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The past year has posed significant challenges toAmericans in all walks of life, and the greenindustries were n o exception. Th e aftermath of 9-11 acted to exacerbate an alread y tightenin g busi-ness environmen t und erscored by the con tinuingtrend of major mergers and acquisitions. It wasencou raging an d gratifying to witness the resilienceof our industry and commitment o f OTFs mem-bers and suppor ters during the 2001 Tu rf grassConference and Show.

While national statistics demonstrate significantacross-the-board attrition in show attendance, OTF enjoyed an increase in boththe number o f exhibitors and nu mber of booths over last year and held firmwith an essentially equal number of registrants. Much credit goes to the OTFtrustees and volunteers who developed one of the best 4-day educational pro-grams ever. We app laud the 4,298 attending companies and individuals who, in

spite of the personal and businesschallenges they may have b eenfacing, decided that O TF was aprior ity for th em. Th is unwaveringgreen industry dedication to thefoundation showed in attendance

figures, but it was the undaunted spirit of the participants evident throughoutthe week that makes us optimistic about what lies ahead .

Although the successful 2001 conference has bolstered our confidence,your trustees take seriously our charge to vigilantly protect and promote thefoundation. The revenues we rely on to channel dollars to the Ohio Tu rf grassResearch Trust (OTRT) for their funding of research and student scholarshipsis generated primarily by conference and show receipts and membership dues.We are already hard at work with our management company to assure that theexhibit floor is again full in 2002. Membership renewals have been sent out andall indications are that member support will remain strong.

But m eeting th e challenge means moving the foundation beyond the statusquo, for if we remain unchanged, we fall behind. In this regard, I am askingeach member to make it your goal to personally recruit one new member intoOTF. Surely, every one of us knows someone who is not a member, but whowould benefit and prosper as a result of joining the foundation. Imagine dou-

bling OTFs membership in one year. The math is simple, the prospect excitingthe challenge is to make the commitment and follow through. I ask you tomake that commitment today.

On behalf of the trustees, researchers and scholarship recipients, thank youfor your continu ed supp ort and loyalty. I look forward as your presiden t toworking with you in overcoming future challenges and to setting new standardsfor OTF in 2002.

Sincerely,

Mark Heinlein2002 OTF Presid ent

Message FromThe President

OTF TurfNews Vol 64 No. 2 2002 Page 3

Meeting The Challenge

OSUs TurfClub AttendsConference

Dr. David Gardner and fourteenstudents in The Ohio State UniversityTurf Club attended the GCSAAs 73 rd

International Golf CourseConference and Show in Orlando,Florida. The contingent includedthree studen ts in the O SU interna-tional program from Great Britainand one from Australia. In additionto attending educational sessions andcompeting in th e Tu rf Bowl, the stu-dents exhibited a booth highlighting

the Tu rfgrass Management programat The Ohio State University as well asthe turfgrass industry in the state of Ohio. The exhibit was made possiblethrough a generous donation fromthe Ohio Tu rfgrass Foundation.

The GCSAAconference providesa valuable opportunity for students tointeract with industry representatives,student clubs from other universities,and prospective future employers.Th is was the first year tha t the OSUturf club attended. The students

would like to than k the O TF mem-bership for providing funding sup-port for the trip, and to th ank thosemembers who stopped by the booth.We are looking forward to n ext yearsconference in Atlanta.

Ohio State stud entswho attended t his yearsGCSAA conference: James H ead Nathan Marsh Garrath Davies Glen Kirby Patr ick Burton Brad Novotony Pete Bu rch am Katie Flath Stephanie Heston Carl McKinney Todd Ve rmillion Mark Kuligowski Ch ar lie H obo r

I personally challenge all membersto make the commitment and

follow through to recruitone new OTF member in 2002.

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Syngenta CropProtection Award

The Oh io State Un iversity Tu rfgrass Entomologistand Nematologist, Dr. Parwinder S. Grewal has beenawarded the 2002 Syngenta Crop Protection Award bythe U.S. Society of Nematologists. The award is pre-sented to an individual who has made contributions inNematology, not previously recognized, which haveled to the significant advancement of agriculture andhorticulture.

Dr. Grewal has been developing insect-parasiticnematodes for the biological control of white grubsand other soil insects. He has published 74 researchpapers, 7 book chap ters, 5 review articles, 16 pap ers inconference p roceedings, and 11 extension publica-tions on various aspects of nematodes and insects. Hehas received over $1M in competitive gran ts for hisresearch on turfgrass pests during the past 4 years.He has also been instrumental in th e development of the award-winning video and web site on insect-para-sitic nematodes.

Dr. Grewal is very generous with his time for pro-fessional and public service. He is an editor o f theJournal of Nematology, and is serving on the interna-tional editorial boards of three other journals coveringbiological control and nematodes. He has served onthe Research Enhancement Advisory Committee of the Ohio Agricultural Research and DevelopmentCenter and is now serving on the Research ReviewAdvisory Committee of the Ohio Tu rf grass

Foundation.He has been previously decorated with theLindbergh Award for Environmental Achievement,OARDC Departmen t Research Award, Queens Te amAward for Environmental Achievement, and theYoung Scientist of the Year Award by the U.K.Mushroom Growers Association. We congratulate himon his continued success.

OTRT Live Auction Time toAbout This December

Record attendance, a wealth of donated items, a great auc-tioneer, and a good time was had by all who attended the OTRTlive auction. The auction was held just before the banquet duringthe O TF Conference and Show, held in Columbus on December3 6, 2001. The auction raised over $14,000.00.

I realize that we had an article about the 2001 auction in ourlast issue bu t I am amazed at the ded ication of the peop le thatattend the Con ference an d Show. The exhibitors spend big buckfor booth space and more bucks to man the space, but they stilldonate items to the auction. The people who attend spendmoney to register, pay for hotels and food, but they bring itemsfor the auction. Plus we have a core of people who help with theauction, including the Auctioneer, Billy Areh art an d h is crewfrom Wilmington, OH who all donate their time and talents.Then its time for the auction and we all spend our money bid-ding on the items. Why do we bid $400.00 for football tickets, pay$50.00 to $450.00 for an autograph, pay hundreds of dollars for akids truck and then give it to an unknown but very grateful kid?Why? Because we are in the greatest indu stry in th e world. Wemight be friends, rivals, competitors, but when it gets down tobettering our industry we are one.

All of the money goes to the Ohio Tu rfgrass Research Tr uswhere it is used for research and scholarships. The purpose of theOhio Tu rfgrass Research Trust is to operate exclusively for chari-table purposesand shall be to en gage in research an d educa-tion activities relating to the planting, growing and marketing of turfgrass, including but not limited to research th rough grantsand award ing scholarships to studen ts studying the field

The Ohio Tu rfgrass Research Trust is classified as an educa-tional foundation exempt from taxation under th e 501(c) 3 codeof the Interna l Revenue Service. Th erefore, contributions to th eresearch trust are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Additionally, interest income earned by the research trust isnon-taxable; thereby enabling more money to be used for turf-grass research an d edu cation rather than going to the IRS.

Now that you know how much money we made, how we madit, how its used, and all of the legal ramifications, now is the timeto start thinking about th is years auction.

What do you have that has value and can be sold? It can beturf or landscape related. It can be just useful around the h omeor business. Who do you know that can give an autograph orautograp hed item? How about tickets or greensfees? Autographs

and tickets generate big bucks at the auction. When you think of something call Kevin at the O TF office. He can tell you how toget it to O TF. Do it n ow while you are th inking about it.

Thank you,Gene Pr obasco, Auct ion Chai

Turfgrass

Researcher,Dr. ParwinderGrewal

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OTF TurfNews Vol 64 No. 2 2002 Pag

PresidentMar k Heinlein

Mark is senior vice president of TheMotz Group, a high performance ath leticfield construction and consultation firmin Cincinn ati, Ohio.

Mark graduated from Th e O hio StateUniversity in 1976 with a BSc in zoology

and earned h is MSc in plant pathologyfrom OSU in 1982. He has spent hiscareer in th e green industry, includingtwo years as a research nem atologist inthe Fiji Islands. Mark also spen t sevenyears affiliated with the Oh io Coopera tiveExtension Service: first, as coordinator of the USDA federal plant pest detectionprogram, and , then , as hor ticultureextension agent in H amilton Coun ty, spe-cializing in turf and ornamentals. He hasbeen with The Motz Group since 1992.

