The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S APRIL/MAY 2011
F E AT U R E D A RT I C L E S
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Cover Story — The Keys to “Fielding” the SEC Baseball Tournament
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Turf Talk — Managing Organic Matter... Core Your Way to Healthier Putting Greens Turf Tips — The Top Five Ways to Make Sure Your Sod Fails
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Cover Story
18
Turf Talk
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Turf Tips
Weed Watch — Controlling Star-of-Bethlehem, a Troublesome Weed Across Tennessee
D E PA RT M E N T S
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From the TTA President, Jay Willis
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From the TVSTMA President, Larry Berry, CSFM
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From the ETGCSA President, Jeff Rumph, CGCS
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Calendar of Events
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Index of Advertisers
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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F R O M T H E T TA P R E S I D E N T Jay Willis
Back on
My Feet Again! First
of all, I would like to thank our vice president, Bob McCurdy, for filling in for me with the “From the TTA Vice President” letter for the February/March issue of Tennessee Turfgrass. As Bob mentioned, I ruptured my patella tendon on the basketball court. I went through the surgery to repair the knee, but then I ended up getting a staph infection in the knee that put me back in the hospital for a week. After six weeks away from work, and eight weeks on antibiotics, I’m back to work and getting ready for a great summer. The reason I’m telling you about my experience is that you never know what is around the corner for you. In my case, I was playing basketball like I’ve done my whole life. Nothing out of the ordinary, until wham! You’re down and relying on friends and family to help get you back on your feet. This is a time when you don’t need to be hard
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headed and not let people help you. Whether it’s an injury, illness or any situation that catches you off guard, always remember that you have friends that are willing to be there for you. When I came out of the second surgery from the infection, I looked around the corner going into the room to see my wife and kids, and what I saw were two of my closest friends in the room waiting with my wife. They took time out of their own busy schedules to make sure everything was going to be all right. The following week, several friends came by to share their time with me, and I thank them for that. The silver lining in situations like this is that you really see how we come together for one another. It’s what we do, with our own families, our friends and our peers that work in this world of turfgrass. I’m very fortunate to work where I do and with the people who surround
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me. I would like to say thank you to our assistant superintendent, Ken Alley, for not skipping a beat and for working all those days in a row when I was not able to work. We all have a support system in some way or another, and I know sometimes we forget to acknowledge the people who back us up. I know it is something that most of us could improve on. I know you’re thinking that I’m not ever going to get off my soapbox, but I write from the heart, and I mean what I say in these letters. I don’t think I have to talk about the economy all the time or about turf research. I’ll leave that up to the universities and hopefully bring you a different look at things in our profession. I hope you all have a great spring, and I will talk to you again in the early summer! Jay Willis TTA President
FROM THE TVSTMA PRESIDENT Larry Berry, CSFM
The Key to Making
Your Job a Bit
Easier
S
pring has sprung, and we are all out doing what we do — managing sports fields. This is the time of year when our day-to-day duties overtake our life schedule. The thrill of jumping back onto the mowers has probably passed, and our routines have snapped us back into the reality of our jobs. As much as we looked forward to getting back into the grind, it is about now that we begin dealing with the difficult aspects of our work. The sports fields get beat up from overuse and lack of rotations, diseases creeping in, weeds overtaking areas, and often, a lack of funds to care for the fields. All of these things have a tendency to bring us down and create attitudes that make for a poor work environment. In dealing with this, we need to look at the core of what we do. By their very nature, sports are destructive to playing surfaces, which is why we are hired to care for them. In many cases, we must also deal with limited resources, which create additional challenges. Also, everyone out there is an agronomist wanting to tell us what to do and how they do it (even boasting how their front yard looks like a finely tuned putting green).
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This is where the management part of our job becomes a challenge. Dealing with field traffic, limited resources and lack of equipment are all a part of trying to figure out the best way to manage our fields with available resources. Over the years of being in the industry and networking, I have met sports field managers from all over the country. Working at professional stadiums, to local grade schools, to small park districts and everything in between, it never ceases to amaze me the challenges they all face and the unbelievable job they do. Most importantly, the ideas and techniques that I learn from them are invaluable. The key is you must meet these individuals to learn from them and exchange ideas. You can’t do that from the sidelines so you must get
involved. While this can be hard at certain times of the year, finding a way pays huge dividends. Being involved will help you and our chapter become more successful. A great way to expand your networking would be attending the STMA Regional Conference, June 15 & 16, at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The organization has committed to creating a meaningful and valuable experience for those who attend. Updates about registration and costs will be coming soon, so keep an eye out for this information and make your plans to attend. Best wishes for a great summer!
