time. This is one reason why turf managersneed to be careful with early spring applica-tions of preemergence herbicides com-bined with fertilizers, cautions Dr. B. J.Johnson, weed control specialist with theUniversity of Georgia in Athens. If theseproducts are timed to prevent germinationof crabgrass, the nitrogen stimulation candisrupt the transition of bermudagrasssince it is too early.

Spring transition of warm-season turf-grasses is complicated further when theyare overseeded with cool-season turf-grasses. The overseeded grass tends toshade the dormant warm-season turf in thespring and to delay its transition. Light ver-ticutting to expose the dormant turf to sunand heat also opens up the turf for germi-nation of annual weeds.

This will not stop the turf industry fromoverseeding. The decision to overseed ismade for a reason: to provide an activelygrowing surface when the primary turfgrassis dormant. With this decision comes theresponsibility to take extra steps in thespring to help the bermuda recover.

The same is true for preemergence weedcontrol. It serves a definite purpose. If thatpurpose is valuable to the facility, then theturf manager must take the extra stepsnecessary to help the turf recover from anystress-related side effects. Once the threatof annual weeds subsides, then measuresmust be taken to bring turf back to full coverand quality.

The tremendous use of golf and sportsturf today predisposes it to weed encroach-ment. The demand for recreational turf out-paces the natural ability of turf to recoverand maintain density. At the same time,standards applied to turf are tougher tomeet.

The only option to restricting use orlowering standards is to expand ourknowledge of all available cultural practicesso they can be applied for the greatestbenefit of the turf. Preemergence herbi-cides by themselves cannot be expected tosolve annual weed problems. Their usemust be coordinated with all other culturalpractices.

Sports turf is not as permanent as stan-dard lawn turf. It needs to be replenishedand renovated frequently. Sprigging,reseeding, and sodding come with the ter-ritory. Golf and sports turf also requiresmuch greater attention when it comes tonutrition, irrigation, drainage and compac-tion. Managing sports turf is a constant bat--tle of balancing stresses to maintain coverand quality. . .

Undoubtedly, there are some compli-cated decisions to be made based UpORourgrowing knowledge:Of turf, chemicals andcultural practices. Younowhave importanttools at your disposal. When used properly,they provide levels of turf cover and qualitynot possible a decade ago. But each ofthese tools has its own set of restrictions.Turf rnanaqers must learn what these res-trictions areto use the right tools effectively.That's what professionalism is all about..

SAVING YOUTHE GREEN

EnviroCaster'·Disease Forecasting andWeather Monitoring System

EnviroCaster, Neogen's sophisticated disease-forecasting instru-ment, is going to save you the green! On the course and in the bank!

With EnviroCaster, you can actually anticipate the onset of PythiumBlight, Seedt"lead Formation, and Anthracnose. Then you can make apreventive spray q.pfore these costly, unsightly symptoms blemishyour green ... and your image. Or even avoid an expensive spray whenit's not really needed!At the touch of a button, EnviroCaste'r gives you:

• Hourly Weather Data ,-• Current Pythium/Seedhead/Anthracnose Risk• Spray Recommendations• Data to Determine Irrigation Needs and Monitor Turf Stress

EnviroCaster is easy to install and easy to use ... and hard for you (andyour turf) to live without!For more information, contact your local distributor or Neogen.

620 Lesher PlaceLansing, Michigan 48912517/372-9200

Circle -138 on Postage Free Card March, 1989 31

Now available for INew AMT 622 TransportThe new 2-seatAMr 622 make it as easy to handleAll Materials 'Iransport will as one, too.With a respon-do everything our familiar sive steering wheel, foot600 'Iransport will do. operated accelerator and

With one exception. It'll brake, even halogen head-take a passenger along. lights to light the way

Its roomy seating and But don't let all theseease of boarding provideas much comfort as you'llfind in a compact car.

Its well positionedautomotive controls

Automotive-typesteering wheel,brake and acceler-ator pedals provideease of operation.

creaturefeatures foolyou.TheAMT 622 hauler is builtto be a hardworking beast.

