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TURF CULTURE
A Bulletin from

UNITED STATES GOLF 
ASSOCIATION

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllillllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

EXECUTIVE OFFICES •• 73 East 57th street •• NEW YORK CITY

TURF CULTURE

August, 1936

Issued by the UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION 
P. O. Box 73, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington, D. C.
Frank M. Hardt, Chairman of Green Section Committee 
Dr. John Monteith, Jr., in Charge of Washington Office
United States Golf Association Executive Office, 73 East 57th St., New York, N. Y.

THE USE OF SOIL ANALYSES

TN recent years various agricultural scientists have 
given much attention to the testing of soils to deter­
mine plant food requirements. For years the Green 
Section has been using several methods for testing 
soils in an effort to help clubs select the most effective 
and economical combinations of fertilizers for their 
particular needs. There is still much confusion as to 
what can and cannot be expected from laboratory tests 
of soil samples.

The Green Section is always glad to test samples of 
soil from member clubs, report results and offer recom­
mendations based on these tests. To make this service 
most useful it is necessary for the club official to co­
operate fully in sending good representative samples 
and in furnishing some information concerning them. 
The taking and shipping of samples is described in this 
issue.

Laboratory tests of soils serve only as guides. In 
some cases overzealous individuals have given the im­
pression that all that is necessary is to put a sample of 
soil through a complicated chemical test and, presto! 
the whole complicated problem of turf fertilization could 
be figured out to the nth degree. Agricultural chem­
ists years ago learned that this could not be done with 
farm crops, and notwithstanding all the showmanship 
on the part of some soil testers the fact remains that 
soil tests have in themselves only limited values for 
turf work.

It is well recognized by those who are best informed 
in methods of testing soils that the actual results of 
these tests as an aid in turf culture represent not more 
than 20 per cent, of the value, whereas the interpreta­
tion of these laboratory results represents fully 80 per 
cent.

A club official will send in a report occasionally of a 
complete chemical analysis of soil which he has had 
made by competent chemists.

.‘\.fter going to this great expense this chib official 
has found he is unable to interpret the results and has 
submitted the report for a Green Section interpretation. 
In some instances even though the chemical work may 
have been entirely satisfactory no interpretation can 
be made of the analysis that could reasonably be ex­
pected to justify the expenditure for even the postage 
stamp used in forwarding the report.

Tests of soil samples with laboratory methods offer a 
valuable guide in the diagnosis of turf disorders or in 
determining the amount and kind of materials that 
should be applied to turf. They should be considered 
as no more than this.

To understand the value and limitations of soil tests, 
thev mav be compared with the taking of temperatures 
in human ailments or the making of urine analyses. 
When a physician examines a patient he invariably first 
takes his temperature. Fie may find a high fever. This 
in itself is important but the most important part of the 
diagnosis is the physician's interpretation of this temper­

ature. It may represent a minor disorder or a serious 
chronic ailment.

In order to determine what is wrong and be able 
to suggest remedies the physician makes other tests. 
He counts the pulse and may have urine, blood and 
various other tests made. In some cases he can directly 
locate the source of illness by these tests. In the big 
majority of cases, however, his diagnosis is based on 
information he obtains from the patient, or someone 
well acquainted with his case, as to his various aches 
or pains, what he has been eating or drinking, when he 
first noticed any ailment, etc., through a whole series 
of questions to determine the history of the case and 
all symptoms relating to it.

The science of turf culture is in its infancy as com­
pared with medical science. Yet there are individuals 
who register their disappointment when they fail to 
have their turf problems solved by a soil analysis. We 
occasionally receive from clubs some samples of soil 
without even a postal card in reference to them. We 
often receive samples with letters something to this 
effect, “We are sending you some samples of our soil. 
Will you please examine them and let us know what is 
wrong with the turf?’’ After examining the soil we 
may no more be able to diagnose the turf ailment than 
a physician would be able to diagnose an ailment 
merely by an examination of urine, blood, temperature, 
etc., without a collection of other odds and ends of 
information collected from the patient. Since we can­
not obtain this miscellaneous information from the soil 
samples, it is necessary to ask the club officials furnish­
ing the soil to cooperate in supplying it.

