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The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association and the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
10
F E AT U R E D A RT I C L E S
10 15 20
Waging War on Weeds in Lawns & Landscapes Suppressing Bermudagrass Encroachment Five Major Myths in Sports Turf Management
15
D E PA RT M E N T S
4
From the President
6
A Message from TVSTMA
8
Associate News
30
Associate News
34
Index of Advertisers
38
Calendar of Events
38
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
20
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
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FROM THE PRESIDENT JEFF CASE
M
any thanks to our vendors and attendees for participating in Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s 38th Annual Conference and Show. It is often said, but let me reiterate, how much we appreciate the profound importance of your support—from both vendors and attendees. During tough economic times, this is especially critical. We are all left with difficult decisions concerning justification of spending dollars on conference and trade shows. It speaks volumes that you continue to support the TTA, even when it may be more difficult to do. All of us benefit from the strengthening of our Association and the turfgrass industry as a whole. It has been a pleasure working with the professionals on the Board of Directors, and I look forward to meeting with the new Board members, as well. It really is an honor being associated with these folks, and you can be sure that the success of the TTA is a top priority to each and every one in this group. Your Board of Directors continues doing its part to advance this Association and, as always, encourages your participation and ideas. We want you to value and be proud of your membership in the TTA. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Dan Stump for being such a great leader during the past two years. His continued involvement during the next two years will be greatly appreciated, as well. Dan, thanks for your service to our Association, and I especially value our friendship.
Dr. Tom Samples and Dr. John Sorochan are to be commended for producing another excellent education program for the Conference. Because of their efforts, our educational sessions get better every year. The involvement of The University of Tennessee and these men in TTA is so important and cannot be overstated. Another friend, Bill Blackburn, continues to handle direction of the trade show. He could have walked away after a long stint on the Board and a successful Presidency, but he continues to serve. Bill, thanks to you, as well, for your unremitting service to TTA. Where would we be without these guys? We also have been very fortunate to have Cindy Ray, Donnie Callis, Olene Olive and Tracy Parsons helping us with preparation and implementation of the conference and show. Cindy also helped in the office before Jim Uden came on board. Thank you, ladies—your help is very much appreciated. Our new Executive Secretary, Jim Uden, had apparently done away with any “learning curve” that most of us would have experienced! Jim, great job, and I look forward to your tenure running our Association. If you have a chance, let me encourage you to go out of your way to thank these individuals and company representatives for their contributions to TTA. They have given generously of their time and money so that we might be stronger and better every year. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association will be successful only as long as people like these participate.
Jeff Case, TTA President 6
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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SOUTHEASTERN TURF, LLC E A G L E V I L L E • M U R F R E E S B O R O • LY N N V I L L E The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association and the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 591-8286 tnturfgrassassn@aol.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC P.O. Box 680142 Franklin, Tennessee 37068-0142 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editors Mr. Bill Blackburn Mr. Derek Oglesby Mr. Lynn Ray Mr. Jeff Rumph TTA 2003 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Dick Breedlove Mrs. Monica Lalinde-Cooper Mr. Bill Francis Mr. Roger Frazier Mr. Bob Hogan Mr. Tommy Mittlesteadt Mr. Derek Oglesby Mr. Jeff Skinner Mr. Bobby Stringer Mr. Tim Taylor Mr. Tommy Warden Mr. Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mr. Jeff Rumph Mr. Lynn Ray Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan TTA OFFICERS President Mr. Dan Stump Chickasaw Country Club (901) 325-8320 Vice President Mr. Jeff Case Quail Ridge Golf Course (901) 388-9114 Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Phil Luckett Brentwood Country Club (615) 370-8054 Executive Secretary Jim Uden (615) 591-8286
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A MESSAGE FROM TVSTMA
I
want to take a moment to reflect back on 2003 and thank Bob Elliott for his service as President of the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association (TVSTMA). In addition to serving as President, Bob is to be commended for coordinating the Whites Creek project. We continue to incorporate more and more diverse members into the TVSTMA. These new members come to us from a wide range of sports turf functions. I urge anyone who seeks the opportunity for increased knowledge of sports turf management and facilities to get involved and become a member. The resulting interaction is awesome. We have an exciting session before us, with interactive events that involve educational speakers, tool and equipment vendors, turfgrass suppliers, great facilities to visit, the opportunity to earn certification points and much more. Our spring event will be held on April 6th at the Nashville Sounds facility. Chris
The Tennessee Turfgrass 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 Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright Š2001 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. POSTMASTER: Send
8
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
Pearl, the groundskeeper, has graciously offered to host the spring event. In addition to education, the event will include a baseball game that evening. Our mid-season event, being planned as a two-day event, will be held in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee. It is stacking up to be a very fun and informative two days. Plans are also being tentatively made for a West Tennessee event in the Jackson area in the late summer or early fall. I would like for the 2004 season to place a greater emphasis on field safety. As events are planned, I ask that we include safety in our presentations and interactions. I hope the 2004 season will be successful for everyone. The TVSTMA hopes to be an organization that you can count on for helping you achieve that success. I look forward to seeing you at the Sounds on Tuesday, April 6th.
Billy Clark President, TVSTMA
change of address notification to Tennessee Turfgrass Association, 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Franklin, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass 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, P.O. Box 680142, Franklin, TN 37068-0142, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 7944524. Deadlines are the 1st of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1st for the September issue.)
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
WTU010
By Liz Nutter 10
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
T
hey are the consummate
guerilla warriors. They’re
wily
and
aggressive,
they’re
annoyingly persistent, and they’re aggravatingly opportunistic, patiently lying in wait, ready to strike at the first sign of weakness. In the yearround battle to maintain a greatlooking lawn, a lawn care manager’s toughest adversaries are weeds.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
11
WA G I N G WA R O N W E E D S . . .
CONTINUED
Even under the best management, a totally weed-free lawn is rarely attainable. However, with a battle strategy that combines turf-enhancing cultural practices with chemical controls, lawn care professionals can win the long-term war on weeds.
THE MOST COMMON CULPRITS
Dandelion, a hardy perennial weed
!
TIPS
FOR POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES • Some post-emergence products can damage young turf seedlings. Wait to apply such herbicides until after the new or overseeded lawn has been mowed three times. • Post-emergents are most effective when the weeds are actively growing, yet still relatively young and more vulnerable than mature plants. • Granular products should be applied to damp turf—either from morning dew, recent rainfall or irrigation—so that the product will better adhere to the weeds. However, applications should be made only when no rainfall is expected for at least the following 24 hours; otherwise, the herbicide may wash off before the weeds have absorbed it. • Take extra care to shield non-target plants— shrubs, trees and flowerbeds—when applying any post-emergence chemical. Spray drifts and misdirected granules can seriously injure ornamental plants. Tree roots, in particular, typically extend far beyond the “drip line,” so in lawns with lots of trees, try to avoid making more than one herbicide application per growing season.
