Virginia Turfgrass Journal - September / October 2012

RESEARCH & REALITY

with Warm-Season Grasses

Virginia Turfgrass Council / P.O. Box 5989 / Virginia Beach, VA 23471 / ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Biology and Management of the Annual Bluegrass Weevil Nutrient Runoff from Urban Lawns Special Inside! Sneak Peek at the 2013 VTC Annual Conference Program, January 28–30

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | September/October 2012

24

18 16 Upcoming Event Sneak Preview — 2013 VTC Annual Conference Educational Program

18 Cover Story

Research & Reality with Warm-Season Grasses

24 Feature Story Biology and Management of the Annual Bluegrass Weevil in Turfgrasses

30 Applied Research

30 DEPARTMENTS 06 From the President

from Frank Flannagan

08 Directorʼs Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 Editorʼs Perspective

from Mark Vaughn, CGCS

12 VTF Report

from Betty Parker

14 In Tribute 38 Turfgrass Calendar 38 Index to Advertisers

Nutrient Runoff from Urban Lawns

36 Turf Tips Got Drainage?

4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

Cover photo: Sewell’s Point Golf Course in Norfolk, VA. See cover story, starting on page 18, for details.

Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Frank Flannagan Belmont Golf Course (804) 262-4939 Vice President Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8252 Treasurer Brian Vincel, CGCS Spring Creek Golf Club (434) 566-2580 Past President Melissa Reynolds Dura Turf Service Corp.

(804) 233-4972 VTC DIRECTORS Gil Grattan Rick Owens, CGCS Marc Petrus Mark Roberts Steve Slominski Steve Smith Rick Viancour, CGCS Scott Woodward VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Rajandra Waghray, Ph.D. Rod Youngman, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 681-6065 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Betty Parker (757) 574-9061

FromCover the President Story

A Little INSPIRATION Dear Friends:

Frank Flannagan 2012–2013 VTC President

Since 2003, when I found this article, I have kept it hanging over my desk as a reminder of common-sense values as I deal with staff and peers. I was able to locate the original author, Lori Borgman, who has graciously given permission for this reprint. As we are all in the middle of peak season for turf-management challenges, I thought a little inspiration would be timely. Let’s all try to do our part to revive this old friend.

Frank Flannagan 2012–2013 VTC President

THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE

By Lori Borgman Three yards of black fabric enshroud my computer terminal. I am mourning the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. His obituary reads as follows: Common Sense, aka C.S., lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was; his birth records were long ago entangled in miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape.

Known affectionately to close friends as Horse Sense and Sound Thinking, he selflessly devoted himself to a life of service in homes, schools, hospitals and offices, helping get jobs done without a lot of fanfare, whooping and hollering. Rules and regulations and petty frivolous lawsuits held no power over C.S. A most reliable sage, he was credited with cultivating the ability to know when to come in out of the rain, the discovery that the early bird gets the worm and how to take the bitter with the sweet. C.S. also developed sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adult is in charge, not the kid) and prudent dietary plans

(offset eggs and bacon with a little fiber and orange juice).

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, the Technological Revolution and the Smoking Crusades, C.S. survived cultural and educational trends, including disco, the men’s movement, body piercing, whole language and new math.

C.S.’s health began declining in the late 1960s when he became infected with the If-It-Feels-Good,-Do-It virus.

In the following decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal and state rules and regulations and an oppressive tax code. C.S. was sapped of strength and the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, criminals received better treatment than victims, and judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional baseball and golf. His deterioration accelerated as schools implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of 6-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing classmates, a teen suspended for taking a swig of Scope mouthwash after lunch, girls suspended for possessing Midol and an honor student expelled for having a table knife in

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her school lunch were more than his heart could endure.

As the end neared, doctors say C.S. drifted in and out of logic, but was kept informed of developments regarding regulations on low-flow toilets and mandatory air bags. Finally, upon hearing about a government plan to ban inhalers from 14 million asthmatics due to a trace of a pollutant that may be harmful to the environment, C.S. breathed his last.

Services will be at Whispering Pines Cemetery. C.S. was preceded in death by his wife, Discretion; one daughter, Responsibility; and one son, Reason.

He is survived by two step-brothers, Half-Wit and Dim-Wit. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Institute for Rational Thought.

Farewell, Common Sense. May you rest in peace.

Note from Lori Borgman: This piece was first published March 15, 1998, in the Indianapolis Star. It has been “modified” and “edited” by others and circulated on the Internet, even sent to me several times.

Imagine my surprise to see it attributed to some guy named Anonymous. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I take having my work circulated on the web as a compliment.

Director’s Corner

The Value Is

OBVIOUS, IF ONE THINKS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

“Ei tis dokei” is a Biblical Greek phrase that means “if one thinks.”

This saying from the days of yore has tremendous bearing on the value of your membership in the Virginia Turfgrass Council.

Consider — think about — these three economically sound reasons to belong.

Reason #1: Free Pesticide Recertification Classes for VTC Members Nearly every non-homeowner who applies (or handles or advises on the use of) pesticides in the Commonwealth of Virginia must have a pesticide license. That license must be renewed every two years. The renewal process includes attending an approved

training class. VTC members may attend one of our stand-alone classes (we offer four each year) as a member benefit. $60 is the normal price to attend.

Reason #2: Free Certified Fertilizer Applicator Training Program for VTC Members Starting February 2012, a new regulation went into effect. The introduction to that regulation states, “All licensees and contractor-applicators who apply fertilizer for commercial purposes to nonagricultural land and all state agencies, localities, or other government entities who apply fertilizer to nonagricultural land shall employ or retain the services of a certified fertilizer applicator” (2VAC5-405-20).

The regulation continues to expound on the requirements, but the core point is that a new certification is now required. The VTC provides training for turf professionals to obtain that new certification. VTC members can attend the training as a member benefit — at no extra cost. Non-VTC members pay $60.

Reason #3: Free Virginia Beach Field Day Tour and Lunch This event, held in June at Virginia Tech’s Virginia Beach facility, is now in its third year. It has become a mustattend gathering, and the last one attracted over 150 attendees. Normal price is $25. VTC members pay nothing.

The cost to non-members for the above three items is $145. Regular VTC membership is $75. The choice is obvious “if one thinks.”

8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

Editor’s Perspective

Watch Out! Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

R.A.D.A.R. Is Now in Effect!

That’s

it. For 55+/- years I’ve endured this crap, and I’ve had enough.

Furious, I am. Incensed to the max. Livid as Harry Reid wearing a “Made in China” U.S.A. Olympics uniform. Incensed as Lindsey Graham at an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers convention. Hyperbolically off the scale. I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore. Are you getting the picture, you INSENSITIVE clods? This is about principle — no wait, this is about JUSTICE. And most of all, this is about the lifeblood of the American dream — CASH. I’ve come to realize more and more, and especially in this political season, that there are many unhappy residents of the US of A. So, today, I speak as a representative of one of the smallest, most mocked and offended groups in our great nation. Chances are huge that if you are not one of us, you have taken your turn at humiliating us in some shape or fashion.

