Mass Miscommunication: How Misusing Digital Tools Undermines Results Understanding Product Labels Plus, Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference & Tradeshow, January 27–30, 2014
Aerification
of Heavy Clay Soils
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | September/October 2013
14
18 12 Upcoming Event
Turfgrass Short Course December 11–13, 2013
14 Upcoming Event
Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference & Tradeshow, January 27–30, 2014
18 Cover Story
Aerification of Heavy Clay Soils
24 Career Tips
ass Miscommunication: M How Misusing Digital Tools Undermines Results (plus, Ten Ways to Stop Letting It Happen!)
28 Turf Basics
Understanding Product Labels
28 Departments 06 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
8 Editor’s Perspective
from Mark Vaughn, CGCS
10 VTF Report
from Betty Parker
30 Turfgrass Calendar 30 Index of Advertisers
Director’s Corner
Giving DecisionMakers the Information They Need
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
Why
do we invest time, energy and other resources educating decision-makers about the value of our industry? Allow me to answer by misquoting a popular adage, “An ounce of education is worth a ton of legislative lobbying!” Over the past years, the VTC Board of Directors — led by our Legislative Committee chairman Gil Grattan — has invested heavily in ensuring that key decision-makers have facts about turfgrass. We operate with the guiding principle that most members of the General Assembly and other key decision-makers really do want to do what is right. They need unbiased and science-based information in order to make right decisions. We seek to give them that information. Our Journal could easily be filled with examples of the results of our efforts, but space constrains me to mention only two. A member of the General Assembly who represents part of the western portion of Virginia recently wrote, “I find your Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council very helpful and informative. I have many golf courses in my district… Two articles really stand out, ‘Guilty Until Proven Innocent’ and ‘EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Report 2013.’” (We send all members of the General Assembly complimentary copies of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal.) Another General Assembly member gave
6 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
the VTC an unprecedented compliment. This member who represents a key urban region said, “Tom, I recently had representatives from an environmental group in my office. I told them the Virginia Turfgrass Council is an organization that does things right.” How and when do we educate? A simple answer is “by all means and at all times.” Every activity, every email, every web content, every action is an opportunity to get send forth a message. Improperly done, that message is negative. We always examine our actions with an eye towards the decision-maker who may be watching. We also take great strides to meet with key decision-makers throughout the year. We visit members of the General Assembly during session, we invite leaders to attend one of our two turfgrass field days, and we make sure they receive the Journal. Much work still needs to be done. Yes, we must and will continue to work with decisionmakers who represent the state. The fruit of our labor is evident among those key persons. Still looming is a big need to educate local decision-makers. We are still working out the right ways to reach those city and county leaders whose signatures and votes affect our industry. We will continue to purposefully educate persons whose decisions affect our industry. Results speak for themselves. c
Editor’s Perspective
Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
Just
Do It
The
American veteran walked to the ball and gazed into the distance for what seemed like an eternity. Took the yardage book out of her back pocket and studied it like it was a cheat sheet for her chemistry final exam, madly flipping the pages. Walked around her bag as if exorcising demons. I fully expected her to toss some ground bone dust into the air, courtesy of an ancient medicine man. A two- to threeminute conversation with her caddie followed, with many hand gestures referencing wind, terrain, cloud formations and who knows what. After all this, she finally selected a club, and the second half of the ritual began. Standing behind the ball, she looked up and then down. Up and then down again until she had picked out the perfect aiming spot some 20 yards or so in front of her. She sat the club gingerly behind the ball, placed her back foot in position and slowly her front foot followed. But this obviously didn’t feel right, so she backed off and went through the gyrations again. This time, for good measure, her caddy slipped behind her with an engineer’s transit to confirm her shot was ready for liftoff. “While we’re young!” and other things (not so nice), I screamed at the TV! By the way, the shot ended up nowhere near her target. (OK, I made up the part about the engineer’s transit. But the rest of it is/ was 100% totally true.) In contrast, the young European (Charley Hull) almost galloped to the ball, took a few
8 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
seconds to look over the shot in front of her, pulled a club and stuck it inside of five feet. In spite of my American citizenship, I celebrated with her. “Duh…” and other things (not so nice), I said to the American, as if she could hear. In the post-match interviews, Hull was asked how she could deal with the IMMENSE pressure of something SOOOO large as the Solheim Cup at such a young age. Her reply was: “This is how I always look at golf: I’m not going to die if I hit a bad shot. Just hit it, find it, and hit it again.” Look, I’m not in any way disparaging the notion of serious thought. This is a sciencebased profession we’re all involved in, and that in itself says much about how our cerebral process works. Contemplation can be a good thing… until it becomes OVERTHINKING. Much like cramming more cars on an already overcrowded freeway, jamming more whatifs, buts and maybes into our grey matter only paralyzes an already stressed-out human. The times that I have overthought in life have led mostly to missed opportunities, indecision, frustration, negativity and, oh yes, some very bad golf shots. I’m not much on corporate slogans, but I always liked Nike’s “Just Do It.” Quit standing there, jump off the high dive, feel the fear and exhilaration of freefalling through the summer air, the cold water rushing in around you as you zip to the bottom like a bullet shot out of a gun and then levitate back to the surface. You’ll be glad you did. c
