NORTHWEST TURFGRASS TOPICS
FEB. 1959

H. M. AUSTENSON
C. J. GOULD
Northwest
Turf
Association,
instituNorthwest Turfgross Topic To Be
tions
conducting
turf
research
proPublished 3 Times Per Year
grams, and editors of the various
by Roy Goss
turfgrass publications and journals.
interested in being placed on
Various interested turfgrass organi- Persons
mailing list, not included in the
zations and individuals in the Pacific the
above categories, direct your comNorthwest have expressed a desire to munications
to
have a regular publication that would
be devoted to their specific problems
Henry
Land
Sr.
and interest, which is better turf. ReTacoma
Country
& Golf Club
search progress and findings in other
Tacoma,
Washington
areas cannot be accepted for par value
editions of this publicahere in the Pacific Northwest. Our tionSubsequent
will
be
expanded
it is felt
climatic conditions do not permit the that some space could beandmade
same management practices and, there- able for advertising of productsavailor
fore, create a somewhat modified as- items by companies or individuals. The
sortment of problems for the turf revenue from this advertising will be
manager.
to defray the costs of publishThe ultimate goal of this paper used
ing.
A
tentative schedule of charges
is to bring to you the most up-to-date for advertising
is suggested at $3 per
recommendations and research reports inch of 2% inch
column per edition,
from this and other experiment sta- with a maximum allowable
space of
tions which will benefit all turf work- 6 column inches. If a 2-column
width
ers in dealing with their problems. is desired, the length would be limited
Since this paper will be coming out
3 inches. The minimum space would
only 3 times each year, not all prob- to
Vz inch long. The editor will relems can be thoroughly discussed be
serve the riqht to limit advertising
on a current basis, so a column en- due
to space limitations and other contitled "Looking Ahead" will be employed to remind you of certain things siderations.
for which to be "en garde".
A Calendar of Coming Events of
Turf Research?
interest to turf workers will be listed W h y DobyWD.e F.Need
Allmendinger
with each printing. This is an item
Research is the magic work of
which will be the responsibility of each
one of you to bring to the editor's today's progress. Our rapidly changing
attention so that it is as complete as times are based on the findings of a
great many scientists, in a great many
possible.
Appreciation for research grants research institutions developing new
and contributions from individuals, ideas, new processes and new tools.
companies, and organizations shall be Our way of life has radically changed
recognized in an appropriate section in the past few decades, and is now
still rapidly changing as a result of
of this paper.
The editor wishes to encourage all all this new information.
During this change, we find that
turfgrass workers in the field to send
in items which will be of interest to the solving of one problem leads to
a number of people. These items others and the demand for, and need
should include events, new ideas, new for, additional research is increased.
machinery, new techniques, and suc- Perhaps one of the greatest changes
has been that our increased productive
cesses.
T h i s publication NORTHWEST capacity has left more time for leisure
TURFGRASS TOPICS is sponsored by activities and avocations—golf, gardenthe NORTHWEST TURF ASSOCIA- ing, camping, and a multitude of other
TION and is currently financed activities. A large number of new
through funds obtained from member- homes, as well as our older homes
ship dues in the turf association. Per- and grounds, are receiving more atsons regularly receiving this paper tention than ever before. We have a
will be members in good standing of greater interest in our surroundings.
D. F. ALLMENDINGER

