Virginia Turfgrass Journal - January / February 2014

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

January/February 2014

Stormwater Management

in the Landscape

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

Phosphorus Reduction in Ponds and Lakes Employee Rivalry: 5 Tips for Managing Dueling Staffers

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | January/February 2014

16 14 Upcoming Event

Come to the Bay! February 25–26, 2014 Free to VTC Members

16 Cover Story

Stormwater Management in the Landscape

22 Feature Story

Phosphorus Reduction in Ponds and Lakes

27 Professional Matters Employee Rivalry: 5 Tips for Managing Dueling Staffers

4 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal January/February 2014 www.vaturf.org

22 Departments 06 President’s Message

from Frank Flannagan

08 Director’s Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 Editor’s Perspective

from Mark Vaughn, CGCS

12 VTF Report

from Betty Parker

29 Index of Advertisers 30 Turfgrass Calendar

From Cover the President Story

Thank You Frank Flannagan 2012–2013 VTC President

for Years of Support!

Wow!

Where has the time gone? As I have served as president of the Virginia Turfgrass Council, the past two years have been both exciting and an honor. We have addressed many issues, including weather, economic downturns and an increase in membership and participation in regional seminars. VTC pioneered the certified fertilizer applicators program requirements with the approval of Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). We also sponsored the first Turfgrass Summit to put forth ideas from different organizations related to turf and to map out a plan for the future.

All of this could not have happened without the tireless efforts of our board and committee members, including the support staff who assisted during the annual

conference, as well as our executive director, Tom Tracy and his wife Tania. I sincerely thank every one of these dedicated turf professionals for their support and assistance to the VTC, the industry and me.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to my staff at Belmont Golf Course, including Andy Sweeney, Donna Serleto, Harvey Farmer, Adam Ikenberry, Todd Quinley, Steve Serafim, Michelle Taylor and Jesse Perdue. Their dedication to the golf course while I was away, attending various VTC meeting and functions, kept the golf course operations running smoothly.

I look forward to working with our new incoming president, Fred Biggers, CGCS, of Wintergreen Resort, as he takes over the reins of the council.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership for the challenges that our industry faces in the coming years.

With the first Turf Summit behind us, I would like to challenge each member to volunteer for a committee. Only by working together can we be successful.

I would personally like to thank our vendors (there are many) who have given so tirelessly to our industry. Without each vendor, we — the Virginia Turfgrass Council — could not have accomplished the goals we have set during the last fifty-four years.

Finally, I want to thank the membership for your support. I am honored that you allowed me to contribute to an industry that has so many great professional people.

Frank Flannagan 2012–2013 VTC President

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Director’s Cover Corner Story

VTC Membership Does Have Its

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

Privileges!

O

ver the past few years, VTC members have asked for a quick and easy way to get a listing of current VTC members, in addition to our annual Directory and Resource Guide. The need is for a list that is both current and electronic. We have listened.

On or before March 1, we are launching the member-only page of our website. The features of that page are nearly complete, but we are working out the final kinks and security issues before going live. As of March 1, a member will be able to use the special page to perform at least four tasks.

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One, a member may use the page to download a list of current members as an Excel file. The only items in the downloadable file will be information currently printed in the membership directory.

Two, a member may use the page to read the VTC’s bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal online and browse old issues. Currently, that option is available to anyone who visits the website. After March 1, only members will have that privilege.

Three, a member may use the page to update critical information, such as employer, mailing address and so forth. Right now, a person must contact the VTC to update information. Of course, do always send us an email or phone us if you wish a personal means of making changes.

We are happy to accommodate.

Finally, you may use the page to renew your membership. We want to make it easy!

Why are we going through the effort to add this new feature to our website? The answer is because we seek to always remember who we work for – Virginia’s turfgrass industry. A members-only page with the features outlined above will make our members’ jobs just a little easier.

We are not finished. Please, do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything further we can be doing for you. Members of the VTC board of directors and I are committed to always improving our service. 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

Editor’s Perspective

Drum Roll, Please!

Predictions for Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

Two

2014

Thousand Fourteen. Didn’t we just begin the new millennium a couple of years ago? I saw that Clinton guy on TV the other night – still pointing at me with that crooked finger. Man, he looked old. Fifty years since the assassination of JFK? Mick Jagger is 70? Davey Love three sticks is playing the Champions Tour? The years used to flow by like the frequency of cut of a Jacobsen four-blade Blitzer unit. Now, I feel like I’m inside of an Eclipse 2 with 15 blades, hanging on for dear life.

Well, at least there is no THIRTEEN in this year. Of course, if you loaded up on stocks last year, 2013 was certainly not unlucky for you. Being the seasoned investor that I am, I decided, what with sequesters, government shutdowns looming, low consumer confidence, Arabs going crazy, high unemployment and the fed printing money faster than bermudagrass goes through a goose, it would be a good time to put a sizeable part of my 401k on the sidelines. Mmmmhhmmmm…….

But I’m SURE 2014 will be much better… yadda… yadda. So, here to help you through, in our best Norman Vincent Peale/Joel Osteen positive vein, are predictions to live by, for you and yours.

The disclaimer: Imagine, if you will, the guy at the end of the car ad who talks real fast. You know, the ad where they’ve just insinuated that the dealership is going to sell you a 50k car for $49.95 profit. AND, they’re going to give you twice as much as your old clunker is worth. AND, they’re going to finance it all for $100 down at 0.9%, EVEN WITH your bad credit. Yeah, that one. Well, he just issued a VTC disclaimer in case this nonsense offends anyone or doesn’t come true. Listen close — we know he’s in your head.

