Winter 2022
Playing the Long Game Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges in Sports Field Management Your Input Needed: New England BMPs Plus, Highlights from Fall Turf Day
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CONTENTS • Winter 2022 RECENT EVENT
FEATURES
100 F all Turf Day
180 S now Molds
COVER STORY
COLUMNS
120 P laying the Long
140 S ynthetic Turf:
Game: Overcoming
Supply Chain Challenges in Sports Field Management
Maintaining Synthetic Turf Ballfields
DEPARTMENTS 200 I mproving
Turf Health in High-Use Areas
220 P rofessional
Development:
Combatting Employee Burnout
The official publication of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA), the New England Blade is dedicated to educating, advising, and informing members of the profession and furthering the goals of the Association. The New England Blade carries news and features related to the sports turf management profession. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication and to refuse advertising not in keeping with the goals of the Association. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in connection with items appearing in the New England Blade. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by the New England Blade, NESTMA, or Leading Edge Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. The New England Blade is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of NESTMA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
4 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: TheTurfZone.com
Officers
Directors
Board of Trustees
President
Tom Barry, CSFM Greens Farms Academy Greens Farms, CT
Kim Britton Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH
Kevin Benner Pine Banks Malden, MA
John Cunniff Walpole, MA
Chris McGinty Framingham Parks Department Framingham, MA
Advancing professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and scholarships.
6 President’s Message 8 NESTMA News 8 Index of Advertisers 22 Upcoming Events
President Elect Brian Boesch University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
Secretary /Treasurer Art Goodhind Town of Natick Natick, MA
Past President Ben Polimer Town of Weston Weston, MA
Official Chapter
Ryan Bjorn Gillette Stadium Foxboro, MA Andrew Carlisle Fay School Southborough, MA Adam Ferrucci Read Custom Soils Wareham, MA Ian Lacy Tom Irwin, Inc. Burlington, MA Evan Steele Pioneer Athletics Billerica, MA
Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
Management Team Virginia Wood, Executive Director Peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Charissa Sharkey
NESTMA Headquarters 67 West Street Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 653-1241 NESTMA.org NESTMAinfo@gmail.com
Technical Editor Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
Premium products, premium service.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
WHAT A YEAR!
W
hen I look back on 2022, I am proud of all that NESTMA and our members have accomplished. Sure, there are still plenty of challenges out there: supply chain disruptions, lack of qualified labor, economic uncertainty, changing weather patterns, and more. Through it all we continue to move our industry forward with researchbased knowledge and professionalism. As I attend industry events across New England, it’s eyeopening to see the solution-based technology and equipment our commercial partners are bringing to market. Safety is at the forefront, efficiencies are improved, and environmental sustainability is prioritized. The relationships we continue to cultivate with our commercial partners is one of our most valuable resources. A great example of this is our summer event that focused on improving turf health in high-use areas. Tom Irwin Advisors, Read Custom Soils, and R.A.D. Sports collaborated with education committee members to produce an online webinar, along with a live renovation of a multi-use field. You can read the results of this project on page 20.
Another highlight was NESTMA’s Fall Turf Day, featuring Patrick Coakley of DuraEdge who gave us expert hands-on ballfield maintenance training. He shared his years of experience in MiLB, and 100+ members took away practical tips they can use right away. Read more on page 10. As an association, we continue to work to ensure that our region’s allied organizations are networking together, discussing industry challenges, looking for innovative approaches, and putting them to use for the benefit of our industry. I look forward to seeing you at NESTMA’s Annual Meeting and Holiday Social on December 6 at the German Club in Walpole, MA. Happy holidays everyone!