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
Of course, some weeds—such as crabgrass and common broadleaf weeds— are troublesome enemies of both warm-season and cool-season lawns. Other weeds, however, are more formidable foes in certain types of lawn turf, depending on the climate zone. In the cool-season areas of Tennessee, for instance, where most lawns are turf-type tall fescue, the most troublesome pests are warm-season perennial grasses and weeds, especially bermudagrass and dallisgrass. Such weeds thrive during hot weather when the fescue turf (a cool-season grass) is less competitive. For grassy weeds in fescue lawns, few selective herbicide options are available. To eliminate bermudagrass, for example, the best control is three applications of glyphosate (RoundUp) when the bermudagrass is actively growing, typically in late spring or summer. Such a non-selective treatment, however, will also kill the fescue, at the worst possible time of year for reseeding the cool-season grass. Instead, fescue should be reseeded in fall. Annual overseeding is recommended anyway to keep a fescue lawn thick, since fescue won’t spread by itself to fill in bare or thin areas. The need for annual overseeding of fescue, however, poses its own problems for controlling winter weeds. Most pre-emergence herbicides, for instance, will also prevent germination of fescue for up to four months, except the pre-emergence herbicide Dimension. According to the Dimension label, fescue can be seeded 60 days after application. Newly germinated fescue is also sensitive to post-emergence broadleaf herbicides, so application for winter annual weeds must be delayed until fescue seedlings are established. Most herbicide labels recommend delaying application until the new grass has been mowed three times. Crabgrass control is also difficult in newly seeded or overseeded fescue lawns. Nearly all fescue lawns are treated with pre-emergence herbicides in late winter/early spring to control crabgrass. Fescue seeded the previous fall can be damaged by these herbicides if the chemicals are applied incorrectly. Herbicide labels list the following application restrictions to fall-seeded fescue: • • • • •
Herbicide Restriction Prodiamine wait 60 days after seeding or 2 mowings Dithiopyr wait until after 2 mowings Pendimethalin wait until after 4 mowings Benefin + Trifluralin established grasses only
In some areas of Tennessee, warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and centipedegrass are the dominant choices for home lawns. If common bermudagrass is not fertilized and mowed properly, however, it’s more prone to weed infestations than other warm-season grasses. In addition, low nitrogen rates and high mowing heights result in an open turf that is more prone to weeds.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
WA G I N G WA R O N W E E D S . . .
Buckhorn plantain
CONTINUED
Dandelions have completely infested this lawn.
Crabgrass, henbit, chickweed and annual bluegrass are primary weeds in warm-season lawns. Perennial weed pests include dandelion, ground ivy and wild garlic. Centipede lawns are more likely to have problems with clovers and lespedeza, since they all thrive in soils with low nitrogen fertility.
CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT COMBAT WEEDS As most turf managers already know, a thick, competitive stand of grass is in itself one of a lawn’s best defenses against weeds. In fact, several turfmanagement cultural practices can help deter weeds where herbicide use is problematic. Proper mowing heights are critical, for both cool-season and warmseason lawns. The seeds of many weed species require high light intensities to germinate, so keeping a relatively high stand of grass will help shade out the weed seeds. Tall turf-type fescue is particularly prone to weed invasion if it is mowed too close or has thin areas, so keep coolseason lawns at least three inches high. St. Augustine, a warm-season grass, also should be mowed to three inches. Bermudagrass, centipedegrass and zoysiagrass, on the other hand, should be mowed closer to one inch, since shorter mowing heights of these grasses will encourage outward branching of their rhizomes and stolons, resulting in a thicker, weed-choking turf. Frequent mowing is also key, especially during times when the turfgrass is growing rapidly. For one thing, you should never remove more than one-third of the grass blades at one mowing; otherwise, the turf can be damaged, resulting in thinner growth that encourages germination of weed seeds. Frequent mowing will also keep seed heads from forming on weeds. In spring and early summer, lawns may need to be mowed every three to five days. Irrigate deeply but infrequently. Light, frequent irrigation promotes weed-seed germination and also weakens the turf grass by encouraging turf roots to stay close to the soil surface, leaving them prone to drought and weather extremes. Lawns should be watered only when they’re showing signs of drought stress, such as wilting, leaf-blade folding or footprinting, or when the turf takes on a bluish-gray color.
!
TIPS
FOR PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES • Do not apply a pre-emergence herbicide before seeding (or overseeding) turfgrass. Wait until the new grass has been mowed at least three times before applying a pre-emergence product. • Do not apply a pre-emergence herbicide prior to laying sod. Use caution over new sod, since the chemical may interfere with sufficient rooting of the sod. Ronstar is the exception here. • Make granular applications only when the turf foliage is dry. • As soon as possible after applying a preemergent, irrigate sufficiently (at least 1/2" of water) to wash the herbicide off of the grass blades and down onto the soil surface. • If dethatching operations are needed, do so prior to applying a pre-emergent; otherwise, the protective herbicide layer may be disturbed. • Core aerification, however, may be done after application, as cultivation will not reduce the herbicide’s effectiveness.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
13
WA G I N G WA R O N W E E D S . . .
CONTINUED
WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A MEMBER OF
TTA Smooth crabgrass
Veronica
CHEMICAL CONTROLS While individual homeowners may have time to mow their lawns frequently enough to deter weeds, many lawn care companies must boost their weed-control efforts with chemicals. Herbicides may be applied either as pre-emergents or post-emergents. By preventing weed seeds from germinating in the first place, pre-emergence herbicides are the most commonly used products by lawn care companies. Most pre-emergence products are sold in granular form on a fertilizer carrier so that lawncare operators can combine two management practices in one application. In cool-season lawns, the germination of summer annual grassy weeds—like crabgrass—begins when soil temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees F. So, the rule of thumb is to apply pre-emergence herbicides by the time the forsythia blooms. Keep in mind, though, that weed germination dates may vary from year to year, depending on the weather. A rainy, warmer-than-normal spring may induce earlier germination. Pre-emergence herbicides will be ineffective on annual grassy weeds after the seeds have germinated and leaves have begun to form. Pre-emergence herbicides do “break down” after a few months, however, and they may do so more quickly than usual during periods of heavy irrigation or prolonged wet weather (such as last spring and summer, when many turfgrass professionals faced unexpected infestations of crabgrass even on turf where preemergents had been applied). In these circumstances, a second pre-emergence application may be necessary to fortify the first treatment. After weeds have already taken hold in a lawn, the only recourse is either to dig them up individually (possible for homeowners, but impractical for lawn care companies) or apply a post-emergence herbicide to kill them. Post-emergents may be applied either as sprays or as granular spreads. Products containing atrazine or simazine are often used for winter annual weeds. Vantage is used for grassy weeds in centipede grass, while MSMA is used for grassy weeds in bermudagrass. Various two-way and three-way post-emergence mixtures are used for winter annual, summer annual and perennial weeds. With any herbicide application, it is crucial that the applicator read and carefully follow the instructions on the herbicide label. Pay particular attention to application rates. When applied at higher-than-recommended rates, some herbicides may lose their effectiveness. In general, though, the following guidelines apply to most herbicides.
