Spring 2012
The Heat is on... Putting Green Conversions from Bentgrass to Ultradwarf Bermuda
Managing Nuisance
Wildlife
Understanding the Feeding Ecology of
Mole Crickets
Plus, ATA Member Spotlight on
Mark Irwin, the Foley Sportsplex
Spring 2012
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Top Features Upcoming Events — 8 Hit a Home Run at the Sports Turf Field Day,
May 14–15 in Huntsville
Recent Events — 10 Thanks for a Great Road Trip! ATA Member Spotlight— 12 ATA Member Spotlight on Mark Irwin,
Turf Manager at the Foley SportsPlex
Cover Story — 14 The Heat Is On... the Wave of
Bentgrass to Ultradwarf Conversions
Turf Talk — 22 Managing Nuisance Wildlife 14
Research Update — 24 Understanding the Feeding Ecology of Mole Crickets
Turf Tips — 27 Timely Advice for Golf,
Lawn, Sports and Sod Turf
Departments 6 6 29 30 30
From the President’s Pen ATA Annual Sponsors Welcome, New ATA Members! Calendar of Events Advertiser Index
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On the cover: The Grand National Golf Course in Opelika, AL (Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail). Photo by Tricia Roberts.
www.AlaTurfgrass.org 4
The Alabama Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Alabama Turf Times, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Alabama Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2012 by the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Alabama Turf Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertion please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
From the President’s Pen >>>
A New Season, New Beginnings
As
I write this article in mid-March, I can’t help but acknowledge that spring is in the air. Spring has always been synonymous with a new life, a new beginning, a new season. It’s the time of year that turf managers look forward to, as it means that our season is about to take off and we better hold on! It seems that maybe our economy is paying attention to the season, too. For the last week, the stock market has been higher than it has been in four years; that’s very encouraging. If the economy is starting to recover, our industry will, too. People will start building houses, installing landscapes, spending more discretionary funds on lawn care and playing more golf and sports. I have high hopes that the green industry will soon come out of this survival mode and into a less stressful way of life. I personally have not been sheltered from the effects of our economy. Not long ago, I found myself between jobs after 34 years as a lawncare operator. Fortunately, I
have recently joined the Harrell’s team as their lawn and landscape representative for Alabama and northwest Florida. I look forward to sitting on the other side of the desk, and I know it will be rewarding, as it will offer me the opportunity to work closer with many of you. And it’s only fitting that this change happened in the spring, when everything is fresh and new and taking on a new start. In closing, I would like to thank everyone who attended a RoadShow Seminar or one of our golf tournaments earlier this year. ATA has had a very busy start to our year, and we appreciate your support. If you are a sports turf manager, I encourage you to attend the Sports Turf Workshop in Huntsville, May 14–15; it will prove to be a great educational experience for you. More details can be found on page 8. Until then, enjoy this wonderful season! James Bartley 2011–2012 ATA President
2012 ATA Annual Sponsors
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The companies listed here support the ATA and its members. Please keep them in mind when making your purchasing decisions.
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Beard Equipment Company
AAT – Direct Solutions
AGRI-AFC, LLC
DuPont Professional
Greenville Turf & Tractor
Ewing
Agromax
Products
Golf Ventures West
John Deere Landscapes
Aquatrols
Harrell’s, Inc.
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
Syngenta T&O Products
BASF
Humphries Turf Supply
Bayer Environmental Science
Southern States Turf Sur-Line Turf
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Alabama Turf Times is the official publication of the: Alabama Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 70 Auburn, Alabama 36831 Tel: (334) 821-3000 Fax: (334) 821-3800 Email: mailbox@alaturfgrass.org www.alaturfgrass.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Executive Director Tricia Roberts Alabama Turf Times Editor James Horton Birmingham Botanical Gardens
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President James Bartley Harrell’s, Inc.
Vice President Glenn Hedden Town of Loxley
Treasurer John Carter
Carter Sod Farm
Past President Tom Wolf
Coosa Valley Turf Farms
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Golf Jeremy Sutton (1 year)
Montgomery Country Club
Lawncare Jason Cooper (2 years) Southern Scape, LLC
Parks & Recreation Raymond Sexton (1 year) City of Troy
Sod Tres’ Wilkinson (2 years) South Dallas Turf
Industry Steve Sanderson (2 years) AGRI-AFC, LLC
Institution Kim Byram (1 year) University of Alabama
At–Large Jeff Hill (1 year)
Cullman Golf Course Alabama Lawns
Sidney Whitaker (2 years) S & S Lawn & Landscape
EX OFFICIO/ EDUCATION ADVISORS Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University
Jim Jacobi
ACES, Birmingham 7
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Craig Jones (2 years)
Upcoming Event
Hit a Home Run
at the Sports Turf Field Day MONDAY, MAY 14, 2012 Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director
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The
Alabama Turfgrass Association will host our bi-annual Sports Turf Field Day in Huntsville, Alabama, on May 14–15. We are excited to announce that this event will be co-hosted this year with the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association; located just north of Huntsville, this chapter of STMA is very active in Tennessee. The two-day event will feature educational sessions on lots of topics of interest to sports turf managers, including seeded bermudagrasses, managing high-traffic turf, overseeding and proper removal, in-field maintenance, conditioners, hosting special events, compaction, goosegrass control, field renovations and fire ant control. The event will also include a tradeshow show where vendors will display their latest products, technology and services, as well as demonstrate their equipment. Any vendor interested in exhibiting should please contact the ATA office. The schedule of events is listed right for your convenience. Please note that the twoday event will feature a networking baseball game and dinner at the Joe Davis Stadium, home of the Huntsville Stars, as well as a full day of instruction at the University of Alabama Huntsville ball fields. If you manage a sports field — whether football, soccer, baseball or softball — we will offer you some valuable information, tips and practical techniques to make your job easier. Make plans to attend this event, and learn how to hit a home run with your sports field! v
