The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association and the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association
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 2008
F E AT U R E D A RT I C L E S
12 18 24 30 36
12 Recent Event
Recent Event — 42nd Annual TTA Conference & Trade Show Cover Story — The Bentgrass-toUltradwarf Investment Turf Talk — Treating Water-Repellent, Sand-Based Sports Fields
18 Cover Story
In the Landscape — Encore Azaleas Turf Tips — Offseason Improvements
D E PA RT M E N T S
4
From the TTA President, Bob Hogan
6
Message from the TVSTMA, Stephen Callis
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News from TTA
10
News from TVSTMA
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Calendar of Events
38
Index of Advertisers
38
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
30
Landscape
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FROM THE PRESIDENT Bob Hogan
PLOWING FORWARD
INTO 2008 ello from your new president. I know you are wondering how I got to be president when we had so many others to choose from. It is only because the “others” were running for the President of the United States, and I was the only one left. With that said, let me take this time to thank the past presidents of TTA — especially last year’s president, Bill Francis — for their leadership in directing this great organization. I only hope that I can do the same. Let me also take this time to thank last year’s board of directors, officers and advisory members for giving of their time and direction. Thank you, men and women, for a job well done! As your new president, I will continue to lead the work set forth by you, the TTA. As your board of directors and officers, we will continue the directions set out in our mission statement. We will continue to promote our turfgrass industry, offer education opportunities that will make you even better professionals in your field of “play” and suggest ways of funding scholarships and research for our great state. One of the main objectives of the TTA is to create a statewide conference and trade show for the benefit of its members. The 42nd Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show (held January 13–15, 2008) was a great success. We had more attendees and vendors than ever before. The education sessions were excellent, and the trade show was even better than last year. Thank you for making it a success. Those of you who could not attend, you missed a great meeting, and we hope to see you next year. In a few weeks, your board of directors, officers and advisory members will meet to plow a new furrow for 2008. We need your help. If you would like to serve on a committee, please let us know. If you know of any way we could make our association better, please let us know. If you know of new directions that we need to take, please let us know. We will do our best to serve. Please call me at 1-888-224-6426. There is a passage of Scripture found in Luke 9:62 where Jesus states, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service…” So let us look forward and plow into 2008 and make our association even better than it is today.
H
Bob Hogan
TTA President
6
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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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 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email:info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editor Mr. Bobby Stringer TTA OFFICERS President Bob Hogan The Hogan Company (888) 224-6426 Vice President Bobby Stringer Germantown Country Club (901) 754-7755 Secretary/Treasurer Cory Blair Rarity Bay Golf & CC (423) 884-3007 Past President Bill Francis The Ridges Golf & CC (423) 913-2276 Executive Secretary Mr. Jim Uden (615) 591-8286 TTA 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Paul Carter Ms. Shelia Finney Mr. Bill Marbet Mr. Bob McCurdy Mr. Scott McNeer Mr. Tommy Mittlesteadt Mr. Scott Morgan Mr. Mitch Parker Mr. Scott Severance Mr. Robert Stroud Mr. Jay Willis TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mr. Bill Blackburn Dr. J. Scott McElroy Mr. Lynn Ray Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan
FROM THE TVSTMA Stephen Callis
HELLO, TVSTMA Members! am humbled and honored to serve as your new president of TVSTMA. As your president, I hope that we can continue to grow and improve our organization. I would like to thank the members who are serving in the various leadership positions within the TVSTMA this year. I have several goals for the TVSTMA to accomplish this year. One of those goals is to see every member attend at least one TVSTMA meeting in 2008. We have four meetings scheduled this year. On April 30, 2008, we will be in Jackson at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex. In June, we will meet in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee. The August meeting will be held at McCallie School in Chattanooga, and we will finish the year in Nashville in October. Details on each meeting will be sent to all members and prospective members at least 30 days before the meeting. We will also send out email notices, so please provide us with an email address if you have not already done so. By the time you read this, you should have already received a renewal reminder for your 2008 membership dues. If you have not already sent in your payment, I encourage you to do so. The larger our organization is, the more benefits that each member receives from it. I welcome each and every member to contact me if you have any ideas on helping build this organization. You can call me at 1-888-224-6426, or send me an email at stephen@thehogancompany.us.
