NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION curerei ion--------------------------------------------------------------------- ■——— --------- CWòQ C. E. “ TUCK” TATE, PRESIDENT FRANK HEMINGER, Secretary-Treas. FREDERICK E. MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT AUG 2 7 RECO 1 147 SANTO TRAVERSE CITY, Ml. 49684 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 80 PHONE: 616-947-9274 MISSAUKEE GOLF CLUB LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN Above is the location and date of our next Association meeting, Missaukee is located on the south west corner of M-66 and M-55 intersection. It is an easy location to get to from anyplace in Michigan plus we have had other meetings at this location. Claude Marcus is the Host Superintendent and he extends an. invitation to play this fine 18 hole layout. He promises more, a big steak cookout for dinner and dinner will start at 6:15 P.M, So anyone coming both for golf and dinner, we suggest that you pace your time so that you will be through golf as this our Annual Meeting. This golf course was built and financed by the Farmers Home Corporation. The first 9 holes were opened to play in 1970 and the second 9 holes opened to play in 1976. The greens are seeded with Penncross Bentgrass, the fairways have blended bluegrasses, with watered fairways. It is an interesting test of golf which you will enjoy. Starting times are not necessary and golf cart reservations not required. Stewart Radar sandwiches are available, coffee, beer, at the Club House. We must again know the number that will bethere for dinner and by August 29th. It Is impossible to rush across the street to buy steaks because over there, there are still breathing. Steaks must be ordered in advance therefore if you want steak, send in your post card immediately so it will be recorded and a steak set aside. Otherwise you pay for a steak and get a hot dog, its that simple. Need I say more? The speaker for the evening is Mr. Jim Comp, Cadillac, who as a young man, grew up in Maryland and West Virginia. He lived amon« the great forests of American Chesnut and saw these great trees wiped out by the blight in the 1920*s and 193O’s. For the past 15 years, Mr. Comp has been crusading for the reforest­ ation of the American Chesnut. It will be an interesting talk. »#*###**####*# September 9th, is Michigan State University Field Day at Traverse City Golf and Country Club Experimental area. Registration will be at 9:00 A.M. When you register, please be sure to purchase your luncheon ticket at the same time. Luncheon will be in the Club House. We suggest that in going for lunch shoe parking is at a premium at the Club House, that you try to limit the number of cars, share rides. The equipment show will start at 1:30 P.M. For further information, please telephone Dr. Paul Rieke, 517/ 355-0266 or Dr. John Kaufmann, 517/353-2033. BLUEGRASSES -1980 America Pickwest Seed Shasta W. H. Daniels, Turf Research, Purdue University Columbia Somewhere in Indiana (and other states) about 30 Some shade tolerance is claimed for Glade, Nugget, named cultivars of Kentucky bluegrasses are available A-34, and Bristol. Nugget is slow growing and a poor in 1980. More than 70 have been named, and many competitor. Resistance to leafspot and powdery mil­ experimentáis are in tests. Currently we have 130 dew plus low growth character would improve shade bluegrasses in test plots at Purdue, in addition to our tolerance of a cultivar. Purdue experimentáis. (Also in tests are 60 ryegrasses Several faster growing types include Wabash, and 80 fescues). Parade, and Touchdown. Turf managers are blending three to five cultivars Damage from leafspot and Fusarium disease are available as one way of utilizing the preferred among keys to the reduced performance of many bluegrasses. those available. Seed companies have many mixes, Resistance to these, plus protection from competition and for a fee, will blend requested cultivars. usually assures continued stands. Most breeding has In 1972 a cooperative test of 38 bluegrasses was been to select for improvement in leafspot resistance. arranged by Dr. J. Duich as a representative of the Fusarium roseum develops in older mature turf, Northeast Turf Research group. The test series at therefore it takes some time to prove resistance, so Purdue has been maintained at ample nitrogen - 3-4 research is limited. However, Merion, Fylking, Penn- lbs. N/yr. - with irrigation to avoid drouth, with a cut star, Windsor are known to be susceptible. As a result 1 inch or less plus weed killing and crabgrass several of these are dropping out of production. prevention with herbicides. No fungicides have been Where Fusarium occurs regularly removal of the used. known susceptible cultivars and resodding would be In the period 1975-79 a series of quality ratings were ideal. Complete kill with glyphosate (Roundup TM taken after stress periods of disease so that ten data Monsanto), dethatching, and reseeding is an alter­ were summarized, then ranked. The following table nate. Just overseeding may gradually improve the gives ranking and main source. Others, not In the test tolerance. itself, but available, are listed. Kentucky Bluegrasses - Results of 72-79 Tests * available Rank Cultivar Source 1 Brunswick Turf Seed Inc. * 2 Plush F.F.R. Inc. • 3 Touchdown Pickseed West * 4 Merit 5 Melissa O. M. Scott O. M. Scott How to Kill 6 Monopoly * 7 Adelphi * 8 Vieta Ad ikes 0. M. Scott An Association * 9 Rugby Northrup King 1. Stay away from meetings. •10 Cheri Jacklin Seed 2. If you come, find fault and never *11 Sydsport Burlingham offer an alternative. *12 Vantage 0. M. Scott *13 Parade 3. Decline office or appointment to a Northrup King *14 Kenblu committee. *15 Glade Jacklin Seed 4. Get sore if you aren’t nominated or *16 Baron Loft appointed. *17 Park Minnesota 5. After you are named, don’t attend *18 Bonnieblue Burlingham board or committee meetings. *19 Fylking Jacklin Seed 6. If you get to one, despite your *20 Merion . (decreasing use) better judgement, clam up until 21 Granada Northrup King you get outside. 22 Enoble Van Engelen E 7. Don’t work if you can help it. *23 Majestic Burlingham 8. Oppose all banquets, parties and 24 Entopper Van Engelen E 25 Windsor 0. M. Scott (discontinuing) shindigs as being a waste of the 26 Delft Cebeco E attendees’ money. 27 Geronimo 9. If everything is strictly business, *28 Nugget Pickwest Seed complain that the meetings are 29 Campina (leafspot is severe) dull and the officers belong to the 30 Pennstar (discontinuing) old guard. 10. Never accept a place at the head Others for Sale - Not in Test table. A-20 Warren’s Turf 11. If you aren’t asked to sit there, * Bristol 0. M. Scott Bensun, A-34 threaten to resign because you Warren’s Turf Ram-I Loft aren’t appreciated. Enmundi International Seeds E 12. Don’t pay your dues. Wabash Jacklin (1980) 13. Read mail from headquarters only Aquila Northrup King now and then — never reply if you Birka Burlingham can help it. Delta, Newport common SAVE THE ELMS New strategies for fighting fungus and beetles finally may counter Dutch elm disease BY JULIE ANN MILLER Bark beetle carries devastating Dutch elm disease fungus among elm trees. Like the tiny mouse in the fable who and found that the bacteria, after being tect indefinitely. Repeated injections, saved a mighty lion from a net trap, so a injected, take up residence in the trees which are necessary with the benamyl salt lowly bacterium may come to the rescue without doing any damage. The bacteria derivatives now used, weaken a tree. In of the stately American elm tree. During are still residing in the trees three seasons addition, current fungicides can only limit the past 60 years Dutch elm disease has later. fungus growth; they do not kill the fungus ravaged the foliage of many U.S. cities, and But many things that work in the when used at a concentration safe for the disease-resistant varieties of elm are greenhouse do not work in free-living tree. being sought to replace the fallen trees. trees, Strobel cautions. So the next step Bark beetles are the target of other elm But millions of elm trees still shade our was to take the bacteria out to the field — protection research. The pinhead-size cities, and scientists remain hopeful that the streets, parks and forests. Across the beetles, Scolytus multistriatus, carry the we can save many of those beautiful old country a thousand trees — some free of fungus from tree to tree. Massive use of trees. Dutch elm disease and some already in­ ddt to kill the beetles was an early form of A promising discovery in the search for fected with the fungus—are being treated protection, but it had adverse effects on a defense against Dutch elm disease cen­ experimentally with the bacteria. the bird populations. A less hazardous in­ ters on a bacterium normally found on Preliminary data on thirty infected trees secticide, methoxychlor, is currently in leaves of wheat, barley and oats. This mi­ injected with bacteria last season are en­ use but more subtle weapons against the croorganism can defeat the fungus re­ couraging, Strobel says. In 70 percent of beetles are now being sought, such as use sponsible for Dutch elm disease and the trees treated, the progress of Dutch of synthetic sex attractants. thereby may both prevent the disease in elm disease was halted. But in each un­ Courtship behavior of the beetles has healthy trees and in those trees already treated control tree the disease spread un­ been recorded extensively by University infected. relentingly. of California entomologist Pavel Svihra “We need to find an organism that The fungus (Ceratocystis ulmi) does its and photographer Jack Kelly Clark, who could be put in a tree and allowed to colo­ damage by triggering an elm’s antitoxin have observed 200 samples of beetle nize it and change the microflora of the response, which blocks water movement breeding. In half the cases the male tree,” explains Gary Strobel, a plant in the vascular system and eventually kills courted a female ensconced in a feeding pathologist at ¿Montana State University. the tree. The bacteria seem to work cavity dug into the crotch of an elm twig. In Although not many organisms can kill therapeutically by halting the spread of the other cases the female courted a male fungi, one group of plant-associated bac­ fungus and allowing the tree to grow who was in the cavity, pushing him out and teria were known to be antagonistic, around its wound. “The elm in most cases taking his place before they mate. Strobel says. He and Don F. Myers is given a chance to outgrow the fungus,” Previously scientists believed that bark screened a large number of those bacteria Stroble says. beetle copulation occurs only in dead elm — called pseudomonads — in the search Marketing of the bacteria is already wood, where females excavate egg gal­ for a strong opponent to the Dutch elm being considered by the Ortho garden leries. Svihra and Clark, however, now disease fungus. They found several worthy products company, according to Strobel. have shown that beetle mating is also as­ antagonists, which produce fungus-killing Bacteria grown in large vats would be sociated with feeding in living elm tissue. antibiotics when grown on an extract of freeze-dried, and the customer would add They say, “These observations may influ­ elm. water before injecting the bacteria into a ence further studies to identify the chemi­ Once the biologists found bacteria that tree. cal messages used by S. multistriatus in oppose the fungus in laboratory dishes, An advantage over fungicides now in feeding, mating and egg-laying and may' they moved on to greenhouse-grown trees use would be that one injection might pro­ lead to new control strategies.” □ Reprinted with permission by SCIENCE NEWS SCIENCE NEWS. VOL 117 JUNE 7, 1980 THE C-15 PROBLEM Those who already have one of these problems J.M. Vargas, Associate Professor on their “Toronto" greens may wish to follow one Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology. Michigan State University of the control programs, in the hope that less ex­ pensive and more permanent control will be found. It is my personal belief that overseeding programs C-15 or “Toronto” creeping bentgrass has devel­ with “Pencross” or “Emerald” creeping bentgrass oped 2 disease problems over the past several should be started. It may be advisable to years. One has been stripe smut, caused by Ustil­ completely re-3eed, re-stolonize. or re-sod severely ago striiforums, and the other, with an unknown affected greens. For those people unfortunate cause, has become known as the C-15 problem. enough to have one of these problems, my heart The stripe smut probiem slowly thins the goes out to you; but for those of you who are con­ “Toronto” turf. The disease is recognized in the templating rebuilding greens on an established spring and fall of the season Dy the dark black course or building greens on a new golf course, if stripes of fungu spores running parallel up the leaf you still use “Toronto” creeping bentgrass after blades, it is often difficult to see stripe smut having been forewarned, I can only say, "you made symptoms on closely mowed bentgrass. your own bed now lay in it”. The C-15 problem is more striking and an entire I realize that Toronto” creeping bentgrass has green may oe lost in an few days. The greens are become the Cadillac of bentgrass greens, and that severly thinned and clumpy in appearance as indi­ having “Toronto” greens on your course is a sign vidual plants are killed. This disease is only a of prestige but when it develops either one of problem on “Toronto” bentgrass cut at green these problems, it will look more like a Model-T height of 'A” or less. The problem has not been and add very littie prestige to the course. observed on the “Toronto” growing in the fringes or approaches of the green at 1/2” or more. The disease starts in the cool weather of the spring and appears to recover with the arrival of the warm The Clock of Life weather of the summer and then begins to decline <" again in the latter part of the summer and con­ The clock of life is wound but once tinues on into the cool weather of fall. And no man has the power Several things have been associated with the To tell just when the hands will stop C-15 problem including high populations of nema­ At late or early hour: todes, especially Tylenchorhynchus dubius the Now is the only time you own smut nematode, and Cricinomoides spp. the ring Live, love, toil with a will nematodes. However, where nematicides were Place no faith in “tomorrow” for used to control these