VTF Report
Virginia Tech 2013 Field Days Betty Parker VTF Manager
Showcased VTF-Funded Research
The
rains held off for another spectacular Virginia Tech Field Days, held August 27–28 in Blacksburg. Despite a VDOT closure on Interstate 81 South (due to an unstable cliff), there were record numbers of turfgrass professionals on hand, drinking up the knowledge being offered by Virginia Tech’s outstanding turf research team. In fact, despite the two-to-four-hour delay on the interstate, the event’s attendance was up by nearly 45% over last year! On Tuesday evening, Dr. Mike Goatley and his wife Lisa held the annual question-and-answer forum in the lovely backyard of their home, followed by a scrumptious dinner of loaded baked potatoes and refreshments on the terrace. On Wednesday morning, research at the Glade Road Research Center was presented, followed by lunch at the Turf Research Center on Southgate Road and, afterwards, tours of the research being done on this site. The Virginia Tech turf team took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to showcase just what your research donations help fund. If you missed the event, the complete 2013 VT Field Days Booklet can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/s/ auzi26lxvbabdra/ResearchUpdate13_V1.pdf. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation’s endowment fund stands at nearly $500,000. Please consider donating to the valuable research that is being conducted to help you and the profession in which you are employed. c Photos provided by Betty Parker and Tony Montgomery.
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Thanks to Our Generous Field Day Sponsors! Platinum
FMC Professional Solutions
Lunch
Bayer Environmental Science Quali-Pro Riverside Turf
Morning Coffee and Doughnuts Smith Turf & Irrigation
Tuesday evening included a casual, but informative questionsand-answers session at the home of Dr. Mike Goatley with (seated, left to right) Dr. Erik Ervin, David McCall, Dr. Shawn Askew and Dr. Mike Goatley.
After the Q&A session, Field Days attendees sat down to a lovely dinner on the Goatleys’ terrace.
Invited guest Anne Crockett-Stark, Virginia House of Delegates (6th District), addressed the Field Day crowd.
Upcoming Event
Turfgrass
Short Course Sign-Up Form
(please print)
The cost: $300 for members of the VTC $330 for non-members of the VTC Join the VTC for $75 (membership good thru December 31, 2014) Sign up for:
Price
o Short Course (Dec. 11–13)
$_______
o VTC Membership ($75)
$_______
Name Address
Phone Email Method of Payment o Check
o MasterCard
o Visa
o American Express
• Turfgrass Identification • Turfgrass Growth and Development • Soil Science for Turfgrass Systems • Turfgrass Selection and Installation • Cultural Management • Nutrient Management • Common Calculations • Pest Management — Weeds, Insects and Diseases • Environmental Considerations
Short Course location Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Credit Card No.
Signature
R
egistration is now open for this ever-popular three-day class on turfgrass management taught by Virginia Tech turfgrass experts. Sponsored by the VTC and Virginia Tech, the Turfgrass Short Course is designed to meet the needs of all turfgrass professionals, regardless of occupation. The Short Course is an extensive overview of the principles and practices in sound turfgrass management that can be applied to any segment of the industry (golf, lawn care, sod production, sports turf, etc.). Whether you are new in the business and desire a crash course in the principles of turfgrass management, or even if you have a college degree in turfgrass management and want a refresher course on the basics and an introduction to the latest topics, this course is for you. This training will allow you to make better decisions in daily turfgrass management that will improve the quality of both your turf and your job.
What types of topics are being covered?
Company
Sec. Code
December 11–13, 2013 Fredericksbug, VA
Exp. Date
Hotel accommodations
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Homewood Suites, the hotel
12 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
that shares a parking lot with the Expo Center. Book your room by November 20 to receive the special rate of $109 (book early because the block of rooms is being held on a first-come, first-served basis). Homewood Suites 1040 Hospitality Lane Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 (540) 786-9700
For more information
The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Phone: 757-464-1004 Fax: 757-282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net
Register today!
Register online today at http://vaturf.org/events.html, or complete the registration form on this page, and fax it to the VTC at (757) 282-2693. c
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 Christian Sain 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
Upcoming Event
Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 54th Annual 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow January 27–30, 2014 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center Here is a condensed version of this year’s educational program for the VTC’s 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow. Registration will be available online at www. turfconference.org by October 31. Make plans now to attend this ever-growing regional conference! Dress for both the Conference educational sessions and the Tradeshow is business casual.