3:00 p.m. Registration 3:30 p.m. Tour of Joe Davis Stadium, Kelly Rensel 4:00 p.m. Seeded Bermudagrasses, Dr. David Williams, University of Kentucky 5:00 p.m. Field Renovations, Bob Campbell, Carolina Green 6:00 p.m. Networking Dinner 6:45 p.m. Baseball Game: Huntsville Stars vs. Mississippi Braves
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012 University of Alabama, Huntsville 7:30 a.m. Registration 8:00 a.m. Field Rotations: Attendees will travel to four fields for an hour each. This will allow 25 minutes for each presentation and questions, with 5 minutes to move to the next field by the top of each hour. Soccer Field #1 • Managing High-Traffic Turf, Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee • Compaction and Goosegrass Control, Speaker TBA Soccer Field #2 • Overseeding and Effective Removal, Dr. Dave Han, Auburn University • Controlling Fire Ants on Your Sports Field, Fudd Graham, Auburn University Softball Field • Hosting a Special Event, James Horton, Birmingham Botanical Gardens • Exploring the Different Types of Conditioners, Speaker TBA Baseball Field • Infield Maintenance, Bill Marbet, Southern Athletic Fields 12:00 p.m. Networking Lunch: Welcome by Paul Patterson, UAH 1:00 p.m. Tradeshow Open; Visit Exhibits 2:00 p.m. Equipment Demonstrations; Intermural Field 4:00 p.m. Adjourn
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Recent Event
Thanks for a Great Road Trip! By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director
T
hank you for another great road trip this winter. Our RoadShow Seminars were a huge success, thanks to your support. This year, we had over 430 turf professionals in total attendance (at all five stops). Top attendance honors go to Birmingham and Huntsville, followed closely by Montgomery, Loxley and Dothan. The ATA board of directors is committed to offering this series of annual seminars, as it gives our members access to specific turfgrass management education that is close to home, economical and high-quality, and best of all, it allows members to earn pesticide recertification points and CEUs. This is also a great opportunity for ATA to recruit new members. This year, we recruited 20 new members at these seminars, and that just makes ATA that much stronger! A big thank you to our speakers who took this journey around the state with us: Dr. Dave Han, Dr. Jim Jacobi, Dr. David Held, James Horton, Jared Hoyle, Ellen Huckabay, David Bailey and Yao Xu (Juliana). This was an amazing group of educators who dedicated so much time and energy for our association. Thank you! For the members who attended a RoadShow Seminar, you saw firsthand the way the pesticide re-certification sign-in and sign-out process will work from here on out. The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Pesticide Management Division was on-hand at every seminar, scanning pesticide licenses in and out of the meetings. Although everyone did not have the new bar-coded license (we are two years away from every licensee having one), the process was fast and simple. The record of attendance at the meeting is immediate, so there shouldn’t be any delays with the record keeping. We think everyone will enjoy this new method, and we ask for your patience as ADAI works out the kinks. They are working to better serve you efficiently! v
THANK YOU TO OUR ROADSHOW SPONSORS! (who help keep the costs down for attendees)
Lunch Sponsor PBI-Gordon
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Seminar Sponsors
AAT-Direct Solutions AGRI-AFC, LLC Air Evac GEC Organics Humphries Turf Supply Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation John Deere Landscapes Southern States Turf Sur-Line Turf Syngenta 10
ATA Member Spotlight
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Born
and raised in Foley, AL, Mark Irwin is known as a hometown hero in his own right. In October 2011 at the Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow, ATA presented Mark with the President’s Award of Excellence for the Sports Field/Complex of the Year for the Foley SportsPlex where Mark is the sports turf manager. The SportsPlex is home to baseball fields, a playground and natural areas for Foley residents to enjoy. The superb condition of the fields, turf and landscape earned Mark and his staff this great honor. In 1999, Mark began his career in the green industry at Cotton Creek Golf Course where he started in grounds maintenance, moved up to spray technician and then onto assistant superintendent. To this day, he considers Kevin Kaehr, superintendent at Cotton Creek at the time, his mentor. Kevin taught Mark the business, from weed identification to greens management. Mark, though, had a great work ethic from the start. As his late father once told him, “Nobody really likes to work, but do your best at your job every day, and in the long run, you will reap the benefits.” He was right; the President’s Award of Excellence is proof-positive!
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By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director An ATA member for 11 years, Mark consistently attends our educational offerings, absorbing as much knowledge as possible. He is an ideal ATA member, one who takes pride in his work, wants to learn, sets an example for others in the industry and is willing to help others. Outside of his career, Mark is a volunteer fire fighter for the City of Foley, and he served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Foley, where he has ushered for over 40 years. His favorite pastimes include hunting, fishing, watersports and vegetable gardening. Mark has been married to his wife, Julie, for 26 years, and their daughter, Mallory (now 20), was a long-awaited girl for the Irwin family… the first in over 27 years. Mark, we are extremely proud of the work you are doing at the Foley SportsPlex and your abilities as a turfgrass manager. We also want to be sure to thank your co-workers that you credit for making this award possible: Carl Grant and Lauren Klumpp. Great job! We also know the City of Foley is proud of their hometown hero and their amazing SportsPlex facility. Congrats, Mark, Carl and Lauren! v
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Ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties are replacing bentgrass on many putting greens in the Southeast.
