Tennessee Turfgrass - February / March 2005 by leadingedgepubs

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association and the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Drainage Problems

Conference Recap

Spring Transition

F ebruary / March 2 0 0 5

FEATURED ARTICLES

10 16 18 22 24

Analyzing and Correcting Turf Drainage Problems TTA 2005 Conference Recap Spring Transition: To Spray or Not to Spray Reducing the Movement of Transition-Aiding Herbicides Cultural Tips to Control Fungal Diseases in Turf

DEPARTMENTS From the President, Jeff Case

A Message from TVSTMA, Chris Pearl

News from TTA, 2005 Officers & Directors 26 News from TVSTMA, 2005 Leadership Team 28

Green Gatherings, TenneArk Golf Match

Industry News

Calendar of Events

Index of Advertisers

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

JEFF CASE

Thanks to planners, exhibitors, speakers and attendees for a successful 2005 TTA Conference & Show! Many thanks to those who participated in planning and implementing the 2005 TTA Conference and Show. Thank you, as well, to the attendees and vendors who made it possible. I hope all of you enjoyed the new format of the Trade Show. Bill Blackburn (and committee) did an outstanding job, even with the new challenges of setting up a ballroom instead of the exhibit hall format. Overall, the response to the new Trade Show has been very positive. Nearly everyone we talked to had only good things to say about the Ballroom setting. If you did not get a chance to let us know how you feel, please do so as soon as possible. We will be deciding soon whether or not to continue having the Trade Show upstairs. The education portion of the conference was handled perfectly again by Dr. Samples, Dr. Sorochan and committee. We have been very fortunate to have them coordinate this over the years. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been so popular, we will most likely need larger rooms next year, at least for the Golf Course sessions. And yes, we will ask the Opryland folks about having the meeting rooms a little closer in the future. Thanks go out to Jim Uden, Cindy Ray, Donnie Callis and Olene Olive for again helping with preparation and registration. At the time of this writing, it is too soon to have exact numbers, but it appears that there were approximately 450 people in attendance and that our membership is on the increase. This is very encouraging, of course, and we hope it will continue. Your election resulted in the following people being added to the Board of Directors: Monica Cooper(re-elected), Bill Marbet, Brad Erickson, Cory Blair and Bart Cash. See page 26 of this issue of Tennessee Turfgrass for a full listing of your 2005 TTA Board of Directors. Congratulations to all, and I look forward to working with each of you. Additionally, I feel confident that each of these new Board members, just like existing Board members, will be available as contacts when you have comments or questions dealing with TTA.

Jeff Case TTA President T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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TTA Conference & Tradeshow January 4-6, 2005 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 OFFICERS President Mr. Jeff Case Quail Ridge Golf Course (901) 388-9114 Vice President Mr. Bill Francis The Ridges Golf & Country Club (423) 913-2276 Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Bob Hogan The Hogan Company (888) 224-6426 Past President Dan Stump (901) 325-8320 Executive Secretary Jim Uden (615) 591-8286 TTA 2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Cory Blair Mr. Bart Cash Mrs. Monica Lalinde-Cooper Mr. Brad Erickson Mr. Roger Frazier Mr. Bill Marbet Mr. Mickey Lovett Mr. Derek Oglesby Mr. Mitch Parker Mr. Bobby Stringer Mr. Frank Turner Mr. Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mr. Bill Blackburn Mr. Jeff Rumph Mr. Lynn Ray Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan

Alliza

Lebanon Turf

Barenbrug USA

LESCO, Inc.

BASF

Mayes Turf

Bayer Environmental Science BWI Charles Williams & Assoc., Inc. Course Crafters

Mid Tenn Turf Oasis Irrigation, Inc. Pennington Seed Precision Labs

Cultra Turf Specialists

Precision Reel Grinding

Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply

Precision Sports Fields

Double Springs Grass Farms Enviro-Global LLC

ProSource One Quail Valley Grasses

Flowtronex

Regal Chemical

Golf Links

Sigma Organics

Grassroots, Inc. Greenville Turf & Tractor Harrell’s Custom Fertilizers Hendrix & Dail, Inc. Hogan Co. Huntsville Tractor Jackson Sand

SouthEastern Turf, LLC Southern Athletic Fields S.T.I. (Smith Turf & Irrigation) Sur-Line Turf, Inc. Syngenta Professional Products The Andersons TIECO

JRB Controls, Inc.

Turfgrass America

Keeling Company

Turf Systems, Inc.

Ladds

Vermeer of TN Wright Farm

A MESSAGE FROM TVSTMA

is with great appreciation that I am able to write this column thanking my fellow TVSTMA members for electing me as your president for 2005. By now, spring sports are in full swing. Most of us are eagerly anticipating our warm-season grasses breaking dormancy. I am writing this article following four to five days of below-freezing temperatures. I have been monitoring soil temps, which have not dropped below the critical level, yet! I wish everyone the best of luck with the dreaded winterkill. As your president, what I envision for the upcoming year is camaraderie. I want us to use this organization to its fullest. Questions? Are you banging your head on the side of your utility cart? Wondering what to do about certain problems or situations? Amazed by the shape your turf is in, good or bad? Pick up the phone. Call someone. Ask some questions. Tell some stories. I am your friend, confidant and critic. After spending a lot of time and my parents’ money attending college, I have instead gained the most knowledge from you, my fellow sports-turf professionals. A couple of years ago at the STMA national conference, I sat at a table with a few other sports-turf managers and listened to Mr. Steve Wightman, manager at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. He sat and told this small group of up-and-coming managers about nightmare scenarios that he had dealt with over his long career. He didn’t brag or boast. He simply explained cultural practices and how they worked or didn’t work. Most of what he talked about was his mistakes. His reason for doing that? So you and I wouldn’t make those same mistakes. I wish for us all to be more like Mr. Wightman. If you have something that made a difference — a chemical you sprayed, a fertilizer you spread, a tool you invented or adapted to make your job easier — I want to know about it. Let’s be open and forthcoming. We cannot gain anything by being secret. We can help each other, but only with your help. I would like to thank you again, for your faith in my ability to spread the word. I would also like to commend Mr. Billy Clark, for the job he did in 2004. He set out to make this organization “interactive.” We are! Now let’s be FAMILY. So to all my brothers and sisters of turf, I wish the best of luck with the year at hand, and I’m looking forward to hearing about all of your adventures.

