Tennessee Turfgrass - December / January 2017

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017

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

ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Tennessee’s Turfgrass Industry:

A Handy Guide to

Choosing and Using Turf Colorants Plus, 51st Annual TTA

Conference and Tradeshow January 9–11, 2017

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

20

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017

FEATURED ARTICLES

12 20 28 37

Upcoming Event — 51st Annual TTA Conference and Tradeshow, January 9–11, 2017 Cover Story — Tennessee’s Turfgrass Industry: Economic Contributions Turf Talk — A Handy Guide to Choosing and Using Turf Colorants Professional Development — Make the Most of Your Minutes: 12 Quick Tips to Help StressedOur Professionals Better Manage Their Time

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DEPARTMENTS

4

From the TTA President, Theo Lankford

6

News from TTA

8

From the MTGCSA President, Matthew Powell

10

University of Tennessee Turf Team

39

TTA Membership Application

40

Calendar of Events

42

Index of Advertisers

42

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017

37

FROM THE TTA PRESIDENT

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

THINK

About How You Create Your Own

Legacy hen I sit and think about the last 12 months and how things have progressed and changed, I can’t help but think about the legacy that gets left behind when we are gone. We all have one. It’s one of the few things we get in life that’s just ours. We don’t buy it, but we do get a say in what it is.

Matter of fact, it’s up to us to write each chapter of it. We decide from day to day what we do and, I hope, we put some thought into how that affects the ones around us. For some of us, that’s leading by example; for some, it’s being hands-on with those who need that extra explanation; and for the most part, it’s just you being you.

So here is my challenge for the next 12 months for you all — create your legacy in a way that when you’re gone from this earth, all those who learned from you and knew you can say you made a difference.

W

I THE M

Even if it was in the tiniest of ways, you made a difference in their lives.

Now, how all that relates to the upcoming conference and all the great speakers we have slated to present, I don’t know. I do know that being at the conference is a good start to the 12-month legacy challenge. Be seen, be heard, be an example, and be a doer.

If you know much about Tennessee football, you know the name Kippy Brown.

Kippy will be our keynote speaker at this year’s conference, and I know he will have some great stories to share. In addition to our information-packed education sessions, we have been able to add a maintenance portion to the lineup. I look forward to seeing you all in January!

Doers do!

Theo Lankford 2016–2017 TTA President

e TE NN ESSEE TURF GR AS S A S S O C I A SSION of th TION

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

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 465-6339 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 Theo Lankford Kormac, LLC (615) 519-2701 Vice President Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Secretary/Treasurer Doug Ward Belle Meade C.C. (615) 292-6752 Past President Paul Carter, CGCS Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (423) 344-6374 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 465-6339 TTA 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Kurt Dryden Doug Estes Cal Hill Joe Hill Timothy Long Mickey Lovett Bill Marbet Mitch Parker Richard Pavlasek, CGCS Jason Sanderson Chris Sykes 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

NEWS FROM TTA

Melissa Martin

TTA Welcomes

MELISSA MARTIN

as New Executive Director of December 16, the new executive director of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association is Melissa Martin, former director of education at Gettechnical, Inc., in Nashville. Martin assumes the position vacated this past August by former TTA executive director Shelia Finney, who joined GCSAA as senior director of member programs, but who continued to

As

8

assist the TTA board until her replacement could be found.

“We are delighted to bring Melissa on board with the TTA team,” says Theo Lankford, TTA president. “She has a broad range of experience, including member services, meeting planning, web design/ maintenance, cross-channel marketing, content development and vendor relations.

Her areas of expertise mesh beautifully

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

with our needs as a forward-thinking, member-dedicated association.”

As director of education with Gettechnical, Martin served as manager of Bankers eCampus, a webinar company that plans, produces and promotes more than 150 live webinars each year. She also maintained the Bankers eCampus and Gettechnical websites and was responsible for the company’s e-communications, including its bimonthly newsletter.

Prior to joining Gettechnical, Martin was the director of education and information technology for the Alabama Bankers Association, a post she held for 12 years. There, she planned and promoted all seminars and peer luncheon groups throughout the year and provided onsite management. Among her many other responsibilities, she maintained and updated the association website and oversaw all association computer systems.

Martin had previously served for three years as assistant director of education for the Arkansas Bankers Association. She received her bachelor’s degree in business association from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“I am thrilled to be working with the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, its board and its membership to continue blazing the exciting path of growth and enthusiasm that the association has experienced over the past year,” says Martin.

“And I am very much looking forward to meeting TTA members at the upcoming conference.”

FROM THE MTGCSA PRESIDENT

Matthew Powell

An Excellent Year for the MTGCSA we close in on the end of 2016, I would like to reflect and report on what a great year it has been to be a part of our MTGCSA. As golf course superintendents, we weathered a year that was, at the very least, a challenge. Heavy rains, high temps and drought were just a few challenges that we faced. All the while, you as superintendents supported your association like never before. Membership is up, attendance at

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meetings was strong, and we hope it will only increase in 2017.

On September 8, turf and ornamental professionals from all over Tennessee came to support the first ever UT Field Day in middle Tennessee. The Field Day was held at the Little Course at Aspen Grove in Franklin, TN. The Little Course has been conducting research trials for many years now, research that has made a direct impact on our industry. We would certainly like

to thank The University of Tennessee and all of its turfgrass staff members who have dedicated their careers to helping us do our jobs better. UT, thank you for an outstanding and informative event!

On Monday, September 26, MTGCSA held its annual fundraiser at Hillwood Country Club. The golf tournament’s main objective is to fund scholarship and research efforts in Tennessee. Even with a rain forecast for the day, we still had a great showing. We would like to thank David Robertson and the entire staff at Hillwood for a fantastically conditioned golf course and top-notch service. Thank you to everyone who came out to support MTGCSA, and know that proceeds raised goes to fund great organizations like the University of Tennessee.

This year finished up at Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club with host superintendent Tyler Ingram on November 8.

This is our annual education meeting and an opportunity to gather important GCSAA and state pesticide points. Thank you to everyone who attended; we had a great turnout.

Finally, the Tennessee Turfgrass Conference is just around the corner in January. Please make plans to attend — it gets bigger and better every year!

Matt Powell 2016 MTGCSA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

51st Annual

C O N F E R E N C E & TR A D E S H O W JANUARY 9–11 , 2017

TEL O H S E IT U S Y SS EMBA MU RFREESBORO, TN

Don’t miss our keynote speaker on Tuesday, January 10 — former UT football coach and retired professional football coach Kippy Brown!

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

0.60 GCSAA Continuing Education Credits available for attendance at all Monday sessions.

0.30 GCSAA Continuing Education Credits available for attendance at all Tuesday sessions.

Pesticide points available for TN, KY, AL, MS, GA, SC, VA.

