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 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
F E AT U R E D A RT I C L E S
16 20 26
16
Recent Event
20
Turf Talk
26
Weed Watch
Recent Event — Highlights from TTA’s 45th Annual Conference & Trade Show Turf Talk — Surviving Summer... Building Your Fungicide Program for the Season? Weed Watch — Controlling Nutsedges and Kyllingas... Difficult, But Doable
D E PA RT M E N T S From the TTA Vice President, Bob McCurdy
6
From the TVSTMA President, Larry Berry, CSFM
8
From the MAGCSA President, Scott McNeer, CGCS 10
4
News from the TTA
12
News from TVSTMA
14
Calendar of Events
30
Index of Advertisers
30
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
F R O M T H E T TA V I C E P R E S I D E N T Bob McCurdy
Temporarily
Filling in for Jay Our
TTA president, Jay Willis, is suffering from a knee injury, and (as I write this column in early February) he has been re-admitted to the hospital due to an infection from the surgery. I hope that you all join me in wishing him a speedy and full recovery. I can’t think of a more exciting topic for discussion than our recent TTA Conference and Trade Show. Our attendance was up, as well as our vendor representation, for the January 5–7 event held in Franklin. We began both mornings with a continental breakfast and lots of good networking time. The 22 classes offered information and points on everything from zoysiagrass seedhead suppression to the top 10 weeds of Tennessee. The bigger and better trade show was combined with a social hour and live entertainment. The TTA business meeting resulted in allowing your board to vote on issues by using electronic methods like email. This should allow us to make decisions more quickly with fewer meetings. A special thanks to outgoing board members Doug Estes from Germantown CC and Joel Beckham from Old Fort GC for their service. We welcome Cal Hill with Winfield Solutions and Joe Hill with ProSolutions as our newest board members. I was especially excited about the new awards presented to several turf professionals doing outstanding work in the state (see page 16 for details), as well as the continuation of the Professional of the Year award (congratulations, Dr. Brosnan!). Make your plans now to attend next January. It’s a great way to start off your year.
Bob McCurdy TTA Vice President
6
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
FROM THE TVSTMA PRESIDENT Larry Berry, CSFM The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Kicking Off a
New Year! 2011
is upon us, and it came roaring in with volatile weather presenting all of us with challenges right away! Large snowfall amounts in much of Tennessee and unseasonably cold weather in most areas forced many of us into duties we were not used to and left us trying to prepare for the challenges this type of weather will present in the early spring. By the time you read this, most of our spring sports will have started, and work will be in progress on preparing and maintaining our playing fields. The initial excitement of getting on the fields and doing actual grounds work after the winter has more than likely worn off a bit. Challenges now face us as coaches and teams have begun their work for the upcoming season. But you are not alone. All across the state, there are individuals doing the same thing, working hard to prepare and maintain sports fields and facing the challenges that go with it. One of the great aspects of being involved in organizations is the networking associated with them. Sharing ideas and techniques with other folks can be so valuable and helpful. I know that I have gotten great ideas from events I have attended, whether from information that was presented or from talking with peers who were in attendance. Often, those great timesaving tips or money-saving techniques have helped out immeasurably. I for one, am always looking for a way to do things better. Networking with others who do the same type of work seems to always yield positive results for me. With that in mind, the TVSTMA has several great opportunities to network and learn this coming year. We will be having events in West Tennessee at the University of Memphis on April 27 and in lower East 8
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
Tennessee at North Jackson High School in Alabama, plus a Field Day/Annual Business Meeting in Middle Tennessee in October. We have some great sites for the meetings and will have some wonderful learning opportunities at them. Additionally, Tennessee is extremely fortunate in that we will be hosting the STMA Regional Conference at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in mid-June. Your TVSTMA Board realizes the importance of the organization for continued learning and valuable resources. Getting people interested and involved is the key. Many of us want to do more, and often intend to be more involved, but something always holds us back. This year TVSTMA wants to help by retooling our website to offer more information and resources. Reaching out to improve membership numbers and creating more opportunities for people to be involved is a goal of the association. The intent is to give each member more resources to make you a better turfgrass manager! Speaking of making things better, I would like to thank our 2010 TVSTMA board members for all their hard work in the last year. A very special thank you to last year’s outgoing president, Theo Lankford, and to our outgoing commercial vice president, Erin Kinney. Theo worked very hard all year and consistently tried to find ways to improve our organization. Erin brought great energy and drive to all she did with us and was an asset in everything she was involved with. We will do our best with this year’s group to keep up the great work they did for our members! Remember, being involved is the best way to take advantage of your membership. And ask someone who is not a member to join — you know the old saying, “the more the merrier.” Let’s have a great 2011!
