Tennessee Greentimes - Fall 2018

VOL. 19/NO. 3

Fall 2018

Tennessee Green Industry Expo September 27–28, 2018 Lebanon, TN

Japanese Maple Scale Management Maintenance Strategies for Common Turfgrass Problems

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VOL. 19/NO. 3 •

Upcoming Event Program for the Tennessee Green Industry Expo, September 27–28, 2018 Lebanon, TN

8

Cover Story Managing Japanese Maple Scale

12

Departments From the President, Justin Stelter....................................................................................6 Welcome, New TNLA Members.......................................................................................7 Calendar of Events.............................................................................................................7 Index of Advertisers.........................................................................................................22

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

Fall 2018

Turf Talk Maintenance Strategies for Common Turfgrass Problems

18

The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape 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, Tennessee GreenTimes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape 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 Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Tennessee GreenTimes is published quarterly.

Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee GreenTimes allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. 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 insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Nick Gawel Dr. Frank Hale Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Justin Stelter JS Gardening, LLC 1st Vice President Jon Flanders Botanico, Inc. 2nd Vice President Bert Driver Bert Driver Nursery 3rd Vice President Morgan Adcock Scenic Hills Nursery

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Secretary-Treasurer Cody Walker Walker Nursery Co. Associate Director Milton Whitsett Griffin Greenhouse Supplies Ex-Officio Josh Woodlee David’s Nursery Executive Director Louree Walker

tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

5

From the President Justin Stelter

Planting for the

TNLA Would like to

Thank

Future

the following companies for being

Membership Sponsors Gold Membership Sponsors Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Blankenship Farms and Nursery Flower City Nurseries Living Earth Monrovia Nashville Landscape Systems, Inc. Putnals Premium Pine Straw, Inc. Randall Walker Farms Samara Farms Swafford Nursery, Inc. Tennessee 811 Trivett’s Nursery Warren County Nursery, Inc.

Silver Membership Sponsors Botanico, Inc. Carpe Diem Farms Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. John Holmlund Nursery Lee-Smith Isuzu Nufarm Americas, Inc. Southern Ag 6

tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

The

strong summer sun will soon descend in the sky and the green leaves on the trees will turn magnificent shades of gold, orange, and bronze. This change of color represents a season of growth, vitality, and deeper, stronger roots. All of this because a seed was planted or a plant propagated. The wonderful cycle of life.

While this is a time to reflect on recent growth, this season of change also signifies an opportunity to plant for the future. As plants set their clock to a new shift, I begin to think about planting for the next cycle, the spring season. With careful planning, I plant for the future.

TNLA has planted its annual conference this year, to be held at the Wilson County Expo Center, September 27–28. In addition to the new, exciting venue, our awards ceremony will be held on Thursday evening, highlighting those with outstanding achievements in the industry.

I look forward to celebrating all the successes that this year has delivered, that promise of tomorrow fulfilled. And I invite you, during this glorious season of change, to begin planting for the future.

Justin Stelter TNLA President

TNLA Annual Awards

Thursday, September 27, 6:00 p.m. • Capitol Theatre, Lebanon

TNLA Annual Business Meeting

Friday, September 28, 8:00 a.m. • Wilson County Expo Center

TNLA New Members

Welcome, TNLA New Members!

Active Cottage Gardens, Inc. Penny Forti 524 SE Ault Avenue Stuart, FL 34997 Associate Garden Armor Mike Donovan 7108 Crossroads Blvd., Suite 305 Brentwood, TN 37027 H & H Farm Machine Co. Brian Nance 7916 Unionville Brief Road Monroe, NC 28110

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Calendar of Events

September 27–28 Tennessee Green Industry Expo To be held in conjunction with the Middle Tennessee Nursery Association Wilson County Expo Center Lebanon, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tngie.com

October 20–24 International Plant Propagators’ Society – Southern Region 43rd Annual Conference Chattanooga, TN Phone: 423-266-4121 http://sna.ipps.org

tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

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Upcoming Event

The Event For All Your Horticulture Needs

Produced By The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association and The Middle Tennessee Nursery Association

Tradeshow Hours Thursday, September 27 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, September 28 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Lodging Wilson County Expo Center

945 East Baddour Parkway • Lebanon, TN

September 27–28, 2018

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

Holiday Inn Express & Suites 826 South Cumberland Street Lebanon, TN 37087 (615) 994-3225

Upcoming Event Continued

Pre-Expo Event

Education Schedule

Wednesday, September 26

Thursday, September 27

TNLA/HRI Golf Tournament Pine Creek Golf Course

Turf and Turfgrass Pest Management 2030

1835 Logue Road Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

8:30 a.m.

