TURF News - April 2025 by Repracorp

GRASSES FOR COURSES IN COLD CLIMATES

Knowledge

SUPPRESS ANTHRACNOSE pg. 6

THE

Service Tips pg. 30

inside

How to Suppress Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a major problem for many turfgrass managers during the summer period worldwide.

The Mud Season

The time of year when the snow recedes and clay roads turn into greasy jungles of muck.

Grasses for Courses in Cold Climates

Knowledge about how different grasses perform in cold weather is crucial for reducing winter damage.

Managing Silvery-thread Moss

Silvery-thread moss (STM) infestations can affect play and the visual quality of the golf green.

President’s Message pg. 5

Irrigation Corner pg. 8

Service Tips pg. 30

Atlantic Golf Superintendents Association

Membership Rates *

Class A & B $190

Corporate $220

Industry Affiliate $175

Student $60

Maintenance $60

4+ employees hired by a Class A $180

Ad & Article Deadlines

February (Supplier) January 1

May (Spring) April 1

July (Summer) June 15

October (Fall) September 15

Advertising Inquiries

AGSA Inc

571 Willow Avenue, Unit 1

New Glasgow, NS B2H 2A1 www.agsa.ca

Executive Director

Jim Nix

1967agsa@gmail.com

Turf News Editor

Jim Nix

Contributors

Matt Blackburn, Barry K Stone, Paul MacCormack, Jamie Matheson, John Dempsey, Derrick Hawley, Paul MacCormack

info@lcrsupplies.ca

president’s report

Winter seems to finally have broken, and we have enjoyed some warm days. It looks like that trend will continue. With some late season ice settling in around many places in Atlantic Canada I’m sure everyone is glad to be seeing some bare turf. For the most part things look healthy and there is only a moderate amount of debris around.

It took a while but I’m sure like myself others are glad to see their reservoirs recovering. The 2023 season put our drainage to the test and 2025 put our reservoir to the test.

There were lots of Superintendents moving to new opportunities and I wish them the best at their new properties. Moving alone is a daunting task. Taking on a new property is always a challenge, and the learning curve is steep.

Once again, our Conference was a huge success, and we will continue to build on that success. A strong speaker line-up and added value to members is the main focus.

Don’t forget to put the AGSA Summer Scramble on your radar. We are excited to be hosted by Sue Crawford, at Brightwood Golf and Country Club on August 27th. This has sold out in the past so watch for the notice and sign up early.

I hope everyone has a smooth start-up and also finds time to get away and enjoy the summer!

Matt Blackburn AGSA President

Matt Blackburn | AGSA President

BY JOHN DEMPSEY

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES to suppress Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a major problem for many turfgrass managers during the summer period worldwide. Like many turfgrass diseases, its causal agent is a fungal pathogen, in this case Colletotrichum cereale. Anthracnose effects mostly cool season turfgrass’s, with Poa annua being very susceptible. Anthracnose effects turfgrass in two forms: Basal rot, which as you would expect from the name affects the lower parts of the turfgrass plant, crowns, stem bases, and roots. Foliar blight is the second, and probably the more common form, leaves and shoots discolour, having a similar appearance to drought stress in appearance. Whichever form it is, it’s important to note that Anthracnose is very much a stress related disease.

Fungicide treatments can be utilised to suppress this disease, but what I want to highlight today are the numerous management practices that can be employed to alleviate the problem when fungicides are not available or not a desirable option.

As mentioned above, Anthracnose is stress related, so any means of reducing stress will contribute to less disease -pretty much Greenkeeping 101. For example, turf managers can employ cultural practices which will have a significant impact of disease incidence. A program which includes regular light weight rolling, sequential light topdressing, raising height of cut and judicious use of irrigation inputs have been shown to significantly reduce Anthracnose levels.

How does this work? Well increased HOC equals less plant stress = less disease and, taken in conjunction with regular rolling, greens speed and playability will be maintained at an acceptable level. But rolling also has supporting data showing it to have a direct suppressive action on many turf diseases, including Anthracnose. Regular light sand topdressing will protect the crowns of the turfgrasses = less stress = less disease. Maintaining soil moisture levels at, for example 80% ET compared to 40% ET, will also contribute to less Anthracnose.

Nutritional programs can also play a significant role in reducing Anthracnose. Spoon feeding Nitrogen, e.g. 0.1 lb/M weekly, during periods of high Anthracnose pressure will reduce disease levels, as will maintaining adequate Potassium levels greater than 35 ppm. But it’s when you start combining numerous elements together in a nutritional program that you will see excellent disease suppression.

A trial I carried out in 2018 included a program which included NPK, Sulphur, Copper, Phosphite, Manganese, Zinc, Silica and Salicylic acid, apart from enhancing turfgrass quality compared to Controls, led to a significant suppression of Anthracnose, to a level statistically the same as a bi-weekly fungicide treatment! A similar study running at Rutgers in NJ produced the same results.

Anthracnose can be a devastating disease on many fine turf surfaces, but in the absence of fungicides it is possible to contain the problem and reduce disease levels significantly. While all the above cultural and nutritional inputs on their own will have some effect on reducing disease, its only when you combine them into a regular maintenance package that you will benefit from the full effects. Think of them like pieces of a jigsaw, its only when you start combining them that you will get the full picture.

