Alabama Turf Times - Summer 2018

Summer 2018

A New Spin on

Irrigation Turf Tips

Late Summer and Early Fall

Getting Your Turf Ready for Winter

Plus, Don’t Miss the

Deep South Turf Expo November 26-29, 2018

Summer 2018

Top Features Upcoming Event — 8 Deep South Turf Expo

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Recent Event — 10 2018 Poa Annua Classic ATA Member Spotlight — 12 Scott Wanzor Cover Story — 14 A New Spin on Irrigation Turf Tips — 18 Late Summer and Early Fall

Getting Your Turf Ready for Winter

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Departments 6

From the President’s Pen

6

ATA Annual Sponsors

9

News from ATA

21

Calendar of Events

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Advertiser Index

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Auburn University Turf Team

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www.AlTurfgrass.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 © 2018 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

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From the President’s Pen >>>

Learn, Grow, and Relax at our Upcoming Events

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By

the time this issue is in your hands, another great Auburn Turfgrass Research and Education Day will be in the books. How fortunate we are as an industry to have such a strong turfgrass program in Auburn, with educators and researchers who support our turfgrass industry in so many ways in Alabama. I hope everyone had an opportunity to go and view the research plots and hear about the latest research. It is also an opportunity to network with Auburn University and State of Alabama staff and officials. Thank you to all those who organize and participate in this amazing event!

We are looking forward to October and the Mole Cricket Classic Fishing Tournament. We will be in Gulf Shores for the tournament on Monday, October 15th. We will have a dinner before the tournament on the evening of Sunday, October 14th to swap tall fish stories. The event has been planned following the weekend of the Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival with hopes you can combine the two into a long weekend of fun and relaxation. If you plan to go, it will be prudent to make your reservations early, as hotels will get booked fast during the festival. We will need to guarantee so many registrants before we secure the fishing boats. We may secure a mix of boats—some for 8 hour trips and some for 12 hour trips depending on the response. Please let Melanie know now if you plan to attend.

As many of you are aware, plans are well underway for our premiere turfgrass conference and show, the Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi. The Expo is scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving this year. We hope that will be an agreeable date for many of you with work a little slower at this time.

A first rate program has been planned and a line-up of stellar speakers has been confirmed. As you may know, this is also the time for our annual ATA Business meeting which is so important to assure the continuing smooth function of our association. Please make every effort to attend and register early to get the early bird rate. I would also ask that you spend as much time as possible on the trade show floor and thank our vendors who make this event possible through their support.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Tres Wilkinson

2018 ATA Annual Sponsors Gold • Bayer Environmental Science • Beard Equipment Company • Greenville Turf & Tractor • Harrell’s, Inc. • Jacobsen • Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Silver • BWI Companies • Dow Agrosciences • Ewing • Residex • SiteOne Landscape Supply • Syngenta

Bronze • AGRI-AFC, LLC • Agromax • Aquatrols • BASF • Diamond R Fertilizers • Humphries Turf Supply • PBI-Gordon

Tres’ Wilkinson 2018 ATA President

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• Southern States Turf • Sur-Line Turf

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.alturfgrass.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Executive Director Melanie Bonds Alabama Turf Times Editor James Horton Birmingham Botanical Gardens

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Tres’ Wilkinson South Dallas Turf

Vice President Kim Byram

University of Alabama

Treasurer Deven Peek

Full Bloom Landscapes, LLC

Past President Paul Patterson

University of Alabama Huntsville

BOARD OF DIRECTORS At–Large Ben Anderson Arrowhead Country Club

Daniel Strickland SiteOne Landscaping

Golf Glen Junkin

True Point Yahch and C.C.

Industry Scott Wanzor PBI-Gordon

Institution Joe Collins, CSFM Samford University

Lawn Care Darrel Arnold

Hermitage Lawn & Tree Care

Parks & Recreation Heath Puckett City of Decator

New Market Sod Farm

EX OFFICIO/ EDUCATION ADVISORS Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University

Jim Jacobi, Ph.D.

