MANAGERS ASSOCIAT ION THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIME · 2014. 2. 26. · Golden, Co 80403 Phone: 303-215-3428 Fax: 303-215-3429 E-Mail: [email protected] Committees: Seminars,

M A N A G E R S A S S O C I A T I O N

C O LO R A D O

SPORTS TURFSPORTS TURFSPORTS TURF

Feature Article...THE PERFECT STORM

DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!CSTMA Spring Seminar

Tuesday, April 29thDick’s Sporting Goods Park

SPRING 2014

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIMEAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATIONTHE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIMEAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

COLORADO SPRINGS7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680

PARKER19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299

Visit us online at www.PBEquip.comMon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Proven brands and service. From our family to yours.

Trust Potestio Brothers for all your John Deere turf equipment needs.

At Potestio Brothers, we’re dedicated to providing the superior service and the tough, reliable John Deere equipment you need to maintain the beauty of your golf courses.

With our full line of Front Mowers, Gator™ Turf Vehicles, Walk-Behinds, Wide Area and ZTrak™ Commercial Mowers, we’ll keep your courses looking their very best all year long.

Are Your Bases Covered?Your Head Groundskeeper and crew need to negotiate rigorous – and often unpredictable – issues regarding the playing surface at your stadium.

That’s where the Sports Turf Managers Association comes in. STMA members are expertly equipped to deal with these issues and are up-to-date on all the latest information in the industry. Their expertise in resource utilization, operations management, and agronomics allow you to protect your players on the field and reduce your expenses while doing it.

Support your grounds crew’s STMA membership for access to the latest information, education, and industry developments. For over 30 years, STMA members have ensured their fields are among the safest, most playable and most beautiful around.

Are your bases covered? Is there an STMA member on your grounds crew?

To become a member, go online to www.stma.org or call 800-323-3875.

Get more work done with the hardest working utility vehicles on the market today.

Hefty payload capacities and towing capabilities deliver increased productivity.

With a category-leading two-year warranty, improve your return on investment

through the strength, reliability and durability of the Workman. toro.com/md

Workman® MD Series

©2

013

Th

e To

ro C

omp

any.

All

rig

hts

res

erve

d.

Highest total payload capacity in its class.

LL Johnson Distributing Company4700 Holly Street, Denver, CO 80216303-320-1270 www.lljohnson.com

WorkmanMD_Ad_LLJ_5_13.indd 1 5/31/13 8:57 AM

SPRING 2014 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME 1

PresidentDrew BarberTown Of EriePo Box 750Erie, Co 80516Phone: 303-926-2890E-Mail: [email protected]: Bylaws

Past President Charles KlafkaDouglas County Parks & Trails9651 S Quebec StLittleton, Co 80130Phone: 720-733-6990Fax: 303-470-0916E-Mail: [email protected]: Awards And Scholarships

Vice PresidentDave RaduegPolo Grounds3131 Braeburn Pl.Highlands Ranch, Co 80126Phone: 303-859-3245E-Mail: [email protected]: Newsletter, Seminars, Community Outreach

Commercial Officer Cody J FreemanGolf Enviro Systems10275 Ventura StCommerce City, Co 80022Phone: 719-491-0591E-Mail: [email protected]: Vendor Sponsorship, Scholarships And Bylaws

Commercial Officer Elect Amy GraffGreenone Industries193 N. Biloxi WayAurora, Co 80018Phone: 303-518-8999Fax: 303-795-9443E-Mail: [email protected]: Vendor Sponsorship, Newsletter And Golf Tournament

Directors

Debra ErwinCity Of Rock Springs1301 Clubhouse DrRock Springs, Wy 82901Phone: 307-352-1411Fax: 307-352-1516E-Mail: [email protected]

Paul SelchertS. Suburban Parks & Rec5500 Boatworks DriveLittleton, Co 80126Phone: 303-795-9856Fax: 303-347-6963E-Mail: [email protected]: Seminars, Community Outreach

Sun RoessleinNorth Area Athletic Complex19500 W 64Th PkwyGolden, Co 80403Phone: 303-215-3428Fax: 303-215-3429E-Mail: [email protected]: Seminars, Golf Tournament, Community Outreach

Cody WithamDicks Sporting Goods Park6000 Victory WayCommerce City, Co 80022Phone: 303-727-3731E-Mail: [email protected]: Newsletter

Executive Director/Website Coordinator Christi Clay191 University Blvd. #703Denver, Co 80206Phone: [email protected]

CSTMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Message 2

Photo Quiz 3

CSTMA Board of Directors Biographies 4

Dick’s Sporting GoodsPark - Spring Seminar 7

Spring Startup ofIrrigation Systems 8

CSTMA Raffle 8

The Perfect Storm 10

Denver BroncosTurf 14

Social Media 16

2014 CSTMAScholarships 20

Turf Health:

SPRING 2014

The Rocky Mountain Half-Time is published quarterly by the

Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association

www.CSTMA.org

191 University Blvd., #703Denver, CO 80206Fax: 303-215-3429

Editor - DAVE RADUEGE-mail:

[email protected] A N A G E R S A S S O C I A T I O N

C O LO R A D O


2 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SPRING 2014

Throughout my career in the turfgrass industry and involvement with CSTMA I have learned one truth above all others, “You are only as good as the team that you have around you.” This organization operates on the determination, self-giving, and professional integrity of numerous volunteers, board members, sponsors and members. I could not have asked for a better group of individuals to serve with and learn from over the past five years with the CSTMA. This year CSTMA has started or improved several existing programs to better serve the general membership and vendor sponsors; it will make for an amazing 2014.

It is impossible to thank everyone here today, but I would like to take a moment to thank the outgoing 2013 board members: Tim Bullard, L.L Johnson; Rob Walls, City of Westminster; Bob Maloney, Town of Castle Rock; Ryan Newman, University of

Colorado; and Jody Yonke, City of Glendale. Thank you for your efforts and dedication to the sports turf industry. Please know that the CSTMA would not be what it is today without you. I would like to give a special thanks to Chuck Klafka, Douglas County Parks and Trails, for your extraordinary commitment to the members and for your leadership this past year as President. Also, thank you to all of our sponsors because without your support we would not be able to offer opportunities for turfgrass professionals to learn about the turf maintenance practices that create safe surfaces.

One of the goals for the CSTMA in 2014 is to better serve members and vendor sponsors. In an effort to do so we have already done the following: restructured the existing scholarship program to include professional development, STMA conference attendance, and CSFM certification reimbursement. Take a moment to visit our website,

www.cstma.org; there have been many updates about the programs and events that we offer.