Chris Pearl President, TVSTMA T 8

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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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 ©2005 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. POSTMASTER: Send 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) 794-4524.

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By Dennis Hurley, Turf Drainage Co. of America

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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CONTINUED surface-water collection, surface-water transportation, seepage-water collection or seepage-water transportation. A surface-water problem would be defined as any area where standing water or streaming water is a problem. Seepage water, on the other hand, creates a still-wet area after all of the surface water has been removed or where no surface water was ever present. With a seepage problem, the ground remains saturated to the point that it interferes with either the mowability or playability of the hole. Seepage water will be from one of three sources. Some problems are caused by a lack of velocity in surface water. For instance, surface water from somewhere else on the property may have missed a basin and then entered the soil profile in the problem area. In other places, water may fall on such a flat area that the lack of velocity never allows it to stream off, or water may accumulate at such a low rate that it never forms surface water (i.e., from irrigation or in climates where mist/fog is constant). Slope is not the only factor that will determine if surface water will become seepage water. Two other factors are permeability and distance required to travel. For example, an area may have a great slope, where water runs quickly across, but if it must travel across three holes to reach a lake, basin or ditch, some of it will enter the profile and become seepage water. A second source of seepage problems is water that has never moved onto the property as surface water (i.e., from hillside springs). It was surface water somewhere, but there was never an opportunity to collect it as such. Now, the only option is to collect it as seepage. The third problem source is water that is in the profile from a high water table (i.e., a coastal property with a fairway slightly

above the controlling water level). Once the type of water problem (surface or seepage) has been identified, it is then necessary to determine whether or not that problem is due to the existing systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of ability to collect or transport water. For instance, if water is present in an area after rain because a surface inlet is too small or blocked by trash, the problem would be defined as a surface-water collection problem. If, however, the water is standing over a completely open inlet, but the pipe size is too small to carry the volume of water present, this is a surface-water transportation problem. The same analysis would apply to seepage water. Water that saturates the soil profile around a drainage basin with solid side-walls would be defined as a seepage-water collection problem. But a USGA green being drained to a gravel sump that filled with water after a rain would be defined as a seepage-water transportation problem. All drainage problems can be defined within the parameters of the four classes describe above. The key in good drainage is to realize that the problems are almost always a mixture of the above scenarios, with the exception of the isolated water puddle that stands on an impervious cart-path surface. The key to designing an effective drainage system is to address both the surface and seepage issues present. Most drainage systems that fail do so because they rely too heavily on surface inlets to collect seepage water or try to use seepage lines to collect surface water. Designing a drainage system that delivers the maximum impact for the dollars spent requires recognition that the cost of collecting the same water can vary depending on where it is collected. The least expensive water to collect is

The first step in solving drainage problems is to properly identify the type of drainage problem you actually have.

hile this article directly addresses drainage problems on golf courses, the principles and practices of effective and long-lasting drainage solutions as described here are also applicable to sports fields and all other turf and landscape areas.

Analyzing and classifying drainage problems

The first step in solving drainage problems is to properly identify the type of drainage problem you actually have. Drainage problems may be classified into one of four major categories:

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION â&#x20AC;˘ TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

Drainage Problems

streaming or puddled water, while seepage water is the most expensive. Sheet flow is collected at an intermediate cost between streaming and seepage water. For example, water flowing onto a fairway from houses constructed above may be coming from a hill in a relatively compacted stream. Placing a surface inlet directly in its path is much less expensive than waiting until the water dumps onto the fairway and is then turned into seepage water as it loses its velocity and infiltrates the profile.

Collecting the water

Surface water is best collected with open inlets. However, tools such as berms, curbs and V-drains can increase the effectiveness of the inlet by concentrating the sheet flow into stream flow,

CONTINUED

thus reducing the cost to collect. The least effective way to collect surface water is with seepage drainage, which should only be used as a last resort. The rate at which seepage systems collect surface water is quickly reduced by “clogging up” from an accumulation of thatch and contaminants. However, in certain areas – for instance, where catch basins in golf greens, bunkers, athletic fields and other high-use areas are unacceptable -- you may have no other choice. Seepage water from a lack of velocity is the only type of seepage water that can possibly be collected with a surface solution. Thus, before designing a seepage-collection solution for this water (which will be more expensive), it is important to determine if a surfacecollection tool can collect this water before it becomes a seepage problem. Seepage collection tools include seepage lines, permeable basins and curtain drains. The common denominator is that they must be more permeable than the surrounding soil profile to be drained. In almost all cases, the installation of seepage drains in native soils will require the use of a coarse sand backfill as opposed to gravel, which is the common procedure in the golf course industry. The basis of all seepage-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

