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DEPARTMENTS
By Mike Jiggens
Wimbledon’s courts in Canadian hands
Very impressed. That best sums up my opinion of February’s annual conference of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association in Richmond, B.C. It marked the first time I’ve been to a stand-alone WCTA conference during my tenure with Turf & Rec . All previous conferences I’ve attended were jointly presented with the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.
My personal highlight was the pair of presentations made by Grant Cantin, head groundsman at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. When I first learned of these presentations – the first of which was a secondary keynote address – I realized that lawn tennis court management was a theme never before examined in the pages of this publication. I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that a sport in which I was once an active participant could be played on a grass surface. I had never played on anything but asphalt.
Although I was pumped to listen to these presentations from the guy charged with the courts maintenance at the home of the Wimbledon Championships, I had some concern that I might find myself listening to a chap with a thick Scottish brogue and that I’d find the presentation almost incomprehensible. Imagine my surprise to learn that
Cantin was Canadian – a native of Stony Plain, Alta. – and whose accent hasn’t swayed one bit in spite of having lived in England the past 17 years.
The graduate of Olds College was perfectly understandable and presented an informative and entertaining account of what goes on behind the scenes at Wimbledon as well as the day-to-day management of the grounds at this exclusive, nearly century-old club.
Who would have thought the guy in charge of the grounds at England’s most famous tennis facility was a Canadian?
I had the opportunity to eat lunch with Cantin following his first presentation and learned more about what led
Who would have thought the guy in charge of the grounds at England’s most famous tennis facility was a Canadian?
him to England in the first place. He now has dual citizenship but is torn between remaining in Europe to continue his role as head groundsman at the tennis club or returning to Canada to re-enter the golf industry. Undoubtedly, it’s going to be a tough decision to make, knowing you hold down a prestigious position in one country and yet have family and friends you don’t get to see much on the other side of the Atlantic.
Unfortunately, the deadline for this issue coincided with my return from the west coast, so the story of Cantin and his maintenance of the lawn courts will have to wait until our April/May edition.
Travel arrangements prevented me from taking in the entire conference, but what I was able to get to was most impressive. It was a first-class conference and afforded me the opportunity to actually meet face to face with some people I had previously corresponded with only by email or telephone.
The industry conference season is all but over for another year. As I write this, I am gearing up for the CGSA conference in Banff and look forward to the editorial opportunities it has to offer.
This is to be the final offering of the CGSA conference in its current format. By next year, the association will join forces with the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada and the PGA of Canada for the first Canadian Golf Industry Show. Each group will offer an independent conference, but will share a three-in-one trade show, keynote speaker and delegate reception. It will be similar in nature to the Golf Industry Show held annually in the United States each February.
This year marks only the second Ontario Turfgrass Symposium I have missed since 1995. Its timing coincided with that of the WCTA conference and, having been invited to that one to serve as a speaker, I was unable to be at two places at once. I’m sure the OTS was its usual smash success.
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HUSQVARNA PROVIDES THE TOTAL SOLUTION
Complaints leveled against contractor not doing snow work
At least 17 complaints have been leveled against a snow contractor in the Kitchener-Waterloo area who took customers’ money, but failed to show to remove snow.
Complaints against Snow Bros. have been filed with the Better Business Bureau, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Kijiji, which housed an advertisement for the company. When the Better Business Bureau reached out to Snow Bros., its owner said the company was filing for bankruptcy.
Kijiji has since removed the company’s advertisement.
Resilient ash borers surviving extreme winter temperatures
It looks as though the twin polar vortexes that hit Manitoba this winter have failed to kill the emerald ash borer. Ash trees will continue to be at risk, pest management biologist Fiona Ross says.
Lab tests show that about 75 per cent of the insects die at temperatures colder than minus 30 degrees Celsius. The numbers outside of lab conditions are probably lower, Ross said.
BMO Field’s turf being conned to think it’s May, not February
The head groundskeeper for Toronto’s BMO Field says he has to be part scientist and part con man when getting the field game-ready for play in February.
Robert Heggie said he is trying to convince the turf that it is May and not February, and is trying to be careful that it doesn’t think it’s July.
Watering in February, however, can be tricky with ice possible.
Lower Mainland residents using too much salt on surfaces
While British Columbia’s Lower Mainland continues to deal with an abnormally challenging winter, salt usage on roads and sidewalks has been excessive to the point where such covered areas feel like salt flats, one horticulturalist says. The city is putting down just the right amount of salt, but homeowners and businesses are overdoing it, he says, posing an environmental challenge.
Egan Davis said the amount of salt put down was extreme, caking the sidewalks and turning them white. He said he saw some people shaking bags out.
As a horticulture instructor at the University of British Columbia, Davis said rain will cause salt to run off hard surfaces and leach into the soil, possibly burning plant roots. Additionally, it can wash into storm drains.
This poses a risk for spawning salmon. Saltier water in spawning streams can lead to egg mortality and deformities in adult fish.
City staff, who have been
trained to calibrate the right amounts of salt to be put down on roads, are not the problem. Davis said it is the city’s homeowners and business people who tend to overdo it.
Residents were being asked to use only what was necessary for safety purposes. The suggestion was one handful of salt per square metre. Once “crunching” is heard when walking on salt, it’s a sign that too much has been applied, Davis said.
He said it’s best to put down salt before it snows when surfaces are already a little damp.
Ice-melting alternatives have been used in other Canadian municipalities. Calgary has been experimenting with beet brine that has been found to work in temperatures as cold as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The product is also non-corrosive, unlike salt that causes rusting in vehicles.
The Vancouver area experienced a not-so-traditional winter in the early part of February.
Number of complaints leveled against snow contractor
75% Percentage of insects killed by cold tempeatures
Health and safety
By the CCOHS
Measuring up your safety performance
Looking closely at how you measure your organization’s safety performance is an important step toward improving it. However, finding the best way to measure safety performance can be difficult. Using leading and lagging indicators to measure safety performance can be an effective way to prevent workplace incidents.
This process involves measuring both your bottom line safety results and how well your workplace is doing at accident and incident prevention. By controlling leading indicators, such as the amount of safety training you provide, you will control your lagging indicators, such as your injury rate.
Lagging indicators
Lagging indicators measure a company’s health and safety performance by tracking accident statistics. Examples include:
• injury frequency and severity
• lost workdays
• incidents and near misses
• workers’ compensation costs
These metrics are used to evaluate the overall past effectiveness of your workplace health and safety program. The numbers tell you how many people got hurt and how badly.
The pros and cons
The downside to using only lagging indicators of safety performance is that lagging indicators don’t tell you how well your company is doing at preventing incidents and accidents. Lagging indicators only report on what has already happened – that is, they “lag” behind reality.
For example, when an employer sees a low number of lost workdays they may believe that they do not
have a safety issue. This false sense of security leads them to ignore the possibility that there are health and safety issues in the workplace that could contribute to a future increase in lost workdays.
Lagging indicators show when a desired safety outcome has failed, or when a health and safety objective has not been achieved. The learning comes from recognizing a past mistake, and results in the implementation of reactive rather than proactive measures.
Regardless, it is important to monitor lagging indicator data because evidence of increasing incidence of work injury and/or illness is a signal that improvements are needed in the workplace safety system. It’s worth noting however, that many workplaces have too few injuries to be able to distinguish real trends from random occurrences, and there is also the possibility that not all injuries are reported.
Leading indicators
Leading indicators are proactive, preventative, and predictive measures to identify and eliminate risks and hazards in the workplace that can cause incidents and injuries. Examples include:
• the percentage of managers with occupational health and safety training
• the percentage of workers with health and safety training
• the frequency of health and safety meetings
• the frequency of ergonomic assessments
• the frequency of safety audits
When using leading indicators, it’s important to make your metrics based on impact. For example, don’t just track the number and
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) promotes the total well being of workers in Canada by providing information, training, education, systems and solutions that support health and safety programs and injury and illness prevention. www.ccohs.ca
By controlling leading indicators, you will control lagging indicators
attendance of safety meetings and training sessions – measure the impact of the safety meeting by determining the number of people who met the key learning objectives of the meeting/training.
Why use leading indicators?
Leading indicators are focused on future safety performance and continuous improvement. These measures are proactive in nature and report what employees and management are doing on a regular basis to prevent injuries. Leading indicators help identify and understand the factors affecting the risk of injury. Use of this information will help identify ways to prevent the occurrence of work injury and illness.