The AMT 622Transport gets its .,appetite for workfrom a powerfullO-hp engine.

Manual tilt bedcomes standard- hydraulicsavailable as anoption.

"On level ground

ssengerboardingIts 4-wheel drive lets

you wade through mud,muck and mire. Yet

its high-flotationdesign and dif-

ferential axleallow you to

tum tight without trackingup delicate turf.

Its towing power is im-pressive, too. An automaticvariable speed transmis-sion develops a 62 to 1torque ratio. So you cantow up to 1000 pounds of

trailer weight. Plus a600 pound*payload.

ircle 137 on Postage Free Card

And a passenger to boot.So whether you need a

transport to go solo, or onebuilt to bring a buddyalong, come to John Deerefor your seat selection.

Ask your dealer for allthe facts on the growingline of all materialstransports. Or write,John Deere, Dept. 84,Moline,IL 61265.

J--. Nothing RunsJOHN DEERE Like aDeere

emphasize the important role of newproducts in transferring technology to themarketplace for application by a wide spec-trum of users in the green industry.

The Ryan GA 30 features several designinnovations, including the fact that the oper-ator rides on the unit and can adjustaeration-core spacing while "on the go." Itcan be used to aerate golf greens at a closespacing, then adjusted to a more open pat-tern for aerating fairways.

conducted in over 12 countries throughoutthe world.

GRACE TO DEVELOP ANDTEST BOTANICALINSECTICIDE

RYAN AERATOR SELECTEDFOR DESIGN AWARD

Grace Horticultural Products, New York,NY, has acquired the patents, trademarks,EPA registration and technology forMargosan-O concentrate. It is a nontoxic,natural insecticide extracted from seeds ofthe Neem tree, a tropical evergreen. Undera purchase agreement with Vikwood Botan-icals, Inc., Sheboygan, WI, Grace hasobtained all rights to the technology.

The insecticide has low-to-no toxicity formammals and is believed to be effectiveagainst a broad range of insects which haveexhibited resistance to many chemical pes-ticides. These include the sweet potatowhite fly, green peach aphid and westernfloral thrips.

Such resistance is not expected todevelop with Margosan-O's principal ingre-dient, Azadirachtin, due to the complexity ofthe molecule and the diverse mechanismsby which it operates. Neem has been usedas a pesticide for centuries with noobserved insect resistance.

Grace has done extensive testing ofNeem seed insecticide technology. Theinsecticide is currently undergoing furtherefficacy and phytotoxicity testing by sevenuniversityentornoloqlsts in the UnitedStates. Additional efficacy tests are being

CIBA-GEIGY EXPANDSTURF STAFF

The Turf and Ornamental ProductsDepartment of Ciba-Geigy Corporation hasdoubled its staff to manage an expandedproduct line and meet the needs of the turfindustry.

"The added personnel will provideincreased support for customer needs,"said Director Bill Liles in announcing theexpansion. '

Owen Towne will be product manager forthe turf-fungicide division. He was previ-ously responsible for market research at thefirm's headquarters in Greensboro, NC.,

The staff of field marketing representa-tivesincreased from seven to 12. Ron John-sOD was promoted to national accountsm~gnager.

Kirk Reimers (left), chief engineer for Cushman,presents citation to Mark Lamb, project engi-neer for the GA 30 program.

Agricultural Engineering magazine hasselected the Ryan GA 30 Turf Aerator asone of "The Agricultural Engineering 50"-outstanding innovations in product or sys-tems technology for 1987.

The recognition program is conductedeach year by the magazine, published bythe American Society of AgriculturalEngineers. The competition isdesigned to

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34 sportsTURF Circle 126 on Postage Free Card Circle 127 on Postage Free Card

SWINC JOINtS ==VITAL COMPONENTSOF

VALYI =IN= IMIIAD UAAICAfION SYSTEMS

Unless you work in Florida, you knowthis past winter was tough on irriga-tion systems. The Alaska Blaster

wreaked havoc on unprotected pumps,backflow devices, valves, pipes and sprin-kler heads deep into the South. Days offreezing temperatures, unusual for the Sun-belt, damaged typically undrained systems.

