Tennessee Greentimes - Fall 2007

VOL. 8/ NO. 3

Fall 2007

Lilacs for the South…

New Introductions from the U.S. National Arboretum

Making Turfgrass Fertilizers Work — and Pay — for You (Part 1 of 3)

Tennessee

GREENTIMES The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

Table of Contents

landscaper’s corner Lilacs for the South…

New Introductions from the U.S. National Arboretum

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VOL. 8/ NO. 3

Fall 2007

pests in the spotlight Emerald Ash Borer… A Little Green Beetle That Could Cost Tennessee Big Green Dollars

16

more features green gatherings — upcoming events Mark Your Calendars and Save These Dates! .......................................................... 8

green gatherings — recent events Tennessee Green Industry Field Day......................................................................28 HRI/TNLA Golf Classic .............................................................................................. 30

departments From the President, Steve Bennett ................................................................................ 6 News from TNLA ............................................................................................................ 10 Industry News ....................................................................................................................32 TNLA New Members .................................................................................................... 33 Calendar of Events .......................................................................................................... 34 Index of Advertisers ........................................................................................................ 34

lawn basics Making Turfgrass Fertilizers Work — and Pay — for You (Part 1 of 3)

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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation.

The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Green Times, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication.

Copyright ©2007 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. Tennessee Green Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, 115 Lyon Street, McMinnville, TN 37110. Postage guaranteed.

Third-class postage is paid at McMinnville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Green Times allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. 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) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

f rom t h e p r e s i d e n t Steve Bennett

When the Going Gets Tough

T

alk about adversity! We have had an unbelievable year so far. The Easter weekend freeze, then the summer drought… this has certainly been the year for testing limits.

How much stress can a plant take and still maintain life? How much stress can our businesses take and still maintain life? The physical and mental stress on all of us this year has been incomprehensible.

Think about it: • We have been through the worst freeze in decades.

• We have been through the worst drought in decades.

• The fire ant line has been moved north again.

• Comprehensive immigration reform was tabled by Congress again.

• Fuel prices continue to climb, meaning higher chemical, container and fertilize costs.

Looking for a bright spot?

According to Dr. Charlie Hall of the University of Tennessee, there was a significant net profit increase in the green industry in the years after 1984 and 1990. For some reason, we green people have a hard time raising prices unless we are truly backed into a corner. During the years 1984 and 1990, we had significant freezes and adverse weather, which forced a price increase in nursery crops. The 2007 freeze and drought damaged area landscapes, forcing a demand, and also hurt nursery crops, decreasing supply. Recently, I have heard growers talking of increases from 5 to 10 percent in their pricing. Also, I have had customers asking how much we thought prices would be increasing through this next season, which obviously means that an increase is expected. The simple economic law of supply and demand tells us that this next year should be a good one if we can either produce or find a good supply of product for resale.

Have a great fall!

Steve Bennett Members of the TNLA board of directors and staff visited Washington, DC, during ANLA’s 2007 Legislative Conference in late July.

Shown here, on July 24, 2007 (left to right): Louree Walker (TNLA executive director), Steve Bennett (TNLA president), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jerry Blankenship (past TNLA president and current ANLA senator from Tennessee) and Aaron Swafford (TNLA 1st vice president).

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The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editors Bill Klingeman, Ph.D. Bob Trigiano, Ph.D. Associate Editors Dr. Donna Fare Dr. Nick Gawel Mr. Mark Halcomb Dr. Frank Hale Mr. Gray Haun Dr. Sandy Reed Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Steve Bennett Riverbend Nurseries, LLC 1st Vice President Aaron Swafford Swafford Nursery, Inc. 2nd Vice President Marshall Allen Allen Landscape Management, LLC 3rd Vice President Tim Gallagher Heather Farms Nursery, Inc. Secretary-Treasurer Randall Walker Randall Walker Farms Associate Director Mary Strong Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Ex-Officio Kim Whiston Rock House Enterprises Executive Director Louree Walker Administrative Assistant Pam Stern

green gatherings Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendars and Save These Dates!

January 3-4, 2008 Mid-States Horticultural Expo Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY Contact: 770-953-3311 Fax: 770-953-4411 Email: midstates2006@sna.org www.mshe.org

February 4–5, 2008 TNLA Winter Education & Exhibits Music Road Convention Center Pigeon Forge, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

TNLA News

TNLA Board Visits East Tennessee Members

E

ach year, the TNLA board of directors gathers for a strategic planning retreat. This year, the annual retreat was held June 12-14 at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City (in east Tennessee). The board visited the East Tennessee State University Arboretum on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the board visited with TNLA members whose businesses were located nearby, including Martin’s Greenhouses & Nursery in Rogersville, Absolute Tree Farm in Bluff City, Evergreen of Johnson City and Evergreen Home & Garden Showplace of Kingsport. C

After the afternoon’s downpours turned to beautiful sunshine, members of the TNLA board of directors strolled the grounds of the ETSU Arboretum in Johnson City on Tuesday, June 12.

A waterfall is the central feature of this outdoor display at Martin’s Greenhouses & Nursery in Rogersville, TN. 10

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TNLA board members look over a colorful display of coleus at Martin’s Greenhouses & Nursery.

