Give water a break
tiftuf bermudagrass is the new drought-tolerance superstar.
The newest edition in the “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermudagrasses to originate from the renowned University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program, TifTuf promises to be a true game-changer in stellar yet environmentally friendly performance. Providing unbeatable drought tolerance, it uses 38% less water than Tifway 419, and it is significantly more drought resistant than all other bermudagrasses.
In addition to its incredible drought tolerance, TifTuf is more aggressive than Tifway and provides superior wear and traffic tolerance (even better than Celebration), excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up and excellent fall color retention. In the 2015 NTEP trials, TifTuf was the highest-ranked cultivar in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, and across all 17 locations overall, it was the highest-ranked, commercially available cultivar.
TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create more-sustainable athletic fields for the future. In fact, it will soon become the ultimate must-have grass for sports turf managers who want to take a break from water use.
President’s Message
C Celebrating GREAT PROGRESS!
Scott Woodward 2019 President
ongratulations Members! We have a record level of new members for the first time ever. This is thanks to all of you who continue to spread the word and educate others about our organization.
We also have good news with the implementation of our Government Relations Committee and our New Membership Category – “Diamond Membership/ Friend of the Industry”.
Purpose of the Government Relations Committee
Meet with politicians and other government agencies to help them better understand the benefits of our industry. Our goal is to educate them and to encourage positive laws and regulations.
Purpose of the New Membership Category –“Diamond Membership/Friend of the Industry”
As Tom has communicated to us before, the need arose when companies approached us and asked for ways to support our government relations activities. Most of those activities are educating key decision makers about the value of our industry.
Many benefits are the same as the Platinum Membership plus recognition as a supporter of our Government Activities. The monies from this membership will go into the membership account and be used for government relations and for supporting our efforts.
As turfgrass professionals we all strive to spread fertilizer and chemicals that are environmentally friendly and there are plenty of government agencies and other activists who disagree. This is why we have formed the Government Relations Committee and the New Membership Category “Diamond Membership/Friend of the Industry”
With that said, I am sure you have all noticed that summer is here and it has come in hot! On a good note, it is drier than last year and is a nice break from all the rain we have had in the past. It’s a good time to grow in your warm season grasses or just take a break and go to the beach!
We thank you for your continued dedication and support. Have a great summer, enjoy time with your families and be safe!
Scott H. Woodward President, Virginia Turfgrass Council
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
Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020
Vice President Michael Skelton Culpeper County (540) 727-3412
treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779
secretary
Phil Bailey, CGCS
Cypress Creek Golfer’s Club (757) 357-7995
Past President Rick Owens, CGCS
Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934
VtC direCtors
Wes Bray
Scott Caskie
Tony Montgomery
David Smith
T.J. Skirsky
Craig Zeigler
VtC AdVisory MeMbers oF the boArd
Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair)
Shawn Askew, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D.
exeCutiVe direCtor/ direCtor oF ProGrAMs
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004
VirGiniA turFGrAss FoundAtion
Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3098
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CUT
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CULTIVATE
“Those days are behind us”
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
Virginia Tech Turf Team
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech
435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu
is a phrase I often hear regarding bygone deeds and exploits. Age and time continue to move forward, but reflecting on the past can be extremely healthy — especially when the musings honor persons or provide a foundation for future endeavors. Betty Parker’s recent retirement from the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation (VTF) allows me to do both. She is a great person who deserves to be recognized and her services to the industry provide a foundation for that association’s future.
Betty was one of the first persons I met when I joined the Turfgrass Council. Brook, her husband, and I had worked on joint endeavors during the 1990s but Betty and I never crossed paths until my first Board of Directors meeting. She was there representing the VTF. Her knowledge of the industry, its multiple facets and its people was impressive. She seemed to know everyone and she was always current on their jobs, their families and their health.
Betty always went the extra mile to promote the industry and to raise funds for turfgrass research. She traveled to an obscure Chesapeake warehouse to pick up corn hole boards that were going to be used to raise funds for the VTF. She got her truck stuck in snow at our first M-A-T-E (thank you Shawn Askew for leading the rescue team!) She made multiple trips to Richmond to meet with VDACS and other state officials to champion the cause of turfgrass. All endeavors were done with a smile and “we can do this” attitude.
