Virginia Turfgrass Journal - July / August 2014

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

July/August 2014

Hurricane Preparedness for Turfgrass Managers

You Aerate Your Turf, But What About Your Ponds?

Common Dewberry Control in Low-Maintenance Turf Areas

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | July/August 2014

20

14 13 Upcoming Event

2014 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Days in Blacksburg, August 26–27

14 Cover Story

Hurricane Preparedness for Turfgrass Managers 20 Applied Research

24 Departments 6 President’s Message

from Fred Biggers, CGCS

8 Director’s Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 Editor’s Perspective

from Mark Vaughn, CGCS

12 VTF Report

from Betty Parker

Common Dewberry Control in Low-Maintenance Turf Areas

27 In Memory of

24 Water Feature

30 Turfgrass Calendar

You Aerate Your Turf, But What About Your Ponds?

28 Recent Event

Highlights from the Bob Ruff Jr. Memorial Research Golf Tournament 4 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Robert Barksdale

30 Advertisers Index

President’s Message

Little Things Fred Biggers, CGCS 2014–2015 VTC President

Can Make a Big Difference

So

much of what we turfgrass professionals do on a day-to-day basis is very predictable. Being a golf course superintendent, I know which spots on certain greens are going to give me trouble from one year to the next. I strongly suspect that most athletic fields and commercial turf areas are much the same. Each season, I am always amazed that just going that extra step with regard to nutrition, or applying a wetting agent, or adjusting a sprinkler head’s coverage, is often the difference between being just average or being really good.

One way we can all get better at what we do is to tap into the learning experiences offered at the Virginia Tech Field Days. By the time you read this column, the Hampton Roads AREC Field Day will have been held June 24. The Virginia Tech Blacksburg Field Days will be held August 26–27. These Field Days are our access to the expertise and knowledge of the Virginia Tech turf faculty. Where else can you go to hear the researcher explain exactly what he/she saw and learned from their field trials? You can, by observation, make up your own mind about what treatments worked the best, and you can also ask questions and learn what worked the best (and why) on different trials.

These days, little improvements can mean big differences in your turf’s appearance, and a whole lot

6 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

of little improvements are on display in the hundreds of field trials at these Field Days. Make plans to attend so you can boost your turf’s performance!

On June 2, the Bob Ruff Jr. Memorial Research Tournament was held at Wintergreen Resort’s Stoney Creek course. We enjoyed a great turnout and nice weather, and the participants had a great time enjoying the Craft Beer tents, Hard Cider and the wonderful food provided by Jason Pannell and the Wintergreen food and beverage staff. Special thanks go to our many sponsors, to Marc Petrus for being the tournament chairman and to Kevin Moore and his maintenance staff for their tireless work in preparing the course, getting it ready for “peer review” by so many turf professionals.

I hope all of you have a smooth and productive summer season on your golf courses, athletic fields, school/municipal grounds and managed turf areas. In your limited spare time, also try to enjoy your families and loved ones. I’ll look forward to seeing you somewhere in Virginia at the Field Days or golf outings!

Fred Biggers, CGCS

2014–2015 VTC President

Director’s Corner

In Honor of Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

Robert

R

obert Barksdale’s untimely death on Sunday, May 25 (see more on page 27) has caused many of us to pause and reflect on his life and his contributions to Virginia’s turfgrass industry.

Throughout the state, persons comment on his energy, enthusiasm, helpfulness and — of course — his everpresent smile. One of my favorite memories of Robert was captured on the cover photo of a 2001 Virginia Turfgrass Journal. Here is the back story of that photo.

The 2001 turfgrass field day was held in Blacksburg during the fall of that year. The decision to even hold the field day was fervently discussed because the terrorist attacks of September 11 had just occurred. Robert was the VTC’s president that year, and one of his duties was to present the morning announcements. Because of the recent attacks, a flagpole was constructed behind the speaker’s podium. A huge American flag was proudly placed on that pole. A picture was taken at the right moment when Robert was speaking and gesturing while the flag was flying. That picture graced the cover of our Journal and was proudly displayed by Robert whenever he gave public presentations.

This year’s Field Days on August 26–27 will be held in Robert’s honor, and we are following his legacy of always seeking the best ways to serve the industry by adding a turfgrass symposium on Tuesday, August 26.

The core of the symposium is four solid hours of turfgrass updates by Virginia Tech experts. And we have an added bonus! Attendees who stay for an additional two hours will earn two years of pesticide recertification credits in Categories 3A, 3B, 6 and 60!

What about the price of the Tuesday Turfgrass Symposium? Here is great news! As a special introductory offer, the Symposium is FREE! Yes, even the recertification classes are offered at no cost! Complete details about the Turfgrass Symposium and the Wednesday 8 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Field Day are at the events page of our web site (www.vaturf.org).

We all miss Robert. Our loss will be manifest at the 2014 Turfgrass Symposium and Field Days. Let us remember him and the life he lived. Maybe we will be able to erect a flag in his honor. c

Winter 2001 Virginia Turfgrass Journal

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 Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8252 Vice President Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934 Treasurer Brian Vincel, CGCS Spring Creek Golf Club (434) 566-2580 Past President Frank Flannagan msg1sg@verizon.net VTC DIRECTORS Marc Petrus Mark Roberts Christian Sain Michael Skelton Steve Smith Rick Viancour, CGCS Jimmy Viars 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. David McCall Executive Director/ Director of PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 Virginia Turfgrass Foundation Betty Parker (757) 574-9061

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

|9

Editor’s Perspective

Creative Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

“Inventions”

N

ecessity is the mother of invention, according to Old Tom Morris. Actually, no one knows for sure who created this catchy little ditty, and it probably wasn’t Old Tom since he was too busy doing “Golf Now” commercials to come up with something this clever. Besides, I heard Old Tom lost his job at the Old Course because he had become “too big for his britches” after making all those commercials.

