Virginia Turfgrass Journal - July / August 2018

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

July/August 2018

Uncovering the Truth about Turf Covers Sports Turf Field Inspection Plus, Save the Date For M.A.T.E.

Give water a break tiftuf bermudagrass is the new drought-tolerance superstar.

The newest edition in the “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermudagrasses to originate from the renowned University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program, TifTuf promises to be a true game-changer in stellar yet environmentally friendly performance. Providing unbeatable drought tolerance, it uses 38% less water than Tifway 419, and it is significantly more drought resistant than all other bermudagrasses.

In addition to its incredible drought tolerance, TifTuf provides excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up, excellent fall color retention and superior wear and traffic tolerance. In the 2015 NTEP trials, TifTuf was the highest-ranked cultivar in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, and across all 17 locations overall, it was the highestranked, commercially available cultivar.

TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create eco-gentle lawns for the future. An astounding breakthrough in sustainability, it will soon become the ultimate musthave grass for home and property owners who want to take a break from water use.

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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | July/August 2018

20

16 16 Cover Story Uncovering the Truth About Turf Covers

22 Departments 6 President’s Message

from Scott Woodward

8 Director’s Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 Editor’s Perspective

from Mark Vaughn, CGCS

20 Save the Date For M.A.T.E.

12 VTF Report

22 Feature Story

14 VTC Membership Application

Sports Turf Field Inspections

from Betty B. Parker

21 News from VTC 26 Calendar of Events 26 Virginia Tech Turf Team 26 Index of Advertisers

4 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

Use

Enjoy

less

MorE

Saving you water, saving you money, saving the environment.

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(252) 437-1501

President’s Message

Fall is

Scott Woodward 2018 President

Upon Us T

his is my 3rd article as your VTC President and my message is still the same – we must continue to work together and utilize our network so that we can continue to flourish as an industry.

After a stormy, rainy, HOT summer, we need to dig in and recover from wet and/or dry fields and lost jobs.

Fall is a time where we can recover.

I would like to take the time to highlight the Virginia Tech Lawn and Landscape Field Day in Blacksburg, Virginia by first thanking Mike Goatley for hosting the SUDS and SPUDS Meeting at his house. There was a lot of great discussion with the VT Turf Team and a few of those are below: urf Program – With approxiT mately 10 Freshmen enrolled in the Turf Program, we welcome your ideas on how we can increase that number. For example, utilizing members and VT Staff to visit high schools throughout VA to educate students on why this industry is so important. If you have any ideas, please send

them to Scott Woodward at Shwturf1@aol.com.

PES – We met with Dr. Evans, S the new Director of SPES, and discussed ways we could create a new position to replace Dr. Ervin. verall Q&A – It was a great time O for all to sit in a relaxed, open forum to share ideas and enjoy some SUDS and SPUDS. The research event itself was a huge success where we all met to observe the latest National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Trials for all of the new grasses coming in. We saw and discussed research on Robotic mowers, weed control, disease control and many others. We were also fortunate to spend time at Lane Stadium and their practice facilities.

VTC Membership Benefits Reminder: Per our May/June 2018 Issue on page 12 – please note all the benefits of joining the VTC Team!

6 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

Free o Certifications: • Pesticides • Fertilizers o Subscription to our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal o Monthly email job postings o Discounts to every one of our activities o Discounts on membership for 2 year enrollments With so much emphasis on “Going Green” and the ongoing focus of the preservation of our environment, we are in a position to influence our youth and future turf workers and managers. I ask each and every one of you to be the voice, the mentor, the example to share and educate so that we can keep our industry growing.

Scott H. Woodward resident, P Virginia Turfgrass Council

Director’s Corner

Growing Our Industry

from the

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

Ground Up

M

onths ago we conducted an informal industry survey to get an idea of career opportunities. Our survey was simple. It asked just one question: How much do you pay entry level employees? Results confirmed Virginia is consistent with national trends in at least three areas: (1) Jobs Abound – Today’s market is certainly one that favors employees. Many job openings are never filled. How times have changed. Years ago, hundreds of applicants fought over every position.

Now, because of a lack of employees, companies are turning down lucrative contracts and even scaling back operations.

(2) High Starting Salaries – Depending on the industry segment, starting salaries range from $8.50 to $18.00 per hour. Remember, these wages are paid to entrylevel persons who meet basic requirements for employment, such as passing a drug screening.

Great Advancement Potential – Employers want long

(3)

term relationships and are willing to pay to help their workers obtain – or to improve – skills. I was told repeatedly of companies offering to pay for college courses and other training.

