fAilREnOYATIOn

Turfgrasses, like any other part of na-ture, operate on their own biologicalclock. They instinctively respond to

their environment, changing their growthaccording to sunlight, temperature,moisture, nutrition and season.

Controlled by this biological clock, cool-season grasses enter the fall driven bynature to repair damage they sustained dur-ing the growing season and to replenishtheir reserves before the onset of winter.When you consider that turf has devoted itsenergy before this time to recovering fromwinter damage, producing seed in thespring, and surviving the heat and droughtof summer, you can appreciate that fall istremendously important to its recovery andsurvival.

If all we did was fertilize and mow turf inthe fall, it would easily fulfill its mission ofrecovery and renewal. But ours is workingturf--it must withstand tremendous trafficand use long into the fall. Even thoughgrowing conditions are at their best, sportsturf requires more attention in the fall thanat any other time of the year.

Research has shown that the fall is thebest time for establishing, fertilizing, andencouraging root development of cool-season turfgrasses. Triggered by decreas-ing temperatures and sunlight, these plantsdivert their energies from foliar growth toroot growth and nutrient storage.

Timing becomes critical in providing ade-quate shoot growth during this busy sportsseason without severely disrupting theplant's ability to prepare for winter. Eachweek is important to the establishment ofnewly-seeded or overseeded turfgrass. Fur-thermore, established cool- or warm-season grasses must be allowed to "hardenoff" to avoid problems with winterkill orspring transition.

Nearly every cultural practice comes intoplay in late summer and fall. Use-relatedstresses such as compaction, excessivethatch, poor drainage, inadequate irriga-tion, and soil chemistry should be corrected

28 sports TURF

prior to the onset of fall. The purpose is toprovide as close to ideal growing conditionsas possible for renovation and seeding.

The renovation process should alwaysbegin with a soil test. An analysis of pH,nutrients (major and micronutrients), soiltype, and bulk density is important in plan-ning maintenance. Now is also an excellenttime to check thatch/mat depth and take asoil profile to uncover any disruptive subsur-face layers.

The goal is to have important nutrientsavailable during the fall growing season forestablished and seedling turf. Acidity oralkalinity of soil can significantly reduce theavailability of these nutrients. Based uponsoil test recommendations, you may needto adjust pH levels with calcium carbonate(agricultural limestone) or dolomite lime-stone on acid soils, or sulfur on alkalinesoils. The optimum pH range for most turf-grasses is from six to seven.

Nitrogen increases the growth of bothturfgrass roots and shoots. It is essential formaintaining shoot density and gives turf theability to recover from injury quickly.However, when too much nitrogen becomesavailable, root growth is restricted becauseshoot growth is favored over root growth.This can cause serious problems in the fallsince it is a critical period for root growthand storage of food reserves. Lush, overfer-tilized turf is also prone to winter injury.Therefore, only moderate levels of quick-release nitrogen should be applied in thefall.

Phosphorus is perhaps the most impor-tant nutrient for renovated or seeded turf-grass in the fall. Unlike nitrogen and potas-sium, phosphorus does not leach into thesoil. It has to be placed where it is needed.During the fall, that is on the surface forseedlings and in the root zone for estab-lished turf. Core aeration prior to applyingphosphorus can assist in placing thenutrient where it is needed.

Phosphorus stimulates root growth andbranching. It speeds up maturation of see-

dling turf and improves winter hardiness.The need for phosphorus in seedling turf isgreatest in the first four to six weeks afterplanting. Turf can tolerate high levels ofphosphorus without damage. However,such levels can reduce the availability ofiron and hamper the effectiveness of theinorganic arsenical herbicides, such asDSMA and MSMA.

Turf utilizes more potassium than anyother nutrient except nitrogen. It is subjectto leaching, so regular applications arenecessary to maintain adequate levels.Potassium plays a pivotal role in turf growthand development. Seedling turf has anespecially great demand for the nutrient,and stores extra potassium for use later.Overall, potassium improves winter hardi-ness, wear tolerance, rooting, and diseaseresistance.