Our spring seminar will be held this year at Dick’s Sporting Good Park in Commerce City on April 29th. When it opened seven years ago it was known as the largest professional stadium and field complex in the world with approximately 2.5 million square feet of playing surface. It will be an amazing opportunity to visit a world class facility, gain insight into its operation, network with other professionals and visit with some of CSTMA sponsor vendors.

With the dedicated volunteers of your CSTMA Board of Directors I can only imagine the great things that the next year will bring. Please take the opportunity to learn about the 2014 Board of Directors by reading their bios and feel free to contact any of us with questions that you might have.

Enjoy!

President’s MessageDrew Barber, Town of EriePresident CSTMA Chapter


If you would like to submit a photograph for the Photo Quiz please send it to

CSTMA91 University Blvd. #703, Denver, CO 80206

call 720-935-3840 oremail [email protected].

If your photograph is selected, you will receive full credit. All photos submitted will become property of Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association.

CSTMA PHOTO QUIZCan you identify this sports turf problem?Problem: discolored grass to the left of the green field

Turfgrass area: Soccer Field #19/Pod 4

Location: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Grass Variety: Kentucky Bluegrass

SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 17.

Don Hijar David Moore Glenn Ledall Dave Rady 605 25th Street, Greeley, CO

1-800-782-5947 www.pawneebuttesseed.com [email protected]

The Right Seed Every Time

Certified Sod Quality Seed Top Varieties

♦Poa Annua & Bentgrass Free Kentucky Bluegrass♦ Tall & Fine Fescue ♦ Salt Tolerant Ryegrass Bentgrass ♦ Wildflowers ♦ Native Grasses


Christi’s career path has taken her from Minor League Baseball, to construction and renovation, website and graphic design, and finally brought her to her passion for sports turf. Christi worked for Jeffco Schools at the North Area Athletic Complex begin-ning in 2010, and was responsible for managing 2 natural grass fields which host varsity games for 6 local high schools, along with numerous other events. Since the spring of 2012, she has worked for the City of Glendale, helping to maintain the rugby specific natural grass Infinity Park, the synthetic practice field/public park, South Park, as well as all the public parks in the City. While her sports turf career has just begun, Christi has already been a member of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game turf management crew, and STMA’s Sporting Grounds Field of the Year turf crew. Her involvement in the CSTMA has long surpassed working in the field, serving as Executive Director of CSTMA since 2006. A native of Ironton, Ohio, Christi graduated from Denison University with her B.A. in Economics.

Hailing from Fairfield, IA, Cody Freeman got his taste of the sports turf industry by coaching high school baseball and foot-ball in his hometown. After college Cody worked at Iowa State University using his knowledge to assist the turf operations of all their sports fields. It was at ISU that he first cut his teeth and began to learn about the true meaning of being a turf manager. In 2006 he moved to Colorado for an opening with the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. It was under the impressive management of Ross Kurcab that Cody began to hone his turf manager skills and was promoted to the Assistant Manager of the Turf Department. Cody moved on to an opening in the Jefferson County School District as a stadium manager. It was there he managed the ins and outs of hosting high school sports. Having the desire to be in the sales field, Golf Enviro Systems invited him to come aboard as their Sports Turf Specialist. Cody and his wife enjoy living in Colorado and absorbing everything this state has to offer. During his off hours, he enjoys throwing a fly line on any body of water, or hunting with his two yellow labs.

Cody is an active member of the National Sports Turf Managers Association having previously sat on the Education Commit-tee and the Chapter Relations Committee, a member of the Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association having held the President role in 2009, and currently serves on the Colorado Turfgrass Foundation as a board member.

Committees: Vendor Sponsorship, Scholarships and Bylaws

Drew first realized his love for turf and parks management while attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where he received a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management. During college he worked several seasonal parks mainte-nance jobs and knew that this was the profession that he wanted to pursue.

His career began with the Town of Avon, near Vail, where he was responsible for general grounds maintenance and spe-cial event support. During his time there he took every opportunity to learn about all aspects of turf and irrigation management. In 2004, he was hired on with the Town of Erie Parks and Recreation Department and is now responsible for the management of all athletic fields and playgrounds throughout the town. Drew truly enjoys the challenge of working with co-workers to find creative solutions to problems.

He and his wife enjoy attending local activities and events throughout the Denver-metro area. Drew strongly believes in developing your professional skills through participation in professional organizations and certifications. He recently completed an Associates of Applied Science in Horticulture: Turfgrass Management from Front Range Community College and is an active member of CSTMA ; serving on the board for five years and is currently the President. Committees: Bylaws

Dave Radueg entered the turf industry with a summer job as a greenskeeper at the Breckenridge Golf Club while pursuing his Bachelors in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After college Dave spent nights studying at Front Range Community College earning a Ceritficate in Turfgrass Management while working during the day. Dave’s advancement in the golf course industry included positions of Spray Tech, Irrigation Tech and Assistant Superintendent. In 2011 Dave chose to shift into sports turf management as the Manager of Turf and Grounds for J5 Equestrian, a professional polo team. With J5 Equestrian Dave is responsible for 55 acres polo field turf at 2 separate locations in Littleton and Sedalia Colorado.

Committees: Newsletter, Seminars, Community Outreach

CSTMA Board of Directors Biographies

PRESIDENTDREW BARBER

COMMERCIAL OFFICERCODY FREEMAN

COMMERCIAL OFFICERELECT

AMY GRAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / WEBSITE COORDINATORCHRISTI CLAY

VICE-PRESIDENTDAVE RADUEG

Amy Graff is the Sales and Marketing Director for GreenONE Industries in Highlands Ranch and a representative of quality soil amendment and topdressing materials for Humalfa Organic Fertilizer. She specializes in consulting for turf renovation and construction within the entire sports turf realm including the golf, schools and park and recreation as well as providing products and services for turf maintenance. Amy has been a part of the turf industry for her entire life and has served in many capacities from sales to organizational leadership including RMRTA, CSTMA, CPRA and RMSGA. She is proud and passionate of the turf industry in Colorado and is seeking a position on the CSTMA Board to help keep the association focused, strong and valuable for all members.

Committees: Vendor Sponsorship, Newsletter and Golf Tournament


DEB ERWIN , DIRECTOR I have worked for the City of Rock Springs since 1993. I began my career as a seasonal maintenance worker for the Paul J Wataha Recreation Area before moving onto the City

Street Dept. full time. Then back to the Paul J Wataha Recreation area in 1997 when the ball field specialist position became open. In this position we held numerous state and local softball /baseball tournaments including the Northwest Pacific Regional baseball tournament which was quite an honor.