Mark is currently serving his seventhyear as an OTF tru stee and envisions forthe organization an expanded member-ship base, increased industry funding forturfgrass research and an emphasis on amore interdisciplinary approach toresearch projects at the OTF researchand education facility.

When he h as the chan ce to be athome in Cincinnati, Mark spends asmuch time as he can with his wife Laurenand two children Claire and Philip.

Vice Pr esidentJohn Mowat

John Mowat is currently serving hissixth year as a Trustee of the O hioTurfgrass Foundation. John served asVice President in 2001 and Tr easurerin 2000, and has also served on the

Golf Tournament, Conference andShow, Education, and PublicityCommittees.

John graduated from The OhioState University with a B.S. in Businessin 1986. His interests in the greenindustry began while working at RivieraCountry Club during his final two yearsat Ohio State.

He has been a Commercial SalesRepresentative with CenturyEquipment, Inc. since 1987, and ispresently th e Golf Sales Manager forCentury Equipment Co.

John is serving his eleventh year asPresident of the Ohio State UniversityHockey Alumni Association and isresponsible for keeping 400 membersabreast of activities within theUn iversity and the Ice Hockey Te am.He is also in his fifth year as ColorCommentator for 820 WOSU Radio,broadcasting Ohio State Hockey games.

John resides in Hilliard, O H withhis wife, Amy, and their children, Dylanand John .

TreasurerGeor ge Fur r er

George has served on the O TFBoard of Directors since 1998 and co-chair of the Education Committin 1999 and 2000, and Treasurer in2001.

He is a 1984 graduate of The

Ohio State UniversityAgriculturaTechnical Institute in Wo oster. Hcurrently a Market SalesRepresentative for Lesco, Inc. working pr imarily in the go lf ind ustry inCentral Ohio. During his 14 year scareer, he h as worked with Golf Course Superintendents, Lawn CarOperators, Sports Tu rf Managers Grounds Managers.

George resides in Powell, OH whis wife Karla and three children a8, 5 and 2.

TrusteeTer m Expir es 2005Glen Pottenger, CGCSGlen Pottenger, CGCS, is the new superintendent at Larch Tree Golf Course in

Dayton. Formerly, Glen was employed at Green Velvet Sod Farms in sales, and priorto that, was Superintendent at Sugar Valley Country Club. He has been a golf coursesuper intenden t for 26 year and received h is CGCS Certification in 1995.

Glen has been on the OTF Board of Directors since 1999, and served as thePublicity Committee Chairman for the past three years.

He has been a GCSAA member for 20 years, and is the Editor of Divots, theMiami Valley GCSA Chapter newsletter. Glen served on the Miami Valley GCSABoard of Directors for several years.

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OTF Impor tant Member ship By now, you should have received an invoice to

renew your membership in O TF for th e 2002Membership year (February 1, 2002 through January31, 2003). We hope you have returned your renewalform and payment, as the Membership Committeescontinue to add benefits and services to enhance yourmembership.

To continue receiving TurfNews and other memberbenefits, and to be listed in the Annual MembershipDirectory, we must receive your renewal before May 15.

A few years ago, OTF began offering what is calledAffiliate Memberships. This new membershipcategory seems to have caused some confusion amongmembers. Following is a listing o f the membershipcategories and their descriptions:

Organ iza tiona l any company currently involvedin the management of turfgrass, including:golf courses, lawn care compan ies, landscapers,nurseries, sod p roducers, parks and recreation,grounds m aintenance, cemeteries, athletic

fields and all other related organizations.Organizational members have one contactperson with full voting privileges.

Affiliate Org a n iza tiona l Any one person whosecompany has joined as an Organizational Member.Affiliate members receive all OTF mailings, arelisted in th e Membership Directory, and receivemember benefits, but have no voting privileges.

Ind ividua l Anyone currently involved in themanagement of turfgrass. Individual membershave full voting privileges.

Stude n t Any student currently enrolled in ahigh school, vocational, techn ical school,college, or u niversity. Studen t members haveno voting privileges.

Fa c ulty Any person involved in teaching tur f-grass management, landscape, horticulture, orothe r related field. Faculty member s have no vot-ing privileges.

When you join as an Organizational Member, youmay add additional Affiliate Members for just $25each. Affiliate membersh ips are only available toO rganizational Members.

Affiliate Members receive the same benefits asOr ganizational Members (except voting p rivileges),but may receive OTF correspondence at variouslocations.

Examples:1 . Great Tu rf, Inc. is a lawn care company with sev-

eral branch locations. The General Manager of Great Tu rf, Inc. works out of the h eadquartersoffice, and would like to receive all OTF corre-spond ence at his office. Additionally, h e wouldlike branch man agers to also receive Turf Newsand other OTF correspondence at their respec-tive branch o ffices. For just $25, each branchmanager can join, and receive benefits andinformation at a preferred addressrather thanheadquarters.

2 . Joe Super is a Golf Course Superintendent andhe wants to receive his OTF correspondence atthe golf course. He would also like his 3 assistantsto receive corresponden ce at their ho me address-es. Joe Super can join as an OrganizationalMember, and register his assistants as AffiliateMembers. If he provides OTF with the namesand home addresses of the assistants, correspon-dence will be sent to their homes.Affiliate memberships are a great way to takeadvantage of the many benefits of OTF

Membership. If you are not already takingadvantage of the Affiliate Membership category,but would like to, please complete and returnthe following form along with your payment to :PO Box 3388, Zanesville, OH 43702 orfax to 740-452-2552. If you have questions,please call the O TF head quar ters at 888-683-3 445.

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We are an Organizational Member and would like to add ___ Affiliate Members at $25 each

We are an Individual Member ($75) and would like to upgrade to an OrganizationalMember ($150) and add ___ Affiliate Members at $25 each:


Your Nam e

Organization Member I.D.#

Street Addr ess

City, State Zip

Phone

Fax

Email

Credit Card Number Expiration Date

Cardholders Name

Signature

Name

Street Addr ess

City, State Zip

Phone

Fax

Email

Name

Street Addr ess

City, State Zip

Phone

Fax

Email

Name

Street Address

City, State Zip

Phone

Fax

Email

Name

Street Address

City, State Zip

Phone

Fax

Email

SPECIAL NOTEIn an effort t o reduce expenses,we conti nually update our data-basethis helps OTF put moremoney towards research andscholarships. If you receive mail-ings for individuals no longer atyour location, please let us know.Simply call 888-683-3445, ext.3130 and speak with Kim , faxto the attention of Kim Spencer

at 740-452-2552, or emailkspen cer@offi nger.com . Thanks!

make copies of this form if needed please be advised that the mailingfor additional names addresses provided above wil l be

listed in the Membership Directory.

Please add the following Affi liate Members t o our Organizational Membership:

1.

2. 4.

3.

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Night air t emperatures

Daytime air t emperatures

Soil temperatures

Grow ing degree-dayaccumulations

Esters AminesWell Above 32F

Above 5 560F

Above 55 F

150 or Greater

Above 32 F

Above 45 F

Above 45 F

100 or Greater

Ask the Experts

A: The key to understanding spring broadleaf weed controlis that herbicides used for this purpose are postemer-gence and primarily foliar absorbed. Key environmentalfactors influencing the absorption and translocation of foliar absorbed broadleaf weed herbicides in the springinclude:

air and soil temperatures, soil moisture, light int ensity, relative humidit y, dew formation, wind, and rainfall after application.

Herbicide formulation also plays a major role in determin-ing the success or failure of broadleaf weed control in thespring. Weeds tend to absorb and translocate ester formu-lations more readily than amines under the cooler, moreerratic conditions of early spring. Amines are more effec-tive later in the spring when air and soil temperatures arewarmer (see Table 1). In addition, broadleaf herbicide

app lications are usually more effective in late spring/ earlysummer than in late winter/ early spring because moresugar/ photosynth ate is tran slocated downward. In the fall,broadleaf herbicides and sugar compounds are usuallytransported downward. Therefore, fall applications normal-ly provide a broader range of broadleaf weed control thanspring application s.

Data from a three-year study of broadleaf weed controlcond ucted at Purd ue University shows that early springbroadleaf weed control is difficult to achieve with anyformulation ( see Table 2). In general, both amine an dester formulations exhibited poor weed control before lateMarch . Ester formu lation s provided good-to-excellent weedcontrol the first three weeks in April and were superior tothe amine formulations. Ho wever, the effectiveness of amine formulations began to equal that of esters typicallyfrom late April and beyond.

