Virginia Turfgrass Journal - March / April 2016

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

March/April 2016

Virginia Turfgrass Council / P.O. Box 5989 / Virginia Beach, VA 23471 / ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Establishing Seeded

Bermudagrass Sports Fields

without Irrigation

Q&A on Potassium Nutrition in Golf Turf Management Plus,

Highlights from the Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Turf Expo!

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | March/April 2016

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14 Cover Story

Departments

8 Director’s Corner

Establishing Seeded

Bermudagrass Sports Fields without Irrigation

18 Feature Story

Q&A on Potassium Nutrition in Golf Turf Management

20 Recent Event

M-A-T-E’s First Annual Corn Hole Contest

23 Recent Event

Highlights from the Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (M-A-T-E) January 25–28

6 President’s Message from Rick Owens

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 Editor’s Perspective

Mark Vaughn, CGCS

12 VTF Report

from Betty Parker

26 News from VTC

– VT Campus Research Field Days – Meet Your New Leaders

29 Index of Advertisers 30 Turfgrass Calendar

Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) 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, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright ©2016 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. 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 37068-0142, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)

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Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editor Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934 Vice President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 Treasurer Michael Skelton Culpeper County (540) 727-3412 Past President Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8252 VTC DIRECTORS Steve Glass Tony Montgomery Marc Petrus Jesse Pritchard Michael Skelton Rick Viancour, CGCS Jimmy Viars, CGM Craig Zeigler ­ VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Executive Director/ Director of PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 Virginia Turfgrass Foundation Betty Parker (757) 574-9061

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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President’s Message

Success

Despite a Snowstorm

The

inaugural 2016 Mid-Atlantic Turf Expo was a rousing success despite being held on the heels of a major snowstorm. Nearly six hundred attendees enjoyed an excellent education program that stretched over three days. The fourth day of the program was dedicated to pesticide recertification. The tradeshow offered ten plus hours of time for vendors to display products and network with customers.

That the first Mid-Atlantic Turf Expo was a success despite challenging weather was due to the dedicated work of our Virginia Turfgrass Council Executive Director Dr. Tom Tracy and the Maryland Turfgrass Executive Director Vernon Cooper. Many thanks also to Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech and Dr. Tom Turner of the University of Maryland who assembled an excellent education program. Success was also made possible by numerous hours of work by board and committee members from both sides of the Potomac River.

As I take over the VTC president’s responsibilities, I would like to thank Mr. Fred Biggers for his excellent leadership over the past two years. Fred has been a great leader at a time of dramatic change in our organization.

A new president should have goals he wants to accomplish during his tenure, and I have several. The Virginia Turfgrass Council is an umbrella group for the entire turfgrass industry in the state of Virginia.

Because of this we seek to expand the number of people involved in our decision making by supplementing our board with strong committees made up with people from all walks of the turf industry. The standing committees are: Program, Education, Legislative, Membership, Tradeshow and Nominations. If anyone has a desire to serve on any of these

Rick Owens 2016-2017 President

committees please contact the appropriate committee chairman and let him know of your interest.

A related goal is to more effectively coordinate with our allied associations. We invite all our allied associations to share information on their upcoming events, and we will do our best to list them in this journal as well as promote them in other ways the best we can. We also pledge to involve as many organizations as possible in our scheduling process. Communicating our respective schedules effectively as far in advance as possible will go a long way in ensuring that we complement the efforts of the various groups within our umbrella rather than compete with them.

Our next big VTC events will be the Virginia Tech Turf and Field Days to be held in Virginia Beach on June 21 and in Blacksburg on July 19-20. Be sure and plan on attending. The Virginia Tech turfgrass research staff will be on hand to show their most recent turf research. This is a great opportunity to catch up on the latest research methods and products available to us as turfgrass managers.

Rick Owens 2016–2017 VTC President

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Director’s Corner

Keep Up the

Good Work!

You,

members of the turfgrass industry, are working hard. Hours are long, and kudos from persons outside the industry are few. But rest assured, the good work you do is getting noticed. Here is just one example.

Environment Virginia is a large conference held in Lexington, Virginia, on the VMI Campus. It is a huge event and attended by politicians (the Governor gave the opening address), environmental activists (the VTC’s booth was next to the Sierra Club’s – we had some interesting conversations),

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

regulatory agencies and many environmental engineering firms.

With only one exception, persons I spoke with were very, very favorable about the work being done by our members at golf courses, sports fields, sod farms, universities, public and private schools, parks and commercial and residential properties.

One non-profit association even removed a major portion of its display on the second day of the three day conference. Why did they remove it? The main message was “Replace Turf!”

We must continue to properly maintain turfgrass, and we must continue to ensure we have the proper certifications and licenses.

Doing the right thing is good for all of us.

Thank you. And keep up the good work. c

Important Changes Coming The federal government is in the midst of adopting regulations that will affect all persons seeking pesticide recertification. Details are pending but early examination reveals several items of interest and include an increase in the training hours required. Implementation of these changes is likely years away.

We will keep you posted.