IRRIGATION CORNER

by Barry Stone

QUESTION OF THE MONTH:

What is the difference between gasket and solvent weld pipe/fittings

First lets discuss pvc pipe which comes in several pressure ratings, however there are two pressure ratings 160 psi and 200 psi that are common in the golf irrigation market, both of these pipes also come in gasket and solvent weld bell ends, now which should be used and why.

The pressure rating is quite simple if the system will be operating at pressures under 140 psi then 160 psi pipe is the choice, 140 psi up to 180 then 200 psi is chosen, if the system will be in excess of 180 psi then other types of pvc will be used or different pipe options will be considered ( HDPE, steel, stainless steel etc)

Regarding gasket or solvent weld pipe here are the options to consider, and some guidelines to follow:

• Usually 1.5 inch to 2.5 in pipe will be solvent weld as this size pipe can be pulled or plowed in and must be welded to allow for this operation, also smaller sizes when solvent welded require little or no thrust blocks, these sizes are also very flexible and therefore are easy to curve around green and tee complexes. Gasket pipe in these sizes would require thrust blocks and may slip out off the gasket bell while being placed in trenches and cannot be pulled or plowed into place.

• When using 3 inch and larger pipe gasket ends are preferred as these sizes are not pulled or plowed in, and do not flex like smaller sizes, as well welding 3 inch and larger pipe is difficult and becomes even harder in hot weather, as the primer and glue may start to set-up prior to the completion of a

joint, leading to leaks and failures in the future. Another major consideration with gasket fittings in larger pipes is the allowed movement in the gasket fitting, an important factor in our frost conditions in this area. On the negative side all gasket fittings must be thrust blocked, use joint restraints, if not, they will come apart under pressure.

• Fittings are offered in both solvent weld and gasket and are used in the same size ranges as pipe for many of the same reasons, also worth noting are the physical size and shape between solvent weld and gasket fittings in the 3 inch and larger sizes. Fittings like pipe offer the same benefits of flexibility in gasket fittings for movement and pulling and plowing in the smaller solvent weld sizes.

• How do gaskets work and why do they not leak,the answer and design is simple the gasket is shaped to seal around the inserted end of the pipe and as the pressure increases it forces the seal back onto the pipe forming a very tight waterproof seal. If the joints are not properly thrust blocked the pressure will push the pipe out of the bell, damage the gasket and possible break or crack the fitting,

• There are many options and uses for solvent weld and gasketed pipes and fitting styles and if some key rules are followed all projects will work very successfully

• Allow the recommended curing times on all solvent weld joints, this will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but will also vary even more when using purple primer and grey solvent to products like red/ hot and wet/dry which offer faster curing times and will perform in damp conditions. When pulling or plowing curing is also critical prior to handling the product.

• Like gasketed fittings solvent weld pipe should have the edge of the inserted pipe beveled to allow for the solvent weld to flow between the bell and inserted pipe also always dry fit the pipe making sure it will insert at least 50% of the distance.

• Finally a measured mark indicating the total depth of insertion is very helpful to determine if the pipe has moved during the solvent weld process, the larger the pipe size the more critical this complete process becomes, also holding of joints in place (needs to be done on all solvent weld pipe) becomes a larger factor as the more solvent weld used the more pressure there is to push the pipe back out of the fitting.

• With gasket fittings the use of gasket lube again as recommended by the pipe supplier will aid in the ease of insertion of the pipe into the bell also proper beveling of the inserted pipe is required as a square cut will only tear the gasket and be very difficult to put in place. The best option is a bar or maul for pushing the pipe in place but always use a block of wood between any item exerting force on the pipe itself or the opposite end will be damaged during this process.

• Types of expanding fittings like telescopic fits should never be used with gasket fittings as the telescopic portion will retrack allowing the inserted portion to pull out of the gasket bell.

• Always mark the inserted pipe at the correct insertion depth so each joint maybe checked prior to back filling, uncut portions of new pipe will have an insertion line already on the pipe. Never insert fittings past this point as they will be pressed into the inner bevel of the bell and not allow the pipe to move in the gasket and thereby cause cracking in the fitting.

• Always wrap fittings in plastic prior to pouring concrete around them as the small particles in the cement water can enter the fitting around the gasket and cause pre-mature failure, also use clean and/or new plastic and seal the ends around the pipe with quality tape.

Please note when using pipes 6 in and larger the use of ductile iron fittings and joint restraints are recommended. In some cases, like drop Z pipes concrete thrust blocks may still be required.

"Overthepast4yearswehavehadtheprivilegeofworkingwithTurfMastersonourmasterplan. Theyhavebeenoutstanding.Thequalityofworkhasbeentothehigheststandard.Notaskor problemistoobig.Theowner,AndyStreatch,isareliableandprofessionalmanwithaskillset thatwillensureexcellentresults.Ourgolfcoursehasbeentakentoanotherlevellargelythanks totheconstructionexpertiseofTurfMasters.”

- Sue Crawford, Superintendent, Brightwood Golf & Country Club

CirrusPRO makes water-saving irrigation easier. Water by seconds, ET, rotation, or application: CirrusPRO™ puts a complete course view and crucial data at your fingertips, so you can make smart irrigation decisions and improve playing conditions too.