drainage engineering is a formula developed by Dr. Karl Von Terzaghi, the “Father of Soil Mechanics,” at MIT in 1940. This formula determines the proper backfill material in order to create a stable system. The objective in seepage drainage is to create a system where the water in the saturated soil can move to the drainage medium without carrying fines with it. To do this, the 15% largest particle (d85) must be stopped from moving with the water stream. If the 15% largest particles are stopped, then all of the smaller particles will be held in place behind them. The easiest way to look at this is in relation to the widely used USGA greens specifications, which the USGA revised in 1993. One of the outcomes of this work was an alternative method to greens construction that allowed for the elimination of the choker sand layer. (“The Whys and Hows of Revising the USGA Green Construction Recommendations” by James T. Snow, March/April 1993, pg. 4-6, USGA Green Section Record.) By adopting the Terzaghi formula as the basis for their soil testing, they were able to justify the reduction of the particle sizes in the gravel blanket. You can imagine that if gravel needed to be downsized to match up to a typical greens mix, the native soil will seldom match up to even a downsized gravel. Successful drainage systems will follow the guidelines of this formula in all installations, not just in the construction of greens.

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seepage drainage is the movement of water from a lower to a higher permeability, with the ultimate permeability being an open free-flowing pipe. Routing a pipe from a green into a gravel sump, however, merely dumps the water into a place where it will seep out into a native soil that is a great deal less permeable than the greens mix collecting the water. In short, gravel sumps should never be used as a relief for any drainage pipe.

Transporting the water Additionally, a proper relief must be built for any drainage that is installed. Any drainage system is only as good as its relief. Not only should the reliefs be open and free flowing, but they should also be of adequate depth to serve as a relief for the seepage system, as well as the surface collection systems. Nothing is more wasteful than having to run a new relief parallel to an existing system because the system transporting surface water was run at a shallow depth. Any system that goes to a gravel sump is not drainage. IT IS A STORAGE COMPARTMENT. The definition of

Three main choices exist when it comes to transportation systems: (1) conventional piping, (2) siphon systems and (3) pump systems. Conventional piping simply involves installing pipe on a proper grade, and it is by far the most common transportation system employed. When installing the piping, it is critical to install the pipe deeply enough to not only carry off surface water but to also supply enough relief depth for any seepage installations that will be needed in the future. Siphon systems are patented systems built by the Turf Drainage Co. of

America and allow for the installation of drainage without the need to grade pipe. Siphon systems can provide shorter reliefs for large seepage systems and enable the use of smaller equipment, such as trenchers instead of backhoes. Siphon systems can also be used when the existing slope makes it impossible to build a conventional system that has enough water velocity to be self-cleaning. Pump systems can elevate water to elevations higher than that at which it is collected, and in many cases they can

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION â&#x20AC;˘ TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

Drainage Problems

move water over obstructions or under streets less expensively than conventional reliefs. Pumps can also move larger amounts of water through a given pipe size and can be used to create airspace for more effective seepage systems. These systems, when used in combination with check valves, can make it possible to drain any area, even one that might be at or below sea level. Effective drain plans will use a different mix of these options, depending on the job site. Rolling properties will typically be almost exclusively conventional reliefs, while flat, coastal or rocky properties will contain more siphon and pump systems. As a rule of thumb, no drainage installation should occur until a proper relief has been located or built that is at least 24˝ deep. The choice of deeper reliefs makes the entire system more effective with lower overall costs. Many systems will combine two or more of these transportation systems.

Designing the system

When designing a drainage system, the motto is, “Plan when it is wet, and install when it is dry.” Typically, it is best to plan all potential work before beginning any installation phases. The alternative — planning a hole, installing that plan and then planning and installing the next 14

CONTINUED

area — can produce a final product with more overall transportation footage and, therefore, higher overall costs. Instead, if all areas are planned from the beginning, a relief choice may be possibly chosen to more than one area. The planning process begins with the identification of each area to be drained and recording its location. Next, locate the optimal areas to collect surface water, as well as the tools to be used. No plan, however, is complete at this point. Any surface system will have areas of missed water that now must be collected as seepage water, either from lack of velocity or another type of seepage water as described above. The seepage drainage design will be driven by the owner’s objectives, which may vary in each area, from removing unsightly puddles in an outlying area, to the desire to have the area in “tournament condition” as soon as possible once rain has ceased. In light of these objectives, the design will have to answer the questions below.

How much?

In other words, what spacing should the lines be on? There are no absolutes. Unfortunately, no magical spacing exists that can apply to variations of objectives, soil types, shade and budgets. However,

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

most installation occurs between 10-foot and 25-foot spacings.

How deep?

Depth will be determined by soil type, water type and the relief that is chosen. However, minimum standards would use 24˝ deep reliefs, and no part of any line will ever be less than 18˝. The most effective systems are typically around 22˝, with reliefs up to six feet deep. The most common question from the average observer is, “If our soil is wet only at the top, why do we need to go so deep?” The lower the permeability of the soil, the deeper the column must be to create the hydraulic head to release water.

What direction?

The lines should always be as perpendicular as possible to the flow of the water. After that, the exact patterns will be dictated by the irrigation system lines and the direction that spoils will be removed. Typically, patterns that work perpendicular and parallel to irrigation systems will facilitate the least man-hours to hand-dig across irrigation lines.

What does it consist of?

