Tennessee Turfgrass - April / May 2015

April/May 2015

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Dollar Spot: New Approaches to

Controlling an Old Disease

Plus, 2014 Award Winner —

Environmental Stewardship, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

Social Media for the Turf Professional 101

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

April/may 2015

FEATURED ARTICLES

12 14 16 20 25 28 33

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TTA Member Spotlight — Jim Uden, Recently Retired TTA Executive Secretary TVSTMA Member Spotlight — Shelia Finney, TTA’s New Executive Secretary 2014 TTA Award Winner — Environmental Stewardship, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Cover Story — Dollar Spot: New Approaches to Controlling an Old Disease Professional Matters — Social Media for the Turf Professional 101

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Pest in the Spotlight — Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Expands Its Range Turf Talk — What Are the Options for Organic Turf Care?

DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President, Paul Carter, CGCS

6

From the TVSTMA President, Marty Wallace

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From the MAGCSA President, Luke Hankins

10

TTA Member Application

11

Calendar of Events

37

Index of Advertisers

38

On the cover: The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (photo by Paul Carter, CGCS)

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From the TTA President

Life

Paul L. Carter, CGCS

in the Transition Zone W

ell, that was fun. Winter, I mean.

Maybe I am just getting older, but it seems like the winter months are getting longer and colder, and I just have a greater desire to see the grass greening up in the spring. I hope everyone made it through the weather well and is prepared to tackle the growing season ahead of us.

Many changes are ahead of each of us in the upcoming months as we transition into another season, and the same is true for your Association. For many years, we have been blessed with the dedicated and committed service and attention of Mr. Jim Uden, who has served as our executive secretary for the past 13 years. Mr. Uden will retire from TTA in April 2015 and will be dearly missed. His leadership and attention to detail have brought our organization back to a state of balance and financial well-being. Before becoming involved with the TTA board, I guess I just assumed that things ran themselves in a sense, but I really had no idea about all the work that

io The miss

goes on in the background to keep an association of our size running properly.

I now know the level of hard work and effort that Mr. Uden and everyone involved in the inner workings of our association put in, especially when it comes to our Annual Conference and Tradeshow, and I am grateful. Please take a moment and thank Mr. Jim Uden for all his years of service to our association (Mr. Jim Uden, 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069, or tnturfgrassassn@aol.com).

So, who will be our next executive secretary? Well, good question. On behalf of the TTA board of directors, I am proud to announce that Ms. Shelia Finney has graciously accepted our offer to fill this office. As many (if not all) of you know, Shelia has been an instrumental part in the growth and structure of the TTA for many years (see page 14), and we are very much looking forward to her jumping into this role and putting her own spin on its activities and involvement. Like

Mr. Uden, Shelia will continue to serve all allied and associate organizations. If you have any requests or suggestions for Shelia, I am sure she will welcome all. It is my pleasure and privilege to welcome Shelia to her new role within TTA. We are truly privileged that she has accepted this position.

We are blessed in our association and our profession. To be able to work outside in nature is a joy (and, yes, I am aware that it is not always pleasant when it rains or snows, but it is still better than being inside, is it not?). I hope each of you gets off to a fantastic start to the year and that we have weather that will cooperate, allowing us to do our jobs and enhance our profession.

As always, if you have any questions or comments about YOUR association, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the TTA board members or me.

Paul Carter, CGCS 2014–2015 TTA President

n of the Te nn essee Tur fg ra ss A s s o c i at i o

To promote the turfgrass industry through education, scholarship and research.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

n

From the TVST M A President

Marty D. Wallace

Here We Go! With Warmer Weather,

Let’s Game-Plan and Network As

I sit here and look out my window, the recent snow we received in early March has melted with recent rains and warm temperatures. My grandfather used to say, “If you live in Tennessee and don’t like the weather, just wait until tomorrow.”

I’m certain, if you are like me, the warm temperatures will be welcome. I certainly

hope that we have seen the last of the really cold weather.

With most spring sports underway, high schools and colleges are hoping for some dry weather so that field conditions can improve. I noticed the other day that signups have started for Little League baseball and softball. Then, there’s something I deal with, Minor League Baseball,

which is just around the corner. I challenge everyone to have a game plan for the summer months. One example might be strategizing for the transition from coolseason grasses to warm-season turf. Here at the Minor League park in Jackson, I over-seeded bermudagrass with ryegrass and am looking forward for warmer temperatures. You may also need to take a look at soil tests for nutrient needs and irrigation practices for the dry summer months.

I would like to encourage all turf managers to take yourself or your family out and go to a Minor League game and support these great organizations. We have outstanding venues in this state, from Memphis to Jackson to Nashville to Chattanooga to Sevierville. Attend a game, and introduce yourself to the groundskeeper. Learn as much as you possibly can about how he or she takes care of the field. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as I know most of the people who are in my line of work are always interested in sharing new ideas, and sometimes we pick up some new techniques.

We have great things planned for TVSTMA in months to come, so be checking your emails. We have also been finalizing topics for the TTA conference, and I know that everyone will want to attend the 50th year anniversary of the conference — it’s going to be a great one!

Marty D. Wallace 2015 TVSTMA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 591-8286 tnturfgrassassn@aol.com www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Paul Carter, CGCS Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (423) 344-6374 Vice President Theo Lankford Nashville Sports Leagues (615) 799-8664 Secretary/Treasurer Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Past President Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms (731) 692-3515 Executive Secretary Jim Uden Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 591-8286 TTA 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Doug Estes Kurt Dryden Scott Freund Cal Hill Joe Hill Timothy Long Mickey Lovett Bill Marbet Mitch Parker Jason Sanderson Chris Sykes Doug Ward TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

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From the M AGCSA President

Luke Hankins

The State of

MAGCSA O

ften, I am caught up with golf’s poor performance in my generation. Obviously, the norm has become deflated budgets combined with inflated material and equipment costs, stagnant dues lines and poorly educated operators holding our careers hostage while dropping prices to keep the doors open. Budweiser coined a phrase we should repeat — “Know When to Say When.” It seems at every local or national event I attend, someone utters the term “budget cuts.”

We have to get past the complaining and just face the facts: 1. Golf was overbuilt in the 1990s.