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association is a non-profit, professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of turfgrass management from all aspects. Are you searching for new outlets to advertise and promote your business? TTA offers you a publication with reasonable advertising rates that is distributed regionally and nationally. Do you have requirements to obtain State pesticide points or continuing educational points for other certification? TTA offers a wide range of points for pesticide and other certifications through its educational seminars. Would you or a member of your family like scholarship dollars for higher education? TTA has developed a scholarship program to assist with the ever rising cost of higher education. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association is your statewide connection to the Green Industry. If you would like to become a member of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, please contact the headquarters at 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069; Phone: (615) 591-8286; Email: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com.
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RESEARCH VIEWS
By Erik H. Ervin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Editor’s note: This research was funded by the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation and the Virginia Agricultural Council. The report below was originally published in the September/October 2003 issue of Virginia Turfgrass and is reprinted with permission from both the author and the Virginia Turfgrass publisher.
The purpose of this research project was to analyze the effects of mixing growth-regulating compounds with herbicides, with the specific intent to increase bermudagrass control in stands of cool-season grasses. While originally conducted with golf courses foremost in mind, this research is equally applicable for athletic fields, home lawns and sod-production fields.
16
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
I
n transition-zone states where both cool-season and warmseason grasses can be grown, many commercial facilities—golf courses, sports fields, campuses and corporate properties—use both types of grasses, often grown relatively close to one another or one overseeded over the other. Golf courses in the warmer regions of the transition zone, for instance, frequently use cool-season grasses such as creeping bentgrass on greens, with bermudagrass on the fairways. During summer months, unfortunately, the strongly stoloniferous bermudagrass tends to encroach into the cool-season grass areas, resulting in poor turf quality and an undesirable contamination situation. Finding a way to selectively control the bermudagrass without damaging the cool-season grass species was a primary goal of this research.
Previous Research and Results Traditionally, non-selective control of bermudagrass has been best obtained with the use of methyl bromide (sold under the trade name Brom-o-Gas®). In 1991, however, the U.S. federal government named methyl bromide as a chemical that contributes to depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, and its complete agricultural phase-out is scheduled for 2005. Glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide sold under such trade names as Roundup® and Touchdown Pro®, has been used extensively to control grasses. However, to obtain desired control, several sequential applications after periods of re-growth are required.
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT Observations made at Virginia Tech during 2000 indicated that glyphosate efficacy increases when applied with plant-growthstimulating materials, which promote the uptake of the herbicide. Further research is needed, however, to establish the dosage of materials and frequency of application. Applications of the herbicide siduron (Tupersan®) have also been reported help deter bermudagrass encroachment. Again, however, satisfactory control generally requires sequential applications of the chemical at high dosages. To delay the spring growth of bermudagrass, previous turfgrass research has identified the success of the herbicide ethofumesate (Prograss®) when applied the previous fall or winter. Treatment with plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as mefluidide (Embark®) and flurprimidol (Cutless®) has also been shown to temporarily suppress bermudagrass growth. Bentgrass injury, however, can be unacceptable when treated with mefluidide in sequence with siduron or ethofumesate. Although previous research has not achieved complete prevention of bermudagrass encroachment with any herbicide combined with PGR treatment, it has still shown that siduron or ethofumesate plus flurprimidol provides the least encroachment, without unacceptable bentgrass damage. Previous research has also demonstrated increased plant tolerance to herbicidal stress when pre-treated with certain stimulating substances. For instance, seedling Kentucky bluegrass suffers less damage from the herbicide pendemethelin when grown from seed treated with seaweed extract. Bentgrass is less vulnerable to damage from post-emergence herbicides when first treated with hormone-containing materials. At the same time, herbicides are more effective when applied to white clover with hormone-containing materials. Recent studies indicate that the difference in herbicidal toxicity between warm-season and cool-season grasses may be expanded with treatments of hormone-containing PGRs. Hormonal treatments of warm-season grasses may enhance the efficacy of herbicides while, at the same time, stimulating antioxidant metabolism of the cool-season grasses and offsetting the damage caused by the herbicide. In summary, previous research has indicated that the use of hormone-containing (PGR) materials in conjunction with herbicides such as siduron or ethofumesate may provide satisfactory control of bermudagrass encroachment into creeping bentgrass. This research was conducted to determine the specific impact of combining PGR materials with herbicides to selectively or non-selectively control unwanted bermudagrass.
Glyphosate Experiment Our first experiment was to attempt to enhance the efficacy of glyphosate on suppressing bermudagrass. For this study, we used mature “Tifway” bermudagrass grown on a Groseclose silt loam soil at the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Center in Blacksburg. The grass was irrigated to prevent wilting, and a 1010-10 fertilizer was applied to supply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of grass in April and June of 2001.
CONTINUED
A randomized block experimental design was used. The herbicide glyphosate (Roundup Pro®) was applied alone or with plant-growth regulators in a tank mixture to 6´X6´ plots. In July 2001, treatments were applied with a compressed-air boom sprayer delivering 80 gal/A at 30 psi. The following 25 treatments were applied (see below). At four, nine and 21 days after treatment, the percent of bermudagrass injury was determined visually. Percent recovery of the bermudagrass was rated the following spring (May 2002). All treatments were replicated four times. Data were subjected to an analysis of variance-and-means separations ascertained with a LSD test at the 5% probability level.
Bermudagrass Suppression Results After all glyphosate treatments, significant visual damage to bermudagrass was evident by five days. By the 22nd day after treatment, all but two of the treatments showed more than 90% injury. None of the PGRs, however, increased the effectiveness of glyphosate for control of Tifway bermudagrass. Similarly, the addition of Fusilade to glyphosate failed to provide significantly greater control than glyphosate alone. A final rating of bermudagrass spring green-up in May 2002 indicated that about 25% recovery had occurred even on those plots rated as 100%
Treatments
Amount/1000 ft2
Control® Roundup Pro® Roundup Pro® Fusilade® Amino acids Amino acids Humic acid (HA) + seaweed extract (SWE) HA + SWE Salicylic acid (SA) Urea (46% nitrogen) AA + Roundup® AA + Roundup® AA + Roundup® AA + Roundup® HA + SWE + Roundup® HA + SWE + Roundup® HA + SWE + Roundup® HA + SWE + Roundup® SA + Roundup® SA + Roundup® Urea + Roundup® Urea + Roundup® Fusilade® + Roundup® Fusilade® + Roundup® Fusilade® + Roundup® + HA
0 oz 2 oz 4 oz 0.55 oz 1 oz 2 oz 16 g + 5 g 8 g + 2.5 g 5g 2.2 lb 1 oz + 2 oz 1 oz + 4 oz 2 oz + 2 oz 2 oz + 4 oz 8 g + 2.5 g + 2 oz 8 g + 2.5 g + 4 oz 16 g + 5 g + 2 oz 16 g + 5 g + 4 oz 5 g + 2 oz 5 g + 4 oz 2.2 lb + 2 oz 2.2 lb + 4 oz 0.55 oz + 2 oz 0.55 oz + 4 oz 0.55 oz + 4 oz + 16 g
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
17
SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT dead (visually, on the surface) at the end of August 2001. In essence, none of the PGRs provided an additive effect to glyphosate for controlling Tifway bermudagrass. Based on these results we did not continue this experiment through the 20022003 season.