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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 MAGCSA PRESIDENT Scott McNeer
News from the
Memphis Area GCSA
I’d
like to first say Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope the holiday season was a great time with family and friends for all! After the GIS Show in early February, it won’t be long until it’s time to get prepped for the coming golf season. For us in the Memphis Area GCSA, it is time to plan our 2011 schedule, including our monthly meetings, the S&R Tournament and the Kick-Off Party. The new year brought on a couple of changes to our MAGCSA executive committee. We have our outgoing president, Doug Estes of Germantown Country Club,
as well as our newest committee member, Robert Main of Colonial Country Club. We are all really looking forward to working with Robert, as he has already further energized our team. Following is your executive committee for 2011:
Secretary Nathan Sullivan Fair Oaks Golf Course Treasurer Cal Hill Winfield Solutions
President Scott McNeer, CGCS Spring Creek Ranch
At-Large Robert Main Colonial Country Club
Vice President Ben Haddad Olive Branch Country Club
Past President Doug Estes Germantown Country Club Executive Director Jim Uden TTA Executive Director Even though Doug Estes will continue to be an active participant on this committee, I would like to publicly thank him for all of his hard work over the past few years. Many of you may not be aware of all that has been accomplished, but trust me when I tell you that we all owe Doug a big pat on the back and a great deal of respect for the role he has played in improving our organization. Coming very soon, we will have the final monthly meeting schedule and an exciting S&R Tournament site to present to everyone. We have some unique speakers and are trying to firm up dates with speakers and host clubs. The 2011 MAGCSA Kick-Off Party will be held on March 4, 2011. Ladd’s was kind enough to reach out to the committee and offer their facility once again, so we certainly thank them for that! More details on the party are coming soon, so please put this down on your calendar and plan on coming for good food and fellowship. Scott McNeer, CGCS MAGCSA President
10
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
NEWS FROM THE TTA
Announcing
TTA’S OFFICERS & DIRECTORS FOR
PRESIDENT Jay Willis Glen Eagle Golf Course Millington, TN (901) 508-1986 Fax: (901) 874-5630 jwillisgleneagle@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENT Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms Dyer, TN (731) 692-3515 Fax: (731) 692-3596 mccurdyb@bellsouth.net
SECRETARY/ TREASURER Paul Carter Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Harrison, TN (423) 344-6374 Fax: (423) 344-6281 pmc@att.worldnet.com
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Jim Uden Tennessee Turfgrass Assn. 400 Franklin Road Franklin, TN 37069 (615) 591-8286 Fax: (615) 790-8600 tnturfgrass@aol.com
Thomas Garner Pigeon Forge Parks & Rec. Pigeon Forge, TN (865) 428-3113 Fax: (865) 774-2141 tgarner@cityofpigeon forge.com
PAST PRESIDENT Bob Hogan The Hogan Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-6424 bob@thehogancompany.us
DIRECTORS Bob Elliott Ewing Irrigation Company Nashville, TN (615) 244-8870 Fax: (615) 244-8820 belliott@ewingi.com
Cal Hill ProSource One Memphis, TN Work: (901) 412-0121 cchill@landolakes.com
2011 Joe Hill ProSolutions Maryville, TN Work: (865) 983-1454 Fax: (865) 983-6947 jhill@ourprosolutions.com
Doug Ward Belle Meade Country Club Nashville, TN (615) 292-6752 Fax: (615) 385-6214 dougw@comcast.com
Theo Lankford, CTP Clarkland, Inc. Fairview, TN (615) 347-6095 theo@clarklandsports fields.com
TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Smith Turf & Irrigation Co. Nashville, TN (615) 726-8811 Fax: (615) 242-3274 bill.blackburn@smith turf.com
Bill Marbet Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. Columbia, TN (800) 837-8062 Fax: (931) 380-0145 bill@mulemix.com Scott McNeer Spring Creek Ranch Collierville, TN (901) 850-1129 Fax: (901) 850-9582 scottm@springcreekranch.org Tommy Mittlesteadt Ladd’s Knoxville, TN (615) 509-4300 Fax: (931) 520-8961 tmittle@bobladd.com Mitch Parker Ladd’s Memphis, TN (901) 324-8801 Fax: (901) 324-6814 mparker@bobladd.com Chris Simon Signal Mountain Golf & CC Signal Mountain, TN (423) 886-5126 Fax: (423) 886-3140 csimon@smgcc.org Sean VanHoose Dorchester Golf Course Fairfield Glade, TN (931) 484-3743 Fax: (931) 484-3773 svanhoose@fairfieldglade.cc
12
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
Lynn Ray Golf Management Group Brentwood, TN (615) 373-9400 Fax: (615) 370-2585 Jeff Rumph Gatlinburg Country Club Gatlinburg, TN (865) 453-3638 Fax: (865) 429-1945 fourlakebums@msn.com Dr. Tom Samples University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-2595 Fax: (865) 974-6421 tsamples@utk.edu Dr. Dennis Shepard DuPont Crop Protection Franklin, TN (615) 557-4742 dennis.go@comcast.net Dr. John Sorochan University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN (865) 974-7324 Fax: (865) 974-8850 sorochan@utk.edu