Pesticide points available for TN, KY, AL, MS, GA, SC, VA.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CONCURRENT MORNING CLASSES — GOLF TRACK

TN Pesticide Certification Credits — 1 pt. in C3, C10 and C12 for full attendance.

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Turfheads and Twitter: the #Good, the #Bad and the #Awesome Mr. Pat Jones, GCI Magazine Mr. Matthew Wharton, CGCS, Carolina G.C.

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Managing Millennials: Getting Past the Earbuds Mr. John Montouri, Journal Media Group

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

UT Student Internship Feature Mr. Phil Bagsby, University of Tennessee Mr. Ryan Hammitt, University of Tennessee

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. — LUNCH (on your own)

TURFGRASS SCIENCE TN Pesticide Certification Credits — 3 pts. in C3, C10 and C12 for full attendance.

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Quantifying the Impact of the USGA Green Section: A Pilot Study of Tennessee Golf Courses Dr. Andrew Tiger, Union University

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Fundamentals of Meteorology and Weather App Overview for Turf Managers Mr. Brad Jakubowski, Doane College

2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Mower Configurations to Optimize Putting Green Performance Dr. John Sorochan, The University of Tennessee

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. #WeedWatch — What to Watch for in Weeds This Year Dr. Jim Brosnan, The University of Tennessee

TN Pesticide Certification Credits — 3 pts. in C3, C10 and C12 for full attendance.

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

2016 Year-in-Review Mr. Chris Hartwiger, USGA Green Section

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

How to Manage Change Before It Manages You Mr. Pat Finlen, CGCS, The Olympic Club

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

“Dear Architect…”

Mr. Jeff Brauer, GolfScapes

CONCURRENT MORNING CLASSES — SPORTS TURF TRACK TN Pesticide Certification Credits — 2 pts. in C3, C10 and C12 for full attendance.

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Severe Weather and Lightning: What You Don’t Know Might Shock You Mr. Brad Jakubowski, Doane College

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Management of Bermudagrass Fields During Cool, Wet Weather Dr. Grady Miller, NC State University

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mixes, Zoysia and Nitrogen: New Ideas for Keeping It Green in the Transition Zone Dr. Gregg Munshaw, University of Kentucky

CONCURRENT MORNING CLASSES — WORKSHOP 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Electrical Troubleshooting 101 Mr. Brian Burns, Keeling Company

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

“Take a Step Back and Think” Dr. Brandon Horvath, The University of Tennessee

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cutting-Edge Mower Setup Mr. Will Watson, Alotian Club

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TGCSA and TVSTMA Annual Meetings

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TRADESHOW WITH LUNCH Please support our vendors!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 0.30 GCSAA Continuing Education Credits available for attendance at all Wednesday sessions.

Pesticide points available for TN, KY, AL, MS, GA, SC, VA.

The TTA Social on the tradeshow floor will begin at 5 p.m.

BREAKOUT SESSION — GOLF TURF

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Cocktail Function

8:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

TTA Annual Business Meeting with Keynote Speaker,

KIPPY BROWN A native of Sweetwater, Tennessee, Kippy Brown is a former football player and coach who retired last year after serving four years as the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

Brown was a starter at Memphis State University at quarterback, and he graduated from MSU in 1977 with a degree in communications.

Coach Brown began his coaching career at his alma mater as running back coach for a year and then as wide receivers coach until 1980. From 1983–1989, he coached wide receivers at the University of Tennessee, where he coached four first-round picks during his tenure. His second stint at UT was in 1993– 1994, when he served as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. He most recently coached at UT in 2009–2010, when he served as interim head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Brown’s first NFL coaching position was with the New York Jets as running backs coach from 1990-92. He has also coached for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and Detroit Lions.

Fifty Shades of Green Moderator: Mr. Jason Sanderson, Cherokee Country Club Panelists: Mr. Kris Drake, Wind River G.C. Mr. Brad Erickson, Brentwood C.C. Dr. Grady Miller, NC State University Mr. Jim Thomas, CGCS, TPC Southwind

10:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Bunker Renovation Roundtable Moderator: Chris Sykes Panelists: Mr. Joe Kennedy, CGCS, Vanderbilt Legends Club Mr. Andrew McClintock, Tennessee National G.C. Mr. Will Misenhimer, The Honors Course

BREAKOUT SESSION — SPORTS TURF TN Pesticide Certification Credits — 3 pts. in C3, C10 and C12 for attendance.

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Sustainable Nutrient Management for Sports Turf Dr. Dan Strunk, The University of Tennessee

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Strategies for Improving Athletic Field Performance and Safety Mr. Kyley Dickson, The University of Tennessee

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Walking the Line: Sustainable Turf Management at the University of Memphis Mr. T.J. Brewer, CSFM, The University of Memphis

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Turf and Tourism at the City of Pigeon Forge Mr. Thomas Garner, City of Pigeon Forge

12:00 p.m.

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS Please have a safe trip home.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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51st Annual TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW

MEMBER REGISTRATION FORM PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS FORM WITH YOUR PAYMENT. Mail to the TTA office at 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069, or scan and email to Shelia Finney at smfinney319@gmail.com.

Please list the first and last names of the persons attending the 2017 Conference & Trade Show. Attach separate list if needed.

Please list all information as you would like it to appear in the 2017 TTA Directory.

1) ___________________________________

Name: ___________________________________________________

2) ___________________________________

Company Name: ___________________________________________ 3) ___________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________ 4) ___________________________________

City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________________

5) ___________________________________

Fax: _____________________________________________________

6) ___________________________________

Email: ___________________________________________________

7) ___________________________________

Twitter Handle: ____________________________________________

Primary Function TURF MANAGER Golf Course Parks & Recreation Sports Field Hotel/Resort

COMMERCIAL Hospital/Health Care School/University Cemetery Sod Producer Other____________

VENDOR

Commercial Lawn Care Retail Center Landscaping

Irrigation Contractor DOT Other_____________

Equipment Dealer Distributor Manufacturer Other_____________

Registration Options 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

TOTAL

Primary Member Registration.............$185.00 Price includes 2017 membership dues.

Associate Member Registration ..........$125.00 Registrants from the same facility are eligible for Associate Membership if the facility has two primary members.

Student Member Registration ...............$60.00 One-Day Pass (Limit 1) ........................$80.00 One-Day Student Pass (Limit 1) ...........$10.00 First-Time Attendee One-Day Pass .......FREE Endowment Fund Contribution Research Scholarship Extension

GRAND TOTAL

TTA Office Use Only:

16

Date ________________

Check No. ________________

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Cash ________________

51st Annual TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW

EXHIBITOR SERVICE ORDER FORM Opening and Closing

Insurance and Fire Protection

The tradeshow officially opens at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2017, and will close at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2017.