Since all three of these nutrients are vitalduring the fall, turf managers should eitheruse complete fertilizers, nitrogen carriersthat contain phosphate (monoammoniumphosphate or diammonium phosphate) and

Jacobsen slicer/seeder for renovati

Major work such as drainage improvement is best performed in the fall.Photo courtesy: Cambridge Sportsturf Systems-West.

potassium (potassium nitrate), or supple-ment nitrogen applications with super-phosphate and potassium sulphate.

The nutrient applied most frequently tosports turf besides the three mentionedabove is iron. This metallic micronutrientplays an important role in photosynthesisand-can have a dramatic effect on turf color.It can be used as a color enhancer to avoidthe effects of using high rates of nitrogen.

Iron may be present in the soil butunavailable to the plant. Correcting soilalkalinity, improving drainage, and remov-ing heavy thatch layers help to improveiron's availability. When these problemscan't be resolved, foliar applications of ironcan provide a short-term improvement incolor. For long-term results, chelated formsof iron should be incorporated into the rootzone when possible.

Soil tests will also reveal deficiencies inother nutrients. These include calcium, sul-fur, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper,boron and molybdenum. Many of theseproblems can be solved by correcting alka-

line soil conditions. Fertilizers containingthese nutrients are available. However, it iswise to contact your extension turfspecialist for his or her recommendations.

An increasing amount of attention isbeing paid to the biological activity of soils.Recently, a number of universities initiatedresearch on the effects of environmentaland management stresses on soilmicrobes, bacteria, nematodes, insects,and earthworms in the soil. Scientists areevaluating the impact of soil moisture, pes-ticide applications, sand root zones, andother turf management practices on theseorganisms. "We need more information onthe role these things play in our turf environ-ment," states Keith Karnock, associateprofessor of agronomy at the University ofGeorgia in Athens.

One purpose of this research is to studythe effectiveness of a number of "bio-stimulants" or "non-fertility growthenhancers" currently on the market. Theyinclude products such as PBI Gordon'sBovamura, Emerald Isle's Sand-Aid,Ringer's 'Restore, and Soil Technologies'Turftech. Testimonials of improved color,root growth, thatch reduction and even dis-ease prevention have turf managers askinguniversity specialists how these productsperform. Some experts believe that organicfertilizers, especially activated sewagesludge products, also contribute to the bio-logical activity of soils. To date, universityresearchers do not have definitive answers.

A lot of research is needed to get a clearpicture of the effectiveness of non-fertilitygrowth enhancers on various turf species,moisture conditions, soil temperatures, andtime of year, adds Karnock. He suggeststhat turf managers conduct their own testson small areas first. His results from athree-year test on bentgrasses will be readynext year. Dr. Dick Schmidt at Virginia Poly-technic Institute in Blacksburg, has alsobeen conducting a number of tests in thisarea.

continued on page 30

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Fall Renovationcontinued from page 29

Excessive thatch, compaction, subsur-face layers, hydrophobic soils and thecoverage of irrigation systems are all itemsthat should be corrected in late summer orearly fall. They can disrupt or reduce theeffectiveness of renovation procedures.

Since cool-season turfgrasses are in arecuperative state during the fall, the moresevere operations are safest at this time.Practices such as verticutting, deep cultiva-tion (fracturing subsurface soils), heavy aer-ation, amending soils, installing supple-mentary drainage, seeding and soddingcan be accomplished with the greatest suc-cess. This is the time to spend your budgetwhere it will have the most impact.

Due to the growthof the industry, a

wealth of newtechnology isimproving theeffectiveness of

renovation.By utilizing these renovation methods

safely in the fall, the higher cost of recon-struction can be avoided. Due to the growthof the golf and sports turf industries, awealth of new technology today is improv-ing the effectiveness of renovation asopposed to reconstruction. These proce-dures also reduce the amount of time a turfarea is out of play.

Reconstruction is usually called forbecause original specifications and con-struction were inadequate. Barring com-plete replacement of the root zone, mostdeficiencies can be corrected today withoutreconstruction. However, the cost of theequipment necessary to perform thingssuch as sand injection, deep cultivation,extensive trenching, pipe pulling andregrading is typically beyond the resourcesof anyone sports complex. Fortunately,contractors in many areas are buying thisequipment to perform these services foryou.