Alabama Coop. Extension System

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Ala bama T urf Tim es >>> Summer 201 8

Sod Greg Jones

Upcoming Event >>>

The Deep South Turf Expo Continues to Roll With the Greens in its Fourth Season

By Melanie Bonds, ATA Executive Director

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P

lans for the 2018 Deep South Turf Expo are coming together. Information about the 2018 education line-up that serves as the centerpiece of the Expo is available on our website or at DeepSouthTurfExpo.org. This year, our keynote speaker is veteran industry journalist Pat Jones. Pat will explore why turf is critical to American life today and why it will be even more important in the future. Expect a fast, furious and funny look at our industry’s past, present and future.

In an additional golf segment presentation, Pat will discuss how in recent decades, more superintendents have been fired for poor communication than poor turf. He will share proven, effective communication strategies for superintendents, including when and how to use social media, in his presentation “Modern Networking: Building Relationships in the Digital Age.” For three decades, Pat Jones has been known for his insights into the golf and turf business and his candid, “tell-it-like-it-is” approach. As publisher and editorial director of GIE Media’s Golf Course Industry magazine, Pat runs the leading independent publication in the business and contributes his awardwinning “Parting Shots” column each month. He is a prolific writer, blogger and social media commentator and a frequent presenter at regional, national and international turf conferences.

Pat began his career in the industry at GCSAA headquarters, where he oversaw communications, fundraising and lobbying in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He later created and launched Golfdom magazine before starting his own company, Flagstick LLC, to provide consulting services to golf/turf companies and organizations. He joined GIE Media fulltime in 2010 and is a member of the company’s executive team. Pat serves on several corporate and non-profit boards, including the Musser Turfgrass Research Foundation. He was elected

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to the inaugural class of the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association Hall of Fame in 2014. He lives and works in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Now in its fourth year, the Expo continues to change and adapt to further meet attendees’ needs across the Southeast. One big change this year is the addition of a second golf tournament.

The Preserve Scramble, sponsored by Ameri-Turf, which has been held on the Tuesday prior to opening of the education session, will be held as usual. However, Tuesday’s scramble has grown so much that it indicated the need for another tournament. Those who take a more serious approach to golf can now register for a two day “Championship” Golf Tournament and play a Two Person Best Ball format. The Championship will begin on Monday, November 26th at The Preserve, followed by a Fish Fry Dinner provided by Beard Equipment Company. Beard, along with Greenville Turf and Tractor, are the namesake sponsors of this event. On Tuesday, the action moves to Fallen Oak Golf Course where teams will finish play.

Our fourth Skeet and Trap Tournament at Coastal Rifle and Pistol Club (sponsored by Dow AgroScience) will be held Tuesday during the golf tournament. Meanwhile, the sports turf field tour (sponsored by Agri-AFC and PBI Gordon) will be held concurrently and we thank Keaire Edwards for making Gulfport’s beautiful playing fields available for a behind the scenes tour for our members.

This year will also see changes in the Tradeshow. Adjustments have been made to increase traffic for the exhibitors and fun for the attendees. Breakfast, sponsored by Harrells, Syngenta and FMC, will be served on the tradeshow floor on Wednesday and Thursday morning. The tradeshow reception, sponsored by Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation, takes place on Wednesday, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. and we will rock the

show with a live band (sponsored by Harrells) during the afternoon! We welcome our new partner, Simplot, Inc., who is sponsoring lunch on Wednesday.

In order to increase traffic during the trade show there will be various contests and games set up around the trade show floor. This is the time to show off your putting and corn-hole skills for cash prizes! Winners will be announced at the end of the reception during the close of the silent auction.

Following the reception and auction we will hold our host organizations’ business meetings. Thanks to the support of our hosts: Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association, Alabama Turfgrass Association, Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Louisiana/Mississippi Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Mississippi Turfgrass Association.

