TR - October 2022 by annexbusinessmedia

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By Mike Jiggens

New GTI facilities better than ever

The Guelph Turfgrass Institute has played an important role in the professional turfgrass industry the past 35 years. Lawn care professionals, golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, sod growers and others who manage turf for a living have relied upon data collected from turfgrass research to find better, more economical and environmentally friendlier ways to do their jobs to the satisfaction of their customers.

The institution recently celebrated its milestone anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the new G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre. Originally located on Victoria Road, the GTI moved its operations a few years ago to a 17-acre site on the east end of the University of Guelph campus off College Avenue. The new Frost Centre is a state-of-the-art building which serves as a research, education and resource hub for the Canadian turfgrass industry.

The facility features predominantly in this issue of Turf & Rec. We have coverage of the Frost Centre’s official opening, a look at some of the current research being done at the facility’s 14 trial plots and the debut of a regular update from GTI staff on their ongoing research.

The building itself is phenomenal. Within are a large lecture hall, a spacious boardroom, a classroom and a diagnostics lab. It is also home to the head offices of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, Sports Turf Canada and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation.

The GTI’s large acreage allows studies to be conducted on pesticide use, evaluations of turfgrass species, varieties and seeding methods, sports field construction, fertility and management programs, and the biological and cultural control of weeds and diseases.

In 1987, the University of Guelph, the Ontario government and the turfgrass industry collaborated to found the GTI. The facility has since fostered research and instruction to support Canada’s multi-billion-dollar sports, golf and residential turf industries.

New G.M. Frost Centre is a state-of-the-art building

The mid-September ribbon-cutting ceremony attracted several university alumni, industry professionals and suppliers and members of the public who toured the grounds to learn more about current research activities.

Research over the years has allowed golf course superintendents, lawn care professionals and sports turf man -

agers to work with new and improved turf varieties and cultivars that better tolerate game wear, drought and shade and help to suppress weeds and disease.

As turf managers deal with shrinking budgets, they face a growing need to do more with less. Research at the GTI is helping them to deal with this problem by studying solutions that require reduced inputs.

The role the GTI has played over the past 35 years has gone hand in hand with the industry’s movement toward increased stewardship of the land. This is no coincidence.

GTI staff will be keeping Turf & Rec readers abreast of important details from ongoing research as we move along through the months ahead. There are always exciting things happening at this world-class facility.

As impressive as the GTI’s former site and old Frost Centre were, these newer facilities are all that and more. Those who have yet to visit the new GTI ought to do so if given the chance. It’s worth the drive to Guelph.

On the topic of research, a new facility in Vineland, Ont. is completing its first phase of construction and will be the first-of-its-kind in Canada. The TreeCulture Research Park will be conducting urban landscape field-scale research to study trees’ responses to stress and other threats that may impede trees’ survival.

The research park conceptually evolved from more than a decade of urban forestry research in Vineland.

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Calgary continues to use gasoline-powered golf carts at munis

Calgary’s municipal golf courses are currently engaged in a leasing contract for up to 240 gasoline-powered golf carts annually, which prompted a question from a city councillor – when does the city plan to switch over to electric vehicles?

Ward 14 Coun. Peter Demong noted the City of Winnipeg has made the switch, expecting to save up to $30,000 annually in energy costs.

Demong was told the biggest obstacle is capital investment, since the carts used at city courses aren’t city-owned.

Goose excrement is everywhere in Vancouver parks

Officials in Vancouver are doing what they can to address the amounts of Canada geese excrement in city parks and are advising health protocols for people and pets who frequent the parks.

The birds are found everywhere in the city, leaving large amounts of fecal matter on turf and paved areas.

Geese are also aggressive during mating season.

London landscaper supporting local housing project

London, Ont.’s TLC Landscaping has provided a helping hand to support a local affordable housing project.

The business has donated $100,000 to a Christian charity aiming to retrofit the War Memorial Children’s Hospital and the Heath Services building into apartment buildings that will also provide mental health and addiction support to tenants.

TLC adds it will match donations to the cause made by the company’s employees.

$30,000 what Winnipeg is saving in energy costs by switching to electric.

CTRF reaches out to non-golf turf entities to expand its fundraising

The Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation has been transforming in recent years in the wake of strained turf research sponsorship resources, but its efforts have yielded some notable results.

$100,000

TLC’s commitment to London housing project

Two new donor contribution pages have been created, including one at its own site – https:// turfresearchcanada.ca/ – and another hosted by the Golf Canada Foundation. The CTRF has also created a new “Legacy Giving” initiative, currently targeting golfers via the BC Golf Association and Golf Quebec websites with the goal of exposure on all provincial golf association websites in the near future.

Meanwhile, renewed monetary support from the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Canada has come at a fortuitous time with the realization of a huge potential for funding outside of golf, i.e. soccer, football, baseball and other field sports.

