. Again, I may be wrong, but making traditional mowing equipment fully autonomous is going to be challenging to say the least.

Robot PositioningThe Leap Forward in 2023

The technology that made 2023 the year of advancement largely dealt with how the robots position themselves in space. And the one acronym you need to know is RTK.

RTK. RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic. It is a satellite navigation technique used for enhancing the precision of position data obtained from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like Global Positioning System (GPS). RTK is commonly used in applications where high accuracy location information is required, such as surveying, agriculture, construction, and autonomous vehicles. RTK requires a base station in a fixed position that can then communicate to a rover (in our case a mower, painter, or range picker). RTK allows for real time positioning and correction for the rover. RTK signals can stretch from 200 meters to 10 miles depending on the signal type. Husqvarna and Echo Robotics use a fixed position RTK signal that extends 200–300 meters. (Actually, Echo Robotics now has 4G RTK which extends up to 10 miles.)

Native

nRTK. nRTK stands for network real-time kinematics. nRTK is a mesh network system individual companies deploy and then offer other companies for use. For example, NexMow uses nRTK from TopCon (https://global.topcon.com/). Kress ( https://www.kress.com/en-us/allrobot-lawn-mowers/) has developed its own nRTK system specifically for its mower technology. Tiny Mobile Robots also uses an nRTK system for positioning.

RTK, whether a dedicated local RTK reference station, or a nRTK system, allows for positioning of technology in space, allowing for removal of wire from the field and the creation of virtual boundary systems. RTK also allows for directional or systematic work, not random work. With RTK the efficiency of the equipment increases exponentially and the ability to deploy over a wider area has increased.

Where Should the Contrarian Begin?

https://ernstseed.co/adMTCTurf

sales@ernstseed.com

If it is true that robotic technology will be a common form of turfgrass management in the next five to 10 years, one probably needs to start learning about and adapting the technology now. To be fair, there are some early adopters that have made significant investments in this technology, but the contrarian samples the product before a full commitment. The key to what to utilize first is choosing equipment that solves a problem. Depending on the operation, you already have mowing equipment, so unless you need to make a major purchase, the first goal is to seek out equipment that solves a problem. Here is my list of useful equipment that solves major issues.

Field Painters. Field Painters have been adopted in the United States faster than any other autonomous technology for one big reason – they solve a problem. Painting field lines is a tedious, repetitive task that was begging for automation. Technology

The NexMow M1 drop and mow unit.

from Turf Tank (https://turftank.com/us/) and Tiny Mobile Robots ( https://tinymobilerobots.com/field-marking-robot/ ) have taken athletic field maintenance by storm with painters becoming the fasting growing segment of autonomous turfgrass management.

Range Pickers. Ranges can have a myriad of problems that robots can solve. Large pickers used frequently can compact soil. They are very abrasive to the turf reducing stand density and quality and can cause damage during high soil moisture conditions. Light weight pickers such as the Echo Robotics Range Picker (https://echorobotics.com/en-us/)can be programmed to pick ranges at all hours of the day. It uses the same positioning technology as Echo Robotics mowers – either a WiFi or 4G signal – which massively extends the range of use of the picker.

Slope Climbers. Mowing slopes is a burdensome task. It can be damaging to the turf and dangerous for the operator. Because of the difficulty, some sloped areas are mowed infrequently reducing the turfgrass stand and leading to debris buildup after mowing. The Husqvarna 535 AWD is a compact, light-weight slope mower that can be deployed to cover up to 0.8 acres. While it is random and has a wire boundary, it is efficient, and virtual zones can be created after it has mapped the wire bounded area.

Drop and Mow. Many contrarians are turned off by the idea of fixed position mowers that are bound to a specific docking station and work zone. They would prefer to be able to deploy mowers to other locations during the evaluation phase. The NexMow M1 (https://nexmow.com/) is a deployable drop and mow system that allows for mapping and deployment at hundreds of areas stored on the NexMow app. Simply choose the location that you have mapped and stored in the app, deploy one or multiple mowers, and return to pick up when the app tells you the job is complete.

