Virginia Turfgrass Journal - September / October 2014

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

Optimizing Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Survival and Playability During Winter Compost Incorporation and Microclover Overseeding in ‘Yukon’ Bermudagrass Plus, Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 55th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference & Tradeshow, January 26–29, 2015

September/October 2014

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | September/October 2014

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16 14 Upcoming Event

Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 55th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference & Tradeshow, January 26–29, 2015

16 Cover Story

Optimizing Ultradwarf Survival and Playability During the Winter Months 22 Feature Story

Compost Incorporation and Microclover Overseeding in ‘Yukon’ Bermudagrass

4 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

22 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

15 VTC News 28 Industry Event 30 Turfgrass Calendar 30 Advertiser Index

President’s Message

It’s Easy to be a Cheerleader Fred Biggers, CGCS 2014–2015 VTC President

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for the Virginia Turfgrass Industry

ell, it is certainly hard to believe that another summer season has passed. Each and every summer has its own identity. The summer of 2014 has been pretty doggone nice — temperate, with extensive times of unusually cool, moist weather, followed by periods of beautiful, sunny, warm weather. I, for one, sure don’t miss extensive droughts or driving home at 5:30 p.m. with the temperature still above 100 degrees!

We are fortunate to live in a great state. Virginia is blessed with a tremendous assortment of turfgrass-related businesses and organizations. We have witnessed three wonderful events this past summer with the VTC Bob Ruff Memorial Research Golf Tournament and the Virginia Tech Field Days in Virginia Beach and Blacksburg.

I was also fortunate to participate in the VGCSA’s BMP Tournament at Farmington C.C. in mid-May, and I attended the VSTMA Field Day at the Steward School in Richmond in June. Both events showcased the best that Virginia turfgrass has to offer — committed turfgrass professionals and continued support from VT turf faculty. Virginia Tech’s turf faculty stands ready to help turf professionals with expertise in disease pathology, weed control, cultural management practices, sports field management, home lawn management, entomology and nematode management.

Beyond this expertise, though, we also enjoy the contributions of many allied organizations. The Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA) has done GCSAA-leading work to develop the BMP guidelines for the management of turf on Virginia golf courses. They are growing and developing new events and programs that will benefit all golf course superintendents in Virginia. The Virginia Sports Turf Managers Association (VSTMA) is extremely active on a national STMA level and has a vibrant, growing membership of sports field managers from across the state. I was extremely impressed with their field day, and I was taken with all of the innovative turf-management techniques presented that day.

Let’s not forget the contributions of our leading industry partners, including Bayer Environmental

Science, BASF, Buy Sod, Horizon, Landscape Supply, Quali-Pro, Revels Tractor/Finch Services, Riverside Turf, Smith Turf and Irrigation Co., Southern States, SubAir, Sod Solutions and Syngenta. These companies and many others have stepped forward as major sponsors of our VTC Conference, VT Field Days and/or the Bob Ruff Memorial Research Golf Tournament. But industry support does not stop there. Almost every company selling turf products in Virginia is a supporter of the VTC and the turfgrass industry in Virginia. The amount of experience and talent held by these companies and their representatives is staggering. I always say if I want to learn something new, I’ll learn things from the industry reps who get around and see other golf courses to truly know what is going on with golf course turf growing conditions.

The VTC Conference Program Committee (led by Mr. Rick Owens, CGCS) has been busy this year, working closely with our allied organizations to develop a great program for our upcoming VTC Conference and Show, to be held January 26-29, 2015, in Fredericksburg.

Rick and his committee have been successful in contacting many timely speakers from around the country to make this conference program the best yet.

The VTC board is also hopeful that our new membership program, featuring the Platinum Level membership, will become a big hit with municipalities, counties and governmental agencies, enabling them to take advantage of the VTC-sponsored Regional Pesticide Recertification Seminars and Certified Fertilizer Applicator training. By purchasing one Platinum VTC membership, they can get all of their employees trained and certified for one reasonable price. Also, they can attend many other events through the year for free or reduced entry fees.

I hope everyone has a great fall working out on your sports field, golf course or landscapes. Let’s hope that the weather continues to be kind to our turfgrass!

Fred Biggers, CGCS

2014–2015 VTC President

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Director’s Corner

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

Improving for You!

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erving our members and listening to their input are two key attributes the VTC strives to incorporate in our constant quest to improve.

Neglecting these two critical components puts us into self-satisfying solo flights of thought and places us in extreme peril of expending resources and conducting activities that do not benefit our membership.

Allow me to reach back through the years and give examples of our innovations that were once merely ideas in our members’ minds. The list could fill several pages, but I will shorten it for this column and present it to encourage you to continue helping us improve our service. The person responsible for the innovation is presented in parenthesis at the end of each item.