Recently I applied for and accepted the position of Maintenance Crew Supervisor for the Paul J Wataha Recreation Area which consists of, 27 holes of golf, a clubhouse area, a four plex softball/baseball as well as two picnic/park areas with a pavilion and fishing pond. Committees: Golf and Seminars

Being raised in a family that was heavy into agriculture and livestock it’s no wonder that Chuck ended up in the profession that he is now in. It was quite a change for Chuck, moving to Castle Rock, Colorado in 1979 from Lewisville, Texas. Chuck grad-uated Douglas County High School and moved on to a two-year local community college before being asked to come to work for Douglas County. Starting from the bottom, Chuck learned the ends and outs of the turf profession from a variety of individuals including supervisors, co-workers and industry professionals.

Chuck worked his way up and was eventually promoted to Parks Supervisor approximately 18 years ago. Chuck attended his first STMA National Conference where he was drawn to the multitudes of different thoughts, teachings and actions of so many like him in his industry.

Chuck is now the District 1 Supervisor for Douglas County Parks, Trails and Building Grounds. He is currently responsible for roughly 23 acres of sports fields, 1 regulation synthetic soccer-field and 25 miles of soft surface trail within Douglas County.

Chuck and his wife Kim still live in Castle Rock. They have two kids, a daughter in college that attends UCCS in Colorado Springs and a son who is a senior and attends Douglas County High School. Chuck spends most of his vacations hunting, fishing and visiting family.

Chuck is currently the Past President of Colorado Sports Turf Management Association and a member of the Colorado Parks Recreation Association. Committees: Awards and Scholarships

AARON COLE , DIRECTORAaron was born in a small town in southeast Kansas where he spent his summers working on his uncle’s golf course. In 2003

he moved to Colorado and worked as a temporary employee for the Highlands Ranch Metro District. Three years later he was hired full time as a turf manager for the Highlands Ranch Metro District. Aaron has been with the district for almost seven years and helps maintain 22 parks with 164 acres of irrigated turf.

Committees: Seminars

PAST PRESIDENTCHUCK KLAFKA

SUN ROESSLEIN , DIRECTORTwelve years ago, I lucked into a summer job on the Lexington Legends Minor League Baseball team’s grounds crew. I had no

idea that part time job would change my career path and lead me to discover my passion for sports turf management. After mov-ing to Colorado, I spent a year working at the City of Thornton learning about landscape maintenance, design, and installation. While I enjoyed learning about landscape, I knew I wanted to get back to working in sports turf. Today I am in my eighth year with Jefferson County Schools Athletics Department, managing the North Area Athletic Complex, a natural grass football stadium and separate natural grass soccer stadium. In 2008, I was asked to join the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association Board of Directors, and was involved in helping to put together the Annual Conference and Trade Show for four years. I really enjoyed representing the Sports Turf portion of this collaborative organization. Now an RMRTA Past President, I serve on the Research and Scholarship committee, responsible for awarding funding to deserving students and supporting industry research. I would like to continue being involved with scholarships from the CSTMA standpoint, and would also like to see a current employee scholarship created. In addition, for the past two years I have served as a member of the STMA Website and Ethics committees.

Committees: Seminars, Golf Tournament, Community Outreach

PAUL SELCHERT , DIRECTORPaul Selchert began his career as a seasonal employee at South Suburban Parks and Recreation thirteen years ago. He worked

his up to his current position as lead athletic technician through dedication and drive. Committees: Seminars, Community Outreach

CODY WHITMAN , DIRECTORCody is currently in his fourth year as the Assistant Turf Manager II at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. A native of Montana, he

earned his BS Degree in Landscape Horticulture from Montana State University in 2001. It was following graduation that Cody accepted a position in Colorado to work as a Landscape Designer and Project Manager in the Denver area. After seven years in the landscape business, he and his wife returned to Helena, Montana where he owned and operated his own lawn and landscape business for two and half years. With a desire to focus his career on Sports Turf Management, they relocated back to Colorado in 2010, where he became a member of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Turf Department.

Today Cody and his wife, along with their two young sons reside in the north metro area. He enjoys spending his free time playing with his boys, camping in the mountains, and taking care of his own yard. He has a passion for art and also spends time away from work painting and drawing. Committees: Newsletter


Going Green and Scoring Points!

www.humalfa.comAmy Graff 303-518-8999 [email protected]


Located on the north edge of Denver in Com-

merce City, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park first opened in the spring of 2007. The park’s main feature is an 18,000 seat stadi-um which is home to the Colorado Rap-ids of Major League Soccer. The stadium’s world class sand based natural grass surface has twice won the STMA Profes-sional Soccer field of the year award. Aside from MLS, the stadium has hosted international soc-cer matches, rugby, collegiate lacrosse, concerts, and private events.

The stadium is surrounded by an additional 24 multi-use fields. These 24 fields include one sand based training field, two synthetic fields, and 21 native soil fields. Soccer encompasses about 90% of field use, while other sports such as rugby, lacrosse, and football make up the other 10%. The multi-use fields

have also hosted concerts, celebra-tions, agility dog competitions, and private events. In 2008, 2009, and 2010 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was home to the Mile High Music Festival which saw over 50,000 fans swarm the fields over a two day pe-riod. The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association spent three consecutive years at the Park to host their na-tional championship competitions. In 2014 Dick’s will host the Federa-

tion of International Lacrosse World Cup, welcoming clubs from across the globe.

After opening its doors seven years ago, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was known as the largest professional stadium and field complex in the world with nearly 2.5 million square feet of playing surface.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park John C. Fech andFrederick P. Baxendale

CSTMA SPRING SEMINARTuesday, April 29th, 2014

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park


Spring Startup of Irrigation Systems

Dennis KimseyBranch DirectorCPS Distributors, Inc.Member/Sponsor-CSTMA

As we all approach the growing season the challenge of Irriga-

tion System startup looms on the horizon. There are a multitude of things to consider as you begin the process. The following is a list of items to consider prior to this task. • Have all manually activated

Drains on the Mainline been closed and are secure for the season?

• Is there any visible freeze damage to Backflow Prevention Devices and the accompanying Gate or Ball Valves?

• Have all Backflow Prevention Devices been tested as required by local ordinance?

• Are all Zone Valves in good order with Flow Controls adjusted to the proper setting. (Recommend-ed: Turn all the way out and then one and a half turns back in as standard setting. This may require further adjustment up or down after the System is activated for each specific zone.)

• Have battery backups been up-dated in all Controllers and do Controllers have power to them? Are all Transformers in Control-lers functioning properly?

• Have all System Operating Times been reviewed? Below is an accepted formula for calculating the circuit operating time for each valve.

Calculating System Operating Time

Use this formula:

ET x 60______________________(PR x EFF) x DA = OT

• ET = evapotranspiration (inches per week). Use the PET – Poten-tial Evapotranspiration. Since we fall in a Warm Dry Climate our PET for July would be .20-.25” per day x 7 or 1.40 to 1.75” per week for Turf Grass.