Our Deep South Turf Expo Board is working hard to ensure that our regional show is relevant to all our attendees and exhibitors. Stay tuned for some exciting new announcements over the summer and fall. Please block out those days during the week after Thanksgiving to attend and stay abreast of the latest in the Turfgrass industry and stock up on your pesticide and education points for the next year.

See you there! v

Don’t miss the

November 27-29, 2018 at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

<<< News from ATA

2018 Mole

Cricket Classic in October!

Above: Photo Courtesy of Greg Kennedy

Ahoy Mateys! Calling All Fishermen and Women!

We

are in the planning stages for the Mole Cricket Classic and need to know how many are interested in attending so that we can reserve the fishing boats. The event is planned for Monday, October 15th with dinner the night before.

Please contact Melanie at mailbox@alaturfgrass.org if you plan to attend.

The event will be held the Monday following the Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. Save the Date! v

Correction:

Updated Contact Information for Ewing Irrigation Jake Ray (Southeast Regional Manager) Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply 480-213-3663 Jray@ewingirrigation.com Ewing Montgomery Heath Corwin.....................334-396-8202 Ewing Pelham Derek King........................... 205-620-5300 Ewing Trussville Wade Wilson.......................205-655-9530 Ewing Huntsville Thomas Carroll................. 256-288-0506

Calling all members with children and grandchildren in college, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to submit applications for

Our Legacy Scholarship!

ATA

sponsors a Legacy Scholarship each year, and we plan to keep this tradition going for as long as we possibly can. Applications will be accepted from any student that is a child or grandchild of a current ATA member.

The application is a simple online form found on our website: www.ALATurfgrass.org. All applications are due by November 30th. We plan to have the scholarship awarded for spring term of 2019. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the ATA office at 334-821-3000. v

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Recent Event >>>

2018

Poa Annua Shines Through A Cloudy Day in Montgomery

The

Poa Annua Classic was hosted in Montgomery this year at Arrowhead Country Club on March 29th. Thanks very much to host Golf Course Superintendent, Ben Anderson, and his staff, who made the event possible in this gracious setting. There was a great educational session provided by Dr. Dave Han and Alex James of Auburn University. In his presentation, Go With The Flow: Best Management Practices for Water Usage, Dr. Han provided an overview of landscaping practices that benefit vegetation, improve soil health, and protect local water resources. He also surveyed consequences of nutrient enrichment in surface and groundwater and strategies to increase stormwater infiltration, important and timely topics in our industry. Then Alex James spoke on her work with the Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mill Creek Restoration Project which gave a practical application to the earlier information received.

The weather that day contributed to the watery theme of the education program, but despite storm warnings, golfers were able to get in their round following lunch. Special thanks to Arrowhead Country Club who donated beverages to the thirsty golfers!

The Poa Annua Classic was instituted to support turfgrass research and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation (ATRF) each year. v

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A special thanks to our

Poa sponsors: Aquatrols, Inc. Agri-AFC Diamond R Fertilizer Koch Industries 10

First Place Team, Jason Gattina, Brian Scroggins and Ben Williams

Brian Aaron, Tim Orton, Gib Fox and Rodney Guy enjoy competing at the Poa!

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Member Spotlight >>>

ATA Member Spotlight on

Scott Wanzor PBI Gordon

By Melanie Bonds, ATA Executive Director

S

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ince the time he was five years old, Scott Wanzor knew he wanted to study entomology. How do you decide on your passion so early in life? “When I was five I got a butterfly net for Christmas. My Dad was a cabinet maker, but he was very handson and spent a lot of time with me.

He took me outside to inaugurate the butterfly net, and I caught a cabbage white butterfly that Dad showed me how to kill and mount. Since that time I’ve been hooked!”

Scott’s collection now fills 38 Cornell drawers (these are standard museum collection boxes, approximately 20 x 16 inches with a glass top). His favorites are the wild silk worm moths. The Luna

moth is an example of this species, but others that fascinate Scott include the Polyphemus, Promethia, the Cecropia and the Sphinx. The Luna was a prize find in the late seventies. The moths are not rare as such, but they have such a short life span that they aren’t frequently seen. Scott says he doesn’t keep the females these days and uses more photography to capture the butterflies and moths. He has a UV light in his back yard to attract them. “I probably have 50 or 60 Polyphemus caterpillars.