Knowing the tremendous opportunities in our industry, several of us traveled to Richmond to meet with a representative of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Why seek out the VDOE? Research consistently reveals many persons who pursue careers in turfgrass and other green industry professions make the decision early. High school, middle school, and even elementary school years are all critical. One retired professor made the decision to become a tree fruit specialist when his fourth grade science class sprouted bean seeds. That humble bean sprout in an inner city classroom led to an extensive university career.

Many persons worked together to ensure the success of our VDOE

8 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

meeting. Board member Jimmy Viars made the initial contact. Mike Goatley took time from his unexpected teaching load to travel to Richmond for the meeting. Marc Moran has a multiyear history of teaching turfgrass as part of his agriculture program. Karen Carter recently retired from Virginia Cooperative Extension and attended the meeting because she is now helping us administer the turfgrass certification programs we wish to introduce to Virginia schools.

The state representative was very receptive. She let us know 16 schools offer at least one of the two VDOE approved turfgrass programs. Teachers in five of those schools have over 400 students. (That is a very significant number!) We were asked to help VDOE upgrade their curriculum to reflect industry needs. That task is ongoing and is one we gladly accepted!

This is a very good time for the turfgrass industry! Opportunities for both employers and employees abound.

And Virginia’s Department of Education wants to work with the VTC to help them train students. c

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 Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 Vice President Michael Skelton Culpeper County (540) 727-3412 Treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779 Secretary Phil Bailey, CGCS Cypress Creek Golfer’s Club (757) 357-7995 Past President Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934 VTC DIRECTORS Wes Bray Scott Caskie Tony Montgomery Jesse Pritchard, CSFM David Smith T.J. Skirsky Craig Zeigler ­ VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, 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

|9

Editor’s Perspective

The Power of Looking

Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor

R

Back

ecently I attended the funeral of a good friend’s elderly mother. This lady had lived a good long life full of many kids and subsequent grandkids and great grandkids. Like every life, hers had not been without hardships. In fact, 10 years prior to her death while facing one of those hardships she was told she had weeks/days to live. As part of her funeral service her son did a wonderful job reminding those in attendance what she had witnessed over those years she was supposed to be in the ground. Grandchildren attending college and starting careers. Others choosing spouses and getting married.

Several great grandchildren born. Successful careers ended for her oldest children. Many parties and celebrations. Some hard times – yes, but many days in the sun.

We’re told many times in this life not to look back. That nothing is accomplished by looking back. Heck, folks in the Good Book were turned to salt for doing just that. Plan your work, and work your plan. Keep moving the goal posts. Build, build, build.

And I get it. Nothing wrong with any of that. But like most things in life, it’s just not that black and white. Let me preach on it.

First, I’ve learned a lot of lessons looking back. Mistakes I’ve made are the easy ones, but some of the others …not so easy. Changing my attitude, my thought process, my opinions, my judgement of people and their motivations for example. I guess hindsight really is 20/20. Secondly, when things get tough in present day for a little perspective I remember when things seemed insurmountable and

10 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

overwhelming in the past, but I survived and overcame. With a little help from my friends of course. And finally, I’ve learned to appreciate the good times more and tried to become more conscious of them as they happen.

With more miles behind me than in front, maybe I’m finally starting to gain a little wisdom.

So at this end of summer, take some time to look back. Think about how you and your staff got kicked in the privates by Mother Nature in this craziest of weather years, and yet you endured and accomplished much. How in the world did you/we pull that off? Savor it. Talk about it with those that made it happen. And then show some thankfulness and appreciation. c

VTF Report

27th Annual

Virginia Tech Field Day

The

27th annual Virginia Tech Field Day was held in Blacksburg on Tuesday, August 14.

To kick off this event, Mike and Lisa Goatley hosted the annual Suds and Spuds informal social at their home, welcoming people coming in from around the state. A plethora of beer,

both craft and domestic (provided by Williams Brothers out of Staunton) awaited the parched travelers, as well as a delicious potato bar.

The weather gods seemed to smile down on us good stewards of the earth, as it was a picture-perfect August day with blue skies, low humidity and a balmy 80 degrees. Last year’s torrential

12 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

Betty B. Parker VTF Manager

rainout was a distant memory.

The breakfast of champions – coffee and Carole Lee Donuts – was offered by Smith Turf and Irrigation and their wonderfully entertaining host, Chris Bassett.

Nearly 100 sleepy attendees came out to collect the much sought after Field Day tee shirt and join in the

throng of merry men and women who crave knowledge of the latest and greatest in Turfgrass research, and of course earn certification points!