Prediction #1

Terry Mc-Auliffe joins Bob Mc-Donnell, James Mc-Dowell and Philip Mc-Kinney as the latest Mc-Governor of the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Unable to determine who won the race for Attorney General, Mc-Auliffe declares the race null and void and names Ronald Mc-Donald to the post. Named to top cabinet posts are Seth MacFarlane, Elle Mac-Pherson, Shirley Mac-Laine and Andie Mac-Dowell.

Prediction #2

Producers of “The Walking Dead” decide to save millions of dollars creating sets and applying makeup by

simply setting up on location at The Villages in Florida. Does this joke need more explanation from a guy who technically qualifies for admission?

Prediction #3

Narrated by ex-wife Tipper, the latest Nat Geo special, “An Inconvenient Truth ‘Redux’,” follows Al and his new love, environmentalist and multimillionaire Elizabeth Keadle. Leaving a carbon wake larger than a small country, Al jets around the world, spreading the gospel of Gore while selling off TV networks to oil giants and exercising millions in stock options, making him richer than that old bad

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rich guy, Mitt Romney. OK, you got me. Sometimes the truth is better than a prediction.

Prediction #4

Fifty Shades of Green hits the shelves.

Chronicling the exploits of harddrinking, club-member-seducing Golf Course Supt. Sage Green, the saga rockets to the top of The New York Times bestseller list. The tanned, shirtless Green always manages to manicure the grass around the pool every day around 2 p.m. One of his favorite moves is named after his equipment of choice — “the Sidewinder.”

Turfheads and the uneducated alike hang on every detail as Sage describes why he prefers bentgrass over ultradwarfs when he goes out to do a little night putting.

Prediction #5

Location: USGA at Pinehurst. Arriving a week early by mistake for the Women’s U.S. Open, I.A. Maman from China says, “What the chow mein” and decides to compete in the Men’s event disguised as Liang Wen-Chong.

After finishing fourth, Maman shocks the crowds around the 18th at Pinehurst by ripping off her fake mustache, taking off her hat and removing her rain pants to reveal a short skirt. In her press conference, she says, “$#%^*)!&,” which means, “Take that, Michelle Wie!” in Mandarin.

Prediction #6

Former Supt. “Sting” (remember him from the Barbizon School of Turf

and Cosmetology?) makes a triumphant return to the industry at the GCSAA show by introducing his newest tool, designed to make life simple for the flock. Striped light and dark green with jagged spikes protruding from it, the Etiolation Drone has the massive tradeshow crowd in a trance as it buzzes from corner to corner of the Orange County Convention Center.

Grabbing the mike, Sting begins his sales spiel: “Imagine scanning your course in a few short minutes, ALL from the comfort of your climatecontrolled office. Disease or hot spots?

Our infrared camera points this out in seconds. Golfers in restricted areas?

Fire a couple of shellcracker warning shots with our on-board, sawed-off shotgun. Slacker staff members a problem? Zoom in our video camera, catch the boogers in the act, record it on flash drive and have it waiting with their pink slip at the time clock that afternoon. The management possibilities are endless, and since you’re never in the sun, we expect skin cancer rates for supers to drop like a rock.”

shouting out their favorite lines: “Be the ball, Danny,” “So I get on as a looper in the Himalayas,” “That’s a peach, hon” and Dr. Goatley’s favorite, “Manganese, a lot of people don’t even know what that is.” Tragically, the movie never reaches completion, as the neighbors complain to police about the raucous gathering.

Prediction #8

Masters officials issue their first-ever lifetime player ban to John Daly. After crashing his tour bus through the gate, Daly and his gang of five quickly spray paint the rear of the stately white clubhouse in “loudmouth” colors and patterns. Caught off guard in a YouTube moment, Chairman Billy Payne lashes out at that “Arkansas redneck” and banishes him to Augusta purgatory along with CBS announcer Gary McCord. Payne announces later in the week that the “terrorist incident” was enough to make Bobby Jones roll

over in his grave and furnishes photos of a freshly opened grave and casket to prove his point.

Prediction #9

The Tiger Woods/Brandel Chamblee feud is escalated when Chamblee yells “Noonan” from the tower behind the 18 green as Tiger is over a tournamentwinning eight footer. Tiger retaliates poolside later at the after-party by giving Brandel a “wedgie” and having his “boys” hold him down while he braids his coiffed hair into dreadlocks.

Well, there you have them. Words to plan your life by. Solid as a Presidential promise. And don’t forget to send $500 (yeah, I know that’s up from $150 last year, but look at the returns I missed) to 1901 Goodyear Blvd., Danville, VA, for the EXACT date I’m jumping back in the market.

Then, short every stock you have, and you’ll make $$$$. c

Prediction #7

Dr. Mike Goatley kicks up the Tuesday night discussion session at VT Field Days a big notch. Attendees arrive to find his back lawn transformed into something akin to an old drive-in, complete with popcorn machine, hotdog rotisserie and kegs of ice-cold beverages. As the sun sets, around the corner of the house, dressed in shorts, rubber boots, floppy hat and dragging a large garden hose, comes Master of Ceremonies Shawn “Carl” Askew. The crowd is soon whipped into a frenzy as “Carl” introduces the rest of the cast dressed in character: Dick “Judge Smails” Schmidt, Erik “Noonan” Ervin, Dick “Ty” Fisher, Jack “Bishop” Hall, David “D’Annunzio” McCall, Jeff “Dr. Beeper” Derr, Sam “Sandy McFiddish” Doak and host Mike “Czervik” Goatley.