Leading indicators that are connected to specific occupational health and safety program goals introduce a real level of accountability for those goals. But beyond tracking progress towards achieving specific goals, leading indicators can also measure and monitor their relative importance of health and safety within the organization.
Leading indicators can work to complement the more traditional outcome-based measures of lagging indicators, and can be used to balance out some of their limitations.
Use lagging and leading indicators
Using both
and
safety performance is effective in preventing workplace incidents.
Measurement is an important part of any management process and forms the basis for continuous improvement. Using lagging and leading indicators together will help provide a solid, bigger picture on what is and is not working in your occupational health and safety program. Therefore, you should plan to use a balance of predictive leading indicators as well as the more outcome-based lagging indicators. Every organization and workplace is unique, so it is important to look at which indicators will provide you with the best information.
leading
lagging indicators to measure
Managing greens in summer extremes
The “spring training” put in helps with the summer “marathon”
By Mike Jiggens
Managing putting greens can be compared to running in a marathon. Golf superintendents must do as much as possible during the spring to “train” for the marathon that is typically “run” in July and August, and sometimes into September.
Adam Moeller, education director for the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) Green Section, used the analogy in January during a presentation he made in Collingwood at the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association’s annual conference.
The “spring training” period is crucial, he said in his address about managing putting greens during extreme weather conditions.
“The rubber really hits the road once we get into those difficult weather conditions in summer.”
A number of critical factors are necessary for maintaining healthy greens, yet superintendents may not have control over all of them. Having the proper growing environment, for example, is critical, but dense tree cover could pose a hindrance. Many club members and owners are reluctant to want to remove trees, thereby reducing the amount of sunlight and air movement the putting greens should receive.
Strategic tree removal will greatly improve growing environments, Moeller said, but added, “It’s much easier said than done.”
Proper drainage is also imperative, especially during heavy rain events. Golf courses ill equipped with good drainage will struggle. Of the two critical factors – a good growing environment and proper drainage – the former is the more important of the two, Moeller said.
“We’ve seen plenty of putting greens, plenty of tees and plenty of fairways that struggle, even though they have excellent drainage, but are located in a tough environment.”
Superintendents can control how they manage their greens and how aggressive they can be doing it, but a balance must be struck between managing healthy turf and keeping greens playable, Moeller said, noting the key elements include mowing, fertilizing, watering and topdressing.
“You need to have that balance with how hard you’re pushing for it to play excellent and how hard you’re making sure you don’t go too far over the edge. We’re not going to suffer some turf loss for the sake of fast greens.”
Weather dictates what a superintendent does over the course of the next three, five or seven days.
“We need to be on our ‘A’ game at all times with water management.”
Moeller said if water isn’t used carefully, there are apt to be consequences. Too much promotes disease while too little encourages wilt. Either way, it leads to complaints among golfers.
“Water management, I think, is the most important
Adam Moeller, education director for the USGA Green Section, takes a closer look at a putting green that suffered winter damage.
thing that we do on a daily basis to keep our grass healthy.”
Proper water management can be challenging for many superintendents who have staffing limitations, Moeller said, adding there is only so much a superintendent, his assistant or whoever is charged with watering is able to do. The more resources a superintendent has, the better he’ll be at managing water by hand, and the benefits will be realized.
CHALLENGE OF FERTILITY
Fertility can also present a challenge, Moeller said.
“We need to have a good balance between our fertility program and everything else that impacts growth because if we start to lose control of growth, we’re losing control of clipping yields and losing control of how strong the grass is – the carbohydrate reserves in the plant – and we’re losing control of how we can present the golf course from a playability standpoint.”
Green speeds could register a 10 on the Stimpmeter one day, but the next day control of the greens might be lost and it’s a struggle to get a reading of nine.
Moeller said soils must be managed to ensure optimal
organic matter levels are maintained and are diluted with sand topdressing, adding it’s key from both a turf health and playability standpoint. He warned that can be easy to lose sight of when managing golf courses during weather extremes.
Grass species is a necessary consideration when managing greens and striving toward their optimal health. If poa annua greens are being managed to compete against healthy bentgrass greens, playing quality can be equal, but one grass will be stronger and better equipped to withstand different environmental challenges. When entering the heat of summer, a superintendent must look at what he’s seeing with bentgrass populations versus poa populations. Many wish to stress the poa and get more bentgrass rooting on their greens to strike a 50-50 balance of the two.
Moeller said that might look promising in the spring yet when summer arrives and all grasses are struggling, it becomes a challenge to keep one species dominant over the other. It depends on the type of growing environments and how the greens are being managed. In situations where there is 60 to 80 per cent poa cover, “You’ve got to manage those greens that much more carefully.”
Poa still makes for a “fantastic” golf surface, he said, and it can hold up to the best bentgrass greens, but a superintendent must have all of the available resources to manage it. The superintendent with primarily poa greens must have a “shorter leash” and be prepared to “back off” a little bit quicker than his neighbour who has more bentgrass. Although it makes for an ideal putting surface, poa is “finicky” and tricky to manage, Moeller said.
“In summer when we’re managing our greens, poa can go away real quick. Bentgrass will, too. It’s a stronger grass, but that doesn’t imply you should get rid of your poa because it’s weaker. You should just be aware of the need to arm yourself with the necessary resources to properly manage it.”
Seven of the top 10-ranked golf courses in the United States have poa annua greens, but all have the necessary resources to properly manage the annual bluegrass.
Increasing bentgrass populations over time is one way to make greens more reliable and healthier, Moeller said, adding it’s a smart option. But many golf courses purposely choose to manage their poa through resources rather than try to introduce more bentgrass.
When a superintendent is “training for the summer marathon,” he might find the best-laid plans could go by the wayside, Moeller said.
“As turf managers, we react. We change our plans instantly if equipment breaks down, if the weather changes or it someone doesn’t show up for work. We’re constantly fighting this issue.”
Moeller created a scenario for consideration: it’s the
Grass species is a necessary consideration when managing greens and striving toward their optimal health.
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second or third week in July and greens are healthy. The superintendent has well managed his greens, he’s adequately staffed, his equipment is in good working order and everything is going smoothly. Suddenly the weather takes a turn for the worse. Temperatures soar into the 30s, humidity levels rise, and ill-timed rain events occur, making for tougher grass-growing conditions.
“What’s the first thing you need to do so that your turf doesn’t suffer the consequences, because you don’t know how long this will last? Mid-July is only the midpoint of the golf season, and there is still a lot of golf to be played.”
He suggested the first thing a superintendent must do is to adjust his expectations and work on adjusting those to whom he reports, such as the club owner or greens committee. The superintendent must say, “The weather is starting to get bad. We have to adjust our programs on our greens.”
Such adjustments might slow them down a little bit, but they’ll remain smooth and true. Firmness might be off a little bit as well because more water will have to be thrown down.
“Mowing and rolling will probably be the first adjustment,” Moeller said, adding alternating between the two practices is recommended. Raising the mowing height is the next logical step. Because the superintendent won’t know how long the stress periods will last, he should begin with alternating between mowing and rolling and then adjusting his mowing height.
Even though the mowing height is being raised, the root system isn’t likely to get any deeper, he said. On the plus side, however, more leaf area is being created for the plant to capture energy and
Good drainage in imperative on a golf green, but having a good growing environment is even more important.
store carbohydrates. Raising the height to perhaps .125 inches could be helpful.
Beyond those strategies, Moeller said mower rollers could be switched up while the next approach might be to target roll around the hole to alleviate as much stress
will be your best guide. You know how strong your grass is. You know what looks right and what doesn’t look right.”
Superintendents find most of the issues involving their greens are related to summer stress. Moeller said the more experi-
‘We need to be on our A game at all times with water management’
as possible on the remainder of the green. Finally, mowing could be skipped altogether on the short term. He said it’s something even the highest-level golf courses resort to in extreme stress conditions.
“It’s really important to try to anticipate how quickly you need to respond based off of what you’re seeing. No doubt experience
ence they gain and the more they understand their golf course and putting greens, the better position they will be to back off in advance of significant stress conditions.
He added the superintendent must have “tough” conversations with his members to let them know when and why green speeds must be reeled in. The superintendent
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should also meet regularly with the club golf professional because he’s the individual who routinely speaks with golfers.
“Their (the pro’s) lack of turf knowledge is a benefit to them because they talk more easily in the golfer language.”
