New England Blade - June 2021

June 2021

Water: FUNCTIONS, FLOW and FORMS Water Management Q&A PLUS

Member Spotlight on Brian Schools

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CONTENTS • June 2021 FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

120 C over Story

160 C olumn

180 F eature Article

200 F eature Article

220 P rofessional

240 M ember

0 Water: Functions, Flow and Forms

0 I PM Steps to Reduce Chinch Bug

0 Water Management Q&A

Development

0 W hen Doing Good is Good Business

0 Synthetic Turf: The Importance of Infill

Spotlight on

0 Brian Schools

4 • New England BLADE • June 2021

8 NESTMA News

26 Index of Advertisers

Officers

Directors

Board of Trustees

President

Tom Barry, CSFM Greens Farms Academy Greens Farms, CT

Kim Britton Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH

Chris McGinty Framingham Parks Department Framingham, MA

The official publication of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA), the New England Blade is dedicated to educating, advising, and informing members of the profession and furthering the goals of the Association. The New England Blade carries news and features related to the sports turf management profession. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication and to refuse advertising not in keeping with the goals of the Association. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in connection with items appearing in the New England Blade. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by the New England Blade, NESTMA, or Leading Edge Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. The New England Blade is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of NESTMA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

7 STMA News

10 Legislative Update

FIND THIS ISSUE, PODCASTS, EVENTS AND MORE: TheTurfZone.com | Twitter.com/TheTurfZone

Advancing professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and scholarships.

6 President’s Message

President Elect Brian Boesch University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI

Treasurer

Art Goodhind Town of Natick Natick, MA

Secretary

Andrew Walsh Pine Banks Park Malden, MA

Past President Ben Polimer Town of Weston Weston, MA

Ed Downing Read Custom Soils/ A.D. Makepeace Wareham, MA Ian Lacy Tom Irwin, Inc. Burlington, MA Ed Olsen Town of Needham Parks & Forestry Needham, MA Jason Puopolo, CSFM City of Nashua Nashua, NH

John Cunniff Walpole, MA Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Storrs, CT

Management Team Virginia Wood, Executive Director Peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Charissa Sharkey

NESTMA Headquarters 67 West Street Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 653-1241 NESTMA.org NESTMAinfo@gmail.com

Technical Editor Evan Steele Pioneer Athletics Billerica, MA

Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Extension Storrs, CT

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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DOING MORE WITH LESS

oted water conservation expert, Amy Vickers, author of Water Use & Conservation, defines water efficiency as: “Minimization of the amount of water used to accomplish a function, task or result.” In other words, doing more with less water.

As sports field managers, we know what it means to do more with less – we do it every day. And if the predictions hold true, we also know what the future of water use holds. All of us must prioritize sustainable water management to protect our industry’s (not to mention our planet’s) most valuable resource: water.

To that end, NESTMA will keep the issue of water conservation and efficiency front and center through online learning, hands on demonstrations, member polls, this publication and more. We kick things off with the introduction of a column highlighting

water management. Kyle McNerney offers expert advice on irrigation systems and water efficiencies. Thanks, Kyle!

We want to hear from you. What irrigation technology have you introduced to help realize water savings? How are you managing wasteful runoff of at your facility? What future water use regulations are you addressing today?

Stay safe. Stay involved. Stay in touch!

Chris McGinty NESTMA President

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STMA NEWS

STMA Releases BMPs

S

ports field managers’ top priority is to provide safe and uniform athletic field playing surfaces. At the same time, they are under increasing pressure from local and state governments, activist groups, and the public to alter fertility programs, restrict pesticide use, and modify irrigation practices to protect the environment and alleviate public concerns.

STMA’s new Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Sports Field Management provide chapters and members with the tools and resources to document solid environmental practices for legislators, regulators, employers and community constituents. While members have been following excellent practices, this publication validates them and positions the Sports Field Manager as a strong steward of the environment.

Spanning more than 100 pages, the guide includes everything from planning, design, and construction to specific cultural practices like nutrient management, irrigation, and IPM.

The National BMP document is provided as a customizable template that can be edited and used as an advocacy tool.

NESTMA plans to adapt the national BMP document to reflect the regional trends and unique needs of New England.

Many thanks to Vickie Wallace who chaired STMA’s BMP task force and Ben Polimer who also helped with the development of this important document. Their volunteer efforts will serve STMA and NESTMA members well into the future. •

June 2021 • New England BLADE • 7

NESTMA NEWS

Summers are Made for Re-Runs

O

ver the course of the past year, NESTMA offered many informative webinars for members to watch on-demand.

With permission from several presenters, we are making them available again this summer. Whether you missed a few or want to re-watch them with your team, sign up is easy at NESTMA.org. The full series is available June 1 – August 31.

Just $49 for members and $69 for non-members provides access to all these webinars:

Improving Water Use Efficiency with Wetting Agents Stan Kostka, Ph.D. & Mike Findanza, Ph.D., Penn State

A Year in the Life of a Synthetic Turf Field Arthur Eddy, RePlay Maintenance

Prepping Fields for Winter Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts

Upcoming Educational Opportunities June 15 – July 31 Webinar

Modern Water Management: Do More with Planning Drought concerns, water use restrictions, sustainability initiatives and field safety have placed a heightened focus on water management. Water management used to mean conservation or “doing more with less.” This webinar will focus on doing more with impactful planning to help you realize what to look for before your irrigation becomes a mess and leaves you falling short of your goals. We’ll talk about the tools to help make adjusting to weather, predictable seasonal factors, and specific characteristics of athletic fields easier. Discover what’s available to you, what features work best in what settings, and how to plan to avoid unexpected costs. Presenter: Kyle McNerney of Smart Water Management.