Or maybe he played too much golf. Or had a drinking problem. Or took a liking to the greens chairman’s wife. Anyway…

This catchy phrase rolled around in what’s left of my right brain the other day as I struggled with what has to be one of the dumbest inventions perpetrated on mankind. I speak, of course, of the mighty SPORK. As I sat in one of this nation’s great culinary establishments, trying to eat my dirty rice out of that special cardboard container, I’m sure I resembled either a twoyear-old or a nursing-home resident to those around me. Most of this southern delicacy ended up on my tray or in my lap. And as to why a heart patient was in deepfry heaven, as Jake Delhomme says, it was “BO TIME.” As a sidebar, I never understood why Bojangles doesn’t hire Bo Derek and be done with it. Now THAT girl could sell some chicken and biscuits.

Back to necessity and invention and all that stuff.

I’m pretty sure when the half spoon/half fork emerged from the resin bowl of its creator, he felt as proud as the NASA team that sent Apollo 11 to the moon. “I have solved one of mankind’s great issues. One utensil to do two jobs. Wwhhhuuuuuuwaaaaa!!!” The problem is, while I’m sure it looked good on paper, it sucks at being a spoon and even more so as a fork. I challenge any and all comers to keep every grain of rice on that jagged little edge until it reaches your mouth. I’ll even let you smug, steady-handed, hand/eye-coordinated 10 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

folks go down to your local Bo’s and grab a handful of these tools of the devil, and take them home to practice. Then we’ll invite your neighbors over for a little stir-fry and all watch. And try eating eggs with it. Only thing worse might be if Awful Arthurs starting serving their raw oysters with this thing. No, the “Wwhhhuuuuuwaaa!!!” was more likely the huge laugh the inventor had at the thought of people using this thing for years to come.

So, what have we concocted that seemed totally necessary and a good idea at the time, but ended up on the trash heap of invention? Come on… I’ve sat around at enough turf conferences and listened to your stories to know I could write a book (and would actually like to) someday.

Okay, I’ll start. One of my employees rather proudly strutted into my office (okay, I didn’t have an office; it was a desk in a corner of the “barn”) one day and announced that he’d discovered a more efficient way of mowing greens. He had performed his new technique on #6 green. As we made our way excitedly on the three-wheeled Pargo (bar steering, of course) golf cart through the bumps and mud holes that passed for cart paths, I marveled at how this guy was going to put us on the map. We were going to be mentioned in the same breath as Augusta and Pebble Beach, and I imagined myself walking across the stage at the GCSAA show to accept our award (whenever that crotchety greens chairman approved the $150 for me to join, of course).

When we crested the hill, there it was — his masterpiece. Yes, he had started from the outer edge and worked his way in a circular fashion, never lifting his mower, to the middle of the green. No wasted motion, no lifting and twisting, just a lot of bruised bentgrass in the middle. A great idea, wouldn’t you say?

And he was persistent. After explaining to him the downside of this technique, I found him about a month later in the edge of the rough, sitting not on, but beside his EZ Rider sand rake. White as a ghost, he explained to me that he had just “recycled” his breakfast. He was dizzy and explained that he had motion sickness because of raking bunkers.

When he felt better, I asked him to jump on the rake and show me what he was doing. What followed can best be described as the Globe of Death motorcycle show I was used to seeing at the State Fair. He proceeded to enter the bunker at top speed, slam the lift bar down and begin a death spiral from the outer edge of the bunker to the middle. Not long afterwards, he found a new career in a profession not big on straight lines.

What about the “next big thing” that has come down the pike to revolutionize our industry? I remember seeing a large string trimmer head mounted on a outfront deck that could be manipulated by controls from the operator seat. Mow lawns and trim along those fences at the same time! Any landscapers using these things?

In the early years of weather monitoring, DTN came to the turf industry out of Ag, offering (for a monthly fee) cutting-edge technology using a satellite dish and a monitor at your location. A great idea to be sure, but it’s something that soon after became free on cell phones.

One of my favorite areas of the old GCSAA trade show was when new products were grouped together.

Most of the creations are probably long gone, but the few that survived are no doubt making our life easier.

So what do you have out there, funny or useful that you are willing to share? It’s not much fun or very helpful if you keep it all to yourself. Email to rdhdcm@yahoo.com. And if you ever get the chance, sit down with the resident VTC sage Jack McClenahan, and get him to tell you his story about aerifying with dynamite. c Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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VTF Report

Your Part in Betty Parker VTF Manager

Turf Research

As

I write this in late May, I am still waiting for spring to come bursting out in all her glory. It has been a wet cool/cold spring, and I like sunshine and warm weather. My husband reminds me that Virginia has four seasons that offer a variety of opportunities unique to their particular time, and they keep life and work from becoming boring. At any rate, we don’t have a voice in preferred weather, so we just have to deal with it. We can, however, use our intelligence to adapt to whatever is dished out to us and maximize our efforts toward promoting a better world in which to live.

That’s where research rears its mighty head.

We in the turf industry not only depend on our turf team at Virginia Tech to answer our daily questions when we are stumped, but we also anticipate that they will find long-term solutions to turf problems that plague us year after year. For instance, problems created by Pythium, winterkill on bermudagrasses, grub worms, spring dead spot, brown patch, high sodium content in irrigation water, etc., have been researched and are no longer a doom-and-gloom threat to us anymore.