They get huge. I keep them in a cage until they mate and then I let them go so the females can lay eggs.”

Scott attended the State University of New York at Farmingdale where he

Wife, Elizabeth and daughter, Shelby, with Scott 12

earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Biological Technology in 1973.

He later attended Cornell University where he studied entomology and went on to seal the deal with a Bachelor of Science in Entomology (Cum Laud) in 1976.

While Scott always knew he wanted to study entomology, he wasn’t sure how to make a career out of being an entomologist and this led him to do further research on what jobs were available in his field. Once he discovered that chemical companies needed reps, the rest was history. After working at Monsanto Company and later at Aquatrols, Scott found his home at PBI Gordon and has been there for sixteen years now.

PBI Gordon was founded in the postwar boom in 1947 in Kansas City. The founders’ strategy was simple. They would capitalize on the needs of companies such as Rohm & Haas, Stauffer, Velsicol, Dow, Montsanto, and DuPont by formulating their basic chemicals, inerts and emulsifiers as private label pesticides for farm co-ops and independent distributors. This proved to be a successful strategy because at the time the chemical companies didn’t have the resources to get all their product into the booming agricultural industry. As one of the first companies to recognize the need for turf solutions designed specifically for golf course superintendents, PBI-Gordon became the licensee in 1968 to combine active ingredients 2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba.

This gave the company the exclusive patent rights to the formulation in the U.S. The company continues to thrive and became 100 percent employeeowned in 2002.

Scott has been a manufacturer’s sales representative for 41 years and loves it. “Every single week is different and

Scott’s photo of a couple of the ~75 Polyphemus Moth caterpillars that he is raising in his backyard.

“They are feeding on oak leaves which I (or my wife Elizabeth) have to refresh every day. These caterpillars hatched out of eggs from some Polyphemus Moths that mated after they emerged from cocoons that I collected this past winter.”

get out of the car and talk to a person or people before getting back in the car and driving to visit the next person or people. Sometimes I fly on a jet to a new location and then rent a car so that I can again drive someplace to talk to more people.”

Scott’s job has given him the “freedom to succeed or fail” and his job satisfaction comes from his customers.

Through the years, the superintendents, distributor personnel and University personnel he deals with have become good friends.

The ATA is fortunate to have Scott serving on the board this year. In addition to serving on the board, Scott and PBI-Gordon have supported the ATA winter Road Shows for the past 7 years by sponsoring lunch.

“As the only manufacturer’s representative on the program, I am afforded a few minutes at lunch to speak with the crowds at the five to six yearly Road Shows. I find that these Road Show seminars are a terrific means for me to interact with several hundred attendees in the Alabama cities in the middle of the winter. The speakers are generally Auburn professors and/or Extension personnel and thus afford me a perfect

opportunity to both teach and learn.

Between the Auburn and Extension professionals, as well as the many turf and ornamental industry personnel that attend, there is a wonderful opportunity to communicate a host of ideas back and forth between us. This is the only such format short of a trade show where I can meet and have conversations with so many interesting and influential industry people.”

In addition to the ATA, Scott is a member of the Alabama, Gulf Coast, Georgia and Mississippi GCSA. Moreover, he is a member of PLANET, RISE, and the Urban AG Council in Georgia.

During his career Scott has received many awards including Monsanto’s Master Salesman, Top Gun and Iron Man awards from PBI Gordon.

Scott lives in Duluth, Georgia with his wife, Elizabeth, and his 16 year old daughter, Shelby. His interests are wide ranging. He is a private pilot and enjoys photography, wood working, reading, ice hockey, baseball, fishing, crabbing and staying active. While Scott doesn’t include golf among his hobbies/interests, he can claim that he once lived in Bermuda “The country with the most golf courses per square mile!” v 13

Ala bama T urf Tim es >>> Summer 201 8

most weeks it is a lot of fun. Being my own boss on a day-to-day basis is perfect for me and my personality. I was raised with a very strong work ethic, which I still possess. I find it a challenge to not only work hard, but to work smart. That combination of personal traits seems to be very difficult to find for manufacturers. It is a combination which I have to constantly work at and which I feel that I excel at.”