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Larry Berry, CSFM TVSTMA President
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 591-8286 tnturfgrassassn@aol.com www.ttaonline.org 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. Bill Marbet TTA OFFICERS President Jay Willis Glen Eagle Golf Course (901) 508-1986 Vice President Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms (731) 692-3515 Secretary/Treasurer Paul Carter Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (423) 344-6374 Past President Bob Hogan The Hogan Company (888) 224-6426 Executive Secretary Mr. Jim Uden (615) 591-8286 TTA 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Bob Elliott Mr. Thomas Garner Mr. Cal Hill Mr. Joe Hill Mr. Theo Lankford Mr. Bill Marbet Mr. Scott McNeer Mr. Tommy Mittlesteadt Mr. Mitch Parker Mr. Chris Simon Mr. Doug Ward Mr. Sean VanHoose TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mr. Bill Blackburn Mr. Lynn Ray Mr. Jeff Rumph Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan
FROM THE ETGCSA PRESIDENT Jeff Rumph
NEWS FROM THE
With
spring arriving, it soon will be time for activities associated with ETGCSA. A new board of directors was elected last fall (listed at right). The board has been working hard to line up a good slate of meetings, speakers and sponsors for this year (also listed at right). Last year, ETGCSA awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Rob Boaz at The University of Tennessee. This year the Scholarship and Research Tournament is our 21st Annual, and it will be held at Cherokee Country Club. We are very pleased that superintendent Jason Sanderson has offered to host this year’s event. Congratulations to Brock Turner, son of long-time TTA member Frank Turner. Brock recently graduated from the turfgrass program at The University of Tennessee. With a college degree and a lot of work experience (including internships at Augusta National and other prestigious courses), Brock was able to land an assistant golf course superintendent position at the Vaquero Golf Club outside Dallas/Ft. Worth. Good luck, Brock!
ETGCSA
2011 ETGCSA Officers and Board of Directors President Jeff Rumph, CGCS Gatlinburg GC, Gatlinburg, TN
Vice President Chris Simon Signal Mountain G&CC, Chattanooga, TN
2011 ETGCSA Meeting Schedule April 25
Black Creek Club, Chattanooga, TN Scott Wicker, Superintendent
May 26
Clinchview GC, Bean Station, TN Kelly Keck, Superintendent
June 20
Link Hills CC, Greenville, TN Marshall Brown, Superintendent
July 19
Lambert Acres GC, Maryville, TN J.D. Murr, Superintendent
Secretary Gary Weller Council Fire GC, Chattanooga, TN
Directors Marshall Brown Link Hills CC, Greenville, TN Joe Hill ProSolutions, Alcoa, TN J.D. Lerchen The Sevierville GC, Sevierville, TN Tim Long Smith Turf and Irrigation, Knoxville, TN
Advisory Board Roger Frazier, CGCS Cattails at Meadowview GC, Kingsport, TN
August 16 Signal Mountain G&CC, Signal Mountain, TN Chris Simon, Superintendent Oct. 18
The 21st Annual Scholarship and Research Golf Tournament Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville, TN Jason Sanderson, Superintendent
Jeff Rumph 2011 ETGCSA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
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COVER STORY
— By Bill Marbet and Glenn Lucas, Southern Athletic Fields —
In
about the middle of February, when the temperatures are still cold and the bermudagrass is dormant, preparations begin for a tournament that will take place at the end of May. It is possibly the biggest tournament played in the Southeast… the SEC Baseball Tournament, held at Regions Park, Hoover, Alabama. Over the next few paragraphs, we will try to give you some insight into what it takes to make this tournament go flawlessly for everyone involved, including the game administrators, groundskeepers, fans, players, etc. As we all know, planning is an important part to creating a successful tournament, when — after all the hard work, long days and sweat that have been invested into the days — you can sit back and say that it has been a great week. For the past 12 years, the grounds crew for the SEC Baseball Tournament has been a combination of the full-time guys for the Birmingham Barons and volunteers from around the Southeast. The crew has included a train engineer, insurance agent, high school baseball coaches, major- and minor-league groundskeepers, college sports-turf managers and parks and recreation supervisors.
• The mound, home plate and bullpens are repacked. • The bases are replaced. • The skinned infield is dragged. • The baselines are broomed and rechalked. • The catcher’s box and batter’s box are rechalked. • The infield skinned area is watered and readied for play. This procedure is repeated four times, as we will also do all this fieldwork before we leave for the night. Depending on how long the games run, it is not uncommon for us to leave at midnight or later.
FRIDAY
Part of the crew arrives to start fieldwork in preparation for the week. The SEC logos must be painted on the field, usually behind home plate and down the 1st and 3rd base lines. These can be very detailed, and some painting might start on Sunday, since the logos must be dry by Tuesday morning’s practice. Also, we formulate our game plan and prep our equipment for the busy day on Monday.
Two games are scheduled for this day, with game time at 3 p.m. Today is not as early as the previous ones, but still there is work to be done: • The logos are repainted. • The foul lines and coaches boxes are repainted. • All clay areas are inspected, and any issues that came up over the past two days are addressed.
MONDAY
SATURDAY
The crew arrives at the field at 6:30 a.m. and begins the day’s assigned tasks, which include: painting logos and foul lines; edging the infield and warning track; preparing the game mound, home plate and bullpen mounds; nailing and floating the infield and baselines, etc. There is not one part of the field that doesn’t get some work on it prior to the tournament. We usually head home or back to the hotel at around 7 p.m.