These solutions, though, do not fall out of the sky.

Rarely are they eradicated without tedious examination, observation and calculated analysis. We have all the pieces in place to provide you with quality, improved turfgrass and solutions to the maintenance of it, except for one thing: it requires money to fund the manpower

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and supply the resources necessary to do this research.

We can do this with very little impact on any one individual if we all agree it is worth a small effort on each of our part. This fall, I will be sending out a letter, asking each of you to inquire within as to what you can contribute. Many of you are members of a local turf organization that collectively can make a huge difference. Others may recognize the importance of this research and individually donate to support it. Still others are business owners who might consider donating a small percentage of their profits, which in effect could improve the whole picture of their profit margin.

The key to this is to recognize that every person who earns a living in the turf industry or enjoys the treasures of our efforts — including golfers, soccer players, people who visit parks, persons who drive on Virginia’s highways… and the list goes on and on — should be inclined to bolster turfgrass research funding. Please take a minute to read the letter when you receive it, and please consider what you as an individual can do to donate to YOUR cause.

Virginia Turfgrass Foundation

Betty Parker/Manager 1625 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (757) 574-9061

Upcoming Event

2014 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Days August 26–27 in Blacksburg, VA New This Year — FREE Tuesday Afternoon Symposium and Pesticide Recertification!

TUESDAY (AUGUST 26) 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Turfgrass Symposium Updates on weed control and diseases and insects of turf and ornamentals.

12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Pesticide Recertification Categories 3A, 3B, 6 and 60.

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Q&A Session and Spuds & Suds Social Home of Dr. Mike Goatley 2213 Birchleaf Lane Blacksburg, VA 24060

WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 27) PART ONE

PART TWO

Glade Road Research Facility

Turfgrass Center (off Southgate Dr.)

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Registration

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Travel (use your own vehicle)

8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.

Opening Remarks

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Lunch

8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Research Tours

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Announcements 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tours 2:30 p.m.

Adjourn

Pricing and Registration Tuesday (August 26) Tuesday Turfgrass Symposium..................................................................FREE Tuesday Pesticide Recertification.............................................................FREE Tuesday Q&A, plus “Spuds and Suds”.....................................................FREE

Wednesday (August 27) Demos, Research Tours and Lunch............................. $45 for VTC Members Demos, Research Tours and Lunch...................... $60 for non-VTC Members Attend and Renew/Join the VTC................................................................. $95 Photos on this page by Tony Montgomery.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story

By Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist and Professor of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

Editor’s note: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a forecast in late May that calls for a slightly below-average hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, with only three to six hurricanes projected due to the stormdampening effects of an expected El Nino.

However, if only one major hurricane hits the Virginia coast, damage could be severe.

Preparing for the possibility is a wise move.

at www.ext.vt.edu/news/mediakits/ emergencypreparedness.html. This information is obviously far more critical than what I present here because this involves preparedness and safety from the standpoint of life, limb and property. I will use this article, however, to specifically focus on the concerns to turfgrass systems from anticipated hurricane or tropical storm impacts.

hat problems do turfgrasses face due to the impacts of a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tropical storm? The prospect of hurricanes hitting Virginia seem to escalate in late summer and fall, and far too often, our Tidewater residents in particular have to prepare for (and deal with) the fiercest weather phenomenon on the planet.

Detailed instructions in overall emergency preparedness from Virginia Cooperative Extension can be accessed

Salt intrusion

W

The primary concern to turf is salt intrusion, whether it is delivered directly to the soil by tidal surges or is accumulated in irrigation ponds for future applications to the turf and landscape.

Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, creeping bentgrass and St. Augustinegrass all have excellent salinity tolerance. Tall fescue and perennial ryegrass are considered moderate, and fine fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are relatively poor.

Salts in the soil affect turfgrasses in three ways:

14 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

• Physiological drought caused by salt levels that are so high in the soil solution that water uptake is prevented by osmotic inhibition (i.e., even in the presence of water, there is no water uptake by roots because salt concentrations are so high in the soil). Physiological drought is not uncommon from excessive fertilizer applications and is one reason that many soil tests include measurements for soluble salts in their testing procedures.

• Potential toxicity from certain ions in the saline media that may either directly affect the plant or cause an imbalance in the uptake of other nutrients • A combination of the above.

Soil salt levels are determined by measuring Electrical Conductivity (ECe), where higher values (reported in units of dS m-1) mean higher salt concentrations. Growth of most turfgrasses is not affected by salt levels

in conjunction with ECe. Na by itself is not a potential toxin to turfgrasses, but at sufficient (and persistent) concentrations, its deleterious effects on soil structure and water infiltration/ percolation are of concern.

What should turf managers pay most attention to?

up to 2 to 3 ds m-1. These values near the soil surface are actually possible following applications of many watersoluble fertilizers used on turf. A thorough irrigation event with potable water is usually sufficient to adequately dilute these concentrations. At levels of 3 to 6 ds m-1, the least-tolerant grasses begin to show signs of stress, and by 6 to 10 ds m-1, the growth of most turfgrasses frequently grown in Virginia begins to be affected by the salt levels in the soil.