• Every member of the VTC is allowed to attend one or more of our regional seminars at no cost as a member benefit (Steve Smith).

• Group memberships allow companies to join at various levels. Prior to this innovation, everyone had to join as individuals (Jeff Holliday).

• A Turfgrass Symposium is held at the Blacksburg Field Day (Mark Cote).

• Although for years the Annual Conference was consistently held in downtown Richmond, we moved it to Fredericksburg in order to serve the entire state (Lin Diacont, Steve Glass and Paul Hartzell).

• The Putting Contest held on the tradeshow floor of our Annual Conference raises money for research, allows participants to win great prizes and is a whole lot of fun (Jeff Everhart).

• We offer a daylong seminar for mechanics at the Annual Conference (Nick Hamner).

• The June Turfgrass Field Day, held in Virginia Beach, attracts nearly 200 attendees (Jeff Derr).

• A Turfgrass Certification Program is being developed and will be unveiled at the 2014 Short Course (Mike Goatley).

• We developed a Regional Seminar into Come to the Bay, a multiday conference designed to attract different segments of the industry and to reach a portion of the region not served by the Annual Conference (Wes Bray, Dave Lawson).

• We distribute bags of VTC seed to members of the General Assembly while they are in session (Gil Grattan).

The above list could continue for many pages, especially, if I were to expand on the latter item and show how that seed distribution is developing into a year-round effort to educate members of the General Assembly about the value of our industry.

The danger of not listening to and heeding the words of our membership is best illustrated in this observation about the decline of Blackberry: [the company] adopted a “we know better” mindset that expected customers to eventually come around to the corporate point of view. May the VTC never become so arrogant. Let us always consider our members’ ideas and views. c

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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 (804) 356-1535 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

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Editor’s Perspective

What the EXPERTS Say. Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

And

Really?

now, for something completely different. You Monty Python fans will remember the catchphrase that I just lifted from those brilliant English boys. For those of you too young to remember, a quick Google search will bring you up to date. Yes, indeed, something COMPLETELY different. In this issue of the Journal, I have decided to give you the angry redhead take on the state of our industry, with segues into things that don’t have anything to do with it. I warned you — different. You may want to stop right here and skip on over to the useful info in this publication. No hard feelings. Still here? Let’s begin.

The EXPERTS told us that eggs were artery-clogging, cholesterol-laden time bombs waiting to go off in us like creatures from some science-fiction movie.

And now?

The EXPERTS said the NASDAQ was going to hit 10,000 just a few short years ago. Care to guess where it is today (after a few decent comeback years, by the way)?

After the Arab Spring and Middle East turmoil, the EXPERTS predicted as late as last year that gas would be $5 to $7 gallon. SUVS and trucks are dead, Detroit!

Coffee is going to kill you (EXPERTS say). Coffee is good for you (EXPERTS say).

The EXPERTS told us 20 years ago that a golf course needed to open EVERY DAY for a decade for supply to meet demand. God bless those little folks at the National Golf Foundation. They have a special place right next to the Ph.D.s who yell “GET IN THE HOLE!!!” after every stinkin’ golf shot.

The EXPERTS say that golf takes too long. Funny, my mountain/road bike buddies will go on trips that last for hours. The people I know who fish don’t run down to the lake for an hour. Kayaking a river is a day-long adventure. Yet, all these sports are growing. Even soccer moms/dads spend entire weekends sitting on the side of a soccer field. So, is it really a time thing?

The EXPERTS declare that golf is too expensive.

Ever shop the equipment required in the afore-mentioned sports? “Courses should lower green fees and monthly dues. That’s what people are looking for.”

REALLY? Do you know many people who have quit golf because it was too expensive or, more importantly, who are still playing because prices have been reduced to ridiculous levels?

The EXPERTS say that since seniors play the majority of weekday golf, discounts are the way to go. Keeping in mind that these are now MY PEOPLE, I say a loud and clear, “B.S.” I realize that all seniors (including me) are not covered by ALL these conditions, but let’s think about this. You’re at the stage of life when your home is paid/almost paid for. Kids are grown, bank account is okay, and 401k is slowly growing. Got a little jingle in your pocket. Yessir, by golly, out of all the people in society, YOU should be getting all the discounts.

The EXPERTS say that golf is not fun. If your definition of fun is EASY, then they are finally correct.

You can’t reach a basic level of competence as quickly as you can shooting, kicking or throwing a ball. And it’s certainly not like tickling a keyboard or video controller. Again, I see leisure activities growing that are pretty extreme and not EASY by any means.

The EXPERTS say that golf is discretionary and, therefore, not necessary. True, but then neither is eating out, movies, hotel stays, vacations, amusement parks, new vehicles or most of life, for that matter. I haven’t noticed any of these industries suffering tremendously.