With that in mind, every major Canadian amateur sport organization, along with respective provincial groups, has been solicited for turf research contributions, leveraging golf’s long-standing support of turf research with these other organizations while promoting the benefits of turf to all interested stakeholders.

As for research projects, the CTRF has provided more than $2.3 million in project funding and is currently supporting Laval University’s two-year study called Understanding and Predicting Pesticide Use on Golf Courses

Using Deep Machine Learning by Dr. Guillaume Gregoire for $59,225 and Oregon State University’s Enhancing Turfgrass Carbon Sequestration to Improve Sustainability and Market Access by Alec Kowalewski for $16,000. The Quebec Turfgrass Research Foundation has provided additional funding support.

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Training builds winning teams

Proper employee training produces better performance and company profit. By Mike Jiggens

Location, location, location,” is an often-heard cliché that property experts use to express a property’s desirability. In the landscaping industry, companies will attribute their success to “training, training, training.”

Rob Redden, vice-president at London, Ont.-based In-Lite Design Corporation, says training is the key ingredient when building winning teams. He shared his business-building strategies in the winter during Landscape Ontario’s virtually delivered Congress.

Many landscaping companies aren’t enamoured by high costs associated with employee training, but it’s an investment that pays dividends, Redden said, noting there are numerous cheaper options available.

“Training can be expensive, but it’s critically important that you find some way to start implementing some type of training program into your company,” he said. “In-

creased performance leads to profit per revenue per team member.”

Confident team members are happy and perform better, he added, noting proper training reduces liability.

Companies that train their people today create a culture of improvement for the future, Redden said.

“Create a culture of learning through ongoing training opportunities.”

One of the struggles landscaping companies face is recruiting good employees. He said it can cost about 20 per cent to recruit an employee who earns $40,000 to $60,000.

“It can cost up to 200 times the employee’s salary for a highly trained individual.”

Redden said he spends about 10 hours for each recruitment, simply going through resumes. This doesn’t account for any lost production In-Lite incurs during this process.

About 41 per cent of employees will leave a company within their first year

because of poor training programs, he said. This means if 10 employees are hired for the current season, four will part ways with the company if it has a poor training program or none at all.

Untrained employees are unhappy, Redden said.

“They’re making mistakes, they’re unsuccessful and they’re going to underperform.”

In-Lite has initiated a program that allows the creation of action items throughout the season and during the career development of a candidate. Evaluations are made after one month, three months and again each June and December once employees finish their probationary period. Employees say they wish to grow and become team leaders or managers, which Redden said he’s happy to hear.

Poor training equals lost customers

A poor training program, or the lack of one, results in lost customers, Redden said. A

Proper training of landscaping employees is an investment that can pay dividends.

Husqvarna

competing design/build company may offer another level of training in business software, professional development or leadership development, and word will spread. Poorly trained employees will migrate to other companies that are willing to invest in their human resources and take them to the next level.

“If your training is poor and your team is slow and inefficient and they’re making mistakes, you’re going to lose referrals. Referrals are huge. The value of not having training is costing you way more than what training would actually cost you.”

In January 2014, the average employee remained with his or her company for 4.6 years. Two years later, the average employee stayed for only 4.2 years. By August 2021, the average employee remained for 4.1 years.

“If we can train them and keep them just

‘Create a culture of learning through ongoing training opportunities’

a little bit longer, but also if they’re going to be here for 4.1 years, you better train them and get as much out of them as possible in those 4.1 years.”

Redden said it’s vital for companies to do everything necessary to increase that tenure time, adding employees should be trained so well and are so efficient that their company is making as much money off them as possible. This will also create a reputation for the company that it’s one for which people will want to work.

Broken down further, employees be -

tween the ages of 25 and 34 stay with a company an average of 2.8 years while those between the ages of 55 and 64 remain an average of 9.9 years. Management level employees stay with a company about 4.9 years.

At In-Lite, training begins during the recruitment process, Redden said.

“We ask about their past training. We ask what they currently do and then we tell them about the training program at In-Lite. I’m selling them the job, but I’m also creating culture.”

Redden said his company’s practices get new employees excited about joining a team, and they eagerly anticipate the opportunities afforded to them.

In-Lite employees are required to undergo six hours of training per quarter and are allowed a half-hour per week in their daily schedule to accommodate that training.

“We allow that half-hour per week after their onboarding to continue training.”

Redden said In-Lite will also pay for training beyond the six hours per quarter but will tell employees it’s above and beyond and on their own time. The company agrees to pay for it because it will ultimately benefit from it, he added.

“We encourage it as much as possible. We use training as a performance indicator. Their training is part of their performance review. I’m going to squeeze every little bit that I can out of these people while

I have them for the 4.1 to 4.9 years.”

Employees are asked during their review periods if their training was sufficient or if there was anything else they might desire.

“You’d be surprised by what different people want, based on their sex, generation or department,” Redden said. “Many want their training to be continuously tweaked.”