VOLUME 1 - NUMBER 1

ROY GOSS
Our lawns must be well kept, our golf
courses have to be not only attractive
but serviceable, and our parks and
playgrounds and other public areas
must be made as attractive as possible.
The establishment and maintenance
of turf has now become "big business." It utilizes an ever increasing
portion of our land and provides employment for industry through use of
fertilizers, insecticides, f u n g i c i d e s ,
equipment, and a multitude of other
related products and services.
Research, of course, has made many
contributions to the establishment and
maintenance of turf. But as with other
areas of agriculture and industry,
there have developed many new problems. We want to know how to do a
better job. We want to know how to
irrigate, how to control lawn pests,
what grasses will do the best job,
how to fertilize, and a host of other
things.
It is only natural that we look to
research for answers to these problems. Our experiment stations with a
long record of productive agricultural
research are best equipped to do the
job and it is to these institutions that
requests for work come. Some of these
problems can be handled by scientists
already on the staff. Some of the information may be already available
and needs only to be applied to turf
problems. When the problems become
too numerous or too complicated to
handle in this manner, it then becomes necessary to increase the research effort.
The State College of Washington,
recognizing the need for and importance of turf research this past year,
agreed to establish a half time position
in turf research. Mr. Roy Goss, well
qualified to do this research, is now
developing a research program at the
Western Washington Experiment Station. His work will be augmented by
work of other scientists at Puyallup
and at Pullman already working on
turf problems. It is hoped that a onehalf time extension specialist will
also be appointed to help disseminate
the information as it is developed.
This program has been developed
through the cooperation and encour-

agement of many people interested in
the turf program. The financial assistance from several organizations including the Northwest Turf Association, Northwest Association of Golf
Course Superintendents, and U.S. Goll
Association has helped materially, in
the turf program and has been an important factor in the recognition ot
the need for this work.
.
While we know that the results of
research sometimes come slowly, we
also know that the research program
already under way will provide many
answers which will help all of us
do a better job in providing more
attractive and serviceable grounds
and increasing our employment ot
their use.
Turfgrass Researchers At Western
Washington Experiment Station

In the first edition of this paper,
it was felt that an introduction on
the turf research scientists at the
Western Washington Experiment Station would be in order. An introduction of research scientists at Pullman
will be made in a forthcoming issue
Even though most of us are acquainted
through conferences and other meetings, there are a number of people
growing turf who have not met their
research staff.
Dr. Charles J. Gould:
.
Dr Gould was born and reared in
the eastern states and attended Marshall College where he earned his
A B. degree in botany in 1934. He then
attended Iowa State College and received his M.S. degree in forest pathology in 1937. He was an instructor in
botany at Iowa State College from
1937-1941. He joined the Western
Experiment Station staff as an Assistant Plant Pathologist in 1941 and completed his Ph. D. degree in ornamental
diseases in 1942. He was appointed Research Plant Pathologist in 1943, Associate Plant Pathologist in 1946, and
was promoted to Plant Pathologist m
1952. He was a Fulbright Scholar in
Holland for 6 months in 1951.
Dr. Gould has made many outstanding scientific contributions in the
field of ornamental diseases, especially
narcissus, tulips, iris, gladiolus, and
lilies. He is now devoting about 40%
of his time to turfgrass diseases, where
he has also made outstanding contributions, 40% to diseases of the bulb
crops, and the remainder to other
ornamentals such as rhododendrons.
Much of his work has been in cooperation with V. L. Miller, chemist, in
addition to others listed herein.
Dr. Herman M. Austenson:
Dr. Austenson was reared at Viscount, Saskatchewan, Canada, and attended the University of Saskatchewan
where he received his B.S.A. in 1946.
He was a Saskatchewan Agricultural
Research Foundation Scholar from
1948-1950, at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was granted his
M. S. degree in agronomy. He was
awarded assistanceship at Washington
State College and continued on for
his Ph. D. degree which was completed in 1951. Dr. Austenson served
for 2 years at the Northwestern Washington Experiment Station at Mount
Vernon as an assistant research agronomist. He then worked as an extension agronomist at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, for 1 year