An examination of urine may show albumen in suf­
ficient quantities to quickly guide the physician to a 
diagnosis of his case. Likewise an examination of soil 
may reveal grubs or layers of sand, clay or peat which 
provide definite leads to the disorders. Just as an ex­
tremely high blood pressure may give the physician a 
valuable clue, an excessive acidity of the soil as indicated 
by soil tests may give a definite clue to turf disturbances. 
However, in both the cases of blood pressure and soil 
acidity there is a wide range of tolerance that, except 
in extreme cases, makes these tests unreliable unless 
correlated with other symptoms. In the large majority 
of cases the physician finds that the test he has at his 
disposal does not in itself definitely locate the disturb­
ance. The same applies to the diagnosis of turf ail­
ments.

When soil tests are used merely as a guide to the 
solution of turf problems they serve a useful purpose. 
When overemphasized they can lead to waste and con­
fusion. When recommendations based simply on soil 
analyses are sent out from any laboratory (regardless 
of its supposed rating) which assume to describe definite 
turf feeding or management procedure with hair-split­
ting differences for the various fairways and putting 
greens, they should be regarded with suspicion. Quack­
ery is by no means a stranger in the field of turf cul­
ture.

COLLECTING AND SHIPPING SOIL SAMPLES

A GOOD sample of soil for analysis represents the 
area in question. The ideal sample from an area of 
1,000 square feet of turf should consist of five or more 

small plugs removed at random. In established turf 
the surface soil to a depth of 1 or 2 inches is of most 
importance for an analysis of a chemical nature, such

as the determination of pH or phosphorus. The plugs 
can be cut approximately 1 inch square with a knife or 
by means of some other device. Approximately one- 
quarter of the plug taken with a hole-cutter serves as a 
convenient sample.

A method for collecting soil samples which is con­
venient and provides good samples is the following: 
Procure a piece of %-inch steel pipe and cut it approxi­
mately 6 inches long. Then sharpen one end and bore 
a hole through the pipe /i inch from the other end. 
The pipe may be driven into the soil and when with­
drawn will be filled with a plug to the depth desired. 
A tenpenny nail put through the hole at the end of the 
pipe will assist in withdrawing it from the soil. The 
plug can then be pushed out of the pipe by means of a 
rammer.

Each plug should be wrapped in clean waxed paper 
to prevent crumbling and to preserve the sample in its 
original condition. The type of wrapping used for coins 
is approximately what is desired.

If the sample is to represent a pile or bed of compost, 
topsoil, sand or humus it must be a thorough mixture 
of several individual samples taken from different 
places. For most purposes a small sample is satis­
factory since a pint is enough for a series of tests.

Many times samples are shipped without information 
as to what location they are from and the kind of 
trouble that the soil may be causing. It is helpful if data 
are sent on the following points: Is the area in shade 
or open sunlight? Does the soil dry easily or does it 
tend to remain wet and soggy? What humus material 
has been incorporated with it? What fertilizing and 
liming program has been followed in recent years? Is 
the soil artificially drained with tile? How long has 
the soil been used for turf purposes?

Where testing is desired as an aid to general fertiliz­
ing or liming of all fairways or greens it usually is 
unnecessary to sample each one. Only the typical or 
representative greens or fairways on each different type 
of soil need be sampled. One group of plugs from 
each such green or fairway is sufficient. It is interesting 
to keep a record of tests of soil from the same areas over 
a period of years.

When poor areas are sampled either a composite of 
the poor and another of the adjoining good area should 
be sent, or if the injury has a definite margin the sample 
may be taken at a place which will include half of the 
one and half of the other turf. The latter type of 
sample may be cut out to fit a cigar box for convenience 
in shipping. As the healthy grass may become brown 
and almost completely rotted during transit, a paper 
marked "good” or “bad” should be pinned into each 
side of the sample so that there can be no uncertainty 
when it is inspected.

Samples are of no value unless properly labeled, se­
curely packed and properly addressed with the return as 
well as the sending addresses.

At this season of the year when clubs are interested 
in soil tests as a guide for fall fertilizing programs the 
Green Section often receives many samples. These are 
tested in the order in which they are received and un­
fortunately with our limited staff some delay is un­
avoidable. Clubs will help us materially by having 
samples forwarded to us well ahead of the time infor­
mation concerning the samples is required for the pur­

chase of fertilizers. The principal reasons for wanting 
tests made of the soil should be stated, as, for instance, 
thin stand, excess of clover, excessive drying in patches, 
yellow, unthrifty growth, etc. Any general observations 
similar to the above may serve to aid the person who 
is testing the soil in making tests other than the regular 
routine tests and will be of much help in interpreting 
results and formulating recommendations.