Dr. Tom Samples, University of Tennessee, Knoxville *C03, C10, C12

To download application, visit www.tngie.com

Aquatic Weed ID and Control Options

Expo Schedule

9:30 a.m.

Thursday, September 27

Creig Kimbro, University of Tennessee, Coalmont, TN *C05, C10, C12

How Much of This Stuff Do I Use?

10:30 a.m.

Trade Show Hours:

Mitchell Mote, Rutherford County UT/TSU Extension, Murfreesboro, TN *C02, C03, C05, C06, C10, C12

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Education:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

– 1:00 p.m.

Special Evening Event: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Reception, dinner, awards ceremony and live band.

Capitol Theatre 110 West Main Street Lebanon, TN 37087 This event requires a ticket ($5 for exhibitors, $10 for adults)

1:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Using Weeds, Diseases and Insects to Diagnose Turf Problems Dr. Tom Samples, University of Tennessee, Knoxville *C03, C06, C10, C12, **

Insect and Mite ID and Control

2:00 p.m.

Friday, September 28 Trade Show Hours:

Lunch

3:00 p.m.

Dr. Frank Hale, University of Tennessee, Nashville *C03, C10, C12, **

Alternatives to the Usual Pest-Ridden Landscape Plants Lucas Holman, Wilson County UT/TSU Extension, Lebanon *C03, C10, C12, **

TNLA Business Meeting: 8:00 a.m.

MTNA Business Meeting: 8:30 a.m.

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

*Pesticide Points Potential Points for the entire day: C2=1, C3=5, C5=2, C6=2, C10=6, C12=6 **Must Attend all three sessions to receive International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) CEUs. **Certified Arborist = 3 hours, Utility Specialists = 1 hour, BCMA Science = 1 hour, and BCMA Management = 2 hours

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Cover Story

Japanese Maple Scale A Perennial Problem

By Dr. Karla M. Addesso, Associate Professor of Entomology, Tennessee State University Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center, McMinnville, TN

The Problem Japanese maple scale (JMS) is an armored scale that is an increasingly common management problem in nursery production and landscapes. Adult JMS female scale covers are off-white and oyster-shaped, measuring only 1–2 mm long (Figure 1).

JMS are difficult to see, especially on trees and shrubs having light colored or mottled bark. Often, JMS are overlooked until large areas of bark are covered with scales (Figure 2). Symptoms of a scale infestation include branch dieback, leaf yellowing, leaf wilting, stunted growth, and reduced flowering. These symptoms increase in severity, eventually resulting in plant death. One female can lay about 25 eggs that are protected beneath the waxy scale covering until they hatch.

With at least two generations per year in warmer regions of the U.S., the reproductive potential of JMS is enormous. Within three years, a single male and female scale can produce millions of new scale insects.

Field and container production regions provide optimal scale habitat due to a lack of natural predators and close proximity of suitable hosts. The host plant range of Japanese maple scale extends across 54 genera of trees and shrubs with representatives in 35 plant families that include Acer, Amelanchier, Camellia, Carpinus, Cercis, Cladrastis, Cornus, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Fraxinus,

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and Zelkova. JMS can persist in landscape and forested areas adjacent to nursery production, acting as a source for new infestations year after year.

Gleditsia, Hamamelis, Ilex, Itea, Ligustrum, Magnolia, Malus, Oxydendrum, Prunus, Pyracantha, Pyrus, Rosa, Salix, Stewartia, Styrax, Syringa, Tilia, Ulmus,

Figure 1: Adult JMS female scale covers Figure 2: Large area of bark covered with scales 1

2

Cover Story Continued

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4

5

6

Figure 3: Winged adult male • Figure 4: Female Japanese maple scale Figure 5: Female JMS with eggs (arrows) • Figure 6: JMS scale crawlers settling to feed Table 1. Chemical Treatment Evaluations for Japanese Maple Scale Product

IRAC Code1

Re-entry Interval (REI) hours

Application Timing

Life Stage Affected

Dormant Oil - 2% or higher (Ultra-Fine Oil, etc.2)

Not classified

4

Spring/Fall above 50ºF

Adults/ 2nd instars

Pyriproxyfen (IGR) (Fulcrum, Distance, etc.)

7C

12

Peak crawler activity in late May/late August

Crawlers

Chlorpyrifos3 (Duraguard ME, etc.)