As early as kindergarten (actually, they didn’t have kindergarten in my day, but you get the picture), the taunting begins. It follows us through our formative years, scarring us deeply as we enter the turbulent teenage waters. Fortunately (for the strongest and largest of us), the insults can be met at this time with a quick uppercut to the jaw, which has a limiting effect on further taunts. But, rest assured, there are far, far more of you than us, so sooner or later you’ll be able to slip in a little zinger in a social situation that makes decking you not an option.

We know we are different. We have mirrors in our homes. But that’s not GOOD enough for you now, is it? Even adults join in on the fun. “Must be the milkman’s kid.” (Again, an explanation for the vast

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majority of our audience: In the “olden days,” there was actually a PERSON who brought stuff to your house, like potato chips and medical prescriptions. Shoot, even the Doc himself came if you were sick enough. Chief among these was a man who delivered milk in real glass containers and picked up the empties. Dad was usually working, and Mom was home with the kids… hence, the speculation about lineage.)

“Why, no wonder he has such a temper, Margaret. Look at his hair.”

For the less than creative, there was always the “Carrot Top” moniker.

And the perennial favorite “red on the head like a fill in the blank.”

Yes, though you cannot tell from the photo above, I actually have SOME hair, and what is not grey is RED. Before YOU PEOPLE start snickering, slip on my shoes, and let’s take a walk. You’re ten years old and at the local swimming pool. Everyone is having a great ol’ time. Girls are riding on the shoulders of guys preparing for the next “chicken” fight. Older brothers are holding

their younger siblings underwater and watching them flail about just for fun. Cannonballs are being launched from the diving board in rapid succession, landing inches from unsuspecting heads. The pool is wild! You are sitting under an umbrella because your skin is Toro Red after being in the sun for, oh, about an hour, and you’re about to re-enter the pool. Do you (a) slip on a t-shirt and invite certain ridicule, or (b) endure the pain of third-degree burns and probable skin cancer, and ask the cute little blonde to sit on your shoulders for the next round?

Fast forward five years. You are at the local county fair, walking the midway with the homecoming queen. Just when you’re about to reach Utopia, the carnival barkers crank up their chant. “Hey, Red, over here, Red! Only fifty cents, Red! Try your luck, Red!” Now, what gives total strangers the idea they can tag you with a nickname? If we’re going on appearances, how about I call you “fat guy with yellow teeth and a beer belly, stuck in a dead-end job and stinks?”

Fast forward 30 years. You’re at your State Turfhead Convention.

You’re walking down the “midway” when some rep calls out, “Hey, Pennypacker!” You continue to walk when he yells out again, “Hey, Pennypacker, John Pennypacker!” You KNOW John Pennypacker, but he’s about 6 inches taller than you (and not nearly as good looking). But, guess what? He’s got RED hair. You stroll over to the booth and somewhat brusquely explain that you are NOT Pennypacker. As you walk away, you imagine the shrug of his shoulders as he explains to his cohort that all of “those people” look alike. Are you feeling our pain yet?

Oh, sure, some of us have persevered through the insults and innuendo.

Ann-Margaret, Jill St. John, Lucy, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Jessica Rabbit, Chuckie, Alfred E.

Newman, the former GCSAA CEO, Bozo, Ronald McDonald, Red Auerbach AND the most distinguished and REAL editor of this magazine, Liz Nutter. Snowboarder Shaun White made the big time, but you couldn’t resist tagging him with a RED nickname, now could you? If “The Flying Tomato” had BROWN hair, would you have had the guts to call him “The Flying Turd”? I rest my case.

In case the other 96% of you are feeling sassy and smug, I am announcing today the formation of R.A.D.A.R.: RAmpant Discrimination Against Redheads. Get ready — we will be watching, as only a RADAR can. Once I hit the talk shows, it’s only a matter of time until I have my people whipped

up into a fever pitch! Ellen will examine our troubled childhoods. Dr. Phil will uncover and then probe all the deep wounds YOU PEOPLE have inflicted on us. As more people who THOUGHT they were happy realize they are NOT, the funds will pour in.

Our lobbyists will attack Capitol Hill, daring any of you who oppose us to be dubbed “Gingerphobes.” Who’s wearing the nickname now, big guy?

AAAHHHAAAAHAAAHAAA! Red heads rule!!!

Of course, you COULD stop all this by sending me (along with five of your friends)… oh, say, $5,000 each. You’ll have to negotiate with Liz on what would ease her pain and suffering.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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VTF Report

Your Research Dollars at Work!

Betty Parker VTF Manager

B

THIRD ANNUAL TURFGRASS FIELD DAY AT HRAREC

lue skies, high of 79 degrees, great food (thank you, QualiPro!) and outstanding fellowship. Such was the forecast for the third annual Turfgrass Field Day at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center.

Participants from all areas of the turfgrass industry gathered to see firsthand the research being conducted here in the Virginia Beach center. Members of the Virginia Tech turfgrass faculty, from both here and Blacksburg, showcased

25 separate research trials. Attendees used this gathering to share ideas, discuss problems and their solutions and take advantage of several professional recertification programs being offered.

What started as a small gathering of 40 or 50 participants in its initial year (2010) has ballooned to host 3 times that number, with 15 vendors also coming in to display their latest equipment and services. Dr. Jeffrey Derr and his staff, in cooperation with the Virginia Turfgrass Council and Virginia Tech, have done a phenomenal job bringing about this opportunity for this area of the state.

Thanks to the Event’s Generous Sponsors!

• Arysta LifeScience • Bayer • Gowan Company • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation • National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) • Quali-Pro • Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance • Virginia Turfgrass Council • The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation 12 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

Lunch provided by Quali-Pro. Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance display.

Dr. Mike Goatley and Adam Nichols explain converting cool-season lawn turf to zoysiagrass.

Location of the 3rd Annual Turfgrass Field Day: HRAREC. Adam Nichols and Dr. Jeff Derr discussing their research.

In Tribute

By Hunki Yun, USGA

S

tanley J. Zontek, the director of the USGA Green Section’s Mid-Atlantic Region, passed away August 28, 2012, after suffering a heart attack. He was 63 years old and was predeceased by his son, Christopher.

The organization’s longest-tenured employee, Zontek joined the USGA in 1971 after graduating from Penn State University. He started his USGA career as an agronomist in the Northeastern Region. He moved to the North Central Region in 1980 before becoming the director of the Mid-Atlantic Region in 1985.

“Stanley will be missed tremendously by those of us at the USGA who knew him best and by the thousands of lives he touched outside the organization,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis.

Zontek, who resided in Avondale, Pa., was a worldrenowned turfgrass expert who shared his extensive knowledge for 41 years through articles, speeches and course visits. He helped establish many of the best turfgrass practices still in use. During his career, he assisted thousands of courses around the world to achieve the best conditions possible, whether in preparation for USGA championships or for everyday play. In addition, one of his responsibilities was helping to maintain the putting green at the White House.

Zontek was recognized for his contributions with many awards, including the 2006 Golf Course Superintendents Association Distinguished Service Award, the 1997 Golf Course Builders Association of America Don A. Rossi Award and the 2007 Crop and Soil Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award from his alma mater.

“Stanley was an icon to all of us personally on the Green Section staff and within the industry,” said Dr.

Kimberly Erusha, the managing director of the USGA Green Section. “We have lost a great friend and an influential voice in the game.”