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 VGCSA Class 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. • Nutrient Management LuNCH (on-site) 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ODGCSA Classes 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. • ODGCSA-sponsored class for the golf course superintendent. reception, VIRGINIA TECH UPDATE and VTC ANNUAL meeting 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 Golf Track 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • 8:00 a.m. USGA Green Section: Year in Review Mr. Darin Bevard and Mr. Keith Happ, USGA Green Section • 9 :00 a.m. Social Media and the Golf Course Superintendent Dr. John Kaminski, Penn State Universtiy • 9 :30 a.m. PoaCure: Is This the Final Answer? Dr. Shawn Askew, Virginia Tech, and Mr. Kip Fitzgerald, Spotswood Country Club • 10:15 a.m. Emerging Diseases of Golf Course Turf Dr. John Kaminski, Penn State Universtiy • 1 0:45 a.m. Seed Head Suppression of Annual Bluegrass in Spring Mr. Jeff Borger, Penn State University
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General Turf 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • 8:00 a.m. Update on State-of-the-Art Research Studies Mr. Adam Nichols, Virginia Tech • 8:45 a.m. Marketing: Using Google to Enhance Your Sales Mr. Neal Lappe, Web Strategies, Inc. • 9:15 a.m. Marketing: Your Website Markets You Mr. Neal Lappe, Web Strategies, Inc. • 10:00 a.m. Controlling Annual Grassy Weeds in Turf Dr. Jeff Derr, Virginia Tech • 10:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: Developing and Maintaining a Profitable Niche Sports Turf 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • 8:00 a.m. Sports Turf Weed Control Mr. Jeff Borger, Penn State University
• 9:00 a.m. Dormant Seeding of Bermudagrass: Gain Weeks, If Not Months, on Your Schedule Mr. Mike Skelton, Culpeper Co. Parks & Rec. • 10:00 a.m. Optimizing Traffic Tolerance Dr. Mike Goatley, Virginia Tech • 10:45 a.m. Update on State-of-the-Art Research Studies Mr. Adam Nichols, Virginia Tech VTC Awards ceremony 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LuNCH (on your own) Available at the on-site Café or else off-site. TRADESHOW — Please visit with our exhibitors and participate in the Putting Contest!
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. reception on tradeshow floor 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
VGCSA Annual meeting 6:00 p.m. At Fredericksburg C.C.
tradeshow, lunch and putting contest 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. All on the Tradeshow Floor Seminar for Mechanics 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. See page 16 for details.
• 4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pesticide Application Technique Jeopardy Mr. Robert Barksdale, RBB Turf & Landscape Consultants Audience participation session, with prizes awarded! Questions on application, labels, equipment, calibration, PPE, measurements, toxicity and pesticides in the environment.
afternoon program for sod growers 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Updates from Virginia Tech and Sod Growers Meeting
Fertilizer certification 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
pesticide recertification for 3a, 3b and 60 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
• 2:00 p.m. Registration
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• 2 :15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Legal and Regulatory Update Mr. Tom Burke, Pesticide Investigator, VDACS A review and update on laws/ regulations affecting pesticide applicators, staying in compliance, restricted-use pesticides and their applications, pesticide storage and disposal, handling spills and accidents, and recordkeeping responsibilities.
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CLASS 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10 and 60 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Speakers include Mr. Robert Barksdale (RBB Turf & Landscape Consultants), Mr. Jerry Corbett (Quali-Pro), Mr. Frank Filipy (VDACS) and Mr. Ray Funkhouser (PBI Gordon).
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014
• 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. New Chemicals and Products for Turf and Ornamentals Mr. Jerry Corbett, Quali-Pro Review of pertinent new chemicals for turf and ornamentals.
Fellowship breakfast 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
• 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Break
Reports from the trenches 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Learn from your peers as they discuss insights gained from a year of turf maintenance.
• 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Integrated Pest Management Mr. Ray Funkhouser, PBI Gordon Corporation Review of IPM practices and proper application techniques for turf and ornamental pest-control.
INITIAL PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION REVIEW SESSION FOR CORE EXAM 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Speakers include Karen Carter (VCE), Tonita Clark (VDACS), Frank Filipy (VDACS) and Vicki Rengers (VDACS). INITIAL PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION EXAM 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Fertilizer certification 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. c
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
| 15
Upcoming Events
Special
During the 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
SEMINAR FOR MECHANICS When
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where
Fredericksburg Expo Center 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Topics Tier 4 Diesel Engines Electrical Diagnosis Speakers
Burke Anders, Smith Turf & Irrigation Bill Ledford, Tri-State Pump & Control Greg Womble, Revels Turf & Tractor
Bonus
Morning Tradeshow AND LUNCH are INCLUDED with Registration.