• 60 = a formula constant • o PR = Precipitation Rate of Zone

Specific Irrigation Equipment • DA = days of the week available

for irrigation. Remember any local restrictions.

• EFF = system efficiency % (as a decimal).

• OT = station operating time per active day.

For Example: 1.50 x 60__________________________

(.67 x .65 (65%)) x 4 = 51.66

So the station operating time for this valve is 51.66 minutes of irrigation for each of the 4 days available for irrigation during the week. Consider using start times available to divide the total time into multiple Cycle and Soak cycles if your Watering Window allows . For example: 52 minutes in 4 start times with run times of 13 minutes each. Hopefully this list of reminders will help with getting your irrigation sys-tems ready for the upcoming season.

•

CSTMA RAFFLECSTMA would like to offer you the experience of your career: Full Conference Registration

to the 2015 STMA National

Conference and Trade ShowDenver, CO.

CSTMA members will receive a one-time entry into our drawing. Additional entries can be earned by attending CSTMA events throughout the year; attend all four events and your name will be entered a total of five times. We believe this is a great way to extend to our members the opportunity to better your working relationship with others in you field and further our organization’s mission: to promote safer playing surfaces through providing opportunities for turfgrass professionals to gain insight and knowledge of turf maintenance practices.

The 2014 STMA National Conference was just held in San Antonio, Texas and was a tremendous success with amazing educational sessions. The 2015 STMA National Conference will be held right here in Denver and will be a conference you will not want to miss. Local vendors, professional sports teams along with NCAA venues will all be in attendance and will offer a variety of lectures and hands on learning that is second to none. Please clear you calendars so you can attend all our local events for 2014 and earn the opportunity to win a free registration to the 2015 STMA National Conference.


www.gvt.netwww.gvt.net

Office 303 798-6764 Bruce Scott 303 726-6148 Joe Wilkins III 303 359-5793

GVT Sports Blend, 1/2”

48” Solid Big Rolls

Professional Sod Installation

GVT Sports Blend, 1/2”

48” Solid Big Rolls

Professional Sod Installation

Complete Renovation

Field Stripping

Turf Maintenance

LeRoy Butler 303-598-6109

[email protected]

Amy Graff 303-518-8999

[email protected]

Compaction Relief

Razum Red Infield Mix Mound ClayWarning Tracks Infield Conditioners

Laser Grading Field RenovationsTopdressing Materials

Jack Weil (303) 961-0141Eric Pollock (303) 961-0092

Office (970) 284-6030

www.golfandsport.com

EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

Hilltopper® Stabilizer® StaLok® in the Rocky Mountain Region


If you have been maintaining sports fields in Colorado long enough, you’ve likely faced the

challenge of removing snow for an important event or game. It hap-pens to us all every fall. We look over our event calendar or game schedule and begin predicting when the time will come. Will it be that wet heavy stuff? That bitter cold, windy and icy type of snowfall? Or maybe it’ll just be that light dusting that simply vanishes after a quick shot of sunshine. We do the same thing in the spring. Mother Nature loves to drop snow in the spring. Just about the time you are about to remove those plows, stow away the shovels, and fire up your irriga-tion. Our fields seem to see less and less rest every year, spring sporting events sure start early. Even in frigid and often snowy conditions.

As a member of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (DSGP) Turf Depart-ment, I along with Turf Manager Bret Baird and others on our staff recently had the opportunity to put our snow management skills to the test. The event was booked well in advance. It literally could or would get global attention. The stadium was expected to be at full capacity, including additional seating con-structed to squeeze in more spec-tators. Teams would be practicing on the stadium field throughout the week leading up to the event. Additional staff, security, cameras, signage, and exposure were to be expected. So when was this big

event going to take place? March 22, 2013. The United States Men’s National Team will face off against Costa Rica in an effort to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. OMG….what if it snows?

As all sports turf professionals do, we at DSGP spent plenty of time in the days leading up to the event pretending to act as meteorologists. Sure enough, every forecast indi-cated heavy snow on Friday March 22nd. Ok, so we know the chance of snow is likely, now what? We had removed snow and cleared the venue for games in the past, but this storm was now scheduled to arrive at or near kick-off. This is a super-duper special event, nation-al and international media will be here, fans are coming from all over the country. How much snow? When will it start snowing? When will it stop snowing? What will the temperature be at kick-off? Those are the initial thoughts that began to create conversation amongst the turf department and operations person-nel. Following meetings and dis-cussions regarding our plan to deal with the snow, we could only come up with one answer. Be prepared for anything!

I’m guessing many turf managers establish Plan A and they have a plan B for back-up, or maybe even a Plan C if circumstances change. When it comes to dealing with snow for an important event, it just might be best to have one plan in place. A

plan that encompasses every possi-bility and one in which taps every possible resource. We’ve heard it and said it a thousand times…..”Plan for the worst and hope for the best.” The DSGP turf department jumped into snow preparation mode just as we do for each storm. A couple dozen additional snow shovels were ordered. Staff members from multi-ple departments where notified that they may be needed for additional support. Two John Deere Gators equipped with plows were checked and rechecked. The plow on our F-350 pick-up truck was double checked. A couple of snow blowers had to be staged for the ready.

We gathered our snow chutes and staged them in the event we had to remove snow from the seating areas. Our loader was made available if need be. We even mixed up a batch of orange paint. We had tested orange lines during a previous snow event and found that it is far more visible than white when covered with light snow. Everything was cleaned up, fueled up, and we were geared up!

If you were one who saw this game or caught highlights you know that indeed the snow showed up as pre-dicted. In fact, by the final whistle nearly 4 inches of snow lay on the field. But what you probably don’t know is how the weather turned in our favor, considerably. Aside from no snow at all, having the storm arrive near kick-off was the next

The Perfect Storm Cody WithamDick’s Sporting Goods Park


best thing. An international match of this magnitude was not likely to be postponed or delayed. Although there were moments in the game when it looked as though play would stop, they continued to play till the end. During player warm-ups the snow began to accumulate. That said, we actually plowed and shov-eled about one-third of the field as players warmed up. This included goal areas (18 box) and sidelines. It was just coming down too fast for us to start plowing from the center and hope we could get it out of bounds in such a short time.

No additional time was allotted for snow removal. We would just have to do our best as time allowed. In fact, as the half-time break ap-proached we were calculating and predicting how long it would take us to clear the entire field, which was now under about 2 inches of snow. Our paint machine loaded with or-ange paint was also ready for a quick half time touch up. Match officials choose not to extend the intermis-sion, which gave us only about 15 minutes to clear as much as possi-ble. They also indicated that orange lines would not be permitted (the white lines were nearly gone from all the shoveling). During this time we plowed the goal areas again and cleared all the lines. Additionally, the lines were shoveled periodically throughout the match as time and play allowed.