On the contrary, they’ve been steadily increasing their prices over the last three to five years.

I’m probably way off base and not even qualified to comment because I’m by no means an EXPERT. There are a number of reasons I believe golf is in a slump, some of which are out of our control and some of which can and are being changed. And gimmicks sometimes work. Heck, we’ve even tried a few of them.

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There is one pearl of wisdom that life has given me over the years.

Whether you are growing sod, building retaining walls, mowing commercial/residential lawns, installing irrigation systems or operating a golf course, when what you do is devalued or, even worse, YOU PARTICIPATE in its devaluation, you are on a dangerous path. I am not ignorant of economics, market pressures, competition or even fear. We all feel them.

Society will decide how to spend its time and money. Competition for both is fierce and crowded, with many more choices than years ago. And the times, they are always a-changin’.

But I say again — we will not survive simply by continuing to devalue our product. c

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.)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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VTF Report

Betty Parker VTF Manager

The

Snapshots from the Virginia Tech Field Day at Hampton Roads, June 24, 2014

5th Annual Field Day was held on Tuesday, June 24, at the beautiful Hampton Roads Agriculture Research and Extension Center (HRAREC) in Virginia Beach. The weather was cooperatively cooler than it could have been, and a nice sea breeze floating in from the nearby Chesapeake Bay made the sunny 84-degree temperature very pleasant.

Some 250 attendees poured over the research plots as Dr. Jeff Derr, Dr. Mike Goatley, Adam Nichols, Aman Rana, David McCall and a host of other Virginia Tech researchers pointed out pertinent findings at each site. Several vendors took advantage of the venue, at no charge to them, to advertise their products and services. Quali-Pro once again sponsored the delicious lunch of fried chicken, barbecue and all the fixings.

Members of the VTF board took this opportunity to meet and discuss possible opportunities for enriching

our goals and the next steps toward achieving them. I hope you have received a letter outlining our goals for the endowment fund and our commitment to increasing our funding to the team of Virginia Tech turfgrass researchers. We urge each of you to consider our common goals as they pertain to you, and donate to the VTF. Dr. Ervin’s research on water quality from golf courses has received much attention from turf groups and many other people who are bombarded with the clean-water issues that threaten our Chesapeake Bay watershed. This research, as well as the research being done by Dr. Ervin’s colleagues, is making it easier on all of us to do our job and keep our environment clean and safe. An educated turf manager is one of the biggest friends to the green campaign that engulfs our world. Congratulations to all of you for leading the way.

Here are some snapshots of our day in Virginia Beach for the HRAREC Field Day. c

A great showing of turf professionals at the 5th Annual Turfgrass Field Day at the HRAREC in Virginia Beach.

Dr. Jeff Derr and Dr. Saied Mostaghimi, Associate Dean and director of the experiment station at Virginia Tech.

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Sandeep Rana, Ph.D. candidate in PPWS, working with Dr. Shawn Askew.

Chantel Wilson, Ph.D. candidate in CSES, working with Dr. Erik Ervin.

The Woodward Turf Farms display.

Lunch was sponsored by Quali-Pro.

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Upcoming Event

Sneak Preview of the VTC’s 55th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow January 26–29, 2015 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center

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any thanks to all the folks who have helped us put together the program for the 2015 Virginia Turfgrass Conference! From the proverbial opening “bell” on Monday to turning off the lights on Thursday, classes and tradeshow hours are planned to benefit the turfgrass industry.

Monday, January 26

Once again, the Old Dominion Golf Course Superintendents Association and Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association will be holding half-day seminars. The ODGCSA will conduct a session on change management. The VGCSA will host a seminar on nutrient management, a very important topic since Virginia golf courses face a 2017 deadline to have nutrient-management plans.

As an added bonus, the Virginia Sports Turf Managers Association is hosting a half-day seminar on a crucial topic for anyone who designs or maintains sports fields: Stormwater Compliance for MS4 Permit Holders. Ignorance of the rules and regulations is no excuse — cities and counties have been fined hundreds of thousands (yes, hundreds of thousands) of dollars for lack of compliance.

Also on Monday, the VTC will hold its Annual Membership Meeting.

Tuesday, January 27

Dr. Milt Engelke, Science Advisor at Bladerunner Farms

The morning is devoted to various industry-specific classes.

A complete list of morning classes, for both Tuesday and Wednesday, is online at www.turfconference.org.

As a special guest, Dr. Milt Engelke (Science Advisor at Bladerunner Farms in Texas) will make two presentations on zoysiagrass — • General Session: “ Why Zoysiagrass, and What Do I Do with It, Once I Have It?” • Sports Turf Session: “ Can Zoysiagrass Withstand Traffic, or Is It Too Slow to Recover?”