TVSTMA NEWS Meet Your New TVSTMA
LEADERS FOR 2011! PRESIDENT Larry Berry, CSFM Lee University Physical Plant Cleveland, TN (423) 614-8086 lberry@leeuniversity.edu PRESIDENT-ELECT (2011) Wayne Treadway Town of Dandridge, Parks & Rec. Dandridge, TN (865) 654-0394 Fax: (865) 397-8919 wtreadway@bellsouth.net COMMERCIAL VICE PRESIDENT T.J. Derrick Southern Athletic Fields Columbia, TN (931) 797-8470 Fax: (931) 380-0145 tj@mulemix.com TREASURER Stephen Callis The Hogan Company Springfield, TN (888) 224-6426 Fax: (615) 384-642 stephen@thehogancompany.us PAST PRESIDENT Theo Lankford, CTP Clarkland, Inc. Fairview, TN (615) 347-6095 theo@clarklandsportsfields.com COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLICITY Robin Francis City of Union CityTurf Management P.O. Box 9 Union City, TN 38281 Work: (731) 885-8838 robinfrancis33@hotmail.com 14
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
RECENT EVENT
Highlights from
TTA’s 45TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW January 5–7 at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, the Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s 2011 Annual Conference and Trade Show brought together golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, lawncare operators, sod producers, parks and recreation personnel, turfgrass researchers and many of the industry’s top suppliers for three days of sharing information, tips and stories from the past year. The outstanding education program (coordinated by TTA’s Education and Programs Committee and Dr. Jim Brosnan, with The University of Tennessee’s turfgrass program), attracted turf professionals eager to hear about the most effective products, techniques and technologies, while the event’s ever-popular trade show continued to be the hot spot for networking and socializing.
Held
Jay Willis, 2010–2011 TTA president, welcomes attendees to TTA’s Annual Business Meeting and Awards Reception.
16
At the organization’s Annual Business Meeting and Awards Reception on Wednesday, TTA president Jay Willis recognized and thanked this year’s outgoing board members, Joel Beckham and Doug Estes, while welcoming Cal Hill and Joe Hill, who were elected to fill the vacated slots. In the awards portion of the luncheon, several new awards — and their inaugural winners — were announced, in addition to the prestigious TTA Professional of the Year Award, all spotlighted on these pages. Additionally, this year’s Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Jason Lundy, a turfgrass-science student at (Chattanooga State Community College). If you missed this year’s event, be sure to mark your calendars for January 9–11, 2012, when the TTA celebrates its 46th Annual Conference and Trade Show again at the Cool Springs Marriott.
TTA Professional of the Year
Professional Field of the Year
Collegiate Field of the Year
James Brosnan, Ph.D.
Herschel Greer Stadium
Shields Watkins Field at Neyland Stadium
Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee (Dr. Brosnan, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
Home of the Nashville Sounds Field Manager, Thomas Trotter (Thomas Trotter, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
Home of The University of Tennessee Volunteers Field Manager, Darren Seybold (Darren Seybold, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS!
Agrium Advanced Technologies BASF Bayer BWI Charles Williams & Assoc. Cleary Chemicals Crossroads Sod Farm Dickens Turf Ewing Irrigation First Products GNC Grassroots, Inc. Greens Perfection Greenville Turf Harco Fittings Harrell’s Harsco Minerals Huntsville Tractor Jackson Sand Jester Design Jones Aeration JRM Keeling Company Ladd’s Mid Tenn Turf MiniVerde New Life Turf ProSolutions Regal Chemical Sigma Organics Smith Turf & Irrigation Sur-Line Turf Syngenta TGCSA The Andersons Turf & Specialty The Pond Lady TriGreen Equipment, LLC Turf Time Equipment TVSTMA Valent Professional Products
High School Field of the Year
Golf Course of the Year
Environmental Stewardship Award
Ensworth High School
Warrior’s Path Golf Course
Mirimichi Golf Course
Home of the Ensworth Tigers Field Manager, Martin Kaufman, CSFM (Marty Kaufman, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
Kingsport, TN Superintendent, David Cloud (David Cloud, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
Millington, TN Director of Agronomy, Kenny Herzog Superintendent, Dustin Green (Dustin Green, right; Tommy Middlesteadt, left)
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
17
TURF TALK
SURVIVING THE 2011 SUMMER: Are You Building Your Fungicide Program for the Season? By Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., Turfgrass Pathologist, The University of Tennessee
This
past summer reminds us that as the season heats up and the thermometer begins to push for the sky, we all start to wonder when our bentgrass will begin to take the nosedive. Before we can design a fungicide program that will help deliver the quality conditions we expect, though, we need to make sure our preparation for the summer is in place.