1B

24

Peak crawler activity

Crawlers

Imidacloprid (Discus N/G4, Marathon 60 WP, etc.)

4A

12

Spring drench, preventative and curative

Adults/ Crawlers

Dinotefuran (Safari SG 20, etc.)

4A

12

Spring drench, curative

Adults/ Crawlers

Summer Oil - 1% (Ultra-Fine Oil, etc.)

Not classified

4

Peak crawler activity

Crawlers

Insecticidal Soap (M-Pede, etc.)

Not classified

12

Peak crawler activity

Adults/ Crawlers

No control observed

Spirotetramat (Kontos, etc.)

23

24

Spring drench; Peak crawler activity

Adults/ Crawlers

No control observed

Acetamiprid (TriStar 8.5 SL)

4A

12

Peak crawler activity

Crawlers

No control observed

Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn, etc.)

28

N/A

Spring drench, preventative

Adults/ Crawlers

No control observed

Cyantraniliprole (Mainspring, etc.))

28

4

Spring drench, preventative

Adults/ Crawlers

No control observed

1

Control Level Good for suppression; fall application can increase winter mortality; spring application will suppress first generation reproduction; Inexpensive Excellent; Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) prevent immature crawlers from reaching adult stage Very Good; control equivalent to IGRs Very Good; slow acting suppression in first year; control in second; prevents crawler establishment up to 2 years Very good suppression of first generation; ineffective after 90 days in field trees; use in combination with other control methods; summer trunk sprays were ineffective Poor; use 0.5 – 1% oil in combination with IGRs and other insecticides to loosen scale covers; ineffective control when used alone

Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Safety Not toxic to adult bees. No residual toxicity. Limited impact on other beneficials.

Not toxic to adult bees or beneficials.

Possible negative impact on immature beneficials/predators.

Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues in pollen and nectar on blooming crops or weeds.

Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues in pollen and nectar on blooming crops or weeds.

Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues in pollen and nectar on blooming crops or weeds.

Not toxic to adult bees. No residual toxicity. Limited impact on other beneficials.

Not toxic to adult bees. No residual toxicity. Limited impact on other beneficials.

Not toxic to adult bees, potentially toxic to larvae through pollen and nectar.

Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues in pollen and nectar on blooming crops or weeds.

Low toxicity to bees and other beneficials.

Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues in pollen and nectar on blooming crops or weeds.

or more information about Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Codes and Mode of Action classifications, F visit http://www.irac-online.org/modes-of-action/ 2 Trade names are provided as examples but do not imply endorsement.

3 Sale of chlorpyrifos will be phased out in 2018.

4 Discus N/G contains imidacloprid and cyfluthrin. The cyfluthrin does not have systemic activity against JMS.

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

JMS Lifecycle and Activity in Tennessee In Tennessee, JMS overwinters primarily in the 2nd instar immature stage. The scale molts to the adult stage when about 200 growing degree days (GDD) have accumulated, typically by the end of February.

By 350 GDD, (late March/early April), winged males (Figure 3) emerge and mate with females (Figure 4). By the end of April, eggs are present and scale crawlers begin to emerge in May (Figure 5). The first crawlers appear when Japanese lilac (Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’) flower around 801-927 GDD. The small, purple crawlers (Figure 6) emerge and seek feeding sites on plant surfaces. Crawlers are the only JMS life-stage capable of infesting new plants, and may be transferred to new hosts by wind and by dispersing onto adjacent plants. Like other species of armored scales, JMS may also be dispersed by flying insects or birds.

Crawlers take two to three days to settle, begin feeding and initiate secretion of a waxy surface coating within just a few days. During this time, the crawler stage is most vulnerable and is the stage optimally targeted for contact pesticide control. JMS crawlers rapidly secrete their surface wax protection, which creates this limited window of opportunity. JMS has two peaks of crawler emergence, thus two generations per year, in Middle Tennessee. A second male flight appears in July (2306-2441 GDD). The second crawler generation peaks between 2615-3024 GDD, usually at the end of August. Importantly, these two generations include overlapping life stages. While crawler numbers decrease sharply in July, some crawlers remain active throughout the summer, between peaks. Japanese maple scale crawlers may be active for a total of 24 weeks in middle Tennessee: from the second week of May to mid-October.

Scouting for JMS Scouting for JMS can occur any time throughout the year, but it is easier to see new infestations on deciduous trees in

February when no leaves are present.