Two games are on the schedule, with the possibility of four, depending on who wins the two games. With this possible, the crew’s schedule is the same as for Wednesday/Thursday.
The week’s timeline for the tournament SUNDAY
TUESDAY Practice for all eight teams begins at 10 a.m. If they so choose, they all get a one-hour practice, with 10 minutes between practices for field prep, watering and dragging.
WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY The crew arrives at the stadium at 6:30 a.m. There are four games scheduled for both Wednesday and Thursday, with the first game starting at 9:30 a.m. The teams have 30 minutes between games to get ready for the first pitch. Immediately upon completion of a game, the crew goes to work for 30 minutes to re-prep the field: TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
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SUNDAY The championship game is at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN2. Today, our goal is to make the field as good as it was for the 9:30 a.m. game on Wednesday. We have found that a plan and cooperation between all entities involved is the only way to have a trouble-free tournament. And then, just when you think you have all the I’s dotted and T’s crossed, you can expect rain to be in the forecast! TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
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COVER STORY a reflection of you and your work during the year. If they feel well and properly hydrated, fed and not sunburned, then they will put forth their best effort during the tournament. Also, during the long days, a relaxing chair/chaise lounge is a great place to rest during the down times of the tournaments.
4. Readiness… hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
– By Bill Marbet and Glenn Lucas, Southern Athletic Fields –
Be prepared for weather. Hold a meeting a few weeks in advance of the tournament to devise an action plan as to whose call is it to tarp or not tarp. Once the game starts, if you have a tarp, it usually rests on the shoulders of the umpires, along with the groundskeeper, to get it pulled onto the field. Your crew should include a reliable person who is closely monitoring the weather forecasts to alert you to possible changes. Let him know that he is just as important as the person tamping the mound, and he can feel a part of the tournament.
5. Hungry?
T
ournament prep starts days and weeks before the first pitch of the first game. As we all know, most tournaments are 20 minutes of work and 2 to 3 hours of waiting for the work to start again. Below are some tips to help make your tournaments go smoother and to make your job easier. These are just some of the tips that we have thought about, and we hope you can use some of them during your tournaments this year.
1. Time your fertilizer schedule to build up to the tournament and beyond. Turf needs to be durable as well as green. The tournament schedule should be incorporated into your yearlong program/plan. You will be building toward the tournament to make the turf look the best and be healthy enough to withstand the increased amount of traffic that your fields will have over the course of the tournament. Also, the schedule should allow for adequate time — and your plan should have enough maintenance practices in place — for your field to recover in time for any following games, after the tournament.
2. Out of gas? Equipment in good repair? Has the oil been changed? Have the tires been properly inflated, reels sharpened/ backlapped, grease fittings lubricated, fluid levels checked? Fill all machines with fuel daily. There is nothing worse than running out of gas on the infield groomer while trying to drag an infield before a game.
If you have a chance to eat, then do. Hunger can cause short tempers, especially in tense situations (which will happen during long, hot days of tournaments). Eat foods that are not very heavy on your stomach. Pizza is easy, but not always best. If food is not easily accessible at your venue, plan ahead, and pack a cooler with sandwich meat, cheese, bread and condiments for the crew.
6. Always look professional. Tucked in shirts, shorts or pants, your crew should look uniform when they’re on the field. The crew is just as important as the teams taking the field for play. Look like a team, and act as a team. In order for you to be taken seriously as a groundskeeper and as a crew, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. If you look professional, then you will automatically earn the respect of the umpires and tournament coordinators.
7. Manage your crew. 3. Under cover? Arrange for a workers’ area that is shaded/covered and have water/sports drinks and food for the crew. Taking care of the crew should be a top priority! If you are the head groundskeeper, taking care of your crewmembers is important since they are 14
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Have a plan for each crewmember, pre and post game. Delegate duties, making sure you have qualified people (full timers in position to get the job done in a timely manner).
CONTINUED Use volunteers, who are very important keys to the crew, alongside full-time people, so they can be better equipped to help with future tournaments.
8. Everybody’s job is safety. Safety should be the top concern that we strive to meet on the field. Be sure to remove all items from the field that are not needed for play. The last thing you want to do is leave a nail or screwdriver on the field for a player to “find” later.
9. Never leave home without a change of clothes. The bag that you pack should include socks, shoes, shorts, extra shirts, toiletries, towel, a pullover for nighttime and rain gear. Two pairs of shoes are important — one for morning prepping time of the fields, and one pair for the pre-game and post-game work. Dew can make your shoes just as wet as rain.
10. Take time to drink. Dehydration can lead to other serious
problems. Staying hydrated with water or sports drinks can make you more effective when working on the fields and make your time spent at the tournament more enjoyable and rewarding.
11. Togetherness. As Charles Bloom, an SEC Baseball Tournament director once said, “The grounds crew is the glue that holds the SEC Baseball Tournament together.” The entire crew needs to understand that one part of the crew is just as important as the other. Chalking, repacking bullpen areas and dragging the field are all important duties that need to be completed. We all want to give the team that plays in the championship game the same field as the first teams to play in the tournament.