Cleverly disguised by the Hort. Dept. as Chinese hollies, speakers are soon blaring “I’m Alright” as the screen lights up with the dancing gopher. Led by the “cast,” the audience is soon Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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VTF Report

How

Can We Betty Parker VTF Manager

Work

Together to Get the Big Bucks?

In

my last Journal article, I highlighted some of the top priorities discussed at the Turfgrass Summit held at Wintergreen in November 2013. Talk is nice, but let’s face it — it doesn’t pay the bills. And so, in this article, I will summarize the actions we are formulating to achieve our goals, which, put plainly is: MORE MONEY FOR TURFGRASS RESEARCH.

Aligning the industry

The overriding consensus from the members of the Turfgrass Summit was our need to be more unified as an industry. We are all aimed at the same target, but we aren’t aligned, and inadvertently we are sometimes shooting at each other. We also all agreed that we needed to be providing considerably more funding to turfgrass research.

The founding members of the VTF believed there was a need to establish an endowment that would be used for the support of turfgrass research in Virginia.

We still believe it! We are set up as a non-profit, taxexempt, scientific and educational organization 501©(3); therefore, contributions are tax deductible.

We believe the whole is stronger than its parts, and that by combining research donations into one big pot, we can reach that goal of a stable fund more quickly.

Over the next year, we will be speaking to local turfgrass organizations across the state to educate and explain our mission. We ask that all of you help us by allowing us just a few minutes on your agenda at one of your meetings. You can call and request that we come to one of your scheduled meetings, or one of our board members will make the request.

Monitoring the Seed Law Fund

The Seed Law Fund needs to be monitored more closely to ensure that all those that should be con-

tributing to it are doing so. It is currently an honorsystem venture with precious few checks and balances.

We also need to look into the possibility of expanding the law to include fertilizer sales, as North Carolina does.

This fund provides about $40,000 to $60,000 each year for turfgrass research. We believe it should be considerably more. Below is the section of the seed law as it pertains to the funding of turfgrass research. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation has been charged with reviewing and recommending those projects we feel would most benefit the needs of Virginia’s turfgrass industry. § 3.2-4004. Seed Fund; established.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special non-reverting fund to be known as the Seed Fund, hereafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller.

All fees and assessments paid pursuant to this article shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund.

Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for carrying out the purpose of this article, except that the Commissioner shall deposit 50 percent of the inspection fee to the credit of the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund. The Virginia Agricultural Council shall administer all funds received from this section for the exclusive funding of lawn and turf research.

(1994, c. 577, § 3.1-275.7; 2008, c. 860.)

You can read Virginia’s Seed law in its entirety at: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+ 3.2-4004 c

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Upcoming Event

COME TO THE BAY February 25–26, 2014, Free to VTC Members!

This

event has grown in each of its six years of existence! It started out as a pesticide recertification class. In those first formative years, an increasing number of hardy souls huddled together in a warehouse to get their pesticide training. Now, we are at two days… and growing!

Primary Sponsor: Landscape Supply Lunch Sponsor: Riverside Turf Location: Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center (2800 Shore Drive • Virginia Beach, VA 23451 | 757-481-9000) Cost: No charge for VTC members; Non-members pay $60 for Tuesday & Wednesday or $40 for just Tuesday or just Wednesday.

PROGRAM Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Morning: Pesticide Recertification (3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10 and 60)

Afternoon: Classes for the Turf and Landscape Industries • Developing Your Niche — local leaders describe how their businesses thrive.

• NTEP — what it means and why you should know about it • Combining Plants for Your Clients • On-Site Equipment Diagnosis — learn what can be fixed in the field and what needs to be seen by the mechanic.

End by 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Morning: Two Tracks Track One: Fertilizer Certification Track Two: Various concurrent

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classes, including: • Skin Cancer — don’t neglect this killer.

• Professionalism • Weed Control Options • Soils — the roots must be happy.

• Basic turf and landscape maintenance • Plants that make your company money Lunch and Travel to Hampton Roads AREC: (on your own) Afternoon: Hands-on workshops at the Hampton Roads AREC Workshops include: • Irrigation Demonstration • Pavers • Sprayer Calibration c

EARN VALUABLE CEUs!

Cover Story

Stormwater

Management in the Landscape

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By David Sample, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, and Laurie Fox, Ph.D., Research Associate, Horticulture, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech

One

of the goals of an urban nutrient-management (UNM) plan is to reduce nutrient loads in stormwater runoff from urban landscaped areas. Nutrient-management efforts have typically addressed agricultural, industrial and commercial sites and impervious or paved surfaces. There was very little overlap with urban stormwater management.

However, Virginia’s regulatory approach to stormwater management now includes urban stormwater runoff from both pervious and impervious areas.

Additionally, many of the newer, “greener” stormwater-management practices, known as best management practices or BMPs, may be part of the landscape of an average urban site. Thus, information on stormwater quantity and quality may be beneficial for the nutrient management planner or landscape professional.

Stormwater 101

Stormwater is a hybrid term used to describe runoff (usually from urban areas) caused by precipitation (rain, snow or ice). In urban areas, runoff can occur from both impervious and pervious areas, although much more runoff comes from the former. An example of runoff from pervious areas is shown in Photo 1. Implementing the best practices outlined below will help reduce pollutants carried with runoff from pervious areas.