Experiments With Other Herbicides During the course of our glyphosate experiment, we conducted a concurrent second experiment to attempt to enhance the efficacy of other herbicides by adding PGR combinations, again with the intent of increased suppression of bermudagrass encroachment. In March 2001, we transplanted a 12-inch-wide strip of Penncross creeping-bentgrass sod down the middle of a mature Midiron bermudagrass area. This area received experimental herbicidal treatments over both the 2001 and 2002 April-toSeptember growing seasons. In March of 2002, we prepared a second trial area down the middle of a mature Tifway bermudagrass area, again using mature Penncross creepingbentgrass sod. The plots were mowed three times per week at a 0.625-inch height and irrigated to prevent moisture stress. A 10-10-10 fertilizer was applied to supply 1 lb N/1000 sq. ft. in April and June of each year. Diseases, especially dollar spot, were controlled curatively with chlorothalonil. In both trials, a randomized complete block experimental design was used. Selective-control herbicides were applied alone or with PGRs in a tank mixture to 6'x6' plots. Beginning in each spring—on May 5, 2001, and April 30, 2002—the
CONTINUED
treatments were applied with a compressed-air boom sprayer delivering 80 gal/A at 30 psi. The herbicide rates were halved through the summer, at three-week intervals, to reduce the potential for bentgrass injury during the stressful summer period. A total of six treatment applications were made during the 2001 and 2002 trial periods. The following 13 treatments (below) were applied. Beginning one week after treatment, reductions in turfgrass photochemical efficiency were measured with a chlorophyll fluorometer. Visual ratings of injury (percent of damage) were made on a monthly basis for both bermudagrass and bentgrass. Finally, following complete bermudagrass dormancy each year (October 30), we measured and averaged the width of each bentgrass sod strip. Normally, bermudagrass will increase its encroachment into bentgrass from one year to the next. Our goal was to determine if any of our treatments would suppress the bermudagrass enough to allow the bentgrass to sustain its original area or possibly even expand to encroach into the bermudagrass. In May of 2003, a final rating of bermudagrass green-up or survival was made.
Siduron + Additives Results At the end of the first year, following bermudagrass dormancy, only siduron + propiconazole (Sid+PPC) resulted in a wider strip of bentgrass sod than the control (Figure 1). At the end of 2002, all four siduron treatments resulted in increased bentgrass encroachment into the bermudagrass. In the mature Midiron bermudagrass area, major visual damage and suppression of the bermudagrass was only seen on Continued on page 20
Treatments Control® Tupersan® Prograss® Prograss® + Cutless® Tupersan® + Banner® Tupersan® + HA + SWE Tupersan® + SA Prograss® + Banner® Prograss® + HA + SWE Prograss® + SA Prograss® + Cutless® + Banner® Prograss® + Cutless®+HA+SWE Prograss® + Cutless® + SA
Application #1
Applications #2-6
Amount/1000 ft2
Amount/1000 ft2
0 oz 1.1 lb 3 oz 3 oz + 0.28 oz 1.1 lb + 1 oz 1.1 lb + 15 g + 5 g 1.1 lb + 5 g 3 oz + 1 oz 3 oz + 15 g + 5 g 3 oz + 5 g 3 oz + 0.28 oz + 1 oz 3 oz + 0.28 oz + 15 g + 5 g 3 oz + 0.28 oz + 5 g
0 oz 0.55 lb 1.5 oz 1.5 oz + 0.28 oz 0.55 lb + 1 oz 0.55 lb + 15 g + 5 g 1.1 lb + 5 g 1.5 oz + 1 oz 1.5 oz + 15 g + 5 g 1.5 oz + 5 g 1.5 oz + 0.28 oz + 1 oz 1.5 oz + 0.28 oz + 15 g + 5 g 1.5 oz + 0.28 oz + 5 g
Abbreviation key: Sid = siduron (Tupersan®); PPC = propiconazole (Banner®); SWHA = seaweed and humic-acid extracts (major ingredients in commercial biostimulants); SA = salicylic acid (aspirin); Eth = Ethofumesate (Prograss®); FP = flurprimidol (Cutless®).
18
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT one date (5/14/02) for three treatments: Sid, Sid+PPC, and Sid + SA (Figure 4). Reasons for this one instance of visual damage are not known. Significant and unacceptable bentgrass damage (more than 10%) was seen only on the last rating date of the trial (8/1/02) for three treatments: Sid, Sid+SWHA, and Sid+SA (Figure 5). Summer application of these three treatments may have predisposed the bentgrass to August heat damage. Measurements of photochemical efficiency (an indication of health) of the bentgrass in late summer of both years indicate a slight advantage for bentgrass health from tank-mixing SWHA with siduron (Figure 6). For Tifway bermudagrass, an examination of the 2002 data indicates that siduron treatments were more visually effective on the Tifway (Figure 7). All four siduron treatments resulted in 20% to 45% visual damage on the Tifway into early August, with the damage subsiding by September. Also, these siduron treatments produced minimal damage to the bentgrass from May into August, with less than 5% damage (Figure 8). Again, measurements of photochemical efficiency in August indicated that the bentgrass benefited from tank-mixing SWHA with siduron (Figure 9). A good measure of the cumulative damage of the various siduron treatments are the percents of spring bermudagrass green-up from 2003 (Figure 22). Less spring green-up is an indication of more cumulative suppression. The Sid+SWHA treatment had the least amount of spring green-up, making it the most desirable treatment in the siduron series.