Cool refreshments welcomed TNLA visitors to Absolute Tree Farm on June 13.

Above photos: Elegant to whimsical, several tempting retail displays welcome customers to Evergreen Home & Garden Showplace in Kingsport (top) and Evergreen of Johnson City (bottom).

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continued

Lilacs for the South…

New Introductions from the

U.S. National Arboretum

By Sandra Reed, Ph.D., McMinnville, TN, and Margaret Pooler, Ph.D., Washington, DC, Research Geneticists, U.S. National Arboretum

Above: The fragrant bluish-purple flowers of the ‘Old Glory’ hybrid lilac.

Left: The ‘Declaration’ hybrid lilac, with its purple-red flowers, performs best in cooler lilac-growing regions (generally USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and cooler), but it is also hardy as far south as Zone 7.

U

ntil recently, lilacs — with their fragrant, showy flowers — were primarily plants for northern climates. That changed in 2000 when the U.S. National Arboretum released ‘Betsy Ross’.

The product of a hybridization program initiated in the early 1970s by the late Dr. Donald Egolf to develop superior disease-tolerant lilacs for warmer climates, ‘Betsy Ross’ is rated hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5–8.

The cultivar is well adapted to warmer climates and has good field tolerance to powdery mildew. tennessee greentimes

FALL 2007

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continued

Above: The ‘Old Glory’ hybrid lilac also boasts disease-resistant foliage in warmer climates.

Below: The ‘Betsy Ross’ hybrid lilac displays abundant white flowers and a rounded form.

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Selected for its abundant, fragrant pure-white flowers and rounded growth habit, ‘Betsy Ross’ is a heavy bloomer that puts on an impressive floral show in early spring. At maturity, it should be approximately 10 feet tall and 13 feet wide.

A second disease-tolerant lilac, ‘Old Glory’, was released by the National Arboretum in March 2006. Like ‘Betsy Ross’, ‘Old Glory’ resulted from hybridizations made in the 1970s by Dr. Egolf, and the cultivar was evaluated and released by Dr. Margaret Pooler.

It shows good field tolerance to Cercospora blight and Pseudomonas syringae in warmer climates where these diseases are a problem, and its foliage is tolerant to powdery mildew.

‘Old Glory’ has abundant, fragrant bluish-purple flowers and a rounded

continued

The foliage of ‘Betsy Ross’ hybrid lilacs is resistant to powdery mildew.

growth habit. At maturity, it should be about 12 feet tall, with a similar or slightly larger spread.

A third lilac, called ‘Declaration’, was released by the National Arboretum in March 2006. Although it resulted from the same hybridization program as ‘Betsy Ross’ and ‘Old Glory’, this cultivar performs best in the traditionally cooler lilac-growing regions.

‘Declaration’ produces large, fragrant reddish-purple flowers, and it has an open, upright growth habit.

It is smaller than the other two cultivars, with an expected height and width of 8 feet.

Additional information on this “red, white and blue” series of lilacs developed by the National Arboretum can be found at www.usna.usda.gov/ Newintro/awards.html. For more information or a list of wholesale nurseries propagating these cultivars, contact Dr. Margaret Pooler (U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002-1958, or Margaret.Pooler@ars.usda.gov). C

P e s t s i n t h e S p ot l i g h t

EMERALD

A S H B O R E R...

A Little Green Beetle That Could Cost Tennessee Big Green Dollars

By Bill Klingeman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee; Steve Powell, State Entomologist, Regulatory Services, TN Dept. of Agriculture; Gray Haun, Plant Certification Administrator, Regulatory Services, TN Dept. of Agriculture; and Bruce Kauffman, Extension Assistant, University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and Pest Center

In

the early 1990s, the emerald ash borer entered the Detroit, Michigan, area in woodpallet or packing material with products imported from Europe or Asia. We don’t believe that this non-native beetle pest has entered Tennessee… yet. If the emerald ash borer (EAB) were to establish in our state, however, what are the potential biological and economic consequences? A review of several recent articles and research reports helps explain the behavior and biology of this new invasive pest and gives several reasons to be on the lookout for EAB throughout Tennessee.

As of January 2007, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) has devastated private and public lands across portions of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. To date, 15 to 20 million ash trees are dead or dying. EAB has prompted quarantines of regulated articles across all four states. All ash nursery stock, as

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well as ash firewood and both composted and un-composted wood chips, are subject to these regulations.

Just a few months ago, the discovery of a localized EAB outbreak population in Cincinnati, affecting more than 100 ash trees within a half-mile of the initial discovery site, prompted the quarantine of Hamilton County, Ohio, on May 23, 2007. A homeowner first reported injury to trees to an arborist, who then contacted officials at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. On June 27, 2007, EAB was found in Pennsylvania, resulting in quarantines of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties.

Presently, Hamilton County, Ohio (which borders Kentucky along the Ohio River), is believed to be the southernmost location at which emerald ash borers have become established in the eastern U.S. (See Figure 1). In direct consequence of its rate of dispersal and potential for economic and environmental losses, EAB has resulted in these popular and profitable street trees being effectively erased from nursery growers’ catalogs and inventories.

continued

How did EAB get here, and how did it remain undetected for so long?