Mowing Technology. Or the contrarian could just deploy other mowing technology. Mowers from Husqvarna, Kress, and Echo Robotics are all light weight, fully autonomous mowers that can be deployed to mow fairways, rough and tee areas, sports fields, common areas, or large multi-use complexes. This will allow the contrarian to evaluate the cut quality, evaluate the equipment for its functionality at their location, and determine how best to scale with autonomous technology. To be fair, the economics do not work out until autonomous technology has been deployed at scale— meaning across a majority of the facility. In the beginning, if you are just evaluating a few pieces of equipment, this will likely add a little to your workload in the first year, as you are adding a new piece of technology without subtracting equipment you are already using. This is part of the process of adopting new technology. The time and money saving on a facility basis are not realized until you are at scale.

Final Thoughts

When the iPhone was introduced in 2007 it was an amazing leap in mobile technology. It has changed the way we work,

play, and live. The current version of the iPhone is even more amazing – camera technology; the myriad of apps that are available; and how you can do almost anything on the iPhone. I have never heard a single person who bought the original iPhone complain that they should have waited to buy the current iPhone and skipped the 16 years of previous iterations. Sure, the new iPhone is amazing, but so was the original.

I leave the contrarian with this final comparison. The technology released in the US in 2023 will be the dominant technological innovations for the next decade and beyond. There will be upgrades and innovations along the way, but the base technology will remain the same. If you wait for some mythical technological level that may never come, you will miss out on the journey this technology will take us on for years to come.

Disclosure

Dr. McElroy is a professor at Auburn University, and also owns Scotsman Turf Robotics, ( http://scotsmanturfrobotics.com ) which is a distributor of Husqvarna, Echo Robotics, and NexMow. Scotsman does not distribute Kress, Turf Tank, or Tiny Mobile Robots but sees these as valuable additions to a growing autonomous turfgrass technology industry. Dr. McElroy and Scotsman encourage readers to explore all aspects of autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment that will be the future of turfgrass management. Robotic equipment is currently <1% of the US turf equipment market but is slated to grow substantially over the next five years. •

The Echo Robotics TM-2050 unit.

Working Slower

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

There are times when managers have no choice but to jump into the field and lend a helping hand to meet some pressing obligations. And while most managers bring a big boost of productivity in these times, I no longer personally contribute that way. My goal, when I have to perform a critical task outside my role, is to work slower, and it’s a strategy that more managers might want to copy.

The key reason why I work slower is because if I’m performing duties outside of my role it means something has gone wrong. Either we don’t have the manpower available (because we made them feel undervalued and quit) or the manpower available isn’t competent enough to perform the task (because we haven’t trained them well enough). Either way, the problem lies with us as managers.

So, I leverage the opportunity to be hands-on not to perform work as quickly as possible because I can, but rather to work slow and remedy those two workforce problems. I enter “training mode” where workers are protected from all the time pressure of the job, and we slowly demonstrate every step of every process. Work is frequently paused to explain the reasoning that tasks occur, and work is done in specific ways. And, when something is completed, we often undo the work so it can be redone without my involvement while I supervise and provide feedback.

The other benefit of slowing work down is that there is plenty of time to express appreciation for everything that employees are doing well. That may be as simple as being open and receptive to instructions or exercising care in delivering quality work. Whatever behavior is occurring that I would like to see replicated I affirm, compliment, and reinforce.

Working slowly is like saving money. In the moment, it requires discipline and doesn’t deliver immediate gratification. Something must be sacrificed in the short-term, but there are real benefits in the long-term. When I work slower, it’s usually only once or twice with an employee on any given task because they become empowered to run the show on their own after that point. It’s like earning compound interest.

The solution to not having enough time and people to complete all of the obligations is to slow down, not speed up. Taking this counterintuitive approach to dedicating resources and effort to training, especially when it feels like we can’t, is the way to empower organizations to break the vicious cycle of always playing catch up. •

Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. Connect with Neal at www.NealGlatt.com

For use on: Trees, landscape plants, golf course tees, greens, fairways, and sports turf.