The Green Section is planning a series of meetings 
to be held in different parts of the country for general 
discussions of turf problems. These meetings will be 
sponsored by local golf associations as well as green­
keeper and professional organizations. The schedule 
of meetings for the next few weeks is as follows:

Cincinnati, Ohio—Date of meeting and place to be announced 

by the Cincinnati Golfer’s League.

Chicago, Ill.—August 31 at Mill Road Farm Golf 

Course, Lake Forest.

Lincoln, Neb.—September 2 at The Country Club.
Denver, Colo.—September 4 at Denver Country Club. 
San Francisco, Cal.—September—Date of meeting and 
place to be announced later by Northern Cali­
fornia Golf Association.

Santa Barbara, Cal.—September 14 at Valley Club of 

Montecito.

Los Angeles, Cal.—September 16 at Bel-Air Country 

Club, Beverly’ Hills.

Phoenix, Ariz.—September 19 at Phoenix Countrv 

Club.

Tulsa, Okla.—September 22 at Southern Hills Country’ 

Club.

Kansas City, Mo.—September 24 at Mission Hills 

Country Club.

St. Louis, Mo.—September 25 at Westwood Country' 

Club.

Indianapolis, Ind.—September 28 at Highland Golf 

and Country Club.

Pittsburgh, Pa.—September 30 at Alleghenv Countrv 

Club.

The plan in most cases is to invite all in the district 
who are interested in turf maintenance to assemble for 
lunch or dinner. Immediately afterward Dr. Monteith 
of the Green Section will give a talk on some phase of 
turf maintenance, which will be followed by a general 
discussion of course upkeep problems, especially' those 
of local interest. During the afternoon the course 
where the meeting is to be held will, in most instances, 
be open to play to all who attend. The details con­
cerning the various meetings may' be obtained by' con­
sulting the local associations sponsoring them, the club 
at which the meeting is to be held or the Green Section 
office in Washington.

All who are interested in the growing of turf are 

invited to attend.

Dr. Monteith will spend from one to four days in 
each of the above districts, during which time he will 
vis t as many courses as time will permit and discuss 
with representatives of clubs any turf questions in which 
they are particularly interested. If any club that is a 
member of the United States Golf Association wishes 
to have Dr. Monteith make such an inspection of its 
course during the trip, please communicate with him 
directly at the Washington office or make arrangements 
through your local organization.

PURCHASE GRASS SEED ON A BASIS OF QUALITY

THE extended drought this year has killed considera­
ble fairway' turf, making it necessary to reseed. This 
is the time to check up on the amount of seed that will 
be needed. Orders should be placed soon in order 
to have the seed on hand for each planting so as to take 
advantage of the full growing season this fall.

There may be a question as to whether to fertilize 
an area in order to force the surviving grass into a quick 
recovery or to reseed. Usually' fertilizer is preferable 
if a scattering of plants is alive. If large patches are 
dead it is advisable to reseed. It is well to remember 
that tender seedlings have a slight chance to survive 

where established plants have been struggling along 
only half covering the soil. It is a good rule to try’ 
the fertilizer method first if there is any doubt as to 
the proper manner to improve turf. In many’ instances 
best results are obtained by' using both seed and fer­
tilizer.

There are State laws governing the sale of seeds and 
they require that the quality' of the seed shall be shown 
upon a label attached to the container. Such informa­
tion as the purity and germination percentages, the 
percentage of weed seeds, and the date the seed was 
tested are invariably required by law. If one multiplies 

the purity (per cent, of seed named in relation to total 
weight) by the germination (per cent of seed named 
which will grow) the product is a figure somewhat 
much more useful than either number alone.

Suppose there are two samples of Kentucky blue­
grass to choose from; the first is 80 per cent, pure 
and germinates 70 per cent., and the other is 90 per 
cent, pure and germinates 60 per cent., and both are 
priced the same. Which is the better one to purchase? 
The product is 56 per cent, for the former and 54 per 
cent, for the latter, making the former slightly the 
better buy unless the weed seed content is greater.

Assume that the 56 per cent, sample was priced at 
24 cents and the 54 per cent, one at 20 cents a pound. 
Which one is the cheaper? By dividing 24 by 56 one 
gets 43 cents a pound for the pure seed that will grow 
in the first case and the 20 divided by 54 equals 37 
cents, the real price of the seed in the second. Obvious­
ly the latter seed is the better one to purchase.