Sponsored by Virginia Turfgrass Council
Sign-Up Form
Sign up for:
(please print)
The cost*: $ 50 for members of the VTC $75 for non-members of the VTC Join the VTC for $75 (membership good thru December 31, 2014)
Name
Address
Company
Phone
Price
o Mechanics Seminar (Wed., Jan. 29)
$___________
o VTC Membership ($75)
$___________
Method of Payment o Check o MasterCard o Visa o American Express Credit Card No.
Sec. Code
Exp. Date
Signature
* Persons who pay the Conference Registration – either full or Wednesday only – are granted entry into the Mechanic’s Seminar without extra charge.
16 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
Cover Story
of Heavy Clay Soils By Charles H. Peacock, Ph.D., NC State University
A
lmost forty years ago, Dr. James Beard published his now well-known textbook titled Turfgrass: Science and Culture. This classic work combined the science behind what was known, and not known, at that time about techniques in turfgrass management with an understanding of how reallife application of management techniques should be used. It set the stage for prioritizing turfgrassresearch programs and brought a focus as to how these must be structured to fill the gaps in knowledge and application. This is important because Beard pointed out that once we establish a turfgrass area, we expect it to be usable for many years (if not decades) without a need for major renovation. With use, however, turf areas are subject to wear and compaction, especially under specific soil, climatic and traffic conditions. This adversely affects soil properties as well as the grass plant itself by limiting the root system. In order to optimize conditions for turfgrass growth so that recovery from wear can be rapid and the turf is most resistant to pest pressure, then cultivation of the soil profile must be included in a sound turfmanagement program.
The importance of aeration Cultivation is defined as the tilling of the soil profile without damaging the turf so severely it cannot rapidly recover. This requires specialized
equipment and techniques. Of the cultivation techniques available, coring (often called aeration or aerification) is most often used. The effects of compacted soil on the ability of turfgrass plants to grow include the following: • Increased bulk density, resulting in decreased gas exchange (decreased oxygen levels). • Roots have trouble penetrating the soil. • Greater surface runoff. • Greater heat conductivity. The goal of a coring or aeration process is to improve the exchange of air and water between the atmosphere and soil (see Table 1). Air exchange is important since the root system requires oxygen in order to properly function, while allowing excess carbon dioxide (which builds up from the respiration process) to escape, thus preventing damage to the root system cells. Water exchange is important because improvement of water infiltration and percolation in the soil profile improves the efficiency of rainfall capture, thus reducing the irrigation requirement. Deep coring can also be beneficial in breaking up layering of different soil textures to improve drainage and prevent water-logged soils in the root zone. An additional effect is the severing of rhizomes and stolons, which forces buds on these secondary lateral stems to initiate new growth, resulting in an increase in turf density.
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Aeration frequency
The philosophy behind the need for an aeration process has changed over the years. At one time, it was recommended that this technique be used only as needed to correct soil compaction and to help with water penetration into localized dry spots, which are more of a problem on sandy soils. As management programs have evolved, the need for aeration on a regular basis (even on lower-management-level turf areas such as home lawns) has become more apparent. Traffic of any kind — such as people, animals and, especially, equipment — can create compaction problems. This is particularly true in the Southeast, where our annual rainfall creates soil conditions that are conducive to compaction. Soil is most prone to compaction when it is at what is known as field capacity, or that point after rain or irrigation when the larger soil pores have drained due to gravity, but there is good soil moisture for optimum turf growth. Water acts as a lubricant around the soil particles and, when pressure is applied, the soil particles are prone to move, reducing the pore space and creating compaction. To maximize opportunities for achieving the desired effects, aeration should be timed to a period of active turfgrass growth and when other management factors are considered. For example, coolseason grasses have two growth
Table 1. Benefits of aerification. • Decreases bulk density (reduces compaction). • I ncreases gas exchange (for better rooting). • I mproves water infiltration, and reduces runoff. • Opens the soil to allow incorporation of materials such as fertilizers or lime. • Enhances seed-to-soil contact (during seeding). • Removes thatch. • P enetrates compacted subsurface layers. • P repares an existing turf for renovation.
Cover Story continued
1.
2.
3.
cycles in the transition zone as to optimum temperatures — spring and fall. However, the recommendation for aeration of these grasses is that fall is a more favorable time since the turf will recover from any damage by the process. There is also less pressure from annual grassy weeds (such as crabgrass and goosegrass) at this time of year. Additionally, if the aeration procedure is conducted in conjunction with the application of seed to improve stand density (overseeding or interseeding), the process can improve seed-to-soil contact, which is crucial
for successful germination and growth of the new seed. Warm-season grasses can be aerated anytime there is active growth, but preferably in early summer to allow varieties with a slower growth rate the most time to recover prior to fall dormancy.