For more than 40 years, Zontek displayed an unwavering commitment to his craft, traveling around the world to help superintendents care for their courses. In addition to his knowledge of turfgrass, one of the keys to this success was his ability to build lasting relationships. As much as he was respected for his professional expertise, Zontek touched many more lives with his passion, generosity and spirit.

“Stanley often said that this was a people business, and it was about building relationships,” said Dr. Erusha. “He lived by that sentiment, and did it very well. He willingly shared his passion, expertise and experience with people from around the world. For that, all of us who love the game are better for it.”

On top of visiting hundreds of courses a year, Zontek worked closely with the superintendents of USGA championship courses such as 2011 U.S. Open host Congressional Country Club and 2013 site Merion Golf Club, which also hosted the U.S. Open in 1971.

In this capacity, Zontek worked closely with USGA Executive Director Davis in preparing the course for the championship.

“Some of my fondest memories from past U.S. Opens involve spending time with Stan as we worked alongside each other during the championship’s long hours,” said Davis. “He loved the USGA and dedicated his career to serving the game that he loved. He was a true ambassador for the USGA, and in my mind, nobody better personified our work ‘for the good of the game.’”

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Upcoming Event

Sneak Preview of the VTC’s

53RD ANNUAL TURF & LANDSCAPE CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW January 28–30, 2013 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 ODGCSA CLASSES 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

LUNCH (on-site) 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

VGCSA CLASS 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Nutrient-Management Issues VTC ANNUAL MEETING AND GENERAL SESSION 5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Update on Earthen Dams Mr. Mark Vaughn, Goodyear Golf Club Ms. Amanda Pennington, VA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 GOLF TRACK 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Session Chairs: Mr. Frank Flannagan, Mr. Fred Biggers, CGCS, and Mr. Rick Owens, CGCS 8:00 a.m. • USGA Green Section: Year in Review Mr. Keith Hopp and Mr. Darin Brevard, USGA 9:30 a.m. • Fungicides for Heat-Stressed Bentgrass Dr. Bruce Martin, Clemson Univ. Pee-Dee Research Center 10:00 a.m. • What We Learned about Plant HealthCare Products in Summer 2012 Dr. Erik Ervin and Mr. David McCall, Virginia Tech

10:30 a.m. • Environmental Golf Course Design Mr. Glenn Muckley, Williamsburg Environmental Group 11:00 a.m. • Panel Discussion USGA, Dr. Bruce Martin (Clemson), VT researchers GENERAL TURF 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. • WeedManagement Update Dr. Jeff Derr, Virginia Tech 8:45 a.m. • Athletic-Field Assessment Tools Dr. Mike Goatley, Virginia Tech 9:15 a.m. • Biosolids Mr. Derek Cataldi, Virginia Tech

LUNCH (on your own) 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

TRADESHOW 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

LIGHT RECEPTION ON TRADESHOW FLOOR 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

VGCSA ANNUAL MEETING 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013 FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

CORE MANUAL PESTICIDE REVIEW 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Break

TRADESHOW AND LUNCH (on-site) 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

10:15 a.m. • Warm-Season Update Dr. Mike Goatley, Virginia Tech

WARM-SEASON TURFGRASS FOR GOLF COURSES 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

10:45 a.m. • Weed Update Mr. Travis Gannon, NC State University 11:30 a.m. • Insect Update Dr. Rod Youngman, Virginia Tech CERTIFIED FERTILIZER CONTRACTOR APPLICATOR PROGRAM 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TETAC SEMINAR (PART ONE) 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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1:00 p.m. • Management Tips for Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Greens Dr. Bruce Martin, Clemson Univ. Pee-Dee Research Center 1:45 p.m. • Weed Update Mr. Travis Gannon, NC State University 2:30 p.m. • Drainage Project on Bermudagrass Fairways Mr. Troy Fink, CGCS, Country Club of Virginia 3:00 p.m. • Break

3:15 p.m. • Butch’s Best Management Tips Mr. Butch Sheffield, CGCS, North Ridge Country Club, Raleigh, NC 4:00 p.m. • Converting to an Ultradwarf... One Superintendent’s Experience Mr. Tony Gardner, CGCS, Sewell’s Point G.C. COOL-SEASON TURFGRASS FOR GOLF COURSES 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. • Impact of Fans on Golf Greens Mr. David McCall, Virginia Tech 1:30 p.m. • Butch’s Best Management Tips Mr. Butch Sheffield, CGCS, North Ridge Country Club, Raleigh, NC

2:15 p.m. • Water-Quality Monitoring on Virginia Golf Courses Ms. Chantel Wilson and Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia Tech 2:45 p.m. • Life After a Death: VOSH and the Story of Cahoon Plantation Mr. Steve Geller, Cahoon Plantation; Mr. Dave Melton, STI; and VA Dept. of Labor Representative 4:15 p.m. • Poa Control the Irish Way, Part 2 Mr. Nate Reams and Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia Tech AFTERNOON PROGRAM FOR SOD GROWERS 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. • Life After a Death: VOSH and the Story of Cahoon Plantation Mr. Steve Geller, Cahoon Plantation; Mr. Dave Melton, STI; and VA Dept. of Labor Representative

2:30 p.m. • Weed Update Dr. Jeff Derr, Virginia Tech 3:15 p.m. • Q&A with Virginia Tech Researchers Dr. Jeff Derr, Dr. Erik Ervin, Dr. Mike Goatley and Mr. David McCall, Virginia Tech 4:30 p.m. • Sod Growers Meeting TETAC SEMINAR (PART TWO) 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

PESTICIDE EXAMINATIONS 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3A, 3B and 60 (for 3A and 3B) PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

ADDITIONAL for persons who need 5A, 6, 8, 10 or 60 (60 is for 5A, 6, 8 and 10)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story

An ultradwarf bermudagrass green at Sewell’s Point Golf Course, converted from bentgrass in 2011.

Research and Reality with

Warm-Season Grasses

By Michael Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

I

am often accused of being a “warm-season grass junkie” since so much of my appliedresearch program seems to go in this area. After three straight summers of challenges for cool-season turf managers across much of Virginia, however, I remain convinced that some of the things we are working on in my research and Extension programs, and the innovations in grassing that I see around the state, are highly relevant where folks are at their wit’s end trying to grow coolseason grasses. The problem in growing the cool-season grasses is not typically a lack of expertise; instead, it primarily arises from our transition-zone climate and limitations in budget and labor to give a cool-season grass what it needs to survive extreme stress periods.

Without doubt, when it comes to what I find most visually appealing in a lawn, an athletic field or a golf course, there is nothing as pretty as a wellmaintained cool-season turf. A striped golf course fairway or football field in early fall? A fescue lawn complemented by a splash of spring-blooming bulbs in mid-April? A bluegrass baseball field in full glory in early spring? To anyone who appreciates turf, those are some of the prettiest venues on the planet.

I regularly preach, though, that we should not get hung up on how a turf looks, but instead on how it performs.

That is where two warm-season grasses in particular — bermudagrass and zoysiagrass — have strong possibilities as logical alternatives throughout much of our transition-zone state, and I want to update you on some of the research projects at Virginia Tech and the field implementation of some of these findings that are happening around the state.