Finally, the effectiveness of broad leaf weed cont rol dep endson a combination o f herbicide selection, environ mentalfactors and cultural practices (see Table 3).

Table 1. Guidelines for the Use of Esters andAmines for Spring Broadleaf Weed Control.

Q: When is the best t ime to controlbroadleaf w eeds in the spring and why?

Response:John R. St reetThe Ohio State University,Department of Horticult ure & Crop Science

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9 . Apply when soi l moistu reis adequate.

10. Apply during sunny weather.11. Delay mowing for several days

after application.12. Avoid rainfal l within 24 hours

after application.13. Note high relat ive humidity and

dew formation to increase her-bicide penetr ation, especiallyfor amine formulations.

14. Use sur fac tan ts whererecommended.

1 . Mak e the cor rec t w eedidentification.

2 . Se lect the appropr iateherbicide.

3 . Use the appropr iateformulation.

4 . Use the cor rec t rate.5 . Provide adequate contact /

coverage of the w eed.6. Apply when weed is act ively

growing.7. Apply when day and night

temper atures are favorable tothe herbicide and f ormulation.

8 . Wait unt i l the broadleaf weedreaches the f lowering stage(e.g., dandelion-pu ffball) formaximum dow nward t ransloca-tion of t he herbicide.

% Dandelion Control

Ma rch 3rd week

Ma rch 4th week

April 1st w eek

April 2nd week

April 3rd week

April 4th week

May 1st week

Esters Amines49

28

70

43

73

96

84

62

80

93

95

94

99

98

Application Date

Data from Purdue University research. Weedone herbicide applied at 4 pint s per acre.

Table 2. Dandelion Control Averaged over a Three-Year Period.

Table 3 . Fourteen Keys t oSuccessful Broadleaf Weed Contr ol

(Factors 514 i nteract toincrease the absorption andtranslocation of the herbicide.)

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Sports TurfTips

Preparing the Site forSeeding & SoddingMany fields are poor because the site was not pre pared

proper ly before establishmen t. Fields that lack smoothn ess,unif ormity, and a crown to assist in sur face d rainage m ay needto be re-contoured before seeding or sodding. SEED:SOILand / or SOD:SOIL CONTACT is the key to success. Theremoval of surface debris (thatch) through verti-cutting orscarifying will maximize seed:soil contact, as will using a slitseeder. Produ cing a good soil tilth b y rou ghing up the soilsurface pr ior to sodding will increase sod:soil contact.

Weed Control: Undesirable perennial grasses, such asbentgrass, timoth y, qu ackgrass, and tall fescue should be con -trolled be fore any grading o r tillage. A no nselective herbicide,

such as Roundup Pro or Finale, will kill all grasses and mostweeds that the chemical contacts. When seeding, rememberthat most preemergence h erbicides cann ot be app lied in con - junction with seeding. Once a preemergence is applied thereis a waiting period of usually 3-4 months before seeding is rec-ommend ed. Tupersan ( siduron ) is the on ly safe premergenceherbicide to use at the time of seeding or during the earlyestablishm ent period . A new postemergen ce her bicide, Drive,can be used at 30 days after seedling emergence for annualgrasses and some b road leaf weeds.

Fert ility: Apply starter fertilizer to the soil surface.The starter fer tilizer application should consist of:

1.0 to 1.5 pounds of act ual nitrogen (N)per 1000ft 2

1.5 to 3.0 pounds of phosphorus (P)per 1000ft 2

These n utrien ts sho uld be ap plied using a 1-1-1 to 1-2-1ratio fertilizer (e.g. 10 to 20 pounds of a 10-10-10 or a 10-20-10).The starter fertilizer is app lied just prior to seeding/ soddingand raked in lightly (a slit-seeder o r oth er similar mech anicaldevice wou ld per form th is). Do no t till the starter fertilizerinto the rootzone; this fertilizer will significantly hasten estab-lishmen t. Apply anoth er starter fertilizer app lication after 4-6weeks at 1.0 pound o f actual nitrogen per 1,000ft 2.

Irrigation: Under rapid d rying conditions, irrigation m ayneed to be cycled several times from late morning throughmid to late afternoon . Avoid evening irrigation to min imizedisease. Irr igation needs to be managed carefully, especiallyon the more extensively renovated areas or damaged areas.Irrigation/ watering the first 4-6 weeks after seeding will beyour first key to a rapid, successful establishment. Avoid orlimit play on n ewly seeded/ sodded areas.

Tips for Effective Seedi& Sodding this SpringJohn R. St reet and Pamela J . SherrattThe Ohio State University Department of Hortic ultur e & Crop Science


seeders are an excellent tool t oblish seed:soil cont act.

Big roll sod can be used whereestablishment period is short.

Topdressing can provide soil or sand to low er

seed and enhance moisture retention.

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Seeding Top Tips: Successful seed establishment requires a

moist bu t adequately aerated soil and a soiltemperature above 50F.

Combining the process of slit-seeding withtopdressing substantially benefits theseedlings, helps ensure seed-soil contact ,and helps to ensure optimum moist ure rela-

tions for t he seedlings. It is criti cal to usethe c orrect source of sand. Generally, sandwit h a D60/D10 value of less than 4 and afineness modulus of 2.8 to 3.2 is recom-mended for athletic field use (McCoy, 2000).Sand shape & mineralogy are secondaryconsiderations that will also influence thesoil physical properties.

Young seedlings can becom e too dr y duringestablishment, especially on sandy soils. Inmajor usage areas that have limited t urfcover, some type of mulch should be c onsid-ered, such as straw, compost , hydro-seed

etc., to assist in water conservation. Fungicide-treated seed is usually a benefitin spring seedings (e.g. Apron-tr eated seed)

Pre-soaked or pre-germinated seed wil lspeed up the establishment rate, especiallyif used in a divot mi x.

Use of a germination blanket/growth tarpwill increase surface temperatures andencourage faster growth.


Sodding Top Tips: Sodding only the portion of th e field

that received the most w ear will cutdown on costs.

Big roll regular cut sod (1/2 i nch1 inchdepth) requires at least 4-6 weeks f orestablishment from a rooting perspective.

Thick-cut sod (1.5 inch3 inch dept h) is

usually playable imm ediately after sod-ding & painting. To aid surface drainage, both types of

imported sod (thick-cut or regular-cut)should be hollow c ore aerated andtopdressed to create conti nuous openchannels from the surface of the turf tothe underlying soil.

GlossaryH ydro seed ing: The process of spreading p re-germinateseed in a liquid carrier, such as paper pulp.Slit-seed ing: The process of spreading seed by makingslits in th e soil/ tur f sur face with a soil slicer to promoteseed:soil con tact. Seeds ar e inserted directly in the slits.Sod ding: The process of installing mature turf in rollsor sections, as opp osed to spread ing seed over aprepared area of ground .To pdre ssing: The add ition of sand o r sandy loam tothe surface of the tu r f to improve surface levels,pro mote thatch decomposition, an d impr ove soilph ysical properties.Ve rti-cutting (also known as vertical mowing) : The u seof a mach ine with b lades that cut vertically into th eturf canopy to sever lateral stems, thin grass, andremove th atch.

We look forward t o hearing from you.

Dr. John R. Streetst reet [email protected] uPam J. Sherrattsherr att [email protected]

Phone: (614) 292-62 97

Verticutting removes thatch and ensuresbetter seed:soil contact.

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2002Industr y For ec

Featured Cover Story

Landscape Forecast for 2002Excerpts reprinted with permission fromLawn & Lan dscape Magazine.

Ask a land scape contractor how 2001 was, and theresno telling how he or she will answer. Some will say 2001was as good as any year. Others will relate that businesshas slowed but they still have to turn away work due to

labor problems. At the same time, some contractors findthemselves facing a new situationa business slowdown.All the while, assorted obstacles other than economic

uncertainty litter con tractors paths to success.Labor, as always, is scarce, and the lack of qualified

employees continues to stand tall atop the list of limitations.

Anti-pesticide groups wreaked havoc with lawn carein New York th is year after pushing pre-notificationlegislation through the state government. As a result,the industry seems to be waking up to the fact thatunfriendly legislation could significantly hinder business.

Fuel prices jumped all over the board, eating away atprof itability. Manufacturers and growers felt this pain evenmore directly in many cases as the prices for their m aterialsand for shipping inventory around the country climbed.