Companies that offer extension training programs can see as much as a 218 per cent increase in revenue per team member and will often achieve a 24 per cent or more higher profit margin, he said.

Training doesn’t have to be expensive, Redden said, noting there are several online courses available – some of which are free.

“You can’t tell me that a $12 training course is expensive when you’re not doing it and the employees leave with the tools to make you more money.”

Some courses can cost hundreds of dollars, but to spend that much to invest in someone who can successfully market a profitable company and remain with the company “starts to become a pretty affordable solution.”

Redden said he tells new recruits, “I’m going to train you so well, and I hope you can leave In-Lite one day and get a better job and get paid more money. But, between now and then, I want to treat you so good you’ll never have to. But, in that time, I’m going to milk you for everything I possibly can.”

He said his goal is to build his employees and make them better and to treat them well enough that they won’t want to leave. Employees don’t quit their jobs, he said. Rather, they quit their managers. They’re quitting because they’re not being trained to help them grow, he added.

Research explores field overseeding

Quick-germinating Kentucky bluegrass variety is being studied as overseeding option on sports fields.

By Mike Jiggens

The loosening of COVID restrictions in recent months has allowed officials at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute to welcome visitors to its new facility and research plots. The official opening of the GTI was held in mid-September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony but, about a month prior to that, members of the public gathered for an in-person tour of the facilities during the Green Municipalities Field Day.

Dubbed “growing sustainable communities,” the event showcased several research trials currently being conducted. Visitors were provided data and information from tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass drought evaluation trials, updated results from a Fiesta trial, the latest in turf canopy scanner technology and the attributes of beneficial bacteria.

The field day, sponsored by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA), highlighted new cultivars, technologies and management practices to help municipalities and turf managers adapt to the realities of climate change.

Dr. Eric Lyons, director of the GTI, shared information about overseeding research being conducted on a plot designed to emulate a sports field or park.

The goal of the study is to look at different varieties other than perennial ryegrass, which tends to be the “go to” choice for overseeding of sports fields because of its quick germination.

“One of the things we noted when we

start overseeding heavy with perennial ryegrass on sports fields, the bluegrass population declines and the perennial ryegrass population increases,” he said.

If there’s a “sweet spot” of traffic, Kentucky bluegrass will dominate, how-

GTI director Dr. Eric Lyons updates visitors to the research plots about overseeding research on sports fields.

PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE JIGGENS

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ever, if there’s insufficient traffic, perennial ryegrass will take over.

In conjunction with perennial ryegrass overseeding, the study is also looking at results obtained by overseeding with tetraploid perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and a quick-germinating variety of Kentucky bluegrass.

The study also involves simulated turf wear of two different rates and applications of Fiesta – an approved herbicide.

Using a “wear machine” to mimic the amount of wear a sports field would normally undergo, conclusions are being made on plots with weed control and those without.

“We had to beat up the turf to create some gaps in the turf.”

Lyons said it’s a “statistical nightmare” but, in consultation with authorities, he said he believes the study’s directive will turn out OK.

“You just have to treat each one as its own trial. We will analyze things separately.”

The study received the necessary funding only this year, Lyons said.

The original seed mix for the plots contained both Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Populations of weeds and grass are being measured,

‘We’ll start overseeding it and see what happens to the turf populations’

and the specific species of weeds and turf are being documented for a bluegrass-ryegrass comparison.

“We’ll start overseeding it and see what happens to the turf populations, see what happens to the weed populations, and then see how wear tolerant it is.”

Perennial ryegrass has been popular in overseeding because of its ability to quickly germinate. Lyons said new varieties of Kentucky bluegrass are quicker to germinate than traditional varieties and may work well.

“My hypothesis is that unless they form rhizomes quick, it won’t matter,” he said, adding that although that’s his theory, he’d be happy to disprove it.

If it’s discovered that quick-germinating bluegrasses are sufficiently wear tolerant at the seedling stage to get to the rhizomes stage, Lyons said he’d be pleased to pass the information along to turf managers.

Asked about ways to outcompete clover, he noted clover isn’t particularly wear tolerant.

“We don’t see a lot of clover on sports fields because they get adequate nutri-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Visitors to the GTI’s Green Municipalities Field Day take a closer look at the turf being studied at one of the trial plots. PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE JIGGENS

Growing the game with gem of facility

Short practice course and range allows beginners to develop passion for golf. By

Mike Jiggens

Tucked away in a rural setting outside Strathroy, Ont. – “in the middle of nowhere,” as its owner quips – is a one-of-akind golf jewel that, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, has been busier than ever.

The Peter Boyce Golf Academy & Driving Range has proven to be a popular destination for those wishing to learn to play the game, hone their short-game skills or get in a warm-up session on their way to a round at a nearby golf course.