As our keynote presentation, Kevin Robinson of Pinehurst Golf Resort will discuss insights gleaned from his years of caring for turfgrass.

The afternoon is reserved for an expanded tradeshow, which this year will include a section devoted to erosion and sediment control.

Also, attendees will not go hungry on Tuesday! Both lunch and the evening reception will be served on the tradeshow floor and are free for anyone who registers for the conference.

Wednesday, January 28

Come Wednesday morning ready to discuss hot topics!

Rooms will be dedicated to various aspects of the turfgrass industry, with discussions to be led by Virginia Tech experts.

Also, the popular Mechanic’s Seminar will be held on this day.

The tradeshow opens mid-morning and stays open with dedicated tradeshow hours until mid-afternoon. Once again, lunch will be served on the show floor and will be free for conference attendees.

Later that afternoon, the Virginia Sod Growers have a series of special classes.

Thursday, January 29

This day is dedicated to pesticide and fertilizer certification and recertification. Something new this year — VTC members will be able to attend Thursday at no cost (yes, free!).

Make plans now to attend the conference, scheduled to be held at the Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center from Monday, January 26, to Thursday, January 29. You will not be disappointed! Complete details are at the dedicated conference web site: www.turfconference.org. c

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VTC News

2015 Membership Special…

A Free VTC Ball Cap During 2015 for 2015 Members!

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ach 2015 member will be given a voucher for a free VTC ball cap. Redeem the voucher during 2015 at any VTC event to claim your cap.

Membership benefits For ALL members include:

Join as a Group or as an Individual Individual Membership — One Year ($75) Individual Membership — Two Years ($130)

Group Membership: Platinum ($1,200)

(1) FREE pesticide recertification training at our one-day regional seminars (Virginia Beach, Hampton, Lorton and Staunton).

(2) FREE certified fertilizer applicator training at our one-day regional seminars (Virginia Beach, Hampton, Lorton and Staunton).

(3) FREE entry to the research tour of turfgrass studies in June at the Hampton Roads AREC Field Day. Combined, the value of the above three items is at least $145.

Membership dues are $75 for individual members.

(4) Discounts to every other VTC activity.

(5) Valuable assistance on state and local legislative and bureaucratic issues. Do you know that every member of Virginia’s General Assembly receives our bi-monthly Journal? Several Delegates and Senators have said how much they appreciate being on our mailing list.

11 to 20 members • Year-round listing and link from the VTC website.

• Fertilizer Certification Training at your site • Send an unlimited number of your employees to one of our Regional Pesticide Training Classes AT NO COST.

Group Membership: Gold ($750) 6 to 10 members

Group Membership: Silver ($350) 1 to 5 members

Join or renew your membership today at www.vaturf.org/membership.html.

Thank You to Our 2014 Blacksburg Field Day Sponsors!

Platinum Bayer Riverside Turf

Wednesday Coffee/ Orange Juice/Donuts STI

Tuesday Turfgrass Symposium Riverside Turf

Wednesday Lunch Textron/Jacobsen Wednesday Presentations Bayer

Supporters Genesis Turfgrass Harmon Turf Services Pennington Seed Revels Tractor Scott Turf Syngenta Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story

Optimizing Ultradwarf Survival and Playability During the Winter Months

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

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ltradwarf bermudagrasses for golf course putting greens are no silver bullet for the transition zone, but over the past five years, the thought process about ultradwarfs in Virginia has moved from “that’s crazy” to “it can work.” Are ultradwarfs necessarily cheaper to maintain than bentgrass?

I don’t think so. The cost of blankets (more on this later) and the intensity of the cultural management programs regarding grooming and topdressing can negate some of the anticipated savings you might expect, when compared to a bentgrass management

program. However, with the putting quality possible today with ultradwarfs, their feasibility as a putting surface of choice is now at the forefront.

I have had the privilege to team-teach a “Winter Management of Ultradwarfs” seminar for GCSAA and regional audiences for these past five years with Chris Hartwiger and Patrick O’Brien of the USGA, and we talked last year about the change in our audience dynamics over this time. We have gone from an initial group interested in exploring the possibilities of ultradwarfs for their site, to audiences now filled primarily with superintend-

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ents who are managing ultradwarfs.

Virginia is certainly on the northern side of the transition zone, and it is my thinking that IF I can successfully grow creeping bentgrass at my course, I probably would grow creeping bentgrass in this climate because of the anticipated putting quality with this turf.

However, working with Chris and Patrick over the years has led me to think less about the grass and more about the golf. Their criteria for deciding whether an ultradwarf might be more suitable for your location is to ask, “When is most of the golf

played at your facility? And how does that prime golfing period match up with the best playing quality/ conditions possible for your current putting green turf?” Many times, the best playing conditions possible for golf putting greens during the most popular season(s) for golf align better with bermudagrass greens rather than bentgrass greens.