Salt levels must also be considered with sodium (Na) concentrations. Our Virginia soils generally do not have problems with Na, so this problem will usually be of concern only in conjunction with salt accumulation due to tidal surges and seawater intrusion. Additional tests such as a Sodium Adsorption Ratio [a term reflecting the relative proportion of Na to calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)] and pH determination are often conducted

The major concerns will likely be due to accumulation of debris or undesirable soil material on the turf surface from flooding rather than the effects of the seawater. These materials should be removed as quickly as possible in order to restore the grasses’ photosynthetic capacity. Removing silt and clay that is deposited by flooding is a painstaking process, but one that is essential to prevent contamination of existing soils (particularly modified, sand-based soils). Aerating these soils is another important activity to restore soil oxygen levels that promote healthy root and microbial activity.

One positive piece of news regarding turf recovery for our state is that with the amounts of rainfall that Virginia receives annually, the effects of tidal surges on soil salinity and sodic properties are usually minimal and of short duration. Turfgrasses are some of the most forgiving plants in the landscape, and although there might be some yellowing and slowing of growth associated with temporarily high salt levels, the grasses rebound quickly following flushing of the soil with potable irrigation or a rainfall event. For those rare times when salt/ Na levels persist, gypsum (calcium sulfate) can be applied according to soil test results. For a really thorough discussion on dealing with Na and other issues associated with a hurricane, take a look at “Promoting Turf Recovery Following a Hurricane” at http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/PDFS/ CHAP06/D06-20.PDF. While developed primarily for golf turf, the strategies apply to just about any turfgrass situation.

Probably the biggest concern with salt water for Virginia will be its potential accumulation into irrigation holding ponds, etc., from storm surges.

Turf irrigated repeatedly with water

containing more than 1,200 ppm soluble salts will begin to show early signs of stress (yellowing, reduced growth rate, etc.) within 5 to 7 days of use. Again, the saving grace is that a 1/4" to 1/2" rainfall event can flush away most of the soluble salts in the soil IF it occurs soon enough. The “Turf Recovery” publication suggests pumping out contaminated irrigation lakes and refilling with fresh water where possible. Salt concentrations in Virginia might be sufficiently diluted by rainfall events, but this is something to consider for long-term irrigation programs.

Another question related to storm damage is the duration that turfgrasses can withstand submersion from flooding. There has not been a lot of research done on this problem, but what has been completed indicates that most turfgrasses are remarkably resilient in surviving submersion.

Factors such as water temperature (cooler water causes less damage) and water movement (moving water is less damaging) are important, as well as the turfgrass species. For instance, work in Louisiana by Dr. Jack Fry (now at Kansas State University) in the late 1980s indicated bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass could survive up to 55 days of submersion. Similar work with cool-season turfgrasses reported surprising tolerance to several days of water submersion. If plants are not completely submerged (i.e., leaf tips are exposed to the air), survival chances are even greater.

Specific recommendations to prepare for an approaching storm

Golf superintendents that live in coastal regions are much better versed in this than I, and they already know the ins and outs of having additional equipment, generators, etc., on hand, as well as making special considerations for their maintenance facilities, fueling facilities and chemical storage rooms.

The derecho (widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm) of the summer of 2012 reminded us of the importance of alternative power sources in running irrigation pumps.

Continued on page 18

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story

Maximize Preparation, Minimize Potential Damage

By Liz Nutter, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications (publisher of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal)

L

ong before the first major storm of the season approaches, talk to your industry peers who have been through one. Ask them what they learned from it and what would they do differently. Getting fully ready to take on Mother Nature isn’t easy, and you may not get everything done this year.

What’s important is to just get started.

Below are lots of tips from several storm-savvy superintendents in hurricane-prone Florida. Feel free to use these as your own pre-storm checklist.

EARLY-SEASON PREPARATIONS ell before the first major storm W of the season, take a comprehensive video (or lots of photographs) of the entire property, as documentation for insurance purposes.

Also, prepare a written inventory of all equipment and supplies.

Keep the videotape and inventory list in a secure safe or lockbox. orrect drainage problems as C soon as possible.

I f your facility can afford it, purchase a generator or two to provide back-up power in case of electricity outages.

I mplement a professional treepruning program to minimize wind damage, especially for trees with large, heavy canopies (such as oaks) and those in key locations. ake down all trees that are close T to power lines.

I n offices, keep important documents and files stored in upper sections of file cabinets, in case of flooding.

PRE-STORM PREPARATIONS On the Course/Field

ring equipment inside, and B park large pieces up against the shop’s overhead doors to help prevent blow-ins.

emove all loose items/materials R from the golf course, such as signs, flags, bunker rakes, ball markers, benches, trashcans, ball washers, etc. The same goes for sports fields — remove portable goalmouths, baseball bases, athlete-training equipment, etc.

est all onsite generators to make T sure they’re working properly.

heck and clean all drainage C areas and catch basins.

tock batteries, bottled water, S canned goods and other nonperishable food items to feed your cleanup crew. Also store a large charcoal or gas grill for cooking.

Turn off all irrigation systems. onsider allowing a higher C mowing cut, to help reduce stress on turf. Perhaps apply a plant-growth regulator to slow post-storm growth. ecure all golf carts in the S cart barn.

In and Around the Maintenance Shop all ahead to a rental company to C reserve a generator, dump truck, backhoe, front-end loader, wood chipper or any other equipment you don’t have on-site. Consider having the equipment delivered the day prior to the storm, but be sure to protect it from wind damage and/or flooding. ully fuel all equipment (espeF cially chainsaws, loaders, utility carts, tractors and pickup trucks), and then fill your fuel-storage tank.

Purchase a hand pump for the fuel tank, in case of power loss.