I
Stephen Callis TVSTMA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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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 Š2008 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, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
N E W S F R O M T H E T TA Announcing TTA’s Officers & Directors for 2008 PRESIDENT Bob Hogan The Hogan Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-6424 thehogancompany@att.net
VICE PRESIDENT Bobby Stringer Germantown CC Germantown, TN (901) 754-7755 Fax: (901) 754-3866 bstringer@germantowncountryclub.com
SECRETARY/TREASURER Cory Blair cblaircgcs@charter.net
PAST PRESIDENT Bill Francis The Ridges Golf & CC Jonesborough, TN (423) 913-2276 Fax: (423) 913-2903 wlf20@comcast.net
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Jim Uden Tennessee Turfgrass Assoc. 400 Franklin Road Franklin, TN 37069 (615) 591-8286 Fax: (615) 790-8600 tnturfgrass@aol.com
DIRECTORS Paul Carter Bear Trace @ Harrison Bay Harrison, TN (423) 344-6374 Fax: (423) 344-6281
Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms Dyer, TN (731) 692-3515 Fax: (731) 692-3596
Scott Morgan Shelton Landscape Supply Hixson, TN (423) 842-1507 Fax: (423) 843-2640
Robert Stroud The Turf Doctor Franklin, TN (615) 791-7779 Fax: (775) 252-0767
Shelia Finney Gaylord Springs Golf Links Nashville, TN (615) 458-1714 Fax: (615) 871-5906
Scott McNeer Spring Creek Ranch Collierville, TN (901) 850-1129 Fax: (901) 850-9582
Mitch Parker Ladd’s Memphis, TN (901) 324-8801 Fax: (901) 324-6814
Jay Willis Glen Eagle Golf Course Millington, TN (901) 508-1986 Fax: (901) 874-5630
Bill Marbet Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. Columbia, TN (800) 837-8062 Fax: (931) 380-0145
Tommy Mittlesteadt Ladd’s Cookeville, TN (931) 526-4211 Fax: (931) 520-3444
Scott Severance Fox Den Country Club Knoxville, TN (865) 966-2531 Fax: (865) 675-5260
TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
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Bill Blackburn Smith Turf & Irrigation Co. Nashville, TN (615) 726-8811 Fax: (615) 242-3274
Lynn Ray Golf Management Group Brentwood, TN (615) 373-9400 Fax: (615) 370-2585
Dr. Dennis Shepard Syngenta Prof. Products Franklin, TN (615) 790-3281 Fax: (615) 599-3263
Dr. Scott McElroy Auburn University Auburn, AL (865) 974-4324 Fax: (865) 974-1947
Dr. Tom Samples University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-2595 Fax: (865) 974-6421
Dr. John Sorochan University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-7324 Fax: (865) 974-8850
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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NEWS FROM THE TVSTMA Meet Your TVSTMA Team Leaders for 2008 On Tuesday afternoon, January 15, 2008, at the TVSTMA business meeting held at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, TN, the following TVSTMA officers for 2008 were elected. PRESIDENT Stephen Callis The Hogan Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-6424 stephen@thehogancompany.us PRESIDENT ELECT (2009) Chris Crockett City of Union City Turf Management Union City, TN (731) 885-8838 crockett71@hotmail.com
COMMERCIAL VICE PRESIDENT Position Vacant – Please call Stephen Callis at (888) 224-6425 if you are interested in serving. TREASURER Bob Elliott Ewing Irrigation Nashville, TN (800) 239-9547 Fax: (615) 244-9871 belliott@ewing1.com
PAST PRESIDENT Al Ray Maury County Parks and Rec. Columbia, TN (931) 388-0303 Fax: (931) 381-3265 aray@maurycounty-tn.gov
SECTION PROGRAMS West: Kenny Franks Middle: Wayne Lindsey Upper East: Tom Garner Lower East: Don Zodun COMMUNICATIONS/ PUBLICITY Robin Francis
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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RECENT EVENT
HIGHLIGHTS FROM TTA’s 42nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW, JANUARY 13–15, 2008
Trade show participation — by both vendors and visitors — grew again this year, filling the hotel ballroom with turf equipment, supplies, services and eager “shoppers.”
he 2008 Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s Annual Conference and Trade Show continued the upward growth trend set by last year’s event, attracting even more attendees and trade show exhibitors this year. Held January 13–15 at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, the exceptional education sessions (coordinated by the TTA’s Education and Programs Committee and Dr. Tom Samples, with The University of Tennessee’s turfgrass program) and the participant-friendly trade show once again drew rave reviews from all participants. At the TTA’s Annual Business Meeting and Awards Breakfast on Tuesday morning, outgoing TTA president Bill Francis was commended for his exceptional leadership over the past two years. Outgoing board members Roger Frazier, Mickey Lovett, Bob McCurdy, Tommy Middlestead, Mitch Parker and Frank Turner were also recognized and thanked for their dedicated service.
McCurdy, Middlestead and Parker were re-elected for another two-year term, while three golf course superintendents — Paul Carter (The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay), Scott Severance (Fox Den Country Club) and Jay Willis (Glen Eagle Golf Course) — were elected to fill the remaining vacated slots. Attendees also delightedly congratulated this year’s recipient of TTA’s Professional of the Year Award, Rodney Lingle, superintendent at Memphis Country Club. Later that afternoon, during the TTA board meeting, the following executive committee was elected: Bob Hogan, president; Bobby Stringer, vice president; and Cory Blair, secretary/treasurer. If you missed this year’s event, be sure to mark your calendars for January 11–13, 2009, when the TTA celebrates its 43rd Annual Conference and Trade Show again at the Cool Springs Marriott.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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T
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
CONTINUED
Bob Hogan, incoming TTA president (right), presents a commemorative plaque to Bill Francis, outgoing TTA president, in recognition of Bill’s dedicated service.
Rodney Lingle, golf course superintendent at Memphis Country Club, receives the 2008 TTA Professional of the Year Award from Bobby Stringer, chair of TTA’s Nominations Committee.
Jim Uden, TTA executive director, and Cindy Ray (left) and Olene Olive (right), assist conference attendees at the registration desk.
Above, Bill Francis (2006-2007 TTA President) welcomes attendees to the 2008 TTA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, January 15.
TTA’s new executive committee includes (left to right): Cory Blair, secretary/treasurer; Bobby Stringer, vice president; Bob Hogan, president; and Bill Francis, past president.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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RECENT EVENT TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW
JANUARY 13 – 15, 2008 A Very Special Thanks to Our Trade Show Exhibitors!
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Bayer Environmental Science
Johnson Golf & Equipment Services
BWI Companies, Inc.
Jones Aeration Company
Champion Turf Farms
Keeling Company
Charles Williams & Assoc., Inc.
Ladd’s
Cleary Chemical
Mid Tenn Turf, Inc.
Club Cadet Commercial
Oasis Irrigation, Inc.
Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply
Pennington Seed Co.
Double Springs Grass Farms
Precision Sports Fields
Emerald Isle
ProSource One
Emma Sales
Regal Chemical Co.
Ewing Irrigation Co.
Shelton Landscaping
G2 Turftools
Sigma Organics
Grassroots, Inc.