Thanks to Harts Turf Pro and Read Custom Soils for sponsoring this webinar.

Mark your calendar for the MALCP/NESTMA annual golf tournament at Butter Brook Golf Club in Westford on October 7.

October 13 – Turf Techniques Workshop

A Tale of Two Fields: Selection, Installation, Management and Replacement of Synthetic Turf From site selection and design to installation and care, sport turf professionals are responsible for every aspect of synthetic turf management. We’ll look at two athletic fields in Needham, MA – DeFazio and Memorial – that were resurfaced over the course of a couple of summer months. Learn what worked and what didn’t.

Take away valuable lessons learned from experienced SFMs. See best-in-class demos of grooming and maintenance practices. If you work with synthetic turf, you do not want to miss this workshop – jam-packed with practical advice and clear solutions. Presenters: Ed Olsen, Park & Forestry Department, Needham, MA and Bradlee Mezquita, Tighe & Bond, Inc., Westfield, MA.

Looking ahead…

How Hybrid Grass Stitching Technology Can Extend the Life of Sports Fields George Mullan, SIS Pitches

Tom Barry, CSFM of Greens Farms Academy and Ian Lacy of Tom Irwin Advisors will lead a webinar on Fraise Mowing for Weed Control in Pesticide Free Fields in November and NESTMA’s Annual Meeting and Holiday Social returns to Ken’s Steak House in Framingham, MA on December 7. Stay tuned for details as these, and other NESTMA events, continue to take shape.

& Robert Heggie, BMO Field & Training Grounds

NESTMA Network

Managing Early Season Turf Pests & Diseases Pam Sherratt, The Ohio State University

NOTE: NESTMA webinar re-runs are for reference and educational purposes only. CEU credit is not available.

8 • New England BLADE • June 2021

We are a community of problem solvers with expertise to share.

With that in mind, Tom Barry, CSFM of Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT and Derek Mannion of City of Newton (MA) Parks & Recreation of the Membership Outreach Committee have launched a series of brief polls, the results of which are regularly shared with members. Topics covered to date include snow clearing on synthetic surfaces, getting ballfields ready for spring, hard court and field maintenance, and water management. Thanks to the members who have responded and watch your email for continuing opportunities this summer. •

NESTMA Donates to UMass Soil Testing Lab

The UMass Extension Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab recently initiated a campaign with the goal of raising $200,000 from industry groups, foundations, and individuals. NESTMA answered the call with a donation of $5,000 to help strengthen and modernize the lab’s operations.

The lab provides unbiased and independent testing of agricultural and horticultural soil and tissue samples. Each year, it runs more than 30,000 tests for nearly 5,000 clients across the Commonwealth.

These analyses provide green industry professionals with critical information and recommendations that help them achieve economic and environmental goals, as well as maintain regulatory compliance.

“UMass Extension deeply appreciates the many ways in which NESTMA collaborates with and supports our programs. This leadership gift to support the Soil Testing Lab demonstrates the Association’s understanding that the lab’s services are a core part of the infrastructure that underpins science-based management of sports turf. Families throughout New England depend on wellmanaged turf to provide safe, healthy, and rewarding outdoor sports experiences, which have only become more important during the pandemic,” said Clem Clay, UMass Extension Agriculture Program Director.

The Lab is currently funded solely by client fees and is ineligible for federal funding. Funds raised through this campaign will be used for: • CN analyzer to replace a 17-year-old instrument, saving on operating costs and offering new diagnostics, including soil health measures.

• I CP spectrometer to replace an aging workhorse that provides nutrient and metals analyses but has very high maintenance and repair costs.

• System upgrades to improve customer experience and increase efficiency.

As part of a $200,000 campaign goal, UMass Extension committed $45,000 from its modest budget toward improvements and established financial policies that set aside a portion of lab fees for future equipment replacement. For more information, or to learn how you can help, please contact Clem Clay at 413-545-5021 or cclay@umext.umass.edu. •

June 2021 • New England BLADE • 9

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

W

hen it comes right down to it, we are all horticulturists of one sort or another; we love to work with plants and doing what we love provides for us and our families. We are naturally repelled by politics and avoid it at any cost. Unfortunately, as the ancient saying goes, just because you don’t take an interest in politics doesn’t mean that politics won’t take an interest in you.

And politicians are interested in what we do, in a deeply negative sense, many having no appreciation for the value of turfgrass of any sort or application. I hear the false platitudes about “grass monocultures” and “chemically addicted lawns” being repeated as gospel in legislative hearings in one state after another, too often without someone knowledgeable on our side to counter the nonsense. That is beginning to change, and we need your help to keep that momentum going.

Currently, I am tracking over sixty bills in legislatures around New England, mostly in Massachusetts, the battleground to come, and Maine, the current battleground. Overwhelmingly, these bills deal with pesticides. Most of these bills start with a set of erroneous premises, that pesticides are uniformly toxic, that they are not regulated, and that any benefit from their use can be easily achieved through switching to an organic substitute.