Brook retired a few years ago. Betty frequently shared great stories of his new found love: chickens. Those birds have become a fascination and share a cherished spot on the retirement homestead. While Betty tolerates the chickens, I imagine she will focus on spoiling her grandchildren. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation has a new manager and it is building on the foundation Betty laid. Read about the new VTF in this issue of the Journal
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D.
Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu
David McCall, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu
With SuPPort FroM:
thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu
Agronomic Lawn Management .................34 www.FertilizerWithALM.com
Alliance Material Handling, Inc. ...............32 www.alliancemat.com
Buy Sod, Inc. ....................Inside Front Cover www.buysod.com
Carolina Green Corp. .................................34 www.cgcfields.com
Chesapeake Valley Seed .............................11 www.chesapeakevalleyseed.com
Collins Wharf Sod Farm ...............................9 www.collinswharfsod.com
CoverSports USA.........................................19 www.coversports.com
Daniel Sod Farms ........................................34 www.danielsodfarm.com
Fisher & Son Company, Inc. ........................5 www.fisherandson.com
Home Field Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf Farm ............................9 www.meadowspringturf.com
Kesmac .........................................................15 www.kesmac.com
Leading Edge Communications ................19 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
Luck Ecosystems............................................3 www.luckstone.com
McGill Premium Compost .........................34 www.mcgillsoilbuilder.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL ......................................7 www.stihldealers
PBI Gordon Corporation ...........................17 www.pbigordon.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc. ...............12 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Smith Seed Services ......................................9 www.smithseed.com
Smith Turf & Irrigation ...............Back Cover www.smithturf.com
Sod Production Services .............................33 www.sodproductionservices.com
The Cutting Edge of VA .............................24 www.tce-va
The Turfgrass Group ........Inside Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com
VA Turf Equipment, LLC ..........................29 www.vaturfequipment.com
Virginia Sand & Stone ................................11 www.virginiasand.com
Watch Dog Goose Patrol ............................25 www.WatchDogGoosePatrol.com
Weed Man ...................................................34 www.weedmanfranchise.com
Let Greatness TAKE ROOT
Wow, the first six months of 2019 have been exciting for VTF! In late 2018, the board embarked on the task of rebranding and reorganizing. All of this hard work came to fruition in May at the Virginia Tech Research Classic and Field Day where the new logo and website were unveiled. The event was a great opportunity to showcase the projects, many funded by the VTF, being researched at Virginia Tech. The VTF would like to say “Thank You” to everyone who supported the event. Proceeds from this event, hosted jointly by the VGCSA and VTC, are donated to the VTF to support turfgrass research.
As if that was not enough, VTF Manager Betty Parker began making plans for her retirement. Her last day with the Foundation was April 30. During her 27 years with the Foundation, over $2 million was raised to fund turfgrass research at Virginia Tech, and she helped grow the endowment to over $600,000. I know everyone will join our board in saying “THANK YOU” to Betty for everything she has done to grow our industry.
With Betty’s retirement, the VTF board embarked on another huge task. The board began the search for a candidate with experience with nonprofit organizations. The Foundation has enjoyed great success in its first 29 years, but to meet the needs of turfgrass research, continued growth is a must. Each year, funding requests are more than we can support, and with a clear investment strategy that was developed
with the Turf Team and Virginia Tech, the endowment must grow.
After an exhaustive search, Brandyn Baty was hired as the new Manager for the VTF. Her diverse background working with non-profit organizations made her a natural fit. Brandyn will be at various events throughout the summer. If you see her, please stop by and introduce yourself.
The Foundation is now positioned for the next chapter. The new logo and digital platform will help you stay connected to the great work the Foundation is supporting. Later this
summer, we will launch a YouTube channel where we can share updates on current research and highlight the findings from past research.
Please follow us on Twitter @vaturf
Visit our website: www.vaturfgrass.com
Thank you to everyone for your continued support of the Foundation. We look forward to fulfilling our new tagline:
Let greatness take root…
Brandyn Baty VTF Manager
VTC Membership
J O IN T HE T O DAY
Membership Benefits For ALL members include:
FRee pesticide recertification training at the one-day regional seminars.
FRee Certified Fertilizer Applicator training at the MidAtlantic Turfgrass Expo in January (M-A-T-E) and the Come to the Bay (February) and Come to the Valley (October) regional conferences.
FRee entry to the research tour of turfgrass studies in June at the Hampton Roads AREC.
FRee subscription to our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal, offering research and industry updates.
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 Virginia Turfgrass Journal? Several Delegates and Senators have said how much they appreciate being on our mailing list.