2. None of us make the salaries we were told we would in college.

3. We are all educated on how to do more with less.

4. Competing for members and rounds is part of the game.

5. Golf is a business, and we are business professionals.

With that being said, just where are we today? Struggling would be the word that comes to mind. I know only a single club in our area that actually charges an initiation fee. Several private clubs have creatively dropped their dues by creating two-for-one deals on memberships or

“added value” to existing memberships by giving away range balls or rental carts.

In the public sector, many operators are searching for the bottom, making golf more commodity and less personal.

As superintendents, we are crucial to our facilities now more than ever. We are called to be professional leaders at our clubs. We have to be not only financially responsible but also educated to help lead our clubs to make decisions that will impact our profession and the surrounding golfing community as a whole. As we look forward to a new season, keep in mind that we are more than just turfgrass managers — we are business professionals. Have a great year!

Luke Hankins

2015 MAGCSA President

2015 MAGCSA Meeting Schedule May 11 Location: WiseAcre Brewing Company

June Open

September 14

Scott McNeer Scholarship Research Tournament Location: Wyndyke C.C. East Course

October 22

Round Table and Bushwood Golf Outing Location: Chickasaw Country Club

November 2

Big Bubba Skeet Shoot and Cookout Location: Bubba’s Ranch

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSN. ———— MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ———— Membership applications can be submitted at any time during the year.

For more information, please contact the TTA Office at (615) 591-8286 or fax your application form to (615) 790-8600.

Please print or type the following information as you would like it to appear in the annual directory.

Name ______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Facility _____________________________________________

Type of Business_________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________

P.O. Box _____________________________

City _ ______________________________________________

State ___________

Zip _________________________________

Telephone (_____) ____________________________________

Fax (_____)_ ___________________________________________

Email Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional individuals from same facility requesting membership: Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Name______________________________________________

Title_ _________________________________________________

Membership Categories:

Regular Membership...............................................................................................................................

$50.00

Student Membership...............................................................................................................................

$10.00

Retired Membership................................................................................................................................

No Dues

Payable Dues:

# of Regular Memberships ...................................................................................................... ______ x $50.00 = $______________

# of Student Memberships ...................................................................................................... ______ x $10.00 = $______________

Total . ................................................................................................................................... ______

$______________

Please make check payable to: Tennessee Turfgrass Association Please send check and completed form to:

Tennessee Turfgrass Association • 400 Franklin Road • Franklin, TN 37069

TTA Member spo tlight

Jim Uden,

TTA Member Spotlight on

Recently Retired TTA Executive Secretary

Location: Franklin, TN Job Title: TTA Executive Secretary, since 2003

Number of years in this position: 13

Where did you attend college?

University of the South (Sewanee)

What was your major?

English

What did you do before you became TTA’s executive secretary? I worked at First American National Bank for 33 years.

Why did you choose a career in the turfgrass industry?

I wanted to work in the golf industry, and this was my best opportunity.

What did you enjoy most about your job as TTA executive secretary? Getting to know the superintendents and seeing what they do in different areas of the state.

Who have been your mentors in the industry? Dr. Tom Samples, Bob Hogan, Shelia Finney and Dick Horton, to name a few.

What are your hobbies? Golf, fishing, hiking and most things outdoors.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve been married for 44 years, and we have a son (age 40) and a daughter (age 38), plus four grandchildren, ages 4 to 10.

How do you plan to spend your well-deserved retirement?

Some traveling, golf and most anything outdoors. T 12

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

TTA Member spo tlight TTA Member Spotlight on

Shelia Finney, TTA’s New Executive Secretary

Former Job Title: Golf Course Superintendent

Location: Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Nashville, TN

Number of years in this position: 25 Where did you attend college? Austin Peay State University What was your major?

Drama and Speech Communication

How long have you been a member of TTA? Since 1987 What positions have you held with TTA? Board member — 2006, 2007 and 2008 Education Committee — 2006 and 2007 Awards & Scholarship Committee — 2006 and 2007 Marketing Committee — 2007 (chair), 2008 and 2009 Conference & Tradeshow — 2010 and 2011 IT Director/Webmaster — since 2008

What year did you get started in the turfgrass industry? 1985 14

Why did you choose a career in the turfgrass industry? I fell into it by accident and fell in love with it.

I had been working at a nursery on Franklin Road, and the owner suggested that I apply for a job at a golf course as a landscaper.

I went to four different golf courses in the space of a couple of hours. The last one was Richland Country Club, where Jim Kirkley was the superintendent. When I walked into his office, he said, “You’re that girl looking for the landscape job.

I’ll pay you $3.35 an hour, and all the water you can drink.” He hired me on the spot. He believed that a woman could do everything a man could do. I had never even run a weed eater, and he had me on tractors with a pull-behind mowing unit within a week. He pushed very hard for me to learn as much as possible.

What did you do before your position at Gaylord Springs G.C., and how long were you there? I was at Richland Country Club from 1985 to 1990. I started off as a greens keeper and was promoted to landscape manager.

What did you enjoy most about your job at Gaylord Springs G.C.? That it was different every day! You could be outside on the course one minute, and the next minute inside handling budgets and paperwork. I

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

loved that it was part science and part computer work, and I loved the nuances of preparing a golf course for the game of golf.

Then, there was also the human-resources aspect of managing a crew. Watching people grow in their positions and learn new skills is a joy. Being an environmental steward on the piece of property you are responsible for is an added perk.

Who have been your mentors in the industry? Everyone that I come in contact with! There is always something to learn from everyone. Being in the turf industry is like being a part of a big family. We are always there for each other.

Have you won any job-related awards? If so, what? I won TTA Professional of the Year in 2008, and I won several awards at Gaylord (Employee of the Month sort of thing).

What have been your contributions to the industry (brag a little!)? As a golf course superintendent, I’ve been on the board for the Middle TN Golf Course Superintendents Association for more than 20 years. At GCSAA at a national level, I’ve served on several committees, including the Environmental Programs Committee, and on the Board Policy Oversight Task Group, and I am currently on the Govern-

ment Relations Committee. I serve as the voting chapter delegate for TNGCSA to GCSAA, which is a position I’ve held for several years. I’m also the TN chapter liaison for GCSAA. I purely love helping any member who needs help with anything. I enjoy being an advocate to the turfgrass industry. As turfgrass professionals, we are all land stewards and are much better at being “behind the scenes” than letting people know what we do and how important it is.