The Mud Season

by Paul MacCormack

Earlier this week, as I watched a load of timber for some new bridges being built on our property be unloaded, I knew the season had arrived. That time of year which many in the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada are intimately familiar with, the time of year when the snow recedes, the sun is strong, and clay roads turn into greasy jungles of muck.

Growing up in Prince Edward Island, Canada, this time of year is hallmarked by taking a drive through the countryside and seeing numerous vehicles parked on the edges of main roads. Most folks who live in the houses at the end of long, unpaved lanes are not willing to drive their vehicles up the slippery ruts of mud that unpaved laneways inevitably become. The temptation is strong, but they know through experience that giving in only will make the driveway worse in the long run.

But the ground’s still frozen

Beneath all this mud;

And winter, even on its way out

Will take with it anything

That opens too soon.

An excerpt from, “The Mud Season”, by

James A Pearson

This season can have many names, False Spring or Late Winter, but how we choose to deal with it remains the same. You have to be able to remember that if you think that you might get stuck…you will. You have to remember that just because you got somewhere in the morning when the ground was still mostly frozen, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to get back that way later in the day. One has to exercise patience above all else. One learns the value of restraint and the power of simply choosing to do nothing at all.

I admit fully that this can be a difficult concept to grasp. Superintendents are well aware of the raw

excitement that comes with the brightness of a fresh spring day; the early glimpses of new blooms, the return of the songbirds, and the sound of snow melting into swollen streams. It can almost make us delirious with possibility, and the overwhelming energy of what lies ahead for the upcoming season. It brings us out of hibernation and eager to sharpen the reels, dust off the cup cutter and get busy.

But like refraining from the attempt to navigate the muddy laneway too soon, often times the best offense is patience. It can feel like we are struggling to keep the lid on the season to come, but there are many times in a superintendent’s career the best course of action is to do nothing at all. Our senses and the very cells of our bodies are screaming at us to do something…anything really, but in the end, the best thing we can do is to leave it be and wait until the time is truly right.

How many times in your life does this axiom hold true? How many conversations would have been better if you said nothing and put your intention on listening instead? How many times have you intervened in a situation to try and fix things…only to end up making it all a little worse? How many times has your need to do something replaced the wisdom of stepping back and allowing things to play out on their own?

It’s a hard one for many, but especially for Superintendents. We are fixers of things. We are the people that folks come to when things need to get done. It’s an inherent part of our identity as course managers and greenkeepers. It can almost feel immoral for us not to intervene. But if we can learn to sit with this feeling, and like nature allow things to play out without our intervention, we may learn far more in the long run.

When we choose this path, it doesn’t mean we don’t care. It doesn’t mean that we are being apathetic and not doing our jobs. It simply means we are choosing a more natural route, one that allows thing to unfold as they will on their own. It means attuning to and

respecting the rhythms in nature. When we watch nature in the spring time (or during any change in season) it has its own schedule. It has its own rhythm. It all gets done, but in its own time, and in its own pace. It is not forced, it is not pushed and it retains a measure of efficiency within all its myriad and intertwined actions.

So next time you are heading out in the beginning of the season to do something, maybe pause and ask yourself, “Is this really necessary? Or am I just doing this to quell the feelings of unease and uncertainty within myself?” It can be really hard to do nothing. It takes a lot of practice to be patient. It also takes a healthy dose of overdoing it and failing in the process. Learning from it all helps us see how a lighter touch is sometimes the best medicine. This is how we learn to grow our wisdom alongside growing grass.

In the long run, exercising the muscles of restraint will inevitably make you not only a better superintendent, but a wiser human as well.

Thanks for reading.

Selecting Grasses for Golf Courses in Cold Climates

Karin J. Hesselsøe, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Anne F. Borchert, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Trygve S. Aamlid, Ph.D., Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Tatsiana Espevig, Ph.D., Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D., University of MassachusettsEric Watkins, Ph.D., University of MinnesotaAndrew Hollman, University of MinnesotaPia Heltoft, Ph.D., Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Researchers tested grasses for winter survivability, overall quality and disease resistance in cold climates. Ability to resist diseases like Microdochium patch is particularly important in Europe where limited fungicide options exist, or for superintendents anywhere wishing to reduce fungicide use.

• Among eight grass species tested in Norway, Iceland, Denmark and the U.S., creeping bentgrass was ranked highest for overall quality. The top-performing cultivars were ‘Match Play’, ‘L-93 XD’ and ‘777’. There were significant differences in winter damage and disease among the 17 cultivars tested.

• Velvet bentgrass ranked second best in overall quality. Both creeping bentgrass and velvet bentgrass were significantly better than slender creeping red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and Chewings fescue, which all performed equally. Rough bluegrass and perennial ryegrass were ranked lowest overall.

• Among five different seed mixtures tested, the creeping bentgrass variety ‘Pure Distinction’ blended with three varieties of fine fescue performed best. Management strategy (nitrogen rate and mowing height) significantly impacts which grass becomes dominant in creeping bentgrass blends with other species.

Golf is played around the world, including many places with long, cold winters. In these locations, winter damage to putting greens is mainly a result of abiotic factors such as low temperatures, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles – all of which are difficult or impossible to control. Diseases like Microdochium patch (Microdochium nivale) can also be problematic, particularly in Nordic countries where restrictions on the use of pesticides limit control options. In-depth knowledge about how different grasses perform in cold weather is crucial for reducing the risk of winter damage and its subsequent impacts on the playability and finances of a golf course.