On June 25, 2002, the death and decline of ash trees around Detroit was attributed for the first time to larval feeding activity of a new but unknown metallic-green wood-boring beetle (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). By July 9, 2002, experts had identified the beetle as Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, a buprestid species native to northeastern China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, eastern Russia and Taiwan.

Aerial and ground surveys verified that across a sixcounty swath of southeastern Michigan, five to seven million ash trees were already dead or dying. Furthermore, studies of tree rings from infested trees suggested that the pest population had been building for at least ten years.

How did a problem this severe go unrecognized by so many… and for so long?

As researchers learned more, it became clear that several factors interacting with EAB establishment in the U.S. were responsible for confounding early attempts to diagnose the cause of ash decline. Prior to 2002, for example, some populations of ash trees were already affected by ash yellows, a tree disease caused by a mycoplasma-like plant pathogen. Insect pests were also recovered from declining Fraxinus species. Arthropods included well-known pest opportunists, including redheaded and banded ash longhorned beetle borers.

Three species of clearwing moth larvae were also found, including peachtree borers and both ash and banded ash moth borers. While these species are destructive pests, they were attacking ash trees secondarily, following tree decline due to disease.

Also, like other non-native invasive insects, EAB populations exhibited a lag phase of slow and discrete population growth while they became established. Such lag phases can persist until host densities increase or climatic or other environmental factors become optimal and pest populations increase exponentially, reaching outbreak status.

Finally, because the first EAB attacks occur in the upper canopy of mature trees, early pest detection and accurate diagnoses are even more difficult.

In 2004, researchers found in Michigan that the flowering activity of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum) were good indicators for the first emergence and flights of adult EABs. When the flowering of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) has nearly concluded, nearly all EAB adults will have emerged.

Figure 1. U.S. locations where EAB presence has been confirmed by surveys and trapping. (USDA-APHIS, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/ emerald_ash_b)

Early insights on EAB reproductive and behavioral biology Until recently, descriptions of EAB reproductive biology and behavior were limited to a few reports in Asian references. From experiments conducted in Michigan, emerald ash borers demonstrate very similar seasonal reproductive cycles (Figure 2). Using a base 10º C (50º F) threshold beginning January 1, EAB adults emerge from ash trees following 400 to 500 accumulated degree-days, leaving characteristic D-shaped exit holes in tree bark (see Figure 2, inset). In Tennessee, beetle emergence would occur earlier in the season, with the earliest emergences occurring in Memphis and the latest emergence in northeastern Tennessee.

Figure 2. A seasonal developmental calendar has been described from 2002 and 2003 observations of EAB populations in southeastern Michigan. Adult EABs emerge in mid-May following accumulation of 230 to 260 degree days and leave characteristic D-shaped exit holes in Fraxinus spp. host trees. (Chart adapted from Cappaert et al. 2005 and Poland and McCullough 2006; image courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archives and The Bugwood Network, www.forestryimages.org)

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continued

Photo 1. A male and female emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) initiating a new brood. Photo by Brian Sullivan, Ph.D., Research Entomologist, USDA-Forest Service, Alexandria Forestry Center, Pineville, LA.

Flight activity peaks about June or early July. Emerald ash borer adults are capable of sustained flight that would enable three miles of dispersal from emergence sites. However, it is unlikely that, without inadvertent human assistance, EAB populations will expand much beyond 0.6 miles per year.

About 5 to 7 days after mating (Photo 1), individual adult female beetles typically lay about 50 to 90 eggs during their 3-week to 6-week lifespans. One individual beetle, however, was able to lay 258 eggs during a 6week laboratory test.

After two weeks, eggs hatch, and the larvae feed in the phloem and cambium layers beneath the tree bark, developing through four instars (Photo 2). Adult beetles feed on ash tree foliage. The majority of larvae overwinter about 1/2" deep in sapwood or outer ash bark.

Researchers David Cappaert, Nathan Siegert and others have found that larvae resulting from late-season egg deposition may not reach the pre-pupal stage and may require a second year of development before they can emerge as adults. From these observations, the researchers have hypothesized that such multiyear development is more common at low population levels and may be a response to host-plant suitability or resistance, as well as weather. Regardless, such lifecycle characteristics complicate early detection of new or expanding EAB populations.

How would we scout for EAB in Tennessee’s ash trees?

Photo 2. Emerald ash borer larvae are normally flattened, with a series of roughly rectangular body segments and a distinctly darker dorsal mid-line. As larval EAB mature, feeding galleries are filled with frass (excrement and wood pulp). Photo by David Cappaert, Ph.D., courtesy of The Bugwood Network, www.forestryimages.org.

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Suitable EAB hosts include black ash (Fraxinus nigra), blue ash (F. quadrangulata), green ash (F. pennsylvanica), white ash (F. americanus) and their cultivars. Ash trees attacked by EAB generally die within three to five years. Faster declines are observed at the high outbreak thresholds that have occurred in the midwestern U.S. and Canada.

Early EAB population growth cannot be readily detected simply by observing tree decline. In the first year, eggs hatch in bark crevices where they were deposited, and larvae feed through pupation. In this first year, an attacked ash tree may show few obvious signs of stress. During the second year, however, the tree canopy generates fewer leaves, and the crown appears less dense.