Monthly email of job postings.
Discounts to every one of our activities.
Join as a GRouP or as an INDIVIDuAL
Individual Membership
One Year — $85
Individual Membership
Two Years — $150
Diamond Group Membership
Benefits of Platinum Group Membership plus assist with our government relations activities.
Minimum of $3,000
Platinum Group Membership
Membership fee of $1,500 includes: 11 to 20 members.
Send up to 50 of your employees to one of our Regional Pesticide Training Classes — AT No CoST. Year-round membership listing and link from VTC website. Fertilizer Certification Training or Pesticide Recertification Training (3A, 3B 60) at your site.
Gold Group Membership
Membership fee of $800 includes: 6 to 10 members
Silver Group Membership
Membership fee of $400 includes: 1 to 5 members
Are you interested in learning more about the landscape design process? Do you want to help landscape the entry of a great state park? Have you ever considered becoming a Certified Turfgrass Professional? Do you need to be certified or recertified for pesticides and fertilizers? If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, please consider attending Come to the Valley. This two-day
event will be held at Staunton’s Frontier Culture Museum October 8 and 9. The first day is dedicated to Certified Turfgrass Professional (CTP) training and to the Landscape Design Process. The latter culminates with installing a landscape designed during the morning session. CTP training continues on the second day but that is also the day dedicated to pesticide and fertilizer classes.
TUESDAy
General Session:
The Green Industry’s Workforce and Developing Future Leaders
The Landscape Design Process
Certified Turfgrass Professional Training (Day One of Two)
wEDnESDAy
*except for CTP Training, ALL Wednesday activites are FREE for VTC members
Pesticide Recertification — Categories 3A, 3B and 60 (3A or 3B) are finished by 2:00; other categories are finished by 5:00
Review for General Pesticide Certification
Certified Fertilizer Applicator Training and Test
Certified Turfgrass Professional Training (Day Two of Two) c
Sn A PSHOTS F ROM
Vi R g ini A T E CH Fi E LD D A y
MAy 20, 2019
weed Science Ph.D. candidate John Brewer shows the VA golf Research Field Day crowd the results of their low input turf weed management trial.
Turf pathology Ph.D. candidate wendell Hutchens details fungicide activity on leaf spot on ultradwarf bermudagrass greens.
Dr. Shawn Askew discusses broadleaf weed control programs on Champion bermudagrass putting green turf.
MAy 21, 2019
Atlee High School teacher Marc Moran, CSFM, and Liberty University sports field manager Tyler Bergin demonstrate the keys to successful logo painting at the 2019 VSTMA Field Day in Lynchburg.
The VSTMA Field Day group was welcomed to Liberty University’s williams Field to kick off the 2019 Sports Turf Field Day.
Brian Hinkley, CSFM, described the management program he employs on Liberty University’s Osborne Field, the 2018 STMA Soccer Field of the year, to the attendees of the 2019 VSTMA Field Day.
Can Lawn Mowing and Maintenance BoxWooD BLiGht? SPreAD
By Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Question: A client has English boxwoods and is worried about the possibility of our lawn service company spreading the disease around their property. Are there any concerns?
Answer from: Elizabeth Bush and Mary Ann Hansen, Extension Plant Pathologists, in the Plant Disease Clinic in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that was first found in Virginia in 2011 and has subsequently spread to many parts of Virginia. When susceptible boxwood, such as English boxwood, are infected, management of the disease by fungicides is not effective. The disease is devastating to landscapes with susceptible boxwood (Figure 1).
How the boxwood blight fungus spreads.
In Virginia, initial introduction and spread of the disease occurred by planting infected boxwood. Subsequently, the disease spread to nearby boxwood in localized areas (e.g. neighborhoods, towns). The boxwood blight fungus produces sticky spores, which easily adhere to clothing, equipment, animals, shoes, etc. and enable the pathogen to hitchhike to new locations on these items. It can also be spread to new locations in infected leaves that are blown by mowers or leaf blowers. Lawn maintenance professionals should be aware that activities such as mowing and leaf blowing can spread the disease to nearby landscapes. Additionally, boxwood blight-infested lawn maintenance equipment (e.g. spreaders, hoses, mowers, vehicles) or workers with boots or clothing infested with the sticky spores can spread the fungus to a new location. Spread of boxwood blight on professional lawn mowers moving from property to property was suspected to have occurred in several Virginia localities last year. This resulted in outbreaks of the disease on boxwood in entire neighborhoods and at least one small historic
Fi G u re 1:
The boxwood blight fungus causes severe defoliation on susceptible boxwood.