A few examples of contract renovationdevices are the units utilized to install theCambridge System of sand slits and perfo-rated drain lines, the Verti-Drain deep shat-ter aerator, the Green Care Drillmaster andVibramaster, and the Yeager-Twose TurfConditioner. These machines allow deepercultivation of the root zone to improvedrainage and aeration. They break throughsubsurface layers and encourage deep rootgrowth.

Hydro Resources of Mesa, AZ, has justintroduced a "no-till" subsurface injector for

fertilizer and water-absorbent polymers.Vibrating blades cut beneath the surfaceand lift the soil so nozzles can inject granu-lar material within the root zone instead ofon the surface. The polymers store waterand fertilizer in the root zone where theyrelease them to roots upon demand. Theyswell and contract with moisture for a periodof three years or longer before breakingdown.

A vibratory plow is the same technologyused to install the small drainpipe of theCambridge System and fill the cut to thesurface with sand. Sometimes referred toas sand injection, this process has beenused to improve drainage on golf greens,fairways, and stadium fields with minimalsurface disturbance.

An option to sand injection has been theuse of prefabricated drain channels whichare inserted into narrow trenches. Thistechnology is available to anyone withaccess to a trencher. Disc-tooth trenchersare an economical alternative to conven-tional models and cut a narrower slit for thedrain channels.

These drain channneis are usuallyplaced in a herringbone pattern, similar tothe branches extending out from the trunkof a tree. The spacing between the chan-nels depends upon the type of soil and theamount of water you need to remove in agiven period of time. The heavier the soil is,the closer the channels need to be to eachother.

Back on the surface, sports turfmanagers can solve problems with depres-sions near goal mouths and worn outcrowns of fields by topdressing, a techniqueused for years by golf course superinten-dents to keep greens smooth and firm. Top-dressers are now available that can spreadlayers of material as thick as 114-inchevenlyand quickly.

Regular topdressing of heavy play areascan avoid the expense of periodic regradingand reestablishment. The topdressingshould be compatible with the root zonemix and the same material should be usedeach time to avoid layering. Core aerationprior to topdressing can help mix thematerial into the existing soil to improvedrainage.

Water infiltration and percolation can alsobe improved by surface-applied wettingagents. They can be applied as granules orinjected as liquids through the irrigationsystem. They are also effective for tem-porarily correcting localized dry spots andwater-repellent thatch layers.

Of course, nothing will help moistureproblems if the irrigation system does notprovide uniform coverage. Check all headsand nozzles prior to renovation to assure aneven distribution of water. For optimum fallroot growth you want to provide moisturedeep into the root zone. Repeat irrigationcycles and check moisture depth with a soilprobe until you are certain that water haspercolated down eight or more inches intothe soil profile. This is your reservoir.

continued on page 32

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Fall Renovationcontinued from page 30

The trick is to maintain this reservoirwithout creating a waterlogged condition.That is why adequate drainage, a good irri-gation system, and wetting agents are soimportant. Seeding will require surfacemoisture at all times. However, overwateringto keep the seed moist will waterlog the rootzone and hamper root development. Fre-quent, light syringing will keep the seedmoist without overwetting the soil below.The reservoir can be replenished if neces-sary by infrequent, longer cycles.

One factor that contributes to water-logged soils is the extended germinationperiod of most cool-season grasses. Whileperennial ryegrasses typically germinatewithin seven to ten days, Kentuckybluegrasses and tall fescues can take amonth or longer. That means frequent irri-gation must take place for a large portion ofthe busy fall playing season. This canencourage surface compaction and turfdamage.

Three techniques can shorten this criticalwet period. The first and most entailed ispregermination. This involves soaking theseed in water-filled containers to force it togerminate before it is sown.

Significant advances have been made inpregermination recently. California Poly-technic Institute in Pomona; Liquid Sod Inc.in Brighton, MI; and Northrup King in Min-neapolis, MN, have been working to perfectthis process. High germination rates forryegrass, bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrassand even wildflowers have been achieved.