Simultaneously, callus tissues form on sapwood injured during the first year’s attack; afterwards, longitudinal splits that are 5 to 10 cm tall appear in the bark of infested limbs. Cambial layers disrupted by tunneling larvae also produce epicormic branching (sprouting on the main tree trunk and on major branches).

As the infestation persists into the third and subsequent years, foliage on epicormic sprouts browns prematurely, and large sections of branches within the canopy die (Photo 3). If bark is peeled from infested tree trunks, frass-filled serpentine larval galleries can be easily seen (Photo 4).

continued

Like most insect borers, when it comes to finding a suitable host tree, emerald ash borers are opportunists. Landscapemanagement professionals and arboriculturists have taken advantage of this fact by using artificially wounded and girdled “trap trees� to induce EABs to attack target ash trees in areas where their presence is suspected but has not been confirmed.

Costs and consequences of EAB to Tennessee Emerald ash borer has had the greatest economic and ecological impacts in the midwestern U.S., where ash species and their cultivars represent 12% to 14% of urban street trees. The USDA estimates that tree removal and replacement costs during the next 25 years will exceed $7 billion if the pest cannot be contained or eradicated. Other estimates are more dire, placing the at-risk stumpage value of ash sawtimber in the eastern U.S. at $25.1 billion. Across the U.S., forest ash trees have a projected value of more than $283 billion.

Photo 3. A green ash tree in decline along a Michigan city street in August 2002.

Photo by Stephen Katovich, USDA Forest Service, courtesy of The Bugwood Network, www.forestryimages.org.

continued

Close to home, it is difficult to accurately estimate the value of ash trees in Tennessee’s forests. According to Bruce Kauffman, reporting on behalf of the TN Department of Agriculture-Division of Forestry, only about 3% of the trees in Tennessee’s woodlands are Fraxinus species. Yet, recent estimates using 2004 Forest Inventory and Analysis data (which were compiled by Tennessee Division of Forestry experts Dave Walters, Steven Scott and Bruce Kauffman) place the current value of Tennessee’s standing ash trees at just above $404 million dollars.

This amount, however, underestimates the economic impact of losing Tennessee’s ash trees because it is calculated with a base value of only about $5 per tree. For example, when adjusted for logging and transportation costs, current market prices can generate about $400 per individual Grade 1 log, $250 per Grade 2 log and $175 per Grade 3 log, while ash pulpwood yields about $23.50 per ton.

Nor do value estimates for Tennessee include the ash trees on the private properties of homeowners and landowners. Estimates of ash tree worth in Chicago place individual tree values at about $385 apiece — far less than the cost of removing a dead or dying landscape tree.

If targeted for eradication, all ash trees within 1/2 mile of an infested tree are felled and chipped; chips are hauled

Photo 4. Serpentine larval EAB feeding galleries beneath green ash bark. Photo by Art Wagner, USDA/APHIS/PPQ, and The Bugwood Network, www.forestryimages.org.

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away and burned; and stumps are treated with herbicide to prevent re-sprouting. In the midwestern U.S., where ash trees are a prevalent street tree and forest species, eradication costs have averaged $500,000 per site.

The USDA’s 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties also provides a measure of the economic impact that the emerald ash borer has had on Tennessee’s nursery producers. At the time the survey was conducted, Tennessee led the southeastern U.S. production of ash trees, followed closely by Texas.

In Tennessee, 58 nurseries responded and reported growing ash trees primarily for wholesale trade. These nurseries reported an inventory of about 44,000 ash trees and estimated the value of their stock at about $891,000. The relatively low reported value indicates that a large proportion of these ash trees were grown as liner stock intended for sale to northern markets. Many growers report that nearly all of their buyers in northern areas are no longer interested in growing ash trees and have dramatically reduced or eliminated their inventories of Fraxinus species.

Should EAB become established in TN, ecological consequences are even more difficult to predict. Though only about 3% of forested areas are comprised of Fraxinus species, ash seeds are an important food resource to ducks, game and songbirds and small mammals. Ash species are

continued

also well adapted to varied soil types and thrive like few other tree options in heavy, wet soils.

What should you do if you suspect EAB activity in TN? While southern Ohio is currently believed to be the southernmost extent of the EAB outbreak, several popular recreation and vacation destinations present real risks and challenges to containing the spread of this pest, including several in Tennessee. Of particular concern are public and private campgrounds near parks, racetracks and historic battlegrounds where visitors or re-enactors might bring infested ash logs and firewood. In response, federal and state authorities regulate transporting ash wood and chips out of quarantined areas. Violations are subject to fines up to $4,000.