Designed by architect Rene Muylaert, the 35-acre facility opened in 1999. Featuring nine target greens, an 8,000-squarefoot putting green, a practice bunker and three chipping greens, the facility has more recently added new bentgrass greens along the facility’s inner edge to serve as a short practice course.

The 2021 season marked the first year for two of the new greens while the others opened for play this year. Boyce, a life member of the Canadian Professional

Golfers’ Association, said the first pair of greens are currently “very cuttable” while the others – as of early July – “are starting to fill in now.”

Aerated and topdressed, the putting surfaces were seeded with three separate applications of bentgrass over a period of a month and a half and irrigated “with as much water as possible.” Plans were to overseed once more this fall.

The mini course greens are mowed to a height comparable to those at other golf courses but feature little or no contours. This was done by design to allow beginning golfers to learn to putt on a relatively flat surface without the burden of having to read undulations.

Boyce said he wishes to grow the game, knowing how frustrating it can be for beginners who could be presented with too much on their plate at the outset.

The intricacies of the game can sometimes be overwhelming at times for even the most seasoned golfers which inspired Boyce to simplify things as best as possible

for the sake of young children and newcomers to the game. For example, the longest hole at the short six-hole course (12 for those who wish to play it twice) is 185 yards. The others range in length from 50 to 90 yards. Youngsters who play their first round of golf at a full-length championship course may be faced with an opening hole that is 400 or more yards long, creating a scenario that can easily frustrate them and turn them away from golf after they’ve scarcely begun.

“It takes young kids 20 shots to get there,” Boyce said. “This is a lot better and gives them a better idea of what golf will be.”

The shorter hole lengths are also conducive to the more experienced golfer who may wish to play six or 12 holes to simply dial in his short game by hitting from typical approach shot distances.

Positive feedback from golfers

Boyce has received plenty of positive feedback about his facility, especially with the

An aerial view of the Peter Boyce Golf Academy & Driving Range near Strathroy, Ont.

addition of the new mini course practice holes. He’s been told it’s the best place to hit, chip and putt balls.

“We get a lot of stop-ins and warm-ups,” he said.

Prior to the construction of the academy facility, the property had previous served as farmland with a private airstrip. About 70 per cent of the land makes up the driving range while the remaining property serves as the short practice course.

Boyce’s background as a golf professional has been largely dedicated to providing instruction to beginning golfers and helping fine tune experienced players’ games. Although his knowledge of turfgrass management is better than average, he occasionally relies on the expertise of Arkona Fairways’ superintendent Tim Hornick on more complex matters.

“He’s here all the time,” Boyce said. “He does the sharpening for some of our mowers.”

Hornick provides advice on turf-related issues when they are beyond Boyce’s scope.

Fertilizer and water are generally the facility’s only inputs but spraying for dollar spot is otherwise done on a regular basis.

All greens and tees on the practice course are irrigated. A Jacobsen greens mower and gang mower are used for cutting. Looking after the day-to-day maintenance is Joe Couto, who is at the course “all the time.”

The facility’s clay soil allows turf to green up quickly and stay green. Water is pumped daily from a well into an irrigation pond that was dug out in the summer of 1998. The excavated material was used to build up tees and mounds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, golf experienced a revival in most places in Canada, and the Peter Boyce Golf Academy & Driving Range was no different. Boyce said revenue virtually tripled during that time when many other recreational pursuits were shut down.

“Since COVID hit, the number of adults and kids has really been noticeable.”

Tees are full on most nights with a mix of clients of varying skill levels.

Youngsters can play the practice course at no charge while adults are asked to contribute a couple of dollars into an honour box, although the premises are video monitored. Proceeds are donated to charity.

Boyce has had a storied background in the industry as a head professional and

director of golf at different courses in Ontario and overseas. He was head pro at the Strathroy Country Club from 1970 to 1978, head pro at the Sarnia Golf & Curling Club from 1978 to 1992, director of golf at the Provo Golf Club at Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, in the British West Indies, and director of golf at Sawmill Creek Golf & Country Club in Camlachie, Ont.

Peter Boyce is a life member of the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association.

What ’ s happening at relocated GTI

Research facility has supported the turfgrass industry for 35 years.

By Mike Jiggens

The Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI) has been a resource for the Canadian turfgrass industry for more than three decades. Founded in 1987, the GTI began as a partnership among the University of Guelph, the Government of Ontario, and the turfgrass industry. The GTI operates as a centre of research, education, and service.

The University of Guelph and the GTI facilities continue to support and foster a strong suite of turfgrass science programs, including the turf managers’ short course, the associate diploma in turf management, and graduate studies.

After a long and slow process, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute research facility has officially moved to a new location. The original property was leased on a 25-year term, which expired in 2015. The new GTI location is 364 College Ave E. – just down the road from the previous location on Victoria Road.

This move allowed for the construction of a new state-of-the-art research and teaching facility. The new G. M. Frost Centre building includes a classroom, a large lecture hall, a spacious boardroom, and a scientific laboratory to facilitate collaborative learning experiences, innov-

ative research, and specialized services.