Pregermination was first tried by stadiumqroundskeepers to repair damaged footballfields with perennial ryegrass betweengames. Harry Gill at Milwaukee CountyStadium, Barney Barron at CandlestickPark, and George Toma at ArrowheadStadium each developed methods to ger-minate seed before it was applied. Barronmixed seed with sand and calcined clay.This mix was wet down, placed in mounds,and rewet daily. Gill mixed seed with Milor-ganite in much the same way. Toma choseto soak the seed alone in drums, changingthe water daily. Following germination off-site, the seed, sometimes mixed with aspreading agent, was sown on the field.Within two weeks, the seedlings wererooted and filling in thin spots.

Cal Poly, Northrup King, and mostrecently, Liquid Sod have improved preger-mination methods. By experimenting, theyfound that by changing the water, adding airduring the soaking process, and controllingthe temperature of the seed, germinationrates could be increased.

Dr. William Levengood, a retired Univer-sity of Michigan biophysicist consulting forLiquid Sod, has been able to clarify a num-ber of problems with pregermination. "Theimportant thing to understand is what goeson inside the seed during germination," heexplains.

"By measuring the physiologicalresponse of the seed to temperature, oxy-

gen and other factors over time, the preger-mination process can be adjusted to reducestress and increase germination. Seedgenerates heat as it germinates, especiallywhen the seed is gathered together in in abag, tank or pile. That heat, if not controlled,stresses the seed and reduces it potentialto germinate:'

Jesse Johnson, vice president of thecompany, has uncovered other factorswhich contribute to the success of preger-mination. "For one thing, you can use lessseed," he states. "Once seed has germi-nated, there is no reason to apply extraseed. It also costs less to treat seed withfungicides (Apron) during pregerminationthan to apply the same fungicide to the

Pregermination bags by Liquid Sod aerateand control the temperature of the seed as itgerminates.

ground afterwards." Johnson noted that thecompany has seen positive results fromstaining the seed with Bovamura. Finally,he states that wetting agents are helpful ifused only during the first soaking.

The second method of cutting down thetime it takes to establish turf is "seed prim-ing." The advantage of seed priming is thatthe treated seed can be marketed orshipped like untreated seed. Primingbegins the germination process and thenstops it just before emergence of shoots.When the seed is sown, it has a head start,allowing tall fescues and Kentuckybluegrasses to complete germination inseven to ten days, just like perennialryegrass.

Jacklin Seed plans to have treated seedavailable within two years, says Gayle Jack-lin Ward. "We will be using primed seed firstto plant some of our production fields," shestates. "The crop comes up faster,lengthens our planting time, and gives uscleaner fields. Because Kentuckybluegrass spreads, it has an importantadvantage in golf and sports turf over non-spreading turfgrasses. By cutting germina-tion down to a week, turf managers can useit more effectively for overseeding andreseeding."

Turf Merchants has announced it willhave primed seed of Bonzai dwarf tall fes-

cue this fall. The company is using thesame priming process as Chemlawn Cor-poration, one of the nation's largest lawnservice companies. "We've found that byusing primed seed in our production fields,tall fescue is more mature by winter,"reports Steve Tubbs with Turf Merchants."As a result, we get full seed production thefirst spring, instead of the second year:'

The third time-saving technology is seedcoating. By coating seed with nutrients,moisture control agents, and/or fungicides,a higher and faster rate of germination isobtained. Celpril, a company which offersthe coating process to seed companies,says turf managers can use half as muchcoated seed as uncoated. The companyalso claims time savings of nearly 50 per-cent with some turfgrasses. Furthermore,the seed can be bagged, shipped, andstored like uncoated seed.

Mechanical methods of improving seedgermination are also useful to the managerof a busy sports complex. Shallow aeration,with either hollow or solid tines, provides aprotected environment for seed "anddeveloping seedlings. Roots flourish inthese core holes. Obviously, a tight patternwill provide the most protection. Light top-dressing after aeration also offers importanttraffic and moisture protection for seedlings.

Application of activated charcoal, dark-colored organic fertilizers, or dyes canspeed germination by warming the soil sur-face. These dark materials absorb andretain heat from sunlight during the day.This may be important-later in the fall, whennighttime temperatures drop below 50degrees F.

