MPSFMA NEWS - SPRING 2023

VOLUME 13, NO. 1

MPSFMA NEWS

SPRING 2023

MLB Umpire Tim Tschida Keynotes Spring Workshop On March 9 in Saint Paul

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By Derek Hollanitsch MPSFMA President City of Saint Paul

Greetings to all members as we look forward to a new year in 2023. Last year brought our organization a name change. After many months of discussion our Minnesota chapter decided to align ourselves with the National Chapter name change. The MPSFMA (Minnesota Parks Sports Field Management Association) was agreed upon to include “parks” as a important moniker to be included in that name change. I’d like to thank former President Mark Kruse, CSFM, from the City of Lakeville for his leadership in keeping the board on task as we navigated our name change and various other items that became before the Board.

New Board Members this year include: Trenton Waters, Minnesota Twins (Vice President); Marshall Syvertsen, City of Edina (General Member Representative); Mike Zwisler, The Tessman Company (Commercial Member Representative), and MMarcus Campbell, Saint Paul Saints (MTGF Representative). I encourage anyone to approach any current or former Board Member about becoming elected onto the MPSFMA Board. The networking and contacts you will make might be a invaluable resource as you continue with your career. Whether you work for a municipality, university, school district, own a business or work for a business; there’s a place for you at the table.

Our Spring Workshop is set for Thursday, March 9th at the University of Northwestern. Registration is available until the workshop. A big shout out to Jeff Hintz, the Director of Athletic Outdoor Facilities for his work behind the scenes hosting our annual Spring event to kick off the year. I’m proud to have used my St. Paul connections to secure former Major League Umpire Tim Tschida. He’ll be starting the day off being our Keynote Speaker. His many years of being on the field at various ballparks and around those guys called “The Boys of Summer” should make for a fantastic talk! Education sessions will follow after the keynote and as always an exceptional lunch. Remember to get your 50/50 raffle tickets at the workshop. Stop by and introduce yourself at the various commercial member booths and see what services and products that your organization might be able to use.

The annual MPSFMA Golf Tournament is set for Wednesday, July 26th at 9am. Royal Oaks Golf Club in Lake Elmo will again be the host site. Start rounding up your foursomes. I’m sure Mike McDonald is already scheming his team!

Other dates to be on the look out for are Tour on Wheels, Field Day at the TROE Center, Demo Day, Community Service Project, and the November 16 Fall Workshop to round out the year.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

MPSFMA SPRING WORKSHOP

(7am - 2pm) University of Northwestern | Saint Paul

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

OPEN HOUSE | TRADE SHOW

(11am - 1pm) Town & Country Fence | Brooklyn Park

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26

MPSFMA GOLF TOURNAMENT (9am - 2pm) Royal Golf Club | Lake Elmo Shotgun | 4-person Scramble

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16

MPSFMA FALL WORKSHOP

(7am - 2pm) Brackett’s Crossing Country Club | Lakeville Please note that, along with the new website at www.mpsfma.org, the MPSFMA’s Executive Secretary’s email has changed to jeff.turtinen@mpsfma.org. Each time the association sends out emails, many go unopened. We feel some of these are going to spam folders and are never seen. If you’re a member of the Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association, you should be getting emails on a fairly regular basis. If you’ve never seen a email from us, please check your other folders or contact the MPSFMA office directly.

Fargo, ND

St. Paul, MN

Tea, SD

Sincerely,

Derek Hollanitsch

Derek Hollanitsch President Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association

SPRING 2023

St. Paul

Fargo, ND

Tea, SD

(651) 487-3850

(701) 232-7238

(605) 368-2586

Landscape • Greenhouse • Lawn Care • Turf • Winter Equipment

MPSFMA NEWS 3

Set March 9 at University of Northwestern|St. Paul

Former Major League Baseball Umpire Tim Tschida to Keynote Spring Workshop Timothy Joseph Tschida is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School and the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Tschida joined the American League's full-time umpiring staff in 1986 and worked in both Major Leagues from 2000 until his retirement following the 2012 season.

On March 9, Tschida will keynote the MPSFMA Spring Workshop at 8:00 am at the University of Northwestern | Saint Paul.