In an effort to provide information that helps superintendents select the best grasses for areas prone to winter injury and diseases like Microdochium patch, a series of studies at two sites in the U.S. and in three Nordic countries were initiated by scientists with the SCANGREEN program. The results from their most-recent round of testing can help golf course superintendents select grasses with the most-consistent winter survivability and resistance to disease.

BACKGROUND ON THE SCANGREEN PROGRAM

SCANGREEN is a research program that is funded by the Scandinavian Turfgrass Environmental Research Foundation (STERF). Its objective is to create discussions between plant breeders, seed companies and golf course superintendents to encourage awareness about new grass varieties and integrated pest management, as well as to support efforts in turfgrass breeding for cold environments. SCANGREEN is managed by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy (NIBIO) and uses four Nordic test sites. Since 2019, two U.S. trial sites in Massachusetts and Minnesota have been included in the program.

Scientists evaluate winter diseases at the SCANGREEN site in Landvik, Norway, in April 2022. There were clear differences in susceptibility to winter turfgrass diseases among the varieties studied. (Dr. Tatsiana Espevig)

Putting greens in the Nordic countries are commonly seeded with creeping bentgrass or mixtures of colonial bentgrass and red fescue. The fescue is typically a mixture of the two subspecies, Chewings and slender creeping red fescue. Annual bluegrass is managed as a weed species on putting greens in Nordic countries, and it is rather abundant in northern areas as it will fill voids following winter damage. The use of velvet bentgrass is restricted to some golf courses in Finland, while rough bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are typically only used as nurse grasses to reestablish greens after winter damage in places with very hard winter conditions. In extremely cold Nordic climates, severe winter damage often occurs, and it is common for courses to have to establish new grass in spring. To avoid too much Poa annua infestation (from the natural seed bank), some courses seed quickly establishing rough bluegrass or perennial ryegrass in early spring just to have some green grass before bentgrass and fescue recover and start to grow again.

2019-2022 SCANGREEN PUTTING GREEN TRIALS

Grasses Evaluated and Locations

The SCANGREEN test round from 2019 to 2022 included eight different species and subspecies, with most entries being varieties of creeping bentgrass, Chewings fescue and slender creeping red fescue (Table 1, Right).

The trials were established on putting greens built according to USGA recommendations at four Nordic locations: Reykjavik Golf Club, Iceland; NIBIO Apelsvoll and NIBIO Landvik research centers in Norway; and at Smørum Golf Club in Denmark. The annual mean temperatures at these four sites ranged from 40 to 49 degrees F and the annual precipitation ranged from 26 to 56 inches.

The two U.S. trials were established on a green built according to USGA recommendations located at Troll Turfgrass Research Facility at the University of Massachusetts, and on a native soil push-up green at the University of Minnesota. The average annual temperature and precipitation was 59 F and 46 inches in Massachusetts and 47 F and 32 inches in Minnesota, respectively.

Putting Green Establishment and Management

The trials were established according to a split-plot design with three replicates; grass species were on main plots and varieties on subplots. The experimental greens were mown three times per week and deficit-irrigated to 80% of field capacity three to four times per week in periods without sufficient natural rainfall. Each experimental green was divided into two different management levels (high or low mowing height and high or low nitrogen rate) based on the species potential use. All three bentgrasses (colonial, velvet and creeping) were mown at 0.120 inch, with velvet and colonial bentgrass receiving 89 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year while creeping bentgrass received 152 pounds annually. At the 0.200-inch mowing height, red fescue received 89 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year while perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and rough bluegrass each received 152 pounds annually.

In addition to the species and cultivars listed above in Table 1, five seed blends containing various mixtures of three red fescue varieties, two bentgrass species, and one perennial ryegrass variety were also tested and are listed in Table 2 in the results section. Those blends and mixtures were established from seed at the University of Minnesota, NIBIO Landvik research center in Norway, and Smørum Golf Club in Denmark, and were managed at both mowing and nitrogen regimes. There were some deviations from the maintenance protocol, especially during establishment and recovery after winter damage.

No notable differences were observed among nitrogen rate or mowing height treatments for the individual species and varieties listed in Table 1 and results are not discussed. However, another focus area of this research was to better understand how nitrogen fertilizer rate and mowing height impact which species in a seed blend becomes dominant. The results of testing the five different seed blends and mixtures in Table 2 are discussed in the results section.

Treatment Applications and Data Collection

Traffic was simulated across all plots and treatments using friction wear drums with golf spikes corresponding to an average of 11,000 rounds of golf per year. There was no use of pesticides or plant growth regulators in any of the trials. Further details on establishment and management can be found in the full report (Hesselsøe et al., 2023).

Monthly assessments of turfgrass quality, tiller density, color, leaf fineness, and coverage of weeds and diseases were done from April or May to October or November depending on the site. Overall winter damage was recorded in spring and occurrence of diseases like Microdochium patch, gray snow mold (Typhula incarnata) and speckled snow mold (Typhula ishikariensis) were rated in autumn, early winter and spring.