Turf blankets are not an option — they are a requirement.

With any warm-season grass in the transition zone, it is only a matter of

time until Mother Nature reminds us that she is really in charge. The winter of 2013–14 was one of the harshest in the last 25 years, so this winter was clearly a very strong real-world test for ultradwarf bermudagrasses in Virginia — a test that could make or break their use.

The three courses where I have consulted the most closely over the past few years regarding their conversions to ultradwarfs are Sewell’s Point (Champion greens, Norfolk), Tuscarora Golf Club (Champion greens, Danville) and Nottoway River Country Club (MiniVerde,

Blackstone). At each facility this year, spring greening was slow, and spring dead spot pressure was high, but each site’s greens came through this winter because the superintendents effectively utilized the most important winter-survival tool for bermudagrass greens: turf blankets. I simply will not recommend the installation of ultradwarfs anywhere in the transition zone unless the course commits to purchasing and properly utilizing turf blankets.

Does the blanket source matter?

Scientifically speaking, yes, because there are slight differences in temJournal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story continued

peratures that occur under different colors, materials and thicknesses.

However, I have long contended that the most important selection criteria in choosing a cover for golf in the 21st century is to purchase one that is the easiest to handle.

When covers were first employed in golf turf management back in the 1980s, there was no concept of “temporary lightweight covers.” Instead, the covers were installed in the winter on bermudagrass greens, and they remained in place until their removal the following spring. All putting was done on temporary (and usually low-quality) greens cut into the fairway somewhere near the original putting green, and they were likely overseeded with perennial ryegrass or rough bluegrass.

Since there will always be some pretty nice golfing days during a transition-zone winter, however, temporary lightweight covers became the norm to meet both golfer and club needs for play on the regular greens.

The ability to get blankets quickly on and off is often one of the biggest challenges for golf superintendents and their staff. Since I use only 144 ft2 sections of covers on research plots at Virginia Tech (primarily for their effects on temperature), I can’t provide any significant observations about how a 4,000 ft2 cover might handle in the wind. Be sure to talk to superintendents about their experiences with cover sources and handling characteristics as you make your cover selection.

When should covers be applied?

The art of being a superintendent is every bit as critical here as the science of the profession. Are temperatures going to be extreme? Has the grass been exposed to significant cold-weather events (aka hardened off) before the arrival of the extreme temperatures? What are the current soil temperatures? How long is the extreme weather event forecast to last?

All of these are important factors, and how you answer these questions plays

into decisions about when to cover and when to remove them.

My general rule of thumb for covering still dates back to my days doing research with Pat Sneed, CGCS, at the Mississippi State University Golf Course. We made the decision to cover when area National Weather Service forecasts predicted temperatures of ≤25oF for at least two consecutive evenings and forecasted highs for the following days did not reach 50oF. This is a very “conservative” covering philosophy, and undoubtedly in many situations, the covers probably did not need to be applied to protect the turf.

I think there are two keys to making the decision on whether to cover or not: #1. Monitoring soil surface temperatures is a great way to develop your own strategy on when covers should be applied. Table 1 shows the temperatures that killed 50% of the population of bare stems of numerous cold-acclimated ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars.

Remember that the soil and its moisture are pretty effective insulators in their own right and that these data were collected on bare stems (they are a measurement of

the genetic cold hardiness of the various varieties, not real-world cold hardiness). #2. Don’t take the risk of not covering when dealing either with single-event, low-temperature extremes or with long durations of abnormally cold temperatures.

It is just not worth the potential for winterkill.

Management steps to improve winter survival and playability

Appropriate nutrition and soil pH are certainly critical. A balanced nutrition program that ensures there are no major nutrient deficiencies logically pays dividends, and just as for bentgrass putting green management, a great deal of attention should be paid to ensuring that potash levels are appropriate before winter dormancy arrives.

Don’t keep the ultradwarfs too succulent as fall weather arrives, and cut back on the N in plenty of time that the grass hardens off properly for winter. At the same time, it is my opinion that you shouldn’t starve ultradwarfs as temperatures cool, but continue spoon-feeding them as long as

Table 1. The lethal temperature that killed 50% of bare stems of the respective ultradwarf bermudagrasses an Oklahoma State University freeze chamber trial.

Genotype

Temperature

Champion

23.4oF a

Floradwarf

23.2oF a

MS-Supreme

22.6oF ab

MiniVerde

21.6oF bc

TifEagle

21.2oF cd

Tifdwarf

20.3oF d

Tifgreen

20.3oF d

From Anderson, J., C. Talliafero, and D. Martin. 2002. Freeze Tolerance of Bermudagrasses: Vegetatively Propagated Cultivars Intended for Fairway and Putting Green Use, and SeedPropagated Cultivars, Crop Sci. 42:975-977.