The
with the combination of higher green speeds and firmness that bentgrass greens cannot provide in the summer. The third group includes courses looking to find a grass that meets golfer expectations on as low a budget as possible, and the ultradwarfs are filling this niche. As the momentum of regrassing increases, superintendents face the challenge of learning to manage ultradwarf bermudagrass. Green committees and course officials familiar only with bentgrass need to be aware of the skills, tools and maintenance calendar necessary to make the ultradwarf successful. Fortunately, the early adopters and university researchers have helped hone the skills and practices necessary for success. We have learned that the method of management is just as important, if not more so, as the budget alone. This article is dedicated to courses considering a change from bentgrass to ultradwarf in the transition zone. It is structured in two parts. The first part highlights the most common problems to avoid and the solutions to assist, if these problems occur. The second part describes key practices that must be well executed to have a successful ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green.
PART 1: PITFALLS TO AVOID Overseeding
Problem: For decades, overseeding was a staple on Tifgreen and Tifdwarf bermudagrass putting greens, with the goal of providing a good putting surface in the winter and spring months. In most of the region, Tifgreen and Tifdwarf did not have the wear tolerance to provide an acceptable putting surface on courses with heavy winter and spring play. The downside of overseeding was — and still is — the significant disruption to the golf experience in the fall and during the transition in the spring. These courses become caught up in a cycle of (1) fertilizing heavily through June, July and August to fill in bare areas after the overseeding died, (2) aerating heavily in midsummer to mitigate all the organic matter deposited by the overseeding and bermudagrass base, (3) fertilizing heavily to recover from aeration and (4) mechanically prepping the greens for overseeding again in early fall. No wonder
Photo at right: The Grand National Golf Course (Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail).
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motto of the Olympic games is “Faster, Higher, Stronger” (Citius, Altius, Fortius), but it could also apply to the selection of grasses on putting greens in the Southeast. Dating back to the early days of golf, the unique climate of the southern portion of the transition zone has never created an ideal fit for either bentgrass or bermudagrass on putting greens, nor has it excluded either species. The result has been an evolution of regrassing putting greens with improved selections. Dating back to the early 1950s, the lineage roughly follows this pattern: common bermudagrass, Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, Penncross bentgrass, more heat-tolerant bentgrasses and ultradwarf bermudagrasses. Breeders develop the varieties, university researchers and superintendents perfect the management, and golfers ultimately determine which varieties come or go. And the process continues today. The period since the early 2000s has seen the emergence of the ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties in the region. While the earliest adopters of the ultradwarfs converted greens from Tifdwarf or Tifgreen, the period since 2005 has seen an acceleration in the number of courses removing their bentgrass putting greens and replacing them with ultradwarf bermudagrass. Why is this occurring? Several catalysts led courses to consider and select ultradwarf bermudagrass for their putting greens: • Improved wear tolerance eliminates the need to overseed. • The entire golf course can be peaked at the same time. This is desirable for hosting important golf events in hot weather months. • Management focus shifts from multiple months of life support with bentgrass to a focus on playability. • For most courses, fewer inputs (fans, fungicides, etc.) and fewer dollars are spent, compared to those for bentgrass. The first courses to make the switch were ones that chronically struggled to keep bentgrass alive. They were not seeking perfection; they simply wanted live grass by the end of the summer. The second wave is happening now. They are the upper-end courses that desire to produce high-level golf conditions in the summer months,
(Beard and Sifers, 1996). A wear study showed Champion to be far more wear tolerant than Tifdwarf, with 32% more surviving green leaves and shoots than Tifdwarf after 1900 revolutions on a wear simulator (Beard and Sifers, 1996). In the field, all the ultradwarf bermudagrasses hold up well under winter play, assuming there are no compounding stresses such as shade. A second reason not to overseed is nitrogen management. For overseeding to be successful, it is fertilized at a time of the year that is not beneficial for the bermudagrass base. All the nitrogen is not released during the overseeding period, and residual nitrogen released the next summer is likely to give the superintendent problems with unwanted growth. A final reason to avoid overseeding is the elimination of shade, and details are included in the next problem description.
Shade
Problem: Whether sunlight is blocked by clouds, trees or taller turf, reduced light quality and length will take their toll on ultradwarf bermudagrass. Too much shade will make it difficult, if not impossible, to produce desired conditions. The symptoms of excess shade are not hard to spot: thin turf that is not able to withstand and recover from stressful events, including golfer and equipment traffic, turf diseases and routine cultural practices such as mowing, grooming and core aeration.
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so many clubs jumped to bentgrass when pioneering superintendents proved they could keep bentgrass alive during the summer months! Solution: There are several reasons not to overseed an ultradwarf. The first one is its improved wear tolerance due to the more stoloniferous growth habit of ultradwarf grasses. Champion bermudagrass is a good example. Champion has 93% greater shoot density than Tifdwarf, and the number of stolons for Champion is 2.6 times greater than Tifdwarf and 2.8 times greater than Tifgreen
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Solution: Assessing how much shade is too much is difficult for golf course superintendents who are making the switch from bentgrass to ultradwarf bermudagrass. Although results from Dr. Grady Miller (now at North Carolina State University) indicate that “TifEagle and Champion bermudagrass are capable of sustaining quality better than other dwarf grasses,” superintendents converting from bentgrass to bermudagrass need to remember that bentgrass has better shade tolerance than ultradwarf bermudagrass (Miller and Edenfield, 2002). If shade is a problem on a bentgrass putting green, the problem will be magnified with an ultradwarf putting green. However, there are sure to be other marginal areas where shade is likely to influence an ultradwarf putting green. What is a golf course to do? The following observations from the field and research results can help. • The selective removal of trees can increase the quantity and quality of light that a putting green receives. Dr. Bert McCarty and Todd Bunnell found that a minimum of eight hours of sunlight is required to provide acceptable turf quality in TifEagle bermudagrass in a Clemson research project (Bunnell and McCarty, August 2004). They also found that 12 hours of sunlight was optimal for an ultradwarf bermudagrass (Bunnell and McCarty, October 2004). • There are situations where no more trees can be removed, yet sunlight is still limited. Bunnell and
Continued <<< Cover Story
McCarty found that applications of the plant growth regulator Primo and an increase in mowing height improved the quality of TifEagle bermudagrass (Bunnell and McCarty, October 2004).