Smith Turf & Irrigation (STI)
Greenville Turf & Tractor
Southeastern Turf, LLC
Hanes Geo Components
Southern Athletic Fields
Harrell’s Custom Fertilizers
Sur-Line Turf
Hill Manufacturing Co.
Syngenta
Huntsville Tractor & Equipment
TGCSA
ITT Flowtronex
The Hogan Company
Jackson Sand
The Pond Lady
John Deere Golf
Tri Green Equipment
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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CONTINUED
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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CN OE VWESR FSRTOOMR YT H E T T A
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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CONTINUED
A
golf course superintendent recently emailed us to ask, “Do you have any information or studies about the cost savings when a golf course converts from bentgrass to an ultradwarf bermudagrass?� This excellent question is one that we have been asked many times, given the large number of clubs with bentgrass putting greens that have either converted to an ultradwarf or are considering it. Answering the question with any accuracy at all would require a detailed financial survey of golf courses that have gone through this process. No survey or reliable data exists that we know of.
If the average cost of bentgrass and ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens did exist, it would be simple to calculate the difference in cost. But we don’t think this answer alone would be satisfactory. Averages do not tell the whole story. The remainder of this article will explore the financial aspects to consider of a bentgrass-to-ultradwarf conversion.
Types of courses converting
The first golf courses in the Southeast region that converted from bentgrass to ultradwarf bermudagrass were courses that just wanted something better. They were not seeking perfection, but for a variety of reasons, they were unable to provide bentgrass putting greens that met expectations most of the time. Typically, these were courses with smaller budgets and course infrastructures that were far from ideal. Please note that these courses did not make the switch with the goal of saving money. They wanted better putting greens. They wanted more sustainable
COVER STORY
Sustainability and a higher standard of quality — not cost savings — are the primary reasons that golf courses are converting their putting greens from bentgrass to ultradwarf bermudagrass in record numbers throughout the region.
greens that were less likely to die in the summer. In many cases, savings were realized in eliminating or reducing life-support tools, including no fan costs, fewer fungicide applications, less hand-watering and less sodding/plugging in the fall. By spending less in these areas, some golf courses superintendents have decided to reinvest these savings into the tools and techniques to improve playability. The next wave of courses that are converting are upper-end private clubs. Once again, saving money is not the driving force. The desire to be able to peak all parts of the course in the summer and provide the combination of firmness and green speed that is associated with championship putting surfaces are the reasons these clubs are converting. What may be saved on managing for plant health in the summer will be spent on maximizing playability in the summer.
Analysis
The best way to determine possible cost savings by converting from bentgrass to an ultradwarf bermudagrass is to complete the following analysis. 20
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• Is your course seeking something that is less difficult to keep alive in the summer due to infrastructure problems, or is your course seeking to improve playability? If the goal is to create a more sustainable putting-green turf and to overcome infrastructure problems, there can be a cost savings in switching to an ultradwarf bermudagrass. If the goal is to improve firmness and green speed in the summer, do not plan on any cost savings. If savings do occur, treat them as a pleasant surprise. • Does your course use fans, and if so, how many? What is the annual electrical cost for fans? Fans are not used on ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens in the Southeast at this time. Savings can come from both the sale of the fans prior to a conversion and a lower annual electrical cost, too. • Review your fungicide program. Courses that have struggled with bentgrass putting greens in the summer can have high fungicide expenditures. Fungicides will still need to be applied on ultradwarf putting greens, too. Look at fungicide applications over prior years, and see if there is an opportunity for savings.
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CONTINUED • Review your watering program. Golf courses with bentgrass putting greens that rely on a deep and infrequent irrigation program also rely on hand-watering almost every day during the summer months. If a deep and infrequent hand-watering program will be used on the ultradwarf, do not expect much savings in labor costs for watering greens. If a lighter and more frequent approach is used, some savings in labor allocated for watering greens can be realized. Take a look at how much was spent on labor for hand-watering greens in the past few years, and compare it to the plans for watering the ultradwarf. • Consider your special circumstances. Every golf course is different, and there may be unique conditions at your golf course that warrant extra expenses for bentgrass. Examples include (but are not limited to) shade, drill-and-fill aeration, pests, ball-mark repair by staff, etc. Determine whether these special conditions will warrant savings or extra costs. • Analyze your mowing practices. We have seen this item result in either a savings or more expenses after a conversion. Lower-budget clubs have used growth regulators and a
triplex mower to provide acceptable putting quality on an ultradwarf. Mid-to-higher-budget clubs have increased the mowing and rolling frequencies in the ultradwarf management program. If the highest standards are desired for an ultradwarf, be sure to plan on spending significant time on mower setup and managing the mower fleet around frequent topdressings. • Budget for specialty tools. Two items come to mind in this area, and they both relate to ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens: turf paint and covers. Painting is the preferred method to provide winter color on ultradwarf bermudagrass. Several thousand dollars should be allocated for the painting program. Covers are necessary for winterkill protection in many parts of the region. Covers will cost between $18,000 and $36,000, and they should last for 15-plus years, if properly cared for.
Revenue opportunities
Ultradwarf bermudagrasses are tailor-made for high levels of play, particularly during the summer months. Superintendents with bentgrass putting greens cringe at the thought of frequent
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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COVER STORY outings during the summer months. With an ultradwarf, there is a chance to increase revenues through more play. A second revenue opportunity will occur at golf courses that historically have struggled with bentgrass greens in the summer. If thinning or sick bentgrass has been a problem, expect play to increase with an ultradwarf. A final revenue opportunity exists due to differences in core-aeration timing and frequency. Several years ago, former superintendent and current course owner Dick Shultz of Atlanta converted the greens at the Oaks Course from ‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass to an ultradwarf bermudagrass to provide more sustainable turf throughout the summer. With the ultradwarf, Dick’s goal is to provide 49–50 weeks of excellent turf quality not compromised by core-aeration holes. He completes one very aggressive core aeration in the summer and uses the golfer-friendly practice of venting the greens periodically through the year. The window of time where aeration compromises turf quality is substantially less than when the greens were bentgrass, and there is no disruption during the busy spring season.