For both TTA and TGCSA, I serve as the webmaster for their websites and also send out email blasts for both associations.

How has TTA enhanced your career? Working with all the people who are members of TTA has been a wonderful resource. They are a wealth of information and are always willing to help everyone.

Trying to help TTA grow has pushed me outside of my comfort zone occasionally and has made me learn new

skills, such as being the webmaster.

I’m much better on a computer than I was years ago.

Do you have any specific goals for the coming year, and if so, what are they?

I’m ready to start a new chapter of my life. There are so many things that I will miss about being a superintendent.

After 25 years, I know every square inch of Gaylord Springs. My new role with the associations, however, will allow me to stay in the field that I love with the people I care about and not get up at 3:30 a.m.!

In my new role, I get to be even more involved with TTA and TGCSA (ETGCSA, MTGCSA and MAGCSA) and help all the associations grow and flourish. I plan to help them push more into social media and make the websites even better with more information. If a member has a question about anything, he or she should be able to get it easily in the format they are comfortable with.

I want to give all of our members more personal attention by visiting them at their course or business. Expect to see me!

There are some exciting new changes coming to the Conference and Tradeshow for our 50th Anniversary. This is going to be an awesome year!

What are your hobbies?

I own an eight-acre piece of property where I have a rather large garden (8,000 square feet) and chickens and honeybees. That takes up some time, and my friends love getting free vegetables and eggs.

I love to travel. Last year I went to Italy, which was fantastic. I don’t know where I’m going next.

Tell us a little about your family. I’m divorced, with one grown son, James, who is 35. I have two dogs that are my babies — a Border Collie named Toby and an Australian Shepherd named Pinto. T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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TTA award w inner

Congratulations to TTA’s 2014 Environmental Stewardship Award Winner,

The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

By Liz Nutter, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications (publisher of Tennessee Turfgrass)

“Our

course is a little bit different, in that we run it as a golf course and a nature preserve. They’re not separate; they’re one in the same,” says Paul L. Carter, CGCS, superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. “A golf course can be both, no matter what size it is or where it is located, private or public — you can always do something for the environment.”

No doubt, that visionary, yet realistic attitude — embraced by everyone at the course — played a large part in the selec-

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tion of The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay as the 2014 winner of the TTA’s Environmental Stewardship Award.

Located in Harrison Bay State Park down a rural, two-lane road in Harrison, TN (about 20 miles northeast of Chattanooga), The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (BTHB) opened in 1999. Sited on a peninsula that juts out into the Tennessee River, the course is surrounded by both water and heavily wooded land, with 11 holes touching water.

Fairways are 419 bermudagrass, and the greens are Champion ultradwarf bermuda-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

grass. Carter has been superintendent there since 2001.

“Our environmental focus started in 2005 when the state took us over from our former management firm,” Carter recalls. “Back then, we fertilized and mowed everything. When the state came in, the new focus was on limiting expenses and labor, while helping the environment.”

“Green” efforts on the course Reducing the course’s potential impact on the river and its water quality became an

immediate priority for Carter. “What we can do to the waterways and the ground that touches those waterways is all mandated by the Army Corps of Engineers and TVA,” he comments. “We have certain regulations, such as we can’t allow machinery within so many feet of the bank.”

In addition to strictly observing those regulations, Carter incorporated several other environmentally friendly cultural practices. “All along the waterways, we have vegetative buffer strips, where we allow native vegetation to grow up anywhere between 10 to 25 feet into the golf course to filter runoff and pollutants,” he says. “We use Nature Safe organic fertilizer on our greens and POLYON, a controlledrelease fertilizer from Harrell’s, everywhere else on the course. We reconstructed our equipment wash pad so that it’s now self-contained; the wash water goes into a double-filter system before it goes into our septic tank, so nothing directly contaminates the river or the ground. We also upgraded and reorganized our chemical building and our fertilizer racks to help prevent spills.”

Even though the course has plenty of irrigation water available from the river, Carter takes water-conservation efforts very seriously. “We don’t mind if the turf goes a little brown; we like our fairways a little firm and fast,” he comments. “We’ve actually taken out 50 acres of highly maintained turf and have let them grow back up.

Since we don’t irrigate them anymore, that saves about 7.4 million gallons of water a year, plus manpower, fuel (and the resulting emissions), fertilizer and other applications. Also, wildlife like those naturalized areas, which provide good movement corridors through the course.

And the areas are visually appealing.”

Carter adds that he and his crew are just now finishing up an irrigation renova-

tion project around the greens. “We’re adding half-heads to irrigate just inside the greens,” he explains. “When the course was built, we had full-circle heads, which often saturated the surrounds, making them less playable. We started this project three years ago, and we’re doing it inhouse, changing out heads when we can, mostly during winter. This project will save us about one million gallons a year.”

Another major environmental improvement was converting to electric coursemaintenance equipment. In March 2013, the course received a grant through the

Tennessee Office of Sustainable Practices, funded by TVA from the 2008 ash spill at Kingston. “With that grant, we got funding for 18 pieces of electric equipment — 3 Jacobsen Eclipse 322 greens mowers, 4 Jacobsen Eclipse tee and approach mowers, 2 Tru-Turf greens rollers, 2 Smithco bunker rakes, 5 mid-duty Toro Workman vehicles and 2 Club Car carryalls,” Carter says. “From March 2013 to March 2014, we eliminated the need for more than 9,000 gallons of fuel for use on the course, which was about $27,000, yet the electricity in our mainte-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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TTA award w inner nance building (to charge the vehicles) went up only about $1,200. In that time, we also cut out 182,000 pounds of CO2 and 52 gallons of used hydraulic and motor oil.”

Since the conversion, the course has had more than 300 days with what Carter calls “zero emissions,” where the only emissions produced are from backpack blowers.

“We’ve also greatly reduced the noise level on the course,” Carter says. “The only thing you can hear with these electric machines is their wheels on the asphalt.”

their first eaglets in March 2011. “Working with the USGA, Smith Turf & Irrigation, Toro, the East and Middle Tennessee superintendents associations and several other local sponsors, we raised enough funds to put up two cameras at the site later that year, and we’ve had an eagle cam ever since,” says Carter. “We’ve upgraded our cameras over various years, as we’ve received more funding, and we have our own dedicated live-streaming website at www.harrisonbayeaglecam.com.”