CONTINUED
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Ethofumesate + Additives Results Following bermuda dormancy at the end of 2001, ethofumesate + propiconazole (Eth+PPC) and Eth+SWHA resulted in wider strips of bentgrass sod than the control (Figure 2). At the end of 2002, all four ethofumesate treatments resulted in increased bentgrass encroachment into the bermudagrass. Suppression of Midiron bermudagrass (cumulative damage of 80% to 90% by 9/12/02) was achieved with all four ethofumesate treatments (Figure 10), with significant bentgrass damage (more than 10%) seen only on the last rating date of the trial (8/1/02) for three treatments: Eth, Eth+PPC, and Eth+FP (Figure 11). Summer application of these three treatments may have predisposed the bentgrass to August heat damage, as evidenced by large reductions in bentgrass photochemical efficiency in late summer of 2002 (Figure 12). On Tifway bermudagrass, the 2002 data indicate similar bermudagrassdamage responses (60% to 90% by 9/12/02) to ethofumesate treatments (Figure 13). The safety of these ethofumesate treatments on bentgrass, however, was poor, with unacceptable damage ratings of more than 20% at the 9/12/02 rating (Figure 14). Rather than safening the effects of ethofumesate on bentgrass, all three additives resulted in greater visual injury. Similarly, measurements of photochemical efficiency in August indicated that none of the PGR additives contributed to the physiological health of the bentgrass (Figure 15). May 2003 green-up ratings, our final measure of cumulative effectiveness, indicated that all ethofumesate treatments severely reduced spring green-up of Tifway bermudagrass (Figure 23). The Eth+SA treatment had the strongest suppressive effect, allowing only about 5% green-up. These data clearly show that ethofumesate is a much stronger bermudagrass suppresser than siduron (compare Figures 22 and 23).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
Continued on page 23 20
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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TABLE 1 — Summary of Results Potential for Treatment
Potential for Bentgrass Injury Summer
Potential for Bermuda Death
Spring/Fall Bermuda Suppression
Minor Browning
Sid
None
High
Low
Med-low
Sid+PPC
None
High
Low
Med-low
Sid+SWHA
None
High
Low
Med-low
Sid+SA
None
High
Low
Med-low
Medium
High
Med-low
Med-high
High
High
Med-low
Med-high
Med-high
High
Med-low
Med-high
Eth+SA
High
High
Med-low
Med-high
Eth+FP
High
High
Med-low
Med-high
Eth+FP+PPC
High
High
Low
Med-high
Eth+FP+SWHA
Med-high
High
Med-low
Med-high
Eth+FP+SA
Med-high
High
Med-low
Med-high
Eth Eth+PPC Eth+SWHA
Major Browning
Abbreviation key: Sid = siduron (Tupersan®); PPC = propiconazole (Banner®); SWHA = seaweed and humic acid extracts (major ingredients in commercial biostimulants); SA = salicylic acid (aspirin); Eth = ethofumesate (Prograss®); FP = flurprimidol (Cutless®).
SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT FIGURE 5
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 8
22
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 12
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CONTINUED
SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT Ethofumesate + Flurprimidol + Additives— Results All of the PGR additives to the Eth+FP treatment resulted in wider strips of bentgrass sod than from Eth+FP alone (Figure 3). At the end of 2002, all four Eth+FP treatments resulted in increased bentgrass encroachment into the bermudagrass. Also, all four Eth+FP treatments resulted in suppression of Midiron bermudagrass, with visual damage of 80% to 90% by 9/12/02 (Figure 16). Alternatively, unacceptable bentgrass damage (more than 10%) was seen only on the last rating date of the trial (8/1/02) for three treatments: Eth+FP, Eth+FP+SWHA, and Eth+FP+SA (Figure 17). However, addition of PPC to Eth+FP resulted in significantly less visual bentgrass damage over the course of both years. All three additives to Eth+FP resulted in greater maintenance of bentgrass health in late summer of 2002 (Figure 18). However, the photochemical efficiency of these three treatments was still substantially less than the untreated control grass, reaffirming that all Eth+FP treatments were significantly damaging to the bentgrass. For the Tifway bermudagrass, the 2002 data indicate similar visual damage responses (80% to 95% by 9/12/02) to ethofumesate treatments (Figure 19). Again, though, the Eth+FP treatments significantly damaged the bentgrass, with unacceptable visual ratings of more than 20% damage at the 8/31/02 rating (Figure 20). In fact, rather than safening the effects of Eth+FP on bentgrass, all three additives resulted in greater visual injury. Similarly, measurements of the bentgrass photochemical efficiency in August indicated that none of the additives contributed a beneficial effect (Figure 21). May 2003 green-up ratings indicated that all Eth+FP treatments severely reduced spring green-up of Tifway bermudagrass (Figure 24). The Eth+FP+PPC treatment had the strongest suppressive effect, allowing only about 3% green-up. These data clearly show that ethofumesate + flurprimidol is a stronger bermudagrass suppresser than siduron or ethofumesate treatments. Any treatment that contained ethofumesate, however, also resulted in what was often commercially unacceptable injury to the desired creeping bentgrass turf.
CONTINUED
FIGURE 13
FIGURE 14
FIGURE 15
Summary Recommendations Study results are summarized in Table 1 for ease of understanding and use by categorizing the various treatment effects based on various commercially important considerations. To most effectively eliminate bermudagrass encroachment, with minor bentgrass damage: 1) apply ethofumesate treatments at three-week intervals beginning at bermuda green-up for two to three applications, 2) abstain from treating from late June through August, and 3) then begin treatments again until bermuda dormancy.
FIGURE 16
Turf professionals who wish to curtail bermudagrass encroachment, without significant browning of either bermudagrass or bentgrass, should apply siduron in spring and fall.
Figures 17 to 24 continued on page 24
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
23
SUPPRESSING BERMUDAGRASS ENCROACHMENT FIGURE 17
FIGURE 21
FIGURE 18 FIGURE 22
FIGURE 19
FIGURE 20
24
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
FIGURE 23
FIGURE 24
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CONTINUED
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Tom Samples, John C. Sorochan, J. Scott McElroy and Darren L. Robinson Plant Sciences Department, The University of Tennessee
Each year, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, crabgrass, goosegrass, henbit, nimblewill, prostrate knotweed and spurge are targets of many herbicide applications. 26
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
S
ports turfs, unlike many lawns and utility turfs, often require the use of very specialized equipment and a high level of management. Sports turf managers routinely aerify, fertilize, lime, topdress and water athletic fields to maintain a dense stand of healthy, wear-resistant plants. Pesticides are applied to control or suppress pests such as billbug, dollar spot, large brown patch, leaf spot, red thread, sod webworm, spring dead spot and white grub. Each year, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, crabgrass, goosegrass, henbit, nimblewill, prostrate knotweed and spurge are targets of many herbicide applications. Ten myths that have emerged through the years were identified and discussed in a previous article. They are: 1) a reel mower is the most important sports turf maintenance tool; 2) persistent, high-quality sports turf can be maintained without an irrigation system; 3) nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applications will guarantee a strong, wear-resistant sports turf; 4) for best footing, bermudagrass sports turf must be deeply rooted; 5) thatch is bad; 6) core aerification has very little effect on the development of weed seedlings; 7) a roller should never be used on an athletic field; 8) each spring, perennial ryegrass is easily removed from bermudagrass
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MAJOR SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT MYTHS without applying a herbicide; 9) severely low air temperatures are responsible for bermudagrass winter-kill each year; and 10) bermudagrass sports turf is no place to apply plant growth suppressants. These are not necessarily the “top ten” myths. Several more are noteworthy.