And, of course, the weather was a boon for some areasand a curse in others.Despite all of these d rags on bu siness, landscape con -

tractors maintain a po sitive, albeit more conservative, out-look for th e future. More th an 56 percen t of responden ts toa Lawn & Landscape survey said th eir business would growits ann ual sales volume compared to last year. While th isnu mber illustrates the indu stry s continued health, thismarks the fourth consecutive year this number has fallen.Approximately 64 percen t of respon dents to this survey lastyear reported that their b usine sses would grow.

2002Industr y For ec

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Looking deeper into the numbers, those respon-dents who said their businesses will grow this year stillexpected growth of about 19 percent for this year,compared to 15 pe rcent last year. This increase in

growth levels would seem to indicate that the smaller,less-established firms are th e on es having th e greatestdifficulty dealing with this years challenges.Meanwhile, the larger, more established companies,many of which experienced economic challenges inthe form of the recession of the early 1990s, learnedvaluable lessons about operating in a down economy,and those lessons are paying off righ t no w. In fact,many companies would likely grow even more th isyear if they could find enough employees.

About 14 percent of respondents expect sales todrop this year (compared to 11.5 percent last year),and they said sales would drop about 15 percent. Last

year, respondents who suffered a downturn also pre-dicted a 15 percen t drop. Clearly, some con sumersand commercial property managers are delaying ordownsizing installations or reducing their regularmaintenance service in order to minimize the ir land-scape budget. Fortunately for contractors, new homesales and commercial building remained significantlyhigher than the levels of even a few years ago formuch of the year.

In general, some contractors were surprised by theextent of the challenges last year b rought, while mostexpected to h ave to work harder for sales this year.Lawn & Landscape research found that 31.6 percentof survey respondents said last year was worse thanthey expected, just slightly below the n umber who saidthis year will be better than expected.

While n o one wants to see fewer dollars spent o nlandscape services, many contractors have privatelycommented that a mini-recession could ultimatelyben efit th e ind ustry by forcing smaller businesses toeither improve their management skills and level of operation o r to shu t their d oors if they cant remainprof itable.

Spor ts Tur f Industr yFor ecast for 2002

by Boyd MontgomerySylvan ia Parks Department

The outlook for the sports turf industry has neverlooked br ighter! With m ore and more focus being pu ton the increasing need to produce quality fields at alllevels, sports turf managers are beginning to see the

acknowledgement and educational opportun ities openup. But we have our challenges ahead!2002 looks to be a challenging year and with th e mild

winter arou nd most of the State many turf managers arebracing for what they feel will be a bumpy spring! It isbecoming increasingly more important for sports turf manager to effectively manage there facilities/ field.Many of your peers around the state and organizationssuch as the Oh io Tu rfgrass Foun dation (OTF), O hioSports Tu rf Managers Association (OSTMA), The Oh ioState University Tu rfgrass Team, and National SportsTurf Managers Association (STMA) are h ere to helpyou! These groups play an important role in bringing

togeth er all sports tur f managers with n etworking andedu cation to improve the quality of your facility/ field.

With the effects of a tighter economy and budgetcuts, many sports tur f managers are left with trying tofind ways to still provide the quality facilities but with lessresources and help! Many sports turf managers feelalone in the struggles, but the common fact is that themajority of us are all feeling the effects! How do we cor-rect this? The answer is not very easily! Sports turf man-agers are going to have to become more professional,which in turn will lead to better organization, communi-cation, and effective management. We are going to haveto learn to be more inventive! With the management of your staff that works for you, you should be encouragingthem to think out side the box on maintenance tech-niqu es, equ ipment uses, etc. You r staff is a great resourceto accomplishing the tasks needed to provide qualityfields! No one likes budget cuts, so dont sit back an d letthem happen without voicing your concerns in a profes-sional manner! Document the effects of such cuts andcontinue to remind your upper management of thenee d to address theses issues as soon as they can.Become p roactive not reactive!

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Techn ology seems to be increasing the effectivenessof much of the equ ipment needed to provide qualityfields. Better sprayers, spreaders, utility vehicles, andmowers all increase the effectiveness of our jobs.Research and collect data on n ew equipment an d tech-nology and when the opportunity presents itself to buynew equipment, buy quality! If you know youre onlygoing to get one shot, buy equipmen t that can per f ormmore than one task.

Sports turf man agers are continuing to gain moreand more recognition every year. A recent article on asurvey the STMA did in 2001 states that: All told,28,714 facilities maintain over 775,124 fields, spend over

11 billion dollars annu ally, and employ 167,737 ind ividu-als to n urtu re 10,663 square miles of area. While theseare projected numbers, they are the most accurate esti-mate of the industry s finan cial and employment data todate. The article also goes on to state th at: Were not just about watering and mowing grass!! The econ omicsrevealed above serve notice that the industry is doingwell and will continue to d o well as America con tinuesto be a sporting nation.

Industr y Outlook for 2002

Gr eener Pastures Than in 2001?Reprinted with permission bythe NOGCSA On the Ball.The lingering aftermath o f a national economic

slowdown probably will continue to leave its mark onlocal clubs in 2002. Fewer d ivots on the course maylikely translate into lower profits in the books.

The September 11 attack on the New York Tr adeTowers created an instant slump in travel, which adverse-ly affected the golf industry near the end of the 2001season. According to statistics by the golf-marketresearch firm Golf Datatech, in Florida, rounds playednationwide dropped by 2.3 percent. Individual coursesreported catastroph ic plummets in the amount of playby as much as 50 percent. And the National Golf CourseOwners Association (NGCOA) described the emergenceof new golfers throughout the coun try as flat.

A more p rominen t, yet perhaps less obvious factor inwidespread declines can be attributed the weather overthe p ast year. Winter conditions in early sprin g, especial-ly in th e Midwest, deterred avid golfers from hitting th elinks as early or as frequently as usual. In mid-April 2001,

Ohio experienced unseasonable snowfall, whichpostponed many course-maintenance projects as well asfriendly get-togethers and outings. The eventual out-break of extended warm weather could not overcomethe setback of the combined effects of a cold spring andan autumn dominated by national crisis.

Despite the flurry of bad news at the end of the mil-lenn ium, h owever, forecasts by man y economic prognos-ticators for the upcoming year emerge with cautiousoptimism. Figures from 2001 reflect dramatic disparitywhen compared to th ose du ring the long-lastingeconomic boom of the 90s. And as hard as it may be formost businesses to accept, the markets tend to correct

themselves over lon g-term interv als.Enter the inevitable downswing that follows an eco-

nomic upswing.Exactly how low the numbers fall may depend on the

strategy of golf clubs to improve course quality andadjust marketing efforts to better meet the needs of cus-tomers. During prosperous times, corporate outings pro-duced desirable revenues for course owners and greaterworkloads for maintenance personn el. But cuts in bu d-gets across the board shifted plans for future golfingevents from many companies agendas to their employ-ees wish lists. Entertainmen t rarely rates as high as otherexpenses when financial officers attempt to meet theirbottom lines.

So why the tentatively positive outlook for 2002?Because golfers will find a way to play the game.

With fewer vacations and getaways to destinations far-ther from home, more money will be available for localplay. And local markets account for about 95 percent of golf course revenues, according to the NGCOA. Ownerscan fill the void caused by the economic downturn, atleast partially, by drawing the scratch golfer from acrosstown and the high handicapper who lives right downthe road.

One major key to survival, ironically, lies in the confi-dence to invest in improvements. Casual golfers anddevoted members alike look for value in course selec-tion, which could justify spending more in green fees toplay a nicer course. As a result, indu stry guru s expectmaintenan ce budgets to remain steady and renovations,both major and minor, to equal or exceed past levels.

If all transpires as anticipated, the year ahead seemspromising, at best, and less painful, at worst, than thememories left from 2001.

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Get your latest OSU Or namenta

hot off the press. It will hewith questions such as the1. Tr ue or False.

Eastern tent caterpillar eggs hatch each year withinseveral days between the time of first bloom of starmagnolia and full bloom of Norway maple.

True. Check out O SU entomologist Dan Herms han dypaper titled Biological Clocks: A Five- Year Calendar of Plant and Insect Phenology in Secrest Arboretum.Though the dates vary from year to year and fromlocation to location, evidence is mounting that thesequen ce linking th ese specific insect and plant devel-opment events (both mediated by temperature) arehighly consistent. For the example listed above no morethan 4 days difference occurred in any of the last fiveyears, and usually the difference was 2 days or less. Thiscan be a very helpful way to monitor pest activities andto develop pest management strategies. Dans papercovers key ornamental plants and insects and has ahandy column for you to start charting these pestsand insects at your location.