Bermudagrass blending Our research program has previously published both research and popularpress articles regarding the prospects for success when blending an improved seeded variety such as ‘Riviera’ with ‘Arizona Common’ bermudagrass.

This strategy allows us to take advantage of our transition-zone climate by putting the cold tolerance of the superior variety to work, and the turf manager saves some money by adding a cheaper, less-adapted common variety to the blend. By the end of two growing seasons, our research plots with as little as 25% ‘Riviera’ by weight blended with ‘AZ Common’ had similar visual quality ratings to 100% ‘Riviera’ plots.

Our current studies are taking a similar blending approach, but this time we have substituted ‘NuMex Sahara’ (one of the fastest-establishing seeded bermudagrasses) for ‘AZ Common’ in the blends with ‘Riviera’, and we have blended ‘NuMex Sahara’ with another one of our top-performing seeded varieties, ‘Sovereign’. We also have added traffic to the plots by simulating the field use during a typical high school football season (last week of August through first week of November). We simulated two games per week during the first fall season and six games per week on the established plots during years two and three of the trials.

Here’s a quick summary of our findings on the current bermudagrass blending research: • The addition of ‘NuMex Sahara’ to the blends enhanced the immediate coverage in the ‘Riviera’ plots more so than in the ‘Sovereign’ plots (i.e., ‘Sovereign’ is a fasterestablishing grass from seed than ‘Riviera’ is).

• Fall traffic tolerance and spring recovery was superior for plots containing ‘Riviera’ (see Photo 1).

• Spring greening and overall quality ratings were higher for ‘Riviera’-containing plots than ‘Sovereign’-containing plots.

• Both ‘Riviera’ and ‘Sovereign’ are dominating the stands as time progresses.

natives to creeping bentgrass. For the past few years, I have teamed with two of my USGA agronomist friends from the southern United States (Chris Hartwiger and Patrick O’Brien) in a GCSAA-sponsored seminar regarding the use and maintenance of ultradwarf bermudagrasses in the transition zone.

These grasses were just coming on the scene when I kicked off my university career in the late 1980s, and it has been really interesting to watch these grasses evolve from a “concept” for putting-green turf to full-blown use (and even popularity) in many parts of the southern United States.

One of the most recent courses to make the conversion from bentgrass to ultradwarf bermuda in Virginia is Norfolk’s Sewell’s Point Golf Course, managed by Tony Gardner. Sewell’s Point installed ‘Champion’ in July 2011 (Photo 2) and opened Labor Day week of that year after only eight weeks of grow-in. The total cost was approximately $150,000, of which $48,000 was for the new equipment that Tony specifically wanted for the maintenance of his new greens: a spin topdresser for his maintenance topdressing and a drop topdresser to complement his core-aeration events.

When I asked Tony about what he feels Sewell’s Point has gained and sacrificed with the conversion to bermudagrass, I was left with the distinct impression that while ‘Champion’ Photo 1. Spring recovery of trafficked and non-trafficked blends of varying percentages of ‘Riviera’ (R), ‘Sovereign’ (S), and ‘NuMex Sahara’ (N) bermudagrass

Ultradwarf putting greens Bermudagrass greens continue to spread in the transition zone as alter1.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Photo 2. Sewell’s Point Golf Course in Norfolk converted its putting greens from bentgrass to ‘Champion’ ultradwarf bermuagrass in July 2011.

2.

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greens have their own nuances and maintenance requirements, the overall end result has been extremely positive from agronomic, environmental and golfing perspectives at Sewell’s Point. Tony’s biggest challenges come down to managing the mat that these grasses want to form due to their canopy architecture. He has had to choose a very specific-sized sand to incorporate into his topdressing program so that it will move into the canopy. Scheduling the weekly maintenance topdressing application among play is a constant issue, as well as figuring out the right approach to setting the verticutter depth for regular grooming.

Tony figures that cost savings probably aren’t all that significant for bermudagrass management as compared to bentgrass. Instead of a large chunk of the maintenance budget going towards pesticide applications (only two fungicide and one herbicide application so far in 2012), those dollars are now spent on sand, bed knives and more intensive maintenance of reels, etc. The reduction in pesticides, however, was something of great importance at Sewell’s Point from an environmental perspective.

Although winter covers were purchased (something that anyone considering a conversion must budget for), they were not used a single time last winter due to the mild conditions.

Any complaints from the golfers?

Tony says, “Zero. Well, every now and then, somebody might complain that they are a little too fast.”

Tony summarized his thoughts regarding the conversion in three points that ring pretty true with what I have heard from other superintendents following similar bentgrass-tobermudagrass conversions: • “Think about when people play the most golf at your site. With bermuda, I am able to optimize

Cover Story continued

its performance when folks are wanting to play golf, and with bentgrass, I was simply trying to keep it alive.”

• “I don’t pull that sprayer any more. From an environmental perspective, this benefits the course both in reality AND perception in terms of us adhering to strict environmental standards.”

• “I had my first summer vacation, visiting family in Nebraska, in over 25 years.”

I am very pleased for Tony’s success to date at Sewell’s Point. Ultradwarf bermudagrass greens are not for everyone, but within the past few years, they have started to overcome the perception that a superintendent cannot have quality greens grassed in bermudagrass. Tony will be presenting at this year’s Virginia Turfgrass Conference in Fredericksburg, and I look forward to learning more from his experiences.

Low-impact conversions Over the past few years, Dr. Shawn Askew and I researched and published work on low-impact conversion approaches (i.e., introducing bermudagrass into existing stands of coolseason turf without closing the site down for weeks/months for grow-in).

This research has now been fieldproofed on the soccer field at Virginia Tech and, most recently, by Andrew McCormick on the bentgrass tees at Hanover Country Club in Ashland, VA (Photo 3).

Given the aggressiveness of bermudagrass, our general findings were that if you could row-plant vegetative bermudagrass sprigs into an existing cool-season sod, the conversion to bermudagrass will take place most likely in one season (and, at worst, two growing seasons) using a standard bermudagrass maintenance program.

For seeded bermudagrasses, the best strategy for conversion success is to

strip-kill the cool-season turf (as was done at Hanover C.C., Photo 4) to promote seedling establishment in an existing cool-season canopy.

In 2012, maintenance director H.T. Page and team at The Westlake Golf and Country Club and The Waterfront Country Club (both on Smith Mountain Lake) have taken the low-impact conversion approach in another direction, applying the strategy in mid-June to a fairway conversion from perennial ryegrass to ‘Zeon’ zoysiagrass (Photo 5). We did a demonstration trial on Westlake’s #5 fairway in 2011; while I would not call it an unmitigated success in low-impact conversion, it gave H.T. and the course superintendents (Dan Robertson and Read Harris) a sense of what is possible within a single growing season.

A zoysiagrass conversion is definitely not as seamless as a bermudagrass conversion, given how slow zoysiagrass is to cover and the desire of keeping

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story continued

3.

enough ryegrass around for continued fairway playability. My hat is off to these men, however, for what they have been able to deliver to date. Since I visit there only once every three or four weeks, I can easily see the progress that is being made in the conversion.

I know that for H.T., Dan and Read, it must be very much like waiting for a pot of water to boil (or maybe like watching grass grow!).