A nature sanctuary

Additional accolades

The other things you hear are the sounds of wildlife — and lots of it. “We have 44 bluebird houses and 12 Southern wood duck boxes, plus 7 mallard duck nesting tubes and 12 gravity-feed turkey feeders that my crewmembers have designed, built and set up on the course,” Carter says.

“At last count, we’ve fledged over 1,000 bluebirds. A small group of volunteers from the Friends of Harrison Bay State Park comes to monitor the bluebird boxes weekly. That’s a great way to get the community involved and show the public what a golf course can do for the environment, and the people start taking ownership of it.”

The course and its crew welcome all wildlife. “We have lots of deer and occasionally foxes, raccoons, skunks, the whole gambit. We see bobcat prints in the mornings in the bunkers and on the greens where they’re chasing the deer,” Carter says. “And, we have an agreement with our geese — if they stay off the greens, they can stay.

If not, we use radio-controlled irrigation to scare them off. That’s one of my simple pleasures in life.”

And, of course, BTHB has its famous eagles, Elliott and Eloise, who arrived in December 2010, built a nest and hatched

Perhaps not surprisingly, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay was one of the first golf courses in the state to become an Audubon certified sanctuary. In 2009, it received the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation. It was the first course in Tennessee to be named a Groundwater Guardian Green Site. And, last April, it was the second course in Tennessee and only the sixth course in America to be certified by the Golf Environment Organization (the European equivalent of Audubon International).

“We don’t put a priority on our environmental efforts for the awards and recognition, although those are nice. We do it because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s fun. We spend half our time on golf course maintenance and the other half on nature projects,” Carter says. “I don’t have the funding to compete with some of the high-end courses in Tennessee, and I don’t even try. Instead, we have the surroundings and the wildlife habitat that have created a nature showplace you can’t find just anywhere else. Our course has between 29,000 to 30,000 rounds a year, and I don’t think our golfers would be coming back unless they loved it.” T

Cover St ory

Dollar Spot:

New Approaches to Controlling an Old Disease

By David Shell, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Plant Sciences Department, The University of Tennessee

D

ollar spot, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, is a common disease of turfgrasses. All turfgrass species are susceptible, although some differences in susceptibility exist among species.

Most diseases require free moisture to start the infection process; dollar spot, though, is unique in that it prefers drier conditions for infection. Having said that, it is important to not over-water to limit the spread of dollar spot because over-watering will cause far greater problems.

When conditions are conducive for disease development, white mycelium, which will resemble cotton, will be evident in the morning (Photo 1). Chlorotic lesions with tan to reddishbrown margins will be present on individual leaves. Patches of dollar spot rarely exceed two inches, but individual patches can coalesce into bigger patches, making the disease more severe.

Current management techniques include managing moisture, 20

maintaining adequate fertility (especially nitrogen) and the use of fungicides when needed. New techniques are being investigated to give turf managers better options for disease control.

Dollar spot prediction model Dr. Damon Smith, from the University of Wisconsin, and Dr. Jim Kerns, from North Carolina State University, developed a model to predict the probability that a dollar spot epidemic will occur. It uses a five-day rolling window of temperature and relative humidity or relative humidity alone. This model is adjustable so that it allows you to set different probabilities for greens, tees and fairways.

We tested this model in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, we made six fungicide applications, which were two fewer applications than the other treatments in our program’s trial. The model provided significantly better control than the untreated control and per-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Photo 1. Active dollar spot mycelium in the morning.

Mycelium will have a white, cotton-like appearance.

Figure 1. Results from the UVB field study, summer 2013. Significant differences were not detected until day 17 and remained evident until day 38.

formed equal to all other program treatments. Unfortunately, in 2012, the weather was not conducive for disease development.

The dollar spot prediction model provided significantly better control than the untreated plots, but the model predicted the same amount of applications as the program treatments. The model is currently being prepared for a peer-reviewed journal and may be available for subscription sometime in the future.

UVB field study Sometimes in life, we make a discovery that we weren’t expecting. A study was conducted in our lab to investigate the fungicidal activity of titanium dioxide (TiO2). TiO2 is a pigment found in everyday items such as paint, sunscreen, toothpaste and TwinkiesŽ. When TiO2 is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light, it generates reactive oxygen species, which causes cellular damage to microorganisms, thus leading us to

Figure 2. Results from the UVB field study, summer 2014. Significant differences were observed on day 10 and remained evident for the duration of the trial.

Cover story UVB and fungicide field study We now know that UVB plays an important role in limiting the growth of the dollar spot pathogen. So, the next question is whether we can reduce fungicide applications by using natural UVB light? In other words, could we tank-mix a fungicide with UVB light and extend the length of control?

To test this, we used the same equipment and setup as the UVB field study. We set our threshold at three dollar spot infection centers to determine if a fungicide application was needed. Three dollar spot infection centers sounds low, but the area we were measuring was 5 ft2. That translates to 600 dollar spot infection centers/1,000 ft2 or 3,600 dollar spot infection centers for a 6,000 ft2 green.

Plots receiving UVB went 1.5 days longer between applications than plots receiving no UVB, but overall, both treatments received three fungicide applications during the course of this study. So, in this study, using natural UVB light did not reduce the total number of seasonal fungicide applications. One possibility why we observed this result is that UVB may be breaking down the fungicide through the photodegradation process. Future work will investigate the effect of UVB on the photodegradation of fungicides.

Future research Photo. 2. PVC frames covered with polystyrene sheets and polystyrene sheets and Mylar® film.

believe it could be used as a fungicide. While we were able to achieve some control of dollar spot using TiO2, the effects were limited to a few days. Also, we found that as the rate of TiO2 was increased, the disease severity also increased.

We suspected that UVB was somehow important in the growth and development of the pathogen. An in vitro study found that UVB does reduce S. homoeocarpa growth and that the reduction follows a dose-response pattern (i.e., more UVB = greater reduction in growth).