Summary
The bottom line with ultradwarf bermudagrass is that clubs would not remove the bentgrass if the ultradwarf varieties were not performing at higher levels. Savings can and do occur, but sustainability and the opportunity to focus resources on practices related to playability (as opposed to life support) are the reasons why golf courses are making the conversion.
TN UE W R FS TFARLOKM T H E T T A
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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CONTINUED
By Tom Samples, Ph.D., a n d John Soroch a n , Ph.D., The University of Tennessee
D
uring sports-field construction, sand is often added to, or used to cap, the existing native soil to create or “manufacture” a coarse-textured turfgrass rootzone that is resistant to compaction. When an appropriate amount of sand is mixed with soil, the soil becomes coarser, and the size of air (pore) spaces among soil particles increases, allowing water to drain much faster.
The texture of a soil is a measure of its fineness or coarseness. Sand particles are relatively large, or coarse, ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 millimeters (mm) in diameter (Table 1). Silt particles, which range from 0.002 to 0.05 mm in diameter, are intermediate in size, compared to sand and clay particles. Clay particles are very small, or fine, with a diameter less than 0.002 mm. The amount of sand, silt and clay in a soil influences how much of the total pore space will hold water against gravity (capillary) and how much will not (non-capillary). Much of the water in soil is held as a film on the surface of clay particles, which is one reason that soils high in clay retain more water against the pull of gravity than sandy soils (a highclay soil may have nearly a million times more surface area than
a very-coarse-textured, sandy soil). Since the surface of clay and organic matter is negatively charged, these two soil components account for the majority of a soils’ nutrient-holding capacity. Because sand particles are large and have very little surface area, sand serves as a structural framework and contributes very little to the chemical reactions that take place in a soil. A very large amount of sand is needed to exert as much influence on soil properties as a comparatively small amount of clay. Sports-field soils that resist compaction and have many large air-filled pores often contain at least 70 percent sand by volume.
Soil mechanical analysis Sports-turf professionals who manage turf in sandy soils are very familiar with soil and tissue testing for nutrient analysis. A soil sample can also be submitted to a soil physical testing laboratory for mechanical or particle-size analysis to determine texture. A full mechanical analysis involves extracting all silt and clay particles from the soil sample before sieving the resulting sand fraction. Because sands vary in coarseness, a particle-size analysis is especially helpful when determining how much of a particular sand to add to a native or existing soil for best field performance. In the U.S., soils are grouped according to the proportion of sand, silt and clay as clay, sandy clay, silty clay, sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, sand or silt. The texture of a soil also influences its bulk density, or weight in grams (g) per cubic centimeter (cm3) of oven-dry soil. Clay usually has a lower bulk density than sand. Similarly, soils high in organic matter usually have a much lower bulk density than soils containing very little organic matter. To compare bulk density among the twelve soil textural classes, please visit the website www.pedosphere.com (http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/ bulkdensity/triangle_us.cfm?292,290). The same sample used to determine bulk density can be used to calculate the total pore space of a soil, a very important physical
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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T U R F TA L K Key Points at a Glance • Over time, sandy sports-field soils may become water repellent, or hydrophobic, near the surface, especially within the top 2". • Managing water-repellent soils often focuses on both the removal and chemical “alteration” of soil organic matter through core aerification and core removal, dethatching, topdressing and wetting agents. • Sometimes referred to as surfactants or soil penetrants, wetting agents may help prevent or reduce water repellency in sandy sports-turf soils. • Nonionic wetting agents usually persist much longer in soils than either anionic or cationic types, and they are the most common type used in formulations marketed in Tennessee. characteristic. A known amount of oven-dry soil is placed in a pan of water until completely saturated. The saturated soil is then weighed. The difference in weight between the oven-dry sample and the saturated sample represents a volume of water equal to that of the total pore space. For example, a 180 cm3 soil sample containing 90 g (cm3) of water at saturation would have a total pore space of 50 percent. Soils high in silt and clay usually have a larger percentage of capillary pore space and are slow to wet, compared to sandy soils.
Water repellency In time, sandy sports-field soils may become water repellent near the surface, especially within the top 2". There are several sources of water repellency, or hydrophobicity, in soils. Turfgrasses produce waxy compounds on leaf surfaces that can be dislodged by rainfall and irrigation. For example, the leaf
cuticle (a very thin, waxy layer on the outermost portion of leaves) serves as a shield against penetration by insects and fungi and helps turfgrasses conserve internal moisture. However, once dislodged, waxes from the cuticle may collect in soil pores, restricting the rate at which water moves into (infiltration) and through (percolation) the soil. As clippings and roots decompose, organic films may coat sand particles and restrict water infiltration and percolation. Thatch contains large quantities of organic matter that can also become hydrophobic. Unique compounds called hydrophobins produced by algae can cause a soil to repel water. Hydrophobins may also develop along the advancing tip of fungi strands (hyphae) as they move through the soil. Several species of fungi, including the basidiomycetes that cause fairy ring, have been linked to hydrophobicity in sandy soil. The activity of nematodes and protozoa may also increase water repellency in sandy soils. In addition, water-repellent compounds such as sorgoleone are produced by turfgrass roots and can be adsorbed by soil particles, causing them to repel water.