His professional umpiring career began after he attended the Joe Brinkman Umpire School in 1981. He was elevated to the American League for the 1986 season.

In 2000, the American and National Leagues combined umpiring staffs. For the 2007 season, Tschida was promoted to a crew chief position. A report by The Hardball Times asserts that Tschida called the smallest strike zone of all MLB umpires in 2011.

Tschida worked in thirteen postseasons, including the World Series in 1998, 2002 and 2008; the League Championship Series in 1993, 1999, and 2000; and the Division Series in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. He worked the All-Star Game in 1992 and 2002. He was the second base umpire for the single-game playoff to decide the NL's 2007 wild card team. He was also the third base umpire for Kenny Rogers's perfect game on July 28, 1994, and the home plate umpire for Nolan Ryan's seventh no-hitter on May 1, 1991 and Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter on September 14, 2008. Home plate umpire for Tom Kramer's one hitter on May 25, 1993, in Cleveland's Municipal stadium (not to be confused with Tommy Kramer's Hail Mary against Cleveland at Met Stadium!)

On August 3, 1987, Tschida was the plate umpire when he ejected Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro for possessing an emery board. On August 4, 1999, Anaheim Angels hitter Orlando Palmeiro struck out to lead off a game and then dropped his bat at home plate, prompting Tschida, the home-plate umpire, to eject him. However, manager Terry Collins convinced Tschida to allow Palmeiro back into the game, as Palmeiro had merely been leaving the bat at home plate because every hitter was using the same bat. Tschida made a widely disputed call in the 1999 ALCS in which Chuck Knoblauch applied a "phantom tag" to José Offerman. The call was ranked the worst call in sports history by readers of ESPN Playbook. On June 19, 2012, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta was ejected by Tschida for having pine tar inside his glove .

(Continued on Page 6)

SPRING 2023

MPSFMA NEWS 5

Spring Workshop (Continued from Page 5)

The 2023 MPSFMA Spring Workshop will take place on Thursday, March 9 at the University of Northwestern|St. Paul. The workshop begins with a 1-hour networking session with coffee and pastries at 7:00 am. Speakers will begin at 8:00 am. A nice hot lunch will be served mid-day.

The workshop will end at 2pm.

Spring Workshop Sponsors Platinum St. Croix Recreation Fun Playgrounds MTI Distributing Inc. Midwest Groundcover Express Blower Service Reinders Inc. Site One Landscape Supply Minnesota Sodding Company Magic Turf Silver Gertens Wholesale The Tessman Company Frost Inc. Twin City Seed Company HLS Outdoor Hartman Companies Cushman Motor Co.

Gold Eco Works Supply Ramy Turf SMSC Organic Recycling Facility Bronze Berg Turf Rock Hard Landscape Supply DH Athletics Beacon Athletics Pro Turf & Renovation EC Grow Hunter Industries Minnesota Equipment

SPRING WORKSHOP AGENDA 6:15 am Vendor Setup 7:00 am Registration, Networking, Vendor Time and Announcements Coffee & Pastries sponsored by: SMSC Organic Recycling Facility, Midwest Groundcover & Express Blower Service, MTI Distributing Inc., Pioneer Athletics 8:10 am Auditorium 1 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Tim Tschida, Former MLB Umpire 9:00 am Auditorium 1 Derek Hollanitsch City of St. Paul Photo Presentation: Do's & Don'ts Throughout the Years Auditorium 2 Wayne Horman Landmark Seed Company Topic: From Concept to seed in the ground, what it takes Field to Field to Field 9:45 am Vendor & Networking Time 10:15 am Auditorium 1 Lehn Weaver Mitchell Products Topic: Wetting Agents Auditorium 2 Jon Trappe U of MN Turfgrass Extension Topic: Research and Turfgrass Extension Update from UMN 11:00 am Vendor & Networking Time 11:45 am BBQ Lunch, Vendor & Networking Time BBQ Lunch sponsored by: Magic Turf, Pioneer Athletics Midwest Groundcover & Express Blower Service, 1:00 pm 50 | 50 RAFFLE ROUNDTABLE Seasonal Staff Hiring & Management

6 MPSFMA NEWS

SPRING 2023

The Magic’s in the Details!