If you have encountered declining ash trees and suspect injury by emerald ash borer, contact Gray Haun and the Plant Certification Staff at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Regulatory Services, Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, TN, by calling (615) 837-5150 or by email at walker.haun@state.tn.us. C

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Emerald Ash Borer Information Clearinghouse (with links to both Federal and IN, IL, MD, MI, OH, PA and WI webpages) http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ Emerald Ash Borer Information, USFS NA - Forest Health Protection http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/info/info.shtm Emerald Ash Borer Research Publications http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4501/eab/pubs/ EAB publication in American Nurseryman http://ashalert.osu.edu/underattack.pdf Michigan Department of Agriculture http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1568_2390_ 18298_41640---,00.html Purdue University’s Emerald Ash Borer in Indiana http://www.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/index.shtml (English) http://www.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/espanol/index.shtml (Spanish) Michigan State University’s IPM Degree-Day and Landscape Pest Chart http://www.ipm.msu.edu/landscapeipm/gddlandchart.htm

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L aw n B a s i c s

By Tom Samples, Ph.D., and John Sorochan, Ph.D., The University of Tennessee, and Brad Jakubowski, The University of Nebraska

I

ncreases in the cost of crude oil usually result in rising fertilizer prices. Perhaps now more than ever, to optimize turfgrass health within the constraints of their budget, turfgrass and landscape managers must focus on the seasonal fertility requirements of turfgrasses, the nutrient levels in the soil and plant tissue, and the particle size, uniformity and cost of granular fertilizers.

In this first part of a three-part series on turfgrass nutrition, we introduce the 16 essential plant elements that are macronutrients or micronutrients in turfgrass nutrition. In the second part, we will describe the function of these macro- and micronutrients, with an emphasis on the consequences to turf appearance and performance of either too little or unavailable plant nutrients. Finally, in part three, we will list several common resources that provide these essential plant nutrients.

The nutritional needs of turfgrasses and other plants are not met simply by adding a scoop of N, P and K macronutrients to soils. Just like humans, plants and turfgrasses also require small quantities of several “minor” elements, or micronutrients, for healthy growth and maintenance of aesthetic qualities.

The essential elements for turfgrass health Turfgrasses require at least 16 essential elements to survive and reproduce. Air and water supply the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen necessary for photosynthesis

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(the conversion of sunlight to chemical energy). Soil furnishes the remaining 13 essential macro- and micronutrients, which are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn) (see Table 1). Some researchers also recognize nickel as the eighth essential micronutrient.

Roots of healthy turfgrasses are ideally suited for taking up nutrients from soils. The fibrous root systems of turfgrasses have a very large surface area that is surrounded by a nutrient-rich solution in soil. Once inside a root, nutrients are transported through the vascular xylem to other areas of the plant. Several “mobile” nutrients, as well as sugars produced in leaves and stems, move through a second portion of the vascular system, the phloem (Photo 1 on page 24).

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are classified as primary macronutrients, based on the large amounts of each required by turfgrasses. Although no more or less important than the others, primary macronutrients are the ones most commonly applied when a turf is fertilized.

Turfgrasses require more N than P and K, and more K than P. Although the movement of N, P and K varies in soils, once inside a plant, all three may be mobilized, moving from one plant part to another (Table 2).

Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are secondary macronutrients. Turfgrasses require less of these three essential

continued

minerals than N, P and K. Magnesium and sulfur are mobile in plants, but calcium is not. As a result, symptoms of Mg and S deficiency first appear on old leaves from which these nutrients have moved. Symptoms of calcium deficiency appear on new leaves, while older leaves containing adequate Ca levels remain functional and green.

Micronutrients, sometimes referred to as trace elements or minor nutrients, are required in very small amounts. Many native soils contain enough of each micronutrient to support healthy turf. Micronutrient deficiencies are most likely to occur in turfs maintained in highly organic or sandy soils. Plants growing in compacted soils may also be deficient in one or more of the micronutrients. Low levels of iron (Fe), the micronutrient most often deficient in turf, may be the result of an insolubility problem (high soil pH) rather than an absence from the soil.

Table 1. Essential Mineral Elements Required by Turfgrasses Chemical Symbol

Element

Ionic Form Absorbed

by Plants

Mobility in Plants, Comments

MACRONUTRIENTS a Classification/Quantity Required Primary/ Largest

Secondary/ Medium

–

+

Nitrogen

N

NO3 , NH4

Phosphorus

P

H2PO4 , HPO4

Potassium

K

K

Calcium

Ca

Ca

Magnesium

Mg

Mg

Sulfur

S

SO4

–

Mobile 2–

Mobile

+

Mobile

2+

Immobile

2+

Mobile

2–

Mobile

MICRONUTRIENTS a Classification/Quantity Required –

Primary/ Largest

H2BO , Boron

B

2–

HBO 3 ,

Immobile

3– BO 3 ,

Looking ahead Turfgrasses and soils can be periodically tested to determine if all required mineral nutrients are present to ensure plant health.

Whether turfgrass is grown for sod, as a sport field or a home lawn, fertilizers are applied when tests indicate that nutrients are absent or present only in low concentrations. Because fertilizers come in a bewildering array of products and formulations, it can often be difficult to interpret and understand their use for specific situations. In Part 2, which will appear in the Winter 2007 issue of Tennessee Greentimes, we will focus on the wide range of commercially available fertilizers and explore both their elemental composition and specific uses for these products. We will also look more closely at the individual macro- and micronutrients in plant nutrition.

Chlorine

Cl

Cl

Copper

Cu

Cu

Iron

Fe

Fe

Manganese

Mn

Mn

Molybdenum

Mo

Zinc

Zn

–

Probably does not become a structural part of organic molecules in turfgrasses.