Measurement One of the simplest methods of determining if a soil is water repellent is to apply a volume of water to the surface of air-dry soil and record the amount of time from surface contact until the water penetrates the soil. When studying hydrophobic soils, researchers may perform a timed water-droplet penetration test (WDPT) or a more rapid, molarity of ethanol test (MED) using drops of ethanol rather than water. In both tests, the longer an individual droplet remains on the soil surface, the greater the level of water repellency. Recorded water droplet penetration times have ranged from less than one second to 10,000 or more seconds (Karnok, 2006). One scale used by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America to compare hydrophobicity in soils based on the
Table 1. Characteristics of sand, silt and clay.a
a b
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Particle type
Diameter (mm)
Particle number (per gram soil)
Particle surface area (cm2 per gram)
Very Coarse Sand
1.0 to 2.0
90
11
Coarse Sand
0.5 to 1.0
720
23
Medium Sand
0.25 to 0.5
5,700
45
Fine Sand
0.15 to 0.25
46,000
91
Very Fine Sand
0.05 to 0.15
722,000
227
Silt
0.002 to 0.05
5,776,000
454
Clay
< 0.002
90,260,853,000
8000000 b
From: Foth and Turk, 1972. The calculated surface area of montmorillonite clay particles.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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CONTINUED WDPT is: 0 to 5 seconds = no repellency; 5 to 60 seconds = slight repellency; 60 to 600 seconds = moderate to severe repellency; 600 to 3,600 seconds = severe repellency; and more than 3,600 seconds = extreme repellency (Throssell, 2006).
Negative effects Much of the rainfall and irrigation water received by turfgrasses growing in hydrophobic soils may puddle on the field surface or run off. The development of water repellency is a precursor to a condition known as localized dry spots. The moisture content within the turfgrass rootzone in a hydrophobic soil is usually variable, with extremely dry areas of soil interspersed with moist areas that often resemble fingers. Turfgrasses growing in these dry zones are most often poorly rooted and drought prone. Irregular soil wetting can also lead to the preferential flow of water and an uneven distribution of nutrients and pesticides within the turfgrass rootzone.
Table 2. The effect of tine diameter and spacing on the amount of surface area affected by core aerificationa. Tine Diameter (inches)
Spacing (inches)
Number of Holes/Sq. Ft.
Surface Area Contact (percent)
Prevention/management of water-repellent soils
1/4"
1" x 1"
144
4.9%
Since water repellency in sand-based athletic-field soils is due to the presence of organic compounds with hydrophobic properties, the management of water-repellent soils often focuses on both the removal and chemical “alteration” of soil organic matter.
1/4"
1" x 2"
72
2.5%
1/4"
2" x 2"
36
1.2%
3/8"
1" x 1"
144
11.0%
Core aerification and core removal
3/8"
1" x 2"
72
5.5%
3/8"
2" x 2"
36
2.8%
1/2"
1" x 1"
144
19.6%
1/2"
1" x 2"
72
9.8%
1/2"
2" x 2"
36
4.9%
5/8"
1" x 1"
144
30.7%
5/8"
1" x 2"
72
15.3%
5/8"
2" x 2"
36
7.7%
Coring (core aerification) not only penetrates thatch and helps relieve soil compaction, but also it dislodges and lifts organic matter along with the aeration cores. As cores are harvested, some of this organic matter is physically removed from the upper portion of the turfgrass rootzone. The amount of turf surface affected and the amount of soil and organic matter removed during each aerification depends on the tine diameter, length and spacing (Table 2). The benefits of core aeration for the removal of soil organic matter are often short-lived. Researchers at Michigan State University (Murphy, Rieke and Erickson, 1993) found that core aerification at a five-percent-surface-area impact applied twice a year on a ‘Penneagle’ creeping bentgrass putting green with a loamy-sand soil did not permanently reduce the total organicmatter content of the soil. Similarly, research conducted on a bermudagrass putting green growing in a loamy-fine-sand soil demonstrated that the total organic-matter content was reduced only when core aerification was increased from twice in seven months to once each month for seven months (Smith, 1979).
a
Table 3. The effect of blade width and spacing on the amount of surface area affected by dethatchinga.
Dethatching and thatch removal A vertical mower can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the depth setting and blade width of the vertical knives (Table 3). Grain is reduced in turfs when the vertical mower is adjusted so that the knives cut stolons and tillers but barely strike the soil surface. Immediately after core aerification, a vertical mower can be used to break up the aeration cores and re-incorporate soil.
From: Hartwiger and O’Brien, 2001.
a
Dethatching Blade Width (inches)
Spacing (inches)
Surface Area Contact (percent)
9/64"
1" x 1"
14.1%
9/64"
1" x 2"
7.0%
5/64"
1" x 1"
7.8%
5/64"
1" x 2"
3.9%
From: Hartwiger and O’Brien, 2001.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
27
T U R F TA L K
When the dethatching knives are set to penetrate into the soil, thatch is lifted and the soil is cultivated. Recently, deepvertical mowers have been manufactured with thatch removal, soil cultivation and turf renovation in mind. Seed can be broadcast after deep-vertical mowing to introduce a new species or variety into the existing sports turf.
Topdressing After dethatching, topdressing with sand and then dragging (matting) the turf mixes sand particles with thatch. This modification of the thatch layer results in the formation of mat, a tightly intermingled layer of sand particles and living and partially decomposed turfgrass stems and roots. Water usually moves more quickly into a mat layer than into an excessive layer of dry thatch. Both thatch and mat layers may retain more water after being treated with a wetting agent (Elmore, Karnok and Liu, 2001).