10 • New England BLADE • June 2021

The latest bill debated in the Maine legislature would require pesticide applicators to complete application records, including products used and their amounts, along with the name, address, telephone number and email address of the applicator to the state Board of Pesticide Control and require that the BPC post the information electronically. Here’s the kicker: the bill would require you to submit the information the day before the application is to take place. And the rationale for this is to enhance the adoption of IPM practices.

There are real world consequences to ill-conceived bills such as this. The complete ban on lawn pesticides in South Portland, Maine has been in effect for a couple of years now. Professional turfgrass managers pointed out what the consequences would be and now we see the tangible results on home lawns and office parks. The Sable Oaks golf course saw the writing on the wall and decided to close altogether. This is what we are trying to stave off. Yes, we will adopt organic practices that actually work, but in many cases, there is no effective substitute.

Your participation in this debate is crucial. If you are hesitant to join in, don’t be. Ours in a unique industry full of people who freely collaborate with one another, who support one another.

This is not the case in many other industries. We are also natural politicians because we find ourselves explaining our methods and practices to those who employ us, persuading them to our side.

In the several public hearings in Maine, turfgrass professionals have provided crucial and accurate information that has held off the truly awful proposals thus far. In Rhode Island, a broad coalition came together to oppose a bill that would have banned the neonicotinoid insecticides, an effort that appears to have borne fruit.

In New Mexico, another bill that would have banned lawn and landscape use of the neonicotinoids was a sure bet to pass, having been sponsored by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Professional applicators from agriculture, pest control and lawn care all came together with a unified voice to oppose the legislation, but it wasn’t until the bill was debated in the Senate that its fate became clear. A single Senator, a farmer who is a certified pesticide applicator himself, confronted the sponsor with simple, direct questions – questions that the sponsor had no answers to – and that made all the difference. The bill died in a floor vote. I followed up with the sponsor to engage in conversation knowing that she would doubtless reintroduce the bill. Her terse response came seconds after I sent my email, “Because of you, the bill is dead!” An unprofessional reply from a politician but truthful just the same. It is time for us to acknowledge that we cannot hope to carry the day playing defense any longer. One of the most vocal opponents of our industry on the Maine Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee served on the Public Policy Committee for the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association. Is there any reason why a Representative or Senator cannot be a member of one of our organizations? Is there any reason that person can’t be you? It’s time to start thinking this way. •

Bob Mann is Director of State and Local Government Relations for the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Reach him via email Bob@landscapeprofessionals.org or phone 508.648.8582.

COVER STORY

WATER: FUNCTIONS, FLOW and FORMS

By Tom Samples, Ph.D.; John Sorochan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and Alan Windham, Ph.D., Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Editor’s Note: Most of us in New England have experienced a cool dry spring. Now that the temperatures are increasing and we move into the summer months, this article serves as a refresher about plant physiology and a reminder of why water is so important to our turf management programs.

It

is estimated that water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface and that 96.5% of all the Earth’s water is salt water contained in the oceans. Only an estimated 3.5% is fresh water, 69% of which occurs as ice in glaciers and ice caps.

Slightly more than 0.7%, or 8.6 million acre-feet, of the Earth’s fresh water occurs as groundwater and in rivers, lakes and streams.

What follows is a summary of how this valuable resource functions and flows within turfgrass, making recreational surfaces and the other functional, environmental and aesthetic benefits of turfgrass possible.

HOW WATER FUNCTIONS IN TURF Water is essential for seed germination and plant growth, and it usually makes up 75% or more of the fresh weight of actively growing turfgrasses. Roots contain the least amount of water, and stems the most.

Water moves by way of diffusion from the soil solution into root hairs. Once inside turfgrass plants, water helps protect them from sudden changes in temperature.

Both organic and inorganic molecules, including sugars and essential mineral nutrients, move to plant cells in water. An estimated 1% to 3% of the total amount of water taken up by turfgrasses every day is required to support internal biochemical reactions in plant cells as well as cell division and expansion.

Although this amount may appear small compared with the total amount of water turfgrasses use, it is vitally important for plant survival. Without water, turfgrasses would not be able to convert sunlight into chemical energy by way of photosynthesis (6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2). Warm-season turfgrasses have a more efficient photosynthetic system than cool-season turfgrasses do. Cool-season turfgrasses need about three times more water than warm-season turfgrasses to produce equal amounts of shoot and root tissue. As much as 600 pounds of water may be necessary to produce 1 pound of turfgrass dry matter.

The uptake of water is crucial for maintaining cell turgidity and tissue turgor pressure. Turgor pressure is pressure exerted by the fluid within a plant cell, pushing the cell membrane against the cell wall, and it plays a key role in processes such as growth, development and stress response. Water uptake is also essential to turf’s ability to tolerate wear and recover from the compressive

12 • New England BLADE • June 2021

forces of foot and equipment traffic. Water is the source of the pressure responsible for the unfolding of leaves, the opening of stomates, and the movement of roots and rhizomes in soils.

HOW WATER FLOWS IN TURF Absorption Soil

The oxygen level in soil pore spaces generally ranges from 0% to 21%, while the level of carbon dioxide usually ranges from 0.03% to 20% or more. The water vapor content in soils may exceed 80%. A small amount of oxygen is dissolved in rain or irrigation water. Air is also drawn downward as water moves vertically through the soil profile.

As turfgrasses grow, the transfer of water within and among the soil, the plant and the atmosphere is continuous. Most water absorption from soil takes place in the root hair zone just behind the root apex. The presence of root hairs increases the absorptive surface of the plant’s root system. The length of the root hair zone varies among turfgrass species, and it is affected by the age of the roots and the environmental conditions during root development.