2. Tr ue or False.Fireblight was so severe this year on AristocratCallery pear because of the abnormally warm, moistweather during bloom.

True. Precisely. 2001 was the worst year for bacter ialfireblight on ornamental pears and crabapples in atleast a decade. Sustained temperatures above 60F andmoisture during bloom are the keys for this disease,and in 2001 this occurred during the April and earlyMay blooming times of these plants. We d id learn a lotabout which pears and crabapples are most susceptible,such as Aristocrat callery pear and GoldenRaindrops crabapple. What does it mean for the com-ing season? Hopefully that last year was an anomalyand, especially if you did a good job of pruning outblighted limbs last year or yet this spring, then fireblightshould again be only a minor problem on most orna-men tal pears and crabapples. Learn more about fireb-light and other disease updates from 2001 and also thelatest crabapple scab trials in Infectious DiseaseProblems of Ornamen tal Plants In O hio: 2001 andApple Scab on Crabapples at Secrst Arboretum: 2001 inthe Circular.

3. Tr ue or False.Mulching with low C:N composted yard wasteincreased plant growth by increasing soil organic matter,microbial biomass, and nu trient availability...on theother hand, high C:N mulch derived from re cycledwood pallets induced nutrient deficiencies andd ecreased plant gro wth.

True. At least relative to the study by John Lloyd, DanHerms, Ben Stinner and Harry Hoitink at OSUs OhioAgricultural Research and Development Center. Thisclassic piece of research gives a clear picture of MulchEffects on Soil Microbial Activity, Nutrient Cycling, andPlant Growth in Ornamental Landscapes and is also inthis years OARDC and OSU Extension Special Circular#186.From weather summaries from last year (Ohio had its9th d riest January and 17th wettest May in th e past 119years), to addresses, phone and Fax numbers, ande-mail addresses of all of OSUs Extension Nursery

Landscape and Tu rf Team and Floriculture IndustryRoundtable Ohio members, to weed control strategies,pine tip blight disease research, a gypsy moth updateand moreget your latest copy of the free SpecialCircular 186 by contacting:Communications and Te chnology, Pub lications Off iceOhio Agricultural Research and Development Cente r1680 Madison Avenue Wo oster, OH 44691-4096330-263-3700

And finally: From the Buckeye Yard and Garden Lines(BYGL) weekly orn amental and tu rf update, h ere is one of last years BYGLosophys:

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of othersonly a green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature allridicule and deform ity, and some scarce see Nature at all. But to theeyes of the man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.

William Blake

So, for all us golfers who swear when our otherwiseflawless drive catches a limb on the d ogleg, meditate uponits perfect oneness with nature. Right.

And if you want to get the weekly BYGL up dates (startingthe 2 nd week in Apr il this year) , check out bygl.osu.edu onthe web or if you just want to get it by e-mail, request it [email protected]

HortShortsby Jim Chatfield

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16/28

MISSION:To develop and maintain pr emierTur fgr ass Pathology Pr ogr am at The Ohio


The Ohio State University

Turfgrass Pathology Program2002

New Growth and Technology

By Dr. Joe RimelspachThe Ohio State University

Department of Plant Pathology Turf Program

The Ohio State University

Turfgrass Pathology Program2002

PEOPLE:Faculty/Staff

Dr. Michael J. Boehm, (Te aching45%,Research 40%, Extension15%)Tenured Faculty Position, 1/ 21/ 1996Presen t(Cur ren tly Dr. Boeh m is serving on active dutyfor th e United States military.)

Mr. Josep h W. Rimelspach, (Te aching0%,Research15%, Extension85%)Extension Associate/ Staff Position ,3 / 2 / 1992PresentMr. Todd E. Hicks, (Lab and Field ResearchManager)Research Assistant IIB/ H,7 / 2001Presen t

MISSION:To develop and maintain pr emierTur fgr ass Pathology Pr ogr am at The Ohio

Joe Rimelspach, ExtensionTurfgrass Pathologist

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Students/Current(Four master level students have graduated fro mthe program since Dr. Boehm started in 1996.)

Ms. Samantha ThomasPh.D. student, Autumn 2 000

Sam, has been with the Tu rfgrass Pathology programsince th e fall of 1996. Her masters degree p roject was thedetermination of bacterial populations in sand-basedrootzone mixes. For her Ph.D., she is currently workingon designing a quick take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminisvar. avenae [Gga]) assay to assess the role of organicamendments and microbial inoculants on diseaseincidence and severity. She will also be develop ing real-

time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) primers for Gga toaid in the determination of Gga as the causal agent of disease in infected tur fgrass samp les.

Mr. Young-Ki JoPh.D. student, Spring 2001

Young-Ki started the Ph.D. program with Dr. MikeBoehm in April 2001 after graduation from MichiganState University. The focus of research is to develop man -agement strategies for dollar spot fungus resistant to benz-

imidazole and demethlyation inhibitor fungicides.Since last summer, dollar spot samples have been col-lected in Oh io and h ave been screened for fungicidesensitivity. At the same time, fungicide efficacy tests havebeen set up on local golf courses where the dollar spotfungus resistant to fungicides were found. Anotherresearch area of interest is work on gray leaf spot.

Ms. Amanda B. CoreMasters student , Fall 2001Mandy, started the Masters program with Dr.

Boehm in August after Graduating from MiamiUniversity of Ohio. The focus of her program is bio-logical control of Fusarium head scab in wheat. Shewill be studying th e interaction of biological controlagents with the pathogenic fungus on th e wheat h ead.

Graduate st udents; Mandy Core,Sam Thomas, and Young-Ki Jo.

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TEACHINGDr. Boehm is the only individual in the groupthat has a formal teaching appointmen t at the

University. Mr. Rimelspach an d the studentsparticipate both in formal classroom settings andin continuing education and in Extensioneducation settings and forums. This spring JoeRimelspach will be teach ing Plant Patho logy612Tu rfgrass Patho logy du e to Mike serv ingactive duty in the United States military.

Plant Pathology 401General PlantPa thology

Plant Pathology 612Turfgrass Pathology

Plant Pathology 613IntegratedManagement of Turfgrass Insects, Diseases, and Weeds

(This is a senior cap stone class.) Currently turfgrass students make up

5075% of PP 401. In 612 & 613 themajority of the students are turf students.

Dr. Boehm has won four major teaching awardsin h is short time h ere at Oh io State University.These include: The Ohio State University AlumniAward for Distinguished Teachin g in 1999, TheOhio State University College of Food Agricultureand Environmen tal Science Plimpton OutstandingTeaching Award in recognition of a commitmentto teach ing excellent, an d his last award was fromthe u ndergraduate students in crop science, horti-culture, an d p lant patho logy for Ou tstandingTeaching in the Plant Sciences. These awardsdemonstrate that Dr. Boehm is held in h igh regardby his peers and by students. Th is speaks veryhighly of Dr. Boehms commitment to the studenthere at Ohio State University. Teaching is Dr.Boehms passion.

RESEARCH ( OTF suppor t )The Tu rfgrass Pathology Program has used the annualfunding support from O hio Tu rfgrass Foundation toaugment and support many aspects of the teaching,research, and Extension components of the program.Dr. Boehm has used his annual allotments for directsupport of graduate students. This serves a duel purposeof education and research.

Dr. Boehm received a large sum of money from OTFas part of his start up package when he first came to OhioState. Th is was used to purchase an expen sive p iece of equipmen t called a gas chromatograph ( GC). This hasbeen used extensively by various re search projects. At th is

time the GC is primarily being used by Samantha Thomasand h er research work.

KEY RESEARCH AREAS INCL The use of compost and other bio-control agents

for managing turfgrass diseases and to manage turf-grass health .

The study of root zone mixes, especially the organiccomponen t, and th e effective man agement o f rootdiseases and to study the micro ecology of the rootzone profile.

Dollar Spot management and the study of resistanceproblems on golf courses dealing with th is disease

Numerous applied fungicide trials assessing the com-mercially available fungicides, experimental fungicides,and the use of other biological agents and materials tomanage turfgrass diseases.

The evaluation of various management and culturalpractices and th eir impact on turfgrass health anddisease management.

Todd Hic ks,Lab and FieldResearchManager

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EXTENSIONInformation Transfer/Extension/Outreach

The Extension Plant Pathology Program developsand communicates information on the maintenanceof environ men tally sound tur fgrass, solving tur f grassproblems, diagnosing diseases, and the use of inte-grated h ealth systems. These services are provided tothe Ohio tur fgrass industry, coun ty Extension per-sonne l, and all Ohio citizens. Many aspects of theseefforts are sup por ted p artially by funds from O TF.