Chris McGinty NESTMA President
T H A N K YO U C O M M E R C I A L PA R T N E R S These companies partnered with NESTMA on one or more of our educational events and advertised in The Blade. Please be sure to thank them for their support of our industry, as you do business with them throughout the year. Atlantic Golf & Turf – atlanticgolfandturf.com Brock USA – brockusa.com Corbett Incorporated – corbettirrigation.com Finch Turf, Inc. – finchinc.com Greenhaven Turf Care – greenhaventurf.com Harts Turf Pro – hartsturfpro.com Harrell’s – harrells.com Tom Irwin – tomirwin.com MTE – mte.us.com Pioneer Athletics – pioneerathletics.com ProPlay – schmitzfoam.com
6 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Read Custom Soils – readcustomsoils.com RePlay Maintenance USA – replaymaintenanceusa.com Shaw Sports Turf – shawsportsturf.com Sports Construction Estimating – sportsce.com Sports Turf Specialties – sportsturfspecialities.com Traverse Landscape Architects – traversela.com TPC – turfproductscorp.com Tuckahoe Turf – ttfarms.com Turface Athletics – turface.com TurfTank – turftank.com/us US Playground Surfacing – usplaygroundsurfacing.com
UPCOMING EVENT
S
ANNUAL MEETING
tart the holiday season off right with fellow members at our Biergarten-styled annual meeting. We’ll gather at the German Club on Tuesday, December 6 from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. for a casual evening featuring a stellar presentation, delicious food, and great company!
Achieving Game Day Perfection at Gillette Join us for an inside look at the best management practices of Gillette Stadium’s field crew. Field Superintendent Ryan Bjorn will explain how his team tailors their maintenance practices to meet the needs of both the Patriots and the Revolution. It’s not as glamorous as it looks! Learn how league protocols differ between the NFL and MLS; look at the science behind their turf health care strategies; see how his crew flips the field from
a soccer match to a football game overnight. All in the name of creating the safest possible playing surfaces that are ready to go on game day! As we go to press in early November, we’d like to thank Activitas, Covermaster, Harrells, John Deere / Finch Turf, Sports CE, TPC, and U.S. Playground Surfacing for their sponsorship support. Learn more and sign up at NESTMA.org. •
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Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 7
NESTMA NEWS
A Great Day on the Links
Awards Meeting & Lunch: March 8, 2023
Mark your calendar now for what promises to be our best Awards Meeting yet! Scheduled during the NERTC in Providence, our event will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Stay tuned for details on this fantastic networking event. The NESTMA Awards Meeting and Lunch is complimentary for current members and is brought to you with generous support from our friends at Tom Irwin.
NERTC: March 7 – 9, 2023
Plans for the England Regional Turfgrass Conference are well underway. Expert speakers will present sessions on a wide range of topics such as Sports Turf Construction & Management; Soil & Fertility; Water and Turf Health; Turfgrass Insects, and Best Management Practices. Visit nertf.org for details. Many thanks to the sponsors, players, and volunteers who participated in the annual MALCP/NESTMA Annual Golf Classic on October 6. It was a beautiful fall day at Butter Brook Golf Course, everyone was happy to see each other, and funds were raised for local student scholarships. A special thanks to Jim and Karen Connelly for their hard work and commitment to the industry.
SFMA Conference: January 16 – 19, 2023
SFMA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The annual event allows members to share information with other successful sports turf professionals. In addition to educational seminars, hands-on workshops, and the latest technology, conference attendees tour professional, college, and municipal facilities that offer a range of information to take back home. Learn more at sportsfieldmanagement.org.
Awards, Scholarships & Grants
Who do you know that’s gone above and beyond on behalf of the sports field management industry? Have you got a supplier who has made your job easier? How about a student who could use a boost as they continue their turf management studies? Now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. NESTMA is accepting applications for the following: • Sports Turf Manager of the Year • Commercial Partner of the Year • Charles Mruk Student Scholarship Applications are available online at NESTMA.org. The deadline for submission is January 15. Presentations are made at NESTMA’s Awards Meeting and Lunch at the NERTC on March 8 in Providence, RI.