12. Inventory all materials and hand tools. Some of the items you need to have on hand as you prepare for the tournament include field conditioners, drying agents, mound
clay, marking chalk and enough tools to accommodate your crew (rakes, tamps, drag mats, stiff drags for baselines/edges, nail drag, push brooms, etc.). The list of tools needed varies, depending on the size of your tournament crew and the facility being maintained. Although often overlooked as a tool used for fieldwork, a backpack blower can be used at night or early mornings for cleaning dugouts and blowing out the lips from the day of play. It is a timesaving tool. Try not to use the backpack blower during the day, however, as it can disrupt coaches trying to prep their teams for the games.
13. Plan for your pre- and post-game entrance and exits. Where does the crew enter the field? Do they have easy access to the tarp? Who is responsible for opening the gate for field access? Will the way the crew enters the field also be used for emergency vehicles? If so, don’t block the gate with equipment. Who is responsible for closing the gates and securing them after the game?
COVER STORY 14. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Waterproof/sweat-proof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater is ideal. Bullfrog works great, too, for prevention of sunburn. We also recommend wearing a straw hat, with a wide brim on it to prevent sunburn on the forehead. Some aloe might be nice to have in the refrigerator, just in case someone does get a little sunburned. Southern Athletic Fields encourages facilities to host tournaments because it not only spotlights the facility, but it also makes those in charge to do the detail work to make the area better. Southern Athletic Fields (Columbia, TN) has served as the official grounds crew provider for the SEC Baseball Tournament (1999 to present), TSSAA Spring Fling Championships, TN Junior College Baseball/ Softball Tournaments and a Sun Championship, among many others. We feel that the information provided in the tips for tournaments is just a small list of things to think about when preparing for a tournament. As we all know, tournaments are when our facilities can really be put out for people to see, and we all want them to be the best.
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TURF TALK
many golf course superintendents, the pressures of play and the bottom line interfere in conducting what they know to be the right cultural practices for turfgrass health. For instance, although core aerification and topdressing help dilute the damaging forces of organicmatter deposition, they both can disrupt the playing surface. Unfortunately, in the transition zone, cultivation is really a yearround practice that must be performed to avoid destructive consequences in summer. To keep your course ahead of this summer’s stress, be sure to thoroughly plan out your cultivation practices for the next several months. The USGA recommendations for putting-green construction focus on a highsand rootzone that creates good physical stability, high water-infiltration rates, high oxygen content and resistance to compaction. The production of organic matter by the growing turfgrass plants, however, limits
For
Left: Providing large macropores in the form of aeration holes will help maintain water and oxygen infiltration into profiles where organic matter has built up over time. Once the organic matter exceeds 3% to 4% by weight, problems can only be addressed through an aggressive organic-matter dilution program.
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By Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., Turfgrass Pathologist, The University of Tennessee
each of these desirable traits. Once organicmatter content gets too high, the benefits of the high-sand rootzone diminishes or disappears, and turf health is not far behind. If this condition is allowed to persist, the quality of the playing surface will drop, and cultivation practices that could have addressed the situation beforehand, on a preventative basis, will need to be performed much more aggressively to recover turfgrass quality. Wherever highquality putting greens exist, you can bet that the superintendent focuses on how to best accomplish the goals of aerification and topdressing (to maintain the sandbased rootzone) while minimizing the disruption to the golfer or customer.
Why cultivate? Cultivation practices share a long and storied history with the development of golf courses. As legend has it, ever since old Tom Morris accidentally dumped some sand on the greens and noticed the improvement to turf quality, cultivation practices have been a necessary evil. You can be assured, though, that these practices will continue to change over time. Even as recently as the mid-1990s, superintendents tended to view major cultivation practices as spring and fall activities. Generally, the recommendations were to core cultivate in the spring,
followed by sand topdressing to fill the holes, with a similar practice in the fall. If cultivations were performed mid-season, they generally consisted of lighter sand topdressings and an occasional core cultivation using small “needle tines.” However, these practices are not adequate to significantly reduce the organic matter that some of the more aggressive cultivars produce. Pat O’Brien and Chris Hartwiger from the USGA published an article in 2000 that detailed cultivation practices and recommended that 15% to 20% of the surface area should be disrupted each year. In 2004, Dr. Bob Carrow (of the University of Georgia) published an excellent article describing the physical properties associated with the summer decline of bentgrass and emphasizing the need for adequate core cultivation. His research shows that when the percentage of organic matter in the upper 2" of the soil exceeds 3% to 4%, problems with summer decline are magnified. As the percentage of organic matter increases in the upper profile of the rootzone, the large water- and aircarrying pores (macropores) begin to plug. Then, when summer temperatures increase, the organic matter breaks down at an elevated rate due to an increase in microbial activity. The decomposing
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organic matter forms a mucilaginous, sticky substance that further plugs macropores and holds water. Dr. Carrow has shown that this change in the organic matter precedes the development of summer problems on putting surfaces. Cultivation and topdressing are critical to diluting and removing the buildup of organic matter before it causes problems. Ultimately, developing a cultivation and topdressing program that proactively addresses these concerns will be much more cost effective than the curative approach of throwing expensive fungicides at the secondary problems.