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Cover Story continued

Editor’s Perspective

Laugh a Little

Every Day! You can never go home again. I’m going to leave you to argue with Thomas Wolfe about that one, but this issue I’d like to take you back to a column I wrote several years ago. Maybe you’re like me and can’t remember what happened last week, so it will all be new to you anyway. On the positive side, you can buy a movie and watch it now and six months from now, and it’s just as exciting the second time.

It seems as though there has been an epidemic of serious illnesses in my world over the last several months. Several good friends are fighting cancer, and two contracted the supposedly rare condition of ALS. Doesn’t diminish what we do, but it sure takes the hand of perspective and slaps you right across the face with it. So, from 2011, I give you: From 2005 until 2012 National Public Radio broadcast the series “This I Believe.” It was based on a radio show first started by famed CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow in the early 1950s in which people were given a few minutes to articulate one of their core beliefs about life and living. Check out the archives at NPR.org. I highly recommend it. So what do I believe? I believe in whoopee cushions. In rubber snakes, in I Love Lucy, in Dave Chappelle, in Comedy Central. Sorry Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, et. al, but this I firmly believe: Laughter is The Best Medicine. Better than ANY pill you can buy. And that’s coming from a guy who takes more than his share of meds every day.

I’m a radio junkie. When I’m in the car, it is on.

Even though I’m a morning person and love my rock and roll, I’m usually not ready for Led Zeppelin at 6:00 a.m., so invariably the dial drifts over to NPR. Most mornings, it is okay. On some days, however, especially those days when there is no human interest story, it becomes a steady drumbeat of the world is going-to-hellin-a-hand-basket news. When I can’t take it anymore, I flip the dial literally and politically over to the right for the mindless redneck humor of John Boy and Billy.

Sometimes it’s stupid, but many days the boys have gotten me out of my funk just before I make the hard left turn through the golf course gate.

The former minister at the church I attend was a great person and friend. Conscientious about his work

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Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

to be sure, but not afraid to share a good joke or a funny story. So what do you think his great theological advice was to me? He said don’t take this world or yourself TOO seriously. The last time he was in town, he was driving an old Mazda Miata with the personalized tag “Old Fool.”

Almost every Friday, a group of us gather for lunch at a local Mexican eatery. By the time the chips and salsa hit the table, laughter has made several laps around the table. It continues until it’s time to walk out the door. Many times, it is the fuel that fills an empty tank. I have never left a Friday lunch feeling worse than when I came.

When Jim Valvano was only weeks away from death, he gave a speech at the ESPY’s which many of you are familiar with. When you listen to that speech, in the back of your mind it is firmly implanted that this was a man DYING from a hideous disease and he KNEW it.

If you watch the video, you can tell that even as he gave the speech, he was in a lot of pain. So here was a man, whose time was short, taking stock of life and trying to leave something to the living. In that respect, I think he saw himself as fortunate. Here’s my shot, he thought, to break life down to what is really important. What did he say? Well, he said a lot of things. The most quoted lines from that speech are “Don’t give up! Don’t ever, ever, give up!” But I like what he said earlier in his speech. He said you should do three things every day.

You should laugh, spend some time in thought and have your emotions moved to tears from happiness or joy. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this man dying from cancer put laughter at the front of the list.

One of the best memories I have of my sister when she was going through the hell of chemotherapy for the cancer that was eating her from the inside out was sitting on the sofa beside each other, looking like a couple of coneheads, rubbing each other’s head and laughing because she finally had less hair than I did.

Not a pleasant circumstance for a female to be sure, but I saw the twinkle in my little sister’s eyes that belied all the pain she was going through. There were many days I’m sure when laughter was not present, but I’m convinced it gave her more time and inspired others to say at her funeral “she was sick but she was never dying.”

Please do not mistake me for being flippant or having a devil-may-care attitude about life. There are plenty of times (like the one I just mentioned) when there is nothing funny about the situation, and life just plain stinks. BUT, I have found when the life starts seeping out of me, laughter has been replaced with stress, arguments and way too much seriousness.

We all have people in our lives that seem to have something funny to say almost every time we are around them. We subconsciously believe that these folk must come by this naturally, as some sort of gift from God. I suspect, however, that they face the same demons — anger, bitterness, depression, jealousy, envy, negativity, worry ­— that we all do. They just choose not to succumb to it.

So, where do you share laughter with friends? I hope you have many places that pop into your mind.

And (shameless industry plug) I hope one of those is at any gathering of fellow turfies in 2016. c

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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VTF Report

Research

Abounds in 2016

On

Betty B. Parker VTF Manager

January 29, 2016, the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation met for its annual research review. As our primary mission, we strive to support quality, innovative turfgrass research in the state of Virginia. We collaborate with the outstanding team of turfgrass researchers at Virginia Tech as well as you, the members of our turfgrass industry. We favor projects that your professional organizations prefer. We reject those that are less strategic in moving toward solutions of common problems. Below is the nearly $80,000 in research that the VTF endorsed.

Year two of two: This project is being supported by the Virginia Sod Growers who donated a very generous $5,000 this year for research specifically related to the sod industry.

2016 RESEARCH AWARDS

The Hampton Roads AREC station in Virginia Beach provides a unique opportunity to run turfgrass trials that accommodate the coastal areas of Virginia. We are truly grateful for the outstanding work that is done here.