Preparation Preparations for keeping bentgrass alive in the summer begin throughout the previous winter. The key is to maintain practices that will help develop the healthiest bentgrass for the coming playing season. Cultural practices such as core cultivation, topdressing and fertilizing will help strengthen the plant. In 2004, research at the University of Georgia indicated that an increase in organic matter (OM) on high-sand-content rootzones and the change in this OM during periods of high temperature are the primary factors involved in the decline of bentgrass quality throughout the summer. The research showed that when OM increases beyond 4% by 20
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
weight, oxygen concentrations decrease, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreases and water-holding capability increases. When temperatures increase, problems like wet wilt, scalping, soft surfaces, root loss and hightemperature injury are much more frequent. Therefore, aggressive core cultivation in preparation for the season will help improve oxygen infiltration and develop and maintain the macroporosity in the soil profile that will be critical. The research also showed that aggressive core-cultivation practices such as large hollow tines (5/8" or 1/2") are effective for 5–8 weeks, and other less-aggressive practices (small hollow tines, water injection, etc.) are effective for about 3 weeks. Topdressing is another important practice that improves the playing surface and reduces the potential for major summer losses. Topdressing’s primary role is to mix the sand rootzone with the OM that the turfgrass naturally develops during growth. Research has clearly shown that light, frequent topdressing is critical to avoid developing an organic layer that impedes the infiltration of water, increases the possibility
of black layer and develops conditions favorable for summer bentgrass decline. Topdressing is also required to fill the holes formed from core-cultivation events. Yes, topdressing is difficult on your equipment and mechanic, but regular, light topdressings on a 14- to 21-day interval will help keep OM development under control. Also consider fertility when preparing for summer’s challenges. The push for everincreasing green speed has led to a desire to restrict N inputs, with the belief that this will increase green speeds. Many research projects from across the U.S. over many years have shown that, generally, for each pound of N/1,000 ft2 applied, green speed can be expected to decrease by approximately 4". Golfers, however, are unable to detect less than a 6" difference in green speed. If golfers can’t detect it, why do something that may be detrimental to the plant? Instead, making N applications should be based more on the growth of the plant and less on the effect it may (or, more probably, may not) have on green speed. If your cultural maintenance program is
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
producing a vigorous, healthy turf, then your greens will be better stationed to withstand the summer heat. These cultural practices have also been shown to reduce diseases like dollar spot, anthracnose and many other diseases we see here in Tennessee. So, clearly, it’s smart to do everything possible to make your fungicide programs perform better.
Planning Once those cultural practices are in place, it is important to begin planning the chemical applications that will help further improve conditions during stressful periods. Do you know which of your greens show stress first? Do you know why? Knowing the background on your golf course can help you identify areas that may be prone to problems before they get out of hand. Once you have the history in hand, a good fungicide program will enable you to control the primary disease issues on your course, while keeping your cool when temperatures heat up. This article focuses on bentgrass putting surfaces, but those who have ultradwarf bermudagrass face the same general issues — prioritizing the diseases they need to manage and identifying the best possible program to address those needs. The first step in designing a fungicide program is to identify which major problems you would like for it to address. For most bentgrass surfaces in Tennessee, the three main diseases are dollar spot, brown patch and Pythium. Other diseases that need to be on most priority lists are summer bentgrass decline (SBD) and fairy ring. If your putting surfaces have significant amounts of Poa annua, then the prioritized list might look a bit different: crown-rotting anthracnose, summer patch, SBD and dollar spot. SBD is on both lists because most putting surfaces in this state have some bentgrass in them, and a problem similar to SBD on Poa can also occur.