A spiked drum was used to simulate golf traffic on the plots. (Karin J. Hesselsøe)

RESULTS: COMPARING DIFFERENT GRASS SPECIES AND VARIETIES

Across the Nordic countries, creeping bentgrass followed by velvet bentgrass gave the best overall quality. Both were significantly better than slender creeping red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and Chewings fescue, which all performed equally. Perennial ryegrass and rough bluegrass had the lowest overall quality across all trial sites.

Varieties of Chewings and Slender Creeping Red Fescue

The varieties of Chewings fescue performed better than the varieties of slender creeping red fescue. The difference could be explained by more Microdochium patch during winter and more dollar spot (Clarireedia spp.) during summer in slender creeping red fescue. At Smørum Golf Club in Denmark, big differences between the varieties of slender creeping red fescue were observed with 20%-30% Microdochium patch during winter in several varieties compared to only 0.2% in ‘Sea Mist’ and 3.0% in ‘Cezanne’. ‘Sea Mist’ also had the lowest infection of dollar spot at Smørum, significantly lower than in several of the other varieties. ‘Sea Mist’ also had the lowest infection of dollar spot in Massachusetts, although not significantly different from the other varieties. Overall in the U.S., the variety ‘Sea Mist’ performed the best of slender creeping red fescues across the two sites.

Varieties of Colonial Bentgrass

Across the four Nordic sites there was no difference between the colonial bentgrass varieties in overall turfgrass quality, but ‘Jorvik’ had the lowest overall winter damage and the least Microdochium patch across all years.

Varieties of Creeping Bentgrass

In total, 17 varieties of creeping bentgrass were tested. Across the Nordic test sites ‘Match Play’, ‘L-93 XD’ and ‘777’ performed best, closely followed by ‘Piranha’, ‘Valderrama’ and ‘Luminary’. Lowest ranked in the Nordic test zones were ‘Penncross’, which had significant disease, low tiller density and coarse leaves, and ‘Pure Select’, which had more overall winter damage and infection of Microdochium patch than the other varieties of creeping bentgrass. In contrast, ‘Pure Select’ was ranked as third best in Massachusetts, but it was not tested in Minnesota.

Results for the creeping bentgrass varieties tested at both trial sites in the U.S. show that ‘Match Play’, ‘Riptide’ and ‘L-93 XD’ were the three highest rated for overall turf quality, while ‘Penncross’, ‘Independence’ and ‘Valderrama’ were rated lowest. ‘Luminary’, ‘Tour Pro’, ‘Match Play’ and ‘Piranha’ had significantly less Microdochium patch than the other varieties, while ‘Penncross’, ‘Independence’ and ‘Valderrama’ had the most Microdochium patch across all observations. Dollar spot severity was also measured at the two U.S. sites, with ‘Piranha’ having the least amount of in-season disease while ‘Independence’ had the most.

Figure 1. Results for 14 creeping bentgrass varieties evaluated for winter damage, Microdochium patch and turfgrass quality (entire growing season) in the SCANGREEN 2019-22 trials. Cultivars are ranked by increasing winter damage (blue bars) from left to right. The amount of disease in Minnesota (green bars) was significantly more than the average of three Nordic sites (orange bars) and may be due to differences in the species of Microdochium nivale present, climate and/or other factors.

Varieties of Velvet Bentgrass and Kentucky Bluegrass

‘Villa’ remained the top variety of velvet bentgrass for the Nordic countries in this round of testing, as it was in earlier trials. ‘Villa’ also had slightly higher turfgrass quality than ‘Legendary’ and ‘Avalon’ in Minnesota, while ‘Villa’ and ‘Avalon’ were equal in Massachusetts.

In Kentucky bluegrass, ‘Limousine’ produced higher turfgrass quality, higher tiller density, finer leaves and less inseason disease than the very dark-colored variety ‘Professor’. Compared to ‘Professor’, ‘Limousine’ was also more winter hardy and less infested with moss and Poa annua. Mostly because of finer leaves, ‘Traction’ was ranked higher than ‘Limousine’ at Landvik and in Minnesota.

RESULTS: COMPARING DIFFERENT SEED BLENDS AND MIXTURES

Winter Damage and Disease Performance

The first column in Table 2 (below) lists the treatment codes for each of the five seed blends and mixtures tested. At the high-fertilizer/low-mow maintenance treatment, the mixture of fescue and creeping bentgrass (FR+AS) had the highest overall turfgrass quality in the Nordic trials, while the mixture of fescue and colonial bentgrass (FR+AC) was ranked the lowest. Comparing overall winter damage and Microdochium patch during winter, FR+AS was also significantly better than FR+AC. In contrast, the infection of Microdochium patch across years was higher with FR+AS than with FR+AC in Minnesota, but the three mixtures with fescue and bentgrass were nonetheless very close in overall turfgrass quality in the U.S. trial. The mixture of creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass (AS+LP) was ranked the lowest in Minnesota with a high infection of Microdochium patch and coarse leaves.

How Does Mowing Height and Nitrogen Rate Affect Species Dominance in a Blend?

The five seed blends and mixtures listed above were tested at the trial sites in Norway, Denmark and Minnesota.