The Tennessee Turfgrass Association will exercise all reasonable care for the protection of exhibitor’s material and displays. An official of the trade show committee will be on duty in the exhibit area during set-up and breakdown periods. The exhibit area will be secured during non-exhibit hours.

Exhibit Set-up and Breakdown General booth set-up will be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2017. All exhibits must break down from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2017.

Liability

Booths There will be eighty (80) 10' x 8' booths available. Each will be piped and draped. Each will have a 6' skirted table, 2 chairs, waste-basket and one I.D. sign.

Contract for Space The application for space and the formal notice of assignment constitutes a contract for the right to use the space so allotted.

In the event of fire, strikes, or other uncontrollable circumstances, the contract will not be binding. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association reserves the right to cancel any contract with any exhibitor any time prior to or during the conference.

Use of Space

Churchill Boardroom Wynthrope Boardroom

All demonstrations, interviews, distributions of advertising material or other activities must be confined to the limits of the exhibit booths. No exhibitor shall assign, sublet or share the whole or part of the space allotted without the knowledge and approval of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Mirabella A Mirabella B Mirabella C Mirabella D

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

The exhibitor agrees to make no claim against the Tennessee Turfgrass Association nor its members or employees for loss, theft, damage or destruction of goods, nor any injury to himself/ herself, or employees prior, during or subsequent to the period covered by the exhibit contract, nor for any damage whatsoever, including the damage to his business by reason of failure to provide space for the exhibit, nor for failure to hold the Conference as scheduled. The exhibitor, upon signing the contract for exhibit space, expressly releases the foregoing named conference and individuals from any and all claims for such loss, damage or injury.

Cancellation In the event an exhibitor must cancel, and cannot exhibit, the following will apply.

A. If the reserved booth or island can be contracted, a 100% refund will be granted.

B. If the reserved booth or island can not be contracted, a 50% refund will be granted.

Cambridge A

Cambridge Broadlands Broadlands B A B

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

Please indicate preferences on Exhibit Space contract

68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

76 77 78 79 80

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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51st Annual TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW

CONTRACT FOR EXHIBIT SPACE BOOTHS

SIZE

UNIT PRICE

Booths (Max. limit of 4)

80 Sq. Ft.

$600

Additional Membership to TTA: 1 included with 10' x 8' booth rental.

$50

QUANTITY

TOTAL

GRAND TOTAL

Please make checks payable to: Tennessee Turfgrass Association • 400 Franklin Road • Franklin, TN 37069

FIRST CHOICE

SECOND CHOICE

THIRD CHOICE

Booth Preference All reservations are made on a first-paid, first-reserved basis only. Please note the cancellation policy as outlined on page 9 under “Exhibitor Rules & Regulations.” If electricity is required, please contact TTA at (615) 533-3925 for the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro form and further information.

Please print or type the following: Name: _______________________________________________ Member Name: _______________________________________ (Person responsible for the booth) (To be included in Directory) Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Firm: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ (As your ID sign should read) Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ City:_________________________________________________ State: ________ Zip: ___________________________________ Telephone: ____________________________________________ Fax: ________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ** ADDITIONAL NAMES FOR BADGES: ____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (** If more space is needed, please attach a complete list.) ** ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (** If more space is needed, please attach a complete list.)

Brief description of the products/services you sell or provide: ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

COVER STORY

ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Tennessee’s Turfgrass Industry:

By Burton C. English, Ph.D., Professor; Jamey Menard, Research Leader; Kim Jensen, Ph.D., Professor; and Chris Boyer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics; with Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series reporting from the publication, Tennessee’s Turfgrass Industry: Economic Contributions, Problematic Issues and Perceptions of Future Growth, published in June 2015.

urfgrass requires human action.

These actions result in expenditures by turfgrass producers, manufacturing and services, and by users for goods and services, land, labor, capital equipment and other materials. These expenditures enhance the local economy and the local tax base.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of the economic contributions of Tennessee’s turfgrass industry to the state’s economy. To obtain this information, an online survey of Tennessee’s turfgrass industry was conducted from September 15, 2014, to January 31, 2015.

The turfgrass industry employs a broad array of suppliers and users of turfgrass.

For this analysis:

T

• Turfgrass suppliers include: turfgrass manufacturing and service sectors such as lawn/turfgrass and 20

irrigation equipment and turfgrass fertilizer and chemical manufacturers, plus nursery, garden center, farm supply stores and landscape, lawn and sports-turf services sod producers and their input suppliers • Turfgrass users include: golf, residential builders/developers, homeowners, airports, apartments/ condominiums, cemeteries, churches, colleges/universities, elementary/ secondary schools, parks, gardens, museums, state highway roadsides, hotels/motels and other entities.

The previous issue of Tennessee Turfgrass detailed the economic contributions of sod production in Tennessee; this article covers contributions from certain other sectors of the turfgrass industry, including golf, lawn, landscape and sportsturf services.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS In 2013, Tennessee’s turfgrass industry had a total estimated economic contribution of $5.8 billion and created close to 67,000 full- and part-time jobs (includes industry expenditures plus wages).

Among industries normally associated with turfgrass (i.e., sod producers, golf and landscape, lawn and sports turf services), golf contributes the greatest percentage of the estimated economic contribution at 75.8%, followed by landscape, lawn and sports turf at 20.6% and sod production at 3.6%. Among all turfgrass industry participants, homeowners contribute the greatest percentage of the estimated economic contributions.

Most of the industry participants were optimistic about growth in receipts in the next five years, with lawn service projecting the highest growth rate at 12.2% annually, followed by landscapers at 4.4% and sod producers at 4.9%. Least optimistic were sports turf at 2.3% and golf courses at 0.7% annually.

COVER STORY TABLE 1

Average Golf Respondents’ Expenditures, 2013.

Respondents (N ) = 138.

Average Expense

Facilities (Club House, Pro Shop, Cart Storage, etc.)

Economic contributions Results of the study based on the expenditures (not including employee wages) of turfgrass respondents defined in this study show that the turfgrass industry contributes close to $5.6 billion to Tennessee’s economy and provides over 46,000 fulland part-time jobs. In addition, turfgrass respondents’ wages to employees who work on turfgrass contribute an additional $305.6 million and close to 21,000 fulland part-time jobs. Combined, the state’s turfgrass industry has an estimated economic contribution with multiplier effects of $5.8 billion and close to 67,000 full and part-time jobs. Labor income and total value added are estimated at $2.3 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively.

State and local taxes are estimated at $434.5 million.