Moeller created another scenario: it’s mid-July, temperatures have been hot and a half-inch rain event has just occurred. Temperatures spike back up in the afternoon, closing in on 30 degrees. In this scenario, moisture meters are a valuable tool to have on hand, he said.
“Too much water is more lethal than too little. So less is more.”
He suggested everyone with a hose in his hand should have a moisture meter in the other to determine how much water needs to go into the soil. Depending on how well a golf course is staffed and how often maintenance workers can be dispatched to their greens, syringing can take place once an hour, from about noon until 7 p.m.
It’s during the heat of the summer when superintendents earn their salaries, Moeller said.
Good air movement is vital to keeping greens healthy, he said, adding if trees are preventing proper air circulation, then fans should be considered.
“In the heat of the summer – during the stress period – fans, I think, are more important than sunlight.”
Sunlight is still crucial, he said, but fans are second to none during the months of July and August. Fans have a downside, however. They can be costly, and many golf courses find they are noisy and an intrusion to the property’s aesthetics. Moeller said those critical of the cost of fans should know the alternative might be an increase in dollar spot applications, suggesting fans are a long-term infrastructure improvement.
“There’s no question they improve turf quality,” he said, adding it’s better to run fans 24 hours a day than simply during daytime hours. A Rutgers University study showed better root development when fans ran constantly rather than just during the day. Turf roots benefit not only from the round-the-clock operation of the fan, but from the natural cooling during the evening.
Marketing in landscaping is all about belonging
When customers see themselves in a
landscaper’s marketing
program, they feel a sense of belonging to the business
By Mike Jiggens
Marketing in the landscaping industry is about belonging, the owner of a Waterloo-based marketing firm says. Belonging isn’t “touchy-feely” but equates to revenue.
Alyssa Light of The Profitable Innovator, speaking in January at Landscape Ontario’s Congress in Toronto, said there is a way to create marketing that becomes self-propelling.
“The No. 1 thing that people want to feel is belonging,” she said.
According to a study, belonging is the primary emotion people want to feel and is also the No. 1 emotion they don’t feel. When customers see themselves in a landscaper’s marketing program, they feel a sense of belonging to the business.
“There is an opportunity here for you to connect with your audience.”
Light said landscape contractors could hold up a sieve and have prospects fall through it, thereby retaining the best quality clients. She said contractors first have to know how to position themselves, suggesting each time they create
a positioning statement, the objective is to let potential customers know what the company offers in a way that the customer says, “That’s me.” It’s their wish to say, “I want to be a part of that.”
Positioning statements should be simplified so that they make sense, and the fewer words the better, she said,
adding that if only three words describing a company could be printed on a business card with no logo and no other information, would the three words be able to identify the individual?
“If we took away everything else on your business card except for one sentence or two sentences about what you
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do, would we know who you are?”
Light exhibited a “superpower” she has that enables her to come up with marketing slogans on the spot. An audience member who owns a kitchen and bathroom outfitting business was the first to test Light’s unique ability. Learning that the business caters mainly to customers in the Burlington and Oakville lakeshore area – or a “keeping up with the Joneses” neighbourhood – Light came up with the slogan, “We create kitchens your neighbours want to have dinner in.”
The slogan addressed the marketing world’s NEWS compass points: name, explain, simplify and why. The “why,” she said, was “to keep up with the Joneses.”
Although Light’s audience members belonged to the landscaping industry in general, she challenged them to think about what industry they were “really in,” suggesting it would be a game changer for their marketing.
“Are you in the industry of creating safe backyards for new families? Are you in the industry of growing gardens in people’s backyards so they can eat fresh, even though they don’t have the time to garden? Are you in the industry of keeping seniors in their homes when they become widowed? You maintain the outside of their properties so they can stay in their homes. What industry are you actually in?”
Start with a question
A positioning statement is about starting a conversation, Light said, adding a good way to begin is by asking a question. Questions can include, “Do you ever feel like….?” or “Have you ever thought about….?”
When marketing to pre-qualified leads, “you should be able to close at least 30 to 50 per cent of those sales.”
The first element toward successful marketing, she said, is to be clever because that’s what will get people’s attention. She said a positioning statement should be thought of as a sieve. Leads are poured into it, but only the qualified leads go through, and it is those leads
that are targeted for marketing.
“When you blanket market, you don’t get anywhere,” Light said, adding the average callback in blanket marketing is only one to two per cent.
A strategy that has proven effective in a direct mail campaign is to hand-write the customer’s name on the envelope and purposely affix the stamp crooked. It gets people’s attention and “you get a 30 per cent higher open rate.”
Whether or not direct mail is utilized, Light suggested even the letters inside the envelope be hand written, acknowledging that it’s time-consuming and can lead to cramped hands, “but it pays off all the time.”
Another effective touch, she said, is to work with Canada Post to create a custom stamp that showcases a landscaper’s brand. It will cost a little more, but existing customers will feel attached to the brand’s depiction and it’s a way of promoting the brand to potential new customers.
Light talked about marketing boxes and how they can give customers a sense of belonging. She said qualified leads could be mailed small boxes containing dictionaries, for example, with a note that reads, “Do you feel you need this to talk to your landscaper?”
Marketing box strategies
“If you’re going to create something like this, what you don’t want to do is put a year on it unless it’s a special thing you’re doing just for that year because people remember stuff like this. Only put a time on it if it’s necessary.”
The objective behind marketing boxes is to have people stop what they’re doing and be amazed at what has been created for them and the sense of belonging inside the creation, Light said.
An expense is attached to the boxes, but the return on investment can potentially be high. The cost of the box and its contents (whether it’s a dictionary or another item) needs to be calculated along with staffing costs and then multiplied by the number of boxes mailed out. That number can then be compared with the number of new clients multiplied by the company’s average lifetime client value.
“That means if you have a client who pays you $100 a year for 20 years, they are a $2,000 lifetime value. If you have a client who pays you $5,000 a year for five years, they are $25,000 lifetime value. You have to figure out how long they stay with you and how much they spend.”
If the box costs $25 and staffing costs are $10 and the quantity of boxes is 50, total spending is $1,750. If five people reply with a “yes” and their average client lifetime value is $5,000, the company has just made $25,000 from a $1,750 investment.
“By putting $1 into your marketing, you made $14.”
At 20 per cent of the box recipients responding with a “yes,” a $50,000 return is realized.
“You just made a one-to-28 ROI. At 50 per cent, it’s a one-to-71 ROI on qualified leads. You can make serious money when people find belonging in your marketing because they get that you get them.”
Light said a company that sends out boxes containing two different plants – one healthy and one dying – to leads’ homes, a note tucked inside could read, “One of these plants is well cared for, just like we’re going to care for your garden.”
Light said a landscaping company should want to stand out and be the one that customers go to for assistance so that they stand out and “keep up with the Joneses.”
If a company leaves would-be customers confused, those individuals will always say “no,” she said.
“To do something different than what your competitors are doing takes a lot. It’s a little bit scary to do what other people aren’t doing, but it’s also how you get noticed.”
The key is to be tenacious, Light said, noting tenacity takes both nerve and determination.
Alyssa Light, The Profitable Innovator
The compass points in marketing are name (N), explain (E), simplify (S) and why (W).
Biosolid research has bright outlook
Research into biosolids is a step toward achieving greater sustainability By Mike Jiggens
Research at the University of Guelph into the potential of biosolids as a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizer products has produced data that could be perceived as encouraging.
University of Guelph plant pathologist Dr. Katerina Jordan, speaking in December to sports turf managers in Guelph at the second annual Nutrite sports turf seminar, said results derived so far from an ongoing study suggest biosolids could be an effective and sustainable supplement to other forms of fertilizer.
“Based on one year of data, we believe that biosolids and organic products could be used to supplement an inorganic fertilizer program,” she said.
Jordan said she doesn’t ordinarily deal with fertilizers in her work, but noted she has a keen interest in studying ways to more sustainably manage turf. The biosolid research project has been ongoing for
the past couple of years. During her presentation, she compared organic fertilizer sources to inorganic sources.
“When we talk about organic fertilizers, we’re specifically talking about products that are directly derived from plant or animal sources.”
The nutrients remain in their natural form. Most of the nitrogen contained in organic fertilizer is slow release and more than half of it will sometimes last as long as five months. It requires microorganisms to break down or release the nutrients, and can come from a variety of sources.