The proportion of red fescue to bentgrass in the mixed plots was investigated by counting tillers in 2020 and 2021. The proportion between red fescue and bentgrass was in favor of the bentgrasses at high-fertilizer/low-mow maintenance. The highest proportion of bentgrass was found with FR+AS followed by FR+AC+AS and FR+AC. At low-fertilizer/high-mow maintenance, the proportion between fescue and bentgrass was more balanced, though the FR+AC+AS mixture was in favor of the bentgrasses. In 2021 the dominance of creeping bentgrass was clear at high-fertilizer/low-mow maintenance as red fescue was almost entirely outcompeted on plots seeded with the FR+AS mixture. In cases where red fescue is desired to be the dominant grass for aesthetic or traditional reasons, a higher mowing height and lower fertilizer rate will give it a competitive advantage over creeping and/or colonial bentgrass.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTITIONERS

Individual Grass Species and Varieties

Among all grass species tested, creeping bentgrass was found to have the best overall quality under these specific conditions. The cultivars ‘Match Play’, ‘L-93 XD’, and ‘777’ are good options for the Nordic countries and northern parts of the U.S. Older cultivars like ‘Penncross’ are not good options for locations where disease is a primary concern. Keep in mind that golf course superintendents in the U.S. have access to many fungicides that greenkeepers in Nordic countries do not. Therefore, superintendents in the U.S. may want to weigh factors such as turf quality and winter survivability more than disease resistance. Cultivars can also perform differently based on location, as illustrated with ‘Pure Select’, which did poorly in Norway but performed well in Massachusetts.

Although creeping bentgrass is commonly used in cold climates in the U.S., the results from this study and ongoing work show the potential for other grasses like velvet bentgrass and the fine fescues as options for golf courses in cold climates. In the right setting, Chewings fescue could be a good option for courses prone to Microdochium patch and dollar spot, specifically the variety ‘Sea Mist’. The findings regarding velvet bentgrass support previous research in the U.S. that shows when the right growing environment and golfer expectations are present, velvet bentgrass can provide a dense, fine and uniform putting surface that requires few inputs and tolerates diseases well (Brilman, 2003; Boesch & Mitkowski, 2007). The lack of velvet bentgrass seed and sod production currently limits widespread use of this grass in the U.S. The fine fescues and velvet bentgrass fit a very specific niche in the U.S. and require a unique maintenance program, nevertheless, they do offer benefits over other grasses when low inputs are desired.

Perennial ryegrass germinates quickly and can tolerate a wide range of mowing heights, but overall, it performed poorly at all sites except at Smørum. Rough bluegrass had the lowest turfgrass quality at all sites and is not a good grass choice for cold climates.

In this trial, the amount of Microdochium patch that occurred varied by bentgrass cultivar. The differences are apparent in this photo from April 2021 at the University of Minnesota. (Andrew Hollman)

Seed Blends and Mixtures

Among the seed mixtures, a few clear differences were found. Fine fescue and creeping bentgrass blends would be preferred at Landvik, Smørum and similar climates in the U.S. at the high-nitrogen/low-mow maintenance, but with the risk that the creeping bentgrass outcompetes the fescue. Varieties of creeping bentgrass with a lower tiller density than ‘Pure Distinction’ should be preferred for the mixture with fescue. Although the results of this research show that creeping bentgrass performs well in cold regions, golf courses in northern Europe sometimes desire to maintain it as a subordinate or supplemental grass to a red fescue blend for aesthetic, playability, and in some cases, reasons having to do with tradition. The mixture with creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass established significantly faster than any of the others, but following winter, turfgrass quality decreased significantly compared to the other mixtures due to Microdochium patch, so the blend with ‘Clementine’ perennial ryegrass cannot be recommended for cold climates.

Reducing Pesticide Use

A key objective of the SCANGREEN program is providing superintendents in Europe, who have limited pesticide options, with the best grass choices for use on courses that use little or no chemical inputs. For example, our results suggest that for courses with mixtures containing colonial bentgrass, replacing it with creeping bentgrass can reduce fungicide requirements. Again, golf course superintendents have many factors to weigh when it comes to grass choices, but if reducing fungicide inputs is a priority, selecting grass species and varieties with good disease tolerance is essential.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The information from this study can guide superintendents in selecting grasses that will perform well in cold climates, but as with any turfgrass conversion, testing potential grass options on a small scall in the unique environment and maintenance program of a particular golf course is essential for making the best choices.

The next round of trials by SCANGREEN has been funded by STERF for 2023-2026 and are currently underway. The U.S. trials are continuing in Minnesota and are now funded by the WinterTurf project.

References:

Boesch, B.P., & Mitkowski, N.A. (2007). Management of velvet bentgrass putting greens. Applied Turfgrass Science, 4, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1094/ATS-2007-0125-01-RS

Brilman, L.A. (2003). Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) In: M.D. Casler & R.R. Duncan (Eds.), Turfgrass biology, genetics, and breeding. John Wiley & Sons.

Hesselsøe, K.J., Borchert, A.F., Aamlid, T.S., Hannesson, B., Rasmussen, P., Normann, K., Espevig, T., DaCosta, M., Watkins, E., Hollman, A., Hornslien, J., Petterson, T., & Heltoft, P. (2023). SCANGREEN 2019-2022: Turfgrass species, varieties and seed mixtures for Scandinavian putting greens. Final results from a four-year testing period. NIBIO Rapport.

This article was published to the usga.org website in February 2025 and is being reproduced with permission.