Virginia town with landscapes highly populated by susceptible English and American boxwood. This occurred during a period of prolonged rainfall, which resulted in epidemic levels of the disease and devasted boxwood landscapes in the affected locations.
Tactics to avoid spread of boxwood blight.
Educate employees to recognize boxwood and boxwood blight symptoms. Laminated boxwood blight wallet cards are available through your local Extension office (https:// ext.vt.edu/offices.html); these have images of the characteristic symptoms of the disease and include a link to the Boxwood Blight Task Force website. This website includes comprehensive information on the disease, as well as an image gallery of symptoms of the disease and downloadable best management practices (BMPs). The wallet card is available in both English and Spanish. We recommend distributing a wallet card to your employees and familiarizing yourself with the tactics to avoid spreading the disease detailed in the BMPs.
When possible, wash equipment between properties, especially if you have worked on a property where you suspect boxwood blight may be present. It is advisable to sanitize equipment as well (Sanitation recommendations are available on the Boxwood Blight website.) Cleaning and sanitizing the undercarriage of the mower deck at the end of the day is a relatively simple management strategy that would minimize the chance of spreading the disease. If you have a customer with a highly valued boxwood landscape, discuss the situation with the customer; there may be alternative approaches to maintaining such landscapes (e.g. using the customer’s mower). You can also organize the daily work-flow to mitigate the risk of spreading boxwood blight. For example, if a ‘risk level’ for boxwood blight is known among properties, always work on properties at low risk of having boxwood blight first and move to higher risk properties later in the day. If boxwood blight is diagnosed in a landscape, avoid that landscape until the boxwood and boxwood leaf debris have been removed to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. c
Photo by Adria Bordas
A Threat to Trees and Shrubs in Virginia L A n T e rnf L y S P o T T e D T he
By eric Day, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech
The spotted lanternfly (SLF) was detected in Virginia in January 2018. It is an invasive planthopper that was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. In Pennsylvania and its native range, SLF is a pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and apples. It is commonly associated with tree-ofheaven, Ailanthus altissima. It has the potential to be a serious pest of agriculture and home gardens in Virginia.
identification
The early nymphs are wingless, black, and have white spots on the body and legs. The later stage nymph develops red patches over the body while retaining the white-spot pattern. Adult SLF are approximately 1" long and ½" wide. The legs and head are black, while the abdomen is yellow with broad, black bands on top and bottom. Its front wings
Early black and white nymphs
Full grown nymph showing red
Adult with folded wings
Adult showing hind wings
are light-brown/grey with black spots and dashed black lines at the tip. The hind wings have scarlet red and black sections that are separated by a white stripe. At rest, the SLF shows light-brown, grayish wings with black spots held “tent-like” over its body. Adult females are distinguished by the presence of a red spot on the end of the abdomen.
SLF egg masses contain 30–50 eggs, are 1–1.5" long and ½–¾" wide, grayish-brown in color, and covered with a grey, waxy coating (newly laid egg masses are somewhat shiny). Old egg masses appear as rows of 30–50 brownish seed-like deposits in 4–7 columns, measuring roughly 1" long.
Hosts
Although SLF is most commonly found on Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven), it can be found on over 70 other species of trees and is a pest of grapes, hops, peaches, and other tree fruits. In Pennsylvania where it is established in 13 counties, it occurs in extreme numbers in backyards and negatively impacts human activity.
Signs and symptoms
Since the SLF produce sugary secretions called honeydew, look for the black sooty mold that grows on the honeydew. The sooty mold will cover branches, trunks, and man-made objects under the tree. In addition, some of the honeydew will ferment, leaving a vinegar smell. The black sooty mold makes it appear like a fire has scorched the area.