To date, there is no doubt that the two fairways planted at The Waterfront (at 1,000 bushels/acre) are ahead of the Westlake fairways that were planted at 800 bu/A. I anticipate that the fairways at The Waterfront will be almost covered by the end of the 2012 growing season, whereas the fairways at Westlake will probably range from 50% to 75% in ‘Zeon’ cover, based on what we saw in our demo plots in 2011. Next summer, however, the course will be that much closer to the inherent maintenance and playability advantages that zoysiagrass fairways will offer, as compared to perennial ryegrass. I applaud the efforts of the maintenance staff, as well as the patience of the club ownership and golfing public, as the conversion takes place.

Final thoughts 4.

5.

22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

I said it before and will say it one more time in closing: installing warm-season grasses in a transition-zone climate does not guarantee success. In our climate, these grasses have limitations, and they present maintenance challenges of their own, based on the species and/or variety selected. However, as one very wise (in both years and experience) turf manager told me earlier this year, “I no longer feel like I need to apologize for growing bermudagrass.”

Photo 3. ‘Riviera’ bermudagrass on the forward tee at Hanover Country Club on July 17, 2010.

Photo 4. ‘Riviera’ bermudagrass emerging on a forward tee in a strip-kill area on a creeping bentgrass tee at Hanover Country Club on June 25, 2010.

Photo 5. ‘Zeon’ zoysiagrass low-impact conversion fairway at The Westlake Country Club on July 19, 2012.

Feature Story

By Steven McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions, and Peter Dernoeden, Ph.D., University of Maryland

The

annual bluegrass weevil (Listronotus maculicolis, Dietz; ABW) formerly was considered a species of Hyperodes. A member of the weevil family, it is a pest of highly maintained, short-cut turfgrasses in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. To date, ABW has been found in Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Virginia, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and, most recently, Ohio and North Carolina. The ABW also has damaged turf in Canada. It has been estimated that golf courses in the

New England and Mid-Atlantic regions spend over $6,000 annually, using five or six insecticide applications per year, to manage this pest.

For years, it was believed that the destructive ability of ABW was restricted to annual bluegrass (Poa annua spp. annua L.), including the perennial subspecies Poa annua spp. reptans Hauskn., and that ABW was isolated to the northeastern states. Recent research and field observations, however, have proved this theory incorrect, and substantial damage has been observed in creeping bentgrass fairways and putting green collars in the Mid-Atlantic region.

24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

About the ABW ABW has a complete life cycle, with as many as two to four generations per year. The small (0.125 inches long), compact adults range in color from black to gray (Photo 1). Adults have a characteristic weevil snout. The weevil’s body is covered with fine hairs and scales, which are easily observed under magnification. It is difficult to distinguish between male and females.

When adults emerge from the pupal stage, they appear reddish.

The eggs of the ABW are very small and oblong, but they can be found (using a macroscope) in leaf sheaths

Photo 1. A mature annual bluegrass weevil.

Photo 2. First and second instar ABW larvae.

of the grass plant. Larvae are legless, with creamy white bodies and darkbrown heads (Photo 2). Some larvae have black inner markings on their back. Older larvae appear slightly curved, but not nearly as C-shaped as white grub species (Photo 3).

Immature ABW adults (aka callow adults) look similar to adults, but are smaller in size and have a reddishbrown color that gradually darkens.

Weevils over-winter as adults in higher-mown turf and litter in wood lines. They begin to migrate from the fine-turf areas to these sites in early autumn. It is believed that they fly back to over-wintering sites, although a mixture of flight and walking has been observed.

Migration back into fine-turf areas typically happens during early spring (early April in the Mid-Atlantic region).

Adult feeding occurs during the day and consists of minor leaf chewing, which is no more damaging than mowing. Adults are especially visible in

the springtime on warm, sunny days, walking across turf.

Once adult weevils begin to feed, oviposition of eggs begins. Females chew a hole in the base of shoots and deposit eggs in between leaf sheaths.

Eggs are deposited in small groups (2 or 3), and each female can produce 40 or more eggs. Larval formation takes about a month for all five instars, and development from egg to adult takes two months.

ABW damage Most ABW damage is caused by the larval stage (each ABW larva is capable of killing 10 or 12 plants) and can go unnoticed for some time. In the MidAtlantic, damage often shows up in midto-late May and can occur throughout the summer months (Photo 4). Often, damage is first noticed in the perimeter of greens and fairways that support a high population of annual bluegrass.

Plant damage begins when adult females chew into outer leaf sheaths

and lay their eggs, which leads to a yellowing of plants. When the eggs hatch, young larvae feed on the inner leaf sheaths during their first two instars. Sometime between the second and third instar, larvae begin feeding on stem or crown tissue. As more eggs hatch, more severe damage can occur.

Damage to closely mown annual bluegrass mimics anthracnose basal rot and summer patch.

In mixed stands with creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass is the preferred host. Once the annual bluegrass has been eliminated, larvae will feed on creeping bentgrass. Over time, larvae are capable of causing significant thinning and damage to creeping bentgrass, especially in collars and the edges of approaches and fairways.

Damage associated with the fifth instar is the most destructive. At this point, turf will appear wilted (i.e., bluegray or purple in color) due to damaged stems. Turf eventually turns brown and dies out. As the fifth instars molt Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story continued

Photo 3. ABW larvae in thatch.

to pupae and then to callow adults, the damage to turf may continue to worsen, although most of the feeding has stopped for this generation.

During mid-summer generations, many different lifecycles usually are present. For example, in late July in Maryland, you could see true adults on the surface, with early instar larvae, late instar larvae and callow adults in the same general area. This overlapping of lifecycles complicates control measures.

Scouting for ABW

Photo 4. ABW damage to a golf fairway, near a possible overwintering site.

In early spring, the most effective scouting method for adults is a soap flush. Mix one fluid ounce of a lemonscented soap into one gallon of water in a watering can. This amount of soapy solution should treat about 25 to 50 square feet. Wait about five minutes, and if present, adults will become visible on the grass leaves.

Liner pitfall traps also may be useful in tracking migration patterns in a single location. The limitation to the pitfall-trap method, however, is that it is a snapshot of a single location.

First and second instar larvae are very small and difficult to detect; however, scouting can be accomplished by using a salt flush. To conduct a salt flush, take a cup-cutter plug of turfgrass, and remove all soil. Using a knife, cut the plug into four pieces, and place them into a solution of salt and water. This solution can be made by placing one pound of salt into a gallon of water and mixing. Within 10 minutes, early instar larvae will float to the surface and appear white with a small, brown head capsule.

Late instar larvae can be easily detected by cutting a wedge of turf with a knife or cup cutter and looking in the turf/thatch interface. The threshold for damage when turf is vigorously growing is 30 to 50 larvae per square foot. This threshold significantly decreases as turf becomes stressed, especially in summer. When feeding occurs, turf plants can easily be pulled from soil.

Cultural management Cultural-management options include proper turf nutrition and irrigation, 26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

Feature Story continued

which can mask ABW symptoms. The most effective cultural control method is to reduce or eliminate annual bluegrass as much as possible.