“Because the term organic is used in a variety of ways, we’re talking about the actual chemical makeup composed of carbon and nitrogen, not necessarily the legal, political or certified definition of organic. I’m strictly talking about organic in the chemical sense that we’re talking about naturally derived fertilizers.”
Among the advantages of organic fertilizers is that they improve the soil structure
by increasing organic matter and microbial populations. A disadvantage is that warm and moist soils are required for breakdown and release. Occasionally, the release of nutrients isn’t always predictable or consistent which can lead to nutrient deficiencies, at least until all the nutrients release. Sometimes the nutrient ratios are unknown and there might be situations of increased carbon and nitrogen ratios.
Conversely, there are also pros and cons associated with inorganic fertilizers, Jordan said. A notable advantage is that the nutrients are available immediately, depending on the type used, allowing for rapid effect. Inorganic fertilizers can also be counted upon to have an exact and consistent ratio of nutrients.
“You see what’s on the bag, and that’s what you’re getting. It’s what you’re going to get every single time.”
Inorganic fertilizers are also relatively inexpensive, she added.
Organic fertilizers can be plant or ani-
University of Guelph plant pathologist Dr. Katerina Jordan has been studying the effectiveness of biosolids as a supplement to other forms of fertilizer.
mal-based. Compost, compost tea and seaweed extract are forms of plant-based organic fertilizers. Among animal-based sources are manures, bone meal, blood meal, fish meal and poultry litter. Another animal source is treated sewage sludge or biosolids.
Biosolids are considered ideal for use on non-edible crops such as flowers or turf. They are often dried to eliminate or reduce the presence of pathogens.
Reduction of pathogens
“One of the dangers of using biosolids or anything from treated sewage sludge is that you can have human pathogens that are present in the waste material. So these are products that are actually dried to reduce or eliminate the presence of pathogens.”
Jordan said biosolids contain all the necessary nutrients and about 75 per cent of the nitrogen in a slow-release, organic form that is made available to the plant over time.
Biosolids are solid or semi-solid organic material derived from processes used to treat municipal wastewater. Wastewater treatment is an essential process
Most of the nitrogen contained in organic fertilizer is slow release and more than half of it will sometimes last as long as five months.
that manages liquid and solid waste material from homes and businesses. The treated water eventually makes its way to watersheds.
She noted there is a difference between wastewater and biosolids. Raw sewage or wastewater enters the treatment facility and is screened to remove large debris. The water is pumped into a holding tank, giving the particulates and fine sediments time to settle out, and then continues to be processed through the liquid stream, diverting the solids. The solids are moved to an anaerobic or oxygen-free digester where they are broken down by microorganisms in the digester. Beyond the anaerobic digester, water is removed from the digested material, using a roller. The water is added to the liquid stream and becomes part of the wastewater, leaving a “compacted cake.”
The “cake” or remaining solid is traditionally sent to a landfill, but Jordan said there are other productive uses for the material that could divert it from landfills.
“The reality is it’s essentially a waste of nutrients and organic matter.”
Using the solid to create fertilizer, it is first heated
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Biosolids are solid or semi-solid organic material derived from processes used to treat municipal wastewater.
to kill any pathogens.
For her trial work, Jordan made a liquid fertilizer by taking the cake material and creating a slurry of organic material that was heated, mixed and sheared, resulting in a high-solid, pathogen-free, nutrient-rich liquid bio-fertilizer product.
“These biosolids are being used in a number of different industries (forestry, land reclamation, construction, urban wetlands) rather than being sent to landfills.”
Research into biosolid use in turf has found it helps with disease suppression of various pathogens, Jordan said. Although diseases aren’t a major concern for sports turf managers, “anything we can add that can more naturally help suppress disease development is a positive.”
Milorganite is an example of a commercial biosolid product that has been widely used on golf courses and sod farms, but can no longer be used in Canada. Its black colour has successfully served a second purpose as a sun-absorbing ice melter on ice-covered greens. While it helps to melt the ice, it is adding nutrients to the soil.
Even if Milwaukee’s commercial biosolid product was still available in Canada, Canadians shouldn’t be reliant upon it, she said, suggesting we should be using our own local waste.
Jordan’s research into biosolids was split into two phases. The objective of the first phase, which concluded last year, was to determine if biosolids could safely be used on commonly used species of turfgrass. Since some biosolid products may contain toxins that might harm turf, it was important to learn if, upon establishment, the tested biosolids could safely be used on three primary cool season species. Another goal of the trial’s first phase was to determine the best frequency and application rates.
“One of the issues is we need to worry about is leaching, es-
pecially for a product that takes a long time to release the nitrogen or is potentially available for longer. You may have a greater potential for when it does become available for it to leach.”
The goal of the study’s second phase was to test the biosolid products for the presence of pathogens, both in the material added and in leaching. Additionally, the second phase was to see how effective biosolids can be as a fertilizer under field conditions. Jordan said what she really wants to learn is if biosolids can be as effective as conventional inorganic fertilizers.
“No differences are actually good in the case of this research.”
She said she wants to see if biosolids can potentially be used in place of commonly applied organic and inorganic fertilizers to maintain healthy turfgrass stands. Completely replacing them might not necessarily be an option, she said, but possibly supplementing them might be.
Learning to see if biosolids can lead to improved soil health and help reduce disease development, including dollar spot, was another objective of the study’s second phase. It is already known that dollar spot can be managed with compost, she said.
First phase of study
During the first phase of the study, the work was conducted at both a research greenhouse and at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. The liquid product used had the consistency of molasses, she said, and wasn’t easy to apply on established turf. The product, called LysteGro, was in liquid form having been mixed with water prior to application. A comparative study was made with Milorganite, in a pelletized form, that was chosen because it was already known as an industry standard.
Also used in the trial were inorganic fertilizers that had a mix of fast and slow release properties. For the objective of safety, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine if the biosolids might actually retard growth of grass species (fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass) specifically found in home lawns and athletic fields.
‘Based on one year of data, we believe that biosolids and organic products could be used to supplement an inorganic fertilizer program’
Rates of .5 kilograms, 1½ kilograms and 3½ kilograms of nitrogen per 100 square metres were used in the trials.
“We went relatively high, more than you would ever go, but the point was that we were trying to see if and when we would see phytotoxins.”
Treatments were made with LysteGro, Milorganite and XCU in an establishment study that lasted five weeks. The dry weight of foliar tissue and the amount of green cover were the key elements of the collected data.
No data was available for Kentucky bluegrass because the seed rate was too low and there was poor germination. Jordan said that, for whatever reason, the inorganic product had a much lower average dry weight on at least fine fescue than what came from LysteGro and especially Milorganite.
By the end of the experiment, Milorganite showed a significantly higher percentage of green cover than XCU. LysteGro wasn’t notably different than the others, but numerically there was a difference in the percentage of weed cover.
“We don’t know if this is a safety issue or a release issue. I was a bit surprised with the data, but this was how it worked out with that liquid product and Milorganite.”
Jordan said an important discovery was that both biosolid products could safely be used on fine fescue. There was no apparent reduction in growth and no toxic effects during establishment.
The best rate of application depended on the turf spe-
Solids from raw sewage are broken down by microorganisms in a digester.
cies. LysteGro produced better green coverage than the other treatments for both fine fescue and perennial ryegrass at the highest rate of 3½ kilograms. By the end of the study, Milorganite showed the highest green coverage while the XCU coverage produced the lowest coverage.
“Frankly, what we were most interested in – because we know that XCU is a fine fertilizer – was, did we see any phytotoxic effect with the biosolids? And the answer was, no, we did not.”
The second objective of the study was to determine the best rate and timing of biosolids application. The 15-week greenhouse experiment looked at the three products but focused solely on Kentucky bluegrass because it’s most commonly used. Data was collected for a single application, two applications and four application rates of 1½ kilograms of nitrogen and 3½ kilograms of nitrogen. Observed were the dry weights and green coverage.
Milorganite did a good job in the greenhouse over a short period of time, Jordan said, adding it produced the highest amount of green coverage among the three products. The number of applications didn’t seem to influence the efficacy of either of the biosolid products, although Milorganite produced more tissue mass than the other products.
Jordan said the frequency of application didn’t make much of a difference among the three products over the 15-week period. There was a difference with rate, but not as much as expected.
A look at leaching
A third study looked at safety, but from an environmental point of view.
“We wanted to determine how much nitrogen leached through the soil after a simulated rain event.”