To test this hypothesis, we conducted a field study in 2013 and 2014. We built PVC frames that held either a polystyrene sheet, which transmits all light, or a polystyrene sheet covered with a Mylar® film, which filters UVB light and permits other wavelengths to pass (Photo 2). In both years, plots receiving no UVB had more disease than plots receiving UVB. In 2013, the differences were not observed until day 17, and they remained evident until day 38 (Figure 1). The severity of dollar spot was greater in 2014, and differences were observed between plots starting on day 10 and remained evident throughout the duration of the trial (Figure 2).

This study confirms the previous laboratory and growthchamber research and leads us to the conclusion that S. homoeocarpa in Tennessee is sensitive to UVB light under field conditions.

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The results of these exciting discoveries have opened many new research areas for investigation that we will undertake in the coming months. First, we will continue the UVB and fungicide study again this coming summer. A better understanding of how fungicides are interacting with nature will give us more knowledge on the most efficient use of fungicides. Pigmented products have been a hot topic lately for many reasons, but another area of interest is what effect (if any) do they have on the length of control from fungicides?

We know that UVB impacts dollar spot and helps limit its growth and development, but what does the addition of other wavelengths of light do? Previous research on other crops and diseases has shown that by adding additional red light, the amount of UVB required to reduce growth is significantly reduced. The addition of UVA light, however, results in the reversal of the effects of UVB, and healing is promoted.

The mycelium that is associated with dollar spot in Tennessee is generally a whitish/tan color, but in other parts of the country, the mycelium is darker. This is due to an increase in pigmentation, most likely due to melanins, which are similar to the pigments in humans. One question we have is, “Does the increase in pigmentation affect the dose of UVB required for control?”

We also wonder if adding supplemental UVB light could result in phytotoxicity to the turf. During other studies, we’ve exposed plants to about five times the normal dose of UVB, and phytotoxicity has not been observed, but again these results were in the lab/growth chamber. The timing of the UVB dose could also play an important role. Previous research has shown that a UVB light application at night, interrupting the normal dark period, resulted in great reductions of UVB light required to achieve control. T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

p rofess ional matters

Social Media

for the Turf Professional 101

By Scott B. Boyle, Communications Coordinator, The University of Tennessee Turfgrass Science and Management

“I

won’t be ignored, Dan.” Sure, that quote from the movie Basic Instinct might seem out of place in a conversation about social media.

But, substitute yourself for Dan, and then imagine Twitter saying that to you. It is the same thing.

Social media can’t be ignored. Not today, and not in the future.

In the span of a decade, social media has evolved from websites you use to post your favorite songs and photos to the driving force in brand marketing.

So, how does the turfgrass professional embrace social media?

Understand it.

The first step is understanding what social media is and how it affects public perception. Social-media giants like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram thrive because of conversation, community, participation and connections. The sense of community among social-media users enables them to speak freely and unfettered by societal norms. While they might be hesitant to give a negative opinion to someone’s face, they might have no problem doing it on social media. If that person is connected to a large network, that opinion can go viral. If it does, it can’t be ignored.

Understand that social media is not all about bad news, either.

As a tool in your marketing toolbox, social media can dramat-

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Professio nal m atters ically improve a company’s visibility to consumers if it is used properly. It is also free.

Be proactive.

A theory in public relations (time tested and correct) is that bad news, like fish, doesn’t smell better with age. Being proactive in any public-relations setting is always the best move, especially with social media.

If your golf course is going to be closed or you are aerating the greens, post it on Facebook and Twitter. Explain why, and get your message out before someone else does it for you. It is always easier to drive the message yourself than to do damage control from the back seat. An active social-media presence is important.

Be involved.

Social media is called “social” media for a reason. Just creating a Twitter account is worthless unless you use it, so use it daily.

Posting a link to someone else’s article or photo might make it seem like you are active on social media, but you are not.

For social media to be effective and improve your business, you need to treat it like your primary communications method.

Encourage conversation with your customers or end users.

If you are running a sod farm or golf course, actively engage your clients. Ask what they need and want. Ask for their opinions, and give yours back. Creating a conversation is where social media excels.

Cell phone use on a golf course has been frowned upon since the phone’s inception. According to a Pew Research poll, 74% of online adults use social-networking sites, 40% via their cell phones. Knowing those statistics, why wouldn’t golf course operators want their patrons using social media on their course? How could a golf course use the immediacy of social networking to gain followers?

A course could create a hashtag (#) and encourage players to tweet from certain holes, which could make the round interactive. Golf courses could have someone from the pro shop or maintenance staff answer the questions that players have during their rounds. They could encourage players to take photos of their best shots and tweet them.

Obviously, there should be rules, and speed of play should be maintained, but there are hundreds of creative ways a golf course can incorporate social media into their daily routine without sacrificing pace of play. For example, Vail ski resorts use EpicMix to create an interactive experience for skiers visiting their resorts. Skiers can tweet their accomplishments, track their performance, compete against pros like Lindsay Vonn and interact with others skiing the same runs. Vail has a mobile app showing ski conditions and tracking performance. Turf managers can use that kind of outside-the-box thinking to grow the industry.

Not every idea will work on every course or for every business. A good social-media manager should brainstorm ideas and work with his/her company to plot a course best for them.

Which brings us to the next tip.

Have a social-media person.

Having a successful social-media presence requires consistent activity and attention. While it may not be a full-time job for all 26

businesses, it certainly needs to be active. The number of users has grown to the point that every business will have someone on staff with social-media experience. All people in high-level or management positions at any business should also have a smartphone. A few years ago, a smartphone was a nice-tohave. Today, it is a necessity.

The University of Tennessee Turfgrass Science and Management concentration is incorporating smartphone use by creating apps designed to bring the user closer to the program and to improve the availability of information. The Turf Weeds department developed a mobile weed manual to make it easy for turf pros to find information in the field by using their phones.

For the 2014 UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day, UT worked with Turf Republic to develop an app that attendees could use to help navigate through the day. Twitter and Facebook apps make immediate postings possible.

Technology will continue to move forward. It is up to the turf industry to keep up.

Use the power of images.

Which is more effective: a wall of text describing the beauty of your 14th green, a color photo of the green at sunset or a short video of people playing the green? The answer is certainly not the text.