16 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

ut fertilizers and chemicals as P high off the floor as possible, if flooding is probable. heck and restock first-aid C supplies.

ecurely store a supply of foulS weather gear and heavy-duty work gloves for use in poststorm cleanup. tock up on landscape-repair S supplies, such as shovels, stakes, wires and tree props.

I f possible, empty your dumpsters, and move them inside. ake down exterior-mounted fire T extinguishers, to keep them from becoming missiles in the wind.

At the Clubhouse Remove awnings. ring in outside furniture, B garbage cans, tables, potted plants, loose signage, etc. emove the blades from R outdoor-located ceiling fans.

Remove (or roll up and securely tie) all windscreens on fencing.

nplug computers and other U electrical equipment, wrap in plastic and move away from windows. ove materials from the M floor that could be damaged by flooding.

Lower your cutting heights gradually over a period of days or even weeks, if necessary. or several weeks after the F storm, remember to provide a little extra TLC to trees that were blown over and up-righted.

lan on spending extra time P talking with your golfers and/ or athletes following recovery to help them understand the turf stresses, and ask for their patience until the turf recovers.

ave food-and-beverage H staff prepare sandwiches for emergency-duty staff.

POST-STORM RECOVERY CONSIDERATIONS I f the community surrounding your course or field suffers a devastating blow, first help your neighbors quickly clear their roads so that emergency vehicles can get to them. Building a little goodwill after a crisis can go far, especially later during times of regulatory debates. ake a camcorder or camera T with you on your first post-storm visit — and use it — to immediately begin documenting all damage (for insurance purposes). tay calm, and set a good example S for your cleanup crews. Remember, without air-conditioning and hot showers, stress-fueled tempers may quickly grow short in heat and humidity, and sleep deprivation can increase the likelihood of injuries. o minimize further damage, T carefully plot the paths of heavy equipment across watersodden turf. s soon as possible after A floodwaters recede and cleanup is complete, aerate turf areas to aid in recovery.

I f returning to your mowing routine will be significantly delayed, apply turf growth regulators to slow the turf’s growth in the meantime. When you are able to resume mowing, take care to avoid scalping.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Photo by Mark Jarrell, CGCS, Lake Worth, FL

Cover Story

In the face of almost certain significant impacts of these storms, some common sense should be applied regarding fertilizer, chemical and seeding applications. With the prospect of inches of rain soon to arrive, what sense does it make to apply fertilizers and pesticides just before it hits? In this case, ignore the calendar and your schedule, and do what is right in terms of delaying the chemical application.

An application will be a waste of time and money and is environmentally irresponsible.

There is one supplemental chemical approach, however, that fits very well with an application a few days prior to an approaching storm if it is applied in a timely manner where the plant can maximize its effects: a plant growth regulator (PGR) such as trinexapac ethyl. Many golf and sports turf managers already use this product in their regular management programs anyway, and ensuring that your turf’s growth is regulated prior to storm arrival can make a big difference in restoring it to optimal quality after the storm passes.

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Many of my Deep South turfgrassmanagement friends have indicated on a very regular basis that perhaps the most significant (and beneficial) strategy they made in prepping for an advancing hurricane or tropical storm was to ensure they had a PGR application in place prior to the storm.

This may or may not be necessary on warm-season grasses in the fall in Virginia since they have rapidly declined in growth rate from the cooling temperatures, but it might be an effective strategy on perennial cool-season stands or overseeded bermudagrass turfs to ensure that you are not baling hay when the soil finally dries enough for mowing. And of course, if no PGR can be applied, it makes sense to mow the grass before the storm hits IF you can justify the time to cut turf with all the other hurricane preparedness activities you might face.

Here’s hoping that all impacted will come through the 2014 storm season relatively unscathed. c

Applied Research

Common Dewberry Control in Low-Maintenance Turf Areas

By Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., Professor of Weed Science, and Adam Nichols, Research Assistant, Virginia Tech Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach; with Cutler Robinson, CGCS, Bayville Golf Club Dewberry leaves generally have five leaflets.

20 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Dewberry has a growth habit like a vine.

L

ow-maintenance areas on golf courses serve multiple purposes. They provide a natural habitat for wild animals, while helping shape and separate different holes on the course. Having these areas also reduces the amount of acreage the superintendent needs to address on a regular basis. However, these areas do require some maintenance to retain aesthetic looks and playability, while also maintaining the safety of golfers. These areas can often have their own unique management challenges, depending on what species of plants are being maintained.

At Bayville Golf Club in Virginia Beach, VA, a low-maintenance area had become overrun with common dewberry (Rubus flagellaris), a lowgrowing bramble in the same family as blackberries and raspberries. Main-

tained in this area was a combination of cool-season and warm-season grasses. Because of this combination, an herbicide that controlled the dewberry without affecting the desired grasses was needed.

Common dewberry has a prostrate growth habit, and the stems have sharp, curved prickles. Infested areas are more dangerous for golfers searching for wayward shots, as the prickles cause nasty scratches and get caught in clothing. Leaves have three to five leaflets, with serrated margins.

The plant flowers in spring, and each flower has five white petals. The fruit turns purplish-black when mature and is eaten by a number of animals. The plant spreads by seed and vegetatively (tips of new shoots can root into the ground). Common dewberry readily spreads in low-maintenance areas,

New dewberry leaves are reddish in color.

becoming a management problem.

Our objective for this research was to evaluate herbicides and herbicide combinations for selective control of common dewberry. Three studies were conducted in a low-maintenance area on the grounds of the Bayville Golf Club, in between the 4th hole tee box and the 6th hole green complex.

Our research

The three trials were initiated at different times over a period of two months.