At this time, females are molting to the adult stage and their white waxy armor is easier to see against the background of the bark. New infestations of JMS are more

difficult to spot in fall when the immature scales are smaller and the brown scale cover blends in with the bark. Even with the aid of a hand lens, these immature scales are difficult to see. When searching for

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Cover Story Continued

Figure 7. Container drench treatments of systemic insecticides to prevent Japanese Maple Scale crawler establishment on redbuds. Only imidacloprid (Discus N/G) prevented Japanese Maple Scale crawler establishment 100% of the time.

Figure 8. Japanese maple scale crawler emergence for red maple trees treated with sprays of pyriproxyfen and 2% horticultural oil. Applications of the combination treatment were made on March 17, April 1st or April 15th. A standard 2% dormant oil treatment was applied on March 17th as a control. All three early pyriproxyfen applications prevented Japanese maple scale egg hatch. Crawlers that did hatch were unable to establish on plants.

new infestations, focus on the base of the trunk and the crooks of lower branches.

To monitor for scale crawler emergence, place a band of white or yellow vinyl or black electrical tape around the trunk or branch adjacent to an infestation. Coat the surface of the tape in a light film of petroleum jelly. Use a hand lens to look for the purple crawlers stuck on the tape.

Management Recommendations for JMS Several products have been evaluated in field and container production to clear up or prevent JMS infestations with varying degrees of effectiveness (Table 1).

Systemic applications of imidacloprid (Discus N/G) at rates currently recommended for flatheaded appletree borer control can prevent JMS infestations for up to two years in field and container production and can clear up an infestation already present on plants. The imidacloprid is slow acting as a drench.

Depending on the size of the plant, it might take three or more months before an infested plant no longer has any living JMS. Dinotefuran (SafariÂŽ) is faster acting and may aid in clearing up an infestation

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but may not persist long enough to prevent establishment of crawlers from the second generation. Systemic applications of cyantraniliprole (Mainspring®) and chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn®) were unable to prevent infestations of JMS in containers, while imidacloprid did prevent crawler establishment (Figure 7).

Spray applications of horticultural oil are recommended to suppress JMS and other scale insects in nursery production.

Applications of 2% horticultural oil (UltraFine® Oil) combined with pyriproxyfen (Fulcrum®) growth regulator from midMarch to mid-April effectively prevented egg hatch and crawler establishment (Figure 8). A single application of the combination treatment applied to runoff was able to clear infestations from red maple trees. Pyriproxyfen and 0.5% horticultural oil is also effective when applied later in the season when crawlers are active in May/June. Adequate coverage of the plants is key to the success of contact applications. Chlorpyrifos (Duraguard® ME) showed efficacy as a contact spray against JMS, but it performed no better than pyriproxyfen and is not as safe for workers or beneficial insects. Dinotefuran as a foliar application did not prevent a resurgence of JMS during the second generation. Other products such as acetamiprid (TriStar® 8.5 SL), insecticidal soap (M-Pede®) and spirotetramat (Kontos®) were not effective as contact sprays. Second generation crawler and fall timing of insecticide applications have not been tested in the field, but these are also windows where growers may find treatments effective. In fields with substantial infestations, a second crawler application is recommended in August. Late fall applications of dormant oil may also increase scale mortality over winter since disruption of their protective waxy cover will result in the scales drying out.

We plan to continue testing other products and management options for fall applications, so long as sufficient numbers of scale-infested plants are available.

For more information and to participate in upcoming JMS trials, please contact Dr. Karla Addesso: (931) 815-5155 or kaddesso@tnstate.edu. C

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Turf Talk

Maintenance Strategies for Common Turfgrass Problems Solving Typical Dilemmas Encountered in Public Areas, Community Parks, and Athletic Fields

By Taylor Williams and Kyley Dickson, UT Plant Sciences Turfgrass Program

L

andscape managers and facility workers are often responsible for athletic fields and common areas that can require knowledge and skills beyond their usual areas of expertise.

A common problem is compacted turfgrass. When managing a community park or athletic field, high-trafficked grass areas can be subjected to intense traffic all year. Heavily trafficked and untreated turf can occur because the employees responsible for their upkeep are often too busy with other duties, or do not have the proper information needed to diagnose and remedy the grounds-related issues that may result. Consequently, with lack of maintenance the surface will become compacted and hard. If this problem is not alleviated, the surface has the potential to cause human injury. If these problems can be reduced before they reach a dangerous level, a playing surface can be used for an entire season without complete destruction of the grass surface. Healthy, well maintained turfgrass provides impact absorption characteristics from leaf blades, thatch, and root system that work together to help reduce injuries. If a field becomes worn and turfgrass coverage is lost, this impact absorption characteristic becomes greatly reduced. Athletes of all ages depend on the quality and consistency of the playing field to reduce the possibility of injury.