So how did this storm work in our favor? Over half of the field was never touched by a plow or snow shovel. There simply was not enough time. Additionally, the snow that was moved was just in small random piles that quickly melt-

ed away in the coming days. The players spent nearly the entire game running on the snow, so actual field damage was minimal. Plus the snow in the field was left to melt. We all like free water. Fans were already in the stadium as the snow arrived. We didn’t have to clear seating areas. Had this storm arrived the morning of the game or the day prior it would have meant clearing the whole sta-dium. Field, parking lots, seating, sidewalks……everything! Imagine the man hours and resources re-quired to complete that task? Many sports turf managers know exactly what I’m talking about and have been through that process.

As we say goodbye to another Col-orado winter, we all know the next one will soon arrive. It shows up ev-ery year and we better be prepared. Summer means plows, shovels, snow blowers and such are stowed away for a few months. Take time this spring to reflect and review your snow operations, whatever they may be. Develop your Plan A and be-come better prepared for anything. Every event is big to someone, and it’s your responsibility to help make it happen….rain or shine! As for the US Men’s National Team, Clint Dempsey’s first half strike secured a 1-0 victory and helped the team earn a berth into the 2014 World Cup.


SNOW CREW


When it comes to sports turf, we understand demanding schedules, tight budgets and field safety.

Our production standards and turf grass varieties assure your athletes the best field in the nation.

Elite producers of licensed turf grass

1-800-280-8873 (TURF)

www.Gra�sTurfFarms.com

I s N o t A

GAMEGROWING THE PERFECT

FIELD!

I s N o t A

GAMEGROWING THE PERFECT

FIELD!

We’ll aerate, topdress and amend in one pass.

Traditional core aeration is time consuming and requires several steps to return turf to a playable surface. DryJect is a revolutionary service which, when added to your maintenance program, can reduce the need for core aerification and greatly amplify the benefits of sand amendments by distributing them into the ground more completely. An independent DryJectservice professional does it for you, so you don’t need to own the DryJectmachine. Call today for your free demonstration and see how the DryJect service can change the way you aerate and amend your soils.

A NEW SERVICE TO SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

www.dryjectcolorado.comSpencer Martin: 303-257-7921

Will your field be ready when August rolls around?

• Portabilitytoirrigatemultiplefieldswithasinglemachine

• Softensfield&reducesplayerinjury• Moreaffordablethanin-ground

systems

Your Local Kifco Dealer(303) 241-0258 • [email protected]

MostTrustedTravelingIrrigationSystemsSince1964


You think you’ve got turf chal-lenges.

Do you have a nearly thousand- pound equine mascot galloping across your turf to stop on a dime? A couple dozen boot-wearing dancers spinning and kicking on it? Cleat-wearing, millions-earning ath-letes twisting, charging and crashing on it?

Ross Kurcab has all of that. And multiple millions of spectators ogling it, in person or on TV.The Denver Broncos turf manager and his team of 13 grass gurus are responsible for making sure this field of dreams is up to scratch. If he does his job right, he’s certain some sportscaster, somewhere, will say, “The field looks great today!”

Which makes him inwardly groan, just a tiny bit.

“It’s not for looking at,” he said. “The question is, how’s it gonna play?”

The play’s the thing

Recall, if you will, the dun- brown field at Lambeau last weekend in Green Bay in which the 49ers squashed the Packers.

That grass wasn’t dead. It was “fully dormant,” said Kurcab. That means the plants had basically hibernated for a time, waiting for warmer tem-peratures (something above zero, perhaps) and longer days to send up new green shoots.

“But that field played fantastic,” Kur-cab said. A sports field manager’s priorities are safety and playability.

Appearance is always third. Not unimportant, but third.

Nor was the Packers’ field frozen. Like Mile High, it has miles of heating pipes underneath it. Frozen ground “is a player safety issue,” said Kurcab, who’s held his title for 30 years. Think expensive, poten-tially career-ending injuries. Then think twice about playing your next touch-football game on a frozen or drought-baked park field.

NFL fields have to meet tight stan-dards for shock absorption. In addi-tion to frequent testing by Kurcab’s team, an independent monitor for the NFL strolled the field this week at Mile High with a simple, yet fairly precise gizmo that looks like an oversized tire pump, taking hardness readings.

Traction gets measured, as well, with a gauge that pushes cleat-like blades into the turf, then tries to

turn them. That measurement is less precise, and there are no standards it must meet, Kurcab said. “But we can compare ourself to ourself ” with readings from other games.

Players like a lot of traction; they don’t want to slip. Too much? Some research says there’s potential for injury. It’s an evolving and inexact science, he said.

The year-round crop

Your lawn is grown in soil, or what passes for soil in Colorado. But the Broncos’ field is grown in what’s best described as a cross between a giant sponge and a 100-yard slab of lasagna.

From the bottom up, irrigation pipes and heat pipes (21 miles of the latter) wind through 4 inches of half-inch-diameter pea gravel. A 10-inch thick layer of 90 percent sand, 10 percent peat and porous

Denver Broncos are as obsessed about their turf as their players By Susan Clotfelter The Denver Post

Kelly Gratz of the turf team at Sports Authority Field at Mile High paints the real grass field for the Denver Broncos playoff

game with San Diego. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post) You think you've got turf challenges.

Do you have a nearly thousand-pound equine mascot galloping across your turf to stop on a dime? A couple dozen boot-wearing dancers spinning and kicking on it? Cleat-wearing, millions-earning athletes twisting, charging and crashing on it?

Ross Kurcab has all of that. And multiple millions of spectators ogling it, in person or on TV.

The Denver Broncos turf manager and his team of 13 grass gurus are responsible for making sure this field of dreams is up to scratch. If he does his job right, he's certain some sportscaster, somewhere, will say, "The field looks great today!"

Which makes him inwardly groan, just a tiny bit.

Denver Broncos are as obsessed about their turf as their players

by Susan ClotfelterThe Denver Post

Kelly Gratz of the turf team at Sports Authority Field at Mile High paints the real grass field for the Denver Broncos playoff game with San Diego. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)


ceramic granules, tops the gravel. The 10-inch layer provides the turf ’s long, intertwining roots with both good drainage and water-holding capacity. From this ideal medium emerge the tender leaves visible to gamegoers.

There’s more you don’t see: Running vertically through the root zone, and peeking out only about a quar-ter-inch above the soil, is the turf ’s deep-green secret: bundles of thin, polypropylene fiber. There is one four-fiber bundle in each square three-quarters of an inch — 30,000 miles of fiber throughout the field — to stabilize it. The Dutch-made turf reinforcement system, called Grass-Master, was a six-figure purchase Kurcab spent two years researching and selecting.