Developing a program for cultivation and topdressing When designing a cultivation and topdressing program, several factors should be at the forefront of this discussion. As the organic matter increases above 3% to 4% by weight, the following also occur: (1) macroporosity decreases, (2) waterholding content increases and (3) surfaces become less firm, as a result. The key to developing a successful program is to combine core aerification and topdressing practices into an integrated approach that addresses the need to dilute the buildup of organic matter throughout the year. The goal is to manage organic •
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TURF TALK
Core cultivation followed by filling the holes with sand will allow for oxygen exchange and water movement through the profile. This practice needs to be performed often enough in conjunction with regular topdressing that organic matter in the profile remains below 3% to 4% by weight.
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matter in the upper 2" of the soil so that it is less than 3% to 4% by weight. Several overall recommendations can be made at this point: • Topdressing applications are used to dilute the buildup of organic matter. • Core aeration followed by filling the holes with sand is used to make larger changes in the organic matter. • “Correct” organic-matter programs should address your particular situation. No single program is effective for all situations. In general, to keep organic matter levels within an acceptable range, 40 to 50 cubic feet of sand per 1,000 ft2 should be applied over the year. Caution should be applied here to the thinking that, “If I apply 50 cubic feet of sand through topdressings, I don’t need to aerify.” Nothing could be farther from the truth, because a topdressing-only program does not remove enough organic matter to maintain desir-
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able organic-matter composition without unduly injuring the turf, and a twice-yearly program does not adequately distribute the applied sand evenly enough. By blending the two practices, however, you can match the demands of your course while addressing the organic matter issues. One option is to use big holes (> 1/2") on a big spacing (> 2" x 2") to core cultivate your greens once in spring and once in fall. This option has the advantage of disturbing a larger surface area, but recovery will be somewhat slower due to the larger holes. Sand volume and amounts are often debated, but for the purpose of this article, volumes will be expressed based on the calculation that 100 lbs. of dry sand equals 1 cubic foot. This option will require approximately 3,600 lbs. of sand per 1,000 ft2, or 36 cubic feet of dry sand (100 lbs of dry sand = 1 ft3). The remaining 14 ft3 per 1,000 ft2 is applied through 7 to 28 moderate to light topdressings (2 ft3/1,000 ft2 to 0.5 ft3/1,000
CONTINUED ft2). The exact amount and frequency of these topdressings should be determined based on your particular course. A second option is to use smaller holes (< 1/2") on a small spacing (1" x 1") using quad tines and more advanced cultivation equipment to core once or twice in the spring and once or twice in the fall. The advantage of this option is that the smaller holes heal more rapidly. The disadvantages are that multiple coring events are required in order to disturb a larger surface area, and the holes will be more difficult to completely fill due to bridging of the particles in the holes. Using sand that is as dry as possible will minimize the difficulties with bridging the holes. Using a slightly less than 1/2" tine (about 0.4") will require about 6 cubic feet of sand to fill the holes for each cultivation event. Therefore, the total sand applied for these events will be 18 to 24 ft3 for the year. This leaves 16 to 32 ft3 to be applied
through light to moderate topdressings throughout the year. This would result in approximately 8 to 16 moderate topdressing applications of 2.0 ft3/1,000 ft2. Because Tennessee is in the transitional climate zone where temperatures remain moderate throughout the winter, it is important to employ the organic-matter management practices throughout the year. Microbial activity is reduced when temperatures are below 55° F, resulting in increases in organic-matter accumulation. Moderate applications of topdressing can be made throughout the spring, fall and, especially, winter periods, while light applications can be made during the summer stress periods. A sample program using the second option discussed above, with a yearly target of 50 ft3, might consist of 4 cultivation events (2 in spring plus 2 in fall, for a total of 24 ft3/1,000 ft2) with 8 moderate applications (2 ft3/1,000 ft2) of topdressing applied about every three weeks during
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the winter, and then 10 light/moderate topdressings (1 ft3/1,000 ft2) applied about every 2–3 weeks. This last amount could also be broken into 4 moderate topdressings at the 2 ft3/1,000 ft2 rate when the temperatures are still moderate, with a rate of 0.5 ft3/1,000 ft2 for the remaining 4 light topdressings during the summer heat period about every 2–3 weeks. This is only an example program that could be used to address the dilution of organic matter throughout the year in the transition zone. I would encourage you to consider your organic-matter management plan and how it fits within these recommendations. Extenuating circumstances, however, exist at many locations. The following points suggest possible alterations that you might make to your cultivation and topdressing program, given some of the more common circumstances you might face on your course.