Research plots located on some of VT’s prime Southgate property were showcased sporting research on Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue. Research is also being done on Bermudagrasses and Zoysiagrasses. And so that we might not be disappointed or not properly entertained, the turf team rolled out the newest Turfgrass toys. STIHL, with the aid of Jon Dickerson, demonstrated its robotic mower which mows a random pattern

at preset times each day and then docks itself to recharge at the end of each session.

Midday was met with a bagged lunch from Macado’s in Blacksburg.

The deli style sandwich and sides were outstanding. This meal was provided

by Harmon Turf Services, as they once again held their long tradition of supporting this iconic event.

Afternoon sessions were set aside for landscape presentations, Fertilizer and Pesticide recertification sessions at the Peggy Lee Hahn Horticulture Pavilion, and Sports Turf presentations at Lane Stadium. c

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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 13

VTC Membership

Join the

Today!

Membership Benefits For ALL members include: ree pesticide recertification training at the one-day F regional seminars.

Free Certified Fertilizer Applicator training at the MidAtlantic Turfgrass Expo in January (M-A-T-E) and the Come to the Bay (February) and Come to the Valley (May) regional conferences.

Free entry to the research tour of turfgrass studies in June at the Hampton Roads AREC. Free subscription to our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal, offering research and industry updates.

Valuable assistance on state and local legislative and bureaucratic issues. Do you know that every member of Virginia’s General Assembly receives our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal? Several Delegates and Senators have said how much they appreciate being on our mailing list.

Monthly email of job postings.

Discounts to every one of our activities.

Join as a Group or as an Individual Individual Membership One Year — $85 Individual Membership Two Years — $150 Platinum Group Membership Membership fee of $1,500 includes: 11 to 20 members.

Send up to 100 of your employees to one of our Regional Pesticide Training Classes — AT NO COST. Year-round membership listing and link from VTC website.

Fertilizer Certification Training and Recertification Training (3A, 3B 60) at your site.

Gold Group Membership Membership fee of $800 includes: 6 to 10 members Silver Group Membership Membership fee of $400 includes: 1 to 5 members

14 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

Membership Application Complete this application form and —

OR Join/Renew online at

www.vaturf.org

• Mail it to the address at the bottom of this page.

• Or fax it to 757-282-2693

Member Information First Name____________________________________________ Last Name___________________________________________ Company or Organization____________________________________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City__________________________________________________ State__________ Zip____________________________________ Phone________________________________________________ Fax__________________________________________________ E-Mail_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Payment Select One Platinum Group Membership (11 or more members + Year-round listing and link from VTC website)...................$1,500 Gold Group Membership (6 – 10 members)...................................................................................................................$800 Silver Group Membership (1 – 5 members)....................................................................................................................$400 Individual for Two Years...................................................................................................................................................$150 Individual for One Year....................................................................................................................................................$85

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Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 • Phone: 757-464-1004 • Fax: 757-282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net • Web: www.vaturf.org Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 15

Cover Story

Uncovering the Truth about Turf Covers

By Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

A

lthough it likely was being done earlier in the 20th century, a review of the literature indicates that some of the first research on covering turfgrasses dates to the 1960s, and covers have been used extensively on both warm-season and cool-season turfgrasses for golf and

sports turf management during that time, with their primary use being for protection in extreme winters.

The concept of regular cover installation and removal on bermudagrass putting greens became a reality in the mid to late 1980s, and the process continued to gain popularity

16 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

with the advent of lightweight polypropylene covers and the expansion of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. However, when selecting a cover, keep in mind that its value and use potential can be expanded if you also consider the cover’s effectiveness in extending active growth periods, enhancing establishment rates, managing/controlling soil moisture, and traffic protection. Another consideration when using a cover is that when you manipulate the environment under the cover, throw the calendar out the window as the grass, weeds, insects, diseases etc. are oblivious to the calendar date — they are responding to the environmental modifications provided by that cover, regardless of the day of the year.

Just about any source of cover will modify soil surface characteristics in some way when applied, but you need to consider what source of cover best meets YOUR particular needs, not what someone else is using on their site. For situations where regular installation and removal of covers will be employed, lightweight covers are typically the choice simply due to their ease in handling. For long-term covering for winter protection such as those used on sports fields, heavier materials that resist movement in the wind are often the covers of choice.