Short courses, workshop s, seminars, AgentIn -Services, continuing education

Extension publications, written & electronicinformation, newsletters, and trade articles

Field days, tours, demonstration plots, indu strypresen tations

Electronic information transfer, e-mail, video,radio/ TV

Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT), instructon safe and effective pesticide use

Diagnostic ServicesProvide the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest

Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC) with diagnoses of turfgrass samples for diseases and disorders.

Site and field visits are provided to the industryand are a highly valuable component of the tur fgrass extension p rogram.

Assist research projects by providing diagnosesof tur fgrass diseases and disorders.

Athletic field diagnostic consulting is providedfor n umerous sites throu ghout the state.

Regional Turfgrass Education Program(RTEP)

The overall goal of this extension pro ject is toadvocate the use of environmentally sound turf grasshealth management strategies by homeowners,commer cial lawn care companies, municipalities,

and parks and recreation personnel through thecombined an d coordinated efforts of state and countyextension personnel.

Eight sites have been established in the state. A web site has been implemented as an electronic

turfgrass resource.

At this time th e en tire Tu rfgrass PathologyProgram team would like to thank OTF for its gener-ous support and partnership over the years. We inviteinput on how to improve the program and betterserve the turfgrass industry, county Extension system,and all citizens of the state of Ohio and beyond.

Dr. Boehm in m ilitary service

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Annual Bluegr ass Seto Be or Not to B


Dr. John R. Street , Deborah D. Holdren,and T. Karl DannebergerDepartment of Horticulture and Crop ScienceThe Ohio State University

Annual Bluegr ass Seto Be or Not to B

Some tools are available to assist in r educin g oreliminating AB seedhead production. None however

are a panacea. The major tool b eing used withdegrees of success is plant growth regulators (PGRs ) .The mo st common PGRs for use today fit into twogeneral categories (Table 1): (1) PGRs that inhibitcell division ( mitotic inhibitors) and truly inhibit seed-head development and (2) PGRs that inhibit cellelongation (GA synthesis inhibitors) and result incompact seedhead stalks.

Embark (Embark Lite) is the most efficaciousPGR for seedhead control. Embark is a growthregulator that actually stops turf growth (i.e. inhibitscell division) and eliminates seedhead production if applied at the proper rate ( 1/ 16 to 1/ 8 lb ai/ A) andtime. Unfortu nately, the growth stopp age that occurswith Embark can cause sho rt- term tur f discoloration(p hytotoxicity).Phytotoxicity/ discoloration is very ratesensitive so accurate application procedures are amust when u sing this AB seedh ead sup pression strate-gy. After the initial discoloration phase, the typicaldark green color response observed with most PGRapplications occurs. Embark does no t assist in conver-sion of creeping bentgrass (CB) - AB swards to CB.

Most tur f managers apply an iron source tan k mixed with Embark to help mask some of the discol-

oration that typically occurs. Some iron sources willantagon ize th e activity of Embark in tank mixes. Research

from the University of Illinois (Branham) indicates thatfully chelated iron sources will not red uce the effectivenessof Embark (Table 2).

Successful seedhead con trol is predicated on prop ertiming. Mefluidide applications need to be applied afterAB green-up but before seedhead emergence.Traditionally, mefluidide applications are made anytimebetween the first and middle of April depen ding on thetemperatures in Columbus. In Cincinnati, applicationswould be made earlier than this and in Cleveland later.However, application within this window is quite variabledepen ding on temp eratures. Reported signs for prop erapplication timing include:

1. Apply when you can feel the seedhead within thesheath or at boot stage. It is sometimes difficult toaccess the boot stage.

2. Delay applications un til full green-up oth erwise thegreen-up process will be delayed and turf quality willbe reduced.

3. Check for AB seedh ead app earance in th e rough . ABwill generally flower first in the rough followed by fair-ways and greens. Thus the appearance of seedheads inthe rough would be a sign to treat fairw ays.

Annual bluegrass (AB) continues to be the most prevalent weed problem in high maintenance,cool season golf course turf. Annual bluegrass management has improved due to a better under-standing of AB subspecies and biotypes, changes in maintenance strategies to minimize AB stre ss,and new fungicide tools for disease management. A major drawback to AB management is its capac-ity to produce abundant seedheads in the spring and early summer significantly influencing playability.

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4. Growing degree-models: Research studies rep ortthat mefluidide applications can be made basedon growing d egree-days (GDD). GDD are calcu-lated a n umber o f different ways, however themost common is taking the average daily tempera-ture an d subtracting a base temperature which isusually 50F (10 C). These daily totals are accu-mulated from a given start date. If the GDD forthe day is less than 0, the GDD is 0 (n o negatives).Using centigrade temperature readings and a ccu-mulating GDD starting April 1st, the best time toapply mefluidide is when the GDD total is between10 and 30. For fahrenheit temperature, the GDDtotal is 5075. Widespread use of this model is prob-

ably restricted due to the start date of April 1st.

Cautions/points when using mefluidide include:

1. If you are interested in using the compound, and youhave not used it before, test it out on a small scale.Discoloration to the turf can occur.

2. Keep applications on the turf to be treated. Sprayingout in the rou gh or other non -target turfgrass areaswhere AB is not the primary turfgrass can result inunwanted suppression of the turfgrass (most com-mon ly Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegass).

3. Minimize any potent ial overlap.

PGRs like Primo, Trimmit, and Cutless do not stopgrowth but are true regulators in the sense that th eyinh ibit/ slow cell elongation by inhibiting GA synth esis.They are commonly called GA inhibitors. Seedheads arestill produced but the plants and seedstalks are morecompact and the seedstalks do not elongate as much as if they were unregulated. The more diminutive, compactseedhead results in a putting surface that is less irregulareven though seedheads are present. The effectiveness of the latter PGRs for AB seedh ead contro l from OSUresearch in the spring of 2001 are presented in Table 3.

Table 1.Characteristic s of Commonly Used Plant Growt h Regulators for Annual Bluegrass Management.

PGR Mode of Point of PlantName Act ion Entry Response Irrigat ion Company

Embark Lite miotic foliar inhibits cell division do not PBI Gordon(melfluidide) inhibitor seedhead inhibition water in

Primo late GA foliar inhibits cell elongation do not Syngenta(trinexepac-ethyl) synthesis compacts seedstalks water in

inhibitor

Trimmit early GA roots inhibits cell elongation water in Syngenta(paclobutrazol) synthesis compacts seedstalks

inhibitor

Cutless early GA roots inhibits cell elongation water in See Pro(flurprimidol) synthesis compacts seedstalks

inhibitor

Proxy ethylene- foliar abscission of flowers do not Aventis(ethephon) based seedhead suppression water in

responses

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Table 2.Influence of Iron Source on Embark Activit y on Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Suppression.All Embark Applic ation Rates 0.125 lbs ai/ A (1.8 oz/M). Applications were m ade on5/5 and seedhead ratings were taken 5/31.

Rates Turf Quality % Seedhead % SeedheadTREATMENT (oz prod/M) 5/20/88 Density Control

Control 8.2 88 0Embark alone 1.8 7.5 5 94Embark + Ferromec AC 1.8 + 2 8.0 14 85Embark + Ferromec AC 1.8 + 4 8.5 37 59Embark + Ferromec AC 1.8 + 6 8.2 25 72Embark + Lesco Fe Plus 1.8 + 3 8.5 27 70Embark + FeSO 4 1.8 + 3.6 8.2 42 53Embark + Ferromec 1.8 + 2 8.5 40 55Embark + Ferromec 1.8 + 4 8.5 67 24Embark + Ferromec 1.8 + 6 8.5 60 32Embark + Agriplex 1.8 + 0.5 7.8 8 91Embark + Agriplex 1.8 + 1.5 7.6 4 96Embark + Scott s Iron S 1 1.8 + 1.5 lbs/M 9.0 8 91LSD (P=0.05) 0.6 31

1Scotts Iron S is a granular iron product applied at t he time of Embark application.No antagonism would be expected from t his type of product.2University of Illinois research (Bramham)

Table 3.PGR Efficacy on AB Seedhead Suppression / Control

Rate Rate % SeedheadPGR 1 Form lbs ai/A oz/M Control 2

April 20 May 7

Primo 1EC 0.085 0.25 36 9Proxy 2SL 3.4 5 12 11Proxy 2SL 6.8 10 8 20Embark 2S 0.125 1.8 75 87Embark 2S 0.0625 0.9 70 31Trimmit 2SC 0.125 1.8 60 24

Embark + 2S 0.0625+ 0.9+Proxy 2SL 3.4 5 56 41Embark + 2S 0.0625+ 0.9+Primo 1EC 0.085 0.25 65 28Prograss 1.5EC 0.075 1.5 56 43Prograss 1.5Ec 1.5 3.0 42 83Untreated 0 0

1Treatment applied on April 92 % Control c alculated based on AB seedhead counts in untreated plots3 OSU research (Street & Holdr en)

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What do you want to be when yougrow up? We all have dreams; wants;goals, ambitions; desires. Some of usare privileged to know early on what wewant to become. A few of us will havethe ultimate benefit of seeing thatbecome reality. Darian Daily, Director ofCrew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, discov-ered early on his love of the game of

baseball and the excitement of a stadium. His dream was to makeit in the majors. This he did and much more.