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â&#x20AC;˘ High traffic: Generally, high traffic courses need more N fertility to maintain quality and, as a result, can expect high organic-matter accumulations. Therefore, increased frequencies of light topdressings and more cultivation events may be required. â&#x20AC;˘ Turfgrass varieties: The more aggressive bentgrasses (Penn A series, G series, etc.) require more aggressive management of organic matter. These practices should be employed immediately, in order to maintain control of organic-matter buildup. Courses with these varieties that have not been practicing aggressive dilution practices can expect to significantly increase the need for core cultivation and topdressing frequencies, in order to curatively address this issue. Older varieties of bentgrass (L-93, Providence, Crenshaw, Penncross, etc.) may not need as aggressive management, if good practices have been followed since establishment. However, if good practices have not been followed, these varieties will also need more-frequent core cultivation and topdressing to curatively address the situation and to avoid problems during the summer.
Evaluating the situation The bottom line is that, to help limit the problems associated with summer stress, you should evaluate where your greens currently stand and make adjustments to your program to bring them in line with the recommendations
Regular light to moderate sand topdressing helps to dilute and breakdown the development of organic matter. In Tennessee, this practice needs to be performed regularly in order to avoid the development of layers that will restrict water movement in the profile and precipitate other problems during the stressful periods of summer.
of less than 3% to 4% by weight organic matter. So, how do you evaluate where you stand? The easiest way is to visually examine your soil profiles throughout the season and take note of the depth of the dark organic layer and how well the sand is incorporated in that layer in the upper 2" of the profile. Having accurate information is critical, however, so the best possible solution is to have an accredited soil-testing lab evaluate profiles from several of your greens for the percentage by weight organic matter in the soil profileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upper 2". Having this information, and regularly testing thereafter, will allow you to monitor how your organic-matter dilution practices are working, and they will allow you to evaluate changes to your program. The best time to sample for testing is in late spring (May) and early fall (September), when organic matter will be at their highest (spring) and lowest (fall) levels during the year. Evaluating your cultivation practices will help lead to improved conditions during summer stress period by enabling the soil profile to (1) have adequate oxygen in the rootzone, (2) maintain good infiltration rates and (3) provide a high-quality, firm playing surface for players to enjoy year-round.
TURF TIPS
By Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
APRIL/MAY 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
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obody likes to see turfgrass fail at establishment, yet it happens from time to time. Even more common is turfgrass that seems to establish well initially, but then thins and has trouble growing well over the long term. All too often, mistakes made at the time of establishment cause maintenance problems for years afterward. If you want to be sure that your sod fails, here are the top five ways to do it — and maybe you can increase your chances of success if you stay away from these common mistakes.
#5. Use the wrong turfgrass for the environment, or plant it in too much shade. Everybody likes to save money. That doesn’t mean, however, that the cheapest grass is always the best choice long term. One example of this is seen all the time: bermudagrass planted where there is way too much shade for it to survive long term. Yes, bermudagrass may be only half as expensive as most other sod, but there are limits to what it can do. It’s true that the improved shade tolerance of TifGrand bermudagrass will help here, but there are still many places where bermudagrass is not the right choice. Sure, you may save some money up front, but you will pay more in the long run in the headaches associated with thin turf and the eventual cost to replace that turf. Remember that landscape plants grow, so choose a grass with the long term in mind. Back in the days when people bought houses to flip them in a few years, perhaps nobody cared about the long-term maintenance of their lawns and landscapes. But if you plan to live in a house for ten or more years, then new trees can become a concern. Why plant a bermudagrass lawn that will be shaded out in 5 years, when you could plant a grass that is less susceptible to shade and not have to worry for 15 years? We also have to face facts: there are many areas where turfgrass will simply not survive in the long run due to heavy shade. It is a part of a good landscaper’s responsibility to recognize these areas and to suggest alternatives to turfgrass. I like to say that the best tool to use for improving turfgrass health is often a chainsaw. That is true, but people tend to like trees, and sometimes we turfgrass people have to realize that and give in to plants that do truly love shade.
#4. Don’t know where your sod is coming from. One of the only good things about the lagging economy these days (unless you are a sod farmer) is that there is plenty of sod available for purchase. This makes it easy to shop around for sod and to deal with only reputable growers who know what they are doing and will sell you high-quality grass. If possible, check out their references, and remember that a well-run sod farm won’t be offended if you want to see the grass before you buy it, especially if you are a regular customer. Buying certified sod will guarantee that there are no noxious weeds in the sod and will provide a paper trail of the sod’s origins to help ensure that you are getting the variety you expect. Many of the newer varieties of turfgrass must be grown under license and also provide safeguards to ensure the genetic purity of the sod you are buying. It costs more, but in many cases, it is worth it to ensure a uniform product over the long term.