I have been doing cover research since the early 1990s and continue to evaluate new cover sources, their potential uses in golf and sports turf management, and how they might be best employed by turfgrass managers. The majority of research trials have focused on winter temperature responses of soil surface temperatures under covers. The following tables detail temperature responses when covers were left in place from early December thru the first week

of March of the following year for the years of 2013–14 and 2014–15 in Blacksburg. The most important information regarding winter cover selection for the transition zone is found in the far-right hand column of each table — mean minimum extreme temperature — the coldest temperature recorded for the replicated cover treatments during the covering period for these trials.

In 2013–14 that was -7.1°F and in 2014–15 that temperature was 1.9 for the uncovered treatments. Note that all covers increased the mean minimum extreme, but all temperatures under covers in 2013–14 were less than 9.3°F and less than 16°F in 2014–15; it was quite cold at the soil surface in both years, even with the covers in place.

The industry standard for ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green covers has been lightweight polypropylene for several years, (particularly the black polypropylene materials) and that is because of its handling ability and good low temperature protection characteristics. Black polypropylene provided the ‘warmest’ mean minimum temperature extreme in 2014–15 and the second warmest in 2013–14, but note that other cover sources were statistically comparable to Black in 2013–14 and it was only significantly warmer than Evergreen and Aluminet in 2014–15. The take home message is that most industry standards in covers (that would exclude Aluminet shade cloth in these trials) do a pretty good job in temperature moderation. But one last time — what exactly are you looking for in a cover? If it’s to encourage growth and development by way of warmer temperatures, look at the Evergreen blanket or the Gray nonwoven Geotextile. Each cover has a strength and a weakness.

Table 1: Temperature modifications at the canopy surface of covered and uncovered ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass in winter of 2013–14.

Table 2: Temperature modifications at the canopy surface of covered and uncovered ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass in winter of 2014–15.

Cover†

Mean daily maximum‡

Mean daily minimum

Mean maximum extreme

Mean minimum extreme

Cover†

Mean daily maximum‡

Mean daily minimum

°F

Mean maximum extreme

Mean minimum extreme

°F

Gray

61.0 ab

25.5 a

89.4 ab

7.5 a

Gray

55.4 b

28.4 a

88.2 b

16.0 a

Evergreen

65.1 a

26.8 a

90.3 a

7.5 a

Evergreen

59.9 a

26.2 ab

101.3 a

8.8 bc

WhiteG

55.4 c

26.2 a

80.6 cd

6.8 a

WhiteG

52.7 b

28.0 a

83.5 b

13.1 ab

WhitePP

57.6 bc

26.4 a

83.3 bcd

5.7 a

WhitePP

56.5ab

27.3 a

90.9 b

14.2 ab

Black

59.0 bc

26.6 a

81.9 cd

8.8 a

Black

55.9 ab

28.0 a

88.9 b

16.3 a

Aluminet

49.1 d

27.0 a

68.5 e

3.0 a

Aluminet

55.9 ab

26.8 ab

89.0 b

7.7 bc

Orange

56.0 bc

26.6 a

77.9 d

9.3 a

Orange

56.0 ab

26.8 ab

89.8 b

13.3 ab

Uncovered

56.7 bc

23.2 b

85.1 abc

-7.1 b

Uncovered

52.5 b

24.6 b

85.5 b

1.9 c

† Black and WhitePP are woven polypropylene covers; Gray, WhiteG and Orange are all nonwoven geotextiles; Evergreen is interwoven translucent polyethylene; Aluminet is Aluminet® 60% shade cover, commercially available aluminized high-density polyethylene strips woven with plastic threads.

† Black and WhitePP are woven polypropylene covers; Gray, WhiteG and Orange are all nonwoven geotextiles; Evergreen is interwoven translucent polyethylene; Aluminet is Aluminet® 60% shade cover, commercially available aluminized high-density polyethylene strips woven with plastic threads.

‡ Means within the column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey/Kramer HSD (honestly Significant Difference) test.

‡ Means within the column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey/Kramer HSD (honestly Significant Difference) test.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 17

Cover Story continued

If considering a cover for its ability to maintain or sustain growth during periods outside of optimal environmental conditions, then its ability to transmit photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is important. Our latest research effort confirmed what were anticipated to be huge differences in transmitting PAR to the turfgrass canopy. Darker and thicker covers (black polypropylene and orange and gray geotextiles) blocked ≥86% sunlight, the two white covers (polypropylene and geotextile materials, respectively) blocked approximately 65% sunlight, and the experimental Aluminet and industry standard Evergreen blankets blocked 33 to 38% radiant energy. Our research has shown that turfgrass growth and development is still possible with up to 65% reduction in PAR, but of course the more light passing through the cover, the greater the growth potential. If one plans on using a cover for long-term covering to extend or accelerate an off-season growing period, a more translucent cover is going to be an important consideration.

green blanket provided a greater increase in % soil VWC than did the Orange geotextile. On the 3% sloped native soil, there were more treatment response differences in that the lowest changes in soil moisture were observed for the heaviest weight geotextile materials (Gray and Orange).