The best way to build technically correct seepage lines in native soils will almost always require the use of coarse sands

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and geotextiles. Waffle-type systems lend themselves to these construction methods and have a solid 20-year history in the golf course industry, not to mention sports fields and construction fields such as highways. Trenches are typically 5˝ to 7˝ inches wide with the spoils cleaned and hauled away. Finally, backfills will normally utilize sand with infiltration rates of 30˝ to 80˝ per hour. These lines are often topped off with a mix that would have a higher percentage of moisture retention. Sodding of the trench line is recommended in most, but not all, cases. The next step in the planning process is choosing the transportation system or combination of systems to be used. Once this is determined along with the relief points, the length and size of the required transportation line can be determined. At this time, the points of the piping will intersect, and the needed fittings can be determined. Lastly, all these figures will be used to estimate the cubic yards of material that will need to be moved. This figure

will be the basis for estimating total labor hours, the number of workers that will be needed, length of rental equipment and the days the area will be under con-struction. Normally, in-house projects using plywood and shovels to move spoils will be between 1/10th and 3/10ths of a ton per man-hour. Methods using overpacked trenches to facilitate spoils removal with loaders or skid steer equipment can move 8/10ths to 1 ton per man-hour. Experienced crews using tarp systems or conveyor trenchers will typically move between 1 to 1.5 tons per man-hour.

DO:

• Build a system that is a combination of surface and seepage collection. • Run lateral lines as perpendicular to flow as possible. • Have the end of the system open and free-flowing. • Make the depth of pipe deep enough so that it can be used for both seepage drainage as well as surface water.

• Backfill with coarse sand, not gravel. • Make sure your reliefs are always protected. • Plan when it is wet, and install when it is dry.

DON’T:

• Try to collect seepage water with surface basins. • Collect surface water with seepage drainage, unless there are no other options. • Use gravel sumps. • Allow water in a pipe to dump onto another high-use area.

Dennis Hurley is president of Turf Drainage Co. of America. Dennis was the first person to introduce what is now generically called “waffle drainage” to the golf course industry at the GSCAA show in San Francisco in 1985. Since that time, he has received four patents in the field of seepage drainage, and he is the inventor of the Turf Drain Siphon System. T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

TURF TALK

To Spray or Not to Spray

…

Spring Transition of Bermudagrass Overseeded with Perennial Ryegrass By J. Scott McElroy, Ph.D., Turfgrass Weed Scientist; Greg K. Breeden, Extension Assistant; and John C. Sorochan, Ph.D., Turfgrass Scientist, University of Tennessee

verseeding bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass in the transition zone is a good idea for many reasons. It provides a year-round green turf surface, increases winter playability and durability, and potentially provides greater attraction of fall, winter and early-spring play. However, in Tennessee, and the rest of the transition zone, one of the major problems with overseeded bermudagrass is the spring transition. During spring transition from a turf stand dominated by perennial ryegrass to a stand of bermudagrass, maintaining a uniform green turf is very difficult. In

most situations, perennial ryegrass can prevent 100% bermudagrass green-up. In non-overseeded areas, the bermudagrass achieves complete green-up while the overseeded bermudagrass is still partially dormant. However, applying an herbicide to kill the ryegrass can leave empty brown patches until the turf greens up completely. This mottled green/brown turf can lead turf managers to think that simply letting the ryegrass die out on its own would be a better option. Problems with natural transition If you do choose to simply let the perennial ryegrass “burn out,” or

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

transition naturally, several new problems arise, including one that is potentially worse than the mottled turf — clumpy volunteer ryegrass (see photo above). You see, some of the perennial ryegrass never burns out, even in the hottest of summers, and then it often turns into volunteer “clumpy” ryegrass. In fact, in every Tennessee area where turf managers have claimed to have completely transitioned their perennial ryegrass with no herbicide, we have found clumpy ryegrass. Unfortunately, volunteer ryegrass is very difficult to control. Many herbicides and herbicide rates that are used to control

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CONTINUED A third and final problem of a natural transition is that allowing perennial ryegrass to survive early into the summer is detrimental to the overall bermudagrass stand. Due to the potential for winterkill the following winter, bermudagrass needs all the growing time it can get during the summer. Experts agree that allowing 90 to 120 days of favorable growing

conditions for bermudagrass during the summer is a good rule to follow when trying to optimize bermudagrass health. This means that bermudagrass needs good growth during June, July, August and part of September for optimized stand health. Allowing perennial ryegrass to contaminate the bermudagrass stand will decrease stand health by decreasing the

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ryegrass in a dense overseeded stand are not as effective at controlling volunteer ryegrass. While low and mid rates of foramsulfuron (Revolver) and trifloxysulfuron (Monument) can control ryegrass in an overseeded stand, high rates of either herbicide is needed for 100% control of clumpy volunteer ryegrass. A second problem with a natural transition is that you never know when the ryegrass will actually burn out. In a dry spring, the perennial ryegrass could die by mid-May; with a wet, mild summer, however, most of the perennial ryegrass could stick around all summer, thus making the volunteer-ryegrass situation worse.

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Pros and cons of chemical transition

The overseeded ryegrass in this research plot has not been removed from the bermudagrass.