Treatments were made with the same three products on plots of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and with no grass seed. Surface-applied methods and those mixed in with the soil were studied at rates of one kilogram of nitrogen per 100 square metres. Nitrogen was applied twice, the first of which was mixed in with the soil where the products were applied prior to seeding. Six weeks later, another
round of fertilizer was surface applied with a simulated rain event.
Where there was no seed applied, the greatest amount of leaching occurred. Significantly less leaching occurs where there is turfgrass cover. Due to the quick rate at which ryegrass germinates, the
grass is more effective in contributing to less leaching than Kentucky bluegrass. It was noticed, however, that there was significantly more leaching from the Milorganite trials.
No significant differences were noted from the field trial data regardless of the
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frequency and rate of application. The idea behind the study was to see if biosolids could produce the same quality as the inorganic sources.
“For the most part, it did a pretty good job in keeping up with the inorganic.”
The LysteGro product was determined safe to use on cool season turf and its efficacy was not affected by its frequency of application. The product’s nitrogen levels and amount of leachate were similar to other industry standards.
In 2018, the second phase of the research got underway with funding from the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation. Jordan said the OTRF became involved in helping to research the study, wishing to see tested a second local source of biosolid called Nutri-Pel.
Jordan said a different formulation of LysteGro was needed for the study, adding the liquid product from Lystek she was working with had the consistency of molasses and was “very impractical.”
She thought it could one day be used on sports turf, telling Lystek she’d like to continue working with the product, albeit in a pelletized form. The company complied. Sustane turkey litter was also used in the research study.
In order to compare “apples to apples,” adjustments were made to the products.
Lystek’s pelletized product’s formulation was 3-2-5, the Nutri-Pel was 4.6-60, Sustane was 5-2-4, and the inorganic was 24-6-12. Adjustments were made to the formulations for the amounts of
Sports turf could benefit from the application of biosolids as a supplementary form of fertilizer to an inorganic program. It would also help achieve greater sustainability.
nitrogen the trial plots got, even though it resulted in different amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
Data was collected from 100 per cent of the organic products, 100 per cent of the inorganic, a blend of 75 per cent organic and 25 per cent inorganic and a 50-50 blend of organic and inorganic. To see what effect there might be specifically from the inorganic portion, it was
matched with 25 per cent of the inorganic by itself and 50 per cent of the inorganic by itself. This ensured that any effects seen would indicate whether it came from the inorganic portion or if there was a benefit from the organic.
The research found Sustane did a good job keeping up with the inorganic. The Nutri-Pel product fared well, but Jordan said the Lystek pelletized product “unfortunately wasn’t good enough.” It wasn’t doing the trick when dry weight was observed, she added.
When the Nutri-Pel product was used three times a year in a blend of 75 per cent Nutri-Pel and 25 per cent inorganic, favourable results compared to 100 per cent inorganic.
“There is potentially some advantage of doing that mix of 75-25.”
Jordan said she believes the research she has been conducting is important because one biosolid is not necessarily the same as another. But biosolids can be both effective and sustainable as a supplement to other forms of fertilizer, she said.
Manage sports turf based on root zone
Sports turf can be better managed according to root zone than field usage
By Mike Jiggens
Municipal sports turf managers who know how their playing fields are categorized have a better chance to manage them more efficiently based on agronomics. By paying close attention to the root zone, sports turf can be better managed than by simply basing maintenance practices on usage time.
The University of Guelph’s Dr. Eric Lyons addressed the issue in December at the second annual Nutrite sports turf seminar in Guelph.
Sports fields may be equipped with washrooms, lights, a parking lot and a perimeter track and, although such features may influence how much use they get, they don’t determine how the field functions or how the grass is growing.
“It might influence your management quite a bit, based on use,” Lyons said, “but in the end, there’s a better way to talk about agronomics, and that’s based on the root zone.”
Sports Turf Canada has developed a rationale for its field classification system, clearly spelling out the specifications in an instructional manual it has produced for the industry. The manual’s purpose is to provide guidance for the selection, construction and classification of newly constructed sports fields. The resource can be referenced during the tendering process, and it provides landscape archi-
tects and sports field designers with valuable information. Lyons said Sports Turf Canada has been struggling with specifications being put out by municipalities that reference the manual yet don’t actually meet the specifications as printed in the publication.
Municipalities tend to classify fields
based on the number of users who wish to rent them. But true field classifications, from a sports turf manager’s perspective, should be based on root zones, based on their soil, silt and clay makeup. Root zones that are less than eight per cent silt and soil are classified as sand-based root zones or USGA-specification root zones,
Dr. Eric Lyons of the University of Guelph says root zone type, not usage amounts, should determine how a sports field is managed.
and are considered Category 1 fields. If the root zone is less than 25 per cent silt and soil, or 75 per cent or more sand, it is a Category 2 field. A Category 3 field has a 25 to 40 per cent silt and soil root zone while a Category 4 field is silt and soil
greater than 40 per cent.
Most of the fields in the region of Guelph and surrounding area are Category 4 fields, he said.
“It doesn’t mean they don’t function well. It just means that’s what we have.”
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Knowing how fields are categorized allows the sports turf manager to change the way he manages them. For example, high-usage fields require more nitrogen. Greater use produces more wear and tear and requires more growth.
“More nitrogen on a Category 1 field is more than more nitrogen on a Category 3 field.”
Knowing the soil type enables the sports turf manager to manage his fields differently and to make his program more efficient. A sand-based field is less likely to be closed following a rain event than other category fields. A field with a well-structured soil that drains efficiently is one that can take the most use. Category 3 fields can typically take the most use, Lyons said.
When turf is eroded from a sand-based field, the sand will move around because it has no stability without turf cover. Once a Category 1 field experiences bare root zone, it needs to be closed because a “trough” will quickly be created.
“So Category 1 fields should be our least used fields, but you can charge a premium for use because you’re less likely to have to close it on Saturday afternoon when there’s a big event because you had rain all day Friday. It’s going to drain. That’s really hard for city planners to get through their
When bare areas are exposed on Category 1 and 2 fields, getting them back is “super” difficult, Lyons says.
head – that we spend the most on the field that we can use the least. But you don’t have to close it.”
Sand-based fields cost the most to maintain. A Category 1 field can take 250 hours of use with significantly high maintenance and probably survive, Lyons said. The only time that field is used is when it has been permitted. If the number of hours reaches as high as 700, it is almost guaranteed that bare soil will abound, he added.
Test for soil type
To determine a field’s soil type, a sample will need to be taken and analyzed for its physical properties. The size of the soil particles is measured when testing.
Sand-based fields are preferred because they resist compaction and the soil doesn’t hold together when no turf is present. Layers impact water movement, and water likes to stay in the smaller pores.
“When we get to repairs and how a Category 1 or 2 field impacts how you repair a goalmouth, this becomes important.”
Not all sands are the same, Lyons said, even if two fields are both 95 per cent sand. One might be 53 per cent medium sand and 21 per cent fine sand while the other might be 30 per cent fine sand and 19 per cent very fine sand. One field will percolate at a rate of about 15 inches an hour while the other’s percolation rate
will be about 2½ inches an hour.
Knowing the percentage of sand, silt and clay is a good starting point for the sports turf manager. Understanding that all sands aren’t the same is important to know when choosing a topdressing mix, Lyons said.
Root zone types affect management practices, especially mowing, he said. If it rains all day Thursday, and mowing is to take place on Friday, the fields that should be cut first are the sand-based fields in
order to prevent rutting. If rutting is a possibility on a Category 1 field, efforts should be made to stay off the field because it’s a premier playing surface. It’s still the one that will dry the fastest.
Irrigation varies with the different root zones. There are more pore spaces in clay than in sand, enabling more water-holding capacity. Pore spaces in sand, however, are larger and allow for drainage. It means less irrigation each time but it must be done more frequently. Water amounts are based on infiltration rates.
“How longer will it take to get the same amount of water into a Category 4 field versus a Category 1? It will take a lot longer so you need to soak it in.”
For Category 1 fields, deep and infrequent watering sometimes means twice a week and likely more often during the heat of summer.
“Hot and dry periods may require more frequent irrigation than that. You might start to see wilt after a day or two.”
Moisture meters tend to provide accurate readings when used on sand-based fields, Lyons said, adding the numbers are consistent “from one sand to another sand to another sand.” The meters tend to be less accurate when reading Category 2 and 3 fields.