Aerification and Dethatching Dead plant material can accumulate as thatch and become a layer that slows air and water penetration into the soil. The use of mechanical methods, such as aerification or vertical mowing, can greatly reduce the negative turfgrass effects as a result of an accumulation of a thick layer of thatch. Aerification in particular can remedy several of the most common turf-related issues involving poor drainage, compaction, and worn areas. The use of hollow and solid tines to make holes in the soil aids in promoting air movement and water flow by increasing pore spaces between soil particles. Removing soil cores and backfilling with sand is a great method to reduce compaction and smooth the surface.

Adding Irrigation, or Revising Irrigation Scheduling Proper irrigation schedules are needed to help turfgrass survive and even thrive during the hot summer months. Warm season grasses such as Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass are more drought tolerant than cool season grasses such as Tall Fescue, Kentucky

Common Turfgrass Problems Heavily Worn Sports Field with Poor Turfgrass Coverage will Lead to Increased Pressure from Weeds

18

tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

Traffic vs No Traffic

Standing Water Can Reveal Low Spots and Broken Irrigation Lines

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Turf Talk Continued Bluegrass, and Perennial Ryegrass. These grasses are commonly used in community parks due to the relatively inexpensive cost of establishment in large areas. Tall Fescue is the most popular grass used for home lawns in Tennessee, as a result of its ability to survive in both warm summers and cold winters. Bermudagrass is the most commonly used turfgrass for athletic fields in the south due to its recovery potential. The stolons of bermudagrass grow across the ground and fill in bare areas quickly when compared to zoysiagrass and cool season grasses. Irrigation zones must be designed to cover all areas of an athletic field to make sure the field keeps a consistent end-to-end appearance. Automatic timers can be set on irrigation systems to allow the irrigation head to turn on at high stress times during the day. These automatic timers are extremely useful, however, they will turn on at the set times, even if it is raining.

Reducing Weed Pressure and Weed Competition with Turfgrass Weed pressure is a problem turfgrass managers will likely face.

Athletic fields with little turfgrass coverage and high amounts of bare ground will experience the growth of weeds in these beaten Common Turfgrass Problems

areas. Weed seeds require sunlight to germinate, so a dense turfgrass canopy will aid the suppression of weed growth by shading the weed seeds that fall below the grass surface. One cheap, effective technique to remove weeds from bermudagrass is to spray a non-selective herbicide when the bermudagrass is completely dormant. This will eliminate all weeds that are actively growing from the bermudagrass. If a manager is successful in the establishment of a dense turfgrass, weed pressure will be kept to a minimum and can be controlled by the application of an herbicide.

Implementing a management schedule is an easy way to keep the fields playable for the whole year. Schedule aerification and fertilization ahead of time in order to allow the park of field to be temporarily closed. Know what days the community fields are most commonly used to be able to schedule cultivation to make the playing field safer for the park attendees. Safety should always be the primary concern when it comes to the management of a field used by various age groups. A schedule will outline the timing of basic management strategies that will allow yearlong play. Always be aware of the weather forecast, as it will allow an employee to properly time his or her actions.

Common Turfgrass Problems

Standing water after a rain event

Poor Drainage

Allowing Play on Muddy Fields Leads to Loss of Stand and Surface Compaction

Crumb Rubber Can Lower HIC, but May Be Displaced with Heavy Traffic

Surface Hardness on Sports Fields Can Be Measured using a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) Value

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018

Turfgrass Solutions and Remedies Aerify often.

Make sure the surface slope is uniform (0.5-1.0%) Make a drainage outlet

Worn out turf areas

Choose grasses with high wear tolerances Regularly flip fields/change walking paths Reduce or ban use of cleats

Field quality has diminished quickly

Avoid play during or immediately after rain

Compacted/ hard soils Too many games and practices

Aerify regularly (solid or hollow tines) Area will not look great, but it will become safer opdress with sand before an event to T protect the grass surface Limit games and practices each week

Goal mouths, field or park entrances and exits, and other high traffic areas

opdress with crumb rubber to provide a T barrier between shoes and the grass crown Replace worn areas with new sod Aerify as often during the growing season

Workers are occupied with other non-turf related duties

ire a turfgrass specialist to oversee H all parks and recreation fields

Weedy turfgrass

orrectly identify the weed species C Research best action plan and proper application rate

Need established turf quickly

Install thick-cut sod

Don’t know if your field is safe?