The arithmetic may seem cumbersome but it offers 
a way to decide a somewhat difficult choice at times. 
This is another reason why it is much the safest pol'cy 
to purchase the seeds as individual kinds rather than 
the fancy-sounding branded mixtures. The State laws 
seldom compel the seedsman to state the proportions 
of a mixture and there continues to be a practice of 
substituting a large percentage of temporary grass for 
the more expensive permanent grass seed in these mix­
tures. If a mixture of 95 per cent. Kentucky bluegrass 
and 5 per cent, colonial bent is desired, then buy the 
seeds separately and mix them or have the seedsman 
do it for you.

Nurse grasses are usually much less of a benefit in 
late summer than in spring plantings; in fact, it is 
highly doubtful whether ryegrass and redtop are desira­
ble in a fairway mixture for August and early Septem­
ber planting.

The best test of what the mixture should contain is 
to find out what kinds of permanent grass the fairway 
contains now. If it is impossible to identify the grasses 
personally, someone who can do this should be found. 
Samples of the various grasses will be identified by the 
Green Section. Kentucky bluegrass is usually the major 
grass in the North except in New England and New 
York. Fescue also may be found and, if so, it should 
be included. A’ small proportion of colonial bent has 
been found to be beneficial in practically all northern 
fairway mixtures, and in New England it is the main­
stay.

A fairway mixture that is widely adapted is Kentucky 
bluegrass from 90 to 95 per cent., and colonial bent from 
10 to 5 per cent. A good mixture is Kentucky bluegrass 
75 per cent., Chewings fescue 20 per cent., and colonial 
bent 5 per cent.

Dry knolls difficult to cover with grass should be 
spiked or disked in order to prevent the seed from being 
washed or blown away and to provide better conditions 
for germination. Although the spiking is by no means 
a perfect method, it is helpful in placing the seeds 
where they would be expected to find moisture and 
where they will not easily be washed away. A seeder 
similar to the grain drill but with less space between 
disks would probably give the best results.

VACUUM MACHINE FOR HARVESTING BUFFALO GRASS SEED

TJVESTERN CLUBS where Buffalo grass is used on 
fairways and lawns will be interested in a report 
of improved methods of harvesting the seed. The 
seed of this grass has been difficult to obtain and is in 
great demand for the planting of abandoned wheat land 
as a means of controlling erosion by wind and rain.

Buffalo grass has demonstrated resistance to sun and 
wind and the ability to make a quick comeback when 
conditions are favorable. Buffalo grass leads the list of 
grasses which can best be used to regrass this idle 
and erod ng land. It is also the best grass for lawns 
and fairways in the Great Plains territory where it is 
adapted.

The seed is found only on female plants and grows 
close to the ground among the curly leaves. Harvesting 
with grass seed strippers, or by cutting and threshing 
later, as is done with other grasses, is out of the ques­
tion in the case of Buffalo grass.

A new suction machine built like a powerful vacuum 
sweeper has been developed by the Kansas State Col­
lege and the Experiment Station at Hays. It has col­
lected as high as 95 per cent, of the seed, or an average 
collection of about 64 per cent.

The collecting nozzle in the most successful models 
is about 6 feet long and 4 inches wide. A light chain 
dragging ahead of the nozzle loosens the seed from the 
stems or from the dirt where it may be slightly im­
bedded. Best results are obtained when the grass is 
closely clipped before the seed is collected. The most 
seed can be collected in the late summer or fall.

Buffalo grass also may be propagated vegetatively by 
scattering pieces of sod. The method of propagating 
Buffalo grass by this latter method is described in The 
Bulletin of the United States Golf Association Green 
Section, Vol. 13, p. 144.

SEASONAL

REMINDERS

Fall Fertilizing: August is the month to make plans 
for fall fertilizing programs. Orders for fertilizer should 
be placed in sufficient time to have the material deliver­
ed ready for distribution in early September. Kentucky 
bluegrass and the other permanent turf grasses grow 
vigorously during the fall months if they are provided 
with ample food and moisture. Some chibs are able to 
supply both the food and moisture for fairway turf but 
most clubs are still dependent on nature for fairway ir­
rigation. The drought this summer has done much 
damage to turf and if it is possible to purchase fertilizer 
it should be applied early in September so as to take 
full advantage of the fall rains. Expenditures for fer­
tilizer this season will prove to be money well spent 
on practically- any course.