For information on SPOTTED LAnTERnFLy
See: ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly
if you think you have found the SPOTTED LAnTERnFLy
Submit the sample to your nearest local Cooperative Extension Office: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html
Or submit a picture electronically: https://ask.extension.org/groups/ 1981/ask c
Egg masses
5 Steps to CREATing A POLLinATOR-FRiEnDLy HABiTAT
By Dr. Danesha Seth Carley, Director, SIPMC & NC IPM Coordinator , North Carolina State University and Dr. Terri Billeisen, Extension Associate, North Carolina State University
Insects are the most common and abundant pollinators in the world. Although bees may be the most wellknown insect pollinators, there are many other insect species, including butterflies, moths, wasps, flies and beetles, which also play an important role in plant pollination. Due to increased interest in pollinator and wildlife communities in turfgrass environments, we are conducting a study examining how the implementation of pollinator-friendly habitat on established golf courses impact pollinator populations. In the spring and summer of 2018, we set out across the state, sampling for pollinators in managed turfgrass environments to determine which insects were already present prior to establishing refuge areas the following season. This fall we returned to these sites to plant pollinator-friendly seed mixes. After some trial and error, we have identified a few key things to know prior to establishing pollinator habitat. Our five summarized key steps to creating pollinator-friendly habitat on your golf course or managed turfgrass area are as follows:
1. identify suitable location and prep the site
• S elect a site on your golf course that will be visible to members but is out of the way of traffic or errant golf balls. For our research, we selected areas lining cart paths and natural rough areas, especially around tees and along tree lines. If you have a lot of trees on your course, be sure to choose a site that gets at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Eliminate plant competition by removing shrubs, small trees and unwanted plants either by hand cultivation or selective herbicide application. If a controlled spring burn is an option for your site, it can help to eliminate brush cover and undesirable weeds.
A fter all weed roots are dead, switch to shallow cultivations timed to eliminate freshly germinated weed seedlings – generally two weeks after the first cultivation.
If you are planting your large site to pollinator-friendly seeds in the fall, use a harrow or drag to produce a smooth, clod-free seed bed. If your soil is subject to erosion, consider deferring planting until spring and first plant a winter cover crop in the previous fall.
If necessary, a rototiller can be used to break up the ground and soften the soil. It is important to “till” only as deep as necessary to remove old roots. Four to six inches deep should do the trick. Drag the area to break up any large clumps. After a final dragging, the soil will be ready to plant.
2. Seed the prepped area
• Seed can be applied either by hand or spreader (Fig. 1). Scatter the seed slowly to ensure an even distribution. Sand, compost, peat moss, or moistened sawdust can be added to the seed mix to increase the volume of what you are spreading for small areas. For large sites, dividing your planting area and seed mix into smaller parts can facilitate even seed distribution. Keep in mind that sand may be too heavy as a filler for very large areas.
• A surefire method of sowing seeds that encourages an even application: separate the seed you’re planting, no matter the amount, into roughly two equal parts. Put the first half in a clean bucket (or coffee can, or anything else handy), and then add in roughly eight parts of dry filler to one part of seed. (Always make sure that your filler is dry – especially if it has been stored outdoors. Wet filler tends to clump and can cause your seed to be applied unevenly.)
• Y ou’ll have the best chance of an even application if you scatter your seeds in two sowings. To do this, take the container with one half of your seeds and sow them as evenly as possible while walking across your site from north to south. Then take the other half and apply in a similar manner, this time walking from east to west.
Seed application with spreader
install signs or barriers indicating newly-planted areas to prevent accidental mowing or spraying
native Long-horned bee on Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan), at Pinehurst no. 2
A native bee called an Agapostemon on a blanket flower (a native plant in nC)
• P ost-seeding: it is a good idea to pack or roll the newlyseeded area to firm the soil around the seed, reduce moisture loss and discourage weed growth. For smallsized patches, you can use your feet to compress seeds into the soil. For medium-sized gardens and beds, lay a piece of cardboard or plywood over the soil and walk all over it. This will evenly distribute your weight across the soil, giving the same compression effect as using a professional roller. For large, meadow-sized plantings, you can use a Seed Roller – either as a tractor attachment or as a walk-behind tool.
• N o matter if you’re planting in spring or fall, there is generally no need to cover the seed. Wildflower seeds are often very tiny, and many require light to germinate. Unlike veggie seeds, which are typically planted in holes and buried within the soil, wildflower seeds are scattered on top of the soil and left exposed.
3. irrigation
• Wildflower seeds and seedlings must stay moist until they are four to six inches tall (usually four to six weeks). Prior to reaching this height, the seedlings are unable to access enough groundwater via their roots to grow. Monitor the seeded area for the first few weeks, especially if the site has not received any rainfall, and wet the soil as needed (1/8 in. should be sufficient).