1. Title: Rapid Estimation of Water, Nutrient and Pesticide Needs Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Reduced Inputs. This is a very large project that has far-reaching implications in the environmentally responsible management of turfgrass. We look to this topic to be on the cutting edge of innovative research.

This joint project will be spearheaded by Dave McCall but will also include Drs. Ervin, Goatley, and potentially Askew, Derr and/or Kuhar. Dr. McCall will use this research as a springboard to submit a larger federal grant for reduced inputs. They will also submit a matching funds proposal to the Environmental Institute for Golf this fall.

2. Title: Comparisons of Exceptional Quality (EQ) Biosolids and Inorganic Fertilizer on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics and Turfgrass Production and Quality INVESTIGATORS: Gregory Evanylo and Erik Ervin DURATION: one year 3. Title: The Heating Characteristics of Tall Fescue/ Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermudagrass Sods As Affected by Harvest Season, Daily Time of Harvest, Turf Mowing Height and Soil Moisture at Harvest INVESTIGATORS: Mike Goatley and Whitnee Askew, CSES Department, Virginia Tech; Jeff Everhart and Scott Woodward, Woodward Turf Farms, Remington, VA 12 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal March/April 2016 www.vaturf.org

4. Title: Selective Control of Perennial Grassy Weeds in Tall Fescue, Seashore Paspalum and Bermudagrass

Jeffrey Derr and Adam Nichols Year one of two: $15,546 Year two of two: $15,983 Total: $31,529

5. Industry-Wide Turf Survey Initiated by: Mike Goatley, Gil Grattan and Bobby Grisso

Year one of two: $20,000

Year two of two: $20,000

Total: $40,000 Should enough interest and support be forthcoming to warrant this survey, the VTF has committed to giving $20,000 for two years to accomplish this valuable tool.

6. A Durable High-Quality Pocket Guide to Insects and Related Organisms of Virginia Turfgrass Principal Investigators: Tom Kuhar, Curt Laub, Sudan Gyawaly and Mike Goatley Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech Date of Proposal: January 20, 2016 Date of Study Initiation: July 01, 2016 Estimated Duration: 1 year: $5,000 Should any of you have problems with turfgrass maintenance that need addressing, please contact one of our fine researchers or contact the VTF (Betty Parker: 757-574-9061) and let us know what type of research you would like to see done. c

Cover Story

Establishing Seeded

Bermudagrass Sports Fields

without Irrigation

By Mike Skelton, Parks Superintendent, Culpeper County Parks and Recreation

The

constant, number-one challenge faced by managers of youth sports complexes is maintaining a sufficient number of fields for the tremendous number of both games and practices played every season. A general rule of thumb is that for every scheduled game event, there are at least two practice events. For 200 scheduled youth soccer games, there are almost 400 practice events, for a total of 600 events.

The demand for sports fields is unrelenting. In an environment of fiscal restraint, the possibility of purchasing more park space and constructing new fields is not realistic for most of us. One very simple and inexpensive answer is to maximize the space available by capturing, for instance, small common-ground areas for practice fields.

At the Culpeper County (VA) Sports Complex, there were several fairly level, unirrigated common-ground areas of

approximately .75 acres in size. The sites were not fit for play because they were full of weeds and clumpy, coolseason turf. Is there an inexpensive way to transform these small weedy, unirrigated common areas into quality practice fields at a relatively low cost? The surprising answer is yes — by way of dormant seeding and manipulating Mother Nature!

Dormant seeding

The key to our success in establishing bermudagrass fields without irrigation and to manipulate Mother Nature is to use growth blankets (light-colored blankets that allow a great deal of light penetration) in conjunction with dormant seeding. Under normal circumstances, the time to plant bermudagrass seed is when the soil temperature reaches 68°F. In central Virginia, this normally means seeding in late May to early June. However, summers are typically hot and dry, and the chance of establishment success in non-

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field grade is in need of adjustment, then a full plow grind and grade may be required. This is also a good time to get your soil tested and adjust your pH, phosphorus and potassium needs as recommended. Hold off on any nitrogen fertilization for now, waiting instead until the grow-in phase next spring.

Step 2. Plant the seed (based on frost dates).

Five to six weeks before the last average frost date for your area, plant the bermudagrass seed. Riviera bermudagrass is one of the top seeded varieties in our area and is planted at a seed rate of 1.0 to 1.5 lbs. per 1,000 sf2 (0.5 to 0.75 lbs. pure live seed). It is critical then to apply quinclorac at a rate of 1lb. per acre right over the top of the seed. This is a must to control crabgrass and some broadleaf weeds that will also be enhanced by the growth blanket. If possible, follow the quinclorac treatment with 1/4" of compost applied directly over the seed. This will further hold moisture, as well as heat and stimulate young seedlings. Finally, install growth blankets.

Step 3. Over the next few weeks, monitor the area.

Check after high winds for blanket security. Take a peek under the blankets to see what is happening; this is the fun part when you see that first bermudagrass seed germination.

Also look for weeds and disease, along with the formation of algae mats, during high moisture times. If you see algae starting to appear, get air under the blanket using a backpack blower (it works).

There will be weeds that are not controlled by quinclorac that grow faster and taller than the bermudagrass. If this happens you will have to temporarily remove the blankets, mow the weeds and then reinstall the blankets back after mowing is completed.