Turflon Ester (triclopyr) was evaluated alone and in combination with other turf herbicides. Treatments in trials 1 and 2 were repeated upon the successive trip back to Bayville. Fine fescue cover and weeping lovegrass cover were evaluated in trial 1 and 2 to determine the effects the herbicides had on these desired grasses.

Dewberry stems have sharp spines.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 21

Applied Research continued

Our results

In all three trials, Turflon Ester applied alone provided good but not complete common dewberry control (Table 1, 2 and 3). Drive, Celsius, metsulfuron, Telar and Tenacity applied alone did not provide acceptable control of common dewberry. Adding Drive to Turflon Ester appeared to increase dewberry control over that seen with Turflon Ester applied alone in Trials 1 and 3 but not in Trial 2. Pylex plus Turflon Ester and Tenacity plus Turflon Ester also appeared to slightly increase common dewberry control over Turflon Ester applied alone. However, since Drive, Pylex and Tenacity applied alone did not provide any meaningful control of common dewberry, it may just have been inherent variability in these trials that caused these combinations with Turflon Ester to appear to provide better control versus Turflon Ester alone.

Adding Starane Ultra to Turflon Ester also appeared to improve control. Starane Ultra is in the same herbicide family as Turflon Ester, so this combination treatment may be analogous to simply increasing the Turflon Ester rate.

Conclusions

No clear conclusions could be drawn in regards to turfgrass tolerance to the herbicides tested due to the considerable variation in stand across the plots when the trials were established.

However, the stand of weeping lovegrass and fine fescue did not appear to be adversely affected by the evaluated treatments (data not shown).

Based on these trials, it appears that Turflon Ester applied alone is an effective treatment for common dewberry.

Repeat treatments will be needed, though, to eradicate this weed, since complete control was not seen with single applications of any treatment.

There did not appear to be any clear advantage to adding other herbicides to Turflon Ester, and adding other herbicides would increase the overall treatment cost. c

Table 1: Mean Percent Dewberry Cover for Trial 1.

Trt # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Treatment Untreated Turflon Ester Turflon Ester + Tenacity Turflon Ester + Starane Ultra Turflon Ester + Drive 75 DF Turflon Ester + Pylex MSM metsulfuron Turflon Ester + MSM metsulfuron Celsius LSD (P =.05)

Rate 32 fl . oz./A 32 fl . oz./A 8 fl . oz./A 32 fl . oz./A 11 fl . oz./A 32 fl . oz./A 1 lb./A 32 fl . oz./A 1.5 fl . oz./A 0.75 oz./A 32 fl . oz./A 0.75 oz./A 3.7 oz./A

Cover (%z) 57 DAIT 134 DAIT 24 a 18 a 5 bc 12 a 3c 4a

0 DAIT y 24 a 43 a 28 a

Dewberry 40 DAIT 29 ax 6c 4c

36 a

1c

1c

7a

39 a

0c

0c

1a

30 a

2c

4 bc

8a

24 a 29 a

17 b 2c

11 b 1c

10 a 3a

29 a 18

25 ab 9

23 a 7

30 a 23

z Dewberry cover rated visually as the percentage of dewberry in each plot y DAIT = Days after initial treatment = June 06, 2013. Second application of treatments 2–4 and 6–9 were made on July 16, 2013. x are the average of four replicates. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly according to the Least Significant Difference test ( = 0.05).

Table 2: Mean Percent Dewberry Cover for Trial 2.

Trt # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Treatment Non treated Telar Telar + Turflon Ester MSM metsulfuron MSM metsulfuron + Triclopyr Triclopyr Pylex Drive 75DF + Triclopyr Pylex + Triclopyr LSD (P =.05)

Rate 1 oz./A 1 oz./A 32 fl. oz ./A 0.75 oz./A 0.75 oz./A 32 fl. oz ./A 32 fl. oz ./A 1.5 fl. oz ./A 1 lb./A 32 fl. oz ./A 1.5 fl. oz ./A 32 fl. oz ./A

0 DAIT y 24 ax 28 a 44 a

Dewberry Cover (%z) 17 DAIT 94 DAIT 31 ab 9 ab 23 abc 4 bc 9 cd 0c

50 a 20 a

40 a 3d

2c 1c

18 a 20 a 23 a

1d 18 bcd 12 cd

2c 12 a 3 bc

29 a

2d

2 bc

25

19

7

z Dewberry cover rated visually as the percentage of dewberry in each plot. y DAIT = Days after initial treatment = July 16, 2013. Second application of treatments 2–9 were made on August 02, 2013. x Means are the average of four replicates. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly according to the Least Significant Difference test ( = 0.05).

Table 3: Mean Percent Dewberry Cover for Trial 3.

Trt # 1 2 3 4 5

Treatment Untreated Check Drive XLR8 Turflon Ester Drive XLR8 + Turflon Ester Tenacity LSD (P =.05)

Rate 64 fl. oz ./A 32 fl. oz ./A 64 fl. oz ./A 32 fl. oz ./A 8 fl. oz ./A

0 DAIT y 33 ax 19 a 24 a 46 a 24 a 32

Dewberry Cover (%z) 77 DAIT 45 a 30 ab 5b 4b 25 ab 28

z Dewberry cover rated visually as the percentage of dewberry in each plot. y DAIT = Days after initial treatment = August 02, 2013. x Means are the average of four replicates. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly according to the Least Significant Difference test ( = 0.05).

22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Water Feature

24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

You Aerate Your Turf, But

What About Your Ponds?