Pursuing a career in turf management wasnt a given. It wasntsomething that he knew he always wanted to do. Being an arc hi-tect was initially attractive but the love of baseball superceded. Hiscareer and achievements are based upon study, hard work, doingthat which he enjoys and the guiding influence of people in thefield, who graciously are willing to share their knowledge and

experience.Darians initial exposure in turf and facility management beganat Dickson County High School, as he worked in maintaining thebaseball playing fields. Baseball and its physical environs wererapidly becoming a love. It became an ambition. The ability to playthe game was limited by physical constraints but this did notdiminish the interest and pleasure that was received by the experi-ence. Shelby Rye, the then and present high school baseball coachis credited with incentivizing him to get into the business. Shelbyinstilled in him the vision of how to make it in the big leagues.Upon graduation Shelby gifted Darian with a rake, a mementowhich he still treasures today. It has been used just once, at thebeginning of the development of the Crew Soccer Stadium.

Darian graduated from Middle Tennessee University in 1992,with a degree in Plants and Soil Science. He worked as the base-ball team manager, responsible for the playing field. Initiative andperformance initially led to a partial scholarship and subsequently,for his Junior and Senior years he was awarded a full scholarship.During the summer months he worked for an AAA baseball team,the Nashville Sounds. He started his professional career with abaseball club in Winston-Salem, N.C. The ambiance and theexcitement of baseball and its environment enthralled him.

After a couple of years, he returned to work at MiddleTennessee State. This was followed by a position as GroundsSpecialist for Brentwood Parks and Recreation in Brentwood, Te nn.

MemberSpotlight

A Passion Becomes aDream and is now a Reality

To give people theknowledge and tools tomake their lives as tur fmanagers even better.

Darian DailyDirector

Columbus Crew Stadium

Columbus, Ohio

Responsibilities included 17 softball fields, 10 soccer fields and an amphithe-ater. In 1992, the opportunity arose to become the Director of StadiumGrounds for the Columbus Crew Stadium. This was not only a challengingposition; it was also an opportunity to return his family to home ground,family and friends.

Development of major league soccer stadiums is still in its infancy.Columbus Crew is the first professional soccer stadium to be built in theU.S. The Crew Soccer Team is in the premier soccer division of theUnited States. With considerable soccer team ownership held by footballteam enterprises, coupled with access to their football fields, the demandfor specialized soccer fields is diminished. This is changing however withthe growing national interest in the sport. Plans are underway forstadiums in Dallas, TX and Los Angeles CA.

When Darian arrived at Crew in April 1999, he didnt have so much asa screwdriver or a shovel. What he did have however was two capable,full time assistants; a couple of part time internships and access to OTFand a network of experienced professionals. When you speak with Darian,

you may talk about the scientific aspects of his program but what he trulyexudes is his recognition and recognition of people. For him, being part ofa team and a beautiful stadium is a daily pleasure. Game day is a rush; itis very exciting. Being able to share and to give back to the profession iswhat really matters. He tries to instill in his staff the awareness that forsome people, this will be their first time to see a professional stadium.To make this visit a thrilling experience is a priority.

Being director of Crew provides extensive and diverse challenges. It isthe site for a wide variety of events, from all levels of soccer, to AmericanLeague Football, college and high school games and lacrosse. Add tothese major concerts such as NSYNClast year, and you are faced with112-hour weeks, with 36-hour straight days. A sense of professionalsatisfaction and public appreciation are partial rewards for this level ofcommitment. Being a member of the Sports Tu rf Manager Assoc. andOTF provides access to a network of people who have and are willing toshare their experience and advice. These relationships provide a comfortlevel when faced with new endeavors. Darian has found his relationshipwith the OTF and the proximity to Ohio State University a base of exten-sive resources and support.

Darian is happily married to his wife Carole and they are blessed witha daughter Peyton, age 2. Darian Daily simply loves his job. A dream hasbecome a reality. And it continues. For the future, he hopes to see contin-ued MLS growth. Personally, it is his desire to share his knowledge andexperience with others, enabling them to share in the pleasure of theexperience. He is truly an all-star in the field of turf management.

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Soil Amendments andin Tr ee Health Mana

Harry A.J. Hoitink , M.S. Krause, and Randy H. Zondag

Soil Amendments andin Tr ee Health Mana

Composts and mulches can be u sed successfully toimprove tree vigor and health. Un fortun ately, these

organic amendments also can be applied in ways sothat ne gative effects are the en d r esult. Many factorscontr ibute to success or failure in these soil organicmanagement practices. This paper reviews the mostcritical factors that must be considered if mulches are tobe used successfully.

Fr esh vs. Composted Or ganic MatterMost fresh plant materials cause negative effects on

plant growth and / or h ealth for some time after app lica-tion. For example, fresh straw used as mulch increaseswater reten tion in soils, immobilizes nitrogen, resulting in

poor growth, and may also increase Phytophthora rootrot. Fresh ground wood seems to have similar effects.Composted yardwaste prepared from ground wood

and grass clippings has the opp osite effect. It improvesplant growth, improves both drainage and water reten-tion, and can provide biological control of Phytophthoraroot rot. The same results have been obtained with com-posted tree barks.

In garden ing, the type o f organic matter used mu st beconsidered also. Vetch plowed into soil as green manureincreases Pythium d amping-off of lettuce if the crop isplanted within the first week after plowing. However, 10days after plowing, when the green manure is fully colo-

nized by soil microorganisms, the disease is suppressedand biocontrol prevails.

Why do fresh amendments or mulches have these tem-porary negative e ffects on plant health? Fresh plant tissues,incorporated into soil, release sugars, proteins, and otherwater soluble n utr ients when they first begin to decay. Thisstimulates man y plant path ogens as well as other soilmicroorganisms. Fresh organic matter u ndergoing h ighrates of decomposition also binds water, making it slippery when wet. The soil unde r mulch p repared from thesematerials remains to high in moisture content, and canaggravate root rots.

As soon as the organic matter is partially decomposedand competition for nutrients begins among soil microor-ganisms, ben eficial effects begin. Path ogens now are sup-pressed or killed, and beneficial microorganisms thrive,including mycorrhizal fungi. The structure of the soil is

improved, which results in improved water retention underdry weather conditions and better d rainage during per iodsof high precipitation. Soil fertility is affected also. Whileorganic matter decomposes, nutrients are released an d ful-vic acids are formed. Fulvic acids are resistant to decomposi-tion an d polymerize to form hu mic substances in soils.Fulvic and some h umic acids remain dissolved in water insoil early during the decomposition process. These acidschelate trace elements, such as iron, zinc, manganese, cop-per, etc., and improve the availability of these elements insoils. This is one reason why manures and slud ges greenup plants on some high pH soils.

Highly stabilized sources of organic matter, such as that

in muck soils or p eat, as well as humic substances in miner-alized farm soils, do not provide th ese same b eneficialeffects. Path ogen s typically cause h eavy losses in such soilsun less pesticides are used.

Harry A.J. Hoitink and M.S. Krause, Department of PlantPathology, Agricultural Research and Development Center,The Ohio State University Wo oster, Ohio; and Randy H.Zondag, Ohio State University Extension, Lake County.


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Ar e All Composts or Mulches Equal?Composts prepared from yard wastes, manures, and

sewage sludges ten d to release significant quan tities of nutrients for plant growth. They also may be high in saltcontent, which can present prob lems. These productsneed to be applied based on the fertility requ iremen t forthe crop. However, since the nutrients are released overseveral years, large amounts can b e app lied relative to thesame amounts of nutrients in manufactured fertilizers.One half bushel of these products per tree gives positiveeffects on tree crops for the reasons given previously.