Step 4. Remove the blankets.

Our new bermudagrass practice field (12 June 2015), after dormant grow-in with growth blankets but no irrigation.

irrigated turf is quite small. Dormant seeding of bermudagrass without growth blankets has also been shown to work in research at the University of Arkansas.

We felt this strategy could fit our needs as well, but we wanted even more assurances of success. So what to do? After a lot of research and brainstorming, the solution was to use growth blankets as our means of ensuring appropriate temperatures and moisture for dormant seeding establishment.

Step 1. Use fall and winter to prep the area.

In late October/early November, spray out the vegetation with glyphosate and 2-4D (two applications), and then mow the area as low as the mower will go.

Next, prepare the soil. In areas that are relatively level, use a tow-behind aerator, and aerate in multiple directions.

It’s not a plowed field, but close to it in that the objective is to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. In situations where the

The blankets should come off two weeks after the last anticipated frost date. For Culpeper County, this is the first week in May. It’s important to wait until after the last frost date because the seedlings are very young and vulnerable to frost damage due to the environment under the blanket.

Step 5. Maintain the grow-in phase.

Frequent mowing is critical because it stimulates lateral bermudagrass growth. Immediately begin mowing twice a week at a 1" height of cut. This is also when you should start your nutrient-management program according to soil testing, applying fertilizer as needed. Survey the area to identify weeds, and implement an integrated pest-management program. In Culpeper, the biggest weed issues have always been crabgrass, goosegrass, nutsedge and a few broadleaf weeds in that order.

A good rule of thumb is to wait three to four days after the blanket removal to allow the turf to harden off before you make any pesticide applications. For yellow nutsedge and broadleaf weeds, we have successfully used trifloxysulfuron as a postemergence herbicide with desirable safety on young bermudagrass. For crabgrass, you can do a split application of quinclorac at 1/2 rate (1/2 lb. per acre), 10 to 14 days apart. There is currently no product for Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 15

Cover Story post-emergence goosegrass control in bermudagrass, so unfortunately, you will have to walk the area and remove goosegrass by hand. The good news is that next spring, you can start a pre-emergence program that will take care of both crabgrass and goosegrass.

Step 6. Finalize when the fields are ready for use.

Prep your field in October/November to provide good seed-to-soil contact.

We tried this in 2014, and the summer was one of driest in Culpeper County; activity on the fields could have begun by mid-July but was held until the first week in August. This allowed time for stolon and rhizome development and enough growth to protect the turf crowns from user damage.

The fields were ready for the both fall youth football and soccer practices.

An alternative method

If funding is truly limited the following process will work, but with one difference — you will achieve only about 75% bermudagrass coverage the first year. Soil preparation is that you make one application of glyphosate in the late fall to early winter and then mow the area at the mower’s lowest setting. Five to six weeks before the last frost date, seed right into the low-mowed area with a seeder that has some soil disruption, and install blankets. Then, follow the above instructions starting at Step 3.

With no application of quinclorac, anticipate that weeds will be a big issue. Blankets will have to be pulled back to mow the weeds. Elevation of the blankets will be a sure sign of weed growth. Next year, with pre-emergent use, 100% bermudagrass coverage will be achieved.

Important test information

Five to six weeks (25 March 2015) before the last average frost date for your area, plant the bermudagrass seed.

To control crabgrass and broadleaf weeds that will also be enhanced by the growth blanket, it is critical to apply quinclorac at a rate of 1lb. per acre right over the top of the seed.

An on-site test was conducted to evaluate the best overall process for the dormant seeding strategy. For all situations, a seedbed was prepared with a Harley Rake and a blanket was utilized.

Control: seed, with blanket covers • Weeds: heavy pressure of crabgrass and broadleaf (90% controlled by the end of the season) • Bermudagrass: 90% coverage by the end of the season, low to medium density • Ready: August 1 Compost: seed, covered with 1/4" compost, with blanket covers • Weeds: crabgrass (lots of it!) and broadleaf (90% controlled by the end of the season) • Bermudagrass: 90% coverage by the end of the season, medium density • Ready: August 1 Quinclorac: seed, plus quinclorac sprayed over the top, with blanket covers • Weeds: very low (100% control by the end of the season) • Bermudagrass: 100% coverage by the end of the season, high density • Ready: August 1

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Cover Story continued

Quinclorac and compost: seed, plus quinclorac sprayed over the top and covered with 1/4" compost, with blanket covers • Weeds: very low (100% control by the end of the season) • Bermudagrass: very high density • Ready: July 1

Recommendation

All will work, so in the end, it comes down to your budget.

Use of both compost and quinclorac is the best option, but if you have to choose one over the other, choose quinclorac.

On a related note, you can also apply this strategy for bermudagrass sod on non-irrigated fields. Using growth blankets on non-irrigated sod laid in March with blanket removal in May has been accomplished with complete success.

Also, in areas that have irrigation, you can seed in late April to early May, install blankets and then spray/moisten the blankets to create a perfect environment to stimulate quick seed germination (about 7 to 10 days). After bermudagrass seed germination, remove the blankets, and grow in the turf using irrigation. The longer you have for growing in new turf, the stronger it will be for the first sports events.