While many of these problems are simpleto spot, it's the ones you don't see that willdrive you crazy during another expectedyear of drought. Manufacturers of irrigationcomponents suggest that superintendentsand sports turf managers across the coun-try devote extra time this spring to inspecttheir systems for winter damage. And whileyou're troubleshooting, you may want totake a fresh look at sprinkler head heightsand the condition of fittings from the lateralsto the surface.

Fine-tuning an irrigation system is criticalin maintaining uniform coverage at thegreatest efficiency. Water and energy aretwo of the largest items in a turf manager'sbudget. Small leaks by themselves mayseem minor, but when added together they

I represent a significant water loss and siza-ble energy loss, especially for pressurizedsystems with valve-in-head sprinklers.

"Irrigation designers and contractorshave experimented for years with the wayheads are connected to laterals," explainsLarry Workman of Lasco. Starting with oldgalvanized pipe, they devised a combina-tion of nipples, street elbows and risers tojoin the laterals 18 inches to two feet belowthe surface with sprinkler heads. The intentwas to provide a way to adjust heads afterinstallation of the turf and to protect thelaterals and heads from damage by surfacetraffic.

Those were the days of block or batterysystems. Heads were placed into zonescontrolled by individual valves. The lateralsbetween the valves and the heads werepressurized only when the valves opened.If the fittings between the laterals and theheads leaked, it was only for the short timethat zone was operating. Fittings that wereslightly loose so they could move wereexpected to leak to a degree.

The problem with galvanized fittings insome soils is they corrode and the jointsfreeze and become locked in position,explains Workman. Once this occurs, youare back to a rigid connection between thehead and the lateral.

To overcome many of the problems withgalvanized pipe and fittings, the irrigationindustry started replacing them with PVC or

~~ ••• "' •. '4r.....--.--_SP_R_'N_(_L_~R_H_rA_D .'7'l,~.:-l"..: ,;~.. ..:...:,::.;~.,,:::"'';:' '::~"., " ••~. ~"!;'\~':~ ,',;_"~",,,,;~

• • <It .. .... ~ •• ,.' " • • .... • 4 .' • '., ' ••, . .. . , .. .'\ ..

".. . .'... -

INSTALL AT LEAST. 2 INCHES ~ LIN[ ..

.... '. . ,

. .'

Recommended installation of swing joint forsprinkler head application. Photo courtesy:Lasco Industries.

polyethylene components. These plastic fit-tings did not corrode and remained flexible.But, like galvanized fittings, they wouldoften leak slightly after being backed off.

The irrigation specialist or contractor hadto learn the difference between installinggalvanized and plastic fittings. Most fittingsand pipe have tapered threads. As they aretightened together, the male thread exertsan increasing amount of force against thefemale thread. If the same amount of torqueis applied to plastic fittings as to galvanized,the plastic will crack and the joint will eitherbe weak or leak. Furthermore, galvanizedmale fittings screwed into plastic female fit-tings will often be overtightened. Whenwater hammer hits the weakened joint, itcan't handle the load and bursts.

To complicate matters more, teflon tapeand some joint compounds actually have alubricating effect on plastic pipe, making ittoo easy to overtighten plastic joints. Whenthe joint is loose, these compounds do notalways seal the threads adequately. Com-pared to the ease and integrity of gluedplastic fittings, seating threaded plastic fit-tings properly is difficult.

One company's research showed thatstandard fittings backed off one-quarter

.' • " 1 ... ,

turn had a 50 percent chance of leaking.Backed off one-half turn, the percentagejumped to 80. The margin for error was sim-ply too great for installation in the field onpressurized systems.

The world of irrigation was changing,especially on golf courses and parks. Auto-matic controllers opened up a whole newrealm of possibilities and eliminated much

continued on page 36

March, 1989 35

Swing Jointscontinued from page 35

of the labor and attention given to irrigationsystems during operation.

To give the golf course superintendentcontrol over individual heads aroundgreens, irrigation manufacturers createdvalve-in-head and valve-under-head sprin-klers. Advanced controllers and field satel-lites also provided the superintendent witha much larger number of stations so hecould program many heads individually.