Diseases to consider Dollar spot is an important disease on putting surfaces, and the important management practice here is keeping fertility up (generally, 0.1 to 0.125 lbs./1,000 ft2 every 7 days). Managers who experience the dollar spot
that “kills all the way down” should especially evaluate their N fertility and consider raising it in order to provide recuperative ability to the plant. Fungicides from the DMI (e.g., Banner™, Bayleton™, Triton™, Tourney™, Trinity™, Torque™ and others) and dicarboximide (e.g., 26GT™ and Curalan™) classes and the SDHi fungicide Emerald can be used to control dollar spot on either bentgrass or annual bluegrass. The key factor in planning for dollar spot control in a fungicide program is to know what products work best at your particular location. Brown patch is mostly a concern on bentgrass, and strobilurin fungicides (Heritage™, Insignia™, Compass™, Disarm™) provide excellent control. Other fungicides that provide very good control include Medallion™ and Prostar™. If your greens have a significant amount of annual bluegrass, exercise caution when using Prostar, as research from Rutgers has shown an increase in the symptoms of crown-rotting anthracnose following applications of this fungicide. Summer bentgrass decline seems to be primarily a physical problem of poor air penetration and water infiltration of sand-based rootzones. However, considerable work done at many locations shows that applications of phosphite-containing fungicides (e.g., Signature™, Alude™ and many others) applied with chlorothalonil (e.g., Daconil™ and others) at 14-day intervals improve turf quality during hot, stressful periods of the summer. It is important to note that these applications must be made preventatively throughout the season. These products will also help prevent Pythium blight, making them a good fit for most fungicide programs. The number one disease problem on annual bluegrass is crown rot or basal rot anthracnose. If you have a history of this Photo 1. Untreated control plot where no fungicide applications have been made. Photo taken in late July 2010. Photo 2. Untreated (right) vs. one of the topperforming fungicide programs (left). Clearly, preventative fungicide applications are critical for quality turf during summer stress. Photo 3. Top-performing fungicide programs all exhibited high turfgrass quality during peak summer stress.
1.
2. 3.
TURF TALK insidious disease, preventative applications throughout the season are warranted. Fungicides that provide good control include the strobilurins (see above) and Medallion, and research from Rutgers has shown excellent results from Signature in combination with Daconil. Before any of these fungicides will be effective, however, the nitrogen fertility must be higher than is typical for bentgrass management because annual bluegrass requires more fertility than bentgrass. Approximately 0.125 to 0.150 lbs. N/1000 ft2 every 7 days is required to adequately feed annual bluegrass putting surfaces and to minimize damage from anthracnose. Also, rolling practices can be effectively used to maintain desired green speeds while raising the mowing heights to reduce stress and improve quality throughout the summer. Summer patch is another major problem for those managing annual bluegrass surfaces. Again, the important considerations are to increase fertility into the range favorable for growth and to improve the soil conditions. Because this pathogen is active (early spring) at a time different from when symptoms are observed (summer), fungicide applications must be timed appropriately. Soil temperatures at a 2" depth should be monitored throughout
the spring. When temperatures are in the 65°F to 75°F range, then the first application should be made, followed by 2 to 3 applications on 30-day intervals (if 65°F is used, then 3 repeat apps; if 75°F, then 2 repeat apps). Fungicides effective for summer patch include DMIs (Bayleton, Banner, etc.), and strobilurins (Heritage, Insignia, Disarm, Compass). Once you have identified the main problems at your location, prioritize them, determine when your applications will begin and decide on the sequence of fungicides you will use to target your prioritized list of diseases. Many different research trials, including our own trial this past year, have shown that curative or as-needed applications do not provide the quality of turf conditions desired, and they often require applications with morepotent products at higher rates to bring the disease back under control than would have been necessary if using a preventative approach. Also remember that while dollars and cents are on everyone’s mind, if poor playing conditions are the result of saving money, few will care.
Practice After preparing the surfaces with good cultural practices and planning an effective fungicide
program, putting these into practice demands flexibility and trust in your plan. Our trial this summer (see photos) showed that the best fungicide programs (see tables) shared several key features. First, the top-performing fungicides all shared an early application of a strobilurin-containing fungicide. This was important because of an early outbreak of brown patch, and programs without the early application were set back as a result of increased disease. Also, just as a good football coach makes adjustments at halftime, it is important to regularly evaluate your plan and realize that no program approach can account for all contingencies. Thinking about the weaknesses of a particular program can help you identify the possible breakthrough diseases. Another key from our trial this year was the use of chlorothalonil. Virtually all the top-performing fungicide programs used chlorothalonil throughout the season. This is important because chlorothalonil has little potential for fungicide resistance because of its multi-site mode of action as a contact fungicide. Chlorothalonil plays an excellent supporting role because its duration of control rarely exceeds 7–14 days. So, combining this product with key systemic fungicides helps extend control and prevent disease.