Covers are also useful for keeping soiltemperatures up during the fall. Some turfmanagers cover fields or greens at night totrap daytime heat and insulate the turf fromcold nights. A number of manufacturersmake tarps with one dark side and one lightor reflective side. The light side is intendedfor rain protection during the growing sea-son, while the dark side can be used towarm the turf in the fall and winter. Thevalue of these covers has increased as foot-ball extends further into the fall and base-ball starts earlier each spring.

Translucent covers have the advantagethat they can be left on turf areas both dayand night. They allow sunlight to reach theturf and trap heat when temperatures fall.Dr. John Roberts, associate professor ofplant science at the University of NewHampshire, has found that these coverscan increase soil temperatures by as muchas 15 degrees F. Reemay, Hinsperger PolyIndustries, DuPont, and Warren's SpecialtyProducts manufacture covers of this type.They are not solid. They are spun-bonded,needle-punched, or woven to allow move-ment of moisture and air through the cover.

Some northern golf course superinten-dents have left the covers on greens allwinter to achieve spring greenup of bent-grasses up to three weeks early. The extraprotection can also reduce winterkill anddesiccation.

Any method of extending the growingseason in the fall enables cool-season turf-grasses to mature more rapidly. The moremature they are in the spring, the moreresilient they will be. Every week gained inthe fall adds to root development and foodstorage. These are vital to turfgrass hardi-ness and resilience the following year.

Sports turf managers and golf coursesuperintendents are learning to make everysecond count during the fall, when the bio-logical clock of turfgrasses favors renova-tion. By assisting natural processes withnew management techniques, you can gainas much as a month in the fall and two or

more weeks in the spring. This not onlyallows longer and safer use of natural turfsurfaces, it gives turfgrass more time torecover from wear, regenerate its naturaldefenses, and achieve its full potential.

Just as in medicine, you can apply inten-sive care to keep a sick patient al ive ... oryou can implement a program of preventivemedicine to let the patient's naturaldefenses avoid a critical situation. You arethe doctor. You can spend the year in theemergency ward, or you can invest in tech-niques which avoid disaster. Renovation inthe fall is the best medicine for golf andsports turf. 4.,

The judges for the 1989-1990Beam Clay®Baseball Diamond ofthe YearAwards will be four head groundskeepers representing

each of the major league divisions:

IIIIIIIIIII

AL-EastHarry Gill, Milwaukee Brewers

NL-EastPete Flynn, N.Y. Mets

NL-\\estSteve Wightman, San Diego Padres

AL-WestJim Anglea, Texas Rangers

Winners will be honored at the annual Sports Turf Manager's Association AwardsBanquet and be featured in sportsTURFMagazine. No entry fee is required.So, if you're proud of your baseball facility, why not enter your baseball field in theBeamClay®Baseball Diamond of the YearAwards contest?

The Awards are sponsored by Beam Cla~ The Sports Turf Managers Association,and sportsTURF magazine in recognition of excellence and professionalism in main-taining outstanding, safe, professional quality baseball diamonds. Entries will bejudged in three categories: professional diamonds, college diamonds; and school,municipal or park diamonds.

Sendthe information below to enter:1. Age of baseball diamond (year of installation).2. Geographic location (city and state).3. Description of maintenance program for turf and skinned areas.4. Operating budget for baseball diamond.5. Irrigation: ~one __ Manual __ Automatic __6. Total number of maintenance staff for field.7. Does baseball field have lighting for night games?8. Number of events on baseball diamond per year.9. Types and number of events on diamond other than baseball?

10. How many months during the year is the field used?11. Why you think this field is one of the best?12. Send two sets of color slides or pri nts.

Deadline for entries: Entries must be postmarked no later than October 31, 1989.

~e~~e~~:~~~~rds Soorts~.:"'. s"Drts~.lJRfKelsey Park TmfJVIIlnJfTM piGreat Meadows, N.J. Managers ~ magazine

I 07838 TI£ ""0fE~~;2CHOICEL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.-~~~~~~---~--~August, 1989 33