When asked about a “typical day” in the life of a sales rep, Scott replied, “There is no such thing as a typical day.

Every day is different depending on where I am, who I am talking, texting or emailing with, what questions and problems are posed that require answers, what resources I have had to memorize and what resources I have to consult to provide the best answer to a problem or a question. New product introductions are always a lot of fun since I have to learn the features, advantages and benefits of my new product as well as all of my competitor’s products. Life on the road can get one down but only if you let it. I sometimes describe my job a bit tongue-incheek by saying that “I am a professional driver: I drive someplace then

Cornell Drawer (case) that Scott built with moths caught in his yard.

Polyphemus Moth top left, big tan moth. Scott has 34 such cases filled with butterflies, moths and insects.

Cover Story >>>

A New Spin on

Irrigation

By Ashley Wilkinson, Professor Golf and Sports Turf Management Horry Georgetown Technical College

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An

interesting thing has happened in the golf world lately-CONSTRUCTION! For the first time in roughly ten years we see golf clubs entertaining the idea of construction projects. This consumer confidence was showcased at the Golf Industry Show this past February in San Antonio. Builders created an indoor putting and turfgrass complex with numerous grass varieties and bunker construction methods. However, as often happens, new irrigation strategies were a small part of the overall construction showcase. In my opinion, no improvement in construction will affect our industry as much as advances in water control and distribution.

With so much emphasis being placed on water efficiency, I often find myself speaking of the importance of improved watering practices. Over the last few years, my lecturing has taken a specific direction, two-wire irrigation control.

As costs associated with golf courses continue to rise, finding cost-effective improvements to our management

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strategies have become more and more difficult. One shining example of a costefficient improvement has been the evolution of two-wire irrigation control and the decoder-based sprinkler head.

Now, before distributors begin to correct my ‘decoder’ assertion, yes, I know the technical jargon. But maybe more importantly, many in our industry do not. And that’s why I was compelled to write this article. The ability to modernize an irrigation system is available… and it’s cheaper than you think!

Decoder systems are not a new invention. The technology has been around for decades. The issue with twowire decoder systems was their association with block systems. One decoder could control numerous sprinklers. The problem was with the marketing. We were beginning the modern era of irrigation where increased independent sprinkler control was a necessity for the high demands placed on golf courses.

Block systems were no longer considered efficient, regardless of cost. Large sprinkler companies continued to

research the positive aspects of decoders: two-way communication, less wire, and faster troubleshooting and repair.

If we jump forward thirty years, we find ourselves in the modern two-wire evolution. Two-wire systems now offer independent sprinkler control as the “decoder” is built into the solenoid.

These solenoids act as mini computers doing at each sprinkler what a satellite once did for dozens of sprinklers, and the advanced surge protection included in each solenoid can handle thousands of volts to protect the modern technology, drastically reducing repairs.

The new irrigation strategy to incorporate two-wire systems into existing piping systems is called “spin off-spin on” renovation. My good friend Andrew Johnston with Wesco, a Toro distributor, coined the term and I stole it… or promoted it. Simply put, a spin off-spin on renovation will convert your outdated sprinklers and communication system while removing almost ALL of the fail points. Gone are satellites, once a fixture on every golf course. The

Photo

Photo

1

2

Plowing of the wire and new head installation

two-wire system in phases. A course can add fairways, greens, and other features when it best suits them and makes financial sense. I have assisted more than one course with partial installations IN HOUSE during greens renovations and found the improved lightning protection offered through the grounding protocols will win over even the most skeptical superintendent.

The modern two-wire control system uses extremely low electrical voltage.