The significant point about valve-in-heador valve-under-head sprinklers is that theconnection between the lateral and thehead is pressurized. Instead of leaking for10 or 20 minutes, loose fittings will leakconstantly if not completely sealed. Asteady, small leak can keep jocky pumpsworking overtime, waste water, and result indamage to the area around the head.

"95percent of allnew golf courses

are utilizingvalve-in-headsprinklers. "

One way to overcome this problem isplacing valve-in-head sprinklers in zones asbefore. The controller must be instructed toopen two valves to operate a single head,the one in the head and another supplyingwater to the zone. This permits the lateraland the fittings to be unpressurized exceptwhen operating any of the heads in thatparticular zone. It is common in older irriga-tion systems that were retrofitted for valve-in-head sprinklers. Irrigation designers alsoinclude main valves in strategic areas forthis and other reasons. But no golf courseor park wants to pay for unnecessaryvalves.

"When valve-in-head systems becamepopular, those of us in the fittings businesshad to come up with a solution to leakage,"Workman recalls. It was Lasco engineerswho pioneered the development of the firstprefabricated swing joints. By preassem-bling elbows with O-rings at the factory,Lasco was able to provide leak-proof jointsthat allowed movement for adjustment andtraffic impact.

Tapered threads were replaced in theswing joint with stronger acme threads. TheO-ring allowed more than a full turn ofswivel without leaking. During installation,the swing joint is tightened all the way andthen backed off one full turn before align-ment. An assortment of accessories hasbeen designed to adapt the swing joints tovarious sizes of pipe and heads. The preas-sembled joints not only eliminate theproblem of leakage, they reduce installationtime considerably.

Because valve-in-head sprinklersproduce a shock when closing, the compo-

36 sports TURF

nents are rated to withstand 200 psi of pres-sure, adds Workman.

"The first swing joints were single swingelbows," recalls Bob King, president of KingBrothers, Inc. Then more elbows wereadded to make the joints adjustable in alldirections.

KBI makes fittings for the plumbingindustry as well. "The liability situation forboth the institutional irrigation market andthe plumbing industry is changing today,"King adds. "You have to make sure yourproduct works without fail. A fitting behindthe wall of an apartment building must bereliable, just as a swing joint on a golfcourse:'

King has found from experience that theweak link with swing joints is the threadednipple used to join them to laterals orheads. For this reason the company recom-mends solvent glue joints at theselocations.

Dura Plastics introduced a triple swingjoint specifically for valve-in-head sprinklersin 1987.The company's engineers designedthis swing joint with two O-rings to preventleaks as well as intrusion of sediment intothe joint. To help its customers distinguishits fabricated swing joints from ordinary fit-tings, the company's swing joints arecolored gray.

The firm has devised accessories for itsproduct to eliminate any extra joints. "Youare better off to eliminate things like reduc-ing nipples when possible," Roberts adds."Don't use two or three fittings when one

.will do:'All the above manufacturers make swing

joints in 1, 1114and 11/2 inch sizes for golfcourse and institutional sprinkler heads.

Superintendents and sports turfmanagers should expect to pay a premiumfor swing joints. "They may add $4,000 tothe cost of a half-million-dollar irrigation sys-tem," explains Lasco's Workman. But irriga-tion specialists are beginning to realize thatthe joints simplify installation, require littleto no care, and will pay for themselvesquickly in water and energy savings.

"Swing joints aren't for everyone," statesRoberts. "They are designed specifically forvalve-in-head systems in areas with heavytraffic, such as sports fields and golfcourses. But then, 95 percent of all new golfcourses are utilizing valve-in-head sprin-klers," states Bob Roberts, sales managerfor Dura. "Parks are also beginning to utilizevalve-in-head sprinklers to a greaterdegree."