Root hairs live for only a few weeks before being replaced as roots expand and mature. Root hair numbers decrease with increasing soil moisture.

The amount of soil water absorbed by turfgrasses is influenced by rooting depth and root number; root extension rate; the amount of plant-available water; transpiration rate; and soil temperature. Water is first absorbed at a shallow level and then at successively greater depths as the water supply is depleted. Some water absorption and translocation can occur through a lifeless root system.

Foliage

Water in either liquid or vapor form and in some foliar-applied nutrients enters aerial shoots of turfgrasses through tiny (less than 1 nanometer in diameter) cracks or transcuticular pores. The absorption of water from leaf and stem surfaces does not generally occur by way of a series of openings, the stomates, in part because of the presence of waxes. Foliar water absorption is usually more rapid in young rather than old leaves. The size of water droplets may range from 50 (fog) to 500 (extremely coarse) microns. The amount of water absorbed by foliage under “normal” growing conditions is only a minor portion of the total amount of water absorbed by turfgrass plants.

Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration, or ET, is the process by which water is transferred from plants and their surfaces to the atmosphere. It consists of two actions: evaporation and transpiration. Evaporation is the physical process resulting in a change of water on a plant surface from liquid to vapor. Transpiration is the plant process during which water is evaporated through the stomates, which are pores on the epidermis of leaves and stems that open and close to control the rate of gas exchange. The amount of water lost by evaporation from the surface of plants is minimal compared with that lost by transpiration. The conversion of liquid water to water vapor requires 570 calories per gram of water (~259,000 calories per pound). Given that energy is consumed as water in liquid form vaporizes, evapotranspiration produces a cooling effect.

Rain-spattered tall fescue.

Photo courtesy of Tom Samples

Environmental conditions — including soil moisture, wind, sunlight (radiant energy), relative humidity (atmospheric vapor pressure) and temperature — affect the rate at which moisture is lost from turf surfaces. The rate of ET is usually low during dark, cloudy days with high relative humidity, low air temperature and very little wind. Highest ET rates occur on hot, sunny days with low relative humidity and moderate to high winds. Fans may be installed along the perimeter of greens located on sites where air flow is restricted.

Turfgrass managers may activate the fans, and/or routinely syringe, in an effort to cool air and soil temperatures, and limit bentgrass stress during summer months. Under certain environmental conditions, the application of a light film of water on aerial shoots (syringing), may result in a cooling effect as water absorbs the heat energy necessary to change from liquid form to vapor. A two year study conducted at Auburn University (Guertal, E. A., D. Y. Han, and E. v. Santen. 2005. Fan and syringe application for cooling bentgrass greens. Crop Sci. 45/1:p. 245–250) revealed that, when temperatures were 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the combination of fans and syringing reduced air and soil temperatures, although plant rooting depth did not significantly increase.

Transpiration

Transpiration is the release of water (evaporation) from leaves.

A few definitions will be helpful for this discussion: • Mesophyll cells make up most of the interior of the leaf between the upper and lower epidermal layers. These cells are relatively large and have vacuoles and many chloroplasts.

As a result, they are specialized for photosynthesis.

• Root epidermal cells are very close and interlock, forming a layer that serves as a boundary between the plant root and the soil’s “environment.” One major role of the root epidermis is the absorption of water and mineral nutrients from the soil.

In stomatal transpiration, water evaporates from the moist surfaces of mesophyll cells. Water vapor then moves into intercellular spaces before diffusing along a vapor pressure gradient through the intercellular spaces into the stomatal cavity and eventually to the atmosphere. The extent of this vapor pressure gradient is often used to predict the evaporation rate from turfgrasses to the atmosphere, with more evaporation occurring at high air temperatures and low levels of relative humidity.

The stomatal transpiration rate is a function of the vapor pressure gradient. A portion of the water being transported from root epidermal cells to mesophyll cells of the stomates is diverted from the main transpirational stream to several types of specialized tissues depending on where the water potential gradient exists.

Xylem

Xylem is nonliving conductive tissue responsible for the movement of water and essential mineral nutrients from roots up to rhizomes, stolons, tillers and leaves. Xylem is continuous from the root hair zone of the roots through the mesophyll cells of the leaves.

Water enters root hairs by osmosis and moves in xylem, diffusing through cross walls that may or may not be perforated.

Eventually, much of the water moves from leaves to the atmosphere through stomates as water vapor. A hydrostatic gradient develops between the evaporation zone of leaves and the water absorption region of roots. Water evaporation results in a decrease in the water potential of the mesophyll cells. This causes water in xylem to move toward the mesophyll cells. This “siphoning” by which water in liquid form is pulled from an area where it is most plentiful to an area where it is less plentiful is referred to as transpiration “pull.” Transpiration pull causes water to diffuse from adjacent root cells into the lower regions of the xylem.

Stomatal transpiration

Depending on turfgrass species, the stomatal density most often ranges from 1,000 to 6,000 per square centimeter (about 155 to 930 per square inch) on the lower leaf surface, and from 4,000 to 10,000 per square centimeter (about 620 to 1,550 per square inch) on the upper surface. Although stomates make up only 2% to 3% of the total leaf area, they are often responsible for as much as 90% of the total water lost to the atmosphere by transpiration.

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs through open stomates.