The risk of personal injury from touching 120 or 240 volt wires running to the satellites has been eliminated. There is no longer the need for a dedicated power line to control the system, snaking through the entire property, enticing electrical surges and lightning.

All the needed low voltage electricity simply runs through the single twowire that runs to the sprinklers. Also removed is the need for confusing wire sizing. There is no common wire. There is no field wire…only the two-wire. All two-wire can be the same size, simplifying the design and installation. The

two-wire voltage is so low that, according to code, the need for an electrician to make risky connections and splices has been negated. Personal injury from electricity is all but gone.

A spin off-spin on renovation does not fix your ailing pipe. Only a new piping system can do that. What a new control system CAN do to improve leaks is better control your flow of water, evenly distribute flow throughout the property, and improve your hydraulic tree, thus hopefully reducing the water hammer that your old control system could not. The spin off-spin on renovation can be easily installed by plowing the wire. (Photo 1) Open trenches should not be needed unless extremely rocky soil interferes with rudimentary plowing. The disruption of the turfgrass created by plowing is minimal and, if rolled shortly after installation, should be healed and barely noticeable in under two weeks.

An added benefit of the spin off-spin on installation is the warranty. If the property uses new swing joints while

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Ala bama T urf Tim es >>> Summer 201 8

efficiency of the new two-wire systems put control of your irrigation into your handheld smart device. The $4,000 satellite bill from explosion-by-lightning is eliminated. The hours spent troubleshooting satellites to find the burned up board are now gone. Learning that fire ants have short-circuited a faceplate on Friday afternoon — gone. For those that still want a satellite, that ship has sailed. The only fail point is now limited to the aforementioned surge protected solenoid.

So what can the two-wire system do better than a satellite system? For one, it offers endless expandability. You will no longer be limited to 64 or 72 stations. If you want to add a sprinkler or valve, simply splice into the wire and presto! You’re connected to the central computer. Each decoder-type sprinkler has an ‘address’ that allows the turf manager to quickly add the sprinkler to the program of choice. No new wire runs back to the satellite, under the cart path. For those operating under tight budgets, you can install the

Toning for wires to avoid costly and time-consuming repairs prior to installing the new wire

Cover Story >>> Continued

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Su mmer 201 8

installing the new sprinklers, the manufacturers are including at least a five year warranty! That is a significant reduction in potential leaks and failures.

The confidence that manufacturers have in the new two-wire spin off-spin on renovations should ease many minds when evaluating the reliability of the new sprinkler control systems.

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“It can’t be that easy” I am often told. Well, it is. The one central point that must be driven home is the importance of good grounding and splices.

“Proper wire splicing, avoiding exposure in the wire to the soil, and good grounding are essential for a two-wire system” says Matt Correntin with Rainbird. “But above all else, good grounding is the key.”

Regardless of the brand of sprinkler, the amount of ground rods or ground plates will greatly increase versus an antiquated satellite driven system. This small investment in grounding will still greatly outweigh the costs associated with satellites. The average amount of wire that an 18-hole course will install can reach one million linear feet. That number drops to roughly 200,000 linear feet for a two-wire installation, or one fifth the financial investment in wire. That savings, coupled with the savings of no satellites, quickly adds up.

At roughly four thousand dollars per satellite…how much money can you save on your course?

Proper location of existing infrastructure is paramount for keeping repair costs down. Phone lines, existing power lines, and piping system cuts can add costs to the installation. Using a wire locator to find existing power lines can alleviate repairs and keep the current control system intact. (Photo 2) This is especially important if you are going to implement the new system over time.

Another benefit of locating wires can be locating irrigation pipe prior to plowing through it. Since most mainline and lateral irrigation pipes have either power or field wires in the same trench, time consuming and costly repairs can be avoided. We often call this practice “pot-holing”. By pot-holing we can locate what is under ground and either go over or under the existing pipe and wire. The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has never been more correct than when installing two-wire control systems.