2+

Content is highest in actively growing tissue.

2+

Immobile

2+

Immobile

2– MoO4

Concentration is highest in the leaf blade; tends to accumulate as plants reach maturity.

2+

Zn

Immobile

a Each of the 16 essential elements is categorized as a macronutrient (primary or secondary) or a micronutrient, based on the amount required by turfgrasses. The concentration of a macronutrient in turfgrass dry matter must be > 1,000 parts per million. Nitrogen, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, are macronutrients. The concentration of each micronutrient in dry turfgrass tissue is often < 100 ppm. b Nickel, in addition to the seven micronutrients listed here, is also considered essential.

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continued

In Part 3, we will discuss strategies for integrating turfgrass nutrition into a Best Management Plan for Tennessee’s managed turfs. We will investigate the value of soil and turf-tissue tests and discuss how several turfgrass types and environmental factors should guide turf and landscape management decisions. C

Photo 1. Cross-section of a monocot (grass) root showing the: (A) epidermis, (B) cortex, (C) phloem, (D) xylem, (E) vascular bundles and (F) pith. Photo courtesy of Phil Wadl.

Photo 2. Well-fertilized and healthy tall fescue turf.

Table 2. Amount of Essential Mineral Elements Commonly Found in Turfgrasses and Associated Deficiency Symptoms Element

Macronutrient

Normal Amount in Plant Tissue

Deficiency Frequency, Comments and Deficiency Symptoms

Percent — Dry Weight

Primary Nitrogen (N)

Phosphorus (P)

Potassium (K)

24

3% to 5%

Deficiency frequency — common. Nitrogen is associated with turfgrass growth and color; it is found in amino acids, chlorophyll, enzymes, proteins and vitamins; it usually moves from roots to leaves quickly (e.g., 15 hours). Deficient plants lack color and vigor, and older leaves may first turn pale green, then yellow, as deficiency symptoms progress toward the base of the leaf blade.

0.2% to 0.5%

Deficiency frequency — occasional. Phosphorus is critically important in the transfer and storage of energy; it affects the transfer of genetic information; it is found in plant cell membranes and DNA; it is relatively immobile in most soils and less likely to move into soil solution and leach than nitrate.

Leaves deficient in P often become narrow and have a tendency to curl, darken and develop a purple or red pigmentation. Deficiencies are most often observed as plants develop from seed.

2% to 3%

Deficiency frequency — occasional. Potassium activates enzymes and is involved in photosynthesis and the regulation of water release from the plant into the air. Plants deficient in K do not grow well and are not very tolerant of traffic, drought, heat and cold. Diseases (including dollar spot, Fusarium patch, red thread and Rhizoctonia blight) are often more severe in turfs low in K. As K becomes deficient in plants, the leaves often droop and yellow from the outer edges toward the center.

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continued

Table 2. Continued.

Element Macronutrient

Normal Amount in Plant Tissue

Deficiency Frequency, Comments and Deficiency Symptoms

Percent — Dry Weight

Secondary Calcium (Ca)

0.2% to 0.4%

Deficiency frequency — rare. Calcium is found in plant cell walls; it is required for cells to divide and flowers to form; and it maintains internal “balance” among other essential nutrients, including K and Mg. New stems and leaves deficient in Ca are often curled and stunted, and the margins of young leaves may first turn pale green, then reddish brown.

Magnesium (Mg)

0.1% to 0.7%

Deficiency frequency — occasional. Magnesium is necessary for the formation of proteins; it is found at the center of the chlorophyll molecule; it improves P uptake from soil; and it is involved in many internal reactions that are regulated by a variety of enzymes. Lower, older leaves of plants deficient in Mg may first appear blotched and red in color before yellowing.

Sulfur (S)

0.1% to 0.6%

Deficiency frequency — occasional. Several vitamins and the amino acids cystine and methionine contain S. Plants deficient in S cannot use N and most often have pale, yellow-green leaves, with margins that often appear scorched. A 15:1 N:S ratio is considered normal in the dry tissue of turfgrasses receiving adequate amounts of both essential mineral elements.

Micronutrient

Percent — Dry Weight

Boron (B)

3% to 5%

Deficiency frequency — rare. Boron affects the development of plant cell walls and is believed to be necessary for the transport of sugars. Plants low in B grow very slowly and do not complete their life cycle. The growing points of B-deficient plants may develop yellow streaks, and leaves are often stunted.

Chlorine (Cl)

0.2% to 0.5%

Deficiency frequency — rare. Chlorine (found in chlorides) stimulates photosynthesis, and it is believed to be involved in nutrient balance in plant cells. Cl deficiency is uncommon in turfgrasses.

Copper (Cu)

2% to 3%

Deficiency frequency — rare. Copper is involved in the formation of a number of growth-promoting compounds. The tips of the youngest leaves of Cu-deficient plants may appear bluish in color, and some axillary buds may die.

0.2% to 0.5%

Deficiency frequency — common. Iron is the micronutrient most often deficient in turf. It is associated with turfgrass color; it improves frost resistance and reduces dehydration of some turfgrasses in winter; and it is required for chlorophyll production. It is found in several enzymes that enable plants to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. As Fe becomes limited, the tissue between the veins of new leaves may yellow.