Cuticular transpiration

Although the majority of transpirational water loss occurs through stomates, some is lost by evaporation through the cuticle of epidermal cells while stomates are closed. The cuticle serves as a protective film covering and consists of polymers of both lipids and hydrocarbons containing wax.

June 2021 • New England BLADE • 13

COVER STORY • continued

The thickness of the cuticular layer has a major impact on the amount of cuticular transpiration. Although cuticle width is largely controlled by genetics and varies among turfgrass species, research indicates that the plant cuticle is responsive to leaf age and environmental changes. For example, the mass of the cuticle and the amount of wax generally increase as leaf age increases, and shade results in a reduction in cuticle thickness.

Vascular bundles

Vascular bundles are long strands of vascular tissue in leaves, stems and roots that contain xylem, phloem (more on phloem below) and supporting cells. The vascular bundles of the turfgrass leaf contain the same type of xylem and phloem structure as those of the stem. Most of the veins of a turfgrass leaf blade are made up of a single vascular bundle, while the leaf midrib may contain several vascular bundles. The arrangement of xylem and phloem elements in large veins resembles their arrangement in the stem.

Phloem

Part of vascular bundles, phloem is living tissue that transports soluble organic compounds made during photosynthesis, namely sugars, to where they’re needed in the plant. Some water in turfgrasses is used by the phloem tissue to transport sugar in both upward (acropetal) and downward (basipetal) directions.

Phloem contains companion cells and sieve tubes. Glucose, sucrose and fructose move from “source” cells into companion cells, which are directly adjacent to phloem sieve tubes. The movement of sugars into sieve tubes reduces the water potential, and water is taken up from the xylem by osmosis, raising the pressure potential in the sieve tube. The differences in internal pressure drive the phloem sap along the sieve tube to “sink” cells.

As sugars move into sink cells, the water potential in the sieve tube increases, and water moves by osmosis back into the xylem.

WATER FORMS Snow

In addition to buffering turfgrasses from low temperature extremes and dehydration, a layer of snow also limits freezing and thawing of soils and soil heaving. Turfgrass plants may be lifted and roots exposed as soils heave.

Dew

Dew forms when the turf surface cools as a result of the loss of infrared radiation to a temperature lower than the dew point of the surrounding air. The relative humidity is 100% when the dew point and the temperature are the same. If the temperature drops any lower, condensation will result, and water droplets will form.

Dragging a hose over bentgrass turf on golf greens in the morning to remove dew is a cultural practice intended to help prevent dollar spot (Clarireedia spp.), but it can spread the disease if fungi are active.

Guttation fluid

Under certain environmental conditions, water containing plant exudates (guttation fluid) may move through very small openings called “hydathodes” located at the ends of uncut leaves. These exudates contain mineral salts, sugars, amino acids and other organic compounds.

Frozen guttation fluid on bentgrass.

Photo courtesy of Tom Samples

Drops of guttation fluid may also be the direct result of exudation from freshly cut leaves. Exudation usually occurs when environmental conditions cause rapid water absorption by roots and, at the same time, restrict transpiration. These conditions produce a rise in root pressure and an elevated turgor pressure at the leaf tip.

Leaf exudation occurs most often during the night or early morning hours and is promoted by routine irrigation, high nitrogen fertility and close, frequent mowing. Warm days followed by cool nights also favor leaf exudation. Tip burn of leaves from a high solute concentration may be visible when droplets of guttation water evaporate or are reabsorbed by the leaf. •

References

1. Beard, J.B. 1973. Water (chapter 8). In: Turfgrass: Science and culture. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 2. Turgeon, A.J. 1999. The turfgrass environment (chapter 4).

In: Turfgrass Management, Fifth Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

14 • New England BLADE • June 2021

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COLUMN

Q & A:

Modern Water Management With Kyle McNerney, Founder and CEO of Smart Water Management, a subsidiary of Corbett, Inc.

Why is irrigation important to athletic fields and green space areas?

Irrigation is essential because it is the only way to develop a healthy stand of mature turfgrass in full sun year after year. In New England our variable climate has consistently brought drought conditions every year, or every other year. The cost associated with the lost use of unirrigated fields and parks to recover from these conditions makes a functional and efficient irrigation system an economic necessity and not a luxury. We have also seen that soil moisture is the most critical factor when it comes to field and green space playability and usability. Moisture content affects wear tolerance and field surface hardness directly. So moisture management is directly related to safety. Finally, we are in an industry where we are judged from a sideline or a drive-by glance.

Field aesthetics and water management are intertwined in that overly green fields, or a system running unnecessarily is perceived as wasteful, but dry fields are judged as unappealing. Simply put, irrigation is necessary because it is financially responsible, improves playability, and provides the aesthetic result by which the industry is judged.

What is the average cost of an irrigation system for an athletic field?

The average might be $22,000–$28,000. There are so many things that go into this, including size of field/fields, water source development, new or existing complex, control system needs, etc. That can’t be answered accurately, but you can’t do a fullsize soccer field correctly for $9,000.

What are the key criteria during the design phase of an irrigation system?

Expandability and reliability. Try to build a system that can accommodate an addition and aim to set a foundation so the additions can be done the right way. Talk to someone – your irrigation contractor will have valuable insight they can offer that will make the management of the system easier. Add enough bells and whistles so that you feel like you got a little more than what you wanted. Installing 20 moisture sensors in unknown locations is overkill, but 2-3 sprinkled throughout a complex can be a helpful tool. I like it when a client says, “I don’t know when I’ll use it, but it made sense.” Consider what it would take to do things better than you have when you put your next system in.