MATERIAL STORAGE PAD

Ever since I started at Chester Golf Club, I have been dumping our topdressing sand on the asphalt in front of our shop. I wanted to dump it on a hard surface so we will not lose any material, and it won’t get contaminated. We decided to create a material storage area for bunker sand and topdressing sand. We looked at different options for walls. The first option were large concrete jersey barriers. These were cheaper to purchase but the added cost of transport and placement made a poured wall about the same cost. The retaining wall and centre wall are 4’ high and 8” thick, and the pad is 30’ by 36’. The footing is 10” thick and 20” wide. The slab is 6” thick and has rebar on 2 foot centres. The pad slopes 3” from front to back and has 6” of compacted rock under the slab. There is weeping tile around the exterior of the retaining wall. We constructed the walls so that we can eventually add wood structure to them and then add a roof to enclose everything and give us more storage for equipment and not just sand.

The project was started in the early winter, and they picked at it when they were able to. The bins are complete, but we are just waiting for the asphalt plant to open to tie our existing parking lot to the storage pad.

Matt Blackburn Superintendent

Chester Golf Club

Clear the clutter

Before jumping into bundle season, let us help you take stock. Our Complimentary Shed Audit will help you identify waste & overlap, plan smarter bundles, and save money!

Then

claim the savings Our seasonal bundles deliver premium value - without the guesswork.

Using Integrated Pest Management to Manage Silvery-Thread Moss on Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens

By Derrick Hawley, P. Ag.

The Issue

Attracting and retaining golfers is important for long-term financial stability and success of the golf course. Members’ expectations for high-quality putting green surfaces make them arguably the most important feature of the course. Silvery-thread moss (STM) infestations can affect play and the visual quality of the golf green.

Silvery-thread moss (Bryum argenteum) is a highly adaptive and competitive weed species capable of surviving a wide range of harsh environmental conditions. Once considered a relatively minor pest of creeping bentgrass putting greens, it has evolved into a major challenge for Canadian golf course superintendents.

The purpose of this article is to explore a variety of strategies to manage STM and highlight how certain practices can contribute to encroachment and spread; and follow up with recommendations for best practice, including an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to provide long-term control of STM.

The Pest

Silvery-thread moss is recognized by its dense, sponge-like structure and silver-

tipped shoots known as a gametophyte. Once STM becomes established on a putting green, the asexual structures (e.g., plant fragments and bulbils) can break away from the moss gametophyte. These fragments can then spread (by water, foot traffic and maintenance equipment) to other areas of the green.

Contributing factors

Factors that can contribute to the spread of STM on putting greens include:

• shade

• thin, stressed turf

• excessive thatch

• light, frequent irrigation

• poor drainage

• sub-optimal mowing height

• frequent application of soluble nitrogen sources

STM Management Practices

Current management practices to help alleviate STM infestations include:

• carfentrazone-ethyl (QuickSilver)

• core aeration to remove thatch (improves water infiltration rates & surface drainage)

• verticutting, overseeding, & plugging

• avoid frequent light irrigation (stop watering the moss)

• sand topdressing (helps bury the moss fragments)

Figure 1 Silvery-thread moss Source: GCM March-2019

Silvery-thread moss on creeping bentgrass. (Photo: Zane Raudenbush) Source: Golfdom, July 20, 2023

• reduce application frequency of soluble nitrogen sources e.g., ammonium sulfate (stop feeding the moss)

Holistic Management

IPM is a multifaceted approach that includes a variety of cultural, chemical, and mechanical practices. These methods are not unique to controlling STM, they are fundamental agronomic practices that contribute to healthy and firm playing conditions. Since a single-tactic strategy (e.g., chemical) will not adequately control STM, combining the above-mentioned management practices into a holistic IPM approach can provide a sustainable longterm solution Healthy turfgrass remains one of the best STM preventive measures in the IPM toolbox!

Source: https://www.northeastipm.org/ipm-in-action/the-ipm-toolbox/

Highlighting Two Preventative Management Practices

1. Raising the mowing height (to reduce plant stress)

2. Providing sufficient nitrogen fertility for healthy turfgrass growth and development

1. Sustainable Mowing Height

Lower mowing heights are in direct response to the demand for faster green speeds. Unfortunately, the practice of frequent low mowing e.g., ≤ 0.125” (≤ 3.2 mm) can contribute to physiological stress and loss of

turf vigour. Increasing the mowing height by as little as 0.8 mm can increase overall turfgrass health. By combining regular light weight rolling with slightly higher mowing heights, desirable green speeds can still be achieved.

Source : https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-ca

2. Nitrogen Management

Managing nitrogen can be a double-edged sword. Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient that is involved in numerous plant metabolic processes. In addition, nitrogen plays a key role in the plants’ tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress and recuperative ability. Nitrogen is the nutrient used in the largest quantity by turfgrass and the reason most fertility programs are based on nitrogen.

Over the years there has been a downward trend in the quantity of nitrogen applied to creeping bentgrass putting greens.