Extremes in nitrogen fertilization
Problem: Memphis Country Club has a reputation for some of the finest ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens in the region. When discussing management strategies, Memphis Country Club superintendent Rodney Lingle commented that ultradwarf bermudagrasses are much more efficient users of nitrogen than their predecessors, Tifgreen and Tifdwarf. In other words, a little nitrogen goes a long way. This is confirmed in the field by far-more-frequent observations of mower scalping than lean, off-color putting greens. Too much nitrogen is easy to identify because mower scalping will occur, and it can occur quickly. Many times, an employee will report back to the maintenance facility that something must be wrong with the mower because it is scalping severely. Usually the mower is fine, but the growth of the grass has accelerated to the point of scalping. Mild cases of scalping can be detected on the downhill side of the mower pass when mowing on a slope. Too little nitrogen is more difficult to identify. Typically, color will be poor, although if iron, magnesium or manganese has been applied recently, color may not be the
best indicator. Density may become more open, and there will be slower recovery from mechanical stress. Solution: How much nitrogen to use each year depends on multiple factors, including rootzone nutrient-holding capacity, the length of the growing season, seasonal rainfall and the desired level of playability. Refer to the section on nitrogen management (page 20) for details.
Poor-quality water
Problem: Poor-quality water is a major hurdle to anyone hoping to successfully manage ultradwarf bermudagrass. Elevated levels of sodium, soluble salts and/or bicarbonates can cause serious turf-quality issues. Books have been written about the impact of water quality on turf, and if your golf course has poor water quality, careful study and analysis are needed before selecting an ultradwarf. Solution: The most effective option to overcome poor water quality is to find a better water source for the putting greens, but this may not be possible in many cases. Because of the complexity of this topic and the constraints of space, a list of references for further study is noted on page 18. In extreme cases, ultradwarf bermudagrass may not be sustainable, and it may be advisable to consider seashore paspalum.
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Cover Story >>> Get the Edge
“Effective Use of Seawater Irrigation on Turf Grass.” By R. N. Carrow, M. Huck and R. R. Duncan. USGA Green Section Record, January/February 2000. “Effluent Water: Nightmare or Dream Come True.” By R. N. Carrow, M. Huck and R. R. Duncan. USGA Green Section Record, March/April 2000. “Understanding Water Quality and Guidelines for Management: An overview of challenges for water usage on golf courses for the 21st century.” By R. N. Carrow, M. Huck and R. R. Duncan. USGA Green Section Record, September/October 2000. “Leaching for Salinity Management on Turf Grass Sites.” By R. N. Carrow, M. Huck and R. R. Duncan. USGA Green Section Record, November/December 2000. Salt-Affected Turf Grass Sites: Assessment and Management. By R. N. Carrow and R. R. Duncan. 1998. Ann Arbor Press.
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Construction issues: straight sand rootzone and variable mix depth
Problem: In this section, there are two rootzone issues to deal with. “Variable mix depth” describes a condition in a single putting green where the depth of the rootzone mix varies significantly throughout the putting green cavity. The depth of the rootzone mix has a big impact on the amount of water that will be held at field capacity. The USGA Guidelines for Putting Green Construction recommend a rootzone of 12 inches. Deeper rootzone mixes have a higher gravitational head and will hold less water, thus being prone to droughtiness. Shallower rootzone mixes will hold more water and be prone to excess wetness. Both shallow and deep mix can exist in a 18
single putting green, making water management difficult. A second rootzone issue for ultradwarfs is a straight sand rootzone mix. Straight sands typically have low nutrient-holding capacity (CEC) and low water-holding capacity. Research at Clemson University on ultradwarf establishment in greens mixes with differing waterholding capacity found that the length of establishment increased on a mix with a blend of 95:5 sand/peat mix compared to mixes with 85:15 sand/peat. This is confirmed in the field, as superintendents experience difficulty managing water and nutrients in straight sand or near-straight sand rootzone mixes. Solution: Variable mix depth must be dealt with through irrigation frequency and quantity. Absent rainfall, the two greatest influences on soil moisture are the uniformity of coverage by the irrigation system and the depth of the rootzone mix. It may be beneficial to conduct an audit of irrigation coverage and a study of rootzone depth for each putting green. Although time consuming, it is important to know the areas of the green that receive more or less water than desired and how they match up with shallower or deeper areas of rootzone mix. Set up irrigation cycles based upon the wettest areas on each green. It will be necessary to add supplemental hand watering to provide an appropriate amount of water for the ultradwarf plants. The difficulty in managing a straight sand rootzone will become less over time, as more organic matter is deposited from plant growth. Some superintendents have achieved success by adding amendments to increase nutrient-holding capacity.
Continued <<< Cover Story
Mechanical injury
Problem: One of the go-to maintenance practices of Tifgreen and Tifdwarf bermudagrass varieties was an aggressive dethatching once or twice a season. The putting greens would appear destroyed, but with a shot of fertilizer, water and warm weather, the putting greens came back thicker and denser than before. Ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties, however, do not like this type of treatment at all, and they will rebel in the form of extended recovery and bumpy surfaces for several months. Research by Dr. Wayne Hanna of the University of Georgia showed that despite differing rates of nitrogen or plant growth regulator, aggressive dethatching required a minimum of at least six weeks of recovery. This is too much recovery time, given the requirements of play. Solution: Aggressive dethatching is not advised. See the section on surface management (page 20) for alternatives.
PART 2: KEY PRACTICES With a few hurdles out of the way, this final part discusses several key practices that are the basis for excellent ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. Superintendents who can refine these practices over time, in response to results on their golf courses, will be rewarded.