As attention spans shorten and more people identify themselves as visual learners, the use of visual imagery and video becomes more important. According to Trend Reports, 65% to 85% of people are visual learners. Pinterest is the fastest-growing social-media site on the Internet, and Instagram now has 40 million users worldwide. YouTube is the world’s 2nd largest search engine and the 3rd most-visited website worldwide. It is estimated that four billion YouTube videos are viewed daily.

What does that all mean? Every video or photo of your course or business has the potential to increase traffic. Every video by a happy golfer playing your course, every photo of the sunrise over your #1 tee box and every video showing the people and technology you use to maintain Tennessee’s turf fields are more effective than any press release or email.

What NOT to do

All the great and productive uses of social media can easily be usurped by poor execution. Poor spelling and grammar, unprofessional behavior or tweets about things not in line with your business can reverse any positive traction your campaign is getting. Always re-read before you send, and make sure that whatever you send has a purpose. While you might think that video of the dancing squirrel is funny, it doesn’t belong on your company’s Twitter feed. Like any tool, social media can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands.

Moving forward

The social-media revolution is not stopping any time soon. By fully embracing the changing times and technology, turf professionals can launch their businesses forward into the new age.

Social networking seems daunting, and downright intimidating, to the novice. But, like anything worthwhile, the results make the journey worth your time. T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

pest in t he spotligh t

P

resenting many colors of showy flowers in mid-summer, crapemyrtle cultivars offer a wide range of plant sizes, provide attractive bark as a winter accent and, so, are widely planted throughout southern U.S. landscapes.

Crapemyrtles are also easy to grow, as well as easy to prune and shape, and they are well adapted to sunny landscapes. Unfortunately, a new pest of crapemyrtle is starting to make crapemyrtle less appealing as a staple plant for landscapes.

First discovered in a north Dallas (Texas) suburb in 2004, this relatively new exotic pest has been tentatively identified as crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS, Eriococcus lagerstroemia) (see Photo 1, and close-up Photo 2). CMBS is known to occur on crapemyrtles and pomegranates in China, Japan and Korea. From its original detection site, CMBS spread to nearby McKinney, Texas, which has been self-promoted as America’s Crapemyrtle City since 2005 (McKinney had invested in major plantings of crapemyrtles since September 2000). By 2010, CMBS had spread across the Dallas–Fort Worth area and since has continued to spread rapidly.

In 2012, it was found in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Shreveport, Louisiana. Then, in 2013, it was discovered in Tyler, Texas;

Crapemyrtle Bark Scale

Expands Its Range in the South

By Frank A. Hale, Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

Photo 1. (Left) Crapemyrtle bark scale appears as white patches on bark.

Photo 2. A close-up of crapemyrtle bark scale.

Houma, Louisiana; Newnan, Georgia; and Germantown, Tennessee (greater Memphis area). In 2014, CMBS was also detected in Mobile, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; Fayette County, Tennessee; and Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

In March 2015, CMBS was found in south Mississippi.

Fortunately, because CMBS is most commonly observed on the bark, infestations are relatively easy to identify on crapemyrtles. Each adult female (Photo 3) and her eggs are covered by cottony, white, waxy filaments that form a 2 mm long, oval ovisac (Photo 4). Thus, CMBS is considered a felt scale, which is different from the more common armored and soft scale. The female (Photo 5), as well as her eggs (Photo 6) and the immature stages, are red-colored and will bleed a pink fluid when crushed.

CMBS produces copious amounts of honeydew on which black sooty mold

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pest in t he spotligh t Photo 3. The top of a CMBS ovisac.

Photo 4. The underside of a CMBS ovisac.

Photo 5. A female crapemyrtle bark scale.

Photo 6. The pinkish-red eggs are covered by cottony, white, waxy filaments.

Photo 7. CMBS are encountered on the bark and small branches (as shown), while crapemyrtle aphids feed on the underside of leaves.

Photo 8. CMBS produces many eggs.

3.

grows. While the crapemyrtle aphid also produces honeydew with the resulting sooty mold, crapemyrtle aphids are found feeding on the underside of leaves, while CMBS are encountered on the bark and small branches (Photo 7). The white CMBS ovisacs also sharply contrast against the black sooty mold on the bark of the trunk and especially on the branches. CMBS tend to aggregate more on the underside of horizontal branches, so they stand out when viewed from below.

The first instar nymphs that hatch from the eggs beneath the ovisacs start to emerge in about mid-May to early June in Tennessee. The crawlers move to an area of the bark and quickly settle down to feed. They will soon molt to second instar nymphs, which lose their legs and antennae, becoming sessile. In USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8, two to three generations of CMBS may occur, while three

5.

4.

7.

or four generations may occur in Zones 9 and 10. Note that while the Memphis area is in Zone 8, my personal observations of eggs in Germantown, Tennessee (Memphis area), on July 30, 2014, correspond with the two generations per year life cycle from observations made in China. It is suspected that at least two generations may occur in Arkansas, while the potential number of generations in the majority of Tennessee (Zone 7) and other plant hardiness zones is unknown.

CMBS produces many eggs (Photo 8), and the resulting crawlers can possibly hitchhike on birds and other animals as vectors for new infestations to crapemyrtles. Thus, this pest will be able to spread locally through these natural pathways. The rapid, long-distance movement of this pest in the last 10 years is also suspected to have been aided by movement of infested plants.

6.

8.

continue d Control options From all indications, this difficult-tocontrol pest will require an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, utilizing a combination of control options.

Educational efforts should be made to teach the general public and growers to recognize this pest so that it is not moved to other locations. Inspect plants closely, and don’t buy a plant that you suspect may have this pest. Alert anyone selling crapemyrtles that CMBS-infested plants should not be sold.

In the landscape, the bark of infested plants should be washed with a soft brush and a mild dishwashing-soap solution to physically remove and destroy all life stages. Commercial applicators can use a dishwashing-soap solution and a handgun sprayer with enough pressure to wash the CMBS and any loose, peeling bark from the trunk and branches without damag-

ing the plant. Horticultural oil can be applied to the bark at the higher dormant rates during the winter.

Before applying pesticides, scout for twice-stabbed lady beetles, which are small, black lady beetles with two red spots on the wing covers. These beetles are effective predators of CMBS and should be conserved. Avoid spraying the bark with pyrethroid insecticides, carbaryl (Sevin) and other broad-spectrum insecticides from spring through fall where lady beetles are active.