Ownership/leasing expenses (i.e., mortgages, rent) (N=47)

$180,738

Facility maintenance & repair (not wages & salaries) (N=51)

$195,656

Facility remodeling, additions and/or construction (N=45)

$189,111

Water/sewer (does not include irrigation) (N=49)

$11,009

Electricity (N=50)

$41,863

Natural gas (N=43)

$5,540

Telephone & other communications (N=47)

$6,347

Insurance (N=37)

$30,419

Training (N=36)

$7,058

All other overhead expenditures (N=30)

$507,442

Non-Irrigation Equipment Expenses Maintenance/repair of structures housing turfgrass equipment (N=52)

$6,398

New/used turfgrass/sod equipment purchases (N=59)

$34,416

Turfgrass/sod equipment leases/rentals (N=54)

$57,993

Turfgrass/sod equipment maintenance/repair (N=61)

$31,908

Turfgrass/sod equipment supplies (blades, trim lines, etc.) (N=54)

$13,311

Fuel for turfgrass/sod machinery operations (N=59)

$30,124

Irrigation Expenses Irrigation water (N=48)

$5,424

Irrigation repairs (N=60)

$7,204

Irrigation maintenance (N=53)

$3,912

Course Maintenance Expenses Plant materials purchased for sod, seed, etc. (N=56)

$12,796

Other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants) (N=52)

$4,548

Chemicals (i.e., herbicide, fungicide, etc.) (N=62)

$49,737

Fertilizers (N=60)

$29,841

Golf A total of 138 responses for golf were obtained. Golf respondents’ average turf-related expenditures for 2013 totaled $1,604,910 (see Table 1). The largest average expenditure categories were for all other overhead expenditures; facility maintenance and repair (not wages and salaries); facility remodeling, additions and/or construction; ownership/leasing 22

Course Maintenance Expenses Soil, soil conditioners & mulch (i.e., lime, compost, etc.) (N=52)

$5,602

Installation/maintenance sub-contracts (N=42)

$7,457

All other course maintenance expenses (except wages) (N=49)

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

TOTAL

$129,056 $1,604,910

COVER STORY expenses (i.e., mortgages, rent); and all other course maintenance expenses (highlighted in darker gray). The lowest were for soil, soil conditioners and mulch (i.e., lime, compost, etc.); natural gas; irrigation water; other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants); and irrigation maintenance.

According to the 2012 Census Bureau’s Censtats County Business Patterns, there were 207 golf courses and country clubs in Tennessee. This value was used to estimate the direct economic contribution of golf turfgrass expenditures to the state, which totaled $332.2 million (2013$).

Since $64.3 million was not purchased within the state, the direct impact was estimated at $267.8 million.

This expenditure level was responsible for 4,309 direct jobs. The average numbers of full- and part-time employees indicated by the golf respondents were 9.2 (N=62) and 6.8 (N=60), respectively. The average annual payroll for full-time employees was $283,678 ($30,835/worker) (N=59) and $77,272 ($11,364/worker) (N=52) for those employees working part-time. Direct employee wages for the 207 golf courses and country clubs in the state totaled $74,716,650. This expenditure level was responsible for 3,312 direct jobs.

Combining non-labor expenditures and wages and salaries, the direct economic contributions of golf was $267.8 million, which was responsible for 7,621 direct jobs. The direct value added contribution was $251.0 million. The direct labor income earned was $188.1 million. The indirect contribution on the output of all the local supplies for golf was $65.1 million. The induced output contribution, the contribution of the wages being spent by workers producing the direct and indirect effect, plus wages and salaries of golf employees, was $165.5 million.

The estimated total golf economic contribution was $498.5 million. Total employment contribution was 9,321 jobs.

For value-added and labor income, the total estimated contributions were $386.6 million and $261.3 million, respectively.

Total golf turfgrass expenditures generated $21.6 million in state and local taxes.

24

TABLE 2

Average Lawn Services Respondents’ Expenditures, 2013.

Respondents (N) = 68.

Average Expense

Non-Irrigation Lawn Equipment Expenses Maintenance/repair of structures housing turfgrass equipment (N=22) New/used turfgrass equipment purchases (N=34)

$7,001 $21,480

Turfgrass equipment leases/rentals (N=21)

$1,365

Turfgrass equipment maintenance/repair (N=34)

$5,343

Turfgrass equipment supplies (blades, trim lines, etc.) (N=31)

$2,426

Fuel for turfgrass machinery operations (N=38)

$11,003

Lawn Service Irrigation Expenses Irrigation water (N=18)

$4,722

Irrigation repairs (N=24)

$6,651

Irrigation maintenance (N=24)

$4,825

Utility & Other Expenses Water/sewer (does not include irrigation) (N=18)

$511

Electricity (N=19)

$1,212

Natural gas (N=15)

$595

Insurance (N=29)

$10,224

Utility & Other Expenses Training (N=21)

$1,933

All other overhead expenditures (N=19)

$32,117

Lawn Service Maintenance Expenses Plant materials purchased for sod, seed, etc. (N=22)

$14,277

Other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants) (N=22)

$41,589

Chemicals (i.e., herbicide, fungicide, etc.) (N=26)

$16,275

Fertilizers (N=24)

$13,275

Soil, soil conditioners & mulch (i.e., lime, compost, etc.) (N=23)

$12,640

Installation/maintenance sub contracts (N=14)

$17,165

All other lawn maintenance expenses (except wages) (N=17)

$12,181

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

TOTAL

$238,810

TABLE 3

Average Landscape Services Respondents’ Expenditures, 2013.

Respondents (N) = 32.

Average Expense

Non-Irrigation Lawn/Turf Equipment Expenses Maintenance/repair of structures housing turfgrass equipment (N=16) New/used turfgrass equipment purchases (N=16)

Lawn For the 68 responses for lawn services received in the survey, the average lawn/turf expenditures for 2013 totaled $238,810 (Table 2). The largest average expenditure categories were for other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/ landscape plants), all other overhead expenditures, new/used turfgrass equipment purchases, installation/maintenance subcontracts, and chemicals (i.e., herbicide, fungicide, etc.) (highlighted in darker gray). The lowest were for training, turfgrass equipment leases/rentals, electricity, natural gas and water/sewer (does not include irrigation).

The average numbers of full- and parttime employees were 7.5 (N=30) and 4.4 (N=19), respectively. The average annual payroll for full-time employees was $218,986 ($29,198/worker) (N=24) and $41,821 ($9,504/worker) (N=14) for those employees working part-time.