8 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Renew Today
Many thanks to those who have already renewed their NESTMA membership for 2023. Renewal is quick and easy online at NESTMA. org/Renew23. With all the opportunities and benefits in store for NESTMA members this year, you don’t want to miss a minute. •
Happy H olidays Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
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NESTMA Members Receive A 20% Discount on Advertising in New England Blade
Read Custom Soils....................................3 www.readcustomsoils.com
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Your Input Needed:
Regional BMPs
N
ESTMA is adapting SFMA’s BMPs for the Sports Field Manager for the New England region. We are looking to highlight important topics with a few case studies that illustrate important lessons learned and practices that work. Have you been successful with a management practice or facility upgrade that others could learn from? Share your story! Topics that we may cover include (and we welcome other ideas): • Communication with user groups and/or administration (e.g., communication with user groups to help relay why a task is done; help support need for equipment or supplies) • Irrigation upgrades/strategies that support water conservation (e.g., wetting agents, sensors) • IPM success stories…pest management strategies that support environmental sustainability • Expanding native habitat (e.g., creating an out of play/meadow area, “advancing pollinator health”)
• Fertility (e.g., attempting to reduce your fertility program where possible) • Record keeping /assessments to support field improvements • Developing a budget for a municipality • Advancing professionalism in the industry • Washing equipment (e.g., effect on environment) • Turf covers (e.g enhancing establishment) We have a template we follow for consistency of the series of case studies. We will need photos and a brief write-up (bullet points are fine) in the following categories: • Problem that needs to be addressed • Site conditions • Goals • Steps taken • Results • What was learned
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Vickie Wallace, victoria.wallace@uconn.edu, or Ben Polimer, polimerb@weston.org. •
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Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 9
RECENT EVENT
Fall Turf Day B A C K T O B A S I C S : O C T O B E R 12
It
was a picture-perfect day for the 100+ NESTMA members who attended Fall Turf Day on October 12, 2022, at Longs Athletic Complex in Framingham, MA. Our speaker, Patrick “Irish” Coakley, CSFM, covered all the bases for safe and playable infields. His “back to the basics” approach gave sports field managers and their crews practical techniques they could use right away at their own facilities. A highlight of the day was getting out on the infield to put what everyone learned in the classroom to work. We were happy to welcome turfgrass students from nearby Keefe Tech Vocational High School to the demonstration. It was a valuable, hands-on experience for all. Many thanks to Patrick for a top-notch presentation; to our commercial partners who showcased the latest equipment and technology; to NEPA and PGMS-New England for their participation; to the City of Framingham for hosting; and to all our volunteers! •
Thank you sponsors
10 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
COVER STORY
A Chain is Only as Strong as its Weakest Link
Playing the Long Game: Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges in Sports Field Management By Julie Holt, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications
S
While COVID was the domino that set the reaction in motion, a labor shortage was a well-established challenge even before raw material shortages resulted in production delays, which then created an environment ripe for higher cost and limited availability of products ranging from bottled water to tractor parts. In effect, each link in the supply chain has been weakened. When pandemic lockdowns prevented workers from all parts of the supply chain (Figure 1) from maintaining production, the process nearly ground to a halt. The reopening of those lines was sluggish, and certainly not linear. In the nearly three years since the beginning of the pandemic, overseas lockdowns have ebbed and flowed, creating an unpredictable pipeline bottleneck. The ultimate result has been soaring prices and low or nonexistent stock of products and tools. Regulation and policy locally and globally certainly play a role in the supply chain, and adaptation to the current climate has been sluggish. The latest challenge that has resulted from these factors is a looming diesel shortage, which certainly will cause price increases that will be passed along to the consumer (Figures 2, 3).
A Proactive Solution
ports field managers have always been known to have a great deal of resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Just take a quick glance at the weather patterns of the past five years and you’ll find extremes in all directions – record heat, record cold, drought, record snowfall, floods and even tropical storms. And don’t forget weeds, pests, and disease on natural grass fields. But if you also visit the sports news archives, you’ll find that sports carried on, mostly uninterrupted. From Little League to MLB and NFL, athletes didn’t miss opportunities to compete. As ever, sports field managers show up and figure it out. Through hard work, cooperation and ingenuity, each of those challenges have been overcome and the resilience of those professionals has been proven over and over. Now, entering another winter season, and looking ahead to the busy spring sports season, SFMs are working to solve yet another wrench in the plans: supply chain disruption. What started as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has now firmly set in as status quo, at least for the foreseeable future. These delays have been affecting the sports field industry (and many others) for nearly two years, and the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t visible just yet. However, almost as soon as this challenge arose, professionals in all segments of sports field and turfgrass management began looking for answers and workarounds to keep the industry moving forward.