#3. Plant during periods of heavy stress. Although one of the best things about laying sod is that it gives the maximum flexibility in terms of establishment timing, there are limits to what sod will take. Sod that is laid during the heat of the summer, especially if irrigation is not available (see #2, next), is much more likely to fail than sod laid in more mild temperatures. Sod is also more susceptible to problems when it is laid in the late fall while it is still partly green but going into dormancy. Early cold snaps while the grass is not yet well rooted, but not yet fully dormant either, can result in winterkill. If it is possible, consider putting off laying sod for a few weeks until it is dormant before transplanting sod.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
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TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
Another period of stress when it is best to avoid transplanting sod is during greenup in the spring. Often, turfgrasses will outgrow their root systems early in spring when air temperatures are high enough for shoot growth but soil temperatures still lag below what is needed for good root growth. Sometimes during greenup, sod will not even hold together well enough to harvest and stack right. Again, it is better to plant while the grass is still dormant or after it is fully out of dormancy. One of the major advantages of sod is that it offers instant coverage. But, just because sod looks pretty right away, that’s no reason to allow traffic too soon. Sod needs time to root down into the soil and to grow lateral shoots to knit the pieces together. How long this takes will depend on a number of factors, like the weather and how well the soil was prepared (see #1, next page ). As a rule of thumb, for regular sod, allow three to four weeks during normal growing conditions before subjecting the turf to heavy traffic like sports play.
#2. Mismanage water. Especially in the summer, irrigation is key to a good start with new sod plantings. Since it has such a limited root system, sod is especially prone to going dormant in hot, dry weather. A continuous supply of moisture is needed to encourage the roots to grow down into the underlying soil. Even in areas that prohibit outdoor watering during droughts, exceptions usually are made for the first 30 days or so after planting sod.
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TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
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TURF TIPS If an area to be sodded will have a permanent irrigation system, it is always best to have the system finished and properly working before laying sod. Although schedules can sometimes become tangled during a construction project, make every effort to have some way of watering newly laid sod unless it is being laid while dormant. Even then, in especially
dry winter weather, sod can dry out to the point of damage. Irrigating plants is, was and always will be a balancing act. Too much water is just as damaging as too little. Remember that with freshly laid sod, the idea is to encourage the roots to grow down into the soil underneath. To do this, there must be sufficient water in the underlying soil,
Soil testing can reveal potential problems before a new planting fails, like this lawn where the pH was 7.8 and the zoysiagrass sod failed to root satisfactorily.
but the surface should not be kept saturated, or the roots will remain shallow. A deep-rooted turf is always stronger than a shallow-rooted one, so pay attention during establishment and reduce the frequency of irrigation after the first few days, and let the top of the soil dry out to encourage roots to seek water deeper in the soil. Overwatering is also the most common mistake homeowners make in managing their lawns. Be sure to educate your clients on the right way to water turfgrass (hint: it is not by setting the timer to run for 15 minutes a day, whether it needs it or not), and make sure they know how to turn the irrigation off when it is raining. Smart controllers are great, but a smart operator is better.
#1. Neglect the soil
Sometimes there is just too much shade for good turfgrass growth. There is a place for turf, but this is not it.
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
APRIL/MAY 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
Soil testing is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Few things are as frustrating as having a truckload of sod die, only to find out afterward that you were trying to establish it in a soil with a pH of 4.7. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also worth pointing out that pre-plant soil testing gives you a chance to incorporate any lime or fertilizer needed throughout the entire rootzone, something that is impossible once the turf is established. Many soil labs are available, but make sure to use one that regularly handles soil from your area. Methods for extracting nutrients vary according to soil type, and a lab in another part of the country may use techniques that are not well suited to your local soil. If in doubt, ask whether a given lab routinely analyzes soil from your location. Compaction is the number one soil problem in many parts of the country. This is certainly true for most of the Southeast. Failing to deal with compaction issues before planting turf or, even worse, creating them while planting, can cause the unlucky souls who later get to manage the grass untold headaches and lots of money. Be as gentle as possible with the area to be planted. Keep equipment off it as much as is practical, and whenever possible, replace topsoil that is lost during construction. We all know how difficult it is to grow turf on hard, compacted soil. Why then is sod slapped down on top of it so often?
WEED WATCH
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
APRIL/MAY 2011 Email TTA at:
Photo 1. Clump of Star-of-Bethlehem in bloom. Photo 2. Star-of-Bethlehem bulbs. Photo 3. Star-of-Bethlehem leaves. Photo 4. Star-of-Bethlehem flower. tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
Controlling
Star-of-Bethlehem, a Troublesome Weed Across Tennessee By Greg Breeden, Weed Science Extension Assistant, and James T. Brosnan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee
S
Identifying Star-of-Bethlehem
tar-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is a perennial ornamental plant that has become a troublesome weed on home lawns, golf courses and athletic fields throughout Tennessee. It is often confused with wild garlic (Allium vineale) and wild onion (Allium canadense); however, Star-of-Bethlehem is more difficult to control with herbicides than these species. Non-selective herbicides like glyphosate (Roundup ProTM) often provide only marginal levels of control.
Star-of-Bethlehem often grows in clumps of several individual plants. Leaves are hollow, dark green, have a distinctive white mid-rib and are covered with a waxy coating (Photo 3). Star-of-Bethlehem is easily confused with wild garlic and wild onion; however, unlike these species, Star-of-Bethlehem foliage does not produce a distinct odor when crushed. The flowers produced in the spring have bright white petals with a prominent green stripe on the underside (Photo 4). Each flower has six petals.