Wetting agents Wetting agents were invented in the mid-1950s (Moore, et al., 2006). Sometimes referred to as surfactants or soil penetrants, wetting agents may help prevent or reduce water repellency in 28
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
sandy sports-turf soils. A wetting agent may be capable of reducing the surface tension and improving the wettability of an individual liquid, such as water. A wetting agent may also lower the surface tension between two liquids, a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid. Wetting agents are produced from fats and oils (or oleochemicals) and petrochemicals produced from petroleum (Kostka and Karnok, 2006). The result is a synthetic, complex organic compound with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts. When applied to turf, the hydrophobic part of a wetting agent sticks to water-repellent compounds and surfaces, while the hydrophillic part sticks to water. Wetting agents are anionic, cationic and nonionic (Carrow, 1989). Anionic wetting agents are negatively charged, are easily leached and usually have a short residual â&#x20AC;&#x153;lifeâ&#x20AC;? in soils. Like soaps, which are water-soluble sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids, anionic wetting agents can be very toxic to plants (phytotoxic). Because cationic wetting agents are positively charged, they are tightly held by negatively charged soil particles and organic matter. Cationic wetting agents also tend to be phytotoxic, and they wet slowly. Nonionic wetting agents have neither a positive or negative charge. They usually persist much longer in soils than either anionic or cationic types, and they are the most common type used in formulations marketed in Tennessee. Today, more than 70 products are marketed for use in the green industry and in agriculture. Wetting-agent formulations vary in their effectiveness in reducing water repellency in sandy soils and their improvement of the evenness of soil wetting. Wetting-agent applications may be much less beneficial when weather is rainy (Leinhauer, B., et al., 2007). Since they are broken down by soil microorganisms, wetting agents must be applied several times during the turfgrass growing season (Karcher and Landreth, 2003). For more precise information about the mode of action and recommended application timing and rate of a specific wetting
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CONTINUED agent, please consult your product technical representative and refer to the product label.
References Carrow, R.N. 1989. Understanding wetting agents: A look at how they influence soils can help superintendents better predict the results of treatment. Golf Course Management. Vol. 57(6) p. 18, 22, 24, 26. Elmore, W.C., K.J. Karnok, and H. Liu. 2001. Wetting agent influence on water retention in rootzone mixtures containing varying amounts of peat moss. ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annu. Meet. Abstr. Ritsema, C.J. 2006. Causes and alleviation of soil water repellency. Agron. Abstr. p. [1]. Foth, H.D. and L.M. Turk. 1972. Physical properties of soils. In Fundamentals of Soil Science, 5th Ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, NY. p. 29. Hartwiger, C. and P. O’Brien. 2001. Core aerification by the numbers: Explaining the need for aeration is often easier if you use specific numbers. USGA Green Sec. Rec. 39(4) p. 8-9. Karcher, D.E. and J.W. Landreth. 2003. Wetting agents decrease wilt symptoms and water repellency on a sand-based putting
green. Horticultural Studies. University of Arkansas. AAES Research Series 520. p. 44-46. Karnok, K. 2006. Methods to assess soil water repellency in soils. Agron. Abstr. p. [3]. Kostka, S.J. and K.J. Karnok. 2006. Why use wetting agents? The use of soil wetting agents may be a tool to improve irrigation efficiency and water conservation. Greenmaster. June, p. 12-15. Leinhauer, B., D. Karcher, T. Barrick, Y. Ikemura, H. Hubble and J. Makk. 2007. Water repellency varies with depth and season in sandy rootzones treated with ten wetting agents. Online Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2007-0221-01-RS. Moore, D., S.J. Kostka, M. Franklin, L.L. Lennert and R.A. Moore. 2006. The evolution of soil wetting agents for managing water repellency in soils. Agron. Abstr. p. [2]. Murphy, J.A., Rieke, P.E. and Erickson, A.E. 1993. “Core Cultivation of a Putting Green with Hollow and Solid Tines.” Agron. J. Vol. 85, p. 1-9. Smith, G.S. 1979. Nitrogen and aerification influence on putting green thatch and soil. Agron. J. 71 p. 680-684. Throssell, C. 2006. GCSAA/USGA wetting agent evaluation. Agron. Abstr. p. [4].
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
29
IN THE LANDSCAPE
Encore Azaleas
Repeat Bloomers for Mid-South Landscapes By Mark T. Windham, Ph.D., P rofessor; Rober t N. Trigiano, Ph.D., P rofessor; Lisa Vito, Research Associate; J ames Mynes, Student, Depar tment of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee; Donna C. Fa re, Ph.D., Research H o r ticulturist, USDA-ARS Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit; and Cecil Pounders, USDA-ARS Thad Coch ran Southern Hor ticultural Laboratory.
30
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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®
CONTINUED
(Above) Figure 1. Landscape plantings of Encore Azaleas® in Claiborne County Site (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a) on October 10, 2005 (approximately 17 months after planting). (Left) Figure 3. Close-up of ‘Amethyst’, the only cultivar that excelled at all locations.
Repeat bloomers… encore!
P
opular heralds of spring throughout much of Tennessee, azaleas are used in homeowner and commercial landscapes as foundation plants. Traditionally, azaleas bloom for only a few weeks each spring. The blooming season may be extended if early- and late-season flowering specimens are planted together. In 1998, a private plant breeder, Robert (Buddy) Lee of Independence, Louisiana, introduced a new series of repeatblooming azaleas and named the series Encore Azaleas®. Plant Development Systems Incorporated (PDSI) of Loxley, Alabama, licenses these azaleas.
Encore azaleas have taken the Deep South by storm, and millions of plants have been placed in landscapes. Currently, there are 23 cultivars of Encore azaleas, and all are rated for plant hardiness zone 7 (0o F to 10o F), although many do well in zone 8 (10o F to 20o F). The cultivars come in many different colors and have growth habits ranging from a maximum of two feet in size to nearly five feet (Table 1, page 33). Because of their unique re-blooming characteristic, interest in Encore Azaleas® has extended beyond their hardiness range. In anecdotal reports, some cultivars of the Encore series have done well in Tennessee, while others have not. The differing reports are not surprising, since the parents of the cultivars are different and vary in
susceptibility to cold damage. In the winter of 2004/2005, we evaluated the blooming periods and winter hardiness of 21 cultivars of Encore Azaleas® in a replicated trial at several locations in Middle and East Tennessee (Table 2, Figure 1).