“You have to create your own little curve on what’s OK for that field for each field independently because they’re not all going to act the same.”
Watering during drought
A lack of water availability can lead to
turfgrass death on a sand-based field while soil-based fields can typically survive six to eight weeks of drought, assuming they are Kentucky bluegrass fields able to come back from drought. Watering bans can have a negative effect on sandbased fields.
For Category 2 fields, irrigation is highly recommended. Deep and infrequent means one watering event a week. A little silt and clay is present to hold onto some water and slow its movement. Soil moisture meters can be used, but Lyons warned comparisons between different category fields should not be made. He said when one field gets to 12 per cent volumetric water content, it is pretty dry while another field might get down to nine per cent and still be fine.
For Category 3 fields, irrigation aids in growth and recovery.
“Irrigate to promote growth only when needed. One time a week during extended
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drought should be enough.”
Extended drought conditions can be scary, Lyons cautioned, noting brown turf provides a harder playing surface than green turf. Brown, dormant turf poses a more serious threat to athlete concussions than a green, actively growing field.
“It’s a good reason to turn on your irrigation, even in a watering ban situation.”
Watering sports fields is important for not only maintaining the playing surfaces, but to provide greater safety among those using the facilities. Sand-based fields will become harder quicker and will harden up after a couple weeks of drought. The indicator is the change in the colour of the turf, from green to brown. Lyons suggested that because a lot is invested into sand-based fields, that they should be sufficiently watered and kept open.
“If you know what sand is out there and if you know what root zone is out there, you can manage it differently.”
Category 4 fields shouldn’t be irrigated, Lyons said, suggesting if they are more than 40 per cent silt and clay, there is no point watering them because they won’t stand up.
Sports fields in Canada are typically in use from April to October in most regions. When considering seeding practices, Lyons noted perennial ryegrass either germinates or dies.
“If you’re not constantly replenishing that perennial ryegrass seed, it’s dying on you. You have to overseed constantly.”
Falling behind on Category 1 and 2
Knowing the type of root zone will enable better management of the field.
fields to the point where bare areas are exposed, getting them back is “super” difficult, Lyons said.
“You never want to fall behind on Category 1 or 2 fields with overseeding.”
Falling behind on Category 3 and 4 fields isn’t as consequential, but compaction issues will need to be addressed, he added.
On Category 1 fields, sand is harder to successfully overseed once turf loss has occurred. Overseeding should be done with heavier rates and more frequently on Category 1 fields. Turf loss leads to erosion of the soil mix. Irrigation for surface moisture may be necessary, especially for rehabilitation, and field closure may be required.
Because Category 2 fields have better water-holding and nutrient-holding capacities than Category 1 fields, over-
seeding tends to be more successful, but erosion can still occur. A slightly lighter overseeding rate is typically used. Lyons said no matter if the field is Category 1 or 2, overseeding should be done before a problem is observed.
On Category 3 and 4 fields, compaction may need relieving to ensure germination occurs. Slit seeding is helpful because it not only relieves compaction, but it increases soil to seed contact.
When sod is used for repairs on Category 1 and 2 fields, holes should be created through the sod layer because it’s unlikely Category 1 and 2 sod will be available.
“Attempt to get a matching sod, but it’s rarely available.”
Plant nutrition is dependent upon soil properties, Lyons said. Sand is more susceptible to wear and usually needs
higher fertilizer rates. There must be a balance between recovery and excessive growth.
Mowing three times a week allows sufficient fertilizer can be applied for the turf to compete with weeds because grass is better under highly mowed, high nutrient conditions. If mowing three times a week, Lyons said it’s possible for goalmouths to be seeded without the need for sodding or worrying about getting 100 per cent weed cover when both mowing and fertilizing. But, he said, taxpayers likely won’t stand for mowing to take place as often as three times a week.
Category 3 fields have high nitrogen needs because of their high usage. They can take the most hours of play and have almost no need for micronutrients.
“Never forget that soils impact management.”
Another way to effectively control water
The benefits of slowing, sinking and spreading rainwater, and how to promote this trend with landscaping customers
By Treena Hein
Rainscaping – landscaping strategies that reduce rain from flowing off properties and into surrounding bodies of water through stormwater drains or other means – is becoming a hot trend in Canada and around the world. Rainscaping includes the use of simple techniques like rain barrels and rain chains, but also the installation of more complex systems such as rain gardens and permeable paving. Simply put, according to Clara Blakelock and Clifford Maynes of Green Communities Canada (who recently published a toolkit called Soak It Up) these “proven-effective technologies manage rain where it falls.”
How can you promote this trend with your clients and be ready to install the best rainscaping projects in their yards? First, let’s quickly review the benefits of the practice. First and foremost, rainscaping prevents pollutants from entering bodies of water – pollutants such as gas, oil, heavy
metals and excess nutrients that may be picked up and carried in rainwater from the surfaces it flows over during a storm.
But while prevention of ecosystem and drinking water pollution is an important rationale for rainscaping, it’s far from the only one, especially in cities. Emily Rondel, coordinator of community engagement at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), notes that “as we experience more extreme weather events due to climate change,” increased threats of flooding, erosion and watershed change are also possible.
“We have much more frequent spurts of heavy rain and they tend to be more localized,” she explains. “These boomand-bust weather patterns mean that our stormwater infrastructure is being taxed more heavily than ever before. The stormwater system dumps collected rainwater all at once into the nearest creek or stream, where water levels can quickly become high and water starts to move
very fast. This affects the watercourse’s ecology, making it less effective habitat for plants and animals.”
However, when rainwater is aided by rainscaping to soak in and stay put or move underground to the nearest body of water, Rondel said streams, rivers and lakes do not fluctuate as quickly. By flowing through sediments in natural underground hydrological systems, rainwater is also filtered.
Educating the public
In summer 2018, TRCA held a rainscaping workshop (future events are posted at https://trca.ca/get-involved/events/) in collaboration with Humber College. Other Canadian organizations that held similar workshops last year include the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (www.coastalaction.org) of Nova Scotia. Like the TRCA, Coastal Action promotes rainscaping for pollution reduction, flooding mitigation, recharge of groundwater and prevention of
An archetype of a sustainable residential rain garden.
erosion, and has been working for the restoration, enhancement and conservation of ecosystems of the South Shore region of Nova Scotia since 1993.
“The workshop featured a presentation on DIY stormwater management solutions, a materials demonstration and a mapping exercise,” explains Samantha Battaglia, Coastal Action’s stormwater management projects technician. “Participants learned about rainscaping best practices, materials and maintenance, and started to develop a plan for their own property to help address flooding issues and make the most of the rainwater that falls on their landscape.”
Coastal Action has also hosted workshops where participants are guided to assemble their own 55-gallon rain barrel to capture roof water. In addition, within its “Green Streets Stormwater Project,” by the end of 2019, Coastal Action will complete
30 small-scale community projects in collaboration with various organizations and municipalities. Both vegetation and soil are used in these projects to slow down, absorb and filter stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces like parking lots, roads and sidewalks.
Choosing practices
As with the proper application of any
landscaping practice, rainscaping should be implemented with individual location characteristics in mind. “The site’s soil type, slopes, drainage patterns, available light, existing vegetation, type of impervious surface, space available for rainscaping, etc. will all be factors in determining which practice is best,” Battaglia says. Rondel adds “learning about all the options is important before starting a
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rainscaping project. Luckily, most rainscaping features are relatively easy to install and intuitive to design. That being said, there are definitely right ways and wrong ways to rainscape, and education is key to avoiding mistakes.”
One key item that Rondel says homeowners should think about off the top is how water moves over their properties. “Will water flow to the foundation of my home or that of my neighbours?” she invites homeowners to ask themselves.
“Avoiding flooding is priority, and a badly-designed rainscaping feature might cause it. What is the capacity of the rainscaping feature I am building and does it align with the amount of water coming from my roof? That is, larger homes need larger rain features!”
If a property can accommodate one, Rondel recommends a rain garden as the best way to return rainwater to the ground instead of the storm drain. Rain gardens
are garden beds that are specially designed to absorb rainwater, often from roofs, and they often have a depressed shape.
“The soil under the surface is less compact than in a regular garden, and the whole shape is designed to keep rainwater in while
it slowly filters through the soil back to the groundwater,” notes Rondel. “They are simple to make, but very effective.”