4. Mowing
• Unlike other flower beds, wildflower areas can be mowed which will help prevent quick-growing weeds from excessively shading the new native seedlings. Mow if weedy growth reaches 8–10 inches and cut everything to a height of 4–5 inches. Don’t worry too much about trimming your wildflowers. They should be ok, especially if the weed competition is reduced. Stop mowing at the end of the first season. If weeds are thick in the beginning of the second season, mow or spot-mow once or twice. If you choose to mow again to knock back any remaining weeds, raise the cutting height to 10–12 inches.
5. Long-term Management
• Most native plantings, after two or three growing seasons, need to be burned annually for the next five or more years to become well established. Burning yields better growth and more flowers. If a planting is not periodically burned, a thatch layer can build up over the years, causing some native species to grow poorly or even to die out completely. Burning is the single most important management practice for native plantings. Burning in March or April will stimulate growth of native plants and give them a competitive edge over weeds. Always use caution and common sense when burning. Follow local fire regulations, obtain permits and have plenty of tools and help on hand.
• I f burning is not permitted at your site or if you prefer not to use this method, you can mow or manually remove thatch in early spring (late February to mid-April). Last year’s dead stems will not hide the new growth and flowers, and the sun’s rays still will be able to warm the soil.
Of course, there are always challenges when establishing new managed wildflower or native areas. Be sure to mark newly planted sites with flags, a border, or a sign (Fig. 2) to alert maintenance personnel that the area should not be mowed or sprayed. Be sure to monitor the site each week to check for seedling sprouting and growth, adequate soil moisture and any signs of mechanical disruption. It may be useful to take pictures of flowering plants in the spring and summer, along with visiting pollinator species, to include in newsletters to members.
Remember, attracting beneficial insects to a managed turfgrass area is easier than you think. Golf courses provide so many resources in terms of irrigation, fertilizer, and other inputs to encourage healthy turfgrass growth, and adding some wildflowers to the environment takes minimal additional effort. The result will be a beautiful, site-enhancing feature that not only provides important refuge for beneficial, pollinating insect species, but an additional conversation piece for your members as well. c
Bumblebee on wildflowers at Pinehurst no. 2
P R OBLEMS C O MMO n
OF S P ORTS Fi E LDS
By Mr. Michael Richard, Mississippi State University, Turfgrass Extension Associate
Across the region, youth of all ages are enjoying America’s greatest past times. There’s no denying that sports are interwoven into the fabric of who we are as a nation. Some of my fondest memories as a child were made on the baseball, football, or soccer field. In my current role, I have the pleasure of visiting high school sports fields. The coaches and field managers I meet have a great passion for providing the best playing surface for their athletes. They juggle several job responsibilities and have limited budgets – making field maintenance a difficult task. In my travels, I have noticed some common maintenance practices that are lacking or in need of correction.
Cultivation
Compacted soils may be the biggest constraint to proper turfgrass growth. Compaction occurs from excessive traffic that compresses soil particles, which restricts water and air movement through the soil profile. Turfgrass roots may be unable to penetrate the soil, which decreases turfgrass resilience to wear. Soil of our sports fields must be physically modified to relieve compaction, either modestly on a yearly basis, or more aggressively on a less frequent basis. The most effective way to do this is through annual aerification and topdressing. Aerification involves removing or loosening soil to relieve compaction, which improves drainage
and increases water and air infiltration to turfgrass roots. This is best accomplished with a hollow tine core-aerifier that pulls soil plugs (Figure 1). Core aerification is most effective in conjunction with sand topdressing. Applying 1/8 to 1/4 inch of coarse sand during or immediately after core removal will fill the holes and help alter soil structure (Figure 2). Sand topdressing aids in making the aerification process last longer. Both of these processes should take place when the turfgrass is actively growing to help it recuperate more quickly.
Mowing
Mowing is the most important, but often most mismanaged, aspect of sports field management. A properly mown sports field promotes lateral turfgrass growth, which increases shoot density and provides a denser turfgrass canopy. Mowing height and frequency directly impact the playability of sports fields. Hybrid bermudagrass sports fields perform best when mown between roughly 0.75 to 1.0 inches in canopy height. When bermudagrass is mown above these heights it becomes puffy and less wear tolerant (Figure 3).
Correct mowing should never remove more than one third of the leaf blade. For example, if target mowing height is 1 inch, we mow when the grass reaches 1.5 inches.
yearly core aerification relieves soil compaction, improves drainage, and increases air and water infiltration.
Frequent sand topdressing aids turfgrass health and improves field firmness.