For the past five years, we have established a bermudagrass practice field every year. All were seeded in March without irrigation and were then in full use by our soccer or football teams in August. This past year, we converted a 1.2-acre, little-used field space in a remote park into a bermudagrass soccer/football practice field. We all know the phrase: “You build it, and they will come.”

Converting areas to bermudagrass without irrigation has been extremely successful in many ways. As soon as the signs of a new field are seen by the users, they want their name on the list for its use. The goal of diverting practices from the game fields has been achieved; this last year, there were 337 practice events on 4 practice fields. c Prep Field Oct

If possible, follow the quinclorac treatment with 1/4” of compost applied directly over the seed to hold moisture, as well as heat and stimulate young seedlings.

After seeding the field, followed by applications of quinclorac and compost, install the growth blankets.

Plant Seed Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

March

Monitor April

Remove Blankets Maintain Ready for Use May

June

Example time line to grow in a field without irrigation Two weeks after the last expected frost date (7 May 2015), remove the growth blankets.

July

August

Feature Story

Q&A Q&A on on

Potassium

Nutrition in in Golf Golf Turf Turf Management Management

By Mike Goatley, Jr., Ph.D., Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

When should (or what agronomic signs indicate) a superintendent test for potassium levels in his course’s turf?

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to visually identify potassium deficiency since the symptoms are not clearly defined as they can be for other nutrients. A general thinning of the turf, poor recovery, perhaps an increased tendency to show wilt—these are all things that happen over extended time periods, and not over a matter of days.

How is this best accomplished?

Soil testing is a logical way to monitor potassium levels, but the strategy that really works best for getting the best handle on potassium in the turfgrass is regular tissue testing. Tissue testing is a snapshot in time of nutrient levels in the plant, and it is necessary to pair the information with that of a soil test. But tissue testing on sand-based soils is about the only way to really monitor what is going on inside the plant re: potassium nutrition because of how mobile potassium can be in those soils.

Is there a best time of the year to do the testing?

I usually think of potassium much like I do lime – if it is needed, it should be applied. The only way to really know

if you need it is to soil and/or tissue test. In particular, I think it is important to know your potassium levels prior to the logical stress periods of summer or winter. I think of potassium as the “anti-freeze” or “coolant” of the plant world, and you need to have adequate amounts in the turfgrass tissues before the stress period arrives.

Are there any steps to make sure a superintendent does not miss along the way in terms of proper testing?

Establish a good working relationship with a testing firm for either (or both) soil and tissue testing, and then stick with that firm if you are getting what you feel are solid, reliable and timely results. Avoid the temptation of comparing the values between labs, since one can really make this very confusing when comparing values between labs.

Should all areas of the course be tested? Why? Yes, but the areas that must be most carefully monitored are sand-based soils, particularly modified putting greens. While potassium is held in the soils by Cation Exchange Capacity reactions, it is still a fairly mobile nutrient that can leach, and that is logically more likely to happen in sandy soils.

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amino acids, cell walls, etc., but it is usually found in the second highest concentration in cells after nitrogen. What does it do? It is involved in maintaining/assuring appropriate moisture levels in cells and surrounding tissues. When you think potassium, you think turgor pressure, and turgor pressure is involved in cell elongation (i.e., physical growth), and if a plant continues to grow, it has better traffic tolerance.

And as previously stated, adequate levels of potassium are critical for enhanced winter and summer stress tolerance on either warm- or cool-season turfgrasses.

If your testing shows that your soil needs K, how is this best achieved?

There are a great number of K fertilizer options ranging from the standard ag-grade muriate of potash (potassium chloride, 0-0-60 grade, typically) and sulfate of potash (potassium sulfate, 0-0-50) formulations that are fine to use on taller-mowed turf. These sources are quite water soluble, so they can also be added to the tank for spray applications.

Of course, the higher the solubility of the potassium source, the greater the potential for foliar burn, especially with muriate of potash (potassium chloride), so be careful with either granular or sprayable applications of this source in particular. Products that are used on putting greens are predictably sized and weighted for closely mown turf. There also are sulfur and polymer-coated potassium sources that very effectively extend the release characteristics of the potash.

Hence the extra value of monitoring potassium tissue levels by tissue testing on modified soils. Conducting soil tests at least once every three years on your heavier textured native silt or clay soils will typically meet your needs in keeping a handle on soil potassium levels. Now, it is standard practice in sand-based putting greens by many superintendents to use the strategy that an equal (if not slightly greater) amount of potassium goes out every time that nitrogen is applied. This remains a great discussion item at meetings! I suspect some of that potassium is being lost because of the leaching tendency of the soil and the frequency and/or volume of water passing through that soil, but I can not think of a situation where I have ever seen/ confirmed excessive potassium fertilization. I am sure potassium can be over-applied, but one would really have to work at it to apply those types of levels. With the way that potash fertilizer prices have gone up over the past few years, the likelihood of this happening has gotten that much less.

What are the benefits of maintaining proper K levels in turf?

Potassium is an interesting nutrient in that it is not a component of any metabolic compound like the other nutrients. It is not a structural component of proteins,

Anything to be careful of? Over-applying K, etc.?