Top Performing fungicide programs in 2010 UT Turfgrass Pathology Program Trial
>> Syngenta
>> Bayer
DATE
FUNGICIDE
RATE
June 1
Headway
1.5 fl. oz.
June 15
Concert
4.5 fl. oz.
June 28
Renown
4.5 fl. oz.
July 13
Daconil Ultrex Fore Rainshield
3.2 oz. 8.0 oz.
Medallion Concert July 27 Chipco Signature
0.25 oz. 4.5 fl. oz. 4.0 oz.
Renown Aug. 10 Fore Rainshield
4.5 fl. oz 8.0 oz.
Medallion Concert Chipco Signature
0.25 oz. 4.5 fl. oz 4.0 oz.
Aug. 24
22
>> BASF
>> Quali-Pro
DATE
FUNGICIDE
RATE
DATE
FUNGICIDE
RATE
DATE
June 1
Interface Chipco Signature
4.0 fl. oz. 4.0 oz.
June 1
Trinity Daconil Ultrex
1.0 fl. oz. 3.2 oz.
June 1
June 14
Reserve
3.6 fl. oz.
June 15
Honor
1.1 oz.
June 15
Disarm 480SC
0.18 fl. oz.
June 28
Insignia Chipco Signature
0.9 oz. 4.0 oz.
June 28
Spectro 90
5.76 oz.
June 28
TM/C Fosetyl-Al
4.0 fl. oz. 4.0 fl. oz.
Daconil Ultrex July 13 Chipco Signature
3.2 oz. 4.0 oz.
July 13
Chipco Signature Daconil Ultrex
4.0 oz. 3.2 oz.
July 13
Chlorothalonil DF Fosetyl-Al
3.2 oz. 4.0 oz.
Reserve Chipco Signature
3.6 oz. 4.0 oz.
July 27
Insignia SC
0.7 fl. oz.
July 27
Disarm 480SC
0.18 fl. oz.
Aug. 10
Chipco Signature Daconil Ultrex
4.0 oz 3.2 oz.
Aug. 10
IPRO 2SE Fosetyl-AL
4.5 fl. oz 4.0 oz.
Aug. 24
Iprodione Pro Daconil Ultrex
4.0 fl. oz 3.2 oz.
Aug. 24
Myclobutanil Fosetyl-Al
1.2 fl. oz 4.0 oz.
July 27
Disarm 480SC Aug. 10 Chipco Signature Aug. 24
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
Tartan
0.28 fl. oz 4.0 oz. 2.0 fl. oz.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
FUNGICIDE
RATE
Propiconazole 14.3 1.0 fl. oz. Fosetyl-Al 4.0 oz.
CONTINUED Finally, strategically using a DMI fungicide throughout the season was also important. Generally, DMIs are best for early season dollar spot control, fairy ring prevention and, as fall approaches, continued dollar spot control. Employing DMIs in the summer can be done safely as long as rates remain low and, especially, if you use products formulated to help avoid stress in combination with these applications (e.g., Triton Flo).
Final thoughts All too often when summer heats up, it is easy to postpone practices or make quick decisions that may be ultimately harmful rather than helpful. When faced with unknown problems, call in experts, talk to colleagues and then make an informed decision with your current plan in front of you so that you will know how suggested new plans will interact and affect your current plan. Surviving the summer without too many problems is often the result of implementing a clear, comprehensive plan that considers contingencies and possible changes before problems occur, so that when problems do occur, informed decisions can be made.
Turf quality ratings for the top-performing fungicide programs in the 2010 Fungicide Programs Trial at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
>> Standard DATE
FUNGICIDE
RATE
June 1
Daconil Ultrex Chipco Signature
3.2 oz. 4.0 oz.
June 15
Daconil Ultrex PK Plus
3.2 oz. 6.0 fl. oz.
June 28
Disarm C Chipco Signature
5.9 fl. oz. 4.0 oz.
July 13
Daconil Ultrex PK Plus
3.2 oz. 6.0 oz.
July 27
Disarm C Chipco Signature
5.9 fl. oz. 4.0 oz.
Aug. 10
Triton Flo PK Plus
0.5 fl. oz. 6.0 oz.
Aug. 24
Daconil Ultrex PK Plus
3.2 oz. 6.0 fl. oz.
Syngenta Program
8.1 a
BASF Program
7.6 abc
Bayer Program
7.6 abc
Quali-Pro Program
7.3 bcde
Standard Program
6.9 cde
Control
4.6 f 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Turf quality data taken 9 August
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
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CONTINUED
WEED WATCH Photo 1: Frost-induced leaf browning of yellow nutsedge. Photo 2: Triangular stem of yellow nutsedge. Photo 3: Yellow nutsedge. Photo 4: Tapered leaf tip of yellow nutsedge.