These covers essentially act much like a ‘sponge’ in absorbing water. For these trials, the rainfall events end up totaling approximately 0.5" over a couple of days, so we anticipate at higher, more intensive rainfall events that these covers would allow water to pass when they are saturated.

Table 4: Cover source effect on % difference in soil volumetric water content (SVWC) on flat (≤ 0.5% slope) native and constructed soils, and on a native soil with a consistent 3% slope prior to and after rain events.

Cover†

Native Soil ‡

§

Modified Soil¶

Native Soil, 3% slope††

Changes in % soil VWC prior to and after rain events

Table 3: Mean % reduction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) under various turf covers relative to an uncovered control.

Cover†

% Reduction in PAR ‡

Black

99.4 a

Orange

92.8 a

Gray

86.6 a

WhiteG

65.0 b

WhitePP

63.9 b

Aluminet

37.5 c

Evergreen

33.6 c

§

† Black and WhitePP are woven polypropylene covers; Gray, WhiteG and Orange are all nonwoven geotextiles; Evergreen is interwoven translucent polyethylene; Aluminet is Aluminet® 60% shade cover, commercially available aluminized high-density polyethylene strips woven with plastic threads. ‡ PAR (μmol m-2 s-1) measurements made with Li-Cor photometer (Li-Cor Corp, Lincoln, NE) between 1200 and 1400 hrs in full sunlight on both April 20 and 21, 2016 in Blacksburg, VA. § Means within the column followed by the same letter are not significantly

different at p ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey/Kramer HSD (honestly Significant Difference) test.

Another research angle we considered was soil moisture penetration through the covers. We collected soil moisture data using a TDR probe prior to and after separate rainfall events over two three-day durations (approximately 0.5 inch of rain over that period each time) on a ‘flat’ native soil, a native soil on a consistent 3% slope, and a sand-based modified soil. There is a great deal of inherent variability in soil moisture in native soils, even under areas below approximately 100 sq. ft. cover treatments. There were no significant differences in changes in % soil Volumetric Water Content (VWC) on the native soil, and on the modified soil the only significant treatment response was that the Ever-

Aluminet

19.4 a

4.7 ab

6.0 b

Evergreen Control

17.4 a

6.3 a

9.6 a

16.8 a

4.6 ab

6.6 b

Black

16.3 a

4.6 ab

6.6 b

WhiteG

15.8 a

3.4 ab

8.4 ab

WhitePP

14.8 a

3.4 ab

8.4 ab

Gray

14.5 a

3.5 ab

2.6 c

Orange

13.6 a

2.3 b

2.3 c

† Black and WhitePP are woven polypropylene covers; Gray, WhiteG and Orange are all nonwoven geotextiles; Evergreen is interwoven translucent polyethylene; Aluminet is Aluminet® 60% shade cover, commercially available aluminized high-density polyethylene strips woven with plastic threads. ‡ Means within the column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey/Kramer HSD (honestly Significant Difference) test.

§ Groseclose silt loam (fine, kaolinitic, mesic typic Hapludult) with ≤ 0.5%

slope; these data were collected prior to and after a 2.3 cm rain event over April 30 through May 1, 2016.

¶ Modified soil comprised of 89.7% sand, 2% silt, 0.8% clay and 6.6%

gravel; data collected prior to and after a 1.7 cm rainfall event over May 10–11, 2016. †† Groseclose silt loam with an approximate 3% slope; data collected prior to and after a 1.8 cm rain event over May 21 through May 23, 2016.

We also determined dry and wet weights of the covers to understand how these materials would handle and/or remain in place based on moisture. We weighed three 1 sq. meter dry samples of each of the cover sources to determine standard dry weights and then took the samples to the field where we applied approximately 0.1” of irrigation over the surface of these covers. We determined their weights immediately after irrigation and at 1 and 5 hours after irrigation.

There were large differences in dry weights with Orange being 2.5–3x greater than Aluminet and Evergreen. After irrigation, the geotextile covers had weight increases of 5.5 to 8x their dry weights, confirming their water absorption

18 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

Cover Story continued

properties we suspected from the soil moisture trial. Significant differences in cover weights before and after irrigation continued through measurements at 1 hour post-irrigation, and by far the heaviest covers remained the geotextiles.