In contrast, the ryegrass in this plot has been chemically removed, leaving a mottled appearance to the turf.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

Let’s start with the cons. The main negative is that, even when you use herbicides to remove the perennial ryegrass, it is difficult to maintain 100% green turf cover. Ideally, the perennial grass would die out slowly, while the bermudagrass just takes over. However, the herbicide that provides the slowest kill — pronamide (Kerb) — often does not achieve 100% control, which prevents a seamless transition. While the ryegrass is dying, a cool period with high cloud cover can leave the bermudagrass stagnating, struggling to enter a period of vigorous growth. A weather pattern such as this can leave mottled green-andbrown turf. Newer herbicides in the sulfonylurea family — such as trifloxysulfuron (Monument) and foramsulfuron (Revolver) — can provide a complete elimination of the perennial ryegrass too quickly, with little chance for achieving a seamless transition. Research is being conducted to evaluate lower use rates of sulfonylurea herbicides with repeat applications.

Your best options The first thing you should do is remember that overseeding with perennial ryegrass is primarily for aesthetics, usually to improve the appearance of dormant bermudagrass (to attract more winter play on your golf course), or to create a more resilient surface for the fall and early spring football and baseball seasons. However, the additional wear tolerance provided by perennial ryegrass is minimal, at best. Instead, your primary concern should be the health of your bermudagrass. If you lose your bermudagrass base in an athletic-field or golf-course situation, wear tolerance will decrease during the overseeded time during the fall, winter and spring. Also, allowing the perennial ryegrass to linger longer than it should will create a situation that can harm

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CONTINUED bermudagrass health. A decrease in overall health of the bermudagrass can increase the propensity for secondary problems such as winterkill. So here is what you do. First, plan your spring transition somewhere between May 15 and June 15. If you try to transition any earlier than May 15, the bermudagrass can stagnate and not fill in fast enough. Any later than June 15 is encroaching too far into the optimum bermudagrass-growing season. Second, determine why you need the

overseeding in the spring. Do you have a late spring/early summer tournament, spring baseball/softball season or spring training for football? After your main event is completed, chemically remove your overseeded grass and get the bermudagrass going. Third, face facts — if you’ve got the money to buy the seed, you’ve got the money to chemically remove it. So take control of the situation, remove the ryegrass on your time schedule, and optimize the growing potential of your bermudagrass. T

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Verti-Drain Sales

Primary herbicides utilized for removing overseeded perennial ryegrass in bermudagrass turf. Product Name Corsair Kerb Manor, Blade Monument Revolver TranXit

Generic Name chlorsulfuron pronamide metsulfuron trifloxysulfuron foramsulfuron rimsulfuron

Rate 1 to 3 oz./a 1.5 to 3.0 lb./a 0.5 to 1.0 oz./a 0.3 to 0.56 oz./a 17.4 fl oz./a 0.5 to 1.0 oz./a

Transition Speed 2-3 weeks 3-6 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks 2-3 weeks

Drill & Fill Aerification

APPLIED RESEARCH

Reducing the Down-Slope Movement of Transition-Assisting Herbicides By Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Weed Science; and Dan B. Ricker, John B. Willis and David McCall, Graduate Students and Research Specialist; Virginia Tech

the seasons change, so does bermudagrass in the transition zone. Prior to winter, cooler weather forces bermudagrass into dormancy. Common golf-course management practices for dormant bermudagrass is to overseed with perennial ryegrass, providing year-round green color and playability in the transition zone. The next spring, however, the mature perennial ryegrass shades the bermudagrass stolons and competes for nutrients and other resources, limiting bermudagrass growth later in the summer. In areas of the transition zone where temperatures are adequate for the growth of both bermudagrass and perennial ryegrass during the summer, transition herbicides may be used to eliminate unwanted perennial ryegrass, providing desired bermudagrass turf. Depending on location, maintenance budget and personal and clientele expectations, determining the proper transition mechanism is important for an effective transition.

Virginia Tech researchers conducted field trials to evaluate movement of herbicides in surface runoff water. Distance of Observed Perennial Ryegrass Injury due to Down-slope Movement of Four Transition Herbicides 4

Rationale for research

Methods Five transition-assisting herbicides were evaluated for injury to perennial ryegrass: Kerb® (pronamide), Manor™ (metsulfuron), 22

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

Farmington CC 2004

Distance moved (m)

3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 .5 0

Monument 0.3 oz/A 0.6 oz/A

TranXit 1oz/A

Manor 0.5 oz/A

Kerb 1 lb/A

Figure 1: Monument, TranXit and Manor do not move down slope and injure neighboring perennial ryegrass as much as Kerb. Distance of Observed Perennial Ryegrass Injury due to Down-slope Movement of Three Transition Herbicides – Farmington CC 2004 6 Distance moved (m)

Recent registrations of Monument™ (trifloxysulfuron sodium), Revolver™ (foramsulfuron) and TranXit® (rimsulfuron) for control of cool-season turf in bermudagrass increased the selective weed-control options for transition herbicides. Golf-course superintendents and turfgrass managers can now choose herbicides that can fit their individual situation, offering more control with regards to timing, application rates and sequential applications to provide the fastest, most unnoticeable transition. As a result of previously documented observations and data concerning injury to non-target turf from surface-water runoff, trials were initiated to determine if the newly released herbicides showed similar surface mobility compared to products already on the market. Acquiring data about the potential problems associated with herbicidal runoff provides valuable information to golf course superintendents and turf managers who are selecting chemicals for transitioning their overseeded turf back to bermudagrass. Knowledge about the potential injury involved will also dictate when applications should be made and at which rates are most effective, while reducing potential risks of mobility.