$3,469 $10,252

Turfgrass equipment leases/rentals (N=14)

$4,407

Turfgrass equipment maintenance/repair (N=18)

$3,206

Turfgrass equipment supplies (blades, trim lines, etc.) (N=17)

$2,691

Fuel for turfgrass machinery operations (N=17)

$11,929

Lawn/Turf Irrigation Expenses Irrigation water (N=13)

$569

Irrigation repairs (N=16)

$2,144

Irrigation maintenance (N=17)

$2,882

Utility & Other Expenses Water/sewer (does not include irrigation) (N=14)

$354

Electricity (N=16)

$1,409

Natural gas (N=14)

$321

Insurance (N=16)

$12,276

Training (N=14)

$1,085

All other overhead expenditures (N=12)

$18,686

Lawn/Turf Maintenance Expenses

Landscape For the 32 responses for landscape services received in the survey, the average lawn/turf expenditures for 2013 totaled $190,018 (Table 3). The largest average

Plant materials purchased for sod, seed, etc. (N=14)

$29,509

Other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants) (N=11)

$52,760

Chemicals (i.e., herbicide, fungicide, etc.) (N=11)

$5,236

Fertilizers (N=14)

$7,323

Soil, soil conditioners & mulch (i.e., lime, compost, etc.) (N=12)

$7,433

Installation/maintenance sub-contracts (N=9)

$10,500

All other lawn maintenance expenses (except wages) (N=9)

$1,577 TOTAL

$190,018

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COVER STORY expenditure categories were for other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/ landscape plants); plant materials purchased for sod, seed, etc.; all other overhead expenditures; insurance; and fuel for turfgrass machinery operations (highlighted in darker gray). The lowest were for electricity, training, irrigation water, water/sewer (does not include irrigation) and natural gas.

The average numbers of full- and parttime employees for landscape respondents were 7.0 (N=16) and 3.6 (N=9), respectively. The average annual payroll for fulltime employees was $191,686 ($27,384/ worker) (N=14) and $35,489 ($9,858/ worker) (N=7) for those employees working part-time.

TABLE 4

Average Sport Turf Services Respondents’ Expenditures, 2013.

Respondents (N) = 37.

Average Expense

Non-Irrigation Sport Turf Equipment Expenses Maintenance/repair of structures housing turfgrass equipment (N=19)

$5,358

New/used turfgrass equipment purchases (N=22)

$18,086

Turfgrass equipment leases/rentals (N=17)

$37,841

Turfgrass equipment maintenance/repair (N=22)

$6,498

Turfgrass equipment supplies (blades, trim lines, etc.) (N=21)

$3,634

Fuel for turfgrass machinery operations (N=24)

$5,342

Sport Turf Irrigation Expenses Irrigation water (N=18)

$10,253

Irrigation repairs (N=22)

$1,668

Irrigation maintenance (N=20)

$1,858

Utility & Other Expenses Water/sewer (does not include irrigation) (N=14)

$4,930

Electricity (N=15)

$12,073

Natural gas (N=14)

$679

Insurance (N=13)

$16,000

Sports-turf services For the 37 responses for sports turf services received, the average turf expenditures for 2013 totaled $238,808 (Table 4).

The largest average expenditure categories were for turfgrass equipment leases/ rentals, all other overhead expenditures, installation/maintenance subcontracts, new/used turfgrass equipment purchases and fertilizers (highlighted in darker gray).

The lowest were for turfgrass equipment supplies (blades, trim lines, etc.), irrigation maintenance, other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants), irrigation repairs and natural gas.

The average numbers of full- and parttime sports turf employees were 4.5 (N=22) and 4.3 (N=19), respectively. The average annual payroll for full-time employees was $126,444 ($28,099/worker) (N=18) and $30,443 ($7,080/worker) (N=14) for those employees working part-time.

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Training (N=16)

$9,456

All other overhead expenditures (N=14)

$24,143

Sport Turf Maintenance Expenses Plant materials purchased for sod, seed, etc. (N=21)

$13,833

Other plant materials purchased (i.e., ornamental/landscape plants) (N=17)

$1,835

Chemicals (i.e., herbicide, fungicide, etc.) (N=21)

$7,555

Fertilizers (N=19)

$17,279

Sports Turf Maintenance Expenses Soil, soil conditioners & mulch (i.e., lime, compost, etc.) (N=19)

$7,489

Installation/maintenance sub-contracts (N=13)

$19,462

All other lawn maintenance expenses (except wages) (N=14)

$13,536

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TOTAL

$238,808

TURF TALK

A Handy Guide to

CHOOSING AND USING USING TURF COLORANTS

By Grady Miller, Ph.D., and Drew Pinnix, North Carolina State University

T

urf managers in the southern United States have traditionally overseeded warm-season bermudagrass during the fall in order to maintain playability and provide aesthetically pleasing playing surfaces throughout the period of dormancy.

The most significant negative attributes to overseeding are the agronomic and aesthetic challenges of transitioning the playing surface from a cool-season grass back to a warm-season grass the following spring, while experiencing temperatures that are prone to wide fluctuations.

Overseeding is not the only way to have green turf during the winter months of the year. In recent years, turf colorants have served as the standard for an alternative to overseeding warm-season grasses, and as a result, many new products have

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been introduced to the market. Their increase in popularity, particularly on golf courses and sports turf facilities, can be partly attributed to the spring transition from overseeded grasses to bermudagrass, which has become more problematic due to heat- and drought-resistant cool-season grass varieties. Conversely, prolonged cool springs have also allowed overseeded grasses to persist through May and June, causing delays in bermudagrass greenup.

The use of turf colorants allows for a much more predictable spring greenup and contributes to a healthier stand of bermudagrass going into the summer.

Our research In order to better understand how these new products visually perform and endure

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over time, numerous studies have been conducted at North Carolina State University. Our first detailed studies were applied to putting greens in fall 2008.

Subsequent trials have included evaluations on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass at an assortment of mowing heights.

In total, we have evaluated more than 30 products. These include products from manufacturers/distributors such as BASF, Burnett Athletics, D. Ervasti Sales, Enviroseal, Geoponics, Harrell’s, J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing, SiteOne, Milliken, Missouri Turf Colorant, Pioneer Athletics, Poulenger USA, Precision Laboratories, Solarfast, US Specialty Coatings and World Class Athletic Surfaces.

While all of our research has focused on evaluating turf colorants during the

CONTINUED

Golf Treated

Fairway

Athletic Field

Lawn

WHY WOULD COLORANTS BE USED? period of dormancy, colorants can be used in a number of other situations throughout the year. They can be a useful tool to hide unsightly blemishes in both cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. These blemishes include turfgrass areas that may be suffering from issues such as disease pressure or nutritional deficiencies. Other possible uses of turf colorants include painting of divot sand for golf courses and masking of painted lines on athletic fields.

Colorant considerations Before picking a product to use, you’ll need to consider several factors. Products have different chemistries, so some are more effective in some situations than others. While the resulting color — both at application and after it begins to weather

— may be of primary concern, both of these are heavily influenced by the level of turfgrass dormancy at the time of application. Also, the formulation of some products allows for better flow through some sprayers, in terms of both distribution and subsequent wear on sprayer components. Cost may also be an important consideration.