Factors that affect stormwater runoff include: • Quantity and intensity of precipitation • Amount of impervious surface on the site (rooftops, driveways, patios and decks, roadways, parking lots, etc.)

• Type and condition of the soil (water infiltrates clay or compacted soils more slowly than sandy or non-compacted soils) • Soil saturation level at the time of precipitation (i.e., more runoff from pervious areas can occur if the soil is already saturated before precipitation) • Vegetative canopy layers and coverage (i.e., runoff is reduced on sites with a higher percentage of vegetative coverage and multiple plant canopy layers) • Extent and steepness of slopes Many people who live in urban areas believe that stormwater flows through storm drains to a treatment facility.

It does in a “combined sewer system” (CSS), where one pipeline is used to

convey both stormwater and wastewater from buildings (including homes). This type of system is often found in older urban areas.

The more common type of system is a “separate storm sewer system.” Here, one pipeline conveys wastewater (household water and waste from toilets, sinks and showers) to a wastewatertreatment facility. A separate pipeline conveys stormwater from storm drains directly into receiving waters (usually smaller streams and/or lakes, wetlands, bays, estuaries or reservoirs), as shown in Figure 1. Larger municipally separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) are regulated by permit under the Clean Water Act. In Virginia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has delegated this program to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The urban nutrient-management (UNM) program is administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which administers agricultural water-quality protection and other nonpoint-source protection programs. In many communities in Virginia, MS4 programs face a difficult challenge in meeting new water-quality requirements.

Managing stormwater on a residential lot

Until recently, stormwater management focused exclusively on controlling runoff from impervious areas. As the understanding of nonpoint-source pollution from urban areas has improved, it has become apparent that a substantial portion of the pollutants,

particularly excess nutrients, may come from pervious or landscaped areas. So, runoff programs have shifted toward managing both pervious and impervious urban areas.

Many practices are available to reduce nonpoint-source pollution at the residential level. Water and nutrient use in both turf and ornamental-bed areas should be addressed to meet water-quality goals. While voluntary, these practices depend upon active participation from the homeowner, and they benefit their community as they meet the MS4 requirements. Many homeowners may not understand runoff or its potential impact on downstream water quality. This article will provide information on runoff water quality for lawncare managers, Extension agents and UNM planners, who may be providing assistance to homeowners.

Source control (reducing pollutants in runoff)

One of the most effective means of reducing pollutants in runoff is source control, which seeks to either prevent pollution in the first place or minimize the amount of runoff. Addressing the following questions and issues can help assess the relative risk that a single site poses on downstream urban waterquality issues. These questions are based upon material in Goatley et al. (2011) and Shelton and Feehan (2008). Answering these questions can help landowners assess their current practices and identify areas where improvements can be made, thus protecting downstream water quality.

Where does stormwater go?

In order to assess a site, develop a site plan using the following steps: 1. Measure lot boundaries and buildings, or obtain a copy of a recent survey of the site.

2. Include topographical information if it is available, but a visual survey of the high and low spots on the site can suffice. Show areas of steep slopes.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 17

Cover Story continued

Photo 1. Runoff from pervious areas flowing into a curb. Typical runoff from pervious areas does not occur except in larger storms.

3. Identify impervious areas (buildings, parking areas, sidewalks, patios, pools, decks and driveways) and how they drain (or if a drain is present).

4. Identify soil types based on soil-test information or local soil maps.

5. Mark and characterize landscaped and vegetated areas.

6. Identify sensitive areas such as creeks, ditches, lakes, wetlands, storm drains, buffers, etc., since these typically receive runoff.

7. Mark stormwater runoff paths and flow directions.

8. Identify where the runoff leaves the site to adjacent receiving waters, storm drains and neighboring sites.

It is always a good practice to reduce runoff, but it can also be a good neighbor policy when water flows onto adjacent properties (Photo 2).

What happens to yard and garden wastes?

Disposing of leaves, grass, branches and other yard debris in ditches and storm drains is a common practice that clogs drainage systems, causes flooding and increases organic loading downstream. As organic matter decomposes in streams, lakes and estuaries, it depletes oxygen in water and can cause fish kills. To avoid these problems: • Sweep/collect yard debris off streets, sidewalks and driveways.

• Dispose of debris in a compost pile or through a curbside pickup service.

• Use a mulching mower to return grass clippings and their nutrients to the lawn.

Pesticide safety

Suggestions to protect water quality include: • Keep an updated inventory list of the products stored on site.

• Store products in a dry, locked place.

• Always follow the label instructions.

The label is the law!

• Avoid applications before a rain or irrigation cycle to prevent runoff contamination.

• Immediately clean up any spills or residues on impervious surfaces, and dispose of them properly.

• Treat only when necessary with the least-toxic product.

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Cover Story continued

Photo 2. Reducing water runoff can be a good-neighbor policy, especially when excess water flows onto adjacent properties.

• Consider alternative management practices to pesticides.

• Promote beneficial insects and natural predators in the landscape to minimize pesticide applications.

Fertilizers

An example of nutrient contamination can sometimes be seen in stormwater ponds adjacent to residential or commercial properties. Excess or misapplied fertilizer runs off before

plants can absorb it and causes algae blooms and aquatic-weed growth in the ponds. These plants typically have short life cycles, and when they die and decay, they deplete oxygen needed for aquatic organisms, and they sometimes release substances that are toxic to aquatic organisms.