Limited insecticide tests have shown that systemic insecticides applied as a soil drench or soil injection offer the greatest potential for CMBS control.

For best results, these types of applications should be made between May and July, using clothianidin (Arena 50 WDG), dinotefuran (Greenlight Tree and Shrub Insect Control, Safari),

thiomethoxam (Meridian, Flagship) or imidacloprid (Merit, Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control, and other brand names). Finally, neighborhood-wide efforts to manage this pest, similar to area-wide management of imported fire ants, will increase likelihood of successful CMBS control.

Additional Resources Robbins, J., J. Hopkins, M. Merchant, and M. Gu. 2014. Crapemyrtle Bark Scale: A new insect pest. Univ.

Arkansas Div. Agric. Coop. Ext. Fact Sheet. FSA7086.

Gu, M., M. Merchant, Robbins, J., and J. Hopkins. 2014. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale: A new exotic pest. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Fact Sheet. EHT-049. T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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turf talk

What Are the Options for

Organic Turf Care?

By Charles H. Peacock, Ph.D., NC State University

E

nvironmental awareness and sustainability in turf management have been at the forefront of the turf industry at all levels for many years. Often, questions arise as to what alternatives to synthetic materials are available for pest control in an organic approach to turf care.

Before delving into options for organic approaches to turf care, the first issue is to define exactly the organic approach. A few years ago, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service published “Sustainable Turf Care: Horticultural Systems Guide.”

The abstract indicates the publication was written with the emphasis on organic and leasttoxic turf-care practices for lawncare professionals, golf course superintendents or anyone with a lawn or other turf area. The organic and least-toxic practices they promote are: • Establish and maintain a healthy soil environment.

• Include a diversity of species in the turf environment.

• Use cultural practices that reduce stress on turf growth.

• Understand and work with your local soil and climate conditions.

• Use biological pest-control methods.

If all of this sounds familiar to you, the reason could be that these are the foundational approaches for any good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, which is something that university turf experts have been promoting for over 25 years!

What is IPM, and why is it important?

IPM is a program that uses information about turfgrass pest problems and environmental conditions that may precipitate these problems, and it integrates these with turfgrass cultural practices and pest-control measures to prevent or control unacceptable levels of pest damage.

In another sense, IPM is a philosophy on how turf should be maintained. It is a preventative approach incorporating a number of objectives, including the following: • Development of a healthy turf that can withstand pest pressure.

• Judicious and efficient use of chemicals.

• Enhancement of populations of natural, beneficial organisms.

• Effective timing of handling pest problems at the most vulnerable stage, often resulting in reduced pesticide usage.

IPM is an ecologically based system that uses biological and chemical approaches for pest control. As with Best Management Practices (BMPs), IPM strategies should be incorporated into every aspect of turf management, especially as these relate to environmental impact.

There are six basic components of IPM that are utilized in a sound program for plant and environmental protection, as follows:

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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turf talk 1. Genetic Selecting improved grasses that perform well in specific areas and show a resistance to environmental stress and pest problems.

2. Physical Mechanical removal of pests (i.e., handweeding in selected areas), and cleaning equipment to prevent spreading of diseases and weeds from infected areas.

3. Regulatory Using certified seed and sod to prevent unwanted weed contamination and to guarantee true-to-type seed, sod and sprigs of the best-adapted turfgrass species and cultivars.

4. Biological For a limited number of pest problems, biological control can be used whereby natural enemies are favored or introduced to effectively compete with the pest. Biological control can also include developing habitat to favor natural predation, such as installing bird and bat houses, thus favoring an increase in populations that feed on insects.

5. Cultural Following recommendations made for proper cultural practices, which will maintain the turf in the healthiest condition and influence its susceptibility and recovery from pest problems. Proper application of practices such as proper mowing techniques, good nutrient management, sound irrigation management, aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing should produce a high-quality turf.

6. Chemical Pesticides are often a necessary and beneficial approach to turf pest problems, but use can be restricted in many cases to curative rather than preventive applications, thus reducing environmental exposure.

IPM was never meant to be a pesticidefree program. However, when there is a concern about protecting environmentally sensitive areas within an ecosystem, pesticide selection can be based on an ecological risk-assessment approach that strives to use only pesticides that are based on 34

effectiveness, are not toxic to non-target species, act quickly and degrade quickly and are not overly persistent in the environment.

Few pesticide applications should be made on a regularly scheduled basis.

Exceptions may include pre-emergent herbicides and fungicides used to control specific diseases that are predictable based on site history and prevailing environmental conditions. As with any material that is regulated under state and federal law, materials must be applied strictly in accordance with label instructions, at labeled rates, under appropriate environmental conditions (i.e., no spraying on windy days or when rain is forecast) and using equipment that reduces the possibility of drift.

Also, materials should be rotated among families of compounds for specific uses.

This will deter the development of resistant strains of pests that may require more frequent and/or higher rates of pesticide applications. Additional information can be found in the NC State Extension publication “Water Quality & Pesticide Selection,” which is available on the TurfFiles website (www.turffiles.ncsu.edu).

Bio-rational materials

10 to 20 lbs. of product per 1,000 ft2 of turf area, and if there is no rainfall within 5 days, to apply 0.25" of water to activate the material. The material is active as an herbicide for five to six weeks. Corn gluten meal is available through several on-line retailers.

Advantages of use • Natural material and is nontoxic.

• Provides 1 to 2 lbs. of N per 1,000 ft2 as a fertilizer.

Disadvantages of use • Provides 1 to 2 lbs. of N per 1,000 ft2 as a fertilizer. This is a concern in the spring on the cool-season species in the transition zone of NC. It is recommended not to overly apply N fertilizers in spring, which will make the turf more susceptible to summer disease problems.

• Inconsistent results with this material in control of weeds. This is most likely related to the unpredictability of the spring transition from cool to warm temperatures in the NC climate.

• Cost: From $13 to $26 per 1,000 ft2 of turf just for the materials.

Spinosad

If there are restrictions as to the types of materials that can be used (based either on a regulatory or philosophical issue), the use of bio-rational materials can be considered for a limited number of control options, mostly for insect pest management.