As with anything, there is always the potential for too much of a good thing, with the biggest concern likely being the loss of appropriate plant-available balance between cationic forms of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

What can be the results of having low K levels in the soil profile?

Much lower traffic tolerance and increased likelihood of moisture stress are common. Greater susceptibility to extreme temperature and/or moisture stress is more likely as well.

Can the soil have too much potassium? Then what steps should the superintendent take?

I am sure a soil can have too much potassium, but it is unusual for that to happen as turfgrasses are very efficient in their uptake of potassium, and when that is combined with the mobility of potassium, it is unlikely it will be a recurring issue. The major differences in programming strategy will likely revolve around whether you are managing sand-based or clay-based soils and those soils’ inherent differences in nutrient holding capacity and leaching potential. If soils are testing too high, the strategy would be to use less! c Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 19

Recent Event

M-A-T-E’s First Annual

Corn Hole Contest In Sponsors of the 2016 Corn Hole Tournament Brookmeade Sod Farm, Inc. Chantilly Turf Farms, Inc. Franklin Turfgrass, Inc. Lavery’s Sod Farm Luck Eco Systems PBI Gordon Corp Pennington Seed Remington Turf SiteOne Landscape Supply Woodward Turf Farms, Inc.

a back room of the 2016 M-A-T-E conference in Fredericksburg, grown men and women were throwing beanbags at beautifully decorated wooden boxes with holes in them. It was in celebration of the first annual CORN HOLE Tournament with proceeds to benefit turfgrass research in Maryland and Virginia. The custom-made boards were made with the sponsors’ logos of companies and organizations that participated. What a thrill to see (and hear!) all those corn bags flying through the air. We would like to thank all those who participated, either as a contestant or a sponsor.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

1st place: Cam Shelton and John Brewer 2nd place: Mark and Blake Phillips 3rd place: Larry Estep and Jimmy Rodgers

30 persons participated in M-A-T-E’s Corn Hole Tournament to benefit turfgrass research.

20 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal March/April 2016 www.vaturf.org

Meanwhile, center stage in the tradeshow at the Virginia and Maryland Turfgrass Foundation booths were practice boards for this really big tournament.

For just a few dollars, you got four bags to toss at either the VT or Maryland boards. Depending on how many corn holes you got, you were awarded prizes.

The Wintergreen Resort crew created a spirited atmosphere as they rooted on their most skilled thrower, Cole Lowery, who won the grand prize, a Stihl weedeater, donated by Andy Lutz of Revels Turf & Tractor.

The endowment fund has regained ground since the correction of 2015.

It is currently at $552,763.54 and going in the right direction! We want to thank all those helped raise money for turfgrass research at this year’s M-A-T-E Turfgrass Conference. We hope to repeat this year’s fun next year. c

Jimmy Rodgers, CSFM, of Luck tosses his way to 3rd place in the Corn Hole Tournament with his partner Larry Estep (not shown).

Employees of Wintergreen Resort enjoy center court corn hole practice while raising money for Virginia and Maryland turfgrass research.

Winners of M-A-T-E’s Corn Hole Tournament: Cam Shelton and John Brewer from Virginia Tech

Cole Lowery won the Stihl weedeater donated by Andy Lutz of Revels Turf & Tractor

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 21

Recent Event

Highlights from the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo January 25–28, 2016

VTC Board Member and Membership Chair, Marc Petrus, addresses the annual meeting.

Lura Hill and Victoria Matthews presented gift baskets to VTC & MTC. Fred Biggers, VTC President, welcomes attendees.

Live entertainment at Tuesday’s corn hole tournament (sponsored

by SiteOne Landscape Supply) Lunch was served on site.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 23

Thanks to our 2016 exhibitors Air2G2 / WTG, LLC Alliance Small Engines Aquarius Supply Ballard Sports Barenbrug BASF Bayer Environmental Science Brandt Consolidated Buy Sod * Capitol Sports Fields Cardinal Chemicals Central Sod Farms Charlottesville Power Equip.* Chesapeake Valley Seed City of Fredericksburg Collins Wharf Sod Crop Production Services Davvison Golf Dow Chemical Co. Eastern Lift Truck Co. Endebrock–White Co., Inc. Engage Agro USA E&S Equipment Finch / Revels First Products

Fisher & Son Co. FMC Professional Solutions Foley Manufacturing Co. FTG / Schaeffer Mfg. Co. GCSAA Genesis GHS Distributing H&H Farm Machine, Inc. Haifa Harmon Turf Services Harrell’s, LLC Helena Chemical Horizon Innovative Turf Services Jacobsen James River Equipment Ken Cominsky Knox Fertilizer Land and Coates Landscape Supply Lawrence Equipment Lebanon Turf Luck Ecosystems McDonald Design Group Magic Deicing

Mid-Atlantic Stihl Modern Turf / MiniVerde National Arboretum Newsom Seed Nufarm Americas Oakwood Sod Patten Seed PBI Gordon Pennington Seed PGMS – DC * PGMS – VA * Plant Food Company Propump & Controls / Flowtronex Quali-Pro Rainbird Reddick Equipment Riverside Turf * RLCA SePRO Corporation SiteOne Landscape Supply Smith Seed Services Smith Turf & Irrigation Sod Solutions SOLitude Lake Mgmt.