Responsible fertilizer use can prevent many of these problems. Suggestions to protect water quality include: • Test soil to determine the fertilizer

Photo 3. A large rain garden (bioretention) after a rainfall event in Gainesville, Virginia.

Photo courtesy of M. Rolband of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

need (every three years is recommended).

• Use a slow-release fertilizer instead of multiple applications of a quickrelease product.

• Apply the total amount recommended in a split application.

• Apply at the correct time for the plants to use it most efficiently.

• Don’t use a complete fertilizer (which has nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) if it isn’t necessary.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story continued

Photo 4. Rain barrels reduce runoff from roofs and provide supplemental irrigation water for landscaped areas during dry spells.

• Collect spent fluids, waste oils, solvents, etc., and dispose of them properly. Many communities have household hazardous-waste collection days for these materials.

Salt or other de-icing products

In order to cope with winter weather, salt and de-icing products are often used. These can be toxic to aquatic organisms and plants. Salts can be corrosive to water pumps and pipes and build up in receiving waters.

Because most salts are untreated except for dilution, they can cause issues in drinking-water supplies downstream.

Practices to use: • Manually clear snow from impervious surfaces and drains.

• Use alternative products such as sand or kitty litter.

• Never use fertilizers for deicing purposes.

Landscape site management for control of runoff

• Remove fertilizer from impervious surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks.

Vehicle wastes in stormwater?

Fluids and residues from our vehicles can be significant pollutants. Used oil from a single oil change can contaminate a large quantity of runoff. Antifreeze is toxic to aquatic organisms and can shut down the kidneys of mammals (particularly small pets). Brake dust and tire bits contain toxic metals. Soaps used in car washing contain surfactants that threaten aquatic habitat.

Suggestions to protect water quality include: • Maintain vehicles to prevent leaks.

• Immediately and thoroughly clean up spills.

• Wash vehicles on the lawn (or at a car wash) with environmentally friendly products.

Many practices can be used in residential landscapes to reduce pollutants in runoff. The following questions are designed to assist in assessing the relative risk of a site for urban water-quality issues from erosion and other pollutants.

Are there areas of bare soil?

Soil left exposed without vegetation easily erodes. When erosion occurs, sediment is transported downstream through runoff. Excess sediment clogs storm drains, ditches, streams and rivers, causing flooding. It also buries and destroys downstream underwater habitats, depriving fish of their food sources and living areas.

These issues can be easily avoided.

Best water-quality practices include: • Overseed bare spots. Aeration may be necessary on compacted areas.

• Use groundcovers if turf will not grow.

• Use mulch if vegetation will not grow or is not desired.

• Vegetative buffers (areas adjacent to water) can be used along sloped or downhill portions of the site.

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Can the landscape layout be changed to reduce runoff?

Reference the site plan. Determine if there are problem areas where the runoff is too concentrated (i.e., many arrows coming together).

Many practices can be used to slow down and spread out the runoff, including: • Improve the soil (add compost or aerate) to improve water infiltration.

• Terrace slopes and/or add swales (shallow ditches).

• Increase vegetation and/or canopy layers. Add buffers.

• Incorporate a rain garden, also known as bioretention. A large rain garden is shown in Photo 3.

Adding a rain garden is an excellent BMP that can reduce runoff flows, treat contaminants in runoff and encourage infiltration. Rain garden resources include: • Rain Gardens Technical Guide: A Landscape Tool to Improve Water Quality, Virginia Department of Forestry. www.dof.virginia.gov/mgt/ resources/pub-Rain-Garden-TechGuide_2008-05.pdf.

• Rain garden design templates, The Low Impact Development Center. www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/ raingarden_design/templates.htm.

• Urban Water Quality Management: Rain Garden Plants, Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 426-043. www.pubs.ext. vt.edu/426/426-043/426-043.pdf.

• Bioretention, BMP Fact Sheet #9, Publication 426-128. Virginia Cooperative Extension, 4 pp. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/ 426-128/426-128.html.

Does roof water flow onto pavement or landscaped areas?

The impact of a roof on the drainage of a site cannot be overstated. In many cases, roofs provide the majority of impervious areas. When roofs are directly connected via gutters and downspouts to impervious areas, runoff flows increase, along with the potential for downstream degradation.

Best water-quality practices include: • Disconnect gutters and drain them

Cover Story continued

onto a vegetated area or into a rain barrel (Photo 4) or rain garden. The rain barrel can provide a supplemental irrigation source during dry periods.

• Install a green roof. Most buildings cannot be retrofitted for a green roof without structural improvements, so this practice applies mainly to additions or new buildings.

Can paved surfaces be reduced?

On most sites, the controllable impervious areas include walks, porches, patios, decks and driveways.

Best water quality practices include: • Reduce the total square footage of the impervious area.

• Consider a driveway that uses pavement for the tire tracks only, with turf or gravel in between.

• Use permeable pavement and/or paver systems. Many new products are available that allow water infiltration through the pavement or joints.

• Consider using stepping stones or mulched or vegetated paths or walks.

Some groundcovers can tolerate foot traffic.

• Use wider seams or joints on decks and patios for better water infiltration.

Figure 1. Typical urban potable water (blue), sanitary (black) and stormwater (gray) system profiles.

Summary

This set of voluntary best practices, if implemented, will be beneficial to downstream urban water quality. In many cases, it will also result in healthier, easier-to-manage residential landscapes. c

References Shelton, D. P., and K. A. Feehan. 2008.

Stormwater Management on Residential Lots. University of NebraskaLincoln Extension Publication EC707, http://water.unl.edu/web/landscapes/ publications.