Raw Materials
Supplier
Manufacturer
The supply chain problem is well-documented, but what about the solution? Every distributor, supplier and salesperson echoes the same line: plan ahead and be proactive. What does this entail, exactly? Ian Lacy, Lead Project Advisor at Tom Irwin emphasizes that SFMs must place great emphasis on a forward forecast. Understanding that equipment that formerly would have taken three months to arrive may now be closer to a year means you must take careful inventory of your existing product and equipment and forecast two to three years out, rather than one year. This approach requires diligent planning, but if this is to be the “new normal,” this type of planning must be our standard. “To repeat the old cliché, we have to ‘prepare for the worst, but hope for the best’,” Lacy shares. Another shift in procedure that mitigates for shipping issues is looking for product closer to home. Understanding the many variables at play (see sidebar box), eliminating the need to have product shipped from overseas can speed the arrival of some products. Adam Ferucci, Sales Representative at Read Custom Soils reiterates the need to plan ahead, but also to continuously monitor prices and delivery times. Asked how his customers have had to adapt, he says they must “be more proactive and give proper lead time to deliver,” and “reach out for quotes more frequently to be able to budget for price increases.”
Distributor
Figure 1: Simplified Supply chain.
12 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Retailer
Consumer
While suppliers can’t magically make stock appear, they can keep their customers informed and encourage them to be forward thinking. Ian Lacy shared an example of just how frustrating this situation can be. “We helped a client rebuild a baseball field. The weather slowed us down, but we had time. But then the supply chain slowed us down. We ordered the part, a simple water meter, and what should have been delivered in three weeks, was up to 16 weeks. The contractor had already seeded the outfield, but we had no water. This one small part that only took three hours to actually install, set us back months.” Nearly every SFM can tell a similar story. But as this industry does, we’ve come together to share solutions that help to ease the burden of this supply chain bottleneck. Professionals in all areas of sports field management have put their heads together to innovate and educate their peers, and even competitors, on solutions to this challenge. Mark Casey, Sales Territory Manager in Massachusetts for Finch Turf shares his transparent communication process with his customers. “To be helpful and to best serve customer interests, the conversations have substantially changed. We are recommending they take stock of their inventory today, draw a plan to secure their fleet for the current and coming season and have a plan B for all scenarios if a machine goes down. Managers need continuity of operations and now aren’t always able to count on a dealer loaner or demo machine support, which in this climate have been fewer and limited. The purchase of used & refurbished machines have become a popular, viable, and more available option. We are helping more customers assess fleet strength and provide long term plans for replacement.” The current supply chain crisis may have taken the industry off guard, but one thing is certain – sports field managers are well-equipped to adjust, re-evaluate and find winning solutions. •
Figures 2, 3: Gas and diesel price trends contribute to higher shipping and freight costs. Source: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/
Factors contributing to Supply Chain Challenges: COVID-19 Pandemic Response Labor Shortages Raw Material Shortages Freight Cost Production Delays Port Congestion Policy / Regulation Natural Disasters
Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 13
FEATURE
Maintaining Synthetic Turf Ballfields
It’s
By Arthur Eddy, ASLA, LEED AP
winter now and the switch over from fall to spring sports in the Northeast starts with the winter freeze breaking and players anxious to get out of the house and play. It also means it’s time for baseball and softball. Over the past few years there has been an influx of synthetic turf baseball and softball fields due to the ability to play in inclement weather. The growing popularity of these two sports being played on synthetic turf as well as the addition of overlays of multi-use sports poses new challenges for sports turf managers. These fields have different wear patterns and require different attention than a typical multi-use field.