We pride ourselves on our work, and let the results speak for themselves!

Athletic Field Maintenance • • • • • •

Turfgrass Maintenance

Field reconstruction Lip removal Infield grading/detailing Infield weed control Pitching mound construction Consulting

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Turfgrass stripping Grading & soil preperation Seeding & sodding Aerating Top dressing Fertilizing & spraying

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The City of New Ulm’s Johnson Park was the recipient of the 2022 Turfco/MPSFMA Field of the Year. The dedication to detail and commitment to extraordinary playing surfaces made Ryen Weier (holding poster on the left), Ed Tietl (holding the plaque) and staff at this historic facility is truly remarkable.The New Ulm group was recognized at the Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association’s Annual Meeting on January 12 in Minneapolis.Also pictured are 2022 MPSFMA President Mark Kruse, CSFM, City of Lakeville, on the far left and Greg Brodd, Turfco Manufacturing representative, on the far right.

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8 MPSFMA NEWS

SPRING 2023

TURFCO|MPSFMA FIELD OF THE YEAR APPLICATION CRITERIA + Located in the state of Minnesota. + Resourcefulness of staff, budget, maintenance practices, challenges in management of field. + Condition and aesthetics of the athletic field. + Number and type of games and/or events. + Previous recipients may re-apply if all requirements/applications are met.

Information Requested (use additional sheet if necessary) + School, Park District or Agency owning this Field: + Name of Field / Complex: + Street Address: + Age of Field: + Type of Field (Baseball, Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, etc.): + Natural Grass or Synthetic Turf? + Size of Field in acres: + Overall Maintenance Acreage: + Annual Maintenance Budget for this Field: + Number of full time staff employed to maintain field: + Number of seasonal staff employed to maintain field: + What type of irrigation? __ Automatic __ Manual __ Both __ None + Does your field have sports lighting? + Type of equipment used to maintain your field: + Type of maintenance program you employ (fertilization, aeration, topdressing, seeding, etc.): + How many months or days of the year is your field used? + Number of games played on your field or throughout your facility: + Besides sports, what other type of events are held on your field? + What special maintenance challenges have you encountered? + Why do you think your field is one of the best?

Signature: ____________________________________________ ___________ Date: ______________________ Note: Typing in Signature is accepted. I certify that the information on this form and in the accompanying entry is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that no material will be returned and may be used for publication and promotional purposes.

Send completed entries and photos to: MPSFMA P.O. Box 617, Wayzata, MN 55391

SPRING 2023

Or email to: jeff.turtinen@mpstma.org

MPSFMA NEWS 9

If you’re looking to elevate the image and quality of a facility by offering the most efficient ball field maintenance program, then the Ventrac is the right tool for the job. Achieve unmatched field leveling, weed control and a perfect finish on the ballfield with Ventrac’s Ballpark Renovator and Groomer.

Call us today to learn how Ventrac's Ballpark Renovator and Groomer can help you achieve that perfect finish!

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COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT APPLICATION Does Your Baseball/Softball/Soccer/Football Field or Playground Need to be Renovated?

The Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers Association has the answers! We will select a field from entries submitted and provide the labor for the renovation project. Some materials will be donated or provided at a reduced cost. Volunteers from your organization will be needed to perform the renovation project as well as to care for the field after the renovations are complete.

POSSIBLE RENOVATION IDEAS + Seeding + Sodding + Topdressing + Aerifying + Mounds + Homeplate + Skinned Areas + Irrigation Repair + Grass Areas + Field Layout ENTER YOUR FIELD BY COMPLETING THE FORM BELOW

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15, 2023

Organization: _______________________________________________________________________ Name of Field: ______________________________________________________________________ Address of Field: ____________________________________________________________________ User groups (numbers, ages, sports) _____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ What do you want done to your field? ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Why is the project needed? Safety issues? Field issues? _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Who will do the regular maintenance after completion? _______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ What is the window of time for renovation? ________________________________________________ What is the field's history? (age, maintenance, irrigation, uniqueness, etc.) _______________________ Contact info of person doing current maintenance: Field Maintenance Contact: ____________________________________________________________ CellPhone: ______________________________Email: _____________________________________ MPSTMA Member Sponsor (not mandatory for submission) _________________________________ E-MAIL photos to: jeff.turtinen@mpsfma.org or mail to: Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association P. O. Box 617, Wayzata, MN 55391 Call Mike McDonald CSFM at (612) 328-5812 with questions about this project.