By 5 hours post-irrigation, weights for all irrigated covers were comparable to their dry weights prior to the irrigation application.

In the winter of 2017–18 it was obvious that covers were not a guarantee for winter protection. When surveying turfgrass managers from across the region, almost everyone agrees that winter desiccation was also a likely contributor to last season’s winterkill. In general, turfgrass grown on sand-based soils suffered more injury than that on native soils this past year and the factor believed to be most critical was enhanced soil moisture levels in the native soil in what was an overall very dry winter in the mid-Atlantic and upper South. University research and practical experience on golf and sports fields continues to refine the potential use of wetting agents to retain more moisture in the top few inches of the soil. Don’t put those TDR probes away for good for the winter season!

Another area that we continue to research is the value of an air gap underneath the cover in further moderating temperatures. On-course data from superintendents shows a lot of promise in this approach. We compared soil surface temperatures of single and double layers of black polypropylene covers with or without plastic practice soccer cones placed on 2 feet spacing versus an uncovered control during the winters of 2015–16 and 2016–17. We evaluated cover/ cone treatment temperature responses when air temperatures were ≤25, 15, and 12°F, and as seen in the following table, the only factor that really resulted in significant temperature responses compared to the uncovered control was the addition of a second cover. The addition of cones under double covers did result in an average low temperature increase of 1.7°F at air temps of ≤15 or 12°F, but that is definitely not the level of additional insulating value we hoped to measure.

Table 5: Surface temperature moderation under Black Xton covers at various air temperature ranges below freezing as affected by single or double covering applied with or without soccer practice cones for creating air space from. Covers ap- plied in first week of December and remained in place through first week of March in Blacksburg, VA. Cover trt

≤ 12°F

≤ 15°F

Uncovered

11.2 d

12.9 d

≤ 25°F 20.6 d

Cover alone

18.3 bc

19.3 bc

24.6 bc

Single cover with cones

15.8 c

16.8 c

22.7 cd

Double cover

21.3 ab

22.4 ab

26.9 ab

Double cover + cones

23.1 a

24.1 a

27.8 a

LSD (0.05)

4.1

3.8

2.7

In an effort to better understand the influence of the air gap on temperature moderation, we installed black polypropylene covers over standard 2x4 frames built to either elevate the cover at 1.75" or 3.5" off the ground versus a framed cover directly on the ground vs an uncovered control in the winter of 2017–18. When considering any temperature below 25°F, we again saw very little difference in average temperature between the covers with the stationary air gaps and the cover placed directly on the surface (only 1.1 or 1.3 degree increases in temperature between cover on the surface vs cover elevated at 1.75 or 3.5").

For these trials turf surface temperatures were recorded, not inherent soil temperatures. Would temperature responses change in the soil? Possibly, but we believe that soil surface temperatures are still a very conservative way to evaluate what is going on under a cover when it comes to temperature moderation. And when all is said and done, everyone that works with covers agrees that for the ultimate low temperature protection, a couple of inches of pine straw under a cover would be the ideal way to protect a warmseason turfgrass. However, there are no quick ways to install and remove the pine straw, so the most ‘user friendly’ method to date seems to be double covers.

Research continues in these areas and Virginia Tech is hoping to gather even more replicated research data at their Independence Golf Club research site. For those managing or considering ultradwarf bermudagrasses, be aware that Dr. Mike Richardson and MS graduate Eric DeBoer of the University of Arkansas have completed two years of ultradwarf bermudagrass cover research at Fayetteville, and their data show that 1) Mini-Verde and Tifeagle are generally more cold tolerant than Champion 2) Bermudagrass response to predicted covering timings were not significantly different between predicted night time temperatures of 25, 22, 18, and 15 degrees F, and 3) soil wetting agents might benefit bermudagrass protection to environmental extremes. By far the most interesting research result is that indicating that covers might not need to be applied until 15°F. I don’t know how many golf superintendents are comfortable with leaving covers off at those temperatures (the industry standard has long been 25°F), but it is good to know that 25°F is not an absolute must cover temperature.

Be sure to look for this report in the scientific literature.