Solu-Cal-USA Sosmetal Products, Inc. Southern States Specialty Turf Services Spectrum Analytic Sports Aggregates STI Pre-Owned Equipment STI Turf Care Syngenta TETAC The Coastal Group The New Virginia Tractor The Turfgrass Group Trinity Turf Turf & Garden TWCA * Turfline Vereens VA Compost Council VSTMA * Virginia Turfgrass Foundation VDACS VDCR Weed Man Woodward Turf Farms * Unable to attend due to snow

24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal March/April 2016 www.vaturf.org

Cover Story continued

Congratulations to the 2016

vTC AWard

winners

Also, Kudos to our

Scholarship Winners Thomas B. Hutcheson Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Robert P. Ruff Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Travis Roberson, Virginia Tech

Alex Johnston, Virginia Tech Marshall Jones, Virginia Tech

Thanks to Our Generous

2016 sponsors

R.D. Cake/Silver Tray Award

Dan McGrory | Smith Turf & Irrigation (with Fred Biggers, VTC President, right)

Platinum

BASF Chesapeake Valley Seed Harmon Turf Services Jacobsen Pennington Seed Sod Solutions Weed Man

Gold

The VTC Award

Melissa Reynolds | Dura Turf Service Corp.

(with Frank Flannagan, VTC Past President, right)

Growth Enhancer Turf Consultants

Monday Lunch

Helena Chemical City of Fredericksburg

Monday Lawn/Landscape Lawn & Landscape Magazine/Horizon

Tuesday Lunch

Trinity Turf, Inc. / Divots, Inc.

Wednesday Lunch Nutrients Plus, LLC

Corn Hole

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Fellowship Breakfast Trinity Turf, Inc.

Pesticide Recertification PBI Gordon

Wi-Fi

Southern States

Turfgrass Challenge Prize Winners Randy Williamson (won $50)

Joshua Peters (won $50)

Lifetime Membership Award

Joe and Anne Harmon | Harmon Turf Services (with Fred Biggers, VTC President, right)

Taylor Marret won $300 and gratis entry to next year’s M-A-T-E — includes lodging

Ken Dotson (won $50)

VTC President’s Award

Jimmy Viars | Gloucester Co. Public Schools

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 25

News from VTC

NEW

A

is the key word for the

VT Campus Research Field Days in 2017

lot of NEW ideas were brought forth by the VT Turfgrass Field Days Committee in an on-campus meeting that took place a few weeks after Field Day 2015. Our thanks to Allen Rogers (ProLawn), Bob Boeren (City of Roanoke), C.D. Prillaman (Prillaman Landscape Dimensions Inc.), Chris Bassett (Smith Turf & Irrigation), Jeff Everhart (Woodward Turf Farms), Kevin Connelly (Landscape Supply Inc.), Jesse Pritchard (University of Virginia) and VT faculty and staff Jack Hall, Jeff Derr, Whitnee Askew, Sam Doak and Mike Goatley (Virginia Tech). This committee had the goal of implementing ideas that hopefully will improve attendance at our annual campus Turfgrass Research Field Days in Blacksburg. There are several significant changes of note, and we think our turfgrass industry will like this group’s recommendations!

1) NEW dates and a single location for Field Day: Tuesday and Wednesday, July 19-20, in Blacksburg exclusively at the Turfgrass Research Center off of Southgate Drive in 2017.

2) NEW pricing: VTC members get free registration! $20 for non-VTC members; VSTMA members — your association has already donated registrations for the first 35 VSTMA members to attend! Take advantage of your association’s support of VT Turfgrass and the VTC! 3) NEW offer — FREE 2017 Field Day t-shirts for all registrants. The t-shirts are sponsored by our vendors for Field Day, and each year they will feature a new VT Field Day logo… they are sure to become a collector’s item ; ) Don’t miss out on the inaugural edition!

4) NEW location and format for our VT Turf Team Social.

The Goatleys (hopefully) will have moved to their new home by then: 912 Derbe Lane, Blacksburg (about 1 mile from their previous address on the north side of Blacksburg). Per the comments from previous attendees, we are bringing back our Turf Team Q&A beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, July 19, at the Goatley residence, followed by our evening social with all of the VT Turf Team and our visitors from all around the region.

5) NEW and expanded displays for our vendors supporting Field Day at the TRC

6) NEW ideas and research (of course) will be on the Field Day tours beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20, at the TRC. 7) NEW program for those new to the turfgrass industry or just wishing for a tour that is more like a “refresher course” than a final exam in Advanced Turfgrass Management. You say you don’t have a Ph.D. in turf and can’t understand all of those fancy presentations being made — then we are offering a Field Day tour that emphasizes the basics of our turfgrass research program so that we can ensure all segments of our Field Day participants get some meaningful information to take home with them.

Supervisors, we will have something for the employees with the least turfgrass background at this year’s field day.