Fertilizers should be purchased primarily on the 
basis of their plant food content. Fortunately for golf 
clubs, the day' is rapidly passing when fertilizers are 
purchased without regard to the analysis. It should 
be remembered that all experimental work to date on 
turf has shown that nitrogen is the most important plant 
food to be considered in the purchase of fertilizers.

la iiiiht golf course formulas, therefore, the nitrogen 
component should lead by a big margin. Phosphoric 
acid and potash, which are of great importance in many 
agricultural crops, are of less relative importance in 
golf turf fertilization.

Soil Samples: August is a good month in which to 
sample soils for testing; as an aid in deciding upon the 
best fertilizer programs. If laboratory tests have not 
been made recently it would be well to have some made 
before deciding on the fall fertilizing program. The 
Green Section will be glad to make such tests for any 
club that is a member of the United States Golf As­
sociation. Samples should be collected and shipped as 
directed elsewhere in this publication. Examinations 
will be made as promptly as possible, and as complete 
reports and recommendations as are justified from the 
samples will be submitted to the club. \\’e promise no 
elaborate tests nor exaggerated deductions.

Use of Lime: This is the best season to determine 
the need for lime in turf. Laboratory tests will serve 
as a useful guide in determining whether soil is ex­

cessively acid. There are, however, several distinct 
symptoms of excessive acidity which should be used 
in determining the need for lime. Some soils with a 
neutral or alkaline reaction may need lime. On the 
other hand, an application of lime to soils that are dis­
tinctly acid might simply prove to be another means 
of wasting money. In this connection, it would be well 
to read the discussion of soil acidity in The Bulletin 
of the United States Golf Association Green Section, 
Vol. 12, pp. 190-195.

Algae in Turf: Algae are minute green plants that 
grow to form a scum on turf that has been injured by 
disease or other causes wherever there is sufficient 
moisture. Scums of algae have not been as trouble­
some this year as i:i wet seasons. However, in low, 
heavily watered areas they are always troublesome. 
Thick growths should be raked with an iron rake or 
spiked to break up the scum. The affected areas should 
then be treated with corrosive sublimate and top- 
dressed.

Filling Low Pockets: At this season when there is 
much repairing to be done on greens it- is well to be 
on the lookout for low pockets where water collects. 
Where grass has been killed in low places it should not 
be replaced with fresh sod until the depression has been 
filled with soil or other provisions made for adequate 
surface drainage. It is surprising how often this ap­
parently obvious precaution is neglected.

Improving Soil in Putting Greens: After the heavy 
summer play is over and before the fall growing season 
arrives is a good time to remove sod from greens and 
do the necessa y remodeling and soil improvement work 
that is necessary to reduce the turf injuries that have 
resulted from poor construction methods. Grass will 
recover quickly in early fall and a true surface can be 
obtained quickly by heavy top-dressings. If such work 
is contemplated it would be well to refer to the discus­
sion of this subject in The Bulletin of the United States 
Golf Association Green Section, Vol. 9, pp. 142-151.

New Seeding: August is the month to get areas 
graded and prepared for new seeding so that the seed 
may be planted late in August or early in September, 
according to the latitude. In the northern states August 
plantings usually give best results.

Weeds in Soil Beds and Compost Piles: At this 
season some of the most troublesome putting green 
weeds are beginning to produce their seed. Therefore 
it is particularly important to check up on the compost 
piles and soil beds to make sure none of these weeds 
are going to seed there. This job is too often neglected 
on golf courses due to the rush of what is considered as 
more important work. Remember that a few hours 
spent this year in destroying weeds on and near the 
compost pile and soil bed may save dozens of hours’ 
work next year in weeding putting greens.

Controlling Grubs: Grubs of May or June beetles, 
Japanese beetles and oriental beetles wherever they 
are numerous are now causing injuries to grass. Grub 
injury appears first as a wilting of the grass in irregular 
areas. The turf becomes loose as a rug and may be 
easily lifted from the ground since the roots are cut 
just below the surface. The grass dies and turns brown. 
Treatments to check these grubs should-be made as 
soon as possible. Arsenate of lead applied at the rate 
of 5 pounds to 1,000 square feet is the most effective 
remedy for grubs. On some soils, particularly of a 
heavy clay nature, heavier rates of 10 or even 20 pounds 
to 1,000 square feet are needed to accomplish complete 
control.