Frequent watering
This may be a shock to many and heresy to others, but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long to dry down in the top inch. Ultradwarf bermudagrasses are shallow-rooted, and most observed in the Southeast have root systems of two inches or less, with a predominance of roots in the upper inch. Also, the density of many ultradwarf stands is incredibly tight, and it is common to see water running off slopes and not into the soil. The best results in the field result from superintendents watering their ultradwarf putting greens every day or two during the growing season. Frequent watering does not have to mean overwatering. Set up the irrigation cycles relative to the wettest portion of each green. Hand water slopes and chronically dry areas. Use wetting agents, too. Research at Clemson University and in the field has shown that wetting agent use does improve ultradwarf turf quality on sand-based rootzones (Martin and Camberato, 2002).
Mowing practices
The quality and attention to detail of a mowing program have a profound impact on the quality and playability of an ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green. Once thought to be the domain of walking mowers only, numerous courses in the region have achieved their standards with
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Cover Story >>> continued
triplex mowers. Given the difficult economy, this number is certain to increase in the years ahead. Regardless of mower type, keep several considerations in mind. First, ultradwarf bermudagrasses do perform well at low heights of cut when the weather is cooperative (temperatures and adequate sunlight). Leaf texture and density appear to improve as the height of cut moves down. However, as height of cut moves down, the amount of work behind the scenes increases dramatically. A few factors to consider as mowing height is decreased are included below. • More skill, precision and time are necessary to set up the mowers, requiring the mechanic to allocate more of his time to mowing equipment. It may mean that the mechanic must delegate other tasks. • Inconsistencies in a mower are magnified when it is used on a putting green. • Sharpness becomes more important. More time will be spent on bedknife and reel sharpening and adjustment. • At lower heights of cut, more sand will be picked up, necessitating the use of backup mowers after topdressing or requiring more time on reel and bedknife maintenance. • Expenditures for parts will go up. An excellent summary of the considerations for longterm success can be found in an article by Tom Cowan called “Going Low with Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens,” which appeared in the November/December 2001 issue of the Green Section Record.
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Surface management
As noted earlier, aggressive vertical mowing or dethatching is not advised. When most superintendents think of the practice of vertical mowing, a corrective practice is brought to mind. Instead of waiting for a situation to occur that would warrant a corrective practice — in our case, an excess of undiluted mat at the surface — success can be achieved by a preventative approach through frequent grooming. In this article, grooming refers to the depth of the blades, not the equipment used. Frequent grooming helps reduce the influence of grain and results in additional clipping removal by a follow-up mowing. This threestep regimen — (1) a morning mow, (2) light grooming with vertical mower blades on a triplex mower and (3) a second mowing — has worked well in the field. Small, shallow channels may be noticeable, but they are not disruptive to play and not injurious to the turf because the depth is so shallow. The grooming practice helps stand up the grass between the small channels, and the second mowing is effective in removing even more clippings without an adjustment in mowing height. These channels also aid in future light topdressing incorporation. For a more complete discussion of this topic, refer to “Going for the Gold with the Ultradwarf Bermudagrasses” by John Foy of the USGA Green Section that appeared in the January/February 2008 issue of the Green Section Record.
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Organic matter dilution
It has been said that the solution to pollution is dilution. The same can be said for organic matter management in the upper rootzone. Core aeration, surface sand topdressing and judicious nitrogen applications are tools for managing the buildup of organic matter in the rootzone. Long-term success with any putting green in the region must include an appropriate core aeration and sand topdressing program. A popular trend in the region, and one that is sound agronomically, is to complete all core aerations on one date in July or August, using a technique known as closecenter aeration. Either the putting green is aerated twice on two-inch centers, or an aerator with variable spacing is used to create a comparable number of holes per square foot. All disruptive aeration is performed on one date, which is far friendlier to the business of golf than multiple aeration dates. A more detailed discussion of this topic can be found in the article “Aeration and Topdressing for the 21st Century” that appeared in the May/June 2004 issue of the Green Section Record.
Use of plant growth regulators and wetting agents
Trinexapac ethyl (Primo) continues to be the most-popular plant growth regulator used on ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens, and it is a staple on most of the best ultradwarf putting greens observed in the region. Primo is used to reduce the vertical growth rate; in doing so, clippings are reduced, and a higher quality of cut is achieved. Further dwarfing of the grasses also occurs, with Primo producing an even tighter, denser surface. University research has documented some of these benefits (Bunnell and McCarty, 2004). Wetting agent use is more sporadic throughout the region. The results of two studies are worth noting. Drs. Camberato and Martin at Clemson found that wetting agent use is appropriate for optimum turf grass quality and localized dry spot avoidance. Dr. Keith Karnok (University of Georgia) offered two comments in a recent article that should get the attention of everyone who manages a sand-based rootzone. The first comment is, “Our research has shown that most sand-based root-zones 18 months or older will have some degree of soil water repellency.” Also, “Research has shown that if water-repellent soil is found in one portion of a turfgrass area — in this case, a green — almost without exception, soil water repellency will be present throughout the green even though localized dry spots may not be apparent.” These are compelling arguments for the use of wetting agents.
Nitrogen management
Managing the rate of growth appropriately has a major impact on playability. The most practical and successful approach observed in the field is to make an early season, slow-release nitrogen application to provide a small and predictable background level of growth. As the temperatures warm up, begin to spoon-feed small amounts of nitrogen every 7 to 14 days to bring the
Continued <<< Cover Story
growth rate of the grass in line with expectations. Start with smaller quantities, and if some scalping appears, back off. If vigor or growth response is not fast enough, gradually increase the spoon-feeding amounts.