Benefits associated with less nitrogen:

✓ reduced thatch accumulation

✓ favorable root-to-shoot growth relations

✓ reduced annual bluegrass encroachment

✓ improved stress tolerance

✓ healthy, firm playing conditions

✓ reduced soil nitrate leaching and surface nitrogen runoff

Other sources of nitrogen loss include volatilization and denitrification Taking into consideration minimal nitrogen application rates, transformations and losses, nitrogen fertility programs may not be providing

sufficient nitrogen for the plant to recover from abiotic and biotic stresses. Including traffic wear, ball marks, mechanical injury, disease, and insect damage. Thus, creating an ideal environment for potential encroachment and spread of STM on the putting green

Soluble nitrogen fertilizer sources can contribute to STM spread. Incorporating a slow or controlled-release granular nitrogen source may be a practical agronomic option to reduce the number of foliar applications until STM is under control. With this approach you can maintain turf density and vigor, while mitigating STM proliferation.

Managing nitrogen highlights the importance of a comprehensive nutrient management plan that considers nitrogen application timing, nitrogen rates, weather, soil conditions, and nitrogen source. Monitoring nitrogen (e.g., clipping yield, density, and colour) is another IPM tool and feedback mechanism to help manage nitrogen more effectively.

In Summary

Silvery-thread moss has developed into a significant economic and agronomic problem on creeping bentgrass putting greens. Several factors can contribute to STM encroachment and spread. As discussed, STM can be controlled using a comprehensive IPM approach that places an emphasis on monitoring, prevention, and curative best management strategies that encourage healthy turfgrass growth and resilience.

Hawley is a turf specialist with Halifax Seed.

Sources

Bell, G. 2011. Turfgrass physiology & ecology: advanced management principles. CAB International 2011.

Christians, N. 2011. Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management. Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Kennelly, M., T. Todd, D. Settle., and Fry, J. 2010. Moss control on creeping bentgrass greens with standard and alternative approaches. HortScience April. 45(4):654-659. 2010.

Raudenbush, Z., and S.J. Keeley. 2019. Silvery-thread moss infestation in greens. Golf Course Management. March 2019.

Raudenbush, Z., S.J. Keeley and L.R. Stark. 2015. Managing silverythread moss in golf course putting greens. Golf Course Management. October 2015.

Raudenbush, Z., and S.J. Keeley. 2015. Nitrogen fertilization and silvery-thread moss. Golfdom. October 2015.

Yelverton, F. 2005. Managing silvery thread moss in creeping bentgrass greens. Golf Course Management. March 2005. 103-107.

Derrick

The Worlds Problems Seem to Trickle Down to Mechanics Problems...

Anyone who knows me wouldn’t look at me as a doom and gloomer, but with all the chaos in the works lately, it is hard to rise above it. First, we had Covid which resulted in higher prices and a major supply problem. Now with the world economy in turmoil, you don’t know when you get out of bed in the morning what is going to be on the news. AI is getting so good and the world is getting so crazy it is really hard to tell what is real and what is made up.

All this chaos has driven the price of golf equipment through the roof.

So with these high prices, it is again very important to keep all of our gear in good repair. It is also important to grab your fast-moving parts when you can. With all these tariffs back and forth, I am afraid to think what bedknives and rotary blades are going to cost.

I always say there is a difference between getting something going and fixing it. We often have no choice but to patch something to get it out the door. Grass grows fast on a golf course and we only have so much gear. Now, it is important to still order the proper parts and repair properly as soon as you can. You never want to end up with a barn full of patched-up gear. Soon you will be overwhelmed with daily breakdowns.

Service Tip

We just came back from an excellent Toro training session. The teacher was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a lot of material, which was terrific, but as always you can learn just as much talking to your fellow colleagues over coffee and lunch. Everyone does things a little differently because we are all working in different environments. The important thing is that you have a plan of some sort that works for you, the superintendent, and the people who look after the money. It is important to have good open communication. Each side is going to have different ideas and opinions, but the important thing is that everyone listens to the reasons why everyone wants to do things the way they want.

The mechanic might say a $115,000 rough mower isn’t worth fixing but the money-folks might say there isn’t $115,000 to spend. Hopefully, everyone can sit and come up with a solution. Maybe you have to settle for a less expensive piece of gear to get the job done. Maybe you will have to rebuild it to get you through a couple more years. Whatever is overall best for the property.

I hope everyone has a fantastic summer! Hopefully, the world will find a calm soon.

Jamie Matheson

Head Mechanic

Brudenell

River /

Dundarave golf courses

Sales, Service, Parts & Financing

Veseys Equipment wishes thank our customers who attended Veseys Equipment’s 2025 Turf Equipment Service School in Charlottetown on April 1st and 2nd. We appreciate your participation and trust the event was informative and beneficial to your work and organization.

A special thank you goes to Jim Nedin, turf industry consultant and former Toro Company engineer and manager, for sharing his expertise with us. His instruction on topics such as mowing technology, sprayer calibration, Tier 4 technology, and hydraulic and electrical systems was very informative.

At Veseys Equipment, we are proud to offer these programs to support our customers and the broader golf and turf industry, and we look forward to continuing to provide these valuable learning opportunities in the future.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Veseys Equipment.

Spring may have only just begun, but it is never too early to start thinking about winter protection.

The early spring season is an advantageous time to assess both what worked and what did not in your winter protection plan of season past.

Nova Turf can help curate a plan now to keep the course protected over the winter months, so that you can enjoy peace of mind and well-deserved rest at season end.

Talk to your Client Care Specialist now about the benefits of working winter protection into your early season plan.

All the best!

The Team at Nova Turf