Virginia Tech 2003

5 4 3 2 1 0

Flazasulfuron Monument oz/AKerb 0.5 oz/A 1.5 oz/A 3.0 oz/A 0.3 oz/A 1 lb/A

Figure 2: Flazasulfuron 25DF causes more injury down slope when applied at higher rates.

CONTINUED Monument (trifloxysulfuron sodium), TranXit (rimsulfuron) and Flazasulfuron 25DF (flazasulfuron). Field studies were conducted in 2003 at Blacksburg, VA, and in 2004 at Charlottesville, VA. Chemical treatments were applied when soil was at or near soil-water field capacity, on uniform slopes of approximately 7% to 11%. All herbicides were applied at label recommended rates for golf fairway transition. Irrigation or natural rainfall occurred within four hours of treatment at both locations.

Results Monument, TranXit and Manor did not injure perennial ryegrass as far down slope as Kerb or Flazasulfuron 25DF. Herbicide mobility increases with increased soil-saturation levels and herbicide rates. For example, Flazasulfuron 25DF injured perennial ryegrass twice as far down slope when applied at twice the recommended rate. Both sites in these studies were saturated with water four hours prior to herbicide treatment (a worst-case scenario). Regional data and superintendent observations indicate that areas of thin bermudagrass base or areas that are compacted tend to be more prone to contributing to herbicide movement in surface-water runoff than thick, well-maintained bermudagrass. Thus, golf course superintendents should be particularly careful when treating up-slope roughs that are along cart paths. These areas are typically compacted and may contribute to lateral herbicide mobility.

Significance to the industry The following recommendations will limit lateral mobility of transitionassisting herbicides on your golf course or athletic field: • Do not treat when soils are saturated or during rainy weather. • Do not treat if rainfall is expected within a few days. • Avoid treating up-slope from sensitive turf such as putting greens.

• If you are concerned about potential movement, irrigate the treated area lightly about four to eight hours after treatment. • Use Revolver, TranXit, Manor or Monument instead of Kerb when treating in sensitive areas. • If possible, avoid treating areas that have a S504-0134M_Tenessee.qxd 1/6/05 thin bermudagrass base or are compacted.

• Use the lowest effective rate, even if it means you must treat the weed twice. • When applied properly, most herbicides are not likely to cause injury to neighboring plants. Always read and follow label instructions 3:09 PM whenPage using1 any pesticide. T

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Contact Scotts at 608-215-3918 or Landmark Seed at 1-800-268-2379 or visit www.scottsproseed.com to find out more.

Scotts Seed 1/2 page island - 4/C Swanson Russell Associates S504-0134M

TURF TIPS

Cultural Tips to Control Fungal Diseases in Turf By Liz Nutter, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications

matter where their turf is — whether on a golf course, athletic field, sod farm or a private home lawn — turf managers must remain constantly vigilant to anticipate and prevent potential challenges to the grasses under their care. Such a pro-active approach is particularly important to thwart fungal diseases — such as dollar spot, brown patch, Helminthosporium leaf spot, Pythium blight and spring dead spot — which can spread rapidly once established. Fortunately, careful attention

to management practices can often head off fungal diseases before they can become a major problem.

Rationale for cultural controls Disease pathogens are always present in turf, but they require the right temperature — and, more importantly, the right moisture levels — to cause actual disease. “Turfgrass fungi require free moisture in order to cause disease,” says Dr. Lane Tredway, plant pathologist at North Carolina State University. “As a

result, most diseases are encouraged by excessive irrigation, poor soil drainage, soil compaction or anything else that increases the amount of water on top of the turf.” Cultural controls are very effective for management of turfgrass diseases, says Tredway. “Overall, management practices that create a healthy, vigorous turf will also reduce disease development. Plants use a complex system, somewhat similar to a human’s immune system, to defend themselves from disease. When the turf is stressed due to improper management practices, the defense system breaks down and the plant becomes more susceptible to disease. In many situations, proper cultural practices can eliminate the need for fungicides.”

Fungus-fighting tactics Agro Distribution, LLC d/b/a ProSource One

Cal Hill – 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

Mike P. Swindle – West Tennessee Sales 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 P.O. Box 119 Springfield, TN 37172 P: 800/535-4552 F: 615/384-3364 M: 865/567-4210 E: kjhill@prosourceone.com

Jeff Easley – Mid-Tennessee Sales 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

The cultural-management tips listed (on the following page) can help you greatly reduce — perhaps even eliminate — the need for costly fungicide applications. • Always avoid prolonged leaf wetness.

CONTINUED

Irrigate in early morning, on dry, breezy days when the grass will dry quickly. Avoid watering late in the afternoon or in the evening, when leaf moisture is likely to linger. • Improve drainage to prevent standing water on top of the soil. • Aerify adequately to reduce soil compaction, which can create drainage problems. • Do not mow when the turf is wet. • Keep mower blades sharp to prevent tearing of turf foliage, which opens the blades to infection. • To avoid spreading an existing disease, wash tractor tires and equipment before entering a non-infected area. • Remove clippings from infected areas of turf. • In general, irrigate deeply but infrequently. • Whenever possible, select varieties of grass that are resistant to diseases that are common in your locale or that have infected your fields in the past. T

From the savage thrashing of rugby, to the deep divots of a weekend golfer, one of our 36 varieties will be the right turfgrass for your application. Call us today 800-627-8816

R E NSE EWAS RF CR OH M L TI HNE ETST A Announcing TTA’s Officers & Directors for 2005 PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

Jeff Case Quail Ridge Golf Course Bartlett, TN (901) 388-9114 Fax: (901) 388-9151