In summary, there is no ‘best’ cover but there are lots of scientifically valid reasons to choose specific covers for particular situations. For lightweight covers for ultradwarf bermudagrass golf putting green use, black polypropylene remains an excellent choice. However, a lightweight cover might not be best for long-term covering of a sports field or a golf driving range etc. As stated previously, perhaps the most important criteria in choosing a cover is to be sure to get one that is easy to handle so that you are willing to use it when necessary. c

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 19

Upcoming Event

M-A-T-E

Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo January 28 – 31, 2019 Fredericksburg Expo Center Fredericksburg, Virginia

J

oin us for an incredible education and networking opportunity for turfgrass professionals! This year’s Mid Atlantic Turf Expo will include:

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Day-long seminars (Golf or Lawn and Landscape) General Session Keynote Speaker Frank Rossi (Cornell) Mechanics Seminar Breakout Sessions (Golf, Sports, Lawn and Landscape) Trade Show Fertilizer Certification and Recertification Pesticide Certification and Recertification Irrigation Workshop Certified Turfgrass Professional Training Corn Hole Tournament …and Much More!

For more details, visit

turfconference.org 20 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

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Also — We are working with Virginia’s Department of Education to evaluate turfgrass and horticulture curriculum and to include the Certified Turfgrass professional Program in high schools. c

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 21

Feature Story

Creating Safer Fields for Athletes Monitoring and Documenting Playing Field Conditions

By Tom Serensits, Ph.D., Manager, Center for Sports Surface Research, Penn State University

W

ith another fall sports season on the horizon, many of you are likely checking field use schedules, readying your field painters, and making sure you have enough seed to get you through the season.

A field manager’s “to-do” list certainly grows as the calendar changes to fall. One key aspect of preparing for the upcoming season can sometimes be overlooked – a proper and thorough field inspection.

Field inspections help reduce injury risk and liability by identifying issues and allowing time to correct potential hazards before the players hit the field. In fact, the NFL now mandates that all fields be inspected prior to all games based on league-mandated criteria. Each field manager is then required to submit an official report following the inspection within 72 hours prior to kick-off. Following a similar program of routine field inspections demonstrates a proactive approach and commitment to athlete safety.

Synthetic Turf Fields

If you have a synthetic turf field, there are several potential hazards that require regular inspection. The first is carpet seams. Properly functioning (non-separating) seams do not pose an elevated risk. However, if the seams begin to fail and separate, they create potential tripping hazards.

When a synthetic turf field is installed, large sections of carpet are rolled across the width of the field. These carpet pieces are five yards wide and extend completely across the width of the field. As a result, seams are typically located on 22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018

every 5-yard line. However, that is not always the case – sometimes the seams are located at the 2.5 yard lines or other locations. Once you locate the seams on your field, walk along each seam and check for separation, paying particular attention to high-use areas (Photo 1).

In addition to the seams going across the field, there are seams at each inlay. While inlays reduce or eliminate the Seams and inlays require routine inspection.

1

need to paint field markings, careful inspection is needed to ensure they are flush with surrounding turf. All inlay seams should be inspected on a regular basis for separation.

Common inspection guidelines state that any seam that has separated more than 3 mm should be remediated according to the field manufacturer’s recommendations (Photo 2).

Particular attention should be paid to complex logos that contain many small inlays as these contain many seams and are often located at the highly-used center of the field.

Any separation, peeling, or unevenness should be addressed immediately.

Wrinkles in synthetic turf can sometimes develop over time. Wrinkles can also create a tripping hazard. Again, follow the field manufacturer’s recommendations for repair.

Check for depressions on high-use areas of the field resulting from low levels of infill. If the field is used for lacrosse, pay extra attention to the goal mouth areas. Lacrosse goal mouths are notorious for crumb rubber infill displacement and resulting depressions. If holes and depressions are found, additional crumb rubber infill should be installed in these areas.

A few buckets of crumb rubber likely can do the job.

Spread a thin layer of rubber onto the area, brush it into the fibers with a broom and repeat until the infill is level with surrounding turf.

For bigger areas, larger pieces of equipment, such as a topdresser, can be used to spread crumb rubber across the field. No matter the size of the area, it is important to use the same size and type of rubber originally installed by the turf manufacturer.

Infill depth testing is also an important component of a field inspection. An easy way to measure infill depth is with a fire-proofing depth gauge. These gauges are available online and typically cost less than $20. Be sure to obtain your target infill depth from your field manufacturer. Maintaining proper infill depth is important for the longevity of synthetic turf fibers and is key to keeping field hardness in check.

Field hardness can be measured with a Clegg Impact Soil Tester. All areas of the field should be under 100 when measured with this device. A guide detailing testing and managing surface hardness can be found at http://plant science.psu.edu/research/centers/ssrc/resources.

The field should be free of any and all foreign objects and debris such as garbage, leaves, etc. Blowers and sweepers specifically designed for synthetic turf can help clean the field before and after games (Photo 4).

