UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION EASTERN REGION NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT RU T G E RS UN I V E R S I TY NEW B R U N S W I C K. NEW J E R S EY 7 11 WE ST AV E N UE J E N K I N T O W N. P E N N S Y L V A N IA EASTERN TURFLETTER A L E X A N D ER M. R A D KO E A S T E RN D I R E C T OR C H A R L ES K. H A L L O W E LL M I D - A T L A N T IC D I R E C T OR T. T. T A Y L OR N O R T H E A S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST No. 4 August I960 AUGUST is an EXCELLENT month FOR RENOVATION In the region of cool-season grass culture August is the most important month for renovation ... it is the best time to prepare the course for seeding - and to do a good Job it means that soil must be disturbed - thru aeration or thatching - which is re- quired to put the seed in contact with soil ... at this time in August most golfers are near or at the peak of their game - they don't want to see any work done that would interfere with their golf ... and even if the turf doesnft measure up to what he would like it to be ... the average member is ever so fearful that things will be worse ... his philosophy is let well enough alone ... when Pall comes the cd&rse will green up again ... and this he attributes to the magic of weather - only coolness and rainfall make for good grass growth (he thinks). What he does not know is that the "magic transformation" comes about because the CRABGRASS OF THE COOL SEASON ... the good looking annual weed grass - POA AMUA - oft times returned to fill in the same voids that it made when it died out earlier in the summer when the going got rough. Poa annua is a perpetual problem in several areas of the United States - this region not excluded. Much has been written about Poa annua ... its seeding habits ... its persistence under any height of cut ... so we won't go into these and other import- ant reasons for its tenacity and persistence ... we will only say that it is an extremely difficult weed to control selectively in fine turf areas ... and because of its strong growth habits in Fall and Spring it is also extremely competitive with permanent grasses whether long established or newly seeded. So in August the golf course superintendent when faced with the problem of renovation must consider many factors ... is there enough permanent grass to fill in voids to cover and make a good dense turf ... should I fertilize... should I lime ... should I seed ... will the weather break right .. . how can I best time the renovation steps to insure most efficient and careful use of the funds budgeted ••• how can I do all this with least interference to play. Unfortu- nately, the best playing time in August is also the best reno- vation time ... the longer renovation is delayed in Pall the chances for "best" results diminish ... At renovation time the burning question is should I scorch the vegetation completely ... or should I partially scorch to keep the permanent grasses while killing weeds selectively. More and more the thinking has been in favor of the scorched earth policy ... killing off all vegetation ... prior to seeding anew ... because an important break-thru has been discovered which might be referred to as the double burn ... and this is to burn all vegetation twice as follows: (1) Apply 5 gallons sodium arsenite in enough water for uniform coverage (25 to 50 gallons) per acre. (2) About 3 days later aerate all scorched fairways thoroughly in some way to prepare a good seedbed. . or thatch them ... or rough them up (3) Then irrigate each area often enough to germinate the Poa annua and other dormant seed in the soil. (4) Seven to 14 days after irrigation begins re- treat with sodium arsenite to burn all new vegetation •.* using 3 to 4 gallons arsenite per acre ... this should eliminate the Poa annua competiton. (5) Then 3 to 4 days later do any further work necessary to perfect the seedbed and then seed to a good fair- way mixture. ^ 1 This as you see can consume a good part of a month ... but so long as play can continue uninterrupted (playing preferred lies) golfers will not object too strenuously ... so long as they real- ize what is happening ... so long as they are informed ... so long as good improvement is realized. Several courses in this region have employed this technique with excellent results. Improvement of Roughs On many courses the rough areas receive the "Stepchild" treat- ment ..• and in some cases rough areas have not received any lime- stone or fertilizer as long as anyone in a responsible position could remember ... is it any wonder then that roughs become thin, cuppy, and unthrifty ... limestone and fertilizer are very import- ant to the density of roughs ... one ton limestone to the acre t , » / every 3 to 4 years and some fertilizer once a year - or once every 2 years will certainly help keep desired density ... a number of courses have increased bluegrass population with limestone every 4 years (1 ton to the acre) and superphosphate every 2 years (400 lbs. per acre). Kentucky bluegrass seed crop - expected to be above average ... six times last year's small crop ... quality reported very good to excellent. Coming Events No Cornell Field Day this year. No Beltsville (USDA) Field Day this year. September 14 - University of Rhode Island, Kingston R. I. Dr. C. Richard Skogley September 21-22 - Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. Dr. Joseph Duich Recommended for your Turf Library Lawn Diseases - How to Control Them by K. W. Kreitlow and F. V. Juska Crops Research Division Agricultural Research Service U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Beltsville, Mdt Write for Home and Garden Bulletin No. 61 Superintendent of Documents U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. * R Price 10^ Unless we look ahead today, there may be nothing to see tomorrow - Anon, [I u. PAH> P E R M IT W R " 3 66 NEW BRUNSWICK F~FLT Eastern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION SUJfc 13267 Verano street Garden Grove, Call?? A s s n' Green Sec