UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION NORTHEASTERN OFFICE College of Agriculture Rutgers University NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY Telephone: CHarter 9-0225 A L E X A N D ER M. R A D KO N O R T H E A S T E RN D I R E C T OR Vol, 3 Ko. 3 NORTHEASTERN TURFLETTER MORE OF WHAT WE LEARNED AT THE CONFERENCES May, 1956 At the Rutgers Turf Conference, a fine paper was presented by Professor R. P. Korbobo on Landscaping, Tree and Ornamental Planting. This topic was of particular interest because many Northeastern Golf Courses lost trees during the T55 hurricanes. Some of these trees were situated in strategic places, and their loss undoubtedly will be felt for some time. Interest among superintendents in a tree nursery is on the upgrade. What trees to plant? What trees to avoid? Let's see what Professor Korbobo has to say about it. Troublesome Trees 1. White Poplar — The #1 enemy of golf courses. 2. Willow — Troublesome, except when planted in out of the way places, away from drainage lines, out of line of play. Silver Maple -- (sometimes called soft or swamp maple) Don't use unless you cannot get anything else to grow. Sycamore -- Lace flies and aphids hurt them badly, and leaves drop early. Require excellent spraying* program to keep in good condition. 5* Chinese Elm — After a good ice storm all branches break off, leaving only the trunk. 6« Honey Locust -- Seed pod set an undesirable feature. 7. ELM — Dutch elm disease kills them. This beautiful tree now lost for all practical purposes. Desirable Trees 1. Pin, Red, and Scarlet Oaks — The Pin Oak is a good selection for wet or damp ground« 3. Moraine Locust -- This one is patented and doesn't set seed pods. Beech — Has silvery grey bark the entire year, 5. Sophora (Chinese scholar tree) — Blooms in August. Grey Birch — Grows quickly. Suggested use for undergrowth for more permanent trees. Plant a group of trees including grey birch, and about the time that the Grey Birch begins to weaken, stronger trees such as the Oaks will be coming through and into their own. Sugar Maple ~ A good tree. Plant only where soil is free of stone to depth of 4 feet. 8. Sour Gum — Excellent for wet ground. Leaves turn red early in late summer. Move only in spring. Ghinko -- A good tree. No insect or disease problems. Takes 15 to 20 years to form good sized tree. 10. Evergreens — Excellent. No leaf problem - are beautiful trees. White Pine, Austrian Pine, and Japanese Black Pine are toughest and most picturesque evergreen trees. Caution: If Hemlock trees are used, they should be planted only in well drained soils and should be protected from wind over the first winter. Errors in Landscaping Failure to protect new plants after they are set out. Many bruises and nicks observed from mowers. Suggested method of protecting new seedling trees: Dig out soil to a radius of one foot and replace with sand so that grass nor weeds grow, hence no cutting required close to trunk. Failure to get plant off to good start because of small set-hole. Suggested a 50^ plant will do better in a $5.00 hole than is true of the reverse. Dig a big hole for the seedling tree. Do not apply fertilizer closer than 3 feet from trunk. Heavy, close fertilizing will burn the roots, cause cell restriction, and stunt the tree. Failure to screen out unattractive buildings and undesirable views with plantings. Failure to screen highly situated tees with plants. Don't let high tees stant out "like a sore thumb." Too few accent plants. In planting flowering trees and shrubs such as Hawthorne and Grey Birch, plant them in groups. They develop into attractive pictures later. Single or sparse plantings of these accent plants should be avoided. Clubhouse plantings usually overgrown. Many plants were set in many years ago when the Clubhouse was built and now have grown out of proportion. In extreme cases, replanting is suggested. Too many sick bay patients. Many plants in unthrifty state of growth. From the Cornell Conference Mr. John E. Gallagher, Agronomist for the American Chemical Paint Co., Ambler, Pa., spoke on "New Developments in Weed Control". He first mentioned the Weed Society of America, which was formed in 1954, but held its charter meeting in January, 1956, in New York City. Mr. Gallagher also spoke of the Regional breakdown of offices, each attempting to set a range of use of the weed chemicals for the grasses or other crops grown within the region. As an example, the range of use of 2,4-D on grasses in our region is from l/4 lb. to 1-1/2 lbs.; the range for 2,4,5-T is from l/2 lb. to l-l/2 lbs. These are a few herbicides that we do have the answer for - others are being worked on. Mr. Gallagher then spoke of his work with dimethyl sodium arsonate (iMSA), the newest crabgrass killer that was tried with good success by many superinten- dents last year. Mr. Gallagher reported excellent results with DMSA in controlling smooth crabgrass with lesser success in controlling hairy crabgrass. IMSA is reported safe to use on all cool season grasses (putting greens included), excepting creeping red fescue, at recommended rates. He suggested reduced rates on red fescue for safety. (Ed. note: This past season some control of silver crabgrass was observed when IMSA was used on this weed when it was in the two- leaf seedling stage.) Mr. Gallagher experimented with different volumes of water in his IMSA tests - 25, 50, 100, and 200 gallons of water to the acre. His conclusion was that as long as an effective rate of chemical was used, the amount of water used made no difference. He reported IMSA effective in controlling Foxtail, some top-kill on Dallis grass, and some kill of Barnyard grass. PYTHIIM CONTROL Now for the first time we have hope of controlling Pythium. Dr o Frank Howard, Pathologist of the University of Rhode Island and one of the foremost specialists in turf diseases spoke of^successful tests with malachite green in controlling Pythium. Dr. Howard stated that malachite green is specific for Pythium and Brownpatch, when used at the rate of l/4 ounce malachite green in 5 to 10 gallons of water to each 1000 sq.. ft. He emphasized that this treatment is effective only if applied while these diseases are active - as malachite green destroys mycelial growth. It is not effective, nor is it recommended as a preventive spray. Field Day Schedule August 7, 1956 August 15-16, 1956 Rhode Island Field Days - Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I. Rutgers Field Day - Rutgers University - New Brunswick, N. J. Northeastern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE P A ID PERMIT No. 366 New Brunswick, N. J. Sewerage Commission, City of Milwaukee P, 0* Box #2079 Milwaukee, Wisconsin