Type of product needed/desired Generally, products fall into two large categories: dyes versus colorants (or paints). In simple terms, the difference between these two groups is centered on the amount of binder added to the product.

Colorants (paints) have binder amounts that usually compromise between 10% and 40% of the concentrated product,

✔ Colorants are the current leading alternative to overseeding warmseason grasses. ✔ Cool, wet springs and drought-resistant cool-season grass varieties used for overseeding have made spring transitioning more difficult. ✔ Painting requires minimum turfgrass preparation and provides an attractive surface. ✔ Colorants are affordable, compared to overseeding. ✔ They can be used on cool-season grasses during drought or to reduce mottled appearances from winter or summer stress (to conceal turf blemishes). ✔ They increase surface temperature, which may aid in plant growth. ✔ They also include non-turf uses, such as making a green divot mix.

TURF TALK DEFINITIONS Paint — contains four basic components: solvent, pigment, binder and additives.

When applied to a substrate in a thin layer, it is converted to an opaque solid.

1. Solvent — consists of water in these types of products.

2. Pigment — the insoluble product that provides color. Multiple pigments may be combined to form desired color (e.g., yellow pigment added to blue pigment to form a green product).

3. Binder — the film-forming component of paint. It imparts adhesion, binds pigments together, etc. It is often a resin and classified as by its drying mechanism.

Color 3 days after colorant application onto ‘Miniverde’ Bermudagrass green.

whereas the dye-based products have much lower amounts. Dyes also usually have more concentrated contents. These two components have a significant influence on application and durability.

The dyes have lower viscosity when mixed for application and are applied at lower rates than colorants, but these products generally do not express the same color longevity compared to colorants. For this reason, dyes work much better when applied to “greener” turfgrass to enhance color for short durations. The colorants, on the other hand, can be applied to dormant turfgrass and still have acceptable, lasting color.

Terms used in the industry are sometimes different. For instance, dye-type products are often called “pigments.”

Technically, this is not a 100% accurate statement, since paints contain pigments (insoluble), whereas dyes are normally manufactured with soluble organic products. In reality, there are products along this formulation continuum that may partially fit in both categories.

Desired turfgrass color Remember the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” That certainly can ring true when evaluating these products 30

for green color.

As mentioned in the previous section, the two categories of products will normally have different colors. The low-binder products tend to be darker in color, which often is more towards a blue hue (especially when applied to dormant turf). The colorants have color variation that is more product specific. Since the application rates are so much higher for colorants, their coverage typically yields a color more indicative of their diluted liquid color.

Some colorants have pigments designed to darken them (e.g., black pigments), whereas some companies just try to provide a more natural green color.

Over the years that we have tested these products, in some years, a specific colorant provided color that lasted the full winter, but in some years, it did not. On average, the best colorants will have good color for about 75 days. Generally, a lowbinder product color will last 7 to 14 days.

In our research, we have not been able to predict color longevity from year-toyear. The climatic influences on product performance have been a significant factor in this unpredictability.

A common complaint heard is that some of the colorant-treated turf exhibits a bluish tint over time (some quicker than

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4. Additives — may consist of surfactants, thickeners, emulsifiers, etc., to enhance mixing, application, dispersion or adhesion properties.

others). While this may sound like a negative attribute, in one survey many people did not mind the bluish color.

Why blue? Well, a green color is often produced by mixing blue and yellow products. Yellow is generally not as stable under ambient conditions as the blue products, so as the products age, the blue tends to be the more dominant color.

In NCSU research, we also found that most of the darker, more bluish products held their color longer than the products that started out a more natural green color.

The more natural green products tend to fade to a grayish color as they age. Reapplication can provide improvements for off-colored colorants, but once a product shifts in color, reapplication may not result in a natural green color due to the base color. This is especially true for products that shift to a bluish color.

Application conditions There are two conditions that may have a dramatic influence on the resulting color after applying a colorant product. The first of those conditions is the turfgrass color at the time of application. A tan to brownish appearance of the turfgrass color is usually related to the level of turfgrass dormancy, but it may be the result of recent stress

Colorant — a general term related to a product applied to change color.

It may be a dye, pigment, paint, ink, etc.

Pigment — is a dry, insoluble substance that when mixed with water forms a suspension. In relation to how it is used to describe products, it is a highly concentrated product with no binder (or at least minimal binder) compared to traditional paint products. It usually only lasts one to two weeks under normal weather conditions (and depending on amount and type of resin).

Dye — is a liquid that contains soluble ingredients such that it forms a solution. It is normally used as a spray indicator.

(disease or drought) that has caused the turfgrass to be “off color.” Applied to semi-dormant turfgrass, the color will look better. For optimum results, do not wait until the turfgrass is straw brown.

The second application condition that has shown to be important is the presence of moisture (dew, irrigation or frost) on the turfgrass. This is especially the case if the turfgrass is dormant or nearly dormant.

As the turfgrass becomes more dormant, the leaf tissue becomes dryer, so adding supplemental water (irrigation) will increase leaf moisture and help protect the applied colorant from potential absorption into the leaf tissue, which can dramatically increase the colorant’s coverage and improve color. While this is usually accomplished with a quick syringe cycle from irrigation, some people have waited to apply the colorant after a light rainfall or even early in the morning with the presence of dew or after a light frost.

Be aware that too much irrigation (i.e., enough to result in puddling) can dilute the application and result in an undesirable appearance. It can also cause tracking.

Some superintendents are strong proponents of applying over frost-covered leaves. That practice, however, has the potential of producing tire-marks from

TURF TALK

Application of a short-term product before full color is lost in the fall.

driving on frosted leaves. Also, many of the colorants do not dry/adhere very well when applied at low temperatures.

Desired coverage Product coverage onto the turfgrass surface is largely a function of the dilution and application rate of the diluted product. The application rate can be heavily influenced by equipment and method of application.

Most manufacturers provide a range in application and dilution rates.

Dilution rates among the products that we have tested have varied from 1 part colorant to 4 parts water to as dilute as 1 part colorant to 20 parts water. The second part of that coverage equation is how much water plus product will be applied. The product label may provide some guidance, based on level of turf dormancy and height of cut.

General recommendations for colorants are around 40 gallons per acre (GPA) on the low end to 250 GPA on the high end.

We generally had our best results at 80 to 120 GPA, using flat-fan nozzles from a multi-nozzle boom sprayer. Be sure to calibrate your sprayer. Do not rely on a rate controller.

32

To get the higher volumes (>150 GPA), it is helpful to apply the product at half rate in two directions to get the total rate.

Some turf managers use air-induction nozzles, and some have had great success using Dual-fan nozzles. Ultimately, applicators may need to test their sprayers to find out what works best in their situation.

To get the higher volumes, turf managers are typically using single-wand applications.