Results
In Knox County, no plants suffered freeze damage during the winter of 2004/2005, but cultivars did vary in rate of bloom in the spring. Consistent spring bloomers were ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn CheerTM’, ‘Autumn EmbersTM’, ‘Autumn RougeTM’, ‘Autumn RoyaltyTM’, ‘Autumn RubyTM’, ‘Autumn SangriaTM’, ‘Autumn StarliteTM’, ‘Autumn SunsetTM’, ‘Autumn SweetheartTM’ and ‘Autumn TwistTM’. The consistent late summer/fall bloomers were ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn BravoTM’, ‘Autumn CarnivalTM’,
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
31
INNE WT HS E F RL AO NM D TS HC AE PTET A Figure 2. Cultivars that were superior for re-blooming at two or more locations. Photos were taken in October 2005.
32
‘Autumn AmethystTM’
‘Autumn BravoTM’
‘Autumn CarnivalTM’
‘Autumn ChiffonTM’
‘Autumn CoralTM’
‘Autumn MonarchTM’
‘Autumn RougeTM’
‘Autumn RubyTM’
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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CONTINUED ‘Autumn ChiffonTM’, ‘Autumn CoralTM’, ‘Autumn EmbersTM’, ‘Autumn MonarchTM’ and ‘Autumn RougeTM’ (Figure 2). At the Claiborne County site, winter damage (bark splitting and shoot dieback) was severe on many cultivars. Cultivars with little or no damage were ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn MonarchTM’, ‘Autumn RubyTM’, ‘Autumn SunsetTM’ and ‘Autumn TwistTM’. Consistent spring bloomers were ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn CheerTM’, ‘Autumn DebutanteTM’, ‘Autumn RubyTM’, ‘Autumn SunsetTM’ and ‘Autumn TwistTM’. In the fall, the first cultivars were blooming by September 9, and consistent bloomers were ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn BravoTM’, ‘Autumn CarnationTM’, ‘Autumn CoralTM’, ‘Autumn MonarchTM’, ‘Autumn RougeTM’ and ‘Autumn RubyTM’. Cultivars that did not bloom in the fall were ‘Autumn AngelTM’ and ‘Autumn StarliteTM’. ‘Autumn BravoTM’, a cultivar with severe winter damage (over 50% of the shoots were killed on each plant), recovered and grew vigorously during the summer and bloomed in the fall. In White County, no cultivars had all three plants in bloom at the same time in either spring or fall. However, ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn RoyaltyTM’, ‘Autumn RubyTM’, ‘Autumn StarliteTM’, ‘Autumn SunsetTM’ and ‘Autumn SweetheartTM’ had at least one plant blooming. In the fall, ‘Autumn AmethystTM’, ‘Autumn CarnivalTM’, ‘Autumn ChiffonTM’ and ‘Autumn MonarchTM’ had at least one plant in bloom.
Table 1. Cultivars evaluated in Tennessee, with flower color and maximumheight ratings.
Summary In summary, ‘Autumn AmethystTM’ was the only cultivar that bloomed in the spring and in the fall at all locations (Figure 3). The hardiness of this cultivar may be due to the known winter hardiness of its female parent, ‘Karens’ (‘Hindodegiri’ x Rhododendron yeodensis var. poukhanense). Other plants such as ‘Autumn BravoTM’, ‘Autumn CarnivalTM’, ‘Autumn ChiffonTM’, ‘Autumn CoralTM’, ‘Autumn EmbersTM’, ‘Autumn Monarch TM’, ‘Autumn RougeTM’ and ‘Autumn RubyTM’ may be acceptable in protected locations. Although these plants were acceptable, winter temperatures at all locations did not approach the lower limits of the plant hardiness zones.
Cultivar
Color
Height (ft.)
‘Autumn AmethystTM’
purple
4'
‘Autumn AngelTM’
white
3'
‘Autumn BravoTM’
red
3'
‘Autumn CarnationTM’
medium pink
4.5'
‘Autumn CarnivalTM’
pink
4.5'
‘Autumn CheerTM’
rose pink
3'
‘Autumn ChiffonTM’
frosted pink
2.5'
‘Autumn CoralTM’
coral pink
3.5'
‘Autumn DebutanteTM’
pink
4.5'
‘Autumn EmbersTM’
orange red
3'
‘Autumn EmpressTM’
pink
4'
‘Autumn MonarchTM’
salmon orange
5'
‘Autumn PrincessTM’
salmon pink
3'
‘Autumn RougeTM’
red pink
4.5'
‘Autumn RoyaltyTM’
purple
4.5'
‘Autumn RubyTM’
red
2.5'
‘Autumn SangriaTM’
pink
4.5'
‘Autumn StarliteTM’
white with pink
4.5'
‘Autumn SunsetTM’
red orange
4.5'
‘Autumn SweetheartTM’
white with light pink
4.5'
‘Autumn TwistTM’
white with purple stripe
2.5'
Table 2. Locations of Tennessee test plots*.