Few natural enemies exist. Although biological control has been investigated, results are highly variable, even in controlled studies. Spinosad (Conserve®, a biological product derived from a bacterium) is highly effective on larvae. Where there is a chronic infestation of ABW, however, cultural or biological options alone should not be expected to provide acceptable levels of control.

Chemical control Insecticides remain the most effective way to ensure that turf stands are not severely damaged by ABW. Some strategies suggest spot-treating areas that have high populations of adults or had past ABW infestations. Insecticides need to be applied before damage is seen and while adults are active in early spring and before eggs are laid. Typically, chemical applications are made when adults are observed walking across golf course fairways, greens and roughs, which may be associated with the blooming of Forsythia spp. (i.e., not a full bloom, but later when plants are half green and half yellow with flowers). Sequential applications are needed in early spring if you suspect a long migration period or have had damaging populations in previous seasons. In high-pressure situations, up to 6 insecticide applications per season may be needed on a 30- to 45-day interval or when significant adult activity is observed.

Some insecticides currently labeled for control of ABW adults include several in the pyrethroid class [e.g., deltamethrin (DeltaGard®), bifenthrin (Talstar®), cyfluthrin (Tempo®), lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar®)] and chlorpyrifos (Dursban®). These insecticides generally provide high levels of adult ABW control (greater than 85% control).

The neonictinoids are systemic, long-residual, preventatively applied insecticides for white grub control, but they can be used in ABW management programs, if the applications are timed properly. Neonictinoid

insecticides [i.e., imidacloprid (Merit®), clothianidin (Arena®), dinotefuran (Xylam®) and thiamethoxam (Meridian®)] should be applied just prior to egg laying, to target early instar feeding, but proper timing is difficult to achieve. Neonictinoid insecticides have been shown to provide between 20% and 100% control, but they probably should not be relied on for highly effective control under significant pressure.

Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepyrn™) is a newer systemic insecticide that generally will provide more consistent control, when compared to the neonictionids. This insecticide controls white grub species and is used to target ABW larvae in leaf sheaths.

When larvae are observed in thatch or soil in damaged turf, the three curative chemical options include trichlorfon (Dylox®), indoxacarb (Provaunt™) and spinosad (Conserve®). When targeting larvae below the soil/thatch surface, obtaining greater than 80% control can be

difficult due to the insecticides being tied up in thatch.

For chronically infested sites, multiple preventive applications of various classes of insecticides may be needed to provide acceptable control. In New England, resistance to the pyrethroid class has been documented. Thus, proper rotation and even tank-mixing different classes of insecticides could provide a delay in the development of tolerant ABW populations, as well as provide for more effective control.

Control measures should focus on targeting adults in early spring or when they are observed walking on turfgrass surfaces. Chemicals should be applied in the proper amount of water (typically ≥ 1.5 gallon/1,000 ft2). It is important that insecticides targeting surface adults or larvae within leaf sheaths or stems should be allowed to dry or receive less than 0.125 inches of irrigation following treatment.

Insecticides targeting larvae in the thatch/soil should be watered in.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Applied Research

Nutrient Runoff from Urban Lawns

By John Stier, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, The University of Tennessee; Douglas Soldat, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin; Tom Samples, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee; and John Sorochan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee

The

protection of groundwater and surface waters from nutrient contamination is an environmental issue and public concern. Specifically, nitrate (NO3-) and phosphates (HPO4--, H2PO4-) continue to receive much attention.

Urbanization results in more and connected, impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots, rooftops), fewer pervious ground covers (forests and fields), less water infiltration and greater runoff.

As the volume of runoff increases, the potential for pollution of surface waters with nutrients, sediments and other compounds also increases.

In 2005, based on satellite imagery, total turf area in the U.S. was estimated to be 40.3 million + 9.6 million acres (Milesi et al. 2005). Lawns and roadsides account for the greatest and

second-greatest amounts of managed turf, respectively. There are an estimated 70 million detached singlefamily homes nationwide (U.S. Census Bureau 2010). If the average homelawn size ranges from 1/4 to 1/3 acre, this represents about 17.5 to 23 million acres.

Lawns are a highly visible and very important component of an urban environment. When properly sited, designed, installed and managed, they form a dense, perennial and erosion-resistant vegetative cover capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and water at low mowing heights.

They also generate oxygen, cool the air in summer, trap dust and organic compounds (which are then degraded by soil microorganisms) and contribute organic matter to the soil.

30 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

The need for fertilizer Soils in which turfgrasses are maintained seldom provide enough nitrogen (N) and may lack adequate phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) to support healthy lawns. As a result, supplemental granular or foliar applications of fertilizer containing N, P and/or K are often recommended. These three essential mineral nutrients vary in ionic, plantavailable form and movement within soils (Table 1). A basic soil test performed in a soil-testing laboratory will determine soil phosphorus, potassium and pH levels. Fertilization and liming guidelines based on soil-test results most often accompany the soil test results.

Many people believe that lawn fertilization contributes substantially to nutrient runoff in urban areas.

This perception has led to proposals to limit inputs and reduce the size

of lawns. In an effort to reduce the amounts of suspended solids and nutrients in urban runoff and to comply with the U.S. Clean Water Act, some states and municipalities have enacted legislation restricting lawn fertilization. For example, in 2005, Minnesota became the first state to ban most turf applications of P-containing fertilizers.

Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have, or are considering, enacting similar bans.

In January 2011, New Jersey passed the most restrictive law (The New Jersey Fertilizer Law, A2290) to date, limiting applications of both N and P to lawns.

According to research conducted within the last 20 years, stormwater runoff from a healthy, dense lawn growing on soils of even moderate compaction and slope rarely occurs. In all but very intense rainfall occurrences, stormwater runoff from a healthy, dense lawn is at or near zero. Most notable exceptions include 1) very steep slopes, 2) saturated or 3) frozen soils and 4) severe soil compaction.

A research summary This summary is based on a much more comprehensive article by Drs. Stier and Soldat, titled “Lawns as a Source of Nutrient Runoff in Urban Environments,” published in the Fall 2011 issue of the Watershed Science Bulletin, journal of the Association of Watershed and Stormwater Professionals (the references cited below are listed on page 34).

• According to a three-year study conducted in the area of Baltimore, Maryland, N deposits from the atmosphere averaged 10 lbs. per acre, compared to 12.8 lbs. per acre from fertilizers, as potential inputs to the watershed (Groffman et al. 2004).

• Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are able to absorb 70% to 80% of an application of 50 lbs. soluble N per acre within 24 hours and almost all of the ap-

plied N within 48 hours following application (Bowman et al. 1989).

• According to sales data, Scotts Miracle-Gro estimates that about 50% of U.S. homeowners fertilize the lawn (Augustin 2007). On average, the number of annual fertilizer applications of about 50 lbs. N per acre per application was 1.8, including an estimated 10 million lawns receiving professional lawncare treatments. This frequency of application of N is much lower than that usually recommended by most University Extension turf professionals.

• In 1999, it was estimated that the atmosphere deposits 0.36 lbs. P per acre per year (UN Environment Programme 1999).

• In Wisconsin, a conventionally recommended lawn fertilization program of 130 lbs. N per acre per year, using a 27:1.3 N:P fertilizer, would supply 6.2 lbs. P per acre per year. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin (Soldat and Petrovic 2008) found a range of 0 to 17 lbs. P per acre per year reported in turf field-plot research projects, with typical losses from established turf of about 0.4 lbs.