Bill Francis The Ridges Golf & CC Jonesborough, TN (423) 913-2276 Fax: (423) 913-2903

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Bob Hogan The Hogan Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-6424

Chicksaw Country Club Memphis, TN (901) 325-8320 Fax: (615) 384-6424

PAST PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Dan Stump

Jim Uden

Tennessee Turfgrass Association (615) 591-8286

DIRECTORS Cory Blair Rarity Bay Golf & CC Sweetwater, TN (423) 884-3007 Fax: (423) 884-3013

Bart Cash Jackson Country Club Jackson, TN (731) 668-7486 Fax: (731) 668-7342

Monica Lalinde Cooper Smyna Municipal Golf Course Smyrna, TN (615) 459-9722 Fax: (615) 459-9776

Brad Erickson

Richland Country Club Nashville, TN (615) 370-0060 Fax: (615) 371-8452

Inc. Columbia, TN (800) 837-8062 Fax: (931) 380-0145

Roger Frazier

Derek Oglesby

Cattails at Meadowview Kingsport, TN (423) 578-6603 Fax: (423) 578-6607

Colonial Country Club Cordova, TN (901) 377-7349 Fax: (901) 377-0867

Mickey Lovett

Mitch Parker

Syngenta Prof. Products Paris, TN (731) 642-0689 Fax: (731) 642-0684

Ladd’s Memphis, TN (901) 324-8801 Fax: (901) 324-6814

Bill Marbet

Bobby Stringer

Southern Athletic Fields,

Germantown Country Club

Germantown, TN (901) 754-7755 Fax: (901) 754-3866

Scott Wicker Black Creek Club Chattanooga, TN (423) 822-9875 Fax: (423) 821-2582

Frank Turner Cochran McDonalds 2501 Magnolia Ave. Knoxville, TN 37914 (865) 523-8828 Fax: (865) 219-0004

TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Bill Blackburn

Jeff Rumph

Dr. Dennis Shepard

Smith Turf & Irrigation Co. Nashville, TN (615) 726-8811 Fax: (615) 242-3274

Gatlinburg Golf Course Gatlinburg, TN (865) 453-3638 Fax: (865) 429-1945

Syngenta Prof. Products Franklin, TN (615) 790-3281 Fax: (615) 599-3263

Lynn Ray

Dr. Tom Samples

Dr. John Sorochan

Golf Management Group Brentwood, TN (615) 373-9400 Fax: (615) 370-2585

University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-2595 Fax: (865) 974-6421

University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-7324 Fax: (865) 974-8850

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

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NEWS FROM THE TVSTMA

Meet Your TVSTMA Team Leaders for 2005 At the TVSTMA business meeting held in Chattanooga on November 18, 2004, the following new officers for 2005 were elected. PRESIDENT Chris Pearl Nashville Sounds Nashville, TN (615) 242-4371 chrispearl@nashvillesounds.com PRESIDENT ELECT (2006) Al Ray Maury County Parks and Rec. Columbia, TN (931) 388-0303 Fax: (931) 381-3265 aray@maurycounty-tn.gov COMMERCIAL VICE PRESIDENT Bill Blackburn Smith Turf and Irrigation Nashville, TN (615) 726-8811 Fax: (615) 242-3274 bill.blackburn@smithturf.com SECRETARY/TREASURER Bob Hogan Hogan Seed Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-6424 PAST PRESIDENT Billy Clark Clarkland Sports Fields Division Fairview, TN (615) 799-8664 Fax: (615) 799-8664 clarklnd@bellsouth.net THE GODFATHER Bill Marbet Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. Columbia, TN (800) 837-8062 Fax: (931) 380-0145 bill@mulemix.com 28

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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GREEN GATHERINGS

First Annual TenneArk Turf-Club Golf Match Fostered Friendships, Education and Fun By W. Dan Strunk

he ever-evolving world of turfgrass management places an emphasis on communicating and socializing between superintendents, industry, researchers and educators. In order to promote such communication and friendship, Dr. John Sorochan (University of Tennessee) and Dr. Doug Karcher (University of Arkansas) devised a plan to jump-start a relationship between the University of Tennessee and University of Arkansas turf clubs. On October 14, 2004, the TenneArk Turf Cup was born. The TenneArk Turf Cup is a competition between undergraduate turf-club members at the universities of Tennessee and Arkansas. The game consists of match-play-format golf governed by USGA rules. The winning team receives a gold-painted putting-green cup cutter with a red (Arkansas) and orange (Tennessee) handle as the trophy. The year and the winning team’s university logo are also inscribed on the cup. On Thursday, October 14, 2004, the two teams arrived in Nashville at the Golf House of Tennessee, which provided

accommodations for the event. After a restless night, the teams were greeted by Joe Kennedy, superintendent of Vanderbilt’s Legends Club and principal of Elcot Golf. Mr. Kennedy gave the students a tour of the Little Course, discussing all of the research currently in progress, and led a question-and-answer session. The tour concluded with a look at Vanderbilt’s new golf-practice facility. Lunch was then provided by Syngenta at the Legends Club. With lunch finished and warm-ups concluded, turf-club members lined up on the first tee of the Ironhorse Course at the Legends Club to initiate the First Annual TenneArk Turf-Club Golf Match. The pairings were as follows (UA vs. UT): Mark Brown vs. Loren Frost, Evan Dill vs. Todd Westall, Chris Gast vs. Jake Godsey, Josh Folkers vs. Russell Lutz, and Scott McVey vs. Paul Paschall. With great intensity, players managed to keep matches close. The tournament ended in a draw, with both schools splitting matches 2 to 2. Thus, the First Annual TenneArk Turf Cup

Joe Kennedy, superintendent of Vanderbilt’s Legends Club and principal of Elcot Golf, leads a question-and-answer session for the universities’ turf-club students.