While a hand wand may be a slow way to apply these over an area, well-practiced painters can have excellent results on areas the size of golf greens or tees. A walking boom (often called a Spray Hawk) may be somewhere in the middle in terms of convenience/application rate of a single wand and a traditional sprayer.

We have found it helpful to use a wand after using a boom sprayer. The wand can be used to fill in the unpainted triangles left over from painting rectangles within a circle with the boom applicator.

How to apply The painting process can be boiled down to picking and purchasing a colorant, adding water plus colorant to your sprayer and beginning to spray. If the color is not ap-

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plied evenly or dark enough, additional passes (ideally perpendicular) can be made to accommodate aesthetic desires.

There is some cleanup required after application, but no season-long care like with an overseeded turf.

Remember to be very careful to not get this product on anything you do not want to be green. Fences, tee markers, yardage markers, benches, etc., will absorb the colorant and may be permanently stained. These products are not labeled as pesticides, but you should still use good judgment and wear personal-protection equipment when using pressurized sprayers.

There are a few other potential drawbacks to using a colorant. It does not provide a wearable surface like an overseeded grass. Once the dormant tissue is worn or torn away, there is no regeneration until spring. So, the “wear factor� must be considered if you get a lot of winter traffic.

Also, divot sand in fairways or on tees may stand out more, although most of these products can also be used to color sand.

Cost In order for any new practice to be ac-

Exclusion square showing untreated turfgrass surface.

THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION • Pick the product to use.

• Calculate the quantity needed, based on dilution rate and area of application.

• Set up and calibrate the sprayer.

• Apply.

• Re-application later in the season may be necessary.

cepted, it must make sense financially.

Depending on the brand, a gallon of turf colorant will run from $30 to $75, with most distributors giving volume discounts. This is particularly important if a golf course superintendent wants to apply a product to fairways or if a sports turf manager has a number of athletic fields that need to be treated.

Almost all the products are sold as concentrates that must be further diluted prior to application. The cost of colorant needed per acre using the higher recommended application rates ranges from $200 to $500 an application, depending on colorant brand.

With seed prices a bit higher the last few years, using one of these products could save a turf manager a considerable amount of money when compared to overseeding. Considering that overseeding will require ground preparation, seeding, watering, fertilizing, mowing, pest control, spring transitioning, etc., colorants may also be a significant labor-saving alternative. Although potential monetary savings are a major advantage, the ability to better manage the warm-season grass

TURF TALK the following spring is what keeps turf managers interested in this practice.

Short-term versus long-term versus hybrid applications

Late season “bluish color” from using a short-term product after full dormancy.

The tee in the background was treated with a colorant for a more natural green color (during dormancy).

In some instances, there are advantages to using short-term products over longterm colorants or visa-versa. For example, in areas with extended turfgrass dormancy, the short-term products generally do not provide a green color that looks very natural on dormant turfgrass, nor does the color last very long. Due to the long turf dormancy, the products are not removed by mowing. If turf growth occurs during extended warm spells, mowing may remove the colorant with the clippings.

In these cases, the short-term products may give a more effective strategy since they can enhance the green color at a lower cost per application.

In other instances, a hybrid application of both types of products has been advantageous. When bermudagrass just begins to turn off color, an application of a shortterm product is an inexpensive way to improve color and also serve as a heat sink to promote sustained growth. Some turf managers have labeled this as “tinting” the turfgrass. With periods of fluctuating temperatures (but before a hard frost), subsequent applications may be necessary.

Once a hard frost occurs, the quality of color from a short-term product will not match the lasting color from a colorant.

Then, a turf manager may decide to use this technique in reverse in the spring if the turf begins to grow but does not have a rich green color from active growth.

Commonly Used Short-Term Products [often called pigments] (Manufacturer) Endurant TE (Geoponics) Envy (Precision Laboratories) Evergreen (Milliken) Foursome (Quali-Pro) GreenPig (Grigg Brothers) Optimizer Green Shade (United Turf Alliance) Par (Harrell’s) Sarge (Numerator Technologies) Transition HC (BASF) Vision Pro HD (BASF)

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PPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Make the Most of Your

Minutes: 12 Quick Tips to Help Stressed-Out Professionals Better Manage Their Time

By Jackie B J ki Gaines, G i Lecturer L andd Author A h any working professional what he or she could use more of, and you’ll probably keep getting the same answer — time. In the frantic pace of the digital age, time is something everyone seems to be short on now. (It’s almost laughable that we once thought technology would help create more leisure time!) But if workers could figure out how to make the most of their waking moments, they could be far more productive and happy regardless of their time constraints.

Success at work and in life often comes down to one thing: developing better time management skills. Our minutes have become hot since time is so scarce these days, and we toss them away without a second thought. The truth is, we will always have obligations, deadlines and responsibilities, but if you learn how to handle your hot minutes, you can work with the clock instead of against it.

Here are some no-fail tips to help you make the most of your time (no matter how little you have!) and achieve a healthier and happier work-life balance.

Ask

Prioritize sleep so you can function when you’re awake.

If you do nothing else, prioritize your sleep needs. You will be more productive and feel more ambitious when you get the rest your body requires.

Schedule sleep like any other daily activity on your to-do list. Pencil in a stopping point in your day, and stick to it without fail. Then wind down with a book or another relaxing bedtime ritual to help you drift off to sleep.

munication. Whenever possible, talk in person in order to get your message across clearly.

Learn to say no, and mean it.

It’s okay to turn down invitations, cancel plans or disconnect from the outside world every now and then. Saying no is a skill that will benefit you throughout life, so allow yourself to politely start bowing out of unnecessary commitments right now.

Set achievable goals each day.

Don’t stay on your email all day.

Constantly checking your inbox is distracting and slows you down. Designate a few times in your workday to check email so that you remain in control of your schedule and aren’t being reactive to new messages as they appear.

Even the most thoughtfully constructed todo list will be useless if it is too ambitious.

What’s the point of writing down unachievable tasks? We’re not superheroes and shouldn’t try to be. Make your daily goals small enough that you can actually get them done. Remember that you can always do more if you have the time.

Choose human connection over technology.

Give multitasking the ax.

Though technology has improved our lives, it comes with its own set of problems.

Emails and texts are convenient, but they create room for confusion and miscom-

Multitasking is ineffective and counterproductive. People work best when they give focused attention to the task at hand.

So, aim to work on only one project at a

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT time, and give yourself permission to forget about other priorities until you are done.

Listen up!

Active listening consists of being present and engaged when communicating with another person, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s very common to forget to listen after you speak your thoughts in a conversation, and you often lose important info as a result. When you are talking with a coworker, manager or anyone else, be sure that you turn off that pesky inner monologue, and focus when it is the other person’s turn to speak.