P per acre per year. This compares to annual P losses from native prairies of about 0.18 lbs.

P per acre, from conventionally tilled agricultural systems of about 1.69 lbs. P per acre and from construction sites of more than 11.5 lbs. P per acre (Daniel et al. 1979; Sharpley 1995).

• In many cases, runoff is reduced as the stand density of a lawn increases. The contiguous mass or matrix of aerial shoots of turfgrass plants creates a “tortuous pathway,” slowing the flow of water and allowing greater infiltration (Linde et al. 1995; Kussow 2008).

In one investigation conducted on a mixture of cool-season turf-

grasses, runoff was reduced threefold when infiltration increased as shoot density increased in response to fertilization (Easton and Petrovic 2004).

• Returning clippings to the lawn as it is mowed does not appear to contribute to P runoff (Bierman et al. 2010).

• Surface roughness coefficients are commonly used by civil engineers to predict the potential of surfaces to contribute to overload water flow. High coefficient values reflect a potential for less runoff.

In a simulated rainfall experiment, pavement had a low roughness coefficient (about 0.01); Short grass prairie, a value of 0.15; and both bluegrass and bermudagrass sod, a value of about 0.4 (Engman 1986).

• Most or all of the runoff from lawns can occur when soils are frozen or saturated (Kussow 2008; Steinke et al. 2007). A study evaluating the effect of prairie and turf buffer strips on runoff from concrete slopes revealed that a vegetative buffer twice the size of the sloped (5%) concrete area reduced annual runoff by more than 60%, compared to a 1:1 concrete-to-buffer design (Steinke et al. 2007). However, the 1:1 concrete-to-buffer design was effective, allowing less than 1.5% of precipitation to run off during non-frozen conditions. Most of the runoff from both prairie and turf plots occurred when soils were frozen, at which time runoff totals for both types of vegetation were similar.

• Many naturalized areas in a home landscape have a rough texture and are capable of retaining precipitation. A properly designed and sized, bermed rain garden (flat-bottomed depression planted with trees, shrubs and native vegJournal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Applied Research continued

Table 1. Symbol, Ionic Form and Relative Soil Mobility of Thirteen Essential Plant Mineral Nutrients.

Major Nutrient

Symbol

Ionic Form(s) Commonly Absorbed By Plants

Relative 1 Mobility in Soil

Nitrogen

N

NH4+, NO3-

NH4+ Immobile; NO3- Mobile

Phosphorus

P

H2PO4-, HPO42-

Mainly Immobile

Potassium

K

K+

Somewhat Mobile

Calcium

Ca

Ca2+

Mainly Immobile

Magnesium

Mg

Mg2+

Immobile

S

SO42-

Very Mobile

Boron

B

BO33-

Mobile

Chlorine

Cl

Cl-

Mobile

Copper

Cu

Cu2+

Immobile

Iron

Fe

Fe2+, Fe3+

Immobile

Manganese

Mn

Mn2+

Mobile

Molybdenum

Mo

MoO42-

Somewhat Mobile

Zinc

Zn

Zn2+

Immobile

Sulfur

Micronutrient

1

Soil texture, structure, pH, clay type and organic-matter content influence nutrient retention and/ or plant availability in soil (Roberts 2000). For example, sandy soils usually hold fewer nutrients and have higher water-infiltration rates than soils high in clay (e.g., clay, clay loam, sandy clay and silty clay). The availability (solubility) of boron, copper, iron, manganese, phosphorus and zinc for uptake by plants is reduced in soils having a very high pH. Other nutrients (including calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulfur) are readily available for plant uptake from soils with a high pH. Montmorillonite clay is capable of holding more nutrient cations (positively charged ionic form) than illite or kaolinite. The nutrient-holding capacity of a soil most often increases as the organicmatter content increases.

etation) or turf swale can intercept flowing water before it reaches an impervious surface (Asleson et al. 2007; Schneider 2007).

• Soil compaction may contribute to runoff. A study of 15 lawns in central Pennsylvania revealed that a soil’s condition, structure and history may be more likely to affect water infiltration rates in lawns than the texture (percent sand, silt and clay) of the soil (Hamilton

and Waddington 1999). The researchers noted that the condition, structure and history of a soil are largely a function of construction practices before planting.

• Recent research in an upper Midwest lawn demonstrated that, in some cases and over time, the effect of pre-plant soil compaction on the rate of water infiltration may be less of a problem than perceived (Kussow 2008). A silt

32 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

loam soil with a 5% slope was intentionally compacted using a vibratory roller before an additional 3 inches of silt loam topsoil was placed on top of the compacted area and either tilled or left in a layer before seeding Kentucky bluegrass. By year two of the study, runoff amounts from both compacted and non-compacted plots were similar (e.g., 1.2 to 1.5 inches of runoff annually from 25.2 total inches of annual precipitation).

• Core aerification of established turfgrasses growing in compacted soils can improve the speed at which water moves into soil (Partsch et al. 1993; Stier 2000).

The growth of turfgrass roots, freezing and thawing of soil and the activity of soil macro-organisms, including earthworms, can also improve infiltration (Easton et al. 2005).

• The loss of sediment from healthy lawns is often very low (Soldat and Petrovic 2008) and is unrelated to the level of P in soil unless it is unusually high (Soldat et al. 2009).

The small but consistent level of soluble P in runoff waters from turf probably originates from plant tissue (Soldat et al. 2009).

• When reactive P loss from unfrozen turf fertilized for three years with a high P:N (1:2) fertilizer was compared to reactive P loss from unfrozen turf receiving a low P:N (1:27) fertilizer, a K:N fertilizer and no fertilizer annually, a significantly greater reactive P loss (0.1 lb. P per acre) from turf receiving the high P:N fertilizer occurred in the first year only (Bierman et al. 2010). In the second and third years of the study, reactive P losses from nonfertilized turf were greater than those from any of the fertilized turfs. The researchers attributed this increase to limited density and higher runoff volumes compared to fertilized turfs.

Applied Research continued

Final thoughts Runoff from lawns is typically 5% or less of precipitation if the soil is not saturated or frozen and the lawns are not maintained on severe slopes. Nutrient loads in runoff from urban areas appear to be directly related to runoff volume, which can be reduced by maintaining a dense lawn and, possibly, by creating swales of turf and/or bermed rain gardens between vegetated sites and paved areas designed to concentrate and funnel runoff into storm sewers or surface waters.

Nitrogen and P should not be applied to turfs when soils are saturated or frozen, or when turfgrasses are not actively growing or are dormant. Phosphorus should be applied in accordance with soil-test recommendations.

If turf is irrigated, water should not be allowed to “pool” on the lawn surface for long periods of time or to move onto impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and roads.

Similarly, fertilizer granules lying on impervious surfaces after fertilizing should be brushed or blown back into the lawn.

References Asleson, B. C., R. S. Nestingen, J. S. Gulliver, R. M. Hozalski and J. L. Nieber.

2007. The development and application of a four-level rain garden assessment methodology. Anthony Falls Laboratory Engineering, Environmental, Biological, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Project Report No. 501. University of Minnesota.