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Cover Story continued

you are collecting clippings and winter dormancy has yet to arrive.

Consider the legitimate cutting heights for your facility and playing expectations well before winter dormancy arrives. Heading into dormancy at a peak, mid-summer cutting height is not a good idea, since the wear and tear of late-season traf-

fic (both equipment and play) will continue to erode the turf canopy over the winter months. Raise the cutting heights, and use your rollers to start governing speed during mid-fall. One of the most consistent gripes about ultradwarfs is the loss of control over putting green speed in the winter.

Changing cups is also an important part of optimizing winter playability. Learning how to match up the grain of the grass when changing the cup will pay big dividends for play both during the winter and again next spring as the grass becomes active again. I am intrigued by a strategy that Pinehurst is using in setting multiple cups on their greens, filling the ones that were not in play with foam plugs set at the surface as to not affect ball roll, and rotating the traffic between the cups over time.

Overseeding in a jug

Chris Hartwiger uses this term to describe the use of colorants and paints for winter color on ultradwarfs.

I am a strong proponent of painting rather than overseeding ultradwarf greens because of how intense the competition between the grasses is the following spring. One of the concerns we hear is that “we have to overseed, or else we will be playing in the mud next spring.� However, none of us has yet to see anyone playing on mud, even on the most heavily trafficked resort courses of the Carolinas.

As before, experiment with paints and colorants to find the products that (1) fit your spray equipment, especially the pumps, and (2) match your desires in terms of immediate and long-term color. Paints change color as they dry and appear as different hues according to the height of the grass painted, and some pigments tend to photodegrade faster than others.

Final thoughts

The ultradwarfs are not for everyone, nor should they be. However, the improvements in their genetics and the refinements in their management make them a viable putting surface for championship golf in the transition zone. When considering both agronomics and playability, perhaps your facility might be better suited for ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens.

Following these tips in their winter management will help them meet the expectations of both the superintendent and the golfers. c 20 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

Feature Story

Compost Incorporation and Microclover Overseeding in ‘Yukon’ Bermudagrass

By Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., and Adam Nichols, Hampton Roads Ag. Research and Extension Center, and Michael Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Virginia Tech/Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

I

nstallation and maintenance of turfgrass requires a number of inputs, including fertilizer application. With the increased concern over nutrients moving into the Chesapeake Bay, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, there is interest in ways to reduce fertilizer inputs. Through a grant funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, we are cooperating on a project with the University of Maryland and Penn State in a research project to do just that.

establishment. Each trial includes four treatments: • no compost/ no microclover addition • compost addition without microclover • microclover seeding without compost • addition of compost and microclover A perennial clover that closely resembles white clover, microclover fixes nitrogen, so it may be an alternative to application of nitrogen fertilizers. Within each of the treatments, half of the plot received no additional fertilizer, while the other half received 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 ft2 yearly.

Microclover has smaller leaves and flowers than white clover, and thus it may blend better into turfgrass stands (Photo 1).

At Virginia Tech, we evaluated compost addition and microclover seeding in ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass,

Our research

Photo 1: Standard white clover (larger leaf) vs. microclover (smaller leaf).

The overall objectives of the project are to evaluate and promote the adoption of compost incorporation prior to turfgrass establishment as a best management practice, to evaluate the incorporation of compost after turf establishment and to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by incorporating microclover at seeding or after turf

Table 1. Mean percent turf and weed cover of newly established ‘Yukon” bermudagrass, seeded July 2, 2012.

July 23

Trt. #

August 1

August 22

September 22

Turf%

Weed%

Turf%

Weed%

Turf%

Weed%

Turf%

Weed%

1

‘Yukon’ bermuda Compost

2 lbs./1,000 ft2 2" incorporated

27%

62%

54%

43%

49%

51%

45%

54%

2

‘Yukon’ bermuda Compost Microclover

1.9 lbs./1,000 ft 2" incorporated 0.1 lbs./1,000 ft2

29%

63%

44%

45%

45%

55%

39%

56%

3

‘Yukon’ bermuda No compost No microclover

2 lbs./1,000 ft2

5%

91%

16%

74%

16%

83%

11%

88%

4

‘Yukon’ bermuda Microclover No compost

1.9 lbs./1,000 ft 0.1 lbs./1,000 ft2

1%

96%

5%

91%

3%

96%

1%

99%

19

20

17

17

16

17

17

16

LSD (p = .05)

22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

while the other cooperators evaluated these treatments in tall fescue. Incorporating compost and microclover with bermudagrass seeding should improve the quality, color, quality and greenup of the bermudagrass. Compost incorporation should improve water infiltration rates.

We established two trials at the research station in 2012, one evaluating the four treatments at seeding time of bermudagrass and the other evaluating compost addition and microclover seeding in established bermudagrass. For all plots, we have been evaluating turf cover, color and quality, as well as water infiltration.