“It’s a great system, because it resists divots and tearing,” he said. And it lets him boast that the Broncos play on 100 percent real grass.

But once again, it isn’t like your grass at all. Most lawns are a blend of grass varieties. The Broncos’ field has one type: fast-growing perennial rye. Because grow fast it must.With the GrassMaster system in place, patches of worn-out turf (midfield wears out faster than end zones) can’t just be dug up and re-placed. “We have to re-establish the grass cover from seed,” Kurcab said. So they do just that, whenever time between games allows.

The grass you’ll see Sunday was overseeded four weeks ago, the day after the Dec. 12 game with the San Diego Chargers (of which, let no more be said).

Some of the seed was presoaked in buckets of water on the turf shop’s warm floor. The morning after the game was planting time for both wet and dry seed. Planting wet seed is handwork: Humans walk the field, flinging seed, because “once it’s wet, it’s like sticky rice — it gums up the

machine,” Kurcab said. The seeding machine then pokes holes, spreads the dry seed and moves all the seed into the holes. Then it is watered (Hunter irrigation heads, with Toro moisture, temperature and salinity sensors) and fertilized.

The field can’t be kept too wet and warm — referred to as “juiced” — or fungus can start. And it can’t get too dry. “You can always tell grass is trying to drought out,” said assistant turf manager Chris Hathaway. “It’ll start to get a purple cast.”

So they watch it. Check it. Cover and uncover it. “Read and react,” said Kurcab.

Showtime

Every day, 24/7, the weather dictates almost every moment of what goes on with the Broncos’ turf. But as the countdown to game time continues, the stakes and pressure rise.

Last weekend’s snow and cold snap meant the turf team rolled out loosely woven covers onto the field on Jan. 3, before bad weather arrived. They managed to get the covers down before the wind began gusting. Sometimes waterproof tarps are laid out to keep the field from becoming too wet.

Hathaway and Kurcab — neither of whom have lawns of their own to stress over — watch multiple fore-casts daily and pay Skyview Weather for morning updates and consulta-tions.

In Monday morning’s sunshine, it was time for Hathaway to roll back the permeable covers to reveal the tender, 1- to 1.5-inch-tall leaves of green. “We’ll probably mow tomor-row,” Hathaway said, “but hold off on the water.”

In the guts of the stadium, Kurcab fired up a blower that forced warm air up through the field. You could

see the thin rime of snow on the growth covers began to lose its grip.

Wednesday, the team painted logos on the grass. More days of testing, monitoring and the chore of clear-ing every speck of snow from the stadium (per NFL rules) lay ahead.And more watching. “Read and react,” Hathaway echoed.

On Game Day, the turf ’s dance card will likely be full starting at 5 a.m. with live media shots. It will get a fresh mowing, time and weather al-lowing. (The forecast calls for a dry, 43-degree game.) The 14-member turf crew will set up goalposts and benches and yardage pylons, heaters and nets, other fixtures of the field, making ready for pregame and the 2:40 p.m. kickoff.

Sometime in the fourth quarter, if all is going well, Kurcab might pay attention to the score.

Until then, “I watch from the knees down,” he said.

Susan Clotfelter: 303-954-1078, [email protected] or twit-ter.com/susandigsin

Rusty Abell and Melynn Dunn of DMA Sports Group, consultants for the NFL, con-duct a soil-impact test at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The testing determines the hardness of the field. (Cyrus McCrim-mon, The Denver Post

Sometime in the fourth quarter, if all is going well, Kurcab might pay attention to the score.

Until then, "I watch from the knees down," he said.

Susan Clotfelter: 303-954-1078, [email protected] or twitter.com/susandigsin

Rusty Abell and Melynn Dunn of DMA Sports Group, consultants for the NFL, conduct a soil-impact test at Sports Authority

Field at Mile High. The testing determines the hardness of the field. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post


Maintain your field

1-800-624-67061700 Jasper street, #F

aurora, Co 80011www.newstripe.Com

proudly made in the usasinCe 1981

field painting & striping machines • baseball field drags & infield groomers • baseball field chalkersathletic field layout systems • football field & mascot stencils • athletic field striping paint

Newrider™ 5000airless ridiNg field liNe striper

4250™ airless stripiNg machiNe

NewliNer™ hd dry line markers

dirt doctor jr™infield drag & groomer

We want to provide more avenues for our members to stay

connected. CSTMA members can use social media for networking, sharing experiences with our peers and opening discussions about sports turf management. Please join us in our goal to keep all of our members as connected and informed as possible.

Like us on Facebook! Go to www.facebook.com/CSTMA and “like” our page to begin seeing our posts on your Facebook newsfeed. We will be posting information about upcoming events as well as photos from each event held. Feel free to post your own photos of your fields or your ongoing projects. We would love to see what you’re working on!

Follow us on Twitter @CSTMA_turf. On Twitter we can connect with turf industry professionals locally, nationally and internationally! Follow us to see our tweets on your timeline. We will tweet information about upcoming events, photos and re-tweets of turf related topics. Join our LinkedIn discussion group “Colorado Sports Turf managers Association”. LinkedIn provides a great discussion forum to help you get information from other turf managers.

Connect with CSTMA on Social Media

Drew BarberTown of Erie Parks and Rec


ANSWER TO CSTMA PHOTO QUIZ - PAGE 3This photo was taken at Dick’s Sport-ing Goods Park. This was in the fall/early winter. It was below freezing when we plowed a thin layer of snow off the field. Below the snow the grass was wet, and once we exposed it to the cold by removing the insulat-ing snow, the cold temps damaged all the blades. It was off colored all winter, but grew out of it in the spring. Notice the field on the right that we didn’t plow, it’s still pretty green. This picture was taken around early November.

If you have any interesting photos and would like to submit them for the next newsletter, please contact us at [email protected].


(970) 284-6000 22455 WCR 49Bigfootturf.com LaSalle,CO80645

Meeting all youR Field Renovation needs

no job too big oR too sMall

sand based sodtexas HybRid bluegRasssalt toleRant blends

sHoRt Cut sodCustoM gRoWs

Providing superior products for your turf

Call us for a consultation

Brian McBride720-988-0969

[email protected]

Greg Kitzmiller303-960-5489

[email protected]


1.888.922.TURF | www.jacobsen.com

Jacobsen TR-3™ with 7 blade reel and grooved front rollers

The Jacobsen TR-3TM is a world-class cutting and climbing reel trim mower. It hugs contours with ease and provides Jacobsen’s legendary quality-of-cut on even the steepest of hills. The full-time, all-wheel drive traction, weight transfer control and reliable braking allow operators to mow with confi dence and tackle tough terrain. Designed for tee boxes, approaches and surrounds where high-level power and quality is needed.