1. Perennial ryegrass, being a coolseason turfgrass species, is tolerant of very low air and soil temperatures. Cool-season turfgrasses grow best at air temperatures from 60° to 75° F. The most rapid, sustained root growth of cool-season turfgrasses usually occurs at temperatures between 50° and 65° F. Perennial (Lolium perenne L.) ryegrass is commonly used to overseed dormant bermudagrass sports turfs. The species generally has excellent seedling vigor, poor low temperature hardiness and medium-poor drought tolerance compared to other perennial, cool-season turfgrasses. A ranking of the relative, low-temperature hardiness of cool-season species is annual ryegrass (very poor) < perennial ryegrass (poor) < tall fescue (medium) < Kentucky bluegrass (good) < Poa trivialis (excellent). Similarly, a ranking of the relative drought resistance of cool-season species is Poa trivialis < annual ryegrass < perennial ryegrass < Kentucky bluegrass < tall fescue. Poorly rooted perennial ryegrass seedlings are severely injured or killed by extreme low temperatures and prolonged drought in winter. When choosing varieties for bermudagrass overseeding, drought tolerance and low temperature hardiness deserve as much attention as color, disease resistance, high temperature hardiness, and seedling vigor. Please access the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) website (http://www. ntep.org) for more precise information regarding individual perennial ryegrass varieties. Since 1986, more than 400 ryegrasses have been evaluated for overall turfgrass quality, color, leaf texture, stand density, spring green-up, seedling vigor, drought tolerance and frost tolerance/winterkill. More than 130 ryegrasses entered in the 1999 National
Perennial Ryegrass Test are currently being evaluated at 28 locations in the U.S.
2. Turfgrass roots function for a very long time. Primary or seminal roots that develop from the embryo of a seed during germination are usually only active for six to eight weeks. Adventitious roots produced two to three weeks after the grass seed germinates eventually replace the seminal roots. The life span of roots of established turfgrasses varies among species from less than six months to more than a year. The fibrous, relatively shallow root systems of perennial ryegrass and Poa trivialis are replaced each year and are considered annual in nature. Bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass root systems often persist for more than a year. Roots of some turfgrass species continually die and are replaced, while the death of a majority of roots of others occurs during a
CONTINUED
specific season. Roots of cool-season turfgrasses produced in fall or winter most often live longer than those produced in spring and summer. For example, roots form and grow rapidly in the spring and early summer, then deteriorate and die in response to drought and high-temperature stresses in late summer. Roots formed by tillers supporting a seedhead often die as flowers develop. Root hairs, the long and slender extensions of epidermal cells critically important for the uptake of water and minerals from the soil, are also relatively short-lived.
3. Athletic fields near a lowpressure water source cannot be uniformly irrigated. In production agriculture, large center-pivot irrigation systems have been developed to operate at water pressures lower than 35 psi at the pivot. Low-Energy Precision Application (LEPA) and Low Drift
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MAJOR SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT MYTHS Nozzle (LDN) technologies allow center-pivot systems to operate effectively on pivot pressures of 15 to 25 psi. Similarly, manufacturers including Hunter®, Rainbird®, and Toro ® have designed and engineered high-performance athletic field sprinkler systems with spray head nozzles capable of uniformly irrigating sports turfs at inlet pressures ranging from 15 to more than 70 psi. Less conventional systems using tire-derived, porous tubing (e.g. Precision Porous Pipe, Inc., Colorite Plastics, McKenzie, TN) to deliver water below the soil surface at water pressures of 3 to 5 psi are becoming increasingly popular. For more information, please access the corporate websites http://www.hunterindustries. com, http://www.rainbird.com, http://www.toro.com/irrigation/ and http://coloriteplastics.com.
4. For the best value when buying turfgrass seed, shop price and purchase the seed lot(s) with the lowest price per pound. Purchasing turfgrass seed solely on the basis of price per pound of seed does not necessarily guarantee the best value. Consider both seed germination and seed quality when comparing seed lots. This valuable information is shown on the label. For example, in Tennessee,
CONTINUED
the label of turfgrass seeds sold, distributed, offered for sale or transported for sale within or into the state contains the following information: a) Name of the kind and the variety for each turfgrass seed present in excess of five percent of the whole and the percentage by weight of each in the order of its predominance; b) Lot number or other lot identifications; c) Net weight; d) Origin; e) Percentage by weight of inert matter; f) Other crop seeds (e.g. percentage by weight of varieties other than those on the label); g) Percentage by weight of all weed seeds, including noxious weed seeds; h) Germination percentage (exclusive of germination of hard seed), percentage of hard seed, and the calendar month and year the test was completed for each named turfgrass seed; i) name and number per pound of each kind of restricted, noxious weed seed; and j) Name and address of the person labeling, selling or offering the seed for sale. The prices of two or more seed lots can be compared on the basis of pure live seed (PLS) where PLS = [seed germination (%) x purity (%)] )100. Blue-tag-certified seed has been tested according to procedures established by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies and has met the standards for genetic purity and identity.
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28
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
Cal Hill – West Tennessee Sales
Mike P. Swindle – West Tennessee Sales
5387 Pleasant View Rd. Memphis, TN 38134 P: 901/383-2524 F: 901/388-0892 M: 901/412-0121 E: chill@prosourceone.com
5387 Pleasant View Rd. Memphis, TN 38134 P: 901/383-2524 F: 901/388-0892 M: 901/849-0403 E: mswindle@prosourceone.com
Joe Hill – East Tennessee Sales
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P.O. Box 119 Springfield, TN 37172 P: 800/535-4552 F: 615/384-3364 M: 865/567-4210 E: kjhill@prosourceone.com
P.O. Box 119 Springfield, TN 37172 P: 800/535-4552 F: 615/384-3364 M: 615/207-3952, Nextel ID# 148*22459*1 E: jeasley@prosourceone.com
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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MAJOR SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT MYTHS 5. Pre-emergence herbicides and pre-emergence herbicide + fertilizer combinations are too expensive to use for controlling crabgrass in bermudagrass sports turfs. The herbicides benefin (Balan), bensulide (Bensumec, Betasan, Lescosan, Pre-San), dithiopyr (Dimension), oryzalin (Surflan), oxadiazon (Ronstar), pendimethalin (Pendulum) and prodiamine (Barricade) most often provide excellent (e.g. 90 to 100 percent) crabgrass control and little, if any, bermudagrass injury when uniformly applied according to label directions before crabgrass seeds germinate. Many of these herbicides are available in combination with one or more formulations of granular fertilizers. Although two applications may be needed for extended (e.g. 200+ days) crabgrass control, pre-emergence herbicides deserve strong consideration when developing an effective crabgrass control program. Timely applications of pre-emergence herbicides and pre-emergence herbicide + fertilizer combinations can noticeably improve the overall quality of bermudagrass sports turfs in one growing season.