Hollow-tine versus solid-tine aeration and problems with heavy clay soils
By definition, true compaction relief requires that the mass/
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volume relationship change. In other words, a core or plug of soil must be removed from the soil profile to allow lateral expansion of the soil, thus reducing compaction. This is best accomplished by using a hollow-tine coring machine. During this aerification process, soil cores that range from 0.25" to 1" in diameter and 3" to 16" in depth are removed. While it would be difficult to core too deeply in the profile, most aerifying units have a limited penetration of only 2" to 4". These include those that operate on a vertical motion-type
4. Above: Photo 1. Intact soil cores from an aerification. Photo 2. A recently aerated turf surface, showing the distance between coring holes. Photo 3. A core cultivator in operation. Photo 4. Close-up of a set of hollow coring tines.
Cover Story continued
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Above: Photo 5. Coring holes in the turf after a hollow-tine aeration. Photo 6. A Verti-Drain coring machine with solid tines. Photo 7. A walk-behind aerator used for small turf areas such as home lawns. Photo 8. Close-up of a set of hollow coring tines set on a rotating disc. Photo 9. Close-up of an aeration core. Table 2. Percent of area affected by tine diameter and spacing. Tine Spacing
Tine Diameter (in inches)
2”x 2”
2”x 4”
4”x 6”
1/4”
1.2%
0.6%
0.2%
3/8”
2.8%
1.4%
0.5%
1/2”
4.9%
2.5%
0.8%
5/8”
7.7%
3.8%
1.3%
3/4”
11.0%
5.5%
1.8%
1”
19.6%
9.8%
3.3%
core cultivator and those with tines mounted on disks or on a drum. Deep-tine aerifiers can make holes 6" to 16" deep, but these are most often used on specialized areas, such as athletic fields or golf courses. The cores removed in the process can be picked up on closely mown turf, such as golf course putting
greens, but on areas where the grass is mowed at higher heights, they are typically left on the turf and break up over time. The amount of surface area affected by core aerification depends on tine diameter and spacing (Table 2). On heavy textured clay soils, it is often difficult to get penetration more than several inches deep. Soil moisture plays a key role in a core aerator’s ability to penetrate the profile. For optimum results, the soil should be moist, but not overly wet or saturated. This ensures the removal of an intact plug from the aerification hole. In some instances, on heavy textured clay soils (especially if they are intensely compacted where soil strength often impedes penetration), solid tines are used on the core aerator. This allows for greater penetration depth in the soil profile, but actually creates compaction around the penetration site. However, although it does improve air and water exchange, it does not relieve compaction.
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Managing compaction
While core cultivation or aerification can be used to alleviate problems caused by compaction, other considerations for compaction relief include the following: • Controlling traffic. If possible, try to limit traffic or disperse it more uniformly over the turf area. • Avoiding traffic on wet soil. Allow as much time as possible between the last rainfall or irrigation to allow the soil to dry and not be as prone to compaction. • Enlarging turf areas to distribute play or traffic. • Establishing turf on sand-based root zones. Sandy root zone mixes better resist compaction, thus reducing the probability of compaction. Once the soil on which the turf is grown becomes compacted, it is difficult to bring it back completely where there are no problems. Core cultivation or aerification can help, but proper site preparation prior to establishment and then managing for preventing compaction are preferable. c
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Career Tips
By Geoffrey Tumlin, Author and CEO of Mouthpeace Consulting, LLC
You
fiddle with your smartphone under the table during an important meeting. You type an (error-ridden) email to a customer while talking (distractedly) on the phone. You interrupt a sensitive discussion with your spouse to respond to a trivial text message. You use a social-media platform to reconnect with an old friend, only to offend her (and others) with an ill-advised attempt at humor. And really, you’re
not some clueless boor: everyone you know operates this way. In our device-dominated world, it’s what passes for communication. Yes, at some point or another, we’ve all allowed quick and easy to replace meaningful and productive. The very tools that enable us to maintain contact with people all over the world also distort our priorities, fragment our concentration, degrade our ability to listen and scatter our attention. But like any
24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
other tool, our phones, computers and tablets are inanimate objects. They aren’t the problem. We are. While shoddy communication is ubiquitous, however, it doesn’t have to be inevitable. This is the best time in human history to be a competent communicator. It’s true that it can be incredibly difficult to break free of the gravitational pull of distraction, expediency, self-expression and excess that characterize so much digital-age communication. Yet,
if you are willing to consciously strengthen your communication skills, you can leverage unprecedented opportunities to connect productively and meaningfully with other people. Here are ten surprising tips to help you shake off counterproductive communication behaviors and get better results personally and professionally.
#1. Back up to go forward.