Why is automated irrigation usually seen as the best approach?

I believe that semi-automatic irrigation is the best approach. By this I mean that human involvement and decision-making should override sensors and automated decisions. However, it is great to understand when to water and how long or how much you should water. This varies site to site, but the practice typically does not. 20 minutes a zone, 5–7 times a week, is the norm, but it takes very little into account.

What is the value of correctly applied irrigation water to an athletic field or green space?

There are many tangents this discussion could follow, but playability and safety have become the focus of why and how we water and it’s refreshing to see. We have been proud to work with thoughtful people who analyze how they use water critically.

Irrigation is one of the tools we can use to make fields and green spaces more inviting places. In contrast, poorly managed irrigation, lack of irrigation, or overwatering makes places less inviting.

Irrigation isn’t directly what brings a community together on a field or park, but it’s a big part of what does. •

Kyle McNerney

16 • New England BLADE • June 2021

FEATURE ARTICLE

SYNTHETIC TURF

The Importance of Infill

By Arthur Eddy, ASLA, LEED AP

M

odern synthetic turf fields are highly engineered systems that are made up of several components. When working in unison, synthetic turf fields can create a safe, high performing athletic surface. Synthetic systems are typically made up of synthetic turf carpet, an infill and sometimes a shockpad.

This article is going to focus on the importance that infills play in the turf system, how to identify issues and how they need to be maintained.

Infill is part of the ballast that weighs down the turf and fills in between the fibers of turf. Infills can be made from varying materials whether natural, engineered or recycled products. Along with the turf fibers, the infill is a component that directly interacts with the athlete. Infill can have an impact on how an athlete’s foot reacts to the system, including energy restitution into an athlete’s legs, impact on an athlete’s lower extremity, and how a foot will rotate when making cuts. Appropriate infill levels can also impact the performance of a ball on the field. Infills are carefully mixed and matched with the synthetic turf carpet depending on turf weight, stitch gauge, and fiber completing a system. During installation, systems are typically tested for safety and performance including GMax, Head Injury Criteria (HIC), vertical deformation, rotational resistance, ball roll, and ball bounce.

FIGURE 1: High Use Areas

18 • New England BLADE • June 2021

Because the infill is typically loose in the system, infill can easily be displaced. For systems to perform correctly, the infills need to remain consistent and typically require a ½" or 12mm reveal of fiber. The depth of the infill will be related to the original fiber length, so understanding the turf system including fiber length is important for understanding the infill requirements. To maintain surfaces that meet their original performance criteria, grooming on a regular basis can assist with over compaction of infills and appropriate distribution. As a rule of thumb, a synthetic turf field should be groomed approximately every 100 hours of use.

Typically, when a synthetic turf field is showing signs of wear it is already too late. A manager of a synthetic system needs to check infills on a regular basis. An infill depth gauge is a tool that can help monitor areas that need to be addressed. Keeping a log of infill depths can allow appropriate action on the field to take place and help to make sure that you are keeping up on the requirements of the manufacturer’s warranty.

High use areas in fields should be checked regularly. This should occur every other week and before and after grooming. This is critical in the high-use areas as outlined below: • F OOTBALL

• S OCCER / LACROSSE

Goal line

Penalty Kick

Kick-Off Marks

Corner Kick

Extra Point Line

Center Mark

15 Yard Line

Goal Mouths

Center of the field

Face-off spots

Between the hash marks

Typically, synthetic surfaces overlay multiple sports and high use areas coincide with other sports. This is highly impacted by practice and repetition on the field. High use areas (Figure 1) should receive new infill on a regular basis which can be applied with a five-gallon bucket and swept in with a stiff bristle broom.

Along with safety, the longevity of the synthetic turf is related to infill depths. Fiber can prematurely breakdown when not properly filled. Fiber has memory and when fiber starts to bend at a lower level it exposes the fiber to breaking down at a lower level.

When the fiber breaks down, the system no longer can hold infill and the performance and safety of the field can be compromised.

If left unmaintained, this can lead to expensive replacement of high use areas. When fields are properly maintained, replacement of high-use areas can be avoided.

Over time, fields can displace enough infill that a top-off of the field may be required. This is seen when infill is 1" to 1–1/2" below the turf surface and requires a significant amount of infill added to the system (Figure 2). Adding infill every three to four years can help to avoid expensive infill top-offs and maintain infill levels appropriately over the life cycle of the turf (Figure 3).

Infill is a critical component to the safety and longevity of the turf system. Managers of synthetic turf systems need to pay attention to infill depths which will provide high performing, safe surfaces for the athletes that use them. Field managers that pay attention to infill depths can reduce the costs of expensive maintenance and premature breakdown of fiber and in turn extend the replacement date. • Art Eddy is CEO of RePlay Maintenance in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Connect with Art via email at aeddy@replaymaintenanceusa.com or phone (877) 641-1819.

FIGURE 2: Infill in a two inch system with infill below three quarters of an inch.

FIGURE 3: Infill: Maintained vs. Unmaintained.

June 2021 • New England BLADE • 19

5. Choose Tactics

FEATURE ARTICLE

IPM Steps to

REDUCE

CHINCH BUG 1. Sample for Pest

Confirm the presence of chinch bugs (Hairy Chinch Bug), Blissus hirtus before you treat.