SPRING 2023

MPSFMA NEWS 11

4th Annual MPSFMA Golf Tournament Set July 26 at Royal GC in Lake Elmo The 4th Annual MPSTMA Scramble will take place on Wednesday, July 26 at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo. the shotgun start begins at 9:00 am. Cost is $80 per person, includes green fee, cart, range balls, lunch on the course and a tee prize.

MPSFMA members can register as a 4person group or sign up as singles, doubles or triples.

In 2022, the MPSFMA Golf Tournament field had a full field of 80 golfers as a number of cities entered as teams last year.

The 2022 winning team of Jay Stadler, Carleton College; Mike McDonald, retired; Greg Brodd, Turfco Mfg., and Roger Weinbrenner, CSFM, MSC, fired an -11 to win the 2022 MPSFMA Golf Tournament. Four St. Paul Saints Game Vouchers was one of the prizes available. These "Infield Reserved Ticket" vouchers were good for any Saints game at CHS Field this summer. Other prizes were awarded for Closest to Pins, Long Drives and Low Team.

Thank you to our golf sponsors for providing extra funds for prizes. Sponsoring companies were: Reinders, Inc., Hunter Industries, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Ramy Turf, Gertens Wholesale and Turfco Manufacturing.

In 2021, the MTI foursome of Bob Frank, Larry Gorman, Tim Fleegle and Ryan Pannhoff won the event with an 11under par 61. Finishing one shot behind was a foursome made up of: Nick Balestreiri, HLS Outdoor; Trent Waters, City of Roseville; Jared Alley, Minnesota Twins/Target Field, and Marcus Campbell, Saint Paul Saints/CHS Field. Special thanks to MTI Distributing Inc. who, once again, donated a lawn mower as one of the prizes. Make plans to play in this event in August 2022.

Limited field of 80 - register on-line today at www.mpstma.org.

MPSFMA is looking for sponsors again the July 26th tournament! Hole and closest-to-the-pin sponsorship opportunities also available.

As they have the past few years, Director of Golf Kent Blaschko and Golf Course Superintendent Mike Sonnek will make sure MPSFMA members are treated to a first-class day on a beautiful course.

Note: The 2023 golf tournament will have a limited field of 80 golfers, register at www.mpsfma.org.

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12 MPSFMA NEWS

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SPRING 2023

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As Hollanitsch Becomes 2023 MPSFMA President, Waters, Syvertsen, Zwisler & Campbell Join Board Derek Hollanitsch, City of St. Paul, became President of the Minnesota Park and Sports Fields Management Association on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the MPSFMA Annual Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Mark Kruse, CSFM, City of Lakeville guided the association through a couple of major changes in 2022 as President. The association name change was discussed throughout the past year and has now become official as Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association. The Board felt this name, as well as aligning with the national SFMA, better represents the membership.

A new logo for the association was produced and is now being utilized. Another change was the association's dues structure. General member dues went up by $10.

Commercial dues are now in various packages ranging from a basic $100 commercial membership all the way up to a Platinum Membership of $1,750. The reason for the packages are because feedback told us most companies would

like to budget and pay for the calendar year at the same time.

So far, it has been well-received.

The 2023 MPSFMA Board of Directors now includes Trenton Waters, Minnesota Twins Baseball Club who is the association's new Vice President.

Marshall Syvertsen, City of Edina, will join Paul Miskimen, City of Lakeville as General Member Representatives; Mike Zwisler, The Tessman Company, will pair with Nick Balistrieri, Beacon Athletics, as Commercial Member Representatives, and Marcus Campbell, Saint Paul Saints Baseball Club, will be a MTGF representative along with Sam Bauer, Ramy Turf Products. Sam also is the new Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation’s President.

Derek Hollanitsch, as stated earlier, is the Minnesota Park and Sports Field Management Association’s President for 2023. Roger Weinbrenner CSFM serves as Treasurer, and Jeff Turtinen is the Executive Secretary for MPSFMA.