Goatley, J., (Ed.) W. Daniels, Evanylo, G., Fox, L., Haering, K., Hodges, S., Maguire, R., Sample, D., Hansen, D., Kindig, D., Sexton, T. Habel, R., Hensler, K., 2011. Urban Nutrient Management Handbook, Publication 430-350. Virginia Cooperative Extension. 200 pp. http://pubs.ext. vt.edu/430/430-350/430-350.html.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story

Photo 1. A golf course pond in Virginia, covered in filamentous algae due to excess phosphorus in the water.

Phosphorus Reduction

in Ponds and Lakes

By Shannon Junior, Aquatic Ecologist, SOLitude Lake Management

“N

utrient management� has become a ubiquitous term in the golf course industry. Environmental concerns about excess nutrients leaching into groundwater or running off into surface waters have plagued the industry for years and have led to an industry-wide, dedicated effort to improve turfmanagement practices and fertilization programs.

Government restrictions on fertilizer applications have become more extensive, and the emphasis on nutrient management continues to grow. The use of written nutrient-management plans has become more widespread, and more sustainable practices are being implemented to secure the status of golf course managers as environmental stewards.

There is no denying the fact that excessive nutrients can have harmful effects on our ground and surface water. As an aquatic ecologist and lake manager, I deal

with the implications of nutrient loading on a daily basis. Ponds with increased nutrients often suffer from cyanobacteria and algae blooms, surface biofilms, dense submersed plant growth and related oxygen depletion.

Reducing nutrient inputs to water bodies and mitigating the effects of nutrient loading are the key factors in successful lake-management programs, with phosphorus being the primary nutrient of concern for our industry.

Pond and lake management

Ponds and lakes are central features of most golf courses.

Not only are they beautiful accessories to the landscape, but also they are critical sources of irrigation water.

They provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and they serve as obstacles to challenge the golfers. The ponds need to be maintained in an aesthetically pleasing state, with water quality that is conducive to irrigation

22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal January/February 2014 www.vaturf.org

Photo 2. The same pond, now healthy after the use of lanthanum-modified bentonite clay to remove the phosphorus.

Nutrient management is as much of a challenge in the lake-management industry as it is in the golf course industry. Integrated pest management plans for nuisance aquatic-vegetation control include strategies to prevent nutrients and sediment from entering water bodies in the first place. Strips of turf or dense buffers of native vegetation are recommended around the shorelines of ponds and lakes to filter runoff. Because the water level in irrigation ponds can fluctuate so dramatically, shoreline stabilization is particularly important to prevent erosion of the soil and the associated nutrient loading. However, preventive strategies have little effect on ponds that are already impaired, and mitigation efforts within the pond are required to reverse the effects of long-term eutrophication. and free of vegetation that can clog the intakes.

Few scenarios are more challenging to a lake manager than the restoration of the ecological health and aesthetic integrity of an impaired golf course irrigation pond (Photo 1). The most obvious difficulty is the restriction on the herbicides that can be used for treatment of submersed and floating nuisance aquatic vegetation. For many of the species that we find the most difficult to control, the herbicide of choice would be one that is not safe to use in irrigation water without damaging the receiving turf and ornamental vegetation.

Another complication is that while the ponds are an important component of the golf course, the majority of the budget is allocated to essential maintenance of the turf. Golf course superintendents must focus on sustainable and cost-effective strategies that will allow them to meet their goals for both their ponds and their turf.

Phosphorus-removal methods

There are many successful methods for removing phosphorus from a pond once it has accumulated there. Obviously, mechanical dredging to remove the unconsolidated sediment layer is the most direct mitigation strategy, although the process is highly disruptive and extremely expensive. Aeration can be used in concert with naturally occurring or inoculated beneficial bacterial to accelerate the decomposition of organic matter and prevent the accumulation of excess nutrients. Very little phosphorus, however, is required to support algal blooms, and it is unlikely that these strategies alone will be sufficient to mitigate phosphorus loading in severely impaired ponds.

The application of aluminum salts (alum) has been used for over 30 years to remove phosphorus from

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story continued

Photo 3. Lanthanum-modified bentonite clay being applied to a pond’s water surface as a slurry to bond with free reactive phosphorus.

the water column and to control its release from the sediment. This method of phosphorus inactivation can actually reverse the effects of nutrient loading on ponds and lakes.

However, it does have limitations, especially in shallow pond environments. Alum applications are most successful at pH levels between 4 and 6, which are slightly lower than what the pH of a typical nutrientrich pond would be (approximately 7 to 8). In ponds with low alkalinity, the pH may decrease after alum application, and toxic soluble forms of aluminum may become more prevalent, which can bio-accumulate and become harmful to aquatic organisms. Storm events or water currents may disturb the flocculent properties of alum, allowing the release of phosphorus back into the water column. Alum does not result in the permanent deactivation of phosphorus, and repeat applications are required to maintain the results.

A new technology that is safer and more effective than alum is available for the inactivation of phosphorus.

The new product formulation is a lanthanum-modified bentonite clay that can be applied to the water surface as a granule or a slurry to bond with free reactive phosphorus (Photo 3). The lanthanum adsorbs phosphate molecules to form a mineral called rhabdophane, which is extremely stable at in situ pH levels. Any unreacted lanthanum remains imbedded in the bentonite granules, which settle to the bottom of the pond to form a permeable layer that will continue to bond and sequester phosphorus as it releases from the sediments.