Augustin, B. 2007. Perception vs. reality: How much nitrogen do homeowners put on their lawn? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 4-8.

Bierman, P. M., B. P. Horgan, C. J. Rosen, A. B. Hollman, and P. H. Pagliari.

2010. Phosphorus runoff from turfgrass as affected by phosphorus fertilization and clipping management. Journal of Environmental Quality 39:282–292.

Bowman, D. C., J. L. Paul, and W. B. Davis. 1989. Nitrate and ammonium uptake by nitrogen-deficient perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass turf.

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 114:421–426.

Daniel, T. C., P. E. McGuire, D. Stoffel, and B. Miller. 1979. Sediment and nutrient yield from residential construction sites.

Journal of Environmental Quality 8:304–308.

Easton, Z. M., and A. M. Petrovic. 2004.

Fertilizer source effect on ground and surface water quality in drainage from turfgrass. Journal of Environmental Quality 33:645–655.

Easton, Z. M., A. M. Petrovic, D. J. Lisk, and I.-M. Larsson-Kovach. 2005. Hillslope position effect on nutrient and pesticide runoff from turfgrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 10:121–129.

Engman, E. T. 1986. Roughness coefficients for routing surface runoff.

Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 112:39–53.

Groffman, P. M., N. L. Law, K. T. Belt, L. E. Band, and G. T. Fisher. 2004. Nitrogen fluxes and retention in urban watershed ecosystems. Ecosystems 7:393–403.

Hamilton, G. W., and D. V. Waddington.

1999. Infiltration rates on residential lawns in central Pennsylvania. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 54:564–568.

Kussow, W. R. 2008. Management practices affecting nitrogen and soluble phosphorus losses from an Upper Midwest lawn. In: The fate of nutrients and pesticides in the urban environment, vol.

997, ed. M. Nett, M. J. Carroll, B. P. Horgan, and A. M. Petrovic, 1–18. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society.

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Linde, D. T., T. L. Watschke, A. R. Jarrett, and J. A. Borger. 1995. Surface runoff assessment from creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass turf. Agronomy Journal 87:176–182.

Milesi, C., S. W. Running, C. D. Elvidge, J. B. Dietz, B. T. Tuttle, and R. R. Nemani.

2005. Mapping and modeling the biogeochemical cycling of turf grasses in the United States. Environmental Management 36:426–438.

Partsch, C. M., A. R. Jarrett, and T. L. Watschke. 1993. Infiltration characteristics of residential lawns. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 36:1695–1701.

Schneider, J. 2007. Urban rain gardens for controlling stormwater runoff and increasing groundwater recharge. MS thesis, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Sharpley, A. 1995. Identifying sites vulnerable to phosphorus loss in agricultural runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality 24:947–951.

Soldat, D. J., and A. M. Petrovic. 2008.

The fate and transport of phosphorus in turfgrass ecosystems. Crop Science 48:2051–2065.

Soldat, D. J., A. M. Petrovic, and Q. Ketterings. 2009. Effect of soil phosphorus levels on phosphorus runoff concentrations from turfgrass. Journal of Water, Air and Soil Pollution 199:33–44.

Steinke, K., J. C. Stier, W. R. Kussow, and A. Thompson. 2007. Prairie and turf buffer strips for controlling runoff from paved surfaces. Journal of Environmental Quality 36:426–439.

Stier, J. C. 2000. Lawn establishment and renovation. Extension Bulletin A3434.

Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin.

U.N .Environment Programme. 1999.

Planning and management of lakes and reservoirs: An integrated approach to eutrophication. International Environmental Technology Centre Technical Publication 11.

Paris, France: UN Environment Programme.

Turf Tips

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist, USGA Green Section

Have

you ever noticed an accumulation of water along the perimeter of a putting surface during and after a heavy thunderstorm, especially where the green transitions into collar or approach? If so, these low, poorly drained sites can be highly susceptible to crown hydration or ice-suffocation winterkill.

During summer, these perimeter puddles will disappear quickly as water percolates through the soil.

These puddles can persist much longer, however, when there is frost in the ground, and the combination of standing water plus cold temperatures is the classic recipe for severe winter injury.

Any combination of factors — such as poor design, poor construction technique, settling or an excessive accumulation of sand topdressing in the collar — can hinder the flow of excess water off the putting surface.

Regardless of why it occurs, it’s not too late in the season to address at least a few of your green’s worst perimeter drainage problems.

Option 1 Use a sod cutter or Miltona sod stripper to create a channel from the lowest point where water pools along the perimeter of the green through the elevated collar or approach. Extend this canal or gutter into an outfall off the green that is lower than the puddle.

Wrap the strip of sod in a geotextile fabric, and place it in a nearby bunker. It may survive the winter and can be used to repair the trench in spring.

Where is the lowest (deepest) point in the problem puddle? That can be difficult to determine unless standing water is present during the excavation process.

Visit the site during or right after heavy rainfall, and place an irrigation flag in the deepest water before it percolates into the soil. You can fake rain with an irrigation hose or slowly dump a few five-gallon buckets of water above the problem areas to produce a puddle.

Paint a dot on the putting surface where you placed the flag. Refresh the paint as necessary until you strip the turf. Another option is to mark the deepest part of the puddle by pushing a nail deep into the turf. A

36 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

metal detector can be used to find the spot later.

Option 2 Cultivate the area of the collar or approach that is impeding surface drainage with 5/8" hollow tines.

Remove the cores, and water as much as necessary to soften the soil. Use a heavy (up to one-ton) roller across the cultivated site to slowly lower the grade of the elevated turf to the point where surface drainage is restored.

The open holes will provide space for the soil to shift under the weight of the roller. Several coring/rolling operations may be required to attain the desired result.

Option 3 Obviously, the most permanent onestep remedy is to strip the elevated collar or approach, lower the grade to facilitate surface drainage and then replace the sod. Altering the grade of a collar or putting surface sounds simple, but it can be one of the more tedious and frustrating undertakings you will ever attempt on the golf course.

A considerable amount of sod will need to be removed and replaced if a smooth transition from the disturbed to undisturbed turf is desired. Making subtle and seamless changes in elevation across a highly visible and heavily used area of the course is as much an art as a science. However, the experience you gain during the first excavation will pay dividends during any subsequent attempts to re-grade a collar or approach.

Improving drainage is always hard work, but it’s still much easier to address drainage problems around greens during late fall when golfers are away, versus the highly stressful process of seeding or sodding winterkilled turf on greens during spring when golfers are breathing down your neck.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the November 16, 2011, edition of the USGA Green Section Record.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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TURFGRASS CALENDAR October 6

January 9–11

VA Sod Growers Field Day

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show

Woodward Turf Farms Remington, VA

October 24–26 Green Industry & Equipment Expo

Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY

December 11–13 Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course

Fredericksburg, VA

January 7–8 Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show

University of Maryland College Park, MD

Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD

January 15–19 STMA Annual Conference & Exhibition

Daytona Beach, FL

January 28–30 VTC 53rd Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

February 6–7 Golf Industry Show

San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA

Index of Advertisers

Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) 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, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright ©2012 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. 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 37068-0142, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)

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38 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org

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