The new GTI grounds are approximately 17 acres with 14 research plots, featuring different turfgrass cultivars, mowing heights and soil types.

The new G. M. Frost Research and Information Centre is also headquarters for the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, Sports Turf Canada, and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation.

These new research plots feature a variety of turfgrass species and several rootzone specifications to ensure studies benefit golf course superintendents, sod farmers, sports field managers, and lawn care providers.

Research conducted at the GTI can test

or advance new technologies for use in the turf industry. For example, Dr. Eric Lyons is developing a new device called the Turf Canopy Scanner which uses lasers to detect height changes in a turf stand. Arthur Rosenfield, a school of engineering graduate student, is using machine learning and real-time kinematic GPS to teach the device to detect gaps and measure fill-in over time under three different fertilizer regimes.

Data from research at the GTI can also be used to provide effective and realistic management recommendations for the Canadian turf industry. At the new research facility, GTI researchers conducted a trial on the winter survival of turf-type tall fes-

Among the officials taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the GTI’s G.M. Frost Centre were, from left, Cameron Shaw, manager of the diploma in turfgrass management program at the University of Guelph; GTI director Dr. Eric Lyons; Lorne Hepworth, Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario chairman; and Dr. Malcolm Campbell, University of Guelph vice-president of research.

cue through the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), and the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance partnered with the GTI to evaluate drought tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. Other projects have evaluated products for weed suppression, disease management, and fertilization.

The public was invited to a public opening field day on Sept. 16 to celebrate the grand opening of the new G. M. Frost Research and Information Centre. Turfgrass professionals and interested homeowners toured the research plots and connected with turfgrass researchers and experts on-site.

“It was invigorating to have the turfgrass industry at our new site,” Dr. Eric Lyons, director of the GTI, says. “This event marked the 35th anniversary of the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, so we were happy to re-connect with the hundreds of turfgrass alumni who studied in our previous facilities.”

Stay tuned to Turf & Rec for a new series which will keep readers up to date on the current research projects at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.

CHECK THIS OUT

GTI’s Frost Centre officially opens

The newly relocated Guelph Turfgrass Institute, including the brand new G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre, celebrated its official opening in September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by University of Guelph Alumni, turfgrass professionals and members of the general public.

The GTI has played a key role for the past 35 years with research and instruction to support Canada’s multi-billion-dollar sports field, golf and residential turf industries.

A public field day was held to commemorate the opening of the state-of-the-art Frost Centre and mark the GTI’s milestone anniversary. Attendees were provided tours of the building and research plots.

“We’re excited to continue our work in this new state-of-the-art research and teaching facility,” GTI director Dr. Eric Lyons said. “We are tremendously grateful for the support from the provincial government, individual donors, organizations and the industry who made our new location possible.”

“The University of Guelph is committed to delivering world class turf research that advances the sector, fosters sustainability and delivers vibrant green spaces for our communities,” Dr. Malcolm Campbell, vice-president of research said.

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Durability – Can your turf cover withstand harsh winters, while offering quick germination and easy maintenance?

Honey, start the car. It ’ s time to retire!

Are we ready for the dream of retirement?

By Mike Slack

As we work day in and day out dreaming of retirement, do we ever really plan properly for it? My wife and I have owned and operated our business for 33 years, living and breathing it 24/7. We’d love to find that guy who said, “Just own your own business! Make your own hours.”

Yeah, right! We have been fortunate through hard work, a bit of luck and faithful customers, to have been able to stuff our socks with what we hope is enough money to retire on and live to a ripe old age – sorry kids!

But wait! We have two kids involved in the business. What were we thinking? We cannot just drop it on them. Are they ready for this? Have we prepared them enough for the full shebang? Can they get along? Are they looking after our customers as well?

Fortunately for us, our kids bought into the two most important things we drilled into them:

1. Get up and go to work and be on time

2. No excuses – figure it out. Your customer is depending on you

As we have had discussions with our accountant, asking, “How do we pass this on to them? Fifty/50, 60/40, do I retain some of it to fix squabbles?” He responded with, “Ask them.”

First, if they want it as he also proceeded to tell us, “They aren’t paying you for it.” What?

Thirty-three years and no buyout? This led to his point of why we would cripple

them with payments that they do not need. You don’t want them coming back home to live with you, do you?

Bazinga! I never thought of that. Adults living with adult kids usually does not work out too well. The kids, Kyleigh and Tyce, have actually had a good dose of what to expect when Dad isn’t a phone call away and had to make important decisions alone as I recently had a health scare. I couldn’t be at a phone’s reach for a few months, and that was difficult for everyone.

According to our customers and employees, they were great. I think customers enjoyed talking with them more than me sometimes. As they are as nervous as they are excited about ownership of this company, it comes with us starting to question ourselves.