and then joined the staff at the
Western Washington Experiment Station in 1954.
Austenson has been in charge of hay,
pasture and grain crops research programs in western Washington where
the results of his work have been of
great importance to farmers and
ranchers in western Washington. He
carried out for 4 years various tests
with turfgrasses here at the Station
and several cooperative programs with
Dr. Gould. He will continue to work
with the turfgrasses, in cooperation
with Roy Goss, especially in selection,
and seed production. His assistance
and advice are to be greatly appreciated.
Roy Goss:
He attended East Central College in Oklahoma in 1946 and
transferred to Eastern Washington
College of Education in 1947 and on
to Washington State College in 1948.
He earned his B.S. degree in agriculture in 1950 and Bachelor of Education degree in 1951. After teaching
high school vocational agriculture for
2 years at Tenino, Washington, he
worked with soil, irrigation and orchard cover crop problems with the
Soil Conservation Service at Wenatchee until 1955. He returned to W.S.C.
to work toward his Ph. D. degree in
agronomy (crops management) in
September 1955, and plans to complete
his degree by September of this
year.
Mr. Goss was appointed to the
position of Acting Jr. Agronomist at
Western Washington Experiment StaGifts A n d Grants From
January 1, 1958

Disease Research
Northwest Turf Association $ 500.00
Oregon Turf Managers
Association (via N.W.
Turf Assn.)
250.00
Northwest Golf Course
Superintendents Assn. __ 718.00
U.S. Golf Association—
Greens Section
1,000.00
California
Spray-Chemical Corp. __ 500.00
W. A. Cleary Corp
500.00
American Sisalkraft Corp.
(Plastic - value of)
295.00
National Blower & Sheet
Metal (Tape-value of) _ 15.00
E. I. du Pont de
Nemours & Co. (Inc.) Fertilizers
O. M. Scott and
Sons Co.
Fertilizer spreader
Agronomic
Northwest Turf Association
(Puyallup and Pullman) __$500.00
Northwest Turf Association
(greens mower, Pullman) _ 180.83
American
Cyanamid Co. 400 lbs. cyanamid
E. I. du Pont de Nemours &
Co. (Inc.)
10 lb s Neburon
E. I. du Pont de Nemours &
Co. (Inc.)
4 bags Uramite
Johnny Harrison (Haycfen
Lake Golf & Country
Club)
Hand greens mower
O. M. Scott & Sons Co. __ Herbicides, fungicides, and spreader
Samples of materials not mentioned
above which have been contributed
to research are hereby gratefully
acknowledged.

tion in July of 1958. He is currently
working as a fulltime researcher on
turfgrass problems and is setting up
a turfgrass research center and research program. His thesis problem
since 1955 has been concerned with
factors affecting turfgrass quality.
A

New Plastic Greenhouse Aids
Turf Disease Research A t The
Western Washington Experiment Station

Charles J. Gould
Research on turf diseases is usually
'stymied' during the winter months
in western Washington because grass
growth is slow and disease development is retarded. In order to study
diseases on a year-around basis, a
greenhouse was needed, but none were
available, nor did it seem likely that
one could be built with state funds for
several years. It appeared for a while
that we might be able to build a
plastic greenhouse with a grant from
an outside source. However, it was
found that this grant, for technical
reasons, could not be used for building purposes. Fortunately, at that time
two Northwest Turf Associations decided to underwrite the project.
The Northwest Turf Association
(under the leadership of Don Hogan
and Research Committee Chairman
Henry Land) voted to advance $500
from their research fund so that construction could get underway. Subsequently, they contributed an additional $250. which had been donated
for the plastic house by the Oregon
Turf Managers Association. The Northwest Golf Course Superintendents
Assn. (under the leadership of Ken
Putnam, President) ran a Research
Golf Tournament directed by Dick
Haskell and in cooperation with the
Rainier Golf and Country Club. This
raised $368. Superintendent D. F.
Allmendinger of the Western Washington Experiment Station also gave
us $132 from his 'reserve fund'
to complete certain construction. The
American Sisalkraft Company donated
$295 worth of Eskaylite plastic for
covering. The total cost of this 25' x
40' plastic greenhouse with installed
equipment will be about $2000, exclusive of the plastic. The total price
is higher than estimated, but we have
a good, solid structure that should last
for many years.
This plastic greenhouse is equipped
with automatic controls which enable
us to have different day and night
temperatures, ventilation whenever
the temperature rises to high, and
mist-watering at any time needed for
good disease development. These controls are much better than anything
we have in our regular green houses.
However, we have had our growingpains. Because of reduced light intensity, the grass does not grow quite
as well as it does outdoors. Consequently, we now plan to raise the
grass outdoors (with Roy Goss' help)
and transplant it into the house as
needed for each experiment. This procedure will also enable us to run more
experiments.
The experiments will be of two
types: at first, applied and later on,
basic. In other words, first we pl^n
to test new fungicides, new ways of
using old ones, and the effect of var-