There are many benefits to the use of lanthanum instead of alum. Most importantly, its effectiveness is not dependent on the physic-chemical properties of the water body, so it works well in a wide range of pH levels (~4–11), as well as under anoxic conditions. The mineral rhabdophane produced from the lanthanum reaction is more stable than the aluminum compounds resulting from alum applications, and the deactivation

of phosphorus is permanent. Also, since the unreacted lanthanum does not release from the bentonite until it reacts with phosphate, there is a very low concentration of dissolved lanthanum in the water body and no associated toxicity to aquatic organisms. Lanthanummodified clay application is an extremely safe and effective method of permanent phosphorus removal that can be implemented in water bodies with a broad range of ecological characteristics.

In order to implement an effective phosphorusmitigation strategy with lanthanum, it is essential to have a good understanding of the water quality in the pond, as well as the phosphorus levels in both the water column and the sediment. Ideally, sampling should be conducted in the absence of an active algae bloom to establish a baseline for the water quality and to calculate the total amount of phosphorus in the water body.

Because 100 kg of the lanthanum product can inactivate 1 kg of phosphorus, it is possible to calculate the amount of product required for mitigation based on the water and sediment testing with fairly high accuracy.

The physical application of the calculated quantity of the lanthanum product can be performed all at once, or it can be phased over multiple years to compensate for budgetary considerations. Since most of the phosphorus in a water body has accumulated over many years, it is an acceptable strategy to also stage the mitigation over several years as well. Once the initial phosphorus load is completely mitigated, annual maintenance applications can be performed to account for new inputs to the water body. However the mitigation plan is implemented, the results will be improved water quality and reduced issues with cyanobacteria and other algal species.

In summary

Nutrient management will continue to be a critical issue in both the golf course and lake-management industries. While it is true that improved turfmanagement practices, fertilization programs and integrated pest management strategies can reduce the inputs of nutrients to our surface waterways, eutrophication is an ongoing process that can be slowed but not completely prevented. It is promising that there are mitigation techniques available to reverse the nutrient enrichment that will ultimately continue to occur despite our best efforts. c

About the author

Shannon Junior is an aquatic ecologist with SOLitude Lake Management and can be reached at sjunior@ solitudelake.com. SOLitude Lake Management is committed to providing full-service lake, pond and fisheries management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources and reduce our environmental footprint. Learn more at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.

24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal January/February 2014 www.vaturf.org

Professional Matters

Employee

Rivalry:

5 Tips for Managing Dueling Staffers

C

hild psychiatrist David Levy introduced the term “sibling rivalry” in 1941. Self-explanatory in its terminology, the concept of sibling rivalry is easy to grasp. The mechanism of employee rivalry works essentially the same way, with the employees in a competitive relationship, striving for greater approval from their employer or manager.

Rivaling employees who are constantly trying to “best” each other don’t always deliver superior work because of their competition. In fact, the animosity they feel towards one another can stifle their creativity and cause them to deliberately undermine their “opponent’s” efforts. Furthermore, the tension between them can corrupt the attitudes of other employees and cause managers to lose objectivity regarding the rivalry.

Managers who recognize troublesome rivalries between two or more valuable staff members should seek to resolve these rivalries before they upset otherwise harmonious workplaces. The following is a list of tips that are easy to enact. Consistent application of these suggestions is likely to eliminate or lessen the negative impact of employee rivalries.

Collect data.

Managers should keep their eyes and ears open when milling amongst their staff. Observe the two rivaling staff members as they interact with each other. Notice attitudes, body language and temperament. Pay close attention to the things that trigger negativity. Write your observations down. See if you can identify patterns of behavior. The important thing is for managers to recognize the symptoms of the problem such as arguing, gossiping and tattling on each other. Total resolution of employee rivalry may not be possible in certain circumstances; that’s when symptom management becomes the goal. Effective management of the symptoms of employee rivalry can significantly improve an otherwise hostile work environment for everyone concerned.

Be willing to separate rivaling employees to reduce tension.

This particular tip is a good way for managers to solve

By Barbara Jaurequi, Professional Consultant and Author

their rivalry problems with minimal managerial exertion.

Consider, for example, that some personalities are very strong and, while not offensive to the majority of coworkers, may grate on the nerves of other employees.

It is often like this with rivaling employees: they just don’t like each other. Their dislike for one another causes them to be overly observant about what the other is doing or not doing. They are too aware of the other’s responsibilities, deficiencies and positive qualities (which are usually deeply resented).

Even the most brilliant conflict-resolution specialist would not be able to overcome this sort of interpersonal problem because the problem is personality based, and personality traits are enduring aspects of the self.

They don’t change. Therefore, managers’ willingness to move people around could help reduce the kind of tension that leads to declines in productivity and employee morale. It may also reduce the number of “tattle-tale” sessions that managers have to endure.

Know your limits.

Managers need to decide how much energy they should spend on the problem of employee rivalry. If it has become a major disruption in the office, managers should address the problem with a plan for resolution in mind. On the other hand, if “conflict resolution” meetings are nothing more than fodder for dramaloving gossipers, a simple, private discussion with each of the rivaling employees would be a better way to go.

Specifically, don’t make a big deal out of a small matter that might correct itself in time, but don’t ignore a spreading cancer either.

Don’t strive for perfect fairness.

Managers should not expect themselves to be perfectly fair, as per the opinions of rivaling employees. Rather, managers should strive to treat their employees impartially. For example, if you decide that one employee should be given an extra week to complete a particular project for whatever reason you deem worthy of the extension, then do so. But be prepared to do the same for the other employee if and when that employee needs extra time. However, don’t automatically extend the Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Professional Matters continued

other employee’s deadline whether it’s needed or not just to be “fair.”