Depending on temperature, fertilization, and irrigation, fields may need to be mown every 2 to 3 days during summer months (an amount that many low-maintenance field managers are not comfortable with). An easy way to know if your mowing practices are adequate is by checking the turfgrass color. The grass should be green from the soil surface to the tip. Brown stems indicate improper mowing — generally too high and infrequent. Gradually decrease mowing height over the course of two weeks to avoid scalping the turfgrass. Properly aerified and topdressed fields should allow mowing, even when conditions might otherwise be too wet. If fields are not able to be mown during wet conditions, we must raise mowing heights or plan on removing clippings in order to prevent thatch accumulation.
Soil Testing/Fertilization
The cornerstone of any agronomic program is a soil test. When we visit a doctor, they check our vitals to get a base line of our current health. Analogously, a soil test is a checkup for your field’s soil chemical health. A basic soil test measures pH and nutrient levels. Soil pH is measured on a 1 to 14 scale, with 1 being highly acidic, 14 being highly alkaline, and 7 being neutral. Bermudagrass grows best at a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. If the soil test reveals an acidic soil (less than 5.8), limestone should be added to raise pH.
3
improperly mown hybrid bermudagrass is less tolerant to wear.
Unless soil pH is low, lime is not generally recommended. If soil pH is high, it may be due to some underlying soil characteristics that are not always easy to solve. Sometimes in extreme circumstances, elemental sulfur is applied to acidify excessively alkaline soils, but routine fertilization and topdressing generally counteract alkaline conditions, so sulfur is less commonly recommended. Routine fertilizer applications should also be based on soil test results. Excessive nutrients are wasteful, decrease plant health due to excessive growth, and may be harmful to the environment. Most soil test results provide recommendations for improving pH and for replacing deficient nutrients.
Accurate Sprayer Calibration
Calibrating a sprayer involves selecting the proper nozzles, pressure, and speed of travel. There are several different ways to accurately calibrate a sprayer, but the simplest is the 1/128th acre method, also called the “baby bottle” method. The spray collected from a single nozzle measured in ounces directly converts to gallons per acre regardless of the number of nozzles on the boom. Because there are 128 ounces in a gallon, the ounces collected from 1/128th of an acre will equal gallons of solution per acre. Follow the 10 easy steps below to avoid needless chemical waste, improper application, and potential turf injury.
FiGure
FiGure
FiGure
1. F ill sprayer with water. Use only clean water to calibrate sprayer.
2. Measure the distance (in inches) between nozzles on the spray boom. If your sprayer has only one nozzle, this number equals the expected spray width. Then refer to chart below to obtain test course distance (in feet).
3. Measure the course distance (in feet) according to the chart and flag it for easy visibility.
4. Drive or walk the test course at an acceptable spraying speed with the sprayer on. Make note of the engine RPMs, and most importantly, record the seconds it takes to travel the measured distance between the two flags. Be sure to take a “moving start” to the beginning flag, and continue moving beyond the ending flag to maintain a uniform speed within the flagged distance.
5. Park the tractor/sprayer, set the brakes, but keep the engine RPMs at the same setting used to drive the test course.
6. T o check the uniformity of all nozzles on the boom, collect the spray from each nozzle for exactly 1 minute. If the flow rate of any spray tip is 10 percent greater or less than that of the others, replace it. Whatever the type of sprayer tips you use, be sure they are all the same type. Make sure strainers are present within the nozzle body, as the absence or presence can significantly impact tip output. Strainers also protect spray tips and prevent clogging.
7. Make any final sprayer pressure adjustments (this will vary with the type of spray tips you use and the gallons per minute you wish to spray through them).
8. Using a plastic measuring container that is marked in ounces, collect the water sprayed from one nozzle for the same amount of time it took to drive the test course.
9. The amount of water collected in ounces will equal the gallons applied per acre.
10. Last, but not least, be sure to read all product labels for proper application information. c
Michael Richard is an Extension Associate at Mississippi State University. He coordinates the Mississippi Sports Field Maintenance Clinics – a MSU Extension program designed to assist low-maintenance sports field managers with providing safe playing surfaces for Mississippi youths. He resides in Starkville, MS with his wife and four children. His hobbies include hunting and RV’ing.