1.
Photo 5: Yellow nutsedge inflorescence. Photo 6: Purple nutsedge inflorescence. Photo 7: Kyllinga inflorescence.
2.
3.
4. 7. 5. 6.
Controlling Nutsedges
and Kyllingas... Difficult, But Doable By Matthew T. Elmore, Graduate Research Assistant, Turfgrass Weed Science; James T. Brosnan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science; and Greg Breeden, Weed Science Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee
S
edges (Cyperus spp.) and kyllingas (Kyllinga spp.) are weed species that are not only similar in appearance but also share the unique trait of being classified as neither a broadleaf nor grassy plant. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), green kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia) and false-green kyllinga (Kyllinga gracillima) are the primary species found in Tennessee. All sedges and kyllingas are perennial plants that are troublesome to manage and control in a turfgrass environment.
Life cycle and growth habit In Tennessee, sedges and kyllingas emerge in late spring and grow throughout the summer months until the first killing frost. Once growth ceases, the leaves turn brown, and the plants enter winter dormancy (Photo 1). Reproduction occurs primarily through rhizomes and underground tubers (often called “nutlets”). Sedges and kyllingas are considered indicators of excessive irrigation and/or poor drainage, as they commonly invade turfgrasses grown on soils that have remained excessively moist for an extended period of time.
Sedge and kyllinga identification Sedges are most easily identified by their tri-angular stem (Photo 2). Unlike grasses, they do not have hairs, auricles, collars or ligules. The waxy cuticle on the slender leaves gives them a shiny appearance (Photo 3). Inflorescences (flowers/seed heads) produced from plants left un-
mowed do not affect reproduction, as they contain few viable seeds. During the summer, sedges’ vertical growth is often more rapid that of surrounding turf. Yellow nutsedge leaves are light green to yellow, while purple nutsedge leaves are dark green. Yellow nutsedge leaf tips are tapered to a point (Photo 4), while purple nutsedge leaf tips have a more direct point. Inflorescences also aid in nutsedge identification: yellow nutsedge produces a yellow inflorescence (Photo 5), while purple nutsedge produces a purple inflorescence (Photo 6). Due to differences in cold tolerance, yellow nutsedge is more prevalent in East Tennessee, while purple nutsedge is found in greater abundance in West Tennessee. Kyllinga leaves are smaller and less erect than those of yellow nutsedge, but similar in shape and color. Kyllingas can persist under low mowing heights (less than 1/4"), and unlike yellow and purple nutsedge, these plants produce flowers even under regular mowing (Photo 7). Spreading through short rhizomes, kyllinga infestations can form dense mats in a turfgrass stand. Kyllingas are often differentiated by flowering time. Green kyllinga flowers during all warm months, while false-green kyllinga flowers only during late summer.
Selective control options Herbicides from multiple families provide selective control of sedges and kyllingas in turfgrass (Table 1). In general, sedges are more easily controlled by these herbicides than either green or false-green kyllinga. Of the two predominant sedge species in
Tennessee, yellow nutsedge is more easily controlled than purple nutsedge. Herbicides for control of sedges and kyllingas are effective only when applied to actively growing plants, so applications should be made from May through August. If sedges and kyllingas are present in areas with poor drainage, long-term control is possible only if drainage issues are resolved.
Monument 0.53 oz./acre or Katana 2.25 oz./acre Injury will appear about two weeks after application, with complete desiccation developing within three to four weeks. Monument and Katana also control certain broadleaf weeds and cool-season grasses in warm-season turf. Monument is labeled for use in zoysiagrass and bermudagrass, while Katana is labeled for use in zoysiagrass, bermudagrass and centipedegrass. Unlike Image, Monument and Katana can be applied during turfgrass greenup. For both herbicides, add a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v to the spray solution.
Image 11.4 oz./acre Injury will appear about two weeks after application, with complete desiccation developing within three to four weeks. Image is labeled for use in warm-season turfgrass only. Apply this herbicide only after turfgrass has completely greened up in spring. Image controls several broadleaf weeds, sedges, kyllingas, cool-season grasses and seedling warm-season grasses. Add a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v to the spray solution.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION
27
WEED WATCH Table 1. Herbicide options for sedge and kyllinga control in warm- and cool-season turf Product Name
Active Ingredient(s)
Use rate (product/acre)
Certainty
Sulfosulfuron
1.25 oz.
Turf Species
Yellow nutsedge Purple nutsedge (Kyllinga (Cyperus esculentus) (Cyperus rotundus) Kyllinga spp.) control control control
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, seashore paspalum
E
LND
G
Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, seashore paspalum
E
LND
G
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass
E
LND
G
Dismiss
Sulfentrazone
4 – 12 fl. oz.