Where to find cinch bugs while inspecting: Look for irregular, browning areas of turfgrass in sunny areas may prove to be chinch bug damage. Watch for adults in the thatch area of failing turfgrass where they feed on the lower stem and crown.

This is also a good opportunity to sample with the “flotation method” using a tin coffee can. NOTE: Bigeyed bugs look very similar and are a beneficial insect often mistaken for chinch bugs.

Bigeyed bugs are welcome in your turfgrass and landscape.

2. Proper ID

Are they chinch bugs? (See photo).

Size and Appearance: Adults are black with white markings on their wings and are only 1/5" long. Nymphs are miniature versions of adults, but do not have wings and have orange-red markings.

3. Learn the Pest Biology

Creating a healthy soil condition and understanding turfgrass needs is the first step in reducing this pest. What can I do to treat, reduce, or prevent chinch bugs?

Best Management Practices: Give your turfgrass optimal conditions to withstand pest pressure: maintain proper soil pH: 6.0 to 6.8 (test every 3–5 years). Fertilize at the proper time for turfgrass root development, primarily fall (late spring at times when turfgrass is weak and thin), irrigate if needed, mow at proper height (removing no more than 1/2 of the blade), amend poor soil, choose proper turfgrass seed for your conditions, buy quality seed, overseed thin spots in fall or early spring, and remove thatch. Select or introduce endophytic cultivars of perennial ryegrass or tall fescue if those grasses are appropriate for your particular field. Allow natural enemies (beneficial insects) to do their job and combat pests. Two biological control options are: introduction of the natural enemy bigeyed bug, and use of Beauveria bassiana, an entomophagous fungus.

Treatment Methods: There are insecticides available to reduce severe cinch bug populations. Consult a certified pesticide applicator with a working knowledge of IPM.

6. Evaluate

Was the tactic successful?

Record the date pests were first observed, and the tactic you used, and its success. Use one of the RECORD KEEPING tools available at https://www.northeastipm.org/.

Remember

When a pesticide application is determined to be needed, as part of a comprehensive IPM program, all required precautions must be taken to minimize risk to people, as well as the environment, and to minimize the risk of pesticide resistance or pest resurgence.

Pesticide use may be prohibited or regulated by local policies or state and federal agencies. • This article was produced by the New York State IPM Program of Cornell University, with funding from a Northeastern IPM Center Partnership Grant, in collaboration with the School IPM Working Group.

What is the life cycle of chinch bugs?

Life Cycle: Chinch bugs overwinter in protected areas such as leaf litter and along foundations. In spring, adults move into open areas and females begin to lay eggs, daily for about three weeks.

Nymphs (small, wingless version of adults that are often red) begin to feed on turfgrass with sucking mouthparts over a period of 1–3 months depending on weather. There are usually two generations per year, so adults and nymphs overlap throughout the season.

Preferred Food Sources: Turfgrass stems and leaves.

Preferred Habitat: During the time they are causing damage, you will find them in the thatch portion of turfgrass area. Offseason, adults stay in protected areas of leaf litter.

4. Determine Threshold

How many chinch bugs are too many?

Threshold: In healthy turfgrass that receives irrigation during drought, a few chinch bugs can be tolerated. Presence of beneficials like ground beetles and bigeyed bugs may be able to keep the population to a level that will limit damage. Generally, 20–25 chinch bugs per square foot will result in visible damage to turfgrass.

20 • New England BLADE • June 2021

David Shetlar, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

When

DOING GOOD is GOOD BUSINESS

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

A

lmost every organization is facing unprecedented difficulty in recruiting and hiring employees today. Whether the hesitancy to return to work is due to elevated unemployment benefits, lack of vaccination adoption, inconsistent childcare, or family health concerns, the labor problem remains. Quite simply the standard job offering isn’t sufficient to move the needle anymore. Here’s how to change the outcome and do good in the process.

In an effort to find workers, many entry-level jobs have prominently advertised wages starting at $15/hour. Others have created giant signs touting signing bonuses of $250. Some have proclaimed retirement matching. But none of these are compelling anymore.

What is compelling is creating an opportunity for people to find the skills they need to literally change their lives for the better.

People will sign up for an established program of mentorship that will help them achieve their potential and realize their dreams. Jobs that enable people to thrive will always find willing applicants, and it’s possible to implement in any organization.

The clothing retailer Old Navy has made a commitment to hire 20,000 underprivileged youth by 2025, representing a full 5% of all new hires. Their program, called This Way ONward, has been in existence since 2007 and is active in 576 cities across the US. Through the program, Old Navy works with community partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide youth with job mentoring opportunities. Managers interview youth and are directed to “hire for potential, not credential.” What’s more, youth receive post-hire support through coaching from managers, a job coach, and experienced peers.

The results? 10-year alumni of the program have found stable employment 72% of the time compared with 55% of their peers.

68% report a significant increase in self-confidence, enabling success in life. And Old Navy hired more than 2,500 youth last year for jobs that may have otherwise been unfilled. Clearly, doing good for the community is good business.

But can small teams adopt the same approach without huge budgets and years of experience? Absolutely. The first step is to make a commitment to coaching others. Investing an hour per week of time with each person is a prerequisite to successfully mentoring staff. When time and space is given towards coaching conversations without daily work pressures, a real human connection can be established, and people can start to thrive.