nematodes, very little recov­ The clock may then be still. ery of the turf occurred. Dr. Wm. Meyer, plant John S. Swift Co., Inc. pathologist at Warren’s Nursery, has isolated Hel- minthosporium erythrospilum from "Toronto” bent­ grass greens in Illinois and has been able to satis­ factorily control it by applying 6 oz. of Daconil 2737 every week from early April through October. The best control with Daconil 2787 was obtained where high nitrogen levels were maintained. FOR YOUR READING... Forthcoming! Invaluable to the turfgrass professional— For those "Toronto" greens with the stripe smut MANAGEMENT OF TURFGRASS DISEASES problem, 8 oz. of Tersan 1991 Fungo, Spot Kleen by J.M. Vargas, Jr., Michigan State University or Cleary’s 3336 drench should be applied as early Golf courses superintendents, lawn-care operators, land­ in the spring as possible, prior to the first scapers, and other turf professionals will find this book a mowing. convenient, practical resource. Its up-to-date account of Neither disease is much fun to have on your turfgrass disease management provides the technical back­ ground required for sound decision making and the practical greens. The “C-15 problem” is quicker and more information useful in day-to-day operations. To guarantee devastating. Stripe smut is a much slower disease, accuracy and applicability to all major growing regions of but the end results are the same; removal of the North America, the book has been extensively reviewed by desirable “Toronto” bentgrass and Its eventual re­ twenty professionals throughout the country. placement with Poa annua. They both can be con­ Emphasizing practical disease management, the book trolled chemically, but the treatments are very ex­ describes major diseases of turfgrasses - their pathogens, pensive. Controlling the C-15 problem is also very symptoms, occurence, and most susceptible species - and time-consuming. Controlling the stripe smut prob­ their control through cultural practices, chemical applica­ lem with systemic fungicides year after year could tions. and resistant cultivars. As an aid to disease identifi­ lead to the development of strains of stripe smut cation, the book contains color plates illustrating specific which are resistant to these fungicides. diseases and tables summarizing symptoms and treatments. continued In addition, Management of Turfgrass Diseases examines _______________________________ . ¿ turfgrass fungicides and surveys individual turfgrass species. Rule One — The boss is always It also discusses disease management strategies applicable right. to golf courses, home lawns, and athletic fields. It will be Rule Two — When the boss is published by Burgess Publishing Co. wrong, rule number one applies. ★ ★ ★ Something which we have all heard and how true by one of our favorite poets : Growing Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium Peltatum) Prof. R.W. Judd, Jr., Extension Agent, Horticulture authored a timely article in the No. 88, October 1978 issue of Connecticut Greenhouse Newsletter. His perti­ nent comments follow: Ivy geraniums have made a tremendous comeback in Irve trod the links with many a man, the past few years. This is due to their popularity in And^played him club for club; hanging baskets. They flower freely from spring "Tis scarce a year since I began through autumn on long hanging or trailing stems, the And I am still a dub. leaves are ivy-like, glossy, 5-angled and sometimes reddish-zoned. The flower colors are white, red, pink or But this I’ve noticed as we strayed purple. They can be found growing in almost every Along the bunkered way, greenhouse. However, there is a vast difference in quali­ No one with me has ever played ty from one green to another. As he did yesterday.” Ivy geraniums are fairly easy to grow if a few rules are followed. It makes no difference what the drive, PROPAGATION: Ivy gemaiums are easily pro­ pagated from terminal and nodal cuttings. They can be Together as we walk, rooted in specialized propagating blocks or practically Till we up to the ball arrive, any good propagating medium. I get the same old talk: GROWING MEDIA: Use a well-drained soil mix. "To-day there’s something wrong with me, They do not grow well in a heavy soil and are difficult Just what I cannot say. to keep watered in a peat-lite mix. Be certain to use suf­ Would you believe I got a three ficient limestone and superphosphate. For this hole--yesterday?” FERTILIZATION: Ivy geraniums respond to high amounts of fertilizer. In the winter use 15-5-15 or potassium and calcium nitrate. Switch to 20-20-20 in the I see them top and slice a shot, spring. And fail to follow through, PROBLEMS: Ivy geraniums are subject to three pro­ And with their brassies plough the lot, blems: oedeman, chlorotic foliage and mites. The very way I do. OEDEMA: The physiological disorder that causes the To six and seven their