Dismiss South
Sulfentrazone + Imazethapyr
9.5 – 14.4 fl. oz.
Image
Imazaquin
8.6 – 11.4 oz.
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, seashore paspalum
E
LND
E
Katana
Flazasulfuron
1.5 – 2.25 oz.
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass
E
LND
E
Monument
Trifloxysulfuron
0.53 oz.
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass
E
LND
E
Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, seashore paspalum
E
LND
P
Sedgehammer
Halosulfuron
0.66 – 1.33 oz.
*Excellent (E) = 90-100%; Good (G) = 80-90%; Fair (F) = 70-80%; Poor (P) ≤ 60%; LND = herbicide is labeled for control but no UT efficacy data is available.
Sedgehammer 1.3 oz./acre Injury will appear about two weeks after application, with complete desiccation developing within three to four weeks. Sedgehammer is labeled for use on most cool- and warmseason turfgrass species grown in Tennessee. It is less effective on green and false-green kyllinga than Monument, Katana or Image, and it will not effectively control other grassy and broadleaf weeds. Add a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v to the spray solution.
Dismiss 4–12 fl oz./acre Injury will appear just a few days after application, with complete desiccation occurring in about one week. Dismiss is
28
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
labeled for use on most cool- and warmseason turfgrasses in Tennessee. It is less effective on green and false-green kyllinga than Monument, Katana or Image. This herbicide is most effective on kyllinga when split-applications are made (see label), since re-growth of kyllingas will likely occur within four weeks after the initial application.
Non-chemical Control Increasing mowing frequency and decreasing mowing height can reduce the vigor of yellow nutsedge; however, proper identification is critical, as kyllingas can tolerate low mowing heights (less than 1/4"). It is important to ensure that mowing practices do not reduce desirable turfgrass vigor.
Hand-removal of sedges is effective if care is taken to remove all underground tubers and rhizomes. If tubers are not removed, new plants will emerge, and repeated hand-weeding will be required.
Final thoughts Control of sedges and kyllingas can be difficult. Herbicides will provide longterm control of these weeds only if the underlying cause of their competitive advantage is resolved. In the case of sedges and kyllingas, this is often prolonged periods of excessive soil moisture that reduce competition from desirable turfgrass. Herbicide recommendations are subject to change at any time, and these recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the herbicide applicator’s responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific herbicide being used. The label always takes precedence over the recommendations found in this publication. Always refer to the product label for specific information on proper use, tankmix compatibility and turfgrass tolerance. For more information on turfgrass weed control, visit The University of Tennessee’s turfgrass weed science web site at www.tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
ADVERTISERS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 27 TVSTMA Meeting The University of Memphis Memphis, TN
JUNE 15–16 TVSTMA Meeting (hosting STMA Regional Conference) UT’s Turfgrass Research Center Knoxville, TN
JULY 17–18 ANLA Annual Meeting (American Nursery & Landscape Assn.) Liaison Capital Hill Washington, DC
JULY 18–20 ANLA Legislative Conference
OCTOBER TBA TVSTMA Field Day and Annual Meeting
Liaison Capital Hill Washington, DC
Middle Tennessee TBA
JULY 18–22 TPI Summer Convention & Field Days (Turfgrass Producers International) Grand Sierra Resort Reno, NV
SEPTEMBER 15 UT Turfgrass Field Day University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN
OCTOBER 27–29 Green Industry & Equipment Expo Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY
JANUARY 9–11, 2012 46th Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show Marriott Cool Springs Franklin, TN
Bayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover, 29 www.bayerprocentral.com Covermaster, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 www.covermaster.com Ewing Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 www.Ewing1.com FMC Professional Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.fmcprosolutions.com Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .18 www.johndeere.com Growth Products, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 www.growthproducts.com Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 www.harrells.com Jackson Sand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 www.johndeerelandscapes.com Kesmac / Brouwer Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 www.kesmac.com Mid Tenn Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 www.midtennturf.com Modern Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 www.modernturf.com NewLife Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 www.newlifeturf.com Quali-Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 www.quali-pro.com Smith Turf & Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover www.smithturf.com Syngenta Turf & Ornamental . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Tennessee 811/ Tennessee One Call . . . . . . .14 www.tennessee811.com Texas Sod Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 www.texassod.com The Pond Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 www.thepondlady.com The Turfgrass Group . . . . .5, Inside Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 www.turfmountain.com Turfgrass America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 www.turfgrassamerica.com Winstead Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 www.winsteadturf.com Wood Bay Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 www.woodbayturftech.com
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