Remember how we communicated before we got our new devices? The digital revolution facilitated hypercommunication and instant selfexpression but, ironically, made it harder for anyone to listen. There’s just too much “chatter clutter” getting in the way (just consider the frenetic activity happening on Twitter at any given moment!). To make the most of our conversations, we need to remember how we connected effectively with others before we had smartphones and computer screens to “help” us. Specifically, implementing three guiding habits — listen like every sentence matters, talk like every word counts and act like every interaction is important — will help you be more present in conversations and will improve your digital-age communication. These “old school” guiding behaviors will help you become a better communicator — not perfect, but better. That’s a goal that’s well within your reach and one that will immediately improve your quality of life.
#2. Invert your expectations.
Lower your hopes for your “smart” devices. Because technology does a lot for us, it’s no surprise that we’ve collectively fallen in love with it. In our enthusiasm for what our tools can do, though, we’ve lost sight of the people behind the tools. It’s time to turn that around. Our devices don’t possess the communication abilities we think they do. A tech-centered view of communication encourages us to expect too much from our devices and too
Specifically, implemen ting three guiding habits — listen like ev ery sentence matters, talk like every word co unts and act like every interaction is important — will help you be more present in co nversations and will improve your digital-a ge communication. little from each other. We assume that hitting “send” means we’ve communicated, when really, the other person may not have understood the message at all. Until we restore a more people-centered approach, we will continue to feel unsatisfied and unfulfilled by our interactions — despite having the most powerful connection and transmission devices in human history in the palm of our hands.
#3. Lose your “friends.”
These days, it’s not unusual to be superficially connected to large numbers of people. And it’s way too easy to send hundreds of marginally important messages, chat with distant acquaintances and spend hours surfing the web, leaving no time to talk to the people who matter most. In other words, meaningful relationships are being trumped by people you barely know. Prioritize the people in your life — actual and digital — in a four-tier pyramid. The top of the pyramid (Tier A) should be composed of a small number of the most important people in your life, those you want to have open access to you at all times. Residents of Tier B also have good access to you, but you more closely monitor the time you give them. Tiers C and D don’t have open access to you. You might return a voicemail from a C within 24 hours, and Ds will just have to wait until you can get around to them. After you’ve made these distinctions, stick to them. No, you aren’t being rude or insensitive. You’re clearing your life of counterpro-
ductive chatter and safeguarding time and energy for the most important people in your life.
#4. Stop talking, and think for a minute.
While words can build relationships only slowly, they can cause damage with lightning speed. A blurted retort, a thoughtless tweet or a hasty remark can — and does — land people in hot water all the time. People require some space to absorb information, formulate their responses and deliver them effectively. I’m not saying that you should take a vow of silence; instead, as the CEO of your tongue, you should issue an executive order to stop talking long enough to think about what it is that you want to express. This will help you to clear out a lot of distracting conversational clutter, get in front of ill-advised words and provide the space you need to selfcorrect when you’re angry or upset.
#5. Don’t always “be yourself.”
Careless self-expression is usually an excuse for bad behavior. Not so long ago, there were more structural impediments to our communication. We couldn’t afford to talk frequently to people outside our local area code, and it was hard to talk to several people at once unless the conversation was face-to-face. If we made a communication gaffe, it wasn’t such a big deal. But now that we can talk to anyone, anywhere, at virtually no cost, the ability to express ourselves instantly can be much more dangerous. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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Career Tips continued
Smart communicators realize that one single action — not allowing your feelings to dictate your words — will impact your quality of life profoundly: You will get what you want more often. By focusing on what you want to accomplish instead of what you want to say, you’ll keep your conversational goal in its rightful place — above your feelings in terms of priority.
#6. Question your questions.
Questions are not always neutral. They make some of your conversations better, but as you’ve probably noticed, many questions make a surprisingly large number of your conversations worse. Even “simple” inquiries can go awry. “Is your mother coming over for dinner again?” or “Did you call Jim in accounting about this?” can cause trouble if the other person thinks there’s a criticism behind the query. Some of your relationship problems probably reflect your underdeveloped questioning skills. Faulty questions contribute to many conversational failures and can add anxiety, defensiveness and ill will to interactions. In general, the more you query simply to indulge your personal cravings to get an answer, to hammer home a point or to satisfy a narrow personal interest, the more your questions are likely to stifle dialogue. Better to focus on what you can learn from or about another person, and ask questions that reflect a broad curiosity about the person or topic you’re discussing.
#7. Don’t try to solve every problem right now.