• #1 in Turf Quality (NTEP)
• #1 in Cold Tolerance (NTEP)
• #1 in Spring Green-Up (NTEP)
• Uses 18% less water than TifTuf*
• Very dense with 1/8” HOC possible
• Beautiful & Extremely wear tolerant
*Study sponsored by USGA & USDA, conducted by researchers at Oklahoma State University, Evapotranspiration Rates of Turf Bermudagrasses under Nonlimiting Soil Moisture Conditions in Oklahoma, published in Crop Science, March 2018.
Developed by the turfgrass experts at Oklahoma State University
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As water restrictions tighten in many drought-stricken areas of the U.S., golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, property owners and sod producers increasingly value drought-tolerant turfgrass. Selected for its superior drought and wear tolerance, TiFTUF® has been rigorously developed and tested for more than two decades by a team of researchers led by Dr. Wayne Hanna and Dr. Brian Schwartz at UGA’s Tifton Campus.
TiFTUF® was bred in 1992, as one of 27,700 experimental bermudagrass genotypes. in 1999, ninety of the most promising genotypes were planted under a rainout shelter and evaluated through 2001 under deficit irrigation. Under this drought stress, TiFTUF® (tested as experimental name DT-1) maintained its quality and green color the longest. in 2011 continuing drought study testing established that TiFTUF® requires 38% less water than Tifway. Since then, TiFTUF® has been further tested in 19 drought-stress trials, 2 sports field wear tolerance trials and 4 irrigated, non-stress trials at The University of Georgia, The University of Florida, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University as part of the Federal Specialty Crop research initiative (SCri) grant. it has now been determined that TiFTUF® will become the University research standard by which all drought tolerance will be determined.
in 2013, TiFTUF® was entered into the National Turfgrass evaluation Program (NTeP) bermudagrass trials where it is being evaluated in 20 locations across the United States until 2017. NTeP results from 2014 reveal that TiFTUF® scored the highest quality ratings in the following test locations: North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and California. TiFTUF® also ranked in the highest statistical group for quality in Alabama, Georgia, indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri.
Fine textured and dense, TiFTUF® exhibits several additional stellar qualities, including superior wear tolerance, early spring greenup, excellent fall color retention and extremely rapid grow-in. if you’re seeking a truly superior turfgrass for performance, aesthetics and sustainability, you’ve just found it.
“WhileresearchingTifTuf®,iwasimpressedbythe cultivar’stolerancetoadverseconditions,particu- larlydrought,lowfertility,trafficandcoolweather. inthetrialworkiconducted,TifTuf®wasthefirst cultivartogreenupinthespring,thelasttogo dormantduringdroughtconditionsandthemost toleranttotraffic.Othernotablecharacteristics ofTifTuf®includefineleaftextureandhighturf density,aswellasaggressivegrowthandestablish- mentrates.”
Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., Oregon State University
“Withitscombinationofdroughttolerance,aggressive growthandsuperiorfallcolor,ithasagreatplace intheindustry.”
Grady Miller, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
“italsosurviveswintersinKansas.With94%survival, itisnodifferentthanLatitude36TM,Yukon,PatriotTM andRiviera.”
Jared Hoyle, Ph.D., Kansas State University
“TifTuf®performedverywellonourlarge-scale LinearGradientirrigationSystemattheuniversity offlorida.itmaintainedgoodqualitywithsignif- icantlylesswatercomparedtotheothercommer- ciallyproducedcultivars.”
J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida
“WefoundevidencethatTifTuf®usedlesswater thanTifway419andTifSport.it’sjustaverytough anddrought-tolerantgrass.Assoonasitquits raining,TifTuf®isstillperformingwell,unlike othersthatcanstarttofail.”
Brian Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Georgia
“Withtoday’sextremeenvironmentalconditions,there hasneverbeenagreaterneedforasuperiordrought- andwear-tolerantgrasslikeTifTuf®.itsaggressivegrow-inundercoldanddroughtconditions makesTifTuf®theenvironmentallyandfinancially successfulturfgrasschoice.Thisrigorouslytested grassthatmaintainsitscolorandqualitywillcreate themostsustainable,environmentallyfriendlylawns, sportsfieldsandgolfcoursesaroundtheworld.”
Ken Morrow, Co-Founder of The Turfgrass Group
For more information on licensing opportunities, please contact: The Turfgrass Group, Inc. (770) 207-1500 or (770) 710-8139 www.THeTUrFGrASSGrOUP.com
USDA drought-tolerance trial (left to right): TiFTUF®, Latitude 36™ and Celebration™
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