But the need for swing joints goesbeyond the type of sprinkler head. All typesof heads are SUbject to heaving in thecolder regions of the country, remarks DonCooper of Weather-matico As subsurfacewater freezes it expands, pushing the soiland anything contained in it upwards. "If thehead is attached to the lateral with a rigidjoint, heaving can actually pull it off thelateral," Cooper warns. "It's important toplace gravel sumps around heads toimprove drainage in areas subject to heav-ing. Swing joints can definitely help:'

Head adjustment is especially importantin golf and sports turf. The majority of sprin-kler heads are designed to be installed atgrade. This provides clearance for main-tenance equipment and prevents headsfrom interrupting play.

Part #4~

<---- Part #5

(Patent applied for)

Lasco full circle swing joint kit.

However, there is a growing desire on thepart of athletic field managers and superin-tendents to have heads set 1/4 to 1/2 inchbelow grade. Stadium turf managers fre-quently want heads on the playing surfaceset below grade so they can be coveredwith sand during games. Topdressing canalso raise the turf around heads by as muchas 1/4 inch per year.

Only a few types of sprinkler heads aredesigned to be set below grade or to becovered. All other heads must be adjustedperiodically back to grade. This process issimplified by swing joints.

Smaller swing joints and flexible risersare available for more conventional sprin-kler heads around golf courses, parks andschools-and standard fittings stilldominate the irrigation market overall.

Regardless of their size, swing joints pro-tect both heads and laterals from damagewhile saving water and energy in theprocess. They eliminate unstable wet soilaround heads and simplify adjustment.

When you consider the investment yoursports facility has in irrigation, swing jointsmake a lot of sense. They enable you to turna potential liability into an asset. Whenreplacing a green can cost $40,000 or aplayer's injury can result in damages of sixor seven figures, any method of insuring thesafety and integrity of an irrigation system isworth attention. •

UNIVERSITY GOLF COURSE DOUBLES AS RESEARCH LAB

Amidst the boisterous, disparagingremarks of those who proclaim golf coursesto be the ultimate enemy of water conserva-tion, a voice in the desert quietly refutes thisnotion through its daily commitment toenvironmental concerns.

The Karsten Golf Course at Arizona StateUniversity (ASU), Tempe, AZ, slated to openlater this year, is the site of two university-department research projects and a thirdproposed project. Resort Management ofAmerica (RMA), the operational manage-ment company retained by the Sun AngelFoundation to manage the course, is stand-ing behind its commitment to water conser-vation and responsible use of golf courseland.

The ASU Laboratory of Climatology plansto conduct tests to determine the effect ofgolf courses on the environment, accordingto Robert Balling, its director. "The depart-ment's projects will reinforce the fact thatthe ASU golf course can be used forresearch," he said.

Balling has proposed the installation ofan automated weather station on the courseto continuously monitor air and soil temper-ature, wind speed and direction, humidity,dew point, precipitation, soil measurement,and solar energy. The information will beused to calculate evapotranspiration rates

and climatic information. These figures willtell RMA precisely how much water to usewhen irrigating the course in order to pre-vent waste. The data will also be used inturfgrass experiments which measure plantcompatibility and survivability.

Research on redefining water usage oncourses in arid and semi-arid regions, turf-disease control, and growth regulators willallow responsible use of resources."Weather data from an actual desert coursewill provide this useful information, primarilyto the researcher, but also to the golfer whosimply wants to know about course condi-tions," Balling explained.

Henry Delozier, RMA president, notedthat comparisons between turf varieties andwater usage will be studied to provide con-servation information to other coursemanagers.

Dr. Ralph Backhaus, an associate profes-sor in ASU's Urban Horticultural Program,has begun studying the golf course's turfand desert vegetation and the use ofeffluent in irrigation.

"Various low-water-usage plants andalternate species for golf course ornamen-tation will be tested to see how they performin this environment," Backhaus reported. Ifthe plants prove effective in the desert cli-mate, they can be grown in the university'snursery.

Other university-proposed researchincludes turf- and green-disease diagnosisand a study of native vegetation in thecourse's nongroomed areas. The use of anathletic facility as an environmentalresearch center is unique to the KarstenGolf Course at ASU. The course can beused to establish a work/study program forstudents interested in golf coursemanagement.