CONCLUSION
Managing ultradwarf bermudagrass in the transition zone requires a solid understanding of turfgrass management fundamentals, but it also requires the artistry of a craftsman. For superintendents who are switching from bentgrass putting greens to ultradwarf, less time will be spent on turf survival techniques, and more time will be available for creating the best playing surface possible. Several stumbling blocks were presented in the first part of this article, and avoiding them is a great first step. The remainder of the article presented several key areas that will form the basis of the management program. Think of these areas as a path to success and a destination that will not be reached. Each season, it is likely that small modifications will be made based upon previous results. With diligence and an awareness of solid fundamentals, the new horizon will lead to a bright day for superintendents and golfers. v Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: This article first appeared in the USGA Green Section Record, March/April 2009.
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Turf Talk
ns Photo by James Horton, Birmingham Botanical Garde
Managing Nuisance Wildlife By James Horton, Birmingham Botanical Gardens
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The
past 50 years have seen a period of major change in the relationship of man and wildlife in Alabama. As human developments pushed forward, natural wildlife habitat has been converted to roads, industry, malls, housing, churches, schools, parks, golf courses and more. Wildlife species, some rarely seen years ago, began coming in contact with human activity while looking for food and shelter. The reasons for these increased encounters can to be traced to several changes: (1) human population shifts to suburban homes, (2) the natural conversion of abandoned farmland to wildlife habitat, (3) landowner decisions to prevent hunting, (4) restrictions on the use of firearms in suburban regions and (5) enforcement of leash laws. These changes, coupled with the fact that many wildlife species can adapt to fragmented habitat, have caused the population of several species to explode to the point that many are now considered a huge nuisance. Several species of wildlife cause daily problems for mankind and, therefore, could be listed as nuisance wildlife, including squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, etc. However, turfgrass and landscape managers are mainly concerned with the species that cause damage to turfgrass and landscape plants. Some people say that whether or not a species becomes a nuisance can be directly correlated to the degree to which humans can tolerate that animal. Most turfgrass and landscape managers have a very low tolerance for damage caused to their grounds and therefore go to great expense to manage such damage. The primary objective of any management program should be to reduce damage in a practical, humane and environmentally acceptable manner. Managers should
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base control methods on the habits and biology of the wildlife causing the damage, so that their efforts will be more effective and will serve to maximize safety to the environment, humans and other animals. A key to managing wildlife damage is prompt and accurate determination of which species is causing the damage. Even someone with no training or experience can often identify the pest by thoroughly examining the damaged area. Because feeding indications of many wildlife species are similar, other signs — such as droppings, tracks, burrows, nests or food caches — are usually needed to make a positive species identification if the animal is not caught in the act.
Four-step program for successful nuisance wildlife management
• Correctly identify the species causing the problem. • Alter the habitat to make the area less attractive or accessible to the wildlife pest. • Use a management method appropriate to the location, time of year and other environmental conditions. • Monitor the site for new damage to determine if additional methods are necessary.
At right, management methods for three of the more common wildlife nuisance species for turf managers in Alabama will be discussed: deer, Canada geese and armadillo. Before initiating any nuisance wildlife management methods, however, become familiar with local, state and federal laws by contacting city and county officials, along with Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama Department of Fish and Wildlife specialists. v
Species
Damage
Management Methods
Deer
Mostly Browsing: Deer consume about 3% of their body weight in forage each day (mostly buds, leaves, tender shoots and flower parts).
Barriers: Fences of wire mesh, 8' high. A slanted fence constructed with electrified wire is an excellent deer barrier. Also, deer are not likely to jump a high, solid fence, such as one made of stone or wood.
Rubs on Small Trees: The antler-rubbing behavior of male deer during fall is particularly damaging to small saplings with stem diameters of about 6" or less. Hoof Prints: Cause problems for play on golf greens and sports fields. Safety Threat: Collisions with vehicles.
Homemade Repellents: Hang fragrant soap bars or bags of human hair around the perimeter, or spray an egg-water mixture, hot sauce or garlic oil with water on plants. Commercial Repellents: Deer Away®, Big Game Repellent®, Deer-Off Repellent Spray, Hinder®, Miller’s Hot Sauce®, Animal Repellent, Nott’s Chew-Not, Tree Guard Other Measures: Select deer-proof plants. Install motionactivated lights and water blasts. Use noise–making devices or dogs. Allow hunting.
Canada Geese
Foraging: Geese like to feed twice a day, in early morning and late afternoon, eating established and newly sprouted grasses like winter rye and clover. The lawn voted “most likely to be eaten by the resident goose population” is Kentucky bluegrass. Try planting tall fescue because geese do not like the taste of this broad-leaved grass. Any coarse-leaved grass is less desirable to geese. Mostly Aesthetic: It’s estimated that a goose eats 4 to 5 pounds of grass a day and defecates every 8 minutes, producing over 1 pound of feces per day. The mess they leave behind discourages any sort of outdoor activity in that area. During the spring molt, feathers will litter the water and ground. Also, the noise from just a few birds is deafening. Health Threat: Their feces can contain many potentially harmful human pathogens including giardia, salmonella and shigella, just to name a few. While these pathogens usually cause very few problems with healthy individuals, small children, the elderly and immuno-suppressed individuals should not risk exposure. Anyone mowing goose-populated turf areas should wear a dust mask.