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Paul Kubista: pkubista@twincityseed.com 3,!.$,&4/53 1-+.$23541( Andy Keating: akeating@twincityseed.com *,&4/53#5%41045+/22-"0') 3*23541(#5%41045+/22-"0') James Wolfin: jwolfin@twincityseed.com SPRING 2023

NORTHERN GREEN 2024

Launching a New Chapter As Expo Moves to St. Paul

By CASSIE LARSON MNLA Executive Director

The challenges of the past few years have given everyone reason to pause, examine, and reassess. During the past several months, a collection of MNLA and MTGF board members and committee members have been meeting to discuss how to make our feature event, Northern Green, even more relevant to today’s green industry needs. After gathering feedback from members, exhibitors, and volunteers – we’re so excited to share that Northern Green will be transforming starting in January of 2024. Trade shows and events are evolving, and we are continuously striving to bring you the next best thing. The future is BRIGHT, and we’re excited for you to join us on this evolving adventure.

FIRST, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE ARE ON THE MOVE! We heard loud and clear from members and exhibitors that there was a desire to move the show out of Minneapolis following the tragic events of recent years. While we have enjoyed nearly 20 years at the Minneapolis Convention Center, evolution and growth often demand change...and so we're pleased to launch a new chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul, and in addition, showcase a new and interactive Northern Green October event that will be held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. We’ll be able to celebrate the season kick off and start to wrap up the year with a Northern Green experience on both ends!

Northern Green becomes a year-round hub for all communities of the green industry, with the education, networking, and tools you need to grow your business and career.

TRADITIONAL INDOOR EXPO The indoor portion of the Northern Green will still take place January 23-25, 2024 with events at RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, as well as a variety of other event and restaurant locations close by in St. Paul. Finding your colleagues and making connections is at the center of the event’s design. So, we invite you to join us in the all-new Northern Green Villages – each community within the larger event will have education, product and service show-

SPRING 2023

cases, social events, and peer sharing designed specifically for the community’s needs. For example, are you a golf course superintendent who wants to connect with other superintendents? Are you a grounds manager who wants to meet with other grounds professionals? The goal is to provide an experience with tools and connections you can take back to your workplace to be even more effective.

NORTHERN GREEN OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW FALL 2024 The addition of an outdoor component to the Northern Green umbrella allows for more demonstrations, hands-on education / installations, and interactive experiences at the one-day event in late September or early October of 2024.

Plus, suppliers will be able to feature outdoor equipment in its natural environment – test drive a mower, take a spin in that mini-excavator, or purchase a plow for the upcoming snow season. A variety of quick-hitting educational events will also be included.

Both event components, January and October, will feature curated social events to network and engage with your industry peers. This will be your opportunity to connect in a low-key, fun, and intentional way. Not everyone wants to interact in the same way, so we’ll have a variety of experiences to choose from.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS FOR 2024 Finally, we’ll be launching a new flexible subscription registration model - register for one event or both all at one time to make it as easy as possible. Plus, send different team members on the same ticket!

While the big picture pieces are in place, many details are still in the development process. Are you interested in participating? We’d love to hear your ideas or have you join a team or committee that will help with the planning process. Please reach out, and we’ll get you connected.

Regardless, we hope you’ll plan to join us for the next chapter of the Northern Green story in St. Paul in January and October 2024 – you won’t want to miss it!

MPSFMA NEWS 15

STILL TIME TO REGISTER

Green Industry Bowling Tournament Rescheduled For March 8 at Flaherty Bowl in Arden Hills MPSFMA and other allied association members of the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation (MTGF) and Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) are invited to participate and/or be a part of the 2nd Annual MTGF/MNLA Foundation Fundraiser - the Green Industry Bowling Tournament on March 8 beginning at 2:30 pm at Flaherty's Bowl in Arden Hills.

With the help of many sponsors, and generosity of participants for this year’s Green Industry Bowling Tournament, financial help will go towards two co-sponsored scholarships to two promising students attending the Turf Management Program at University of Minnesota | Crookston.