"We are committed to discovering mutualbenefits to the golfer and the community,"said Delozier. A similar commitment wasmade from the ASU course's inception.Pete Dye, known in the golf industry fordesigning courses that demand a greatdeal of care, said he had never seen a morebarren wasteland than the Salt River bot-tom on which the course was built. "We'vetaken the sorriest piece of land in Tempeand turned it into a useful, appealing recre-ation facility," he remarked.

Ed Gowan, executive director of the Ari-zona Golf Association, has been a vocalproponent of water conservation.

Delozier agreed, adding, "But we believewe have gone far beyond the minimum ofconserving water to advancing the state ofenvironmental research. Multiple use of theland to benefit our community is taking golfcourse management into the 21st century:'

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Circle 102 on Postage Free Card March, 1989 37

Jim Kelsey (left), president of Partac Peat,presents award to Ron Timpanaro.

Phillies Restorecontinued from page 22

it is largely caused by the thick layer ofthatch and mat that has built up over theyears and the consistently warm tempera-tures over the winter. The rye is rooting inthatch instead of soil." Timpanaro askedClay to treat the outfield every two weekswith Lesco Mancozeb DG. He intends touse Chipco 26019 as a backup fungicide.

The other two problems Timpanaro faced

were mole crickets and fire ants. Again,warm weather kept the mole crickets activemost of the year. Clay suggested an appli-cation of Qftanol in the spring, followed bysummer treatments with Orthene. While fireant mounds are treated with aerosolbombs, Timpanaro has found that Amdrobait and daily mowing have chased the antsaway. "When you disturb their moundsevery day, they finally give up and move," hereveals.

Ironically, Timpanaro depends so muchon Clay because he can perform many ofthe tasks with his own equipment at a lowercost. But Timpanaro still has a standingrequest for an aerator, verticut reels andtopdresser. "You've got to have them toreally keep on top of the thatch," heremarks. He also hopes to buy a condition-ing machine for the infield clay.

Timpanaro has made great strides withmowing equipment. The infield is moweddaily with walk-behind greensmowers withbaskets to pick up clippings. For the out-field, he now uses a Jacobsen Tri-King andanxiously awaits verticut reels. The check-ered pattern stands out to fans and players."You can't mow twice a week and expectthe same results," he advises. Mashek hasbeen instrumental in helping Timpanaroobtain the equipment he needs sinceMashek became general manager in 1987.

Not only does Timpanaro take care of thefield, he assumes many of the responsibil-ities that would normally be handled by the

stadium operations manager of a majorleague stadium. This includes researching,ordering and maintaining all field-relatedaccessories, along with coordinating almostall events to make sure everything clicks."When you work for the club and the cluboperates and maintains the facility, thegroundskeeper or field supervisor has toperform many of the same duties as astadium manager or head of parks andrecreation," he points out.

Dale Long sees the rising investment inminor league facilities as a sign of new lifefor the farm system. "I'm aware of at least 20new parks in the minor leagues!" heexclaimed recently.

"Minor league teams attracted more than20 million fans last year," Long remarked."We need the farm system for major leagueexpansion in the next few years. Instead ofbuilding new major league teams by rob-bing players from existing teams, ownerscan start out by developing players at thefarm level. Buffalo is a good example ofthis." Long thinks a farm system may be aprerequisite to major league expansion inthe future.

If Long's theory comes true, the need forprofessional quality baseball facilities willgrow, along with the need for skilled, dedi-cated groundskeepers like Timpanaro.

"I may not be getting rich," says Tim-panaro, "but I love what I'm doing now.That's what counts the most for my familyand me:' ~

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CHALKBOARD".

TIPS FROM THE PROSSPRING TRANSITION • REMOVING OVERSEEDED RYEGRASS

Overseeding warm-season turfgrass-es with cool-season grasses to im-prove color, playability and durability

during the fall, winter and early spring isbecoming a common practice on golfcourses and sports fields in the South. Asmore sports turf managers overseed, morequestions are being raised about the com-petition between turfgrasses, especiallyduring spring transition.