By Brad Harris, Forestry Biologist & Aquatic Specialist, SOLitude Lake Management

T

urf aeration is an integral part of a successful turf and integrated pest management (IPM) program. Golf course superintendents and turf care specialists have first-hand knowledge of how adequate turf aeration is beneficial in the short term, as well as in the long term, for a healthy stand of turf. Similarly, having oxygen adequately circulated throughout your pond’s water column will contribute to a healthy and balanced aquatic ecosystem.

Just as the roots of the turfgrass on your greens, fairways and tee boxes need adequate air exchange, beneficial bacteria occurring naturally in ponds and lakes also need oxygen to thrive. Aeration specifically benefits your water body by eliminating thermal stratification, preventing fish kills, reducing the nutrient load and eliminating foul odors from nonbeneficial bacteria.

Potential problems caused by a lack of aeration

One condition that can affect the health of your lake or pond is called thermal stratification. When this occurs, it can lead to dissolved oxygen (DO) fluctuations in the water column that can be detrimental to aquatic life and the pond ecosystem. Thermal stratification of a pond or lake in the summer is a naturally occurring process where the top layer of warmer water (epilimnion) forms above a layer of cooler water (hypolimnion). The cooler layer of water is unexposed to

atmospheric air and essentially suffocates the bottom half of the pond.

As the oxygen depletes, ammonia and nitrite levels increase, and within a few months, many ponds reduce their living space by 50 percent. Thermal stratification can also occur in the winter.

Stratification can be mitigated at any point in the year with the addition of aeration. Adequate aeration circulates the pond’s water column, creating a uniform temperature and water density, from the top to the bottom of the pond. This, in turn, allows oxygen to enter the water column by way of the atmosphere at the pond’s surface and be circulated to the bottom of the pond, increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water column.

Have you or another superintendent you know ever experienced a fish kill? It is a shocking symptom of an unhealthy pond ecosystem and undoubtedly raises a lot of questions.

Fish kills occur naturally when a pond without proper aeration becomes stratified and then the upper and lower layers are suddenly mixed. This is typically caused by a heavy rain event or high winds that mix the lower oxygendeficient layer with the upper layer.

When this happens, it lowers the overall dissolved oxygen concentration in the upper layer where the fish are living in the warmer months and causes a widespread fish kill. Proper aeration year-round will eliminate the chances of a pond stratifying and prevent the dissolved oxygen from lowering to lethal levels.

If you have a problematic pond on your course that regularly has algae and/or aquatic weed problems, you may have been advised that the pond requires aeration to help promote the “good” or beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria are naturally found in lakes and ponds and are responsible for breaking down organic matter being introduced into the water body and for metabolizing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus already available in the water column. Organic matter can consist of grass clippings, leaves, limbs, sediment and waste created by aquatic life.

Organic material is loaded with phosphorous and nitrogen that feed algae blooms and aquatic weed infestations. The majority of this nutrientloaded organic material can be found in the sediment and lower layer of a stratified pond, where there is little to no oxygen and the breakdown of the organic material will be slow to non-existent. Beneficial bacteria need oxygen to be productive and to breakdown the existing nutrient and organic load. The slower these beneficial bacteria are at breaking down the organic load will directly result in more nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen becoming available to the algae and aquatic weeds in your pond.

When a pond is adequately aerated, the beneficial bacteria are very productive, thus reducing the nutrient load faster and resulting in less phosphorous and nitrogen available to the algae and aquatic weeds found in Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 25

Water Feature continued

your pond. By encouraging these natural processes through proper aeration, you can typically reduce the amount and frequency of algaecide and aquatic herbicide treatments that might otherwise be required to maintain your water body. Many pond owners find that there is a long-term cost savings in reducing aquatic weed and algae treatments by adding aeration.

In addition to aeration, your lake or pond management company might recommend adding additional beneficial bacteria to give a troublesome pond the boost that it needs to maintain a healthy water quality.

Aeration is also a solution to a foul “rotten egg” odor coming from your pond. This type of odor is caused by non-beneficial bacteria in the pond that thrive in anoxic (no oxygen) environments. These anoxic-loving bacteria create hydrogen sulfide gas as a by-product. Getting oxygenated water into these areas will eliminate the production of this gas and improve the beneficial bacterial production and balance. The introduced dissolved oxygen to the water and sediment will help the beneficial bacteria outcompete the anoxic, foul-odorproducing bacteria. This will improve the decomposition rate of the organic material and get rid of that “rotten egg” smell.

Types of aeration

Depending on your pond’s characteristics, there are two types of aeration to consider: a fountain surface aerator or a submersed bottom diffused aeration system. While both are great sources of aeration for your pond, the depths, shape and size of the water body will play a significant role in determining the best type and size of the aeration system you will need.

Generally, floating fountain surface aerators aerate more efficiently in shallower water (with depths of three feet or less), while submersed aeration systems will be more effective in deeper ponds (eight feet or more). For the ponds that fall in the three-to-eightfeet range, other factors such as the pond shape, symmetry or size could

A North Carolina golf course pond covered with filamentous algae due largely to lack of aeration.

determine the best option. Floating fountain surface aerators are ideal for symmetrical ponds, while a submersed aeration system or multiple surface aerators are required for non-symmetrical ponds. The size of the pond will determine the size of the unit or system. Consult with your local lake and pond management company when deciding which will be a good fit for your pond, and remember that you can always use both for optimal results.