6. When used as sports turfs, the vegetative cultivars will out perform seeded bermudagrasses. Several
CONTINUED
bermudagrasses including ‘GN-1,’ ‘MS-Choice,’ ‘MS-Pride,’ ‘Quickstand,’ ‘Tifgreen’ (Tifton 328), ‘Tifway’ (Tifton 419), ‘Tifsport’ (Tift 94) and ‘Vamont’ do not produce viable seed and must be established from sprigs, plugs or sod. Historically, vegetative cultivars or clonal-types have transitioned from winter dormancy more quickly in the spring, have been finer-textured and have provided greater stand density than the majority of seeded-type bermudagrasses. Recently, several seeded-types including ‘Mirage,’ ‘Riviera’ (OKS 95-1) and ‘Yukon’ (OKS 9111) have been released and due, in part, to improved lowtemperature hardiness and traffic tolerance, are being recommended for use as sports turfs in the northern turfgrass transition zone. Generally, the turf-type, seeded bermudagrasses do not produce rhizomes during the first year of establishment. Although this can be a problem and will require management, it should not prohibit the use of these varieties as permanent sports turfs. Many sod producers have expressed an interest in producing a number of seeded-type bermudagrasses. In the near future, sod, sprigs and plugs of both clonal and seeded types may be locally available. Research indicates that Roundup 4SC (glyphosate) applied to perennial ryegrass at the rate of 1.1 oz. product per 1,000 square feet one or seven days after seeding
your advertising audience. For more information on advertising in the Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, call the Ad Sales Department at (615) 790-3718!
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MAJOR SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT MYTHS ‘Mirage’ or ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass can result in a very acceptable transition from ryegrass to bermudagrass (“Renovation of Perennial Ryegrass Fairways with Seeded Bermudagrasses” by D. W. Williams and P. B. Burris, http://turf.lib.msu.edu/ tero/v01/no7/pdf). For more precise information regarding the management of seeded-type bermudagrasses, please access the article “Managing the New Seeded Bermudagrasses” by M. Richardson, D. Karcher, J. Boyd and J. McCalla on the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America website at http://www.gcsaa.org. To compare the performance of 18 seeded and ten vegetative bermudagrass entries in the 1997 National Bermudagrass Test from 1997 to 2001, please access Final Report NTEP No.02-7 at http://www.ntep.org.
7. The installation of perforated drainpipe to a depth of 12 or more inches in trenches 15 feet on center is guaranteed to speed the movement of water from the turf surface into the soil. Infiltration—the downward movement of water into the soil and percolation—the downward movement of water through the soil, contribute to the water permeability of soil. The amount of sand, silt and clay in a soil affects its permeability. Coarse-textured soils with very little silt and clay are much more permeable than heavy clays. Compacting the sub-base soil with a vibrating roller before adding topsoil and excessive tilling before planting can restrict the water permeability of soils of newly constructed athletic
CONTINUED
fields. Soil compaction from extra-heavy play can cause severe drainage problems in established sports turfs. A perforated drain tube or pipe drain system slowly removes water from the subsoil. Drainage pipe is laid (with perforations pointing down) on gravel in trenches below the topsoil or turfgrass root zone. Water enters the drainage pipe from the bottom. A properly installed pipe drain system effectively lowers the level of groundwater. However, unless trenches are filled to the surface with sand or gravel, pipe drain systems installed in soils containing large amounts of silt and clay remove very little surface water. Prefabricated, high flow (e.g. strip drain) drainage systems often utilize a porous, flexible polypropylene or high density, polyethylene core wrapped in a geotextile fabric jacket to rapidly remove excess surface water (http://www.american drainagesystems.com, http://www.abg-geosynthetics.com and http://www.multi-flow.com). Drains are installed vertically in narrow and shallow, sand-filled trenches oriented 45° to 90° to the direction of surface water runoff. A sand-slit drain system (e.g. KORO KWIK DrainTM) utilizes narrow (e.g. two to three inches wide) sand-filled trenches 13 to 20 inches on center to deliver water to deeper, perpendicular sand-filled trenches spaced 40 to 80 inches on center. Strip drain and sand-slit drain systems can be installed with minimal disturbance of the sports turf surface. Turfgrass Council of North Carolina Annual Conference and Trade Show, January 7, 2004
Major Sports Turf Management Myths:
A Summary
30
1.
Perennial ryegrass, being a cool-season turfgrass species, is tolerant of very low air and soil temperatures.
2.
Turfgrass roots function for a very long time.
3.
Athletic fields near a low-pressure water source cannot be uniformly irrigated.
4.
For the best value when buying turfgrass seed, shop price and purchase the seed lot(s) with the lowest price per pound.
5.
Pre-emergence herbicides and pre-emergence herbicide + fertilizer combinations are too expensive to use for controlling crabgrass in bermudagrass sports turfs.
6.
When used as sports turfs, the vegetative cultivars will out perform seeded bermudagrasses.
7.
The installation of perforated drainpipe to a depth of 12 or more inches in trenches 15 feet on center is guaranteed to speed the movement of water from the turf surface into the soil.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
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A S S O C I AT I O N N E W S
By Derek Oglesby, MAGCSA President
The2003 annual event for the Memphis Area Golf Course Superintendents Association (MAGCSA) was held at Chickasaw Country Club last October. We had excellent participation from both players and sponsors at the tournament, raising nearly $7,000 to support local scholarship and research efforts. During 2003, the association awarded $4,500 in scholarships to the following individuals:
• Jeremy Permenter $1,500 • Phillip Carter $1,000
• Andrew Foster $1,500 • Michael Luchin $500
Also, $4,000 was donated to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in support of turfgrass research and extension. Dr. Sorochan received $2,000 for research efforts, while Dr. Samples and Dr. Windham received $1,000 each for extension purposes. Congratulations winners:
to
the
tournament
LOW NET 1st Place: Werth Services 2nd Place: Greenville Turf 3rd Place: Bob Ladd
LOW GROSS 1st Place: North Creek 2nd Place: Chickasaw Country Club 3rd Place: John Deere Landscapes
CLOSEST TO THE PIN Nathan Sullivan and David Lammey
LONGEST DRIVE
MAKING
Jeff Graves
MOST ACCURATE DRIVE Tom Green
As always, a special thanks is extended to all who made the event a success: • MAGCSA Board of Directors • Rob Roy and Andy Tournament Directors
Milligan,
• Dan Stump, host Superintendent, and the rest of the staff at Chickasaw Country Club • All participants and sponsors
We look forward to the 2004 Scholarship and Research Tournament that will take place later this fall.