Synthetic Baseball Field
Baseball Home Plate
Pitcher Mounds Baseball and softball pitcher mounds come in all sizes and shapes with synthetic turf: 1. A clay mound can be formed with curb and infield mix. While these mounds are great for the pitcher, the material also migrates into the turf which can cause problems. The pitcher is constantly walking towards home dragging infield mix into the synthetic turf. That infield mix will get down into the fiber and will become compacted and create a very hard surface in front of the pitcher that can impact how the ball is played at the mound. Once this area is heavily compacted, there is no other option but to replace the turf in that area. 2. A portable mound. Portable mounds can be covered with synthetic turf and can be moved to allow for the rest of the field to be opened for play, but the pitching surface is somewhat counterintuitive to how synthetic turf performs. The pitcher wants to dig in in front of the rubber and as they go through their motion, push off and drive off the rear foot, putting force down on the forward foot which is going to move infill and create stress on the synthetic fiber. This leads to the breakdown of the fiber down to backing in front of the pitcher’s rubber and the landing area of the pitcher’s foot. These areas need to be replaced typically every other year. Because these areas need to be replaced regularly, having an attachment system like Velcro hook can ease the replacement but getting the Velcro to adhere to the mound or new turf will need to be carefully installed and monitored during the season.
14 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Batter’s Box The batter’s box is another highly impacted area on the field. You typically see a lot of right-handed batters with a smaller number of left-handed batters thus causing the right-handed batter’s box to wear out prior to the left-handed batter’s box. Adding infill will help to slow the breakdown of synthetic fiber in this area, but the wear is inevitable. Batters want to dig their cleats into the surface, stressing the fiber and displacing infill.
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FEATURE • continued
This area also gets wear from the area behind home plate by the catcher and the umpire being crouched in a tight area. You have two people on the field that are digging in with the intensity of a goalie in lacrosse creating stress on the fiber. This area will need to be constantly addressed with infill and if allowed, hitting off mats during practice will help to reduce the stress on the fiber.
Bases The other places that you will see a high amount of wear are just off the bases. The first base lead off area has the first baseman playing in that area as well as the runner leading off. An arc around first base at about three to four feet will start to wear down. The second base is the sliding area. This area sees more sliding than other areas on the field so the infill is typically pushed out of that area and can be so much so that you will get down to fiber. Third base in the sliding area will also see a higher volume of wear. The area sees runners sliding into third but also have the third baseman typically playing in that area. These areas need infill added on a regular basis to reduce the possibility of premature fiber breakdown.
Infield Lastly, unlike most rectangular playing surfaces, baseball and softball have areas that play differently. Infields do not want to play the same as grass areas so sports turf managers need to spend more time looking at the mixes of the infill they are putting in the field. Mixing infill with different amounts of sand is critical to match the intention of the playing surface. Balancing infill mixes with sand can help to keep consistency with how the ball reacts with the synthetic turf. Typical infield areas are going to want to have more sand mixed with the rubber to keep the surface firmer in infield areas as opposed to the softer feel of the grass areas. As infill is added to areas, surface hardness can be tested to understand the performance of those areas. A ball machine used on the surface can also to help understand how the ball will react with the surface and the field can be adjusted to give a more realistic feel of play. Sports field managers understand that natural sports surfaces for baseball and softball require a lot of attention and synthetic turf surfaces are no different. Fields want to transition from firm infield areas to grass areas that are softer and provide more cushion which creates a more realistic and consistent ball play for the athlete. This is on top of the players having more aggressive interactions with the surface in smaller radius areas than multi-use fields. The only other comparison is that of the lacrosse goalie in the goal mouth. Sports managers can overcome these challenges by being prepared and having a plan including mixing different types of infills, having replacements for high-use areas and having the tools to test areas for ball interaction with the surface. • Arthur Eddy is CEO of RePlay Maintenance in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Connect with Art at aeddy@replaymaintenanceusa.com or (877) 641-1819.