LEGENDARY

ON EVERY TERRAIN

5080 Paris StreetDenver, CO 80239303-375-4913www.bettermowers.com

Jordan Kamps - Presidentcell 970.566.2329 • office 970.776.8150 ext 1

[email protected]

Material Placement

•Topdressing •Landscape Rock

•Mulch & EWF

www.groundsolutions.com • www.bedrockslingers.com

Jeff Elliott720.3346.2297

Marvin Andrews303.358.9895

Daryl Dinkel970.672.6240


The 2014 Colorado Sports Turf Manag-ers Association Board would like to offer you a new look at continu-ing education or as-sisting in your degree program to be a Sports Turf Manager. In years past only students were able to receive these benefits. Please look over the different scholarship programs we now offer and think about furthering your education. CSTMA is committed to allowing all Sports turf person-nel the option to better themselves through this new program. Visit our website at www.cstma.org under CSTMA Resources, to download the applica-tion and instructions to get you started down the path to receive one of these great benefits.

Two Year Horticulture Student Scholarship- $500 each 2 Will Be Awarded• Student must be enrolled full time at a 2 year college in Colo-

rado• Student must be a member of CSTMA• Enrolled to attend classes towards a degree or certificate in a

sports turf industry field Four Year Horticulture Student Scholarship - $1,000 2 Will Be Awarded• Student must be enrolled full time at a 4-year college in Colo-

rado• Student must be a member of CSTMA• Enrolled to attend classes towards a degree or certificate in a

sports turf industry field

Employee Continuing Education Scholarship- $500 each 4 Will Be Awarded• Employee must be employed full time• Employee may not be enrolled full time at a college• Studies must be sports turf industry specific• Employee must be a member of CSTMA in good standing

CSFM Scholarship- $350 each• Must be a STMA & CSTMA member in good standing• Scholarship will be paid once completion of the CSFM certifi-

cate is provided to the board. • Member must work in the Sports Turf Industry• Must apply before taking CSFM exam

National STMA Conference Scholarship (2015)• Must be a CSTMA member in good standing• Member must work in the Sports Turf Industry

2014 CSTMA Scholarships


C O LO R A D O




Compared to turfgrass grown in full sun, shaded turfgrass has: longer, thinner leaves; reduced leaf ex-

pansion; shoot growth favored over roots; reduced tillering; leaf changes that increase disease susceptibility; reduced tolerance to heat, cold, drought and wear; decreased visual quality; decreased stand density; and increased weed encroachment.

There is a demand for higher-quality sports playing surfaces, either to minimize the risk of player injury, or for aesthetic rea-sons. However, in some instances, the turf-grass may be shaded, either by trees if in an outdoor parks and recreation setting, or by stadium designs with semi or fully enclosed structures. Enhancing this problem is the fact that sports such as football are played in autumn, when available sunlight is reduced due to decreased daylight hours, increased cloud cover and lower sun angles.

Managing turfgrass that is growing under the shade cast by a tree or a structure can be difficult. The reason for this is that turfgrasses are adapted to and grow best in full sunlight. Trees reflect yellow, green and orange light and absorb red and blue light for photosynthesis. Since much of the sunlight is either reflected or used by the tree for photosynthesis, the amount of light reaching the ground under the tree can be as little as 5 percent of full sunlight. The quality of light is also different under trees. Far-red light passes through the leaf canopy to the surface below. As a result, there is a higher ratio of far-red to red light than what appears in full sunlight.

Turfgrass can sense changes in both light quality and quantity. This results in harmful changes to the plant as it alters its morphology and physiology in an attempt to find more light. Under artificial shade the problem is not as severe because the quality of light is not altered, but is still significant because the quantity of light is reduced. In addition, under shade there is an increase in relative humidity and a decrease in wind movement, which can increase disease pressure.

One option if the turfgrass is growing under trees is to attempt to improve the light environment in order to promote turfgrass growth. Both the intensity and duration of sunlight are important. In most cases, the length of time the plant receives sunlight is more important than the time of day that it occurs. Be aware that light inten-

sity changes with season, latitude and time of day. Also be aware that as a tree grows, the size of the shade canopy and the density of the shade will increase. Based on research conducted at The Ohio State University, you should selectively prune trees to increase exposure to full sunlight, not to decrease the level of shade. Canopy thinning alone will not solve most turfgrass growth prob-lems. Selective tree removal may allow for increased air movement along with in-creased light.

If your shade source is an artificial structure, the good news is that turfgrass tends to grow better under artificial shade than under tree shade; the bad news is that your options are somewhat limited for increasing the amount of time full sunlight is on the grass (after all, you cannot take down the structure). In rare instances you may be growing turf under a semitranspar-ent plastic material or roof panels. Most of the materials used for this purpose do not selectively filter light, and thus the quantity of light is reduced but not the quality. In these situations selecting the right turfgrass and optimizing cultural practices is your best strategy.

Select the right turfgrass species or cultivar

There are several management strategies that can be altered to favor growth of turf-grass in the shade. However, first and fore-most is to select a species or cultivar that is more tolerant of shaded conditions. Most

research concludes that either tall fescue or fine fescues are considerably better adapted to shade than Kentucky bluegrass or peren-nial ryegrass. Turfgrass species and cultivar selection is the most likely determinant of successful turfgrass performance in shade. Shade tolerances vary among cultivars of the same species. For example, ‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass has excellent shade tolerance compared to other zoysiagrasses. When selecting a cultivar, special attention should be paid to other shade-related issues such as disease resistance. If using Kentucky blue-grass, for example, cultivars with increased disease resistance, especially to powdery mildew, will improve success in shade.

Managing turfgrass in shadeDifferences in the morphology and phys-

iology of a shaded grass, the shade micro-environment and different disease pressures mean that turfgrass should be managed dif-ferently in shade compared to turfgrass in full sun. There are several cultural practices that should be modified on shaded turf-grass. A general rule is to increase mowing height to the maximum recommended for the species. Longer leaves mean more leaf area for light interception. However, plant response to mowing height is more complex than this, and increasing height may also have a negative effect on turfgrass perfor-mance by increasing respiration, increasing shading within the turfgrass stand, decreas-ing leaf evaporation (thus increasing disease potential) and decreasing traffic tolerance.

Turf Health: Shade SolutionsManaging Turf in shady areas

D.S. GardnerOriginally Published in Sports Field management Magazine

Compared to turfgrass grown in full sun, shaded turfgrass has: longer, thinner leaves; reduced leaf expansion; shoot growth favored over roots; reduced tillering; leaf changes that increase disease susceptibility; reduced tolerance to heat, cold, drought and wear; decreased visual quality; decreased stand density; and increased weed encroachment.