Star-of-Bethlehem’s life cycle in Tennessee
Control options
Star-of-Bethlehem is a cool-season perennial that emerges from bulbs in the winter and early spring, and it usually flowers soon afterward in spring (Photo 1). After flowering and producing seeds, the plant
occurred after winter frosts. Sequential applications may be required for complete control. Mowing should be delayed for 10 to 14 days after a postemergence herbicide application to control Star-of-Bethlehem. Research results from The University of Tennessee show that a single application of Dismiss™ can provide excellent control of Star-of-Bethlehem in established turf. Other products that contain sulfentrazone (the active ingredient in Dismiss) are active against Star-of-Bethlehem, but sequential applications will be required to achieve complete control. Herbicides such as Quicksilver™ and Buctril™ have activity on Star-of-Bethlehem, but they also require sequential applications for complete control. Always read the product label before applying a herbicide and follow use directions carefully. Always refer to the product label for specific information on proper product use, tank-mix compatibility and turfgrass tolerance. For more information on turfgrass weed control, visit The University of Tennessee’s turfgrass weed science website at http://tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org.
will senesce and remain dormant throughout the summer months when temperatures increase. Star-of-Bethlehem reproduces mainly from underground bulbs (Photo 2); reproduction from seeds is minimal.
Only a few herbicides exhibit activity against Star-of-Bethlehem in established warm- and cool-season turf (Table 1). Postemergence herbicide applications should be made in the spring once adequate Star-of-Bethlehem growth has
Table 1. Postemergence herbicides for control of Star-of-Bethlehem. PRODUCT NAME
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
RATE/AC
Buctril
bromoxoynil
1-2 pts (2EC) or 0.5-1 pt (4EC)
Dismiss
sulfentrazone
8-12 oz
Safe on most cool- and warm-season species
Q-4
sulfentrazone + quinclorac + 2,4D + dicamba
7-8 pts
Repeat applications may be required; safe on Kentucky bluegrass, tall and fine fescue, perennial ryegrass, dormant bermudagrass and dormant zoysia
QuickSilver
carfentrazone
2.1 oz
Repeat applications may be required; safe on most cool- and warm-season species; available only to professional applicators
Surge
sulfentrazone + 2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba
3-4 pts
Repeat applications may be required; safe on most cool- and warm-season species; available only to professional applicators
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
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TURF SPECIES AND COMMENTS Repeat applications may be required; safe on most cooland warm-season species; not for use on residential turf
TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
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ADVERTISERS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 17 MTGCSA Meeting
JUNE 15–16 TVSTMA Meeting
Pebble Brook GC Springfield, TN
(hosting STMA Regional Conference) UT’s Turfgrass Research Center Knoxville, TN
(Turfgrass Producers International) Grand Sierra Resort Reno, NV
JUNE 20 ETGCSA Meeting
JULY 19 MAGCSA Meeting
MAY 17 MAGCSA Meeting Forrest Hill Golf Course Drummonds, TN
MAY 26 ETGCSA Meeting Clinchview GC Bean Station, TN
JUNE 14 MAGCSA Meeting Plantation Golf Club Olive Branch, MS
Link Hills Country Club Greenville, TN
JULY 17–18 ANLA Annual Meeting (American Nursery & Landscape Assn.) Liaison Capital Hill Washington, DC
JULY 18–22 TPI Summer Convention & Field Days
Glen Eagle Golf Course Millington, TN
JULY 19 ETGCSA Meeting Link Hills Country Club, Greenville, TN
AUGUST 16 ETGCSA Meeting Signal Mountain G & CC Signal Mountain, TN
SEPTEMBER 13 MAGCSA Meeting Mirimichi Lakes Millington, TN
SEPTEMBER 13 MTGCSA Meeting
Bayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 www.bayerprocentral.com Covermaster, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 www.covermaster.com Delta Irrigation/KIFCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Henry Horton State Park GC Chapel Hill, TN
Grassroots, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
SEPTEMBER 15 UT Turfgrass Field Day
Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc. . . .Inside Back Cover www.johndeere.com
University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN
Growth Products, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.growthproducts.com
JANUARY 9–11, 2012 46th Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show
Jackson Sand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN
John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 www.johndeerelandscapes.com Kirk Grading and Sodding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Mid Tenn Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 www.midtennturf.com Modern Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 www.modernturf.com NewLife Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 www.newlifeturf.com Quali-Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 www.quali-pro.com Sigma Organics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 www.sigmaturf.com Sur-Line Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Syngenta Turf & Ornamental . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Tennessee 811/ Tennessee One Call . . . . . . .22 www.tennessee811.com Texas Sod Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 www.texassod.com The Pond Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 www.thepondlady.com The Turfgrass Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Trebro Manufacturing, Inc. . . .Inside Front Cover www.trebro.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 www.turfmountain.com Turfgrass America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.turfgrassamerica.com Winstead Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 www.winsteadturf.com Wood Bay Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 www.woodbayturftech.com
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 ©2011 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 Nashville, 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) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.