Supporting us with a charitable donation or door prize, will go a long way for having a fun and rewarding event. We will proudly recognize sponsors in digital pre promotions, at the event, on the MTGF and MNLA websites, in SCOOP magazine reaching over 1,000 subscribers MTGF Clippings and MPSFMA News. We invite and encourage sponsors to attend and to actively engage with event attendees. There is no cost to attend as a sponsor. If you would like to partici-

Greg Brodd, Mike McDonald CSFM, Pins McBride, Derek Hollanitsch and Ben Boeding CSFM, won the 2022 event as one of the teams representing MPSFMA and the MTGF.

pate as a bowler, or bring your colleagues, customers, or friends, go to www.mnla.biz to Register to Bowl.

To participate in this opportunity, please contact Mike McDonald at 612-328-5812 or email mcdon015@umn.edu.

Please feel free to reach out with questions.

TOWN & COUNTRY FENCE OPEN HOUSE | TRADE SHOW TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023 | 11-1

ALL MPSFMA MEMBERS ARE WELCOME! RSVP to Town & Country Fence @ 763-425-5050 Trade Show Booth Options for Vendors!

16 MPSFMA NEWS

SPRING 2023

UnderFence Mow Strip: New Name, New Logo, Same Top-Quality Product

By LAURA MacLEAN UnderFence

After operating for several decades as FenceGuard, starting in 2023, we are excited to announce that we have rebranded to UnderFence! We look forward to continuing to build the business in the commercial and residential markets. While the name and logo is new, we are ommitted to offering the same, top-notch product and customer service!

Each year, countless hours of labor and costs for equipment/supplies are spent to maintain fence lines. Weed whacking or using chemicals are tedious, unpleasant, and have a negative impact on the environment.

UnderFence offers as an innovative solution for fence line maintenance that reduces labor, saves money and provides a clean-cut appearance. Made from high density recycled plastic that is both durable and sustainable, we have hundreds of installations in 35+ states across America and Canada since 2010.

Whether fencing for a backyard or for an athletic complex, our primary purpose is to use eco-friendly materials to provide our customers with a long-lasting solution for fence line maintenance that saves time/money and enhances curb appeal.

UnderFence is owned/operated by husband-and-wife Luke and Laura MacLean. The MacLeans met in college at

the University of Minnesota, where Luke played on the baseball team and Laura on the soccer team. The MacLeans spent 15+ years in teaching, coaching and education administration prior to starting a family-owned business. Luke and Laura have three school-aged daughters that are heavily involved in sports and activities. Faith, family, and friends are pillars of the MacLean household.

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SPRING 2023

MPSFMA NEWS 17

Midwest Groundcover express blower service now offering blown in natures plus tamarack engineered wood fiber.

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we provide free onsite safety surfacing consulting & assessments in the metro area.

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Timely and Effective Winter Tree Pruning

By CHAD P. GIBLIN Trees & Me LLC

Pruning young trees is really about proactive tree preservation. When the proper pruning dose is applied at the ideal time, care is directed at creating a mature form that is structurally sound and able to resist branch failures during wind, snow, and ice loading events. When trees are smaller than eight inches pruning should focus on the transition from frequent nursery pruning schedules to those that are much less frequent in the landscape. The challenge lies in developing a functional mature crown while maintaining an attractive young form. In many cases a compromise in aesthetics is required to establish a strong canopy.

Proper pruning dose is the volume of canopy that can safely be removed during a single pruning event. Dose is calculated using several factors including tree establishment status, growth rate, inherent resistance to decay, and the time between pruning cycles. A dose that is too low or too high can have equally negative effects on the developing crown in a young tree.

half the size of the stem where they are attached until permanent removal. This will minimize the wound size when they are thinned at the main stem and promote quicker wound closure. The exact size of the pruning cut will vary depending on the tree species and its growth rate as well as resistance to decay.

Young lindens often require several courses of reduction pruning cuts to slow the growth of large temporary branches and codominant leaders.

Using simple rope access equipment and techniques gives arborists an ideal work position to make the best pruning cuts.

The first step in pruning young trees is to identify a strong central leader. Next, the height of the lowest permanent scaffold branch should be established; this may be variable depending on the species and location.