Ten students from the turf clubs at the University of Tennessee and the University of Arkansas competed at the first annual TenneArk Turf Cup.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

CONTINUED

Golf Tournament ended in a picture-perfect manner; no teams lost, and new friendships were born. Many individuals put great effort into making this new tradition a success. Special thanks to Mr. Dick Horton of the Tennessee Golf House, Mr. Joe Kennedy and Mr. Jerry Craven of Elcot Golf and Vanderbiltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legends Club, Mr. Jim Uden (executive director of Tennessee Turfgrass Association), and Mr. Mickey Lovett of Syngenta for providing pre-match lunch. Additional thanks go to Dr. John Sorochan and Dr. Doug Karcher for initiating and planning this event. Finally, thanks to the graduate advisors, Travis Teuton and Dan Strunk, for helping to make this event a success. T

Dr. John Sorochan and Dr. Doug Karcher with the TenneArk Turf Cup trophy, a gold-painted putting-green cup cutter with a red (Arkansas) and orange (Tennessee) handle.

R E I SN EDAURSCTHR YL I NN EE W S S John Deere Landscapes University

Coming to Nashville, Feb. 22-24 John Deere Landscapes will host one of its John Deere Landscapes University programs at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville on February 22-24. Open to all landscape and irrigation professionals, the program will feature three days of educational seminars and workshops with nationally known speakers. The two-hour and four-hour courses cover a range of landscaperelated subjects, including landscape irrigation, low voltage lighting and water gardening, business management, drainage and erosion control, turfgrass maintenance, brick paving, snow removal and many other topics. Contractors receive diplomas of attendance and complimentary breakfasts and lunches. The enrollment fee is $299 per person for each three-day event or 20,000 John Deere Land-scapes Partners Program Points. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation and lodging. For more information visit www. JohnDeereLandscapes.com or call Damian Zawacki at (248) 588-2100, ext. 203.

UT Student Awarded Trip to International Irrigation Show Michelle Bunch, a University of Tennessee student who promotes water conservation through the use of reclaimed water, won a trip to the 25th International Irrigation Show in Tampa, held November 14-16, 2004. The award was granted by the Irrigation Association Education Foundation (IAEF). Bunch’s trip included full registration to the irrigation show, as well as travel and three nights’ lodging. Bunch’s instructor, Gary Menendez, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, also received a show registration and complimentary hotel stay. Students were asked to submit a paper or project that encourages water management and conservation related to irrigation systems used in landscape or agriculture sites. “As we continue to purify wastewater and use reclaimed water, it pays for itself through environmental benefits that future generations can use, enjoy and benefit from,” Bunch said in her winning paper. For more information on the IAEF, visit www.iaef.org, or the Irrigation Association, www.irrigation.org.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

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RESEARCH LINES

I N D E X O F ADVERTISERS Aquatrols......................................................................... 9 Blalock Machinery ........................................................ 33 BWI of Memphis............................................................ 20

CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 3-6 Nashville Lawn & Garden Show Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN April 15-20

Covermaster, Inc........................................................... 21 E & S Soil and Peat........................................................ 21 Flowtronex PSI.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Greenville Turf & Tractor......................... Inside Front Cover Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer........................Inside Back Cover K-Rain Manufacturing Corp............................................ 19 Keeling Company........................................................... 29 Kesmac, Inc.................................................................... 3

July 6-8 TNLA Conference & Trade Show (Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association) Location: Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, TN July 26-29 TPI Summer Convention and Field Day (Turfgrass Producers International) Location: Grand Summit Resort, Park City, UT August 11-13

Southern Nursery Association’s Showcase of Horticulture Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

Sept. 30- Oct. 1

Middle Tennessee Nursery Association Trade Show Location: McMinnville Civic Center, McMinnville, TN

Oct. 14-16

International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Exposition Location: Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville, KY

Ladd’s........................................................................... 28 Mid Tenn Turf, Inc.

Oldham Chemicals Co.................................................... 27 Patten Seed Company.................................................... 29 Prosource One............................................................... 24 Quail Valley Farm, Inc...................................................... 5 Smith Turf & Irrigation Southeastern Turf, LLC

American Society of Golf Course Architects 59th Annual Meeting Location: Monterey, CA

Back Cover 25

Sprigger’s Choice, Inc. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Syngenta Turf & Ornamental...................... 27 The Scotts Company / Landmark Seed....... 23 Turf Mountain Sod, Inc............................... 34

Quality Cool Season Grasses 3277 Chimney Rock Road Hendersonville, NC 28792

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Turf Solutions, Inc...................................... 31 Turfgrass America..................................... 25 Winstead Turf Farms, Inc.. . . . . . . . 13 & 15

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Call to speak with a Harrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team member or call toll-free 1-866-245-5559 Or visit our Web site: www.harrells.com

We still operate on the principle that two heads are better than one and that many hands make light work. We bring our very top experts to your turf table, then custom blend fertilizer to meet your specific needs, weather and usage. We call regularly to check on your progress, stop by to see how else we might help and keep our Web site updated for your convenience. Team Harrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is working for you.

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