Composted manu res and sludges contain large quan ti-ties of fine particles and tend to encourage germinationof weed seeds. These types of materials should be incor-porated in to the soil during planting. They are not idealwhen used as mulches. Coarser products should be usedas mulches.

Hardwood bark and hammer milled pallets, etc., tendto consist of large particles, and these products immobi-lize nitrogen unless composted first. The best procedureis to n itrify this material with manu re or compo stedsewage sludge (15% by volume), poultry manure (30 to60 lbs/ cubic yard) , or u rea (2 lbs/ cubic yard) . It shou ldthen be composted in winrows at temperatures of 120 to140F at 50 to 70% moisture content for six to eightweeks. This large-particle composted product is veryeffective, if applied as a mulch at a volume of one ormore bushels per tree.

Composted yard wastes also enhance soil fertility andhave provided some biological control of diseases causedby several soil-born e p lant pathogen s. The fine p articles(less than one inch in diameter) screened ou t of com-posted yard waste make excellen t soil amendments for

top-soil preparation. The coarse faction (greater than oneinch in diameter) makes an excellent mulch that haslong-lasting beneficial effects.

Timing of ApplicationFresh undercompo sed materials and comp osts high in

salinity must be applied in the fall or winter whenpathogens and the crop are least active to allow for leach-ing an provide beneficial effects later. Composted sewagesludges and man ures high in salinity, applied in thespring or summer when Phytophthora and Pythium aremost active, often increase disease p ressures rather than

provide control. Application of these products in the latefall or mid-winter allows for leaching of salts and providespositive rathe r th an negative effects.

Several producers of composts have learned tomon itor and con trol the salinity and fertility effects of composts. It is possible today, therefore, to use thesepro ducts ben eficially at an y time of the year and avoidnegative side effects. The best approach is to blend highnutrient content materials with tree bark to provide long-lasting beneficial effects.

Optimum Depth of Mulch LaMost mulches need to be applied at a two-inch depth

to provide weed control. Some landscapers apply mulchesto a depth of four to six inches. Wood chips applied to adepth of four inches decrease the colonization of trees bymycorrhizal fungi as shown in a reforestation trail inAlberta. A two-inch-deep layer enhan ced tree establish-ment and colonization by mycorrhizal fungi over the con-trol in that work. Many repor ts have shown that mycor-rhizal fungi are stimulated by organic amendments if the correct amount of material is applied, and this alsopromotes plant health and vigor.

Some mulches, as mentioned earlier, can be very highin n utrient conten t and salinity. Composted man ures andyard wastes, for example, may contain up to 1% potashon a dry-weight basis. The n utrien ts in these materialsmust be considered or toxicity may result. Fertility guide-lines must be followed for these materials.

How Long Do Effects Last?The effect of a two-inch layer o f composted hardwood

bark lasts well into the third year. The lignin (dark material) and waxes in bark resist decomposition, andthis is the reason for the long-term effect. Compostedyard wastes break down much more rapidly because thepr incipal material is cellulose, that decomposes readily.A two-inch-deep layer of such mulch lasted well into thethird year on strawberries at The Ohio State Universityand lasted through three years in a m ulch study on treesin nurseries.

Composted manures and green manures decomposeeven mo re rapidly and should be incorporated into thesoil. The length of time that each product lasts dependson the chemistry of the original material and may otherf actors.

SummaryMulches and composts, if used pro perly, provide beneficial

effects through any of several mechanisms. It is best to apply com-posted products. Raw products should be applied in the late fallor winter. Do not apply more available mineral nutrients in themulch than the amount re quired for the crop. Compost or manu reanalysis complete with soil analysis and crop need should formthe basis for application rates. The frequency of application variesf rom crop to crop and product to product. It is most important touse these products when trees are first planted.

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Many changes have recently been made to the governance structure of theOh io Tu rfgrass Foundation that may need explanation. They are importantchanges that allow us to better serve youour members. Please be assured thatwhen the OTF Board of Directors meets and makes strategic decisions, theinterests of our members and Ohios turfgrass industry are THE priority.

As you m ay recall, last O ctober at a special member meeting, th e Board of Directors voted to reduce the number of voting trustees serving on the Boardfrom 14 to 11. The position of President Elect and two trustee positions wereeliminated. Dr. John Street and I serve as ex-officio Board membersmeaning

that we do not have a vote, but still serve on the Board.Does this mean ther e are fewer individuals making the strategic decisions affecting the organ ization?

Absolutely not!As announced and explained in prior issues of TurfNews, the O hio Tu rfgrass Research Trust ( OTRT) was

recen tly formed. O TRT is an extension of O TF, but has a different classification as far as the InternalRevenue Service is concerned. Both OTF and OTRT are not-for-profit organizations, but OTRT is considereda 501(c)3 charitable organ ization with several tax advantages. Its tax-exemp t status offers man y ben efits forfuture fund-raising campaigns. OTRT will enable us to raise large sums of mon eythus increasing theresearch and education suppor t we are able to p rovide.

OTRT has its own Board of Directors and bylaws. Its bylaws state that there m ust be an O TF trusteeserving on the OTRT Board at all times. OTF must approve all nominations to the OTRT Board.

The 2002 OTRT Board of Directors, all OTF Past (or current) Presidents, follows:

PresidentRandy Tischer, Green Velvet Sod Farms

TreasurerDoug Halterman

OTF RepresentativeMark Heinlein, The Motz Group

Paul Jacquemin, The Andersons

Ge ne Prob asco

Bob OBrien, Century Equipment

Furthermore, un der the direction o f the OTRT Board of Directors, an impor tant new committee hasbeen formed. It is called the Research Review Advisory Committee (RRAC).

The RRAC curren tly consists of two O TF/ OTRT Board representatives and five researche rs from the OSU

Turfgrass Science Team. The committee is responsible for making recommendations regarding the allocationof research funds. It serves a very important function that will enable OTF to best utilize available fun ds. Itwill also allow for increased fundraising, and enhance the dissemination of information to OTF members.More about the RRAC will be explained in futu re issues.

As you can see, many ind ividuals are involved in th e strategic decision making at O TF. A synergy no wexists, unlike any I have experienced in over three years as your Executive Director. Under the current leader-ship and organizational structure, the future looks very bright for OTF and the turfgrass industry in Ohio.

Cordially,Kevin Thompson

OTF Executive Director

Message From YourExecutive Director

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PO Box 3388

Zanesville, OH 437023388888OTF3445

Fax (740) 4522552

2002 OTF OfficersPresident

Mark HeinleinThe Motz Grou p

Vice PresidentJohn MowatCentury Equipmen t

TreasurerGeorge FurrerLesco, Inc.

Immediate Past PresidentLen DunawayXenia Power Equipme nt

Director of Education

Dr. John R. StreetThe Oh io State Un iversity

Executive Direct orKevin ThompsonOTF/ Offinger Management Co.

OSUTurfgrassScience TeamDr.Michael J.B oehmThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Plant Patho logy

Dr. Karl DannebergerThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Hort. & Crop Science

Mr.Michael FultonThe Ohio State UniversityAgricultural Technical Institute

Dr. David GardnerThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Hort. & Crop Science

Dr. Parwinder GrewalOARDC / OSUDept. Entomology

Dr. Ed McCoyOARDCSchool of Natural Resources

Mr.Joseph W. Rimelspach (Chairman)The Ohio State UniversityDept. Plant Patho logy

Ms. Pamela SherrattThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Hort. & Crop Science

Dr. Dave ShetlarThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Entomology

Dr.John R. S treetThe Ohio State UniversityDept. Hort. & Crop Science

Dr.Daniel Vo ltzThe Ohio State UniversityAgricultural Technical Institute

OTF Board of TrusteesTrustees

Term Expir es 2003Dr. Chuck DarrahCLC LABS

Mark GrunkemeyerBuckeye Ecocare

Mark JordanWestfield Com panies Coun try Club

TrusteesTerm Expires 200 4

Boyd MontgomerySylvania Recreation

Lin RoppUHS

Todd Vo ssDouble Eagle Golf Club

TrusteesTerm Expires 200 5

Glen Po ttengerLarch Tree Golf Course

PRESRT STD

U.S.POS TAGE PAID

COLUMBUS,OH

PERMIT #7780

OTFMA

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