If the field has been used for any non-football events, such as a graduation, walk the field and look for nuts, bolts, screws, nails or any materials that may have been used in construction of the stage or a similar structure. The amount of metal debris that is sometimes found on fields can be both surprising and dangerous. At professional stadiums, field managers typically go over the field with a large magnet after events such as concerts to remove metal debris.

Magnets capable of being pulled by utility carts are available

2 Separating or uneven seams and inlays should be fixed using manufacturers recommendations.

3 Monitoring surface hardness with the Clegg Impact Soil Tester.

Debris on the field should be removed prior to field use.

4

Feature Story continued

for purchase and are a useful tool if your field regularly hosts non-football events (Photo 5).

Be sure to inspect sideline areas for obstacles such as trash cans and benches. These types of items should be far enough away from the playing surface that a player has a chance to stop before coming into contact with them. A minimum buffer zone of 25 feet is commonly recommended.

Goal posts should be checked to ensure they are properly anchored. Goal post pads should be installed for all games and practices.

5

Natural Turf Fields

While there are no seams to worry about like on synthetic turf fields (unless the field was recently sodded), there are a number of potential hazards that require attention on natural turf fields.

Holes and depressions can increase injury risk and should be filled in as soon as possible using sand and/or soil. When time allows, the area should be preferably sodded if it is large or, at a minimum, the area should be seeded as soon as possible. Perennial ryegrass is often the species of choice as it germinates and matures quickly.

Be on the lookout for any debris and/or foreign objects such as metal helmet accessories and nails used to string out the field during the painting process.

If the field has an in-ground irrigation system, check that all sprinkler heads have fully retracted below the surface as designed and that any quick-coupler keys and similar items have been removed and valve caps have been properly placed in the closed position. It is a good practice to cover plastic valves box covers and similar covers with synthetic turf or another ‘non-slip’ covering as there is a potential for players to slip on these items, especially when wearing cleats. Also check to be sure there are no depressions in the area around each irrigation head and valve box.

High-use areas like goal mouths and the middle of the field require extra attention as these areas are at high risk for turf loss and elevated surface hardness. Monitor the amount of turf cover and overseed on a regular basis. As on synthetic fields, surface hardness can be tested using a Clegg Impact Soil Tester. All areas of the field should be under 100 Gmax when measured with this device. As hardness levels increase, be sure there is adequate soil moisture since a dry field is typically a hard field. Synthetic fields, surface hardness can be tested using a Clegg Impact Soil Tester (Photo 6). All areas of the field should be under 100 Gmax when measured with this device. As hardness levels increase, be sure there is adequate soil moisture since a dry field is typically a hard field.

Just as with synthetic turf fields, goal posts and sideline areas should be inspected, and potential obstacles should be moved away from the immediate sideline area to create a buffer zone. After non-football events, the field should be checked for metal debris as previously described in the synthetic turf section.

Also be sure to inspect fences and any transition areas such as a transition from turf to a running track surrounding

A magnet removes potentially dangerous metal objects from the field.

6 STMA field inspection checklist — the full checklist is available at stma.org.

the field. The transition between surfaces should be smooth with minimal change in elevation.

Document Your Inspections

A field inspection checklist is a great way to be sure to not overlook any elements of your field inspection. It also provides a record that the field was inspected should an injury occur and the safety of the field be questioned. It is also a good idea to take pictures as a way to document field conditions throughout the year.

You can make your own field inspection checklist or use one that has already been created. The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) has a thorough field checklist that is available under the ‘Knowledge Center’ on their website – stma.org. The website also contains “how to” videos for inspecting synthetic, natural, and baseball/ softball fields.

Routine field inspections demonstrate a proactive approach to athlete safety. Hazards both on the field of play and the surrounding area can be identified and remediated before they pose an injury risk, creating a safer environment for all field users. c

24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 25

Calendar of Events

Virginia Tech Turf Team

Advertisers Index

October 17–19

Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.

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GIE+Expo — Green Industry Equipment Expo and School of Grounds Management

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Myrtle Beach Convention Ctr. Myrtle Beach, SC

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ASLA – Annual Meeting & Expo

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January 28–31, 2019 Mid Atlantic Turfgrass Expo

Fredericksburg Expo Center Fredericksburg, VA

David McCall, Ph.D.

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San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA

February 18–21, 2019 TPI International Education Conference & Field Day

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February 2–7, 2019 Golf Industry Show

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With Support from: Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D.

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26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal July/August 2018 www.vaturf.org

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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 ©2018 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.)

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 27

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