Our quick, cheap and easy digital
devices allow us to have far too many unnecessary conversations, engage in way too much unnecessary collaboration and get our hands (and thumbs) on too many irrelevant issues. That’s why smart communicators, like smart doctors, have a good triage system — its categories are Now, Delay and Avoid — to focus on the most pressing issues, while delaying or ignoring less important matters. Problems in the Now category require an immediate, solutionbased conversation. Don’t automatically assign too many issues to this category: this is the fundamental miscalculation that your triage system is trying to correct. Delay is your default category. Many issues may disappear completely or resolve themselves without your intervention. Finally, avoid issues that reflect highly emotional, incredibly complicated and other volatile feelings that reside deep inside another person, unless those issues are impairing the accomplishment of critical work.
#8. Let difficult people win.
Jane talks too much. Jim is incredibly stubborn. Uncle Billy loves to argue. Your client is moody. Whether they’re controlling, critical or cranky, the behaviors that make someone a difficult person tend to spark frequent confrontations, even though we’re unlikely to influence these people. For example, we wrestle with Jane to get a word in edgewise. We struggle to change Jim’s mind. We fire a barrage of points and counterpoints into Uncle Billy’s arguments. We try to offset
realize that one rs to a ic un m m co rt a m S llowing your a t o n — n io ct a le g n si words — will feelings to dictate your life profoundly: impact your quality of want more often. You will get what you 26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
our client’s mood swings. At the end of a conversation, the difficult person remains the same, but often you are in a weaker position. It’s time to quit trying. Only a commitment to let go of your desire to “win” by imposing your will on the other person can realistically and consistently improve your communication with difficult people. When you find yourself with no choice but to interact with a difficult person, have modest expectations, avoid tangents and stay focused on your end goal. It’s really all you can do.
#9. Respond with weakness.
We all too often use more force than we need to accomplish our objectives. We yell when a measured response would work better, send a blistering email when a more restrained reply would suffice or issue an ultimatum when a firm but gentle statement of convictions would do. Conflicts that start or escalate with excessive force frequently cause a destructive cycle — attack, retaliation, escalated attack and escalated retaliation, etc. No matter how justified you may feel, the bottom line is that using excessive force isn’t usually a winning strategy. It’s not always easy, but try to apply the least amount of interpersonal force and intensity necessary to accomplish your objective. In other words, bring a stick to a knife fight in order to neutralize a harsh conversation. Try to stay serious and focused, and keep the conversation as brief as possible. Keep your words calm, controlled and stabilizing: don’t add any new emotional material.
#10. Be boring.
Modern culture promotes the false notion that communication should be as flashy, stimulating and entertaining as the sleek devices that facilitate it. We assume that the best conversations are also the most exciting ones: the ones that are intense or high stakes, that bring big news, that are filled with emotion or that contain something unexpected or novel. Exciting conversations, how-
Career Tips continued
ever, are relatively rare and often don’t go our way. In reality, good, meaningful communication usually looks plain, unremarkable and boring. And guess what: that’s okay. Think about it. It’s not really excitement and intensity that you want from your conversations: you want bosses, coworkers, family and friends you can count on. And they want the same from you. The fact is, boring is dependable. Bland is steady. Over time, what seems unremarkable turns out to be quite remarkable after all because great relationships are built through thousands of routine interactions.
When you find yourse lf with no choice but to interact with a d ifficult person, have modest expectati ons, avoid tangents and stay focu sed on your end goal. It’s really a ll you can do.
Final thoughts
As we move further into the digital age, let’s embrace new ways to connect while retaining the ability to communicate meaningfully and effectively with each other. Whether you are talking face-to-face with one individual or broadcasting to hundreds via email or social media, you can use higher-order communication skills to make sure that your interactions count.
About the author
Geoffrey Tumlin is the author of Stop Talking, Start Communicating: Counterintuitive Secrets to Success in Business and in Life. He is the founder and CEO of Mouthpeace Consulting LLC, a communication consulting company; president of On-Demand Leadership, a leadership development company; and founder and board chair of Critical Skills Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing communication and leadership skills training to chronically underserved populations. His writing on communication and leadership has appeared in scholarly journals, newspapers and textbooks, including Discourse Studies, the International Leadership Journal, the Encyclopedia of Leadership and five editions of Professional Communication Skills. You can learn more about Geoffrey Tumlin at www.tumlin.com. c Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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Turf Basics
By Wayne Ducote, Senior Sales Specialist, BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals
It
happens all the time. Someone buys a new herbicide, fungicide or insecticide, skims through the product label and files it away until it’s time to use the product. When that time comes, he or she flips to the portion of the label that shows the recommended rates. No big deal, right? Beyond the date of purchase, most people don’t spend a lot of time reading product labels. Familiarizing yourself with a label when you buy the product is a good idea,
but so is re-reading the label before putting the product to use. Doing so can save a lot of time, money and hassle. When using fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, most people ask themselves only, “What product do I need to control the weed, insect or disease that’s causing me a problem, and what rate do I need to use?” Rate information is essential, but product labels provide a lot of other important information. Below are five key things to look for on product labels.