Photo 2: 1/4" topdressing with compost, second week of May. Photo 3: Plots in late April with microclover (upper right and lower left) vs. no microclover (upper left and lower right).

Trial 1

This trial evaluated the aesthetic appeal of a bermudagrass plus microclover lawn, with compost incorporation by tilling, with and without N.

Procedures

Plots receiving compost received 2" of the material, spread evenly over the surface and then tilled in with the native soil on June 29, 2012.

Plots were seeded on July 2, 2012, with either 2 lbs. ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass seed per 1,000 ft2 or 1.9 lbs. per 1,000 ft2 ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass seed plus 0.1 lb. microclover seed per 1,000 ft2.

No preemergence herbicides were applied in 2012. A March 2013 preemergence application of Pendulum 2G (1.5 lbs. pendimethalin per acre) and a late April application of Dimension 2EW (0.25 lbs. dithiopyr per acre) was made for crabgrass control.

The preemergence crabgrass treatments were also applied in 2014.

Compost was reapplied in spring of 2014 as a 1/4" topdressing.

Results

Little to no microclover was noticed in any of the plots in 2012. Bermudagrass establishment was greatly improved with the addition of compost (Table 1), probably due both to the nutrients released from the compost and to a dilution of the weed seed present in the soil from the volume of compost incorporated. With-

Photo 4: Same 4 plots as in Photo 2, 1 week after topdressing (upper left received topdressing).

Notice the microclover seedheads.

out the compost, very little bermudagrass was able to establish, due to a dense stand of crabgrass and other weed species. With compost addition, fewer weeds were present, allowing for better bermudagrass establishment.

With the incorporation of microclover, the use of herbicides in a bermudagrass lawn becomes very limited, and

establishment can be hindered by the onset of summer annuals.

The preemergence herbicides applied in 2013 controlled crabgrass, which had hindered the 2012 grow-in of ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass. Bermudagrass cover therefore increased from April 2013 to October 2013 in all four treatments, with the highest Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story continued

cover in the compost plots (Table 2).

However, the reduction in summer annual weeds also allowed an increase in the natural population of white

clover to increase and become more prevalent (Table 3).

As hypothesized in the research goals and objectives, incorporating

compost prior to seeding increased turfgrass quality and color (Tables 4 and 5). Infiltration results also showed the benefits of incorporating compost

Table 2. Mean percent turfgrass cover in 2013, the year after seeding.

Trt. #

Treatment

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1

Compost

36%

58%

79%

80%

76%

86%

89%

2

Compost + microclover

40%

60%

78%

76%

69%

79%

78%

3

No compost

6%

17%

28%

30%

30%

33%

30%

4

No compost + microclover

1%

6%

16%

15%

14%

15%

15%

LSD (P = .05)

22

20

21

25

26

23

20

Table 3. Mean percent clover cover in 2013, the year after seeding.

Trt. #

Treatment

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1

Compost

5%

9%

10%

1%

2%

3%

4%

2

Compost + microclover

17%

15%

16%

0%

0%

5%

8%

3

No compost

16%

58%

55%

0%

1%

14%

21%

4

No compost + microclover

14%

75%

71%

3%

3%

19%

31%

LSD (P = .05)

21

23

22

2

3

15

21

Table 4. Mean bermudagrass quality in 2013, the year after seeding.

Turfgrass Quality (1–9, with 9 = best quality) Trt. #

Treatment

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1

Compost

5.0

5.9

6.3

5.6

6.8

6.5

2

Compost + microclover

4.5

5.9

5.8

4.8

5.9

5.9

3

No compost

2.4

2.6

3.0

2.8

3.0

3.4

4

No compost + microclover

2.0

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

LSD (P = .05)

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

Table 5. Mean bermudagrass color in 2013, the year after seeding.

Turfgrass Color (1–9, with 9 = darkest green) Trt. #

Treatment

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1

Compost

6.5

8.0

7.1

6.9

7.8

7.5

2

Compost + microclover

6.4

8.0

7.1

6.5

7.6

7.3

3

No compost

4.9

6.8

6.3

5.1

6.5

6.3

4

No compost + microclover

5.4

7.0

6.4

4.5

6.3

6.1

LSD (P = .05)

1.1

1.1

0.5

0.6

0.6

0.7

24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

Feature Story continued

prior to establishment (Table 6). Similar benefits of compost addition on bermudagrass color and quality were seen in 2014 (data not shown).

Trial 2

This trial evaluated methods to introduce microclover into existing bermudagrass turf, with compost incorporation by aeration and slicing, with and without N.