We know they can work hard, but what about the business side of the business?

• Money management

• Buying and selling

• Receivables and bad accounts

• Customer relations

• Employees…ugh!

The list goes on and on. We were fortunate enough to grow our business as we started from nothing and made a lot of mistakes and learned the hard way from them. A couple government audits straighten you out fast. However, the kids are taking over full bore. They will learn very quickly all the above points and realize at times why Dad was so cranky once in a while. Nothing makes my wife and I smile more than the kids saying, “How did you guys do this?”

Now that I may be home more with my poor wife, that’s another article I hope I live to tell. For now, enjoy the rest of the golf season.

Succession planning must be well thought out, beyond the dream of retirement.

RESEARCH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

tion. It’s a legume and will fix nitrogen.”

The research field at the GTI is low in nitrogen because Lyons said he enjoys doing fertility work.

“Everything out here is pretty low in nitrogen, so we tend to get a little more clover.”

Much more clover is found in unfertilized plots versus those that are fertilized.

“I kill the clover in my front yard by never watering. Clover dies during an extended drought. It stays greener longer, but then it dies. Clover always fails.”

TWCA tall fescue drought evaluation

A single-species trial, it includes three replications of 44 entries and six standards. Trials are named for the year in which they were established with data collection not beginning until the following year. Data is being collected through digital image analysis technology over three years.

TWCA conducts trials in rainout shelters and in field conditions:

• In areas with a reasonable expectation of little to no rainfall during the summer months, TWCA uses field trials.

• In areas where there is a moderate to high likelihood of rainfall during the summer months, TWCA uses rainout shelters to control environmental factors more tightly.

• When using rainout shelters for trialing, TWCA cooperators change the plastic covering on the shelter every year to ensure high light penetration into the trial.

The three-year trial is replicated in 10 locations.

TWCA Kentucky bluegrass drought evaluation

The single-species trial includes three replications of 24 entries and six standards. Trials are named for the year in which they were established with data collection not beginning until the following year. Data is being collected through digital image analysis technology.

TWCA conducts trials in rainout shelters and in field conditions:

• In areas with a reasonable expectation of little to no rainfall during the summer months, TWCA uses field trials.

• In areas where there is a moderate to high likelihood of rainfall during the summer months, TWCA uses rainout shelters to control environmental factors more tightly.

• When using rainout shelters for trialing, TWCA cooperators change the plastic covering on the shelter every year to ensure high light penetration into the trial.

The two-year trial is replicated 10 times in nine locations.

Fiesta trial

The trial is a comparison of two formulations of Fiesta – a low-risk herbicide – for the control of broadleaf weed popu-

lations on lawn-height turfgrass. Dandelions will be seeded into an established turf stand to evaluate the early emergent suppression of the weed.

Turf canopy scanner

3D laser scanning, or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a new technology in which laser beams create a three-dimensional topographic map of a surface. The University of Guelph-developed scanner uses LiDAR sensors mounted on a rover to scan the turf while driven. The research is being conducted by engineering graduate student Arthur Rosenfield by using machine learning to predict rates of growth, fill-in and harvestability of sod.

Beneficial bacteria

Beneficial bacteria isolated in the lab will be applied in the field to a creeping bentgrass fairway. Previous research on endophytic bacteria on corn and wheat have demonstrated increased yield and improved disease resistance.

Artificial turf fields on rise in Canada

Surrey, B.C. now has 16 synthetic sports fields.

By Turf & Rec staff

Artificial turf sports fields are springing up everywhere in Canada as municipalities and school boards are seeing the benefits of keeping fields open following heavy rain events, allowing natural fields time to heal from extensive wear, and adding longevity to playing seasons.

Decision makers have gravitated toward synthetic turf playing surfaces in recent years for other reasons, including product improvements that enhance player safety and the need for fewer inputs, which they say makes artificial turf maintenance more environmentally friendly.

Surrey, B.C. is the home to 16 artificial turf sports fields, putting it near the top among all Canadian municipalities for its

quantity of synthetic fields. Its newest field opened in June at the South Surrey Athletic Park.

Two of the city’s existing artificial fields were recently replaced with newer surfaces. One of the criticisms aimed at artificial turf is that surfaces reaching the end of their useful life are simply discarded at landfill sites, but more of these outdated turf systems and their underlays are being re-used elsewhere.

In nearby Port Coquitlam, a new artificial surface opened for play in September at Gates Park. It replaced an older synthetic field whose underlay is now being used to build a field on Vancouver Island for Indigenous youth to play on.

City officials claim the new field improves playability, drainage capacity, and safety.

In Regina, Sask., a new synthetic surface was installed in the summer at Leibel Field. The $1.2-million turf is expected to meet the city’s needs for about 10 years before it reaches the end of its useful life. Beyond that, it is apt to become so compacted that it presents a safety hazard.