Although planning and budgeting do not always allow for the immediate installation of an aeration system, be aware that if you install it during the summer months, you may need a graduated schedule in the beginning to avoid mixing a stratified pond too quickly and causing a fish kill. Be sure to acclimate your pond slowly by running the system or unit for just a few hours each day, and gradually increase the run time over a period of two weeks. Once the water has been adequately mixed, the system can and should be run 24 hours per day. An

26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

effective integrated pest management program is critical to the balance and health of your lakes or ponds. Aeration is the backbone of an effective lake or pond IPM strategy, and it will greatly improve water quality and the long-term health of any water body.

The sooner an aeration system or unit is installed in a pond, the sooner the pond will benefit. Don’t wait… there is never a bad time to aerate. You know how important aeration is to your turf, so be sure to include it in your pond. c

Brad Harris is a Forestry Biologist

& Aquatic Specialist with SOLitude Lake Management and can be reached at bharris@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.

In Memory of

In Memory

Robert Barksdale, Former VTC President

Robert, in front of his RBB Sales & Consulting booth at the 2012 VTC Annual Conference and Trade Show. (Photo by Tony Montgomery.)

L

ongtime VTC member and former VTC president (2000–2001) Robert Barksdale, owner of RBB Sales & Consulting in Botetourt, VA, passed away suddenly at age 57 on May 25, 2014. His family graciously provided the following tribute.

Robert Barksdale May 15, 1957, to May 25, 2014

A few words to celebrate an extremely beloved, openarmed, open-hearted and open-minded fisherman, outdoorsman, entrepreneur, businessman, landscaping encyclopedia, son, brother, husband and father to two beautiful daughters. Robert Byrd Barksdale was born May 15, 1957, in Roanoke, Virginia. He led a peaceful life chocked full of love, laughter and nutty times with his wave of life-

long friends. He was an honorary graduate of Cave Spring High School and a graduate of Staunton Military Academy.

Robert is survived by his wife Helen Barksdale, mother Mary Anne Barksdale, his father Byrd Barksdale, sister Mary Alice Barksdale, brother John Barksdale and two daughters Anna & Susan Barksdale. Robert, you are gone much too soon, but we will always have you in our hearts. c Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 27

Recent Event

Highlights from the

Bob Ruff Jr. Memorial Research Golf Tournament June 2, 2014 • Wintergreen Resort / Stoney Creek Golf Course • Wintergreen, VA

Congratulations to Our Tournament Winners!

Gus Constantino Trophy ENP/Innovative Turf Services Team Commonwealth Cup Greater Washington GCSA Team Gross Score Winner Growth Enhancer Turf Consultants Team

Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors!

Double Eagle

Birdie

SubAir/TurfBreeze

Bayer Environmental Science

Luck Stone Specialty Products

BASF

Quali-Pro

Bayer

Brandermill Country Club

Shenandoah Valley GCSA

STI

CIVITAS

Dinner

Davisson Golf

Revels Tractor/ John Deere Landscapes

Putting contest (pre-event)

Smith Turf & Irrigation

Putting contest (during play)

Eagle BASF

Southern States

ENP Fertilizer

Lunch

FMC Professional Solutions

CIVITAS

Genesis Turfgrass

Putting Contest

Growth Enhancer Turf Consultants

Arysta LifeScience

Harrell’s

Beverage Carts

Helena

Buy Sod, Inc. Pennington Seed

Holganix HORIZON Landscape Supply

Long Drive Gordon Kretzer

(also the 2013 Winner)

“The Wall” (Flop Wall Shot) C. Shelton

Andrew McCormick

Southern States

M. Orayton

Syngenta

Closest to the Pin (Monacan)

Trinity Turf

G. Kretzer

Turf Breeze/ Sub Air

Closest to the Pin (Shamokin)

Virginia Green

B. Firebaugh

Wintergreen Resort

Closest to the Pin (Tuckahoe)

Woodward Turf

The ENT/Innovative Turf Services team, winners of the Gus Constantino Trophy: Andy Bernis, Gary Lafluer, Curt Geron and Chris Stephens. (Photo by Tony Montgomery.)

A. Lutz

The Greater Washington GCSA team, winners of the Commonwealth Cup. (Photo by Tony Montgomery.)

28 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Digital Marketplace

Turfgrass Calendar August 26–27

VT / Blacksburg Turfgrass Field Days and Turfgrass Symposium

Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA

October 14–16 NPRA Congress and Expo

(Nat. Parks & Rec. Assn.)

Charlotte Convention Ctr. Charlotte, NC

October 22–25

School of Grounds Management and Green Industry Expo

Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

December 15–19

Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course

Fredericksburg, VA

January 5–9

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

Green & Growin’ Show

(NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC

January 14–16

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS)

Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD

January 13–16 STMA Conference and Exhibition

Denver, CO

January 26–29 VTC 55th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

January 5–6 MTC Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show

Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD

February 21–26 Golf Industry Show

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

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Landmark Turf & Native Seed..............18 www.turfandnativeseed.com Leading Edge Communications.............23 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Lebanon Turf...........................Back Cover www.lebturf.com Luck Stone Corporation.........................11 www.luckstone.com Mid Atlantic Sports Turf........................17 Modern Turf, Inc......................................9 www.modernturf.com

30 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2014 www.vaturf.org

Quali-Pro..................... Inside Front Cover www.quali-pro.com Roxbury Farm & Garden Center...........30 www.roxburyfarmgarden.com Smith Seed Services................................30 www.smithseed.com Sod Solutions..........................................29 www.sodsolutions.com Southern States Cooperative....................3 www.southernstates.com The Turfgrass Group.........................7, 19 www.theturfgrassgroup.com