Pest-control materials that are relatively non-toxic with few ecological side effects are sometimes called “bio-rational” pesticides, although there is no official definition of this term. Some, but not all, bio-rational materials qualify for use on organic farms.

Available materials that fall into this category of products include the following.

Spinosad is an insecticide produced by a soil actinomycete, so it is a natural product.

Spinosad is a mixture of the two most active, naturally occurring metabolites (spinosyns A and D) produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosad as an insecticide is primarily for caterpillars (i.e., cutworms, armyworms, sod webworms).

Corn gluten meal

Disadvantages

Corn gluten meal was patented in 1993

by Dr. Nick Christians at Iowa State University as a pre-emergent herbicide primarily for control of crabgrass.

The technology is based on the use of hydrolyzed proteins extracted from corn.

The material is labeled as both an herbicide and a fertilizer. It is a 9-1-0 material. The use information is to apply

• Short residual (two to nine days).

• Not systemic.

• Cost: $4 per 1,000 ft2 of turf area for material.

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Advantages • A high degree of activity on targeted pests and low toxicity to non-target organisms (including many beneficial arthropods).

Azadirachtin Azadirachtin is an insecticide for caterpillars. The key insecticidal ingredient extracted from the neem tree is a naturally

continue d occurring substance. The chemical structure is similar to insect hormones called “ecdysones,” which control the process of metamorphosis as the insects pass from larva to pupa to adult. This material blocks molting and disrupts the life cycle. It is nontoxic to mammals. It has a low environmental impact unless it introduced into an aquatic environment, where it is very toxic.

Advantages • Naturally occurring material.

• Nontoxic to mammals.

Disadvantages • Must be ingested by insect when in early immature stages.

• Cost: $5.25 per 1,000 ft2 of turf area for material.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins These spores and crystalline insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis are used as specific insecticides under trade names such as Dipel and Thuricide.

Because of their specificity, these pesticides are regarded as environmentally friendly, with little or no effect on humans, wildlife, pollinators and most other beneficial insects.

on beetles and caterpillars. The NC State Pest Control Recommendations publication lists it for chinch bug control.

Advantages

• Natural product.

• Environmentally safe.

• Natural process affects insects after bacteria are ingested.

• Cost: several cents per 1,000 ft2 of turf area for material.

Disadvantages • Must be ingested (i.e., no residual activity).

• May take up to five days for it to act; the insects are still active until it is effective.

• Label reads, “It is recommended that his product be applied late in the afternoon or on cloudy days, since Bt breaks down in sunlight.”

Beauvaria bassiana Beauvaria bassiana is a fungus that kills insect pests by infection as a result of the insect coming into contact with fungal spores. It is considered nontoxic to animals, birds and plants. It works best

Advantages

Disadvantages • May take up to five days to work.

• Spores are susceptible to desiccation.

• May be toxic to honeybees.

• Poor to good control in different studies (inconsistent results).

• Cost: $9 per 1,000 ft2 of turf area for material.

Beneficial nematodes

These are live, microscopic round worms that occur naturally in soil throughout the world and are parasitic to certain insect pests, primarily cutworms, armyworms, and some beetle grubs.

Advantages • Naturally occurring.

• Environmentally safe.

turf talk Disadvantages • Must be applied every two weeks until pest infestation subsides.

• Must be applied pre-dawn or dusk and watered before and after application.

• Cost: $10 per 1,000 ft2 of turf just for material.

Chromobacterium Sold under the trade name Grandevo PTO, Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 bacteria and spent fermentation media are used for insect control.

Advantages • Naturally occurring.

• Environmentally safe.

• Cost: $1.75 per 1,000 square feet.

Disadvantages • Label reads, “Contains not less than 1,000 Cabbage Looper Killing Units (CLKU)/mg. Note: The percent active

36

ingredient does not indicate product performance, and potency measurements are not federally standardized.”

• Must apply with at least 2.5 gallons of water per 1,000 ft2.

• Control efficacy: • White grubs — 37% • Chinch bugs — 80% at 7 DAT, greatly reduced at 14 DAT • Caterpillars — 60 to 70% control at 7 DAT • No indication of residual activity.

Final thoughts It should be noted that many, although not all, of these options are listed in the “2014 Pest Control for Professional Turfgrass Managers” publication from NC State University, which can be found at the TurfFiles website (www.turffiles.ncsu.edu).

A sound IPM program that incorporates the use of these bio-rational organic mate-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/may 2015 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

rials should follow a sound approach, which includes the following: • Monitoring of potential pest populations and their environment.

• Determining pest injury levels and establishing treatment thresholds.

• Decision-making, developing and integrating all biological, cultural and chemical control strategies.

• Educating personnel and clients on all biological and chemical control strategies.

• Timing and spot treatments utilizing either the chemical, biological or cultural methods.

• Evaluating the results of treatment, and making adjustments to program as necessary.

The most recent information and more in-depth discussion of specific pest-control strategies and recommendations can be found at the NC State University TurfFiles website (www.turffiles.ncsu.edu). T

Calen dar CONTINUE of EventsD May TBD MAGCSA Meeting

WiseAcre Brewing Co. Memphis, TN

May 19 MTGCSA Meeting Five Oaks Golf & C.C. Lebanon, TN

June 2 MTGCSA Meeting Nashville Sounds Nashville, TN

June 23 Tennessee Green Industry Field Day

University of TN Gardens Knoxville, TN

July 19–21 PLANET Legislative Day on the Hill Washington, D.C.

July 9–11 TPI Live Show & Tell (Turfgrass Producers International) Portland, OR

September 10 UT Turfgrass & Ornamental Field Day Knoxville, TN

September 15–17 NRPA Congress and Expo

(Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

Las Vegas, NV

September 17–18 Tennessee Green Industry Expo (TN Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Music City Center Nashville, TN

October 10–14 IPPS Southern Region Annual Meeting Tampa, FL

October 21–23 PLANET Green Industry Conference Louisville, KY

October 22–24 GIE+Expo – Green Indsutry Equipment Expo and School of Grounds Management Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

November 6–9 ASLA – Annual Meeting & Expo

(American Society of Landscape Architects) McCormick Place Chicago, IL

January 12– 14, 2016 50th Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, TN

The Tennessee 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, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or 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 ©2015 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass 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.

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