Trees located in public boulevards may require higher permanent canopy than those located in parks or on private property. Branches below permanent canopy are considered temporary and will need to be pruned to a smaller lateral branch to reduce or suppress their growth and eventually thinned at the main stem. All temporary branches need to be managed to keep them less than one-

SPRING 2023

When approaching medium sized trees ranging from 8 to 12 inches in diameter, pruning cuts should be kept relatively small and in the outer periphery of the canopy. As trees approach maturity their growth rates level off and some species may respond poorly to large pruning cuts, especially when made on the main stem. Knowing tree species profiles and their ability to resist decay is critical in making these decisions. In many cases, if a large branch doesn’t need to be removed for clearance it can simply be reduced to direct resources to higher, more central portions of the canopy.

Larger trees really need to be assessed for structural defects that create risk due to targets below. These defects may include decay, branch inclusions, and codominant leaders as well as branch unions that are actively failing. The goal is to prevent or mitigate the effects of failure. Much like the approach with medium-sized trees, pruning cuts should focus on the outer canopy to reduce the sail on weak or defective branches. This can reduce the lever action on poorly attached unions and prevent failure during loading events. Cabling can be used to reduce the load on these unions as well.

MPSFMA NEWS 19

Play is the Beginning Of something wonderful, vibrant and unique. It teaches us and challenges us to be better. It connects us – to ourselves, each other and to our communities. With play as the beginning, anything is possible.

Join Our Movement at funplaygrounds.com

Proud Representative of

© BCI Burke Company 2023

A Test for You This test does not measure your intelligence, your fluency with words, and certainly not your mathematical ability. It will, however, give you some gauge of your mental flexibility and creativity. In the many years since the test was developed, few people have been found who could solve more than half of the 23 puzzles on the first try. Many reported getting answers long after the test had been set aside; in the middle of the night, and at unexpected moments when their minds were relaxed. A small percentage of people complete the test after several days. Take this as your personal challenge. Good luck!

Instructions: Each question below contains the initials of words that will make it a correct phrase. Find the missing words.

For example: 12 = M. in a Y. Answer: 12 = Months in a Year

26 = L. of the A. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7 = W. of the W. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1001 = A. N. __________________________________________________________________________________________ 12 = S. of the Z. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 54 = C. in the D. (with the J.) _________________________________________________________________________ 9 = P. in the S. S. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 88 = P. K. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 13 = S. on the A. F. ____________________________________________________________________________________ 32 = D. F. at which W. F. ______________________________________________________________________________ 18 = H. on a G. C. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 90 = D. in a R. A. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 200 = D. for P. G. in M. _______________________________________________________________________________ 8 = S. on a S. S. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3 = B. M. (S.H.T.R) ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4 = Q. in a G. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 = H. in a D. ________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 = W. on a U. _________________________________________________________________________________________ 5 = D. in a Z. C. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 57 = H. V. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 = P. on a F. T. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1000 = W. that a P. is W. ______________________________________________________________________________ 29 = D. in F. in a L. Y. _________________________________________________________________________________ 64 = S. on a C. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Answers available at www.mpsfma.org or at the MPSFMA Spring Workshop

SPRING 2023

MPSFMA NEWS 21

MANAGED TURF SOLUTIONS

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It starts with the seed!

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REACH OUT TO A TEAM MEMBER TODAY! MICHAEL FRIEDERICHS

9300 75th Ave N Ste 200 Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 763.284.5020

JEFF LATTERELL CALEB LETOmichael.friederichs@hlsoutdoor.com jeff.latterell@hlsoutdoor.com caleb.leto@hlsoutdoor.com 612.791.4643 612.599.7397 JEFF LATERELL

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P. O. Box 617 Wayzata, MN 55391

Show your support of MTGF’s mission to fund turf & grounds research and the continued operations at TROE Center by donating to the MTGF today!

Name: _________________________________________________________________________ Company: ______________________________________________________________________ Donating in the name of: __________________________________________________________ Email Address: __________________________________________________________________

Donation amount: $ _________________ PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION & SEND CHECK TO: Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation, P. O. Box 617, Wayzata, MN 55391 or donate online at www.mtgf.org/donations