28 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
1. Tank-mixing Most labels have a tank-mixing section, which includes what you can and cannot tank-mix with a particular product. Using several products in one application is a common practice in the industry. It’s vital to read the tank-mixing section because some products shouldn’t be used together. Ignoring tank-mixing guidelines can cause problems like clogged application equipment and reduced efficacy. Perhaps just as important is mix-
ing order, which is also detailed on product labels. The basic rule of thumb is that dry materials should be mixed first, followed by liquids. But rather than assuming this is always the case, it’s recommended that users follow the label closely when mixing products.
2. Special statements
Products often have special statements on the label to help users utilize the product correctly. For instance, many products include statements about what the outside temperature should be when a product is used. If the label says not to apply the product if it’s warmer than 85 degrees outside, and you do, it could cause damage to the plant. Other common special statements refer to drying time. Applying a product prior to a rainfall when the product label states that six hours of drying time is necessary is a pretty expensive mistake.
abide by a completely different set of rules with regard to protective equipment and re-entry interval.
5. General restrictions and limitations
An often-overlooked element of product labels is the “general restrictions and limitations” section, which is also known as the “do not” statements. A “do not” statement is a strong declaration that should be followed. For example, a product might have “Do not apply in greenhouses” on the label because the product is volatile and could move through the air to plants, causing foliar damage. Read the “do not” statements carefully, and be sure to brush up on them if it has been a while since you last used a product.
General suggestions
Although it’s unnecessary to continually read and re-read the label for a product that you use several times a year, it’s a good idea to take some time now and again to re-familiarize yourself with product labels. Labels change periodically, so it makes sense to review commonly used product labels about once a year. The best place to obtain current labels is www.cdms.net. The 10–15 minute investment of reading a label can save a lot of time and hassle compared to the fallout of misusing a product. c Wayne Ducote is a senior sales specialist with BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals. He can be reached at 337-849-6040 or via email at wayne. ducote@basf.com.
3. Group numbers
The front page of many product labels includes a group number, which helps users avoid resistance issues with fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. Products are grouped based on how they work (mode of action), and users are encouraged to vary group numbers of products in an effort to better manage resistance. For example, if after using a fungicide in Group 1 you have concerns about resistance, use a product with a different group number in the next application.
4. Agricultural use requirements
The agricultural and nonagricultural use requirements on product labels are important for users, and they vary depending on product use. A greenhouse or nursery employee, for instance, may use the same product as a golf course superintendent or lawncare employee, but has to Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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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 ©2013 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.)
November 15–18
January 21–24
(American Society of Landscape Architects) Boston Convention & Expo. Center Boston, MA
Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio, TX
ASLA – Annual Meeting & Expo
November 18–20 Carolinas GCSA Annual Conference & Show
Myrtle Beach Convention Center Myrtle Beach, SC
December 11–13
Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course
Fredericksburg, VA
January 6–7
MTC Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show
Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD
January 13–17
Green & Growin’ Show
(NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.) Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC
Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
Agriguard . ................................................. 17 Aqua-Aid, Inc.............................................. 21 www.aquaaid.com BASF........................................................... 23 www.basf.com Buy Sod.............................Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com Camp Chemical Corporation.................... 21 Chantilly Turf Farms, Inc.......................... 23 www.chantillyturffarms.com Colonial Farm Credit................................. 30 www.colonialfarmcredit.com Egypt Farms Inc......................................... 27 www.egyptfarms.com Fisher & Son Company, Inc........................ 5 www.fisherandson.com Harrell’s LLC............................................... 3 www.harrells.com Landmark Turf & Native Seed................... 9 www.turfandnativeseed.com Luck Stone Corporation............................ 17 www.luckstone.com Modern Turf, Inc....................................... 29 www.modernturf.com Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc........................... 13 www.oakwoodsod.com RBB Sales & Consulting, Inc...................... 9 www.rbbturflandscapeconsultants.com Select Source.............................................. 13 Smith Seed Services................................... 30 www.smithseed.com Southern States Cooperative.................... Inside Front Cover www.southernstates.com The Turfgrass Group............. 7, Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Winfield Solutions, LLC............................ 27 Woodward Turf Farms, Inc...................... 17 www.woodwardturf.com
Turfgrass Calendar
Digital Marketplace
Index of Advertisers
30 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2013 www.vaturf.org
STMA Conference and Exhibition
January 27–30
VTC 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show
Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA
February 5–6 Golf Industry Show
Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL
February 24–28
TPI Mid-Winter Conference
(Turf Producers Intl.) Orlando, FL
February 25–26
Come to the Bay: Pesticide Recertification, Fertilizer Certification and Much More!
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center Virginia Beach, VA