While new grass, sand, and chemicals are all evolving rapidly, there is no more essential need than improved irrigation management. Hopefully, you now understand a bit more about twowire spin off-spin on renovations…and can see through the “spin” to get to the facts. v

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Turf Tips >>>

Late Summer and Early Fall â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Getting Your Turf Ready for Winter Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Su mmer 201 8

By Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University

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A

ugust and September are critical months for southern turf. Most years, these are the final months with enough heat and sunlight to support rapid growth of the warm season grasses, and they are also when turf managers must begin to think ahead to winter. It’s also the time of year when some of the most troublesome pests can set turf back weeks or months right as it should be storing as many resources as possible to fuel growth the next spring. The health of the turf going into dormancy is a primary determining factor in winter survival and health in the spring. Here are a few tips to help turf go to bed in great shape and give it a head start on next year.

Pests to watch out for Fall armyworms are caterpillars, the larvae of a small, light brown moth.

The fall armyworm caterpillar reaches a maximum size of about 1 1/2 inches in length. The large caterpillars are usually a tan color, while younger, smaller ones are often darker, almost black.

The distinguishing marking on a fall armyworm is an inverted “Y” on the top of their head, leading to a line down the middle of the caterpillar’s back.

Typically, they begin to cause trouble in July and are most active in August and September.

Fall armyworms have multiple, overlapping generations, meaning that eggs, small caterpillars, large caterpillars, pupae, and adult moths all live in the

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Chamberbitter

as an army of caterpillars moves out to feed.

There are many insecticides labeled for control of fall armyworm. The best time of day to spray is late in the afternoon, when the fall armyworms are actively feeding. They tend to stay in the soil and thatch during the heat of the day and are much harder to reach with an insecticide. Mowing right before spraying helps the spray to penetrate through the turf where it can contact the armyworms. Keep in mind that since there are overlapping generations, and insecticide sprays will not kill eggs or pupae, repeat applications will be needed.

Weed Control Summer weeds continue to be a problem, especially annuals that germinate in hot soil, such as doveweed, chamberbitter, spurges, etc. Springapplied preemergents are long gone and repeated applications of postemergent herbicides are usually needed to control these weeds as new seedlings will continue to pop up until fall. Summer perennials also continue to be a problem as they are in their active growth period for a few more months too. It’s also worth noting that recent research indicates that late in the growing season is the best time to apply herbicides to control many troublesome perennial grasses, especially dallisgrass.

Winter weeds are also very much on the radar, especially in September,

Plugs of soil removed during aerification of golf course.

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Ala bama T urf Tim es >>> Summer 201 8

Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

same patch of turfgrass. Although fall armyworms can feed on a wide variety of grasses, they are especially fond of bermudagrass, and it is in bermudagrass that they are the worst pest.

When there is a severe infestation of fall armyworms, it is easy to see how they got their name, as the advancing front of caterpillars can literally eat every blade of grass in its path, leaving behind only defoliated stems.

If there are a lot of moths flying over your turf, especially around dawn or dusk, look for armyworm egg masses.

Armyworms usually lay their eggs in clusters of 50 to 100 on smooth, lightcolored surfaces near turfgrasses. Metal gutters and fences, the undersides of plant leaves, and metal light poles are favorite places for fall armyworm moths to lay eggs. The presence of birds digging up the grass while hunting for the caterpillars can also be an indicator of an armyworm infestation.

If you see damaged bermudagrass in summer or fall, check for fall armyworms. The caterpillars are most actively feeding around dawn and dusk, so check for them at those times. You can use the soap flush method to detect fall armyworms. Put one squirt of lemonscented dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water and soak a small area of the turf with the soapy mixture. This will bring the armyworms to the surface in about 10–15 minutes, making it easy to see them. Of course, if the infestation is bad enough, the grass will simply seem to crawl late in the afternoon

Turf Tips >>> Continued

when the first preemergents should be applied to control annuals that germinate in the fall. Getting the barrier in the soil before seeds germinate is the key to controlling annuals.