We realize that the third week of July presents challenges for some to make it to Blacksburg during what is likely some of the hottest and driest times of the year (as well as vacation time for some). However, our previous dates in August had issues with all the activity on campus (move-in week at VT), and if we move the Field Day later, we lose having treatment responses to actually see in the field. We are hoping that Virginia’s turfgrass professionals will once again demonstrate their professionalism when asked to adjust their schedules and support the turfgrass program at Virginia Tech, and we are confident that we can have our largest on-campus Field Day in years. c

26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal March/April 2016 www.vaturf.org

Field Day Committee:

Allen Rogers: ProLawn Bob Boeren: City of Roanoke C.D. Prillaman: Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc. Chris Bassett: Smith Turf & Irrigation Jack Hall: Virginia Tech Jeff Derr: Virginia Tech Whitney Askew: Virginia Tech Mike Goatley: Virginia Tech Jesse Pritchard: University of Virginia Jeff Everhart: Woodward Turf Farms Kevin Connelly: Landscape Supply Sam Doak: Virginia Tech

Cover Story continued

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 27

News from the VTC

Index of Advertisers

Meet Your New 2016 VTC Leaders PRESIDENT

Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club Lorton, VA (703) 674-6934 rickjowens@yahoo.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms Nokesville, VA (540) 727-0020 shwturf1@aol.com

TREASURER

Mike Skelton Culpeper County P&R Culpeper, VA (540) 727-3412 skeltonma@msn.com

PAST PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. Virginia Turfgrass Council Virginia Beach, VA (757) 464-1004 vaturf@verizon.net

Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort Wintergreen, VA (434) 325-8252 fbiggers@wintergreen resort.com

DIRECTORS Steve Glass University of Richmond Richmond, VA (804) 289-8605 sglass@richmond.edu

Jesse Pritchard University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA (434) 981-7189 sportsturf@virginia.edu

Tony Montgomery Draper Valley Golf Club Draper, VA (540) 980-4653 tgm1978@rocketmail.com

Mike Skelton Culpeper County P&R Culpeper, VA (540) 727-3412 skeltonma@msn.com

Marc Petrus Innovative Turf Services Mechanicsville, VA (540) 220-7883 marcpetrus@aol.com

Rick Viancour, CGCS Retired Williamsburg, VA

Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools Gloucester, VA (804) 815-2779 jimmyviars@gc.k12.va.us Craig Zeigler Agronomic Lawn Management Virginia Beach, VA (757) 563-8588 sales@fertizewithalm.com

VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (chair) Virginia Tech, CSES Dept.

Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu

Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Ag. Research Station Virginia Beach, VA (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu

David McCall, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu c

Agronomic Lawn Management........... 30 www.fertilizerwithalm.com Buy Sod.................................................... 3 www.buysod.com Carolina Green Corp............................ 30 www.cgcfields.com Chesapeake Valley Seed ...................... 11 www.chesapeakevalleyseed.com Collins Wharf Sod Farm......................... 6 www.collinswharfsod.com Colonial Farm Credit............................ 30 www.colonialfarmcredit.com Daniel Sod Farms.................................. 30 www.danielsodfarms.com East Coast Sod & Seed.......................... 30 www.eastcoastsod.com Ernst Conservation Seeds....................... 5 www.ernstseed.com Fisher & Son Company Inc.................... 9 www.fisherandson.com Home Field Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf Farm ..................... 8 www.meadowspringturf.com KWMI / K & W Products, Inc.............. 22 www.KWMIequipment.com Lebanon Turf......................... Back Cover www.lebturf.com Luck Ecosystems................................... 11 www.luckstone.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL, Inc................ Inside Front Cover www.STIHLdealers.com Modern Turf, Inc.................................... 5 www.modernturf.com PBI Gordon Corporation..................... 27 www.pbigordon.com Perdue Agrirecycle LLC....................... 13 www.perdueagrirecycle.com Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc......... 21 www.progressiveturfequip.com Riverside Turf........................................ 28 www.riversideturf.com Smith Seed Services.............................. 30 www.smithseed.com Smith Turf & Irrigation.................Inside Back Cover www.smithturf.com The Turfgrass Group.............................. 7 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Blacksburg, VA Virginia Tech, CSES Dept.

(540) 231-5807 Blacksburg, VA saskew@vt.edu (540) 231-5208 ervin@vt.edu

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 29

Turfgrass Calendar June 14

Pesticide Recertification

Hampton Coliseum Hampton, VA

June 14

VSTMA Field Day

Longwood University Farmville, VA

June 21

Hampton Roads AREC Turfgrass Field Day and Pesticide Recertification

Hampton Roads AREC Virginia Beach, VA

July 10–12

NALP Legislative Day on the Hill

(National Association of Landscape Professionals, formerly PLANET) Washington, D.C.

July 19–20

Virginia Tech Field Days

Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA

September 12

Bob Ruff Jr. Memorial Research Golf Tournament

Wintergreen Resort — Devil’s Knob Wintergreen, VA

October 5–8

December 12–15

(Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

St. Louis, MO

Henrico, VA

NRPA Congress and Expo

October 20–21

GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America

Turfgrass Short Course

January 24–27, 2017

STMA Conference and Exhibition

Orlando, FL

Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

January 30 – February 2, 2017

October 21–24

Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA

ASLA — Annual Meeting & Expo

(American Society of Landscape Architects) New Orleans, LA

February 28 – March 2, 2017 Come to the Bay

Virginia Beach, VA

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