#1 Control Method: DO NOT FEED THE GEESE!!! Habitat Modification: Limit easy access from grazing areas to the water, especially during molt. Let plants along the perimeter of water features grow 2' or more tall. Geese do not venture near dense vegetation because predators may lurk nearby. Make the area look unsafe with groups of tall trees and vegetation to obstruct their view and impede their movements. Repellents: Bird-X GC-PT Goose Chase Goose Repellent, Liquid Fence 147 Goose Repellent, Bird-X TAPE-25 Irri-Tape Bird Repellent Ribbon, ReJexit, Flight Control Plus Scare devices: Include sirens, horns, whistles, screamers, whistle bombs, cracker shells, distress calls, motion-activated water blast, spot lights and even laser lights. Remote control boats are also used. Hazing: Involves chasing geese from the site each time they arrive. Humans can do this, but dogs are more effective. Hazing with canines is the most effective humane goose-control method and is recognized by government agencies and animal rights groups as humane and effective. Lethal Techniques: Include egg addling, round-ups and hunting. These all require a permit.
Armadillo
Health Threat: Armadillos have been known to carry the bacterium associated with human leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae), but there has been no conclusive evidence that human beings can contract leprosy from contact with armadillos.
Barriers: The best solution is a stout fence extended a foot or more into the ground, 12" to 18" high. Repellents: Anything with a strong, noxious odor can expel an armadillo from its den. Mothballs or a rag soaked in vinegar or ammonia have been used successfully in the past. It has been reported that some armadillos do not like the smell of pine needles or pine mulch. No toxicant, fumigants or repellents are currently registered for armadillo control. Trapping: Bait the trap with fresh fruit or earthworms. Worms probably work the best by placing them in a nylon stocking. This will let the smell out without letting the worms escape. Use boards to funnel the animal into the trap. Other Measures: Using insecticides to reduce their food source will often cause armadillos to look elsewhere for food. Or try an electric fence with a single strand 3" to 4" off the ground. Spotlighting and netting or shooting armadillos at night is an effective and selective method, although local regulations on discharging firearms may prohibit this activity. 23
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Holes and Burrows: While searching for food, armadillos dig small holes in the ground, looking for insects, grubs and other invertebrates. These holes are about 3" wide and 5" deep. Holes created in lawns, sports fields, golf courses, etc., create safety hazards for anyone using the area. Armadillos will also uproot flowers and other vegetation in loose soils. Armadillos dig burrows 15' to 25' long, causing serious damage to tree roots. In many cases, this damage leads to the tree dying. When dug around crawl spaces, these same burrows can lead to flooding, and they can undermine patio slabs or walkways.
Research Update
Understanding the Feeding Ecology of Mole Crickets (ATRF Funded Research)
By Yao Xu and David W. Held, Ph.D., Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University
The
tawny mole cricket (TMC), Scapteriscus vicinus, and southern mole cricket (SMC), S. borellii, are among the most significant pests of turfgrass in the southeastern United States. They both occur on golf courses and lawns, causing damage to turfgrass from feeding and tunneling. TMCs are considered primarily herbivores that can cause severe turf loss by directly feeding on the roots, stems and leaves of grass. SMCs, although more abundant in Alabama turf, are primarily carnivores and cause turf injury mainly by tunneling. A novel research project evaluating the feeding ecology of these mole crickets and the associated damage to turfgrass is near completion at Auburn University. The objectives of this project are to determine the dietary choices of mole crickets in laboratory feeding assays and their implications for the growth and development of mole crickets, as well as for damage to bermudagrass.
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Feeding preference and dietary impact on development
Using ground mealworms and organic carrot strips as representative animal and plant diets, respectively, we tested the feeding preference of adult SMCs in laboratory choice and no-choice tests. As an omnivore, both plant and animal diets were acceptable to SMCs in no-choice tests. However, when given a choice, SMCs prefer an animal diet. We tested the nutritional profiles of both diets and found that the dietary choice likely reflects the lower nitrogen content of plant tissue (1% nitrogen) compared with animal tissue (9% nitrogen). Nitrogen is an important nutrient that insects must get from their diet. Conventional mole cricket control mainly depends upon the timing of treatment and the life stages that the pests
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are in at the time. Particularly, an effective treatment should be directed towards the more vulnerable young nymphs. However, it is common to find a wide range of ages of the nymphs in the same area. This situation may be closely related with the feeding habits of mole crickets. We conducted laboratory experiments using SMC nymphs to evaluate how different diet treatments affect the longevity and nymphal development of mole crickets. Our research Every two days, newly hatched nymphs were provided a comparable amount of a plant (organic carrot strips), animal (ground mealworms) or rotational diet (alternating plant and animal diets every two days). Starved nymphs were a negative control (interestingly, nymphs can survive for one month in sand with no food). After three months, SMC nymphs that fed on only plants had the lowest body weight and the longest duration of each instar (time between molts). Nymphs fed the animal diet had the greatest body weight and the fewest days to reach the adult stage. Again, the nutritional value of both diets may explain this variation in development. This is the first choice and developmental study with turf-infesting mole crickets. Since management/control targets nymphs, and diet influences development, diet then influences the age distribution of treated populations. These results reinforce the Extension recommendation to treat populations when small nymphs are present. As populations age, the difference in size may enable some larger individuals to survive a treatment that kills smaller individuals. Similar tests with TMCs will be conducted to compare the two species. Since TMCs are primarily herbivorous, it will provide an interesting comparison to SMCs.