Procedures

Plots measuring 15' by 15' were arranged an eight-year-old stand of ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass. Verticutting of the plots occurred on September 5, 2012. Compost was added to plots and raked in on September 7, 2012.

The plots were aerated that same afternoon. Plots receiving microclover were seeded on September 10, 2012. Plot maintenance in 2013 and 2014 was the same as for the previous trial.

A March 2013 preemergence application of Pendulum 2G (1.5 lbs. pendimethalin per acre) and a late April application of Dimension 2EW (0.25 lbs. dithiopyr per acre) was made for crabgrass control. Plots were mowed twice per week at 2". Half of each plot received 0.5 lb. N per 1,000 ft2 on June 13, 2013, using a 30-0-10 fertilizer containing 30% sulfur-coated urea. Plots were evaluated visually in April, May and June. Initial infiltration data were collected in July.

Table 6. Water infiltration rate in July.

Trt. #

Treatment

Infiltration cm hr-1

1

Compost

20.10

2

Compost + microclover

20.38

3

No compost

3.98

4

No compost + microclover

6.46

Results

In trial 2, we were able to establish a stand of microclover (Table 7). Since this was in an existing stand of bermudagrass, we did not have the competition from summer annual weeds that was seen in the newly seeded bermudagrass trial. Compost addition increased the amount of microclover compared to no compost. The percent cover of microclover did not change when evaluated in the fall of 2013 and the spring of 2014 (data not shown). Microclover increased green color compared to no microclover for most of 2013 (Table 8), but no improvement in turf color was seen in November of 2013 or April of 2014 from microclover (data not shown).

Since bermudagrass goes dormant during the winter, the microclover was very evident and could be considered a weed problem, especially due to the non-uniform distribution of the microclover plants.

Compost addition increased the color ratings of the turfgrass in June 2013 (Table 9, page 28), but the effect wore off, since no benefit to

Table 7. Percent microclover cover for Trial 2 (seeded into established bermudagrass).

Trt. #

Treatment

April

May

June

July

Oct.

1

Compost

0%

0%

1%

0%

0%

2

Compost + microclover

44%

50%

53%

25%

38%

3

No compost

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

4

No compost + microclover

23%

26%

30%

15%

16%

LSD (P = .05)

14

10

11

7

10

Table 8. Turfgrass color in 2013 for Trial 2 (addition of compost and/or microclover into established bermudagrass).

Turfgrass Color (1–9, with 9 = darkest green) Trt. #

Treatment

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1

Compost

6.1

7.0

6.1

7.0

7.0

7.4

2

Compost + microclover

6.4

8.1

6.4

7.3

7.0

7.0

3

No compost

5.1

6.3

5.1

6.1

6.6

6.8

4

No compost + microclover

5.6

6.9

5.6

6.3

6.5

6.3

LSD (P = .05)

1.0

0.5

1.0

0.7

0.6

0.6

26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

Feature Story continued

turf color was seen in November of that year. When we reapplied compost later in the spring, turf color was improved (data not shown).

Conclusions

Adding compost at the time of bermudagrass seeding improved establishment. Compost addition to both

newly seeded and established bermudagrass improved water infiltration rates and turf color.

Microclover, however, does not appear promising for use in bermudagrass for two reasons. Since selective herbicides are not available for use in newly seeded microclover/newly seeded bermudagrass,

weed competition will limit the stand establishment for both species. Microclover can be established in existing stands of bermudagrass, but a nonuniform appearance of the turf, especially when bermudagrass is dormant but microclover is still growing, may not be acceptable to turf managers or homeowners. c

Table 9. Turfgrass quality and color in November 2013 and April 2014 for compost addition and microclover seeding into established bermudagrass.

Turfgrass Quality (1-9, 9 = highest quality)

Turfgrass Color (1–9, with 9 = darkest green)

Trt. #

Treatment

Nov. 13

April 14

Nov. 13

April 14

1

Compost

4.0 a

2.1 b

4.5 a

7.0 a

2

Compost + microclover

3.8 a

3.1 a

4.5 a

7.0 a

3

No compost

3.1 b

2.6 ab

4.5 a

7.0 a

4

No compost + microclover

3.1 b

2.9 a

4.5 a

7.0 a

LSD (P = .05)

0.4

0.5

0.0

0.0

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28 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org

of the Off-Site Institutes or Pre-Congress Workshops.

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Turfgrass Calendar October 14–16 NRPA Congress and Expo

( Nat. Recreation and Parks Assn.)

Charlotte Convention Ctr. Charlotte, NC

October 22–25 School of Grounds Mgmt. and Green Industry Expo

Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

December 15–19

Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course

Henrico, VA

January 5–6 MTC Turfgrass Conference and Tradeshow

University of Maryland College Park, MD

January 13–16 STMA Conference and Exhibition

Denver, CO

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

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

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30 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2014 www.vaturf.org