16 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Permanent mound with breakdown
Batters Box Repair
FEATURE
THE SNOW MOLDS
S
now mold refers to a group of diseases that occur in cool to cold weather and are favored by snow cover. The principal diseases are Microdochium patch, Typhula blight, Coprinus snow mold, and snow scald. Microdochium patch (Photo 1) caused by Microdochium nivale (formerly Fusarium nivale) is commonly referred to as pink snow mold due to the occurrence of spores in a pink matrix of mycelium and sporodochia (fruiting bodies) under moist and sunny conditions. The disease is not confined to snow-covered turf, but can occur year-round in cool, humid weather. Kentucky bluegrass and fine-leaved fescues tend to be less susceptible to damage than other species. Microdochium patch may occur alone or in conjunction with other cold weather diseases. Symptoms develop following long periods of cool, wet weather and first appear as small water-soaked spots which turn orange brown to dark reddish brown before fading to light gray or tan. The spots are usually less than 8 inches in diameter with a watersoaked, gray black margin. Under snow cover or in very wet conditions, spots may be covered with a fluffy white mycelium. As the snow melts, spots appear bleached white to tan, often with a pink margin. M. nivale survives unfavorable periods in plant debris and infected plants. The pathogen grows rapidly under overcast, wet conditions and temperatures ranging from near freezing to 60° F. Conidia and infected debris are transported to healthy areas on equipment and shoes. Microdochium patch is most severe in excessively thatched turf that is growing slowly and under snow covering unfrozen soil. It is favored by repeated frosts, cold fogs, slow, drizzling rains, high nitrogen levels, compacted soil, and matted foliage. The disease becomes inactive during warm, sunny periods and when there is little surface moisture.
Photo 1: Microdochium Patch
18 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
Photo 2: Thyphula Sclerotia
Typhula blight (Photo 2) caused by Typhula incarnata and biotypes of T. ishikariensis are also called gray snow mold due to the characteristic gray white mycelium that appears at snowmelt. The disease occurs where snow cover is present throughout the winter and infects all turfgrasses. Symptoms appear after snowmelt as circular patches, 1-3 ft in diameter, of yellow, straw colored, or gray brown turf. Individual leaves are matted and often covered with a gray white mycelium which disappears as the grass dries. The leaves become grayish to silvery white, brittle, and matted. Large areas of turf may be affected, but in most cases only the leaves are killed and regrowth occurs from the plant crowns. These fungi produce sclerotia, small, hard, round structures, visible to the naked eye, on infected leaves. Size, color, and shape of sclerotia are used to identify species of Typhula. Typhula species survive the summer as sclerotia which germinate when exposed to wet, cool conditions in late fall to form fruiting bodies (sporocarps) or mycelium. The pathogens grow well at temperatures near freezing and under snow covering wet turf in unfrozen soil. The disease is favored by deep snow that prevents the soil from freezing, high relative humidity within the turf canopy, mats of dead grass leaves, high nitrogen levels which promote succulent growth. Disease susceptibility varies among turf species: colonial bentgrass and certain cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass are among least susceptible.
Minor Snow Molds: Coprinus Snow Mold and Snow Scald. Coprinus snow mold (also called cottony snow mold) is caused by two strains of Coprinus psychrombidus, one which produces sclerotia and one that does not. Symptoms appear at snowmelt as circular or irregularly shaped patches in which the leaves are covered by a white, wooly mycelium. Leaf lesions are watersoaked and rotted and turn brown and dry with dark red brown margins. The non-sclerotial strain tends to grow faster and produce more cottony growth; patches are larger and whiter than those of the sclerotial strain. Sclerotia of the sclerotial strain are obvious on infected leaves and are brownish black, ellipsoidal, and irregular. C. psychrombidus survives as sclerotia; the exact nature of the persistence of the nonsclerotial strains is not known. The disease is favored by prolonged periods of deep snow. The fungus can grow at temperatures slightly below freezing, though temperatures in the range of 40 - 60° F are optimal.
Snow scald caused by Myriosclerotinia borealis affects all turfgrasses. Symptoms appear at snowmelt as patches of up to 6 inches in diameter of water-soaked leaves with gray mycelium and tan sclerotia. Leaves become bleached and die, while sclerotia turn black with maturity. Sclerotia are the survival structure during warm periods. A prolonged period of deep snow and frozen soils favors the pathogen which can grow at temperatures as low as 23° F.