Feeding habits associated with damage to turfgrass
In a greenhouse assay, we assessed whether the presence or absence of earthworm prey influences mole cricket damage to bermudagrass. An adult SMC was placed in a PVC arena with hybrid bermudagrass. The following treatments were tested: grass only, grass with earthworms, grass with mole crickets and grass with earthworms and mole crickets. We used living earthworms as prey source because they are a known food for mole crickets, and they are abundant in soil. Bermudagrass top growth was measured weekly, beginning one week after mole crickets were introduced into the arenas. After four weeks, each arena was sampled to assess the survival of mole crickets, root growth and root dry weight. Unexpectedly, the bermudagrass top growth was not negatively impacted by SMCs nor the presence or absence of earthworm prey. Among root measurements, four parameters (i.e., total root length, surface area, projecting area and number of forks) showed significant differences between treatments. The grasses in arenas with earthworms had significantly larger root length than the ones with earthworms and mole crickets. We are currently repeating this test with TMCs. We expect a greater impact on grass with TMCs. v
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Spring Turf Tips
Spring Turf Tips Lawncare
If you feel like you are overwhelmed by Poa annua this year, you are not alone. The warm winter has resulted in a bumper crop statewide. Many fall preemergent applications simply ran out while Poa was still germinating quite happily. Is it worth it to apply post-emergent treatments for lawns infested with large amounts of Poa? Ultimately, it will depend on each homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own tolerance. The good news is that if temperatures continue to be above normal, ALSinhibitor herbicides will kill Poa faster than usual for this time of year (see also below). Remember, though, that an exceptionally warm spring could also cause spring pre-emergent herbicides to degrade more quickly than usual. This may lead to an abundance of later-germinating summer annual weeds this July and August if a second application is not made in April or May.
Golf
Summer brings heat and humidity, and that brings good growing weather for fungi. Especially on greens, that means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fungicide season. Remember that fungicides require their own application techniques to ensure good results. First, use enough water. Most fungicides, especially contact fungicides, give best results against foliar diseases when applied in at least 2 gallons per 1,000 ft2 (roughly 80 gallons per acre), especially on tees and greens. The large volume is needed to ensure good coverage on the dense canopy. For root diseases, 5 or more gallons per 1,000 ft2 may be needed to move the fungicide into the soil where it can be taken up by roots. Most fungicides are not translocated downwards in plants, so to protect roots with a fungicide, it must be in the soil and taken up at the root level.
Athletic Turf
Overseed removal has become much easier over the last several years with the release of a number of herbicides that are very good at selectively killing ryegrass in bermudagrass fields. These herbicides are mostly in the ALS-inhibitor mode of action category, and the weather greatly affects the speed with which they kill overseed. With temperatures running above normal for much of this spring, expect your overseed to die faster if you use an ALS-inhibitor herbicide. This may be either good or bad. If you have no traffic on a field, the faster overseed removal will allow your bermudagrass more time to grow without competition. It could also reveal bare spots before they fill in, which may not be a good thing for a field in use.
Sod Production
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What will the sod market be like this year? In the past few years, the perception had been that the market for sod is flat, which has led to many producers taking land out of sod and into other crops. This is especially attractive as long as commodity prices are high. How will this impact the demand for sod, and how much land should you keep in sod production? This is the topic of a study by an Auburn University graduate student, Jing Yi. She has sent out a link to an online survey to all ATA and TPI member sod producers asking for info on your current production and future plans. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. If you have lost your link to the survey, please email me at handavi@auburn.edu. Thank you for your time! v
Welcome, New ATA Members
Welcome, New ATA Members! Wanda Bean City of Troy Troy, AL
Zac Fleming Athens Turf Mgmt., Inc. Athens, AL
Todd Brown ProScape of Alabama Rainbow City, AL
Harry Kuntz, III Soldiers Creek Golf Course Elberta, AL
Rick Capone Maximum Landscape, Inc. Mobile, AL
Costa Marinakis D & C Alabama Landscape, Inc. Gardendale, AL
Danny Duffey Southern State Turf Fayetteville, TN Stephen Emens Tennessee Valley Golf Management Huntsville, AL
Donna McGuffin The Rose Garden Wetumpka, AL
Jim Parmore American Tree Maintenance, Inc. Columbiana, AL\ Chad Price Carolina Green Corp. Indian Trail, NC Kelly Rensel Huntsville Stars Huntsville, AL
Bryan Shafer City of Cullman Cullman, AL Chad Warren Warren Lawn Care Bessemer, AL David Yarbor City of Decatur Decatur, AL
Chip Richardson Sweetwater Construction Alabaster, AL
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Calender of Events >>>
May 14–15
Sports Turf Field Day University of Alabama Huntsville, AL
June 20
Gulf Coast Turfgrass Field Day & Expo Jay, FL
June 26–27
STMA Mid-American Regional Conference & Trade Show Cincinnati, OH
July 8–10
July 30 – August 3
TPI Summer Convention and Field Days (Turfgrass Producers International) Asheville, NC
October 2–4
PLANET Legislative Day Washington, DC Contact: 800-395-2522 www.landcarenetwork.org
2012 ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Auburn Univ. Hotel & Conf. Center Auburn, AL
October 24–26
Green Industry & Equipment Expo Kentucky Exposition Center Lousiville, KY
Advertiser Index >>> AGRI-AFC, LLC www.agri-afc.com................ Inside Front Cover Bayer www.bayerprocentral.com............................ 5, 9 Direct Solutions www.attdirectsolutions.com............................13
Digital Marketplace
DuPont Professional Products www.proproducts.dupont.com......................... 7 Ewing Irrigation www.ewing1.com...................................................21 Greenville Turf & Tractor www.greenvilleturf.com....................................28 Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer www.harrells.com................................................30 Humphries Turf Supply www.humphriesturf.com................................. 10
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Spri ng 2012
Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation www.jerrypate.com.............................................29 JRM, Inc. www.jrmonline.com............................................26 Kesmac/Brouwer Inc. www.kesmac.com................................................. 11 NewLife Turf www.newlifeturf.com...........Inside Back Cover Riebeling Farms, Inc...........................................30 Southern Specialty Equipment www.ssequip.net............................................................7 Southern States Cooperative www.southernstates.com..................................17 Sur-Line Turf Inc.................................................... 19 The Andersons Technologies Inc. www.andersonsgolfproducts.com................. 25 The Turfgrass Group................... 3, Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Tri-Est Ag Group Inc. www.hendrixanddail.com.....................................13
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Weed Man www.weedmanfranchise.com...........................30