However, she points out that rain gardens may not be suitable for heavily-sloped properties, as water will simply
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An archetype of a sustainable residential rain garden.
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travel down the slope instead of settling in the garden.
Whatever rainscaping is planned or implemented, the very first thing any resident needs to do is disconnect the roof downspout. “In previous decades, many homes were built with rain gutters that emptied into a downspout that was directly connected to the storm drain,” Rondel explains. “This is obviously pretty problematic, so many municipalities (e.g. Peel and Toronto), recently introduced policies around mandatory-disconnected downspouts. Once your downspout is disconnected, you can then decide what to do.” She adds that if you are new to rainscaping and already have a disconnected downspout, “Try a rain barrel. It is very little work to install, and the benefits are almost instant.”
How to promote rainscaping
Before they can assist homeowners in designing and building rainscaping features, landscaping professionals should make themselves well aware of the different principles and techniques. Rondel believes that to ensure the longevity of a landscaping design, landscapers should make sure to work with the natural hydrology of each property. This, she says, will result in customers who “will be happy with their functional low-maintenance features.” Another point to keep in mind, she says, is that adding water-permeable paving is likely something that most customers will wait to do until they have to re-do their walkway or driveway anyway.
as “installed as an alternative to underground storm sewers and consist of permeable soil, a perforated subdrain, and subtle earthen berms. The bioswale is engineered so runoff from a 1.25-inch rain infiltrates through tile into the soil below. Bioswales differ from biocells in that they are implemented on sloped
areas so that when larger storms occur, the above ground vegetation slows the flow of runoff, which is filtered and cleaned before draining into the nearest stream or waterbody. It is critical that bioswales are inspected and maintained periodically to ensure their continued performance.”
Battaglia believes a lot of promoting rainscaping with customers comes down to education, so landscaping professionals should both provide clear, concise descriptions of rainscaping practices to their customers and emphasize the diversity of benefits rainscaping offers to individual homeowners as well as community water quality. “I also find incorporating flowering plants that support pollinators into the plant palettes for rain gardens,” she notes, “or vegetated bioswales, can help increase the desirability of these gardens in residential areas.”
Bioswales
Rainscaping Iowa describes bioswales
Pickups put to test in 12th annual challenge
CTKC is unique in that it tests the trucks using realworld situations
By Mario Cywinski
The Canadian Truck King Challenge (CTKC) celebrated its 12th anniversary by crowning the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali as its champion. Sierra beat out five other challengers for the crown, marking the first time that General Motors has won in the half-ton (1500) category. Previously, GM has won the title in the heavy-duty (HD) category, including winning the challenge in 2018 with the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.
CTKC is unique in that it tests the trucks using real-world situations. Trucks are driven empty, with payload, and with trailers – the way the trucks would be used in the real world. Also, an off-road course is used to test each truck’s off-road capabilities. All in all, the two days of testing allowed for more than 4,000 kilometres of total seat time for the five AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) judges, who then scored each truck using
20 subjective test categories.
“The field of 2019 half-ton pickups was as competitive as ever this year, with brand new trucks from GM and RAM, while the F-150 received major upgrades, including offering a 3.0L diesel engine, that we ran back-to-back with gas engines from RAM, GM, Toyota and Nissan,” judge Stephen Elmer of TFL Truck said. “Towing is where the diesel feels best, but the raw horse power of GM’s 6.2L V8 is hard to ignore. The performance exhaust on the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro barks when you accelerate, while Nissan’s 5.6L V8 has a strong exhaust note with loads of power. In the end, the GMC Sierra came out on top, and the honours are well deserved for such a smooth riding, comfortable, quiet pickup.”
This year, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that took part were General Motors, with its GMC Sierra 1500 Denali and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ; Ford, with the F-150 Diesel Lariat; FCA,
with the RAM 1500 Limited; Nissan, with the Titan PRO-4X; and Toyota, with the Tundra TRD Pro.
Both the Sierra and Silverado were equipped with a 6.2L V-8 engine with Dynamic Fuel Management and mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. F-150 was equipped with a 3.0L Power Stroke V-6 diesel engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ram 1500 featured a 5.7L HEMI V-8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Tundra offered a 5.7L V-8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Nissan Titan was equipped with a 5.6L V-8 engine mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. All trucks were 4x4 models.
“As always, the Canadian Truck King Challenge provides the unique opportunity to evaluate the trucks in real-world use,” judge Clare Dear of Autofile.ca said. “Unlike typical road tests and reviews, this event provides the rare experience of evaluating each entry as a working truck
The lineup of competing pickups in the Canadian Truck King Challenge
– not simply driving it around empty, but with a hefty payload and significant towing load. This year, the format helped reveal characteristics that might otherwise have gone unnoticed, such as the towing capabilities of Ford’s new 3.0L diesel engine and the RAM’s unique load-leveling air suspension. For anyone considering the purchase of a new truck, the findings of the Truck King Challenge are a must-see resource.”
Third-party company, FleetCarma, used data recorders on each of the six vehicles to measure real-word fuel economy. The recorders sent data to FleetCarma with a final report showing the results for each vehicle under each part of the challenge (empty, payload and towing).
The winner of the Fuel Economy Challenge for 2019 was the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 6.2L V-8 that had the best fuel economy of all the trucks.
With trucks that are all new, trucks that offer new engine options, and trucks that offer new packages, there has never been a better time to be a pickup truck customer, as the differences between them are getting smaller and smaller. The days of one truck being much better than another are over. Today, it’s a matter of fit for purpose, what are you going to use the truck for, and what is of utmost importance to each individual buyer.
“This has to be the most difficult Truck King Challenge ever,” judge Eric Descarries of Auto 123 said. “I could not find a favourite at first glance. Each vehicle is really a modern piece of equipment. This time, the winner has to be the consumer.”
Mario Cywinski is editor of Machinery and Equipment MRO magazine, a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and a judge for Canadian Truck King Challenge, with more than 15 years automobile industry experience. He can be reached at mcywinski@mromagazine.com.
The overall winner, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali in towing mode.
New stuff
Lighter, more maneuverable compact track loader to debut in April
Kubota Canada Ltd. has unveiled its lightest and most maneuverable compact track loader to date. The SVL65-2 is positioned in a lighter rated operating capacity weight class than previous models in the series. It features a slide-up overhead front door, a self-leveling function and an Advanced Multifunction Valve (AMV Valve) that provides smooth operation when simultaneous functions are used, such as auxiliary, boom and bucket circuits, allowing operators to get the job done faster. The SVL65-2 boasts a wide working range, including a rated operating capacity of 2,100 pounds at 35 per cent lift or 3,000 pounds at a 50 per cent lift, a reach of 88.65 cm (34.9 inches) and a hinge pin height of 301 cm (118.5 inches).
12/16/15 3:36 PM Page 1
Designed for big jobs in tight workspaces, the SVL65-2 compact track loader is to meet the expectations of construction and landscaping entrepreneurs who have been waiting for its new features that will increase their team’s efficiency. With its high comfort level, the new SVL65-2 will make operators’ work easier while providing them with superior operational control, power and performance.
Small size, big power, performance and reliability
The standard self-leveling feature can be engaged with the flip of a switch and keeps the bucket or forks at level without the need to manually adjust the angle. Plus, multi-function levers provide control of all major vehicle and attachment operations at the operator’s fingertip.
Advanced multifunction valve
The AMV valve, makes running any attachment that uses auxiliary hydraulics easy, particularly attachments such as a grapple bucket, a four-in-one bucket or a hydraulic auger.
Comfort
A comfortable operator is a productive operator and while the overall footprint of the new SVL65-2 is smaller, the cab is equivalent in size to the SVL75-2 and SVL95-2s, providing ample room for the operator’s legs and adding to its comfort and convenience. The spacious cab also includes a standard suspension seat that offers outstanding comfort with ergonomically placed armrests on the right and left sides to
minimize operator fatigue.
Consistent with the larger models in Kubota’s SVL Series, the SVL65-2 features a sliding front door – its signature and best-selling feature – that can be opened regardless of the position of the bucket or loader arm; plus, full machine operation is possible with the door open, when desired.
“Our newest product in the compact track loaders category further strengthens our construction equipment line,” Yannick Montagano, vice-president of sales and marketing at Kubota Canada Ltd., said. “The SVL line represents our commitment to quality and safety for all our customers from coast to coast. Offering this smaller-class size compact track loader to Canadian customers and operators makes Kubota a stronger player in this category.”