• Promote rapid drying and warming in the spring by snow removal and improving drainage. • Promote new growth in the spring with light fertilization. • Reseed affected areas if regrowth does not occur. • Plant resistant turf species or cultivars. • Maintain a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.9 and high levels of potassium to discourage Microdochium patch.
Cultural Management
Chemical Management
• Avoid heavy applications of nitrogen in late fall. Apply fertilizer a few weeks before dormancy. Slow release forms are recommended for fall fertilization. As a rule of thumb, no nitrogen should be applied after the first frost.
Preventive fungicide applications should be made in late fall. Systemic (penetrant) fungicides which are absorbed and move within the plant should be applied before leaf growth ceases completely. Apply fungicides in sufficient volume of water to obtain thorough coverage (2-3 gal/1000 sq ft). A single application can give winter long control if the right fungicides are chosen and there are many to choose from. Combinations of a contact (protectant) fungicide and systemic are highly recommended. For a listing of fungicides currently labeled to manage these pathogens, refer to the Disease Management chapter of UMass Extension’s Professional Guide for IPM in Turf for Massachusetts. •
• Continue to mow the grass until growth ceases to prevent a tall canopy. • Avoid excessive thatch. • Reduce compaction of snow by snowmobiles, skis, and animals. • Prevent the formation of large snowdrifts by proper placement of snow fences, wind barriers, or similar structures.
Author: M. Bess Dicklow. Updated by Angela Madeiras, December 2020, UMass Extension Turf Program
Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 19
FEATURE
Photo 1: 6/30/22 Initial testing
Improving Turf Health in High-Use Areas A case study of the Boylston Shul-Verein Biergarten Meadow
Photo 2: 8/16/22 After Renovation
By Scott Vose, Tom Irwin Advisors
The
Boylston Shul-Verein located in Walpole, MA, is the oldest German American social club in New England. Every month they host a Biergarten event which draws nearly 2,000 participants. They also host a Sommerfest event in June and an Oktoberfest event in September which draw 5,000 and 10,000 patrons respectively. Other large events also utilized the grounds nearly every weekend. The grounds are comprised of a pavilion and oneacre unirrigated Biergarten meadow. Being subject to such a large amount of people in a concentrated area on a regular basis, the meadow area had been challenged in establishing and maintaining consistent turf cover.
Photo 3: 9/15/22 One month after renovation
20 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
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For that reason, we carried out a series of field tests at the end of June, to better understand the current growing environment. Using specialized tools, we determined the soils were extremely compact, and soil testing identified nearly 75% of the soil was comprised of fine particle size aggregates and the pH of the soil was very low, measuring 5.2. After carrying out the testing we were able to confidently develop a renovation strategy to help establish and maintain resilient turf, beginning with amending the soil. Working with Adam Ferrucci of READ Custom Soils, we were able to source a coarse sand material to incorporate into the soil profile, which would help with infiltration and reducing compaction when subject to traffic. Collaborating with Nate Miller and Ryan Raposa from R.A.D. Sports, we determined a linear aeration implement would be the most efficient way to incorporate the sand. The renovation was completed on August 16 in coordination with NESTMA’s summer workshop to give the attendees a live view of the operation of turf renovation equipment. Due to the significant drought, the soil moisture was an average of 2.3%, surface hardness had increased to 160 GMaxx and the soil compaction was 600 PSI at 2" depth.