2% to 3%

Deficiency frequency — occasional. Manganese is required for the formation of chlorophyll; it influences photosynthesis and plant growth rate; and it is involved in several plant enzyme systems.

The leaves of Mn-deficient plants often bend, become yellow between veins and become spotted as tissue dies in distinct spots. Plants low in Mn usually feel soft to the touch, and leaves wither or roll. Note: an extremely high level of Fe in plants can result in a Mn deficiency.

Iron (Fe)

Manganese (Mn)

Molybdenum (Mo)

Zinc (Zn)

0.2% to 0.5%

Deficiency frequency — rare. Molybdenum is the micronutrient required in smallest quantities.

It is necessary for utilization of N; it tends to accumulate as plants mature; and its highest concentrations are usually found in leaf blades.

2% to 3%

Deficiency frequency — rare. A component of several plant enzymes, zinc is required for chlorophyll production, and it is believed to be associated with the formation of many growthregulating compounds. In Zn-deficient plants, leaf development and growth rate are severely restricted. Stunted leaves may first turn yellow, then bronze, as Zn becomes unavailable, and leaves may dry and appear white in color as the deficiency advances. Note: too much P in the soil can precipitate Zn, making it unavailable for plant uptake.

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, green gatherings Recent Events

. Snapshots

from the 2007

Tennessee Green Industry Field Day , August 21, 2007

â&#x20AC;˘

Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park

Thanks to Our Field Day Sponsor!

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

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â&#x20AC;˘

Franklin, TN

continued

2007 Field Day Exhibitors Alley-Cassetty Truck Center Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Blair & Douglas Agency BWI of Memphis Caretree Systems, Inc. Classic Groundcovers, Inc. D and D Agri Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply Ewing Irrigation Florikan Flower City Nurseries General Equipment Grass Roots Sales Great Western Bag H & H Farm Machine Co. Hayes Nursery Enterprises International Insurance Brokerage, LLC John Deere Landscapes Nursery & Ag. Irrigation Jones Nursery Company Laser Sales & Mfg., LLC Pleasant Cove Nursery Randall Walker Farms Regions Bank Riverbend Nurseries Rock & Earth Technologies, Inc. Samara Farms Scenic Hills Nursery Syngenta T&O Prod.

Vermeer of Tennessee Walker Gardens

, continued

HRI/TNLA Golf Classic ,

August 20, 2007 • Forrest Crossing Golf Course • Franklin, TN

Congratulations To Our Golf Tournament Winners!

First Place Team

Closest to the Hole

Terry Kidd, Bill Arter, Bobby Taylor, Michael Lorance

Fred Greene and Greg Mosely

Second Place Team

Last Place Team

Stanley E. Hillis, Stan Hillis, Bob Long, Brentt Crouch

Dwight Burch, David Crowe, Keith Guthrie, Greg Mosely

Third Place Team Paul Brogden, Jason Bobo, Jay West

30

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continued

Thanks to Our Generous 2007 Golf Sponsors!

A. McGill & Son Nursery Aycock Fence Co. Botanico, Inc. Bouldin's Gateway Tire Braun Horticulture, Inc. BWI of Memphis Carlton Plants Carolina Nurseries, Inc. Cherry Springs Nursery Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. Dealer Consultant SVC Denning & Cantrell, CPAs, PLLC Enginered Resins Company, LLC Florikan ESA Corporation General Equipment Co. Great Western Bag Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery, Inc. Haviland Plastic Products Hillis Group, LLC Hines Horticulture Huff & Puff Trucking Jay West, TNLA Lobbyist John Holmlund Nursery Judkins Nursery Kidd Ford Lincoln Mercury Kit Shaughnessy, Inc. L & H Distributors Netafilm Nursery Supplies, Inc. NYP Corp. / Underwood Pleasant Cove Nursery, Inc. Regions Bank Riverbend Nurseries, LLC Rogers Group, Inc. Scotts/Osmocote Security Federal Savings Bank Shady Valley Nursery Southern Insurance Grp. Speer & Sons Nursery, Inc. Sun Gro Horticulture Surface Nursery / Brookshire & Assoc.

Totherow, Haile, & Welch CPAs Vaughn Nursery Walker Nursery Co. Womack Printing Co. WS Pharr / Hortica

industry news

Join Us for the IPPS Meeting,

October 28–31, in Chattanooga

By Donna Fare, Ph.D., Research Hor ticulturist, United States National Arboretum, McMinnville , TN

T

ennessee will host the 32nd Annual Conference of the Southern Region International Plant Propagators Society, to be held at the Chattanooga Marriott in downtown Chattanooga, October 28–31. This year, the International Board will tour the eastern U.S. and join the meeting in Chattanooga.

The meeting will kick off on Sunday, October 28, with a Pre-Conference Tour of the nursery industry in Franklin County. After a day of touring, the Opening Reception for our International guests will be held at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.

On Monday morning, the conference will begin, with a great package of speakers for the daylong program.

On Monday evening, a down-home style banquet will be followed by our traditional Southern Region Plant Auction.