What do coaching conversations sound like? I prefer to start with hopes and dreams. What’s your dream job? What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to provide for your family? What do these look like in six months and one year 22 • New England BLADE • June 2021

and five years and ten years? People usually don’t have all the answers upfront and they often change over months and years, but these are the motivations we’ll use to fuel growth.

Next, I try to collaboratively build individualized action steps which consider the person’s unique talents, benefit on-the-job outcomes, and lead toward realization of their goals. For this step I use specialized assessments to provide self-awareness and idea generation. As a result, the coaching is always relevant, wellreceived, and applicable.

Finally, we shift to driving accountability by setting shortterm commitments and ensuring that success is realized. When obstacles arise, I guide mentees through self-reflection to overcome them in the future. This is where skill training tends to enter, either directly or through third-party resources. When priorities change, we rework the process.

It can be an awkward process to start, but as one of my direct reports recently told me, “Our coaching conversations are by far my favorite part of the job.” Every week I’m helping her develop skills and experience. And doing good to help someone else has become my favorite part of the job.

But, as I said, doing good is good business. Those who I’ve been blessed to coach thrive in life and on the job. Their performance is higher, they contribute more positive energy, and work gets done with less stress. I’ve successfully recruited from partners including colleges, halfway houses, faith-based recovery programs, and job-training organizations. The people who participate are some of the most appreciative employees because they have a chance to significantly improve their lives.

If you’re seeking your next employee, maybe it’s time to rethink the approach. Save the money from the job boards and invest the time to find community organizations like vocational schools, foster care programs, churches, homeless shelters, or after-school youth programs. If you need help training them, we’d love to partner with you with our industry-specific courses on www.GrowTheBench.com. Commit to doing good for people who want jobs but lack skills and filling positions will no longer be such a challenge. It’s just good business. •

Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. You can learn more about Neal and his solutions at www.NealGlatt.com.

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June 2021 • New England BLADE • 23

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

BRIAN SCHOOLS Sports Turf Manager Parks and Recreation, Medfield, Massachusetts B.S. Sports Turf Management & Business Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Sports Field Management Certification The Ohio State University

How did you get your start in the sports turf industry? During my first year of college, I worked on the grounds staff of the athletic department for a work study program.

Where did you go from there? Once I got my feet wet with the basics of athletic field management in college, in the summer of 2010, I was hired by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats – AA Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. This was eye-opening and one of the best experiences of my life. The job helped develop my work ethic and the attention to detail I have today.

Who helped you the most when you first started out in the sports turf industry? Although my father knew very little about the industry, he was the one to first to get me started. When I was about 10 years old, he told me, “If you want some money, go out and earn it.” He taught me how to use our push lawn mower and that summer I got started with a few customers.

My mentor was Jason Chisholm at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. While I was a work-study student, Jason invested his time showing me how to properly care for a baseball field. He taught me the basics of mowing practices, infield skin and lip management, irrigation repairs, fertility, equipment maintenance, and even basic budgeting. Jason lit a fire in me that prepared me for my next job with the NH Fisher Cats. Working with Head Groundskeeper Eric Blanton, and later Shaun Meredith, expanded my knowledge of baseball field management. I was amazed at how much work goes into a baseball field of this caliber. I spent 14–16 hours a day caring for ONE field and it didn’t seem like work to me.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

“Work hard and do your best.”

“If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.”

What’s your favorite thing about your current position? I love that every day is a new adventure with new challenges. Being the only full-time sports field manager, I have to juggle many duties which can sometimes be overwhelming. Making it a game, full of challenges, is the best way I have been able to successfully attack my job.

What recent project(s) have you completed? For the past 11 years I have been building a maintenance department from the ground up. It has been both challenging and fun. Luckily, I work for an amazing department that is fully behind me in improving the current fields that we have right now. They also realize that having the proper equipment means everything in keeping our fields in the best shape possible.

What’s your favorite/most useful: Equipment? Toro 4500 D Mower – I’d be lost without it.

Product? The right grass seed, the proper fertilizer, and the best field paint.

Technology? RainBird IQ SYSTEM – water conservation strategy.

24 • New England BLADE • June 2021

WE COULDN’T BELIEVE THE RESPONSE WE GOT!

“We sprayed a tank-mix with Oasys Ultra and Thatch Relief and within about two weeks, we noticed a huge difference.

From the feel of the surface when you walked on it, to the receptivity of the shot, to the speed of the greens. We couldn’t even believe the response we got.” –

The Liquid Aeration Spray Program reduces the need for expensive mechanical aeration. Research has shown that this easy-to-use spray program improves greens speeds, reduces labor and material costs, and cuts thatch build-up. Liquid Aeration opens up tight soil and increases turfgrass rooting. Treated turfs perform better and bounce back faster after damage.

Chris Black, PGA pro and owner/operator Hickory Grove Golf Course in Oelwein Iowa.

NORTHEAST NURSERY – GOLF & TURF Bill Dixon 978-395-0358 • bdixon@northeastnursery.com

www.soiltechcorp.com Teaming With Biology, Since 1986

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • continued

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Can you share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time? When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife and young family outside. We like to travel to Maine to see our families and spend time at the beaches as much as we can.

Beam Clay.................................................... 23 www.BEAMCLAY.com

What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today? The best advice I could give would be work very hard and get dirty.

What have you enjoyed most/find most beneficial about being a NESTMA member? Attending new events and networking. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t know everything, but I bet I can find the answer through networking with other NESTMA members that may have more experience, or more knowledge, than me. •

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26 • New England BLADE • June 2021

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