figures run, pimples or corky lesions on the underside of the leaves. And then they sadly say: Severe oedema will cause the leaves to turn yellow and "I neither dubbed nor foozled one drop off. A recent publication suggested some When I played--yesterday.” guidelines to prevent oedema. — The medium should be a porous, well-drained peat- lite type with 20-30% mineral soil. I have no yesterdays to count, — Keep the nitrogen level high. No good work to recall; — Water in the morning so the plants can dry out. Each morning sees hope proudly mount, — Grow in a well ventilated greenhouse. Each evening sees it fall. — No saucers on hanging baskets. — Keep away from the upper part of the greenhouse if it And in the locker room at night, is hotter. When men discuss their play, — Light intensity between 2000-3500 foot-candles. I hear them and I wish I might — Do not mix with other crops on the same automatic Have seen them--yesterday. watering line. CHLOROTIC FOLIAGE: The new growth appears as Oh, dear old yesterday! What store very light green or almost white in color. This often oc­ Of joys for men you hold! curs when plants are hung high in the greenhouse or in front of a unit heater. Apparently this is due to high I’m sure there is no day that’s more light and/or warm temperatures. By placing the plants Remembered or extolled. on a bench the leaves will turn green. A less dramatic I’m off my task myself a bit, chlorosis may be due to a lack of nitrogen. My mind has run astray; MITES: Mites are extremely fond of ivy geraniums. I think, perhaps, I should have writ They are often confused with oedema and vice versa. These verses--yesterday. Sprays of kelthane and pentac will keep them under control. Ivy geraniums are in big demand. Let's sell only the best.O From GARDENLAND 1980 —Edgar A. Guest The Constitution- By Laws of this Association states that the annual meeting will be held irm September of each year and at that time, three new directors will be elected to the Board. A nominating committee of Tom Reed, Chairman with Fred Bond, Joe Burda, Tom Courtemanche and Russ Hancock as the other members. If you have a selected candidate or nominee, please contact any of this committee with your recommendations. These three directors will serve for three years. Nominations can also be made from the floor at this meeting. The Directors whose terms are expiring are Frank Heminger, Greg Nelson and Robert Rieschl. Only Class "A", "B* and "E” members may vote providing that their 1980 dues have been paid. We woulad like to thank these men whose term is expiring for their fine service and devotion to our Association. They have all contributed greatly to our organization. Names of nominees will be revealed at the meeting. This will give you more time to contact members of the committee. ##*♦«###<#*##■»#*##**#######***#*#####**###*##*#***#*#*#*##**####**#*** In October we will have two meeting dates to remember. The first will be our regular meeting on October 7th at Crystal Mountain and the big Social party for the gals on October 25th. Shuss Mountain has been chosen as the site of and further details will be forthcoming in a future letter. In the meantime however, please check these dates on your calendar and don’t let anything interfere with your being there. Yes, there will be a happy hour as well as live music to help make the nite a success. *#####****##############♦*######***###*####**#**#*******##******##**** We are still looking for invitations for having our meetings in 1981. The months of May, June, September and possibly July or August are still open. Please check with your people and bring definite Information on day of week and month to our next meeting. ####**######«*##*#####**######*####***###**##*#**#*#*###****#*##**•»#*# The National Golf Foundation reports that golf is up 7% during the second quarter of 1980. Despite the twin evils of inflation and recession as well as rising unemployment, this is remarkable. It is a very healthy outlook for golf as an outdoor sport and past time. w*##*##**#*******#*#********-»**-»****-»-******-»-«-*-«"»-******-»-************#** I ne wife of a close acquaintance purchased a rather large grand­ father-clock at an auction; then sent her husband to pick it jip and carry it home. The husband had attended an early formal meeting and was still wearing his tux. He was having some difficulty with the large clock even before he met a staggering man coming in the opposite direction. They collided and the husband fell backwards with the clock on top of him. “Why in blazes don’t you watch where you’re going!” the angry BEARD husband demanded. r r COLLECTION The man shook his head, looked at the man in the full dress suit and the grandfather clock that lay across him. » “Why don’t you wear a wrist watch like everybody else?” he inquired. The Bagpipe RETURN THAT POSTCARD BY AUGUST 29th. Pleeeease.