Location
Hardiness Zone**
Type of Landscape
Claiborne County
6a
Open Residential; Full Shade
Knox County
6b
Protected Landscape; Shade
Knox County
6b
Open Residential; Partial Shade
White County
6b
Open Residential; Partial Shade
*Data from Cumberland County is not reported because of deer damage to all plants. **USDA Arboretum rates zone 6a as (-5 – 10° F) and 6b as (0 – 5° F)
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
33
TURF TIPS
The Three T’s
of Offseason Improvement By Chris Har twiger and Patrick O’Brien, USGA G r een Section
Above Photo: A Turfgrass Advisory Service (TAS) visit from the USGA Green Section is an ideal way to facilitate communication among course officials and the turf maintenance staff. 36
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
was a challenging year across the Southeast region. Among the most common topics of discussion were the extreme drought, new herbicides, the increasing popularity of ultradwarf bermudagrasses and more research on diseases of creeping bentgrass.
2007
Thankfully, the offseason allows time for superintendents and their staff members to recharge their batteries. It is also a time to analyze the previous season and seek ways to improve. This article will review three T’s available to help with this process: TGIF, TERO and the USGA Green Section TAS Service.
TGIF The Turfgrass Information File (TGIF), located at Michigan State University, is the single largest repository of turfgrass information in the world. Pete Cookingham, director of the Turfgrass Information Center, recently announced, “The largest digitization project that TIC has ever been involved with has now been completed! TGIF records for articles from Golf Course Management (GCM) and predecessor titles, from 1933 up through October of 2005, are now linked to a .pdf version of each article. This means that 98.34% of the 10,469 GCM articles with TGIF records published up to the present are linked either from MSU or GCSAA loads. This effort raises the total percentage of TGIF records that link to full-text versions to over 31%!” TGIF now has in excess of 100,000 searchable items covering a broad scope of turfgrass-related publications. Membership is nominal at $100, and sign-up information can be found at http://tic.msu.edu/subscribe.html.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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CONTINUED TERO TERO is an acronym for the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online. Since 1983, the USGA’s Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program has funded over 215 research projects at a cost in excess of $21 million. These projects have generated valuable information for golf course superintendents, turfgrass researchers and anyone studying turfgrass management. The TERO website offers yet another way that the USGA is delivering research results to those in the industry. TERO is a great example of how industry and universities can work together cooperatively to generate useful information. Science has benefited the game of golf for many years, and the information generated from USGA-sponsored research will continue to do the same. Connecting to the USGA TERO website is easy. Simply type http://usgatero.msu.edu. Take the time to review research projects that are relevant to your golf course. A wealth of information exists on the TERO website, and it is free to you.
USGA TAS Service For over 50 years now, the USGA has offered the Turfgrass Advisory Service (TAS). The Turfgrass Advisory Service for the 2008 season features:
• An on-site visit by your USGA agronomist. • A detailed report that includes evaluation of current playing conditions and recommendations, plus ideas for solving problems, long-range plans and new ideas. Our digital camera makes it possible to include color photographs. • Free telephone or electronic-mail consultation anytime. • Special invitation to the USGA Regional Meetings scheduled for March 2008 in Charlotte. • Periodic, special updates from the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program. To join the USGA Green Section Turf Advisory Service, call the Green Section office in the Southeast at 770-229-8125. Winter is a great time to begin planning for next year. The Green Section can assist you in getting key components and strategies in place for next season.
Conclusion We hope the offseason is a good one for all those involved in golf course maintenance. There is no time to stand still in the golf industry. Those that do stand still will fall behind their competition. As you plan for next year, take advantage of the resources available to you, and if the USGA Green Section can ever be of assistance, please let us know.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
37
I N D E X O F A DV E RT I S E R S
CA L E N DA R O F E V E N T S
Bird Gard/JWB Marketing www.scarewindmill.com ......................16
April 17-19
Equipment & Engine Training Council 12th Annual Conference Location: Orlando, FL
April 30
TVSTMA West Tennessee Field Day Location: West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex, Jackson, TN
June TBA
TVSTMA Upper East Tennessee Field Day Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
June 19–21
Outdoor Power & Equipment Institute 56th Annual Meeting Location: Henderson, NV
July 28 – August 1
TPI Summer Convention & Field Days Location: (Turfgrass Producers International) Eagle Lake Turf Farms Calgary, Alberta, Canada
August TBA
TVSTMA Lower East Tennessee Field Day Location: McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
September 18
University of Tennessee Field Day Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
November 2–4
28th Annual International Irrigation Show Location: Anaheim, CA
November TBA
TVSTMA Middle Tennessee Field Day Location: to be announced, Nashville, TN
January 11–13, 2009
43rd Annual TTA Conference & Trade Show Location: Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN
BWI Companies www.bwicompanies.com ................................7, 35 Covermaster, Inc. www.covermaster.com ......................................16 E & S Soil and Peat www.eandssoil.com ......................................22 Ewing Irrigation www.Ewing1.com ........................Inside Back Cover Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc. www.JohnDeere.com ........................3 Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer www.harrells.com ..................................5 John Deere Landscapes www.johndeerelandscapes.com ..............22 K-Rain Manufacturing Corp. www.krain.com ................................23 Keeling Company www.keelingcompany.com ................................11 Kesmac, Inc. www.kesmac.com ..................................................34 Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. www.midtennturf.com ....................................29 Pennington Seed, Inc. ............................................Inside Front Cover www.penningtonseed.com ProSource One www.prosourceone.com ......................................21 Shelton Landscape Supply www.sheltonlandscape.com ................37 Sigma Organics Inc., Nashville, TN www.sigmavalidation.com ........37 Smith Turf & Irrigation www.smithturf.com ......................Back Cover Southeastern Turf, LLC www.southeasternturf.com ..........................7 Syngenta Turf & Ornamental ..........................................................9 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com The Pond Lady www.thepondlady.com ..........................................16 The Turfgrass Group ................................................................9, 35 Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. www.turfmountain.com ............................37 Turf Specialties www.turfspecialties.net ........................................35 Winstead Turf Farms, Inc. www.winsteadturf.com ..........................17
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2008
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