The playing surface was installed by Beyond the Turf and is the same field type used at Canadian Football League stadiums.

Proponents of the field note that the city’s minor football association can play considerably more than the 16 recommended weekly hours played on natural grass.

Ground was broken in early August in Cochrane, Alta. for a new artificial turf field at Cochrane High School. The $2.5-million project is the town’s second synthetic field – the first was at Bow Valley

Municipalities see the benefit of artificial turf sports fields in allowing natural fields to heal, adding length to sports seasons and permitting play following a rain event.

High School – and efforts are being made to have it certified by Rugby Canada.

Town officials say the field will accommodate a variety of sports, will offer more playing time for user groups and will save money on maintenance. It’s also hoped the new field will help attract high-end tournaments to Cochrane.

With the addition of lighting, more playable hours are available as games can be played well into the evening. This is especially important with football as many afternoon games in late fall don’t finish until dusk.

The president of the Cochrane Track and Field Association said a rugby pad will be installed beneath the playing surface to make it safer for athletes.

In Canada’s Far North, where natural grass is scarce, a new artificial turf baseball diamond recently opened for play at Pond Inlet on Baffin Island.

More outdated turf systems are being re-used elsewhere

The project was made possible by the Toronto Blue Jays’ charitable arm – the Jays Care Foundation.

As of September, the project had yet to reach completion, but play had already begun. The cost of the diamond was $90,000.

The field was originally scheduled to be installed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thunder Bay, Ont.’s Fort William Stadium and Legion Track will be upgraded next year with several improvements, including the replacement of its artificial turf field. The total cost of the project is about $2.3 million which is being funded by the city, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor.

The existing turf, which meets FIFA

dimensions, has reached the end of its lifecycle after being installed in 2010.

The upgrades, which include a new scoreboard and the redevelopment of the surrounding track, will allow the city to host provincial and national tournaments,

concerts and festivals.

Thunder Bay’s sport and community development supervisor Paul Burke said without such high-end amenities, the city’s chances of landing a bid to host important events are diminished.

The Original Muck Boot Company has launched its Fall 2022 catalogue of footwear for landscapers, outdoor workers and anyone else looking for the maximum in comfort while spending time outside.

Among the footwear showcased in the catalogue is the Outscape Lace Up shoes, ideal for landscapers. The 100 per cent waterproof shoes feature lace-up construction for a tailored fit, Muckskin flexible neoprene with abrasion-resistant rubber coating, Guarden rubber toe and heel for durability and extended wear, a breathable mesh lining that facilitates air circulation to improve comfort and reduce heat and moisture, a bioDEWIX dry footbed insert topcover with odour control and moisture management, and a self-cleaning rubber

outsole for optimal traction and reliability.

They are available in men’s sizes 7-12 and (half sizes) 13 and 14. Although it’s not the Outscape’s intended use, they were worn by Turf & Rec’s tester as a golf shoe during an early morning round on dew-covered grass. The tester’s feet remained dry inside the shoes, the traction of the soles held up perfectly on the wet grass, the flexibility of the shoe passed the ultimate test from the complexity of the golf swing, and the light weight of the footwear provided complete comfort for 18 holes of walking the course.

Visit https://www.turfandrec.com/ wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Muck-Catalog-FALL-2022_Rev8_Lowres-1.pdf to view the catalogue.

Safety, comfort, flexibility delivered in work boots

KEEN Utility’s CSA Pittsburgh Energy boots combines athletic-hiker fit with easy-wearing

Additionally, this medium-duty boot offers added cushioning and flexibility with comfort enhancements including a KEEN.ReGEN midsole that returns 50 per cent more energy than standard EVA foam, a KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane, and a TPU shank for midfoot support.

The Pittsburgh Energy’s safety features include asymmetrical carbon-fibre toes that are 15 per cent lighter than steel, an oil- and slipresistant outsole, and an EH rating to serve as a secondary source of protection from live circuits.

www.keenfootwear.com

PEST MANAGEMENT OF TURFGRASS FOR SPORT AND RECREATION

Pest Management of Turfgrass for Sport and Recreation is the first comprehensive work on the plant-eating insects and mites of the grass and non-grass species currently maintained as ornamental lawns and sports turf playing surfaces throughout Australia, the South Pacific and South-East Asia.

This book provides an industry reference for the identification of pests affecting the roots, stems and leaves of turfgrass and control of these species through integrated pest management. It contains information on the distribution, ecology and biology of pests and how to monitor them. The integrated pest management approach outlined in the book includes natural environmental controls, beneficial and predatory species of arthropods, resistant cultivars and insecticidal and miticidal pesticides.

Bobcat’s new WB700 commercial walk-behind mowers are an ultra-manoeuvrable, powerful solution equipped to tackle tough turf jobs.

The WB700 comes in three width options (36, 48 and 52 inches) to allow contractors added versatility in rounding out their grounds maintenance equipment lineup.