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On Tuesday, October 30, we will take another daylong tour to Warren County, one of the largest nursery production areas in the United States. Our final stop of the day will be at Tennessee State University’s Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center. Located in the heart of the nursery industry, this research facility has scientists engaged in basic and applied research to support the nursery industry. The Question Box session will begin promptly 8 p.m. back at the Marriott. There will be educational sessions on Wednesday morning; the meeting will adjourn at noon.

For more information, contact Donna Fare at dfare@blomand.net or David Morgan at DavidL Morgan@sbcglobal.net, or visit our web site at www.IPPS.org. C

Welcome,TNLA New Members!

ACTIVE MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Green Creations Landscaping, LLC David Schmutz 677 Vernon Ave. Nashville, TN 37209

Alley-Cassetty Truck Center Jerry Buckley 727 Fesslers Lane Nashville, TN 37210

QikHelp.com, LLC Karie Hillary 112 E. Myrtle Ave., Ste. 300 Box 8 Johnson City, TN 37601

LandHelp.com, LLC Justin Cole 112 E. Myrtle Ave., Ste. 300 Box 34 Johnson City, TN 37601

Rock & Earth Technologies Newt Medford P.O. Box 127 480 S. Marble Street Rockmart, GA 30153 Willoway Nurseries, Inc. Clint Bard 4534 Center Road Avon, OH 44011

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33

calendar of events

NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 1

OCTOBER 5-6 MTNA Trade Show McMinnville Civic Center McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-507-7322 Fax: 931-507-9601 Email: mtna@blomand.net www.mtna.com

ASCA 2007 Annual Conference Loews Vanderbilt Nashville, TN Email: asca-consultants.org

JANUARY 3-4, 2008

OCTOBER 24–27 2007 School of Grounds Management and GIE EXPO Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY Contact: 410-223-2861 Email: mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com www.pgms.org/2007groundsschool.htm

OCTOBER 28–31 32nd Annual Meeting Southern Region of North America International Plant Propagators' Society Chattanooga Marriott Hotel Chattanooga, TN Contact: 817-428-2296 Email: DavidLMorgan@sbcglobal.net www.ipps.org/southernna/

Mid-States Horticultural Expo (a partnership of TNLA, KNLA and SNA) Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY Contact: 770-953-3311 Fax: 770-953-4411 Email: midstates2006@sna.org www.mshe.org

FEBRUARY 4–5, 2008 TNLA Winter Education & Exhibits Music Road Convention Center Pigeon Forge, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

NOVEMBER 1–4

FEBRUARY 8–11, 2008

Holly Society of America Annual Meeting North Carolina Arboretum Asheville, NC Contact: 856-825-4300 Email: secretary@hollysocam.org

ANLA Management Clinic Louisville, KY Contact: 202-789-2900 Fax: 202-789-1893 www.anla.org

classified

Hayes Nursery Enterprises 1474 Old Well Road Morrison, Tennessee 37357 Trudie or James Hayes, 931-939-7945 Liners to Landscape. classified

McHutchison HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIERS Supplying: Knockout Roses, Proven Winners, Perennials, Unrooted Cuttings, Ground Covers, Grasses Nursery Stock, Japanese Maples, Taxus, "Otto Luyken” Cherry Laurel

Call with questions!

Adam Clapp • (662) 587-2515 Michie, TN

classified

Vans Pines Nursery, Inc., West Olive, MI Conifer Jiffy Plug Liners – Conifer Plug Plus Transplants – Deciduous Seedlings Early Birds Discount Expires Nov. 1, 2007 Free Catalog call 1-800-888-7337 or www.vanspinesnursery.com

index of advertisers A. McGill & Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Armstrong Garden Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 www.armstronggarden.com Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.barkybeaver.com Boshancee Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.boshanceensy.com Braun Horticulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 www.braungroup.com BWI Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 26 www.bwicompanies.com Carolina Nurseries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover www.carolinanurseries.com Central Hill Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.centerhillnurseries.com Central Landscape Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 www.centrallandscape.com Crimson Dale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.crimsondalenursery.com D & D Agri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Dutchmaster Nurseries, LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.dutchmantreespade.com Florida Pine Straw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 www.floridapinestraw.com

Freedom Tree Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.freedomtreefarms.com

Randall Walker Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.rwfarms.com

Hayes Nursery Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Riverdale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Herd Farm Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.herdfarmsnursery.com

Sherman Nursery Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.shermannursery.com

Hunter Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 www.hunterindustries.com

Southern Growers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.southerngrowers.com

John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 www.johndeerelandscapes.com

Stowers Rental & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover

Lake Tree Farms, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 www.laketreefarm.com

Surface Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 www.surfacenursery.com

Larry A. Gribble Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Swafford Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 www.swaffordnursery.com

Lawn and Garden Dealers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Little Creek Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.littlecreeknursery.com Louisiana Forest Seed Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Tree Equipment Design, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.treeequip.com

McHutchison Horticultural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 www.mchutchison.com

Turf Mountain Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.turfmountain.com

Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.midtennturf.com

Vans Pines Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 www.vanspinesnursery.com

New Life Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Vis Seed Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.visseed.com

Forrest Nursery Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Pack’s Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.packsnursery.com

Forrest Keeling Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.fknursery.com

Poland Creek Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.polandcreeknursery.com

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Syngenta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

Walker Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Wellmaster Carts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.wellmaster.on.ca