The bottom line is that while the rule to mow higher in shade is a good general rule, you should experiment a bit to find the optimum mowing height for your turf type and environment.

You should also reduce fertilizer rate to about one-half of normal in order to try to reduce excess leaf production. Leaves of shaded turfgrass naturally grow thinner and longer, and the addition of excess nitrogen will exacerbate this. Higher nitrogen levels can also lead to increased disease pressure. In addition, there has been little work done to compare the effects side-by-side of altering the source of nitrogen on shaded turfgrass quality. However, there is some evidence that different nitrogen sources can have an impact, and this may be worth experimenting with. We also know that increasing iron and magnesium fertility can have a positive effect on shade tolerance.

Irrigate heavily but infrequently to reduce time that foliage is wet. You should closely monitor weed, insect and disease pressure. The turf is already under stress due to the shading and is more susceptible to pests, particularly diseases. This is be-

cause the increased relative humidity and decreased wind movement act to increase the amount of time that the leaf surface is wet. Also, most turfgrasses that lack shade tolerance have thinner cuticles, for example, or are otherwise unable to maintain the same morphological and physiological character-istics when grown under shade as in full sun, which increases disease suscep-tibility. Some diseases, such as powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis) and rust (Puccinia sp.) that occur frequently on shad-ed cool-season turfgrass may require treatment with a fungicide in order to help maintain the turf in adequate condition for play. Large temporary or permanently installed fans may improve air circu-lation near the turfgrass surface, remove surface water, and reduce turfgrass and soil temperatures.

When possible, you should carefully man-age traffic on shaded turfgrass. Thinner cuticles, reduced lateral growth and more upright growth habit results in weaker plants that are less tolerant of traffic and wear. Traffic is a major stress to shaded turf-grasses, as plants are more prone to injury and have decreased recuperative potential. Of course this is not an option if you have a field that is shaded by a stadium structure. However, if you have a field under tree shade that is part of a large complex, recognize that it will not be capable of handling as many games as the

fields in full sun.

Plant growth regulators can increase stress tolerances. Gibberellic acid biosyn-thesis regulators, such as paclobutrazol, flurprimidol and trinexapac-ethyl, can be utilized to improve turfgrass quality in shade. They act to decrease leaf tissue elon-gation, which counteracts some turfgrass shade avoidance responses. Turfgrass qual-ity can be improved because the stand is denser, has increased carbohydrate reserves and improved wear tolerance, while either maintaining or improving lateral growth.

In summary, managing shaded turfgrass is a challenge, because there are many harmful physiological and morpholog-ical changes that occur in the plant as it attempts to adapt to shade and gather more light. However, the selection of proper turfgrass species and cultivars and slight modifications to management practices can significantly improve the quality of shaded turfgrass

Dave Gardner is an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. He teaches courses in turfgrass manage-ment, ornamental plant identification and statistics. His research focuses on turfgrass physiology and weed management.

Images courtesy of David Gardner.

800.372.6639 or 303.789.3172

Englewood, CO. licensed*bonded* insured

www.academysportsturf.com


BUILD THE FIELD OF DREAMS.We know the game is only as good as the field it’s played on.

IRRIGATION | DRAINAGE | SEED | FERTILIZER | TURFACE® | READYPLAYTM | WORLD CLASS PAINT

TALK TO US: Bobby Diaz, 619.806.9536Water Management Specialist

Todd Morris, 720.272.8252Turf Products Specialist

Centennial 15579 E. Hinsdale Cir.720.870.9530

Commerce City 4895 Olive St.303.288.2088

Colorado Springs 2705 Capital Dr. 719.591.9530

Fort Collins900-A Smithfield Dr. 970.416.8388

Grand Junction 2331 Interstate Ave. 970.248.9530

Highlands Ranch 9105 Commerce Center Circle 303.470.3928

Mobile: 785-221-6158 • Office: 913-928-6781

Contact us for a free evaluation which includes:• checking the infill level• check for any seam and edge repairs• fiber evaluation• check for contaminated area’s and if

needed replace with new infill• this process will lower the g-max of

your field.

Xtreme Turf Makeover is a complete maintenance/rejuvenation process that will help with the safety and play-ability of your field along with extend-ing the life of your synthetic turf field.


C O LO R A D O


Feature Article...THE PERFECT STORM

DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!CSTMA Spring Seminar

Tuesday, April 29thDick’s Sporting Goods Park

SPRING 2014

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIMEAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATIONTHE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIMEAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

COLORADO SPRINGS7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680

PARKER19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299

Visit us online at www.PBEquip.comMon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Proven brands and service. From our family to yours.

Trust Potestio Brothers for all your John Deere turf equipment needs.

At Potestio Brothers, we’re dedicated to providing the superior service and the tough, reliable John Deere equipment you need to maintain the beauty of your golf courses.

With our full line of Front Mowers, Gator™ Turf Vehicles, Walk-Behinds, Wide Area and ZTrak™ Commercial Mowers, we’ll keep your courses looking their very best all year long.

Are Your Bases Covered?Your Head Groundskeeper and crew need to negotiate rigorous – and often unpredictable – issues regarding the playing surface at your stadium.

That’s where the Sports Turf Managers Association comes in. STMA members are expertly equipped to deal with these issues and are up-to-date on all the latest information in the industry. Their expertise in resource utilization, operations management, and agronomics allow you to protect your players on the field and reduce your expenses while doing it.

Support your grounds crew’s STMA membership for access to the latest information, education, and industry developments. For over 30 years, STMA members have ensured their fields are among the safest, most playable and most beautiful around.

Are your bases covered? Is there an STMA member on your grounds crew?

To become a member, go online to www.stma.org or call 800-323-3875.

Get more work done with the hardest working utility vehicles on the market today.

Hefty payload capacities and towing capabilities deliver increased productivity.

With a category-leading two-year warranty, improve your return on investment

through the strength, reliability and durability of the Workman. toro.com/md

Workman® MD Series

©2

013

Th

e To

ro C

omp

any.

All

rig

hts

res

erve

d.

Highest total payload capacity in its class.

LL Johnson Distributing Company4700 Holly Street, Denver, CO 80216303-320-1270 www.lljohnson.com

WorkmanMD_Ad_LLJ_5_13.indd 1 5/31/13 8:57 AM

Documents

MANAGERS ASSOCIAT ION THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIME · 2014. 2. 26. · Golden, Co 80403 Phone: 303-215-3428 Fax: 303-215-3429 E-Mail: [email protected] Committees: Seminars,