Get the field tested by a professional

Unsure of fertilization timing

Test the soil at least once every year

Managing Your Risk and Resources with Athletic Field and Playground Testing Field managers and coaches should consider having their children’s athletic field or playground tested each year to help limit the number of injuries as a result of an impact with the surface.

There are several field testing companies that will perform a variety of tests to ensure the playing surface is consistent and safe. These companies can be hired for as many tests as needed, depending on budget, but surface hardness (also called Gmax ) should be included as one of the selected tests to quickly determine the current playing conditions of the field. A head injury criterion (HIC) value can be generated as it provides an estimate on the likelihood of a head injury occurring. A HIC value of at least 250 increases the risk of a concussion, while a score of 1000 increases the risk of a critical brain injury when a head strikes the surface. Based on test results, a critical fall height can be calculated, which represents the fall height of an athlete or child where a HIC reaches 1000. A typical HIC value of healthy, full turf usually ranges from 400-600 when measured from a drop height of 4'3" on a high-clay content soil. A heavily worn, native soil soccer field could expect HIC values that reach 1000–1400 when tested from that same height. Artificial turf surfaces are often much firmer, in part because they are commonly installed directly over gravel or concrete. The base layer can eliminate

much of the shock absorbing characteristics found when using natural grasses. Without use of crumb rubber infill material, it is possible for a field made from artificial turf to reach HIC values of 1600–2000. The crumb rubber infill material requires periodic maintenance because it can be displaced by traffic, thereby reducing the barrier that reduces the impact of ground collisions.

A well-designed playground limits the likelihood that children falling from play structures would experience a HIC that exceeds 1000. Field-testing should be considered as results can be used to ensure protection for not just the athletes, but also the employees who are responsible for the field’s safety.

Regardless, don’t hesitate to ask questions before turfgrass and field conditions get out of hand. Members of the community of turfgrass professionals, which includes county Extension agents, are always available to answer any questions and offer help and advice to proactive employees. It is better to ask questions ahead of time, instead of allowing damage to occur or worsen to the point that complete restoration and curative management practices are required. Landscape and turfgrass professionals are more than willing to offer their assistance when an issue arises. There are several organizations and professional groundskeepers in Tennessee that are willing to pass along useful information and tips regarding an abundance of turf-related cultivation techniques. C

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Index of Advertisers

Boshancee Nursery, Inc........................................................... 7 www.boshanceensy.com

Hidden Valley Nursery, LLC..................................................22 www.hiddenvalleynursery.com

Richey Nursery Company, LLC............................................... 5 www.richeynursery.com

Braun Horticulture Inc...........................................................22 www.braungroup.com

Hortica.......................................................................................19 www.hortica.com

Smith Seed Services................................................................ 5 www.smithseed.com

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc............................................. 7 www.camtoocamellia.com

John Holmlund Nursery.........................................................21 www.jhnsy.com

Surface Nursery Inc...............................................................11 www.surfacenursery.com

Center Hill Nursery................................................................... 7 www.centerhillnurseries.com

McHutchison, Inc....................................................................17 www.mchutchison.com

Swafford Nursery Inc.............................................Back Cover www.swaffordnursery.com

Coosa Valley Turf Farms.......................................................15 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com

Mid Tenn Turf..........................................................................11 www.midtennturf.com

Tennessee 811........................................................................16 www.tnonecall.com

Cowart Mulch Products, Inc................................................... 3 www.cowartmulch.com

Motz & Son Nursery...............................................................17

Thomas Nursery......................................................................22 www.thomasnurserytrees.com

D & D Agri.................................................................................. 5

Neely Coble Co........................................................................13 www.neelycoble.com

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries................................................. 9 www.fairviewevergreen.com

Oldham Chemicals Co................................Inside Back Cover www.oldhamchem.com

Herd Farms Nursery................................................................. 5 www.herdfarmsnursery.com

Pleasant Cove Nursery Inc...................................................... 7 www.plantlocator.com

Tree Equipment Design, Inc.................................................17 www.treeequip.com Turner & Sons Nursery..........................................................17 Wellmaster Carts....................................... Inside Front Cover www.wellmaster.ca

Digital Marketplace Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

Specializing in Container Grown Native Trees & Shrubs From Plug to 7 Gal. For information, go to www.ThomasNurseryTrees.com or call 931-808-4141

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tennessee greentimes Fall 2018