"Overseeding is a physically damagingprocess to a turf," warns Gil Landry, exten-sion turf specialist for the University ofGeorgia in Athens. "In addition, the cool-season grass provides competition to thewarm-season grass for sunlight, nutrientsand water. Minimizing that competition dur-ing the sping can be very important"

Landry says there is very little scientificdata to support management practicescommonly recommended and used toencourage transition from overseededryegrass to a warm-season turf. Most of theresearch has been limited to bermudagrassputting greens. Other factors, such asintense traffic, can also have a harmfulimpact on dormant warm-season turf andneed to be explored.

Based upon current research, the follow-ing suggestions are provided by Landry foryour consideration. The accompanyinggraph illustrates the seasonal growth pat-terns of both warm-season and cool-seasongrasses. Note that late spring and earlysummer are critical transition periods forwarm-season turfgrasses.

The following spring cultural practicesshould enhance warm-season growth whilediscouraging the cool-season grass:

• Lower the mower height several weeksbefore expected spring green-up. Thisreduces shading, warms the soil, and setsback the overseeded grasses.• Core aerify weeks before expectedspring green-up to promote turf growth bywarming the soil.• Wait to fertilize until two to three weeksafter spring.• Maintain good soil moisture for the newroots being produced by the turf.

"However, probably the most importantfactor relating to a successful transition isproper management throughout the entiregrowing season, not during the transitionperiod," Landry advises. "Proper mowing,fertilization, irrigation, pest management,thatch control, and traffic control during thesummer and fall are very important to tran-sition the following spring." The condition ofthe warm-season turf as it enters dormancy

SEASONAL GROWTH PATTERNS OF GRASSES

---CRITICAL TRANSITION PERIOD

J F M A M J J

MONTH

has a big influence on its competitivenessthe following spring.

Some research suggests that plantgrowth regulators such as mefluidide(Embark) are a possible means of hasten-ing transition. Herbicides are also beingtested for use in smoothing transition.Recent research by Dr. B. J. Johnson at theUniversity of Georgia demonstrated that anApril application of either pronamide orparaquat decreased the percentage ofryegrass during the summer by 20 percentor more. Untreated check plots were still 30percent ryegrass in July (see table).

Meanwhile, seed producers are begin-ning to select ryegrasses with lower heattolerance for overseeding so they will notcompete as vigorously with the ber-mudagrass in the spring. Certainryegrasses are so heat-tolerant anddisease-resistant they can hang on almostyear-round. At the same time, some turfmanagers are beginning to lower fall over-seeding rates, sacrificing the deep green

WARM SEASON GRASSES

A SON 0 J

color of dense seedings for lower ryegrasspopulation in the summer.

Research by Dr. Vic Gibeault, which isnearing completion at the University ofCalifornia in Riverside, will reveal the com-petitiveness of certain cool-season grassesand will show the effect of wear during falland winter on both dormant warm-seasonturfgrasses and overseeded cool-seasonones.

Good spring transition, according to Lan-dry, begins the previous growing season.Springtime practices which encouragewarm-season turf growth include low mow-ing heights, drying wet soil, irrigating drysoils, and properly timed fertilization. Asmore research is carried out, a clearer pic-ture of spring transition will emerge.

Editor's Note: This month's Chalkboardwas adapted from an article by the sametitle by Gil Landry of the Extension AgronomyDepartment at the University of Georgia,Athens, in the Winter 1989 edition of Turf-grass Topics.

Influence of Herbicides on TransitionFrom Overseeded Ryegrass to Bermudaqrass, 1987.

Treatments

Ryegrass to bermudagrass transition{%)

May June July

Bermuda Rye Bermuda Rye Bermuda Rye

Untreated 50 50 60 38 68 30

Pronamide 53 41' 60 40 88

Paraquat 66 8 85 9 94

S..,).Johnson. Journal Amer. Soc. Hort. Sc., 113 (5): 662-666.1988Herbicides applied April 20, 1988

39

ROOKIES....PRODUCT UPDATE

GREENSMOWER

With the features necessary to produceconsistently high-quality greens, the Ran-somes Super Certes greensmower deliversa precise, meticulous cut.