THE
WORLD
GREEN Tifsport Bermuda Fescue Blends 419 Tifway Bermuda 328 Tifgreen Bermuda Meyer Zoysia
Sod Installation Sprigging Hydroseeding Seed & Straw Erosion Control Matting
State License 26198 DBE Certified
Robin McFall, Owner Jackie McFall, Owner
MCFALL SOD & SEEDING
2685 Hampshire Pike • Columbia, TN 38401 • Fax: (931) 381-1667 SERVING TENNESSEE
www.mcfallsod.com
Columbia (931) 381-3667
AND
SURROUNDING STATES
email: mcfallsod@aol.com
Nashville (615) 832-3839
A S S O C I AT I O N N E W S
By name name??, President, ETGCSA
T
he East Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association (ETGCSA) held its 2003 Scholarship and Research Golf Tournament at Willow Creek Golf Club on October 27. ETGCSA received great support from vendors who sponsored tee signs, breakfast, lunch, drinks and skills contests. Twenty-one four-man teams signed up to compete in the Jasper shootout format. Heavy rain on the night before the event initially gave us some doubt we could still hold the tournament as planned and might possibly force us into a postponement
situation, similar to what happened in 2002 at the Ridges CC in Jonesboro where the event was held a week later. But Mother Nature cooperated this time, stopping the rain in time for Host Superintendent Paul Hood and his staff to get the golf course ready for play. The tournament started only 30 minutes late. After the sun came out, it turned out to be a nice day. After play was concluded, all the competitors ate a great barbecue lunch while the scores were being tabulated. The results were as follows:
GROSS DIVISION:
NET DIVISION:
Two teams tied for first place, each with a score of 128: Team: Landmark @ Avalon GC Steve Mitchell Matt Jones Todd Branson Scott Perkins Team: Council Fire GC Gary Weller Richard Rebne Jeff Poe Greg Sims In a scorecard playoff, the team from Council Fire GC was declared the winner.
First Place
Team: Chattanooga Area, score of 116 Chip Ward, Brainerd GC Jeff Hollister, Chattanooga G & CC Pat Skinner, Brown Acres GC Josh Higgins, Brown Acres GC
Second Place Team: The Ridges G & CC, score of 117 Bill Francis Darren Howard Mathew Lovelace David Cloud
During the awards ceremony, the ETGCSA made a $300 donation to the Brandon Vick Memorial Scholarship Fund at Walters State Community College. Scholarship winners were also announced, including:
$1,000 to Lucas Moody
$500 to Thurston Farrar
A senior at Walters State Comm. College
$500 to David Sluder
A senior at the University of Tennessee
$500 to Ryan Swilling
A senior at Walters State Comm. College
A senior at the University of Tennessee
Many thanks to the vendors, players and, especially, to Host Superintendent Paul Hood and the staff at Willow Creek Golf Club for their help in conducting the event. ETGCSA looks forward to next year when the tournament will be held in the Chattanooga area, possibly at Chattanooga Golf and CC. 34
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
For every job on your course, there’s a John Deere made especially for it. A full-line of quality equipment, born out of the suggestions and critiques of thousands of superintendents and technicians. From quality mowers and tractors to aerators and utility vehicles. But it doesn’t end there. We supply you with the industry’s best operator manuals, tech literature, and support hotline. We deliver quality parts 365 days a year, with a 99.5% fill-rate overnight. And we offer the JDC™ MasterLease, the most cost-effective way to acquire golf and turf equipment. To see how John Deere can make a difference on your course, call your local John Deere distributor.
Greenville Turf & Tractor 701 Sandy Springs Road Piedmont, SC 29673 1-866-485-8873
7526 Old Nashville Hwy. Murfreesboro, TN 37129 1-877-647-8873
N OTHING R UNS L IKE A D EERE ®
Tennessee Representatives Eastern TN: Trey Warnock, Ph (704) 756-7175 Central & Western TN: Steve Davis, Ph (850) 982-3274
Keep Your Parks and Sports Fields Safe and Playable
Irrigation System Planning and Technical Support Rotors, Valves, Central Control • Parts and Fittings • Landscape Supplies Keep your parks and sports fields safe and playable with irrigation and landscape supplies from your local John Deere Landscapes branch. We offer irrigation planning and technical support, and can assist with system upgrades or renovations. All John Deere Landscapes branches are fully
stocked with the parts you need – and our knowledgeable staff can help you solve any site challenge. We can also recommend qualified professional contractors in your area for installations. Give us a call today – we’re ready to assist you.
Call 800-347-4272 More Than 250 Branches Nationwide In Tennessee
✿ Wholesale Nursery Centers
✿ Eads, 901-465-1431 Franklin, 615-794-4144 ✿ Gallatin, 615-452-9411 ✿ Johnson City, 423-282-8726 ✿ Knoxville, 865-693-3013 Memphis, 901-373-6164 Nashville, 615-254-3100 ✿ Ooltewah, 423-238-7273
www.JohnDeereLandscapes.com
Free Irrigation Catalog: 800-347-4272
I N D E X O F A DV E RT I S E R S Aquatrols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
CA L E N DA R O F E V E N T S March 4-7
Nashville Lawn & Garden Show Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN
April 6
TVSTMA Spring Event Location: Greer Stadium / Nashville Sounds, Nashville, TN
July 8-9
TNLA Conference & Trade Show (Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Assoc.) Location: Chattanooga Convention Center, Chattanooga, TN
July 14
GCSAA Regional Seminar on “Maximizing Turfgrass Disease Control” (Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America) Location: Jackson, MS
July 27-30
TPI Summer Convention & Field Day (Turf Producers International) Location: Manheim, PA
Sept. 24-26
International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo Location: Louisville, KY
Nov. 3-6
PLCAA 25th Green Industry Conference & GIE Preview (Professional Lawn Care Assoc. of America) Location: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC
Nov. 3-6
2004 PGMS School of Grounds Management & Green Industry Expo (Professional Grounds Management Society) Location: Charlotte, NC
January 19-23 2005
STMA Sport Turf Managers Association Annual Conference Location: Phoenix Civic Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Bayer Environmental Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Carolina Green Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Charles Williams & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Covermaster, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Double Springs Grass Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 E & S Soil and Peat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer . . . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Keeling Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 McFall Sod Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Oldham Chemicals Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Orion Sod Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Patten Seed Company/Super Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Prosource One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Quail Valley Grasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Regal Chemical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Smith Turf & Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover Southeastern Turf, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sprigger’s Choice, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Syngenta Turf & Ornamental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Tamanet USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 TifSport Growers Association . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ASSOCIATION NEWS MTGCSA awarded Ashli Thomas a $1,500.00 scholarship last year (2003). She attends The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Winstead Turf Farms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 38
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
Call to speak with a Harrell’s family representative or call toll-free 1-866-245-5559 Or visit our Web site: www.harrells.com
In fact, we’ve always considered customers, employees and suppliers as family. Because we are all connected. Harrell’s has spent years ensuring that you can count on us for quality ingredients, state-of-the-art technology and old-fashioned service. And we’ve come to depend on you for friendship, business and new ideas. That’s a relationship to be proud of – and a family worth growing.
Time.Your Most Important Resource.
So many blades of grass, so little time. When you are responsible for a golf course, it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to meet all the challenges you face. That’s why STI has developed a portfolio of equipment, service and support that is unmatched in the golf industry. As the exclusive distributor of TORO irrigation systems and TORO commercial turf care equipment since 1925, we provide total turf solutions that maximize efficiencies. Time after time.
Office 1.615.726.8811 • Orders 1.800.585.4784 www.smithturf.com