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The knives of the Verti-quake were able to cut channels across the field, incorporating the coarse sand that had been spread in the first step of the process. The surface hardness was reduced to 50-70 GMaxx following the linear aeration. Soil compaction was also significantly reduced to an average of 150-200 PSI at the 3" depth. Due to the dry conditions, only half the seed was applied and none of the fertilizer amendments. They would be applied when soil moisture improved. One month after the renovation, the half of the meadow that was renovated had an average surface hardness of 85.2 GMaxx and the unrenovated area was an average of 123 GMaxx. Soil compaction was also approximately reduced in half from 500 PSI down to 225 PSI at the 3" depth when comparing the treated and untreated areas. The center of the meadow appeared to have been heavily trafficked, most likely during the Oktoberfest event, however there were some seed lines evident from our initial efforts on August 16. We would like to thank READ Custom Soils, R.A.D. Sports and Hart’s Seed for their help in coordinating and carrying out this educational and beneficial renovation case study at the German Club in Walpole, MA. •
Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 21
COLUMN: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COMBATTING EMPLOYEE BURNOUT
As
By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
inflation continues to rise, managers are starting to face an additional workforce challenge to the tight labor market. Employees are routinely being asked to do more with less, leading to increased burnout. In response, many young workers have started a movement of “quiet quitting” – that is, doing the bare minimum of their job description and refusing to go above and beyond. But managers can prevent burnout in the first place by understanding its causes and solutions. But first, managers must understand what is meant by employee burnout. It isn’t an excuse to not work or a problem that affects only a few workers. In fact, 76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes according to Gallup. Employee burnout is so common that the World Health Organization has defined it as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress leading to energy depletion, negative feelings about one’s work, and reduced efficiency. Employee burnout is a global issue that affects all workplaces. Burnout is also an issue with real, and serious, outcomes. Employees who experience burnout are 2.6 times as likely to actively be seeking another job and 23% more likely to visit the emergency room. The impacts of burnout on employee’s health and wellbeing simply can’t be ignored. Employees tend to feel burnt out when they receive unfair treatment at work and unmanageable workloads. For many managers, the inability to hire workers due to the lack of workers and increasing wages has led to asking existing workers to do more. When an employee views new hires starting at higher wages or receiving sign-on bonuses but is not recognized financially for their commitment, it is easy to see why they may feel treatment isn’t fair. The same issue arises when workloads increase as positions go unfilled. Employees who strongly agree they are treated unfairly are 2.3 times more likely to experience a high level of burnout. Burnout also is caused by a lack of managerial support and unreasonable time pressure. It is the role of a manager to ensure that employees have the tools, resources, and time they need to complete their work, but not enough managers work collaboratively on expectations and goal setting to even know how their people feel about their workload. As business demands increase, employees who have managers that do not provide adequate time for increased work tend to suffer from burnout. What can managers do to reduce employee burnout when every business feels pressure to perform at a higher level? For one, simply making time to listen to employees’ work-related problems honestly. Too many managers are dismissive of their employees’ concerns about the ability to perform work, often because managers are under their own unreasonable demands and don’t prioritize regular team check-ins. Employees suffer burnout when they feel workplace stress and they don’t believe it will get better. A sympathetic manager who listens will help employees understand that there is hope for the current situation and curb burnout dramatically. Managers will also benefit from encouraging teamwork because employees can leverage the strengths of each other to thrive. The bonds that are formed on a cohesive team help each team member feel supported and encouraged in a way that effectively fights employee burnout. Finally, managers must focus on the purpose of the organization. Work itself is never worth an extraordinary effort from employees, but a mission to help and enhance the lives of customers in some meaningful way gives a reason to go above and beyond. Employees who know how their unique contribution improve someone’s business, or life, do not “quiet quit” – they continue to strive to help more people. The ability for a team to effectively perform, retain talent, and protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of each member is dependent on managerial actions. And in today’s difficult business environment, managers need to rise to the challenge. • Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. You can learn more about him and his solutions at www.NealGlatt.com.
22 • New England BLADE • Winter 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER 6, 2022 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
NESTMA Annual Meeting & Holiday Social The German Club Walpole, MA NESTMA.org
LOOKING AHEAD …
JANUARY 16 – 19, 2023
SFMA Annual Conference & Exhibition Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT Sportsfieldmanagement.org
MARCH 7 – 9, 2023
New England Regional Turfgrass Conference Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI NERTF.org
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
NESTMA Awards Meeting & Lunch @ NERTC
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B A S E D O N D ATA A S O F A U G U S T 2022.