The walk-behind unit is available in either20- or 24-inch cutting widths. Other featuresinclude a high-speed, ten-knife reel thatproduces 126 cuts per yard; a cutting heightthat adjusts from 1/8 to 1/2 inches; and apolyethylene grass catcher that holds 11/2bushels of clippings.

The mower virtually eliminates turf mark-ing, because of its tapered land roll andtwo-part, machined-aluminum drive roller.Power-driven transport wheels attach eas-ily and help speed the machine from greento green.RANSOMES, INC.Circle 107 on Postage Free Card

NEW CREEPINGBENTGRASS

Cobra is a new variety of creeping bent-grass developed jointly by InternationalSeeds, Inc., and the New Jersey Agricul-tural Experiment Station. In tests over thepast four years, Cobra has performed wellin terms of texture, color, competitionagainst annual bluegrass, resistance to dol-lar spot, and drought tolerance.

According to International, the bentgrassthrives with frequent low mowing, moistsoil, and moderately low nitrogen and phos-phorous levels. It provides a high-qualitysurface when mowed as low as 5/32 inch onputting greens or as high as 5/8 inch on fair-ways. In both percentage of cover and shootdensity it was judged comparable to Penn-

cross, Penneagle and Pennlinks. Its darkgreen color is especially noticeable duringcooler months of the year.

Cobra responds well to aeration, cultiva-tion and topdressing. A seeding rate of onepound per 1,000 square feet is recom-mended for putting greens.INTERNATIONAL SEEDS, INC.Circle 108 on Postage Free Card

RECIPROCATING TRIMMER

The two reciprocating blades on the Red-Max Reciprocator/SGC220DL each contain20 teeth that cut easily through heavyweeds or brush. The blades operate safelybecause they eliminate the danger of flyingdebris, the kickback from striking fixedobjects, and the possibility of a fracturedblade becoming a projectile. The bladesstop immediately when the engine isswitched off.

Solid-state, electronic ignition assuresquick starting of the high-performance,22.5cc engine. Weighing only 14.1 pounds,the unit handles smoothly in hard-to-reachareas. In addition, the reciprocating motionprevents weeds and brush from wrappingaround the blades. The cutting blades caneven be submerged to trim under water.KOMATSU ZENOAH AMERICA, INC.Circle 109 on Postage Free Card

EQUIPMENT CARRIERGroundskeepers and golf course person-

nel can carry mowers and other equipmentfrom location to location with the CushmanEquipment Carrier Set.

The unit attaches to the stake pockets ofthe Cushman Turf-Truckster short box,where it is secured by pins. To load the car-rier, the operator merely raises the Turf-Truckster box, which lowers the equipmentcarrier to ground level. A mower or otherequipment can then be rolled onto the car-rier. Lowering the dump box raises the car-rier and tilts it slightly forward to hold theequipment during transit.

Constructed of expanded carbon-steelmesh, the carrier's bed is covered by a rub-ber pad to protect the equipment being car-ried. The weight capacity is 400 pounds,and the dimensions are 49112inches wideand 361/2 inches deep, with a front panelthat is 30112inches high.

The unit is equipped with a rubber bum-per, which rests against the turf-vehicleshort box in transport position to cushionthe load .. Rubber cords, which can bewrapped around the equipment to secure itin the carrier, are included with each unit.CUSHMAN DIVISION OF OUTBOARD MARINE CORP.Circle 110 on Postage Free Card

FERTILIZERSPREADERS

Full stainless-steel hopper bottoms andmetering slides are featured on Gandy fer-tilizer spreaders.

The stainless-steel components affordlonger service life while complementing theunit's precision metering. Cam gauges onall models adjust the hopper openings toassure uniform, full-width applicationacross the entire swath.

Spreaders are available in models six to12 feet wide. Included with each applicatoris a factory-calibrated rate chart for currentcommercial products. Upon submission ofsufficient material it will calibrate granuleson request. High flotation on standard tiresis optional.GANDY COMPANYCircle 111 on Postage Free Card