“Kubota Canada has set the standard in the landscaping and construction market worldwide, raising the bar in engineering innovation, power and performance with user-friendly serviceability in every one of the models of our compact track loader lines,” Bob Hickey, president of Kubota Canada Ltd., said.
“With the latest SVL65-2, Kubota carries on with its reputation for quality, comfort and performance, making it an ideal choice for landscapers, rental companies and small contractors.”
The new unit will be available in Kubota dealerships across Canada starting April 15.
For more information, visit www.kubota.ca.
Infinicut’s fixed head provides top cut quality
Cub Cadet's Infinicut™ now offers a fixed head for top value and uniform quality of cut and appearance on playing surfaces. The unique design and flexible setup allows for precise operator tuning, providing height-of-cut adjustments within .10-millimetre increments.
The all-electric lithium-powered drive reduces noise and vibration without sacrificing power and estimates fuel cost and potential for fluid leaks. Coupled with a wide range of TMSystem™ cassettes, usage extends well beyond simply cutting turf.
The versatile and cost-effective Infinicut is designed to improve overall turf health and aesthetics of any playing surface.
For more information, visit www.CubCadetTurf.com/Infinicut.
Triplex mowers provide enhanced cut quality, reduced operating costs
John Deere’s 2700 and 2750 PrecisionCut™ triplex mowers and the 2700 and 2750 E-Cut™ hybrid triplex mowers have been designed to meet customer needs at a time when quality labour availability and tightening operating budgets continue to be challenges.
Designed to provide premium cut quality regardless of operator, improved grass catcher accessibility, and reduced operating costs, the new mowers provide a lightweight, open platform machine that’s further enhanced by the proven TechControl™ system.
“Consistent cut quality across all operators, contour following, and grass catcher accessibility are critical needs for our customers,” Brad Aldridge, product manager, John Deere Golf, said. “The 2700 and 2750 triplex mowers were designed to tackle these challenges and
take the stress out of mowing, with an enhanced TechControl system that allows for more precise control than ever before.”
Using the passcode protected TechControl system, managers and technicians can input commands, controlling nearly everything regarding the operator’s performance, including frequency of clip, turn speed, clean-up pass speed, and how fast the cutting units raise and lower. The TechControl system ensures that regardless of the operator, the end results are the same, providing consistent cut quality on the course.
An industry exclusive on the hydraulic models, and available on the hybrid units, the frequency of clip can be programmed by altering parameters on mowing speed, reel speed and number of blades on the reel. Once programmed, the settings cannot be changed by the operator and automatically
adjusts with ground speed, ensuring uniformity from machine to machine. Clean Up Pass Mode, a Deere exclusive, is a preset operating mode that the operator can engage to automatically reduce mowing speed on perimeter passes to increase accuracy for less scalping or missed grass. This setting allows the operator to focus on the task, rather than feathering the speed. Adjustable turn speed allows the operator to control how fast the operator is able to turn, minimizing chances of turf damage. For more information, visit www.JohnDeere.com.
Ad Index
Simplifying home lawn irrigation
Several maintenance customers of landscape contractors have lawns not set up for irrigation. When moisture is necessary to keep a lawn in optimal health, these customers may attach a garden hose to an oscillating sprinkler, but the proper coverage is seldom delivered. Consequently, the sprinkler must be moved about several times and it becomes a burden for the homeowner.
Raid Bird has introduced a new product aimed at the homeowner who may not be able to afford an in-ground irrigation system yet is looking for a better and cost-efficient way to better deliver water where it is needed without the inconvenience of having to constantly move a sprinkler about. Landscape contractors may wish to share information with their customers about the LG3HE in-ground impact sprinkler from Rain Bird. Equipped
with Click-n-Go™ hose connect, the sprinkler installs in a single small hole without the need for trenching. It includes a rugged side housing for quick hose connection. The double-weighted sprinkler mechanism slows rotation and increases water distance up to 41 feet.
It works with a full range of water pressures, from 25 to 55 psi. Up to 5,200 square feet of uniform coverage is provided with the ability to add more sprinklers to cover an entire property.
This professional grade pop-up sprinkler installs flush with the ground, anywhere in a yard. The sprinkler retracts out of sight when not in use and mowing can safely be done over the top of the sprinkler.
For more information, visit http://www. rainbird.com/products/lg3he-in-groundimpact-sprinkler.
By Rod Perry
Wait! Don’t hit that delete button yet
Remember the good old days before the Internet when snail mail was the norm? There was that feeling of excitement when physically opening an envelope bearing your name, except when it was a bill. If the envelope provided little or no clue as to the sender, that sense of mystery added to the thrill of thumbing open the seal.
Even the junk mail we received in the form of advertising flyers, solicitations for magazine subscriptions and messages from local politicians were occasionally fun to peruse before we’d toss them into our recycling boxes.
Of course there’s still lots of that stuff circulating about, but much of what used to be placed in an actual mailbox has given way to the more cost-efficient method of email. That hasn’t stopped the flow of junk mail, though. It’s simply packaged differently and it’s much greater in volume. It usually takes a few minutes each morning to sift through my email, reading and/or responding to the legitimate mail and deleting the rest.
Sometimes, though, there’s that odd piece of mail that catches your eye and you just can’t bring yourself to hit the “delete” key – at least not immediately. One of these pieces of correspondence I receive daily that has succeeded in luring me in almost everyday is something called the Quora Digest. This bit of unsolicited mail – I don’t remember having signed up for it – is a series of questions and answers about everyday things. Topics include everything from politics, entertainment, geography, sports and a slew of other subject matter. It seems people in the know will write in to offer their best answers to questions that we might have on our minds each day. Sometimes the questions are downright goofy, such as “Could Thor beat Superman in a fight?” Often, though, a question might ask what types of perks commercial airline pilots receive, or embarrassing moments a patient has experi-
enced when undergoing a medical examination, or perhaps which characters will survive and which ones will die in the final season of Game of Thrones.
Most of us can relate to one or more of these types of questions, and so we’re drawn in to read these emails, robbing us of five to 10 minutes of our daily lives. The questions that have the most allure for me, however, are those that compare the American way of life versus that of the Canadian way of life, or ones that compare Donald Trump’s politics with those of Justin Trudeau’s. It’s these types of questions that seem to dominate the list of queries in the Quora Digest. Consequently, I just assumed these emails were Canadian in origin.
Through a little investigation, I learned the Quora Digest was an American invention based in California that was founded by some of those who helped to get Facebook up and running.
What mainly led me to believe this was a Canadian missive was that most of the responses to the questions comparing Canada to the United States were pro-Canadian. American responders were suggesting the quality of life is better in Canada and that we have our priorities right.
Many of the questions posed in these emails are ones that we’ve perhaps always wondered about, yet never had the nerve to ask for fear of embarrassing ourselves. They include:
• Why doesn’t Canada become the 51st state of the U.S.A.?
• Why is the U.S.-Canada border so strict?
• Why don’t famous Canadians speak with a Canadian accent?
• Is Justin Trudeau turning Canada into a joke internationally?
• Was Trump right when he called the Canadian health system “catastrophic?”
It’s questions like these and the answers provided that make the Quora Digest so much fun to read. With answers coming from both Canadians and Americans, there is an interesting mix of opinion.
So, based on the variety of topics that form the core of these questions and the intelligence level of the questions themselves, what can we say about ourselves?
• Canadians know more about the United States than Americans know about Canada. Haven’t we known this all along?
• We need to get a life. All these questions about comic book superheroes and fantasy television shows suggest these are our primary sources of entertainment and culture. Maybe we’re just a country of closeted nerds.
• Although we present ourselves as being prim and proper, we secretly enjoy the occasional naughty tidbit. There is usually at least one question that pushes the envelope to present something that stirs our libido.
In the end, this Quora Digest is merely another piece of junk mail that’s a little more difficult to delete than others. It has a mesmerizing allure that prevents an immediate push of the delete button.
You’re thinking, “I guess I’ll take a quick peek at this particular question and the answer that is provided.” And then you say, “Well, this next question looks interesting. Maybe one more.” Finally, after a few more “one mores,” you’re able to bring yourself to push the delete button. You’ve wasted 10 or so minutes of your day, but then you do it all over again the next day when the next Quora Digest arrives in your mailbox.
This never happened with snail mail.
Rod Perry, aka Duffer, is a Niagara-based freelance writer.
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