Make your decisions on a case-bycase basis. If one employee comes to you crying “Unfair!” simply tell the employee that he or she does not have, nor is he or she privy to, all the information that went into your decision.

Stick to your guns. Be unemotional, calm, deliberate and firm. Managers

should not explain certain decisions; otherwise, they will open themselves up to an inappropriate debate with a subordinate.

Conduct an honest selfappraisal of favoritism behaviors.

It’s important for managers to be aware

of how their behaviors and attitudes may be perceived by those they supervise. It’s only natural for managers to have preferences when it comes to personalities and work habits. You may have a particular affinity for an employee who has, for example, a similar sense of humor as yours. Unintentionally, you may be favoring that person to a degree that is obvious and offensive to your favored employee’s rival. Consider if your preference for one employee over another is personality based, or is that employee truly superior in terms of quality of work? If your favoritism is fueled by the former, it would be wise to check that! Better for you to make some behavioral changes than for you to lose a valuable employee who legitimately views your management style as inequitable.

Final thoughts

Do some research about best practices before launch-ing into a conflictresolution process with which you are totally unfamiliar. Better yet, get some hands-on direction about how to proceed. You will gain indispensable knowledge about how to handle similar situations in the future. Any consulting fees you may pay for such training would be money well spent. You will learn where, when and how to conduct resolution sessions. You will learn how to be objective, judicial and specific when laying out your directives and expectations, and you won’t be blindsided by new cases of employee rivalry in the future, since you are sure to encounter them as long as you are managing humans.

About the Author

Barbara Jaurequi, a licensed marriage and family therapist and nationally certified Master Addiction Counselor, speaks on a variety of personal and professional topics and is the author of A.C.E.S. – AdultChild Entitlement Syndrome. Contact Ms. Jaurequi by email at barbara@ barbarajpublications.com, or phone her office at 909-944-6611. c

Index of Advertisers A&L Eastern Laboratories........................ 26 www.aleastern.com Aqua-Aid, Inc.............................................. 21 www.aquaaid.com BASF........................................................... 19 www.basf.com Buy Sod.............................Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com Byrd Tractor, Inc....................................... 26 www.byrdtractorinc.com Camp Chemical Corporation...................... 6 Chantilly Turf Farms, Inc.......................... 18 www.chantillyturffarms.com Collins Wharf Sod Farm............................ 11 www.collinswharfsod.com Colonial Farm Credit................................. 30 www.colonialfarmcredit.com Egypt Farms Inc......................................... 29 www.egyptfarms.com Engage Agro USA....................................... 26 www.engageagrousa.com Ernst Conservation Seeds.......................... 29 www.ernstseed.com Genesis Turfgrass, Inc.............................. 30 www.genesisturfgrass.com Harmon Turf Services, Inc....................... 15 www.harmonturfservices.com Horizon Distributors................................... 3 Horry Georgetown Technical College..... 26 www.hgtc.edu Hydro Solutions, Inc................................. 26 www.hydro-solutionsinc.com Kesmac........................................................ 25 www.kesmac.com KWMI/K&W Products, Inc......................... 9 www.kwmiequipment.com Luck Stone Corporation............................ 13 www.luckstone.com M & M Consulting, Inc.............................. 26 Modern Turf, Inc......................................... 8 www.modernturf.com Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc............................. 9 www.oakwoodsod.com RBB Sales & Consulting, Inc.................... 13 www.rbbturflandscapeconsultants.com Revels Tractor Co. Inc...... Inside Front Cover www.revelstractor.com Roxbury Farm & Garden Center.............. 30 www.roxburyfarmgarden.com Select Source.............................................. 28 Smith Seed Services................................... 30 www.smithseed.com Smith Turf & Irrigation.............. Back Cover www.smithturf.com Southern States Cooperative....................... 5 www.southernstates.com The Turfgrass Group.................................. 7 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Winfield Solutions, LLC............................ 11 Woodward Turf Farms, Inc...................... 13 www.woodwardturf.com Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Turfgrass Calendar February 3–6 Golf Industry Show

Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL

February 20–21

Chesapeake Green 2014 — A Horticulture Symposium

Maritime Institute & Conference Center Linthicum Heights, MD

February 25–26

Come to the Bay: Pesticide Recertification, Fertilizer Certification and Landscape Design with Turfgrass

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center Virginia Beach, VA

March 11

Mid-Atlantic USGA Green Section Regional Meeting

Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, PA

April 22

VTC Regional Seminar

Lorton, VA

March 4

Mid-Atlantic USGA Green Section Regional Meeting

May 20

VTC Regional Seminar

February 24–28

DuPont Country Club Wilmington, DE

Staunton, VA

(Turf Producers Intl.)

Orlando, FL

March 11

Bob Ruff Jr. Memorial Research Golf Tournament

TPI Mid-Winter Conference

Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification

Comfort Suites Glen Allen, VA

Digital Marketplace

June 2

June 17

VTC Regional Seminar

Hampton, VA

June 24

Hampton Roads AREC Turfgrass Field Day, Pesticide Recertification and Certified Fertilizer Applicator

Hampton Roads AREC Virginia Beach, VA

August 26–27 VT/Blacksburg Turfgrass Field Days

Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA

Wintergreen Resort/Stoney Creek Golf Course Wintergreen, VA

Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

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 ©2014 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.)