Stop shuffling papers.

Most of us waste a lot of time shuffling papers from one pile to another. Chances are that your desk is full of paper you don’t know what to do with. Stop this maddening cycle by touching each sheet of paper just once and figure out the appropriate action. Either put it in a to-do pile so you

can deal with it immediately, a file (for documents you must keep) or the trash.

This keeps the papers moving and keeps you sane!

Step away from the internet.

Surfing the web is a huge time waster for most people. An innocent little break often turns into an hour (or more) of wasted time that you can’t get back — especially when you should be working or headed to bed to get some rest. Shut off access to the internet at a certain time each day to avoid getting lost in cyberspace. Also, implement breaks from recreational internet use — about a month — to focus on other aspects of your life that may need attention.

Have some fun along the way.

It’s important to remember that stressedout people aren’t all that productive. You have to relax and schedule “recharge time” into your life to avoid burnout — especially if you have an intense work

environment. Be sure to build in time for fun on the weekends and on some evenings, but try to make work fun, too.

If appropriate at your office, find ways to infuse a little lighthearted play into your workday.

Stop owning other people’s stuff.

How often do you hear yourself saying, “Never mind. I’ll do it myself.”? Probably more often than you’d like, and this habit takes up your precious minutes in no time.

The solution is to hold others accountable for their responsibilities. This includes your children, your spouse and your colleagues. Let “never mind...” be the exception instead of the rule.

Let go and delegate.

Learn to know when to let someone else handle a task. It can be hard to relinquish control, but it is also necessary to delegate, especially if you’re in a leadership position.

Remember that delegating is not admitting you can’t handle your responsibilities — not at all. Rather, it’s about maximizing the potential of your entire workforce.

Summary Remember that you have two choices when trying to manage your time. You can either let your priorities and obligations run your life, or you can take charge of your minutes and let them work for you to achieve your goals in a timely manner.

While you won’t ever succeed long-term by racing the clock, you can drop your bad habits, improve ineffective practices and kick stress to the curb so that your whole life improves.

About the Author Jackie Gaines is a high-performing senior executive with a progressive career encompassing more than 38 years of sustained leadership and accomplishments. She lectures all over the country and has received numerous awards along the way.

She has written four books: Wait a Hot Minute! How to Manage Your Life with the Minutes You Have, Believing You Can Fly, The Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership and Destination Infinity: Reflections and Career Lessons from a Road Warrior.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

THE TURFGRASS TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Scott Boyle Communications Coordinator The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-6730 • sboyle1@utk.edu

Wes Totten, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turf and Landscape Management The University of Tennessee at Martin 256 Brehm Hall • Martin, TN 38238 (731) 881-7936 • wtotten@utm.edu

Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 • awindham@utk.edu

Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive • 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 • gbreeden@utk.edu James Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 • jbrosnan@utk.edu Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive • Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 • fahale@utk.edu Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

2431 Joe Johnson Drive • Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 • bhorvath@utk.edu Johnny Parham Research Technician The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7324 • jparham2@utk.edu Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 • tsamples@utk.edu John Sorochan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 • sorochan@utk.edu John Stier, Ph.D., M.S. Assistant Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle • 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 • jstier1@utk.edu Adam Thoms Senior Research Leader The University of Tennessee 605 Airways Blvd. • Jackson, TN 38301 (731) 425-4705

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

39

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) 465-6339 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 ___________________________________________

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Address ____________________________________________________________

P.O. Box ___________________________

City ______________________________________________

State __________

Zip ________________________________

Telephone (_____) __________________________________

Fax (_____) ___________________________________________

Email Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional individuals from same facility requesting membership: Name _____________________________________________

Title _________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________________

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Title _________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________________

Title _________________________________________________

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Title _________________________________________________

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Title _________________________________________________

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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

40

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

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

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 ©2016 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly.

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.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

41

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS February 4–9

January 9–11, 2017 51th Annual TTA Conference & Tradeshow Embassy Suites Hotel Murfreesboro, TN

January 16–20 Green & Growin’ Show (NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel and Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC

January 24–27 STMA Conference and Exhibition Orlando, FL

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Golf Industry Show Orange Co. Convention Ctr. Orlando, FL

February 20–23 TPI International Education Conference & Field Day (Turfgrass Producers Intl.)

Saddlebrook Resort Tampa, Florida

July 19–22 TPI Summer Program (In conjunction with the 2017 International Turfgrass Research Conference) The Heldrich New Brunswick, NJ

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Better Billy Bunker ............................................... 41 www.billybunker.com Buy Sod ................................................................ 23 www.buysod.com BWI Companies ................................................... 36 www.bwicompanies.com Carolina Green Corp............................................. 41 www.cgcfields.com Coosa Valley Turf Farms ...................................... 41 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com Covermaster, Inc. ................................................. 15 www.covermaster.com Ewing Irrigation .................................................... 27 www.ewing1.com GrassMasters Sod Farm ...................................... 35 www.grassmastersindiana.com Helena Chemical Company .................................... 8 www.helenachemical.com Jackson Sand ......................................................... 8 www.jacksonsand.com KWMI / K & W Products, Inc. ............................. 11 www.KWMIequipment.com Lebanon Turf .......................................... Back Cover www.lebturf.com McCurdy Sod Farms ............................................. 41 www.mccurdysodfarms.com Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. ........................................ 15, 41 www.midtennturf.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL, Inc............... Inside Back Cover www.stihldealers.com Modern Turf, Inc. ................................................. 42 www.modernturf.com NewLife Turf, Inc. ................................................ 35 www.newlifeturf.com Perdue AgriRecycle, LLC ........................................ 9 www.perdueagrirecycle.com Pure Green Sports Turf ........................................ 31 www.puregreenllc.com RD Murphy, LLC ................................................... 33 www.rdmurphy.com Regal Chemical .................................................... 19 www.regalchem.com Sigma Organics, Inc. ............................................ 15 www.SigmaTurf.com SiteOne Landscape Supply .................................. 38 www.siteone.com Smith Seed Services ............................................ 41 www.smithseed.com Smith Turf & Irrigation ........................................... 7 www.smithturf.com Southeast Turf Maintenance ............................... 10 www.southeastturf.com Southern Athletic Fields ........................................ 3 www.safdirt.com Southern State Turf ............................................. 41 www.ssturf.net Sur-Line Turf, Inc.................................................. 39 www.surlineturf.com Syngenta Turf ....................................................... 36 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com The Turfgrass Group ........................................ 5, 21 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Tri-Turf Sod Farms ............................................... 34 www.triturfsod.com Turf Mountain Sod ............................................... 10 www.turfmountain.com Turf Pride, LLC ...................................................... 33 www.turfprideusa.com Turfgrass of Tennessee ....................................... 31 Winstead Turf Farms ..................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com