The WB700 is uniquely designed with a commercial floating deck, which allows the operator to adjust the height without the need to unbolt any components and saving significant time. With ease of maintenance in mind, the WB700 comes equipped with a tool-free oil drain and deck access, as well as a handy external oil filter location and easy battery access. The five-gallon fuel tank means many hours of mowing before a fuel-up is needed.

Thanks to easy-to-use ergonomic controls, the WB700 is built from the ground up to maximize operator comfort, day-in, day-out. With a unique bullhorn design and reliable TufDeck cutting system, the mower allows grass to pop up quickly for an outstanding quality of cut, increasing efficiency with fewer passes.

In addition, the WB700 comes equipped with a hydraulic drive and innovative Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 hydrostatic transaxles, which deliver smoother, simpler operation with heavy-duty torque output and comfortable ground speeds up to 6.5 mph.

The WB700 has a 1.5-inch by 2.5-inch, 11-gauge structural tube frame. It also features a seven-gauge engine mounting plate and reinforced box section. The frame accepts a sulky to easily transform the WB700 into a stand-on mower for increased comfort. The 20-inch drive tires provide ample ground clearance on tough terrain. www.bobcat.com

Billy Goat

Hurricane™ P2000 Blower

Health & Safety

By CCOHS

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

Setting up a safe facility for stored goods

Because groundskeeping maintenance buildings and storage facilities typically exist out of the public eye, less consideration may be given to making them look orderly. But configuring facilities in such a way that materials and equipment are safely stored and readily accessible is essential, both for employee safety and for facilitating smooth operations. Not configuring them properly can have dire consequences, such as injuries, fires, or environmental damage.

Here are some considerations for supervisors and landscapers looking to optimize their operations centre for safe use.

Where to start

A well-designed facility considers the safety of employees and safe storage of hazardous products and allows for efficient access to equipment and maintenance supplies. It’s good practice to have a facility guidebook available, where employees can reference all safe storage and equipment maintenance practices.

Safe storage of hazardous products

In addition to ensuring adequate space for storage, it’s important to configure the facility in a way that minimizes the risk of spills, fires, slips and falls, and related injuries.

Where possible, having a chemical storage area that is separate from the rest of the maintenance facility provides an additional layer of safety, as spills or fires are more easily contained and additional localized environmental protections can be applied. The chemical storage area should be secure, well-ventilated, and only accessible by staff trained in the use of those hazardous products. These products should also be stored off the floor and not above eye level.

Always review the safety data sheet (SDS) or other technical data sheet to make sure that incompatible materials are stored separately. These documents will provide guidance on the safe storage of materials.

Keep a spill containment kit on hand for wet spills and dry spills to be swept up quickly. When chemical containers are empty, be sure to thoroughly rinse, and properly dispose of them.

Consider designating a dedicated area for battery storage that is protected from moisture and the elements, and ensure staff wear gloves and goggles when handling them to protect against exposure to battery acid.

Nitrogen-based fertilizers, which are oxidants and can cause fires, should be stored away from solvents, fuels, and pesticides. To prevent ground contamination from water runoff, fertilizers should be stored in an area protected from rainfall.

Store pesticides in an isolated area away from other chemicals. Handle or mix pesticides over an impermeable surface, while wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and instruct employees to avoid working with chemicals while alone.

Be sure to clean and maintain equipment in ways that prevent wash water, fuels, motor oil, brake and transmission fluids, or solvents from draining directly into local surface waters.

Preventive maintenance

Every employee who interacts with the maintenance facility should be trained in safe storage and cleanup practices and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). It’s good practice to regularly dedicate time each month for equipment and storage maintenance, during which employees and supervisors can focus on cleaning and organizing the facility and perform routine maintenance on equipment.

Larger pieces of equipment, such as riding mowers and golf

carts, should have designated storage areas marked on the floor. Smaller tools such as trimmers, sprayers or chainsaws should be hung or stored on shelves in a separate, secure storage space. Inspect tools daily to make sure they’re in good repair and properly maintained. Ensure all guards and shields for your equipment are in place, handles are tight and fastened securely, and handle surfaces are smooth and sliver-free. Dull tools are more hazardous than sharp ones, so keep cutting tools and equipment sharp. Always protect the cutting edges of the tools and equipment, storing them in a way that prevents the cutting edges from being dulled or damaged. Label damaged tools and remove them from the work site right away.

Instruct workers not to attempt to use them unless they’ve been trained on the safe use of the equipment and have read, understood, and can follow the manufacturer’s operating manual. Electrical tools should meet the requirements set by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or another applicable and recognized certification organization.

Good housekeeping

Failure to keep the workplace tidy and organized can create tripping hazards, the risk of puncture wounds from wire, steel strapping, or protruding nails, or put workers at risk of being struck by falling objects. Periodic “panic” cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing incidents, so consider including facility housekeeping on regular maintenance days.