Testing and Maintenance

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Su mmer 201 8

The window is still open for aerification of warm season grasses, and nothing is more helpful for the long term health of turf than making sure the soil is in good condition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including preventing as much compaction as possible. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to stick to a regular aerification schedule for any turf that receives regular traffic. Putting greens, fairways, and athletic fields are obvious turf areas in this category, but so are high-use lawns in a park or on a college or corporate campus. Many home lawns also need regular aerification. Anything that encourages deeper rooting will help the grass be as healthy as possible going into the winter.

Soil testing is important year round, but especially in the summer, so that macro- or micronutrient deficiencies can be corrected while the turf is still growing. Making sure that the grass has enough phosphorus and, especially, potassium will impact winter hardiness.

However, nitrogen applications should be tapered off in August and September, as large amounts of N in the fall can encourage some winter pest and disease problems as well as serve as fertilizer for fall-germinating weeds. v

Collecting sample for Soil Testing

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Index of Advertisers >>>

<<< Calendar of Events

The Andersons..................................17 www.andersonsplantnutrient.com

September 25–27

November 27–29

BWI Companies.................................. 7 www.bwicompanies.com

(Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN

Mississippi Coast Convention Center Biloxi, MS

October 15

December 11

Fisher’s Restaurant and Orange Beach Marina Orange Beach, AL

Location TBA

NRPA Congress and Expo

Deep South Turf Expo

Color-Flex Distance Markers.........20 www.color-flex.com Coosa Valley Turf Farms................. 16 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc....... Inside Back Cover www.greenvilleturf.com

ATA Mole Cricket Classic

ATA Sponsor Appreciation Sporting Clay Tournament and ATA Board Meeting

Jacobsen............................................. 11 www.jacobsendirect.com Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation............. 3 www.jerrypate.com Leading Edge Communications....... 7 www.leadingedgecommunications.com Mid Tenn Turf, Inc..................... 17, 22 www.midtennturf.com North Georgia Turf Company, Inc.............................9 www.ngturf.com Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc................................... 5 www.progressiveturfequip.com RD Murphy, LLC................................21 www.rdmurphy.com Regal Chemical... Inside Front Cover www.regalchem.com Riebeling Farms, Inc.........................21 Smith Seed Services........................ 22 www.smithseed.com South Dallas Turf Farm.................... 5 www.southdallasturf.com Southeast Turf Maintenance..........21 www.southeastturf.com

Sur-Line Turf, Inc.............................20 www.surlineturf.com The Turfgrass Group....... Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com TriEst Ag Group, Inc......................... 11 www.hendrixanddail.com 21

Ala bama T urf Tim es >>> Summer 201 8

Southern Specialty Equipment...... 22 www.ssequip.net

Auburn Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Turf Team >>>

Auburn Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Turf John Beasley Jr., Ph.D. Department Head, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences 204 Funchess Hall Auburn, AL 36849 P 334-844-3850 jpb0035@auburn.edu Fudd Graham, Ph.D. Researcher/Entomology 301 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-2563 grahalc@auburn.edu

Elizabeth Guertal, Ph.D. Professor/Turfgrass Soil Fertility 263 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-3999 guertea@auburn.edu

David Held, Ph.D. Asst. Professor/Entomology 301 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-3818 dwhooo4@auburn.edu

Austin Hagan, Ph.D. Extension Plant Pathologist 143 ALFA Building Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-5503 haganak@auburn.edu

David Lawrence Superintendent, Turfgrass Research Center 201 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-4100 lawreda@auburn.edu

Dave Han, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor/ Extension Specialist, Turfgrass Management 252 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-3980 handavi@auburn.edu

Team Scott McElroy, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science 233B Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-3992 jsm0010@auburn.edu Paul Patterson, Ph.D. Dean, College of Agriculture 107 Comer Hall Auburn University, AL 36849 P 334-844-3254 pmp0003@auburn.edu

Jim Jacobi, Ph.D. Extension Plant Pathologist 2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, AL 35223 P 205-879-6964, ext. 19 jacobjc@auburn.edu

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