Web Worms
Sod web worms of the genus,
Crambus, are one of the most serious
pests of golf course greens and turf.
The lawn moths prefer bent and
young bluegrass lawns. However, they
may infest all varieties of grasses.
The most reliable test for sod web
worms is to apply a pyrethrum-containing solution to various parts of a
lawn in order to bring the larvae
wiggling to the surface. Other criteria
of infestation that can be used are
irregular brownish patches near which
the grass is thin and uneven. An
abundance of parasites and predators
hovering about the turf may a so
indicate the presence of lawn moths.
The sod web worm breeds continuously throughout the late spring, summer,
and early fall.
Disease Control Recommendations—
by C. J. Gould, Plant Pathology
Fusarium Patch (Pink Snow Mold)
Apply phenyl mercurv acetate
(10%) at % ounce in 10 gallons water
per 1.000 feet every 2 weeks during
"Fusarium" weather. PMAS is the
type that we have generallv used in
our tests. As stated elsewhere, certain types of nitrogen fertilizers will
reduce the injury that sometimes occurs from this fungicide. Definite
recommendations will be given in the
next TURFGRASS TOPICS.
Red Thread
Use nitrogen-type fertilizers. This
disease is responsible for the widespread "scorch-like" appearance of
lawn-type grasses in western Washington.
Manaement Precautions for Soring
and Ear'y Summer Consideration—
by Roy Goss, Agronomy
Irrigation
It is a fact that soil pore space
filled with water has no air. Plants
need oxygen the same as we do. hence
too frequent and too heavy irrigations
will cause this waterlogged effect. In
th^ absence of oxygen, roots will Hie
within a short period of time (a few
days). There is good reason to suspect
that starting irrigation too early and
applying water too frequently has
resulted in loss of roots in all turfs
in the past, especially in the summer
of 1958. It is strongly recommended
that a critical examination of the
turf soil be made (by soil sampler or
knife plugs) before irrigating. Over
irrigation will also result in leaching
of nutrients, especially nitrates, and
purging the soil with cold water,
which will interfere with various
metabolic activities.
Avoid Overfertilisation
Some of our turfs have made a
"poverty adjustment" while some are
in the range of "super luxury consumption." It is known that excessive
nitrogen will cause a decrease in root
production which becomes apparent
during the first hot spell. A balance
of nutrients is the goal for which we
strive, which doesn't imply that a complete analysis fertilizer must be applied each time. Soil tests and actual
turf resDonse jointly considered should
be the best guide. Putting green turfs
are often the overfed or "out of
balance" turfs, whole home lawns and
other high-cut turf are usually the
underfed.
1

iou types of nutrition on control of
the Fusarium Patch. Later we intend
to investigate basic factors, such as
the effect of temperature, relative
humidity, soil moisture, and soil texture on infection and disease development under controlled conditions.
Two experiments have been run
already. One experiment, with V. L.
Miller, included new fungicides as
well as various mixtures of PMA
(phenyl mercuric acetate) plus different nitiogen fertilizers. These fertilizers were added in order to test
their relative ability for decreasing
the injury that sometimes occurs with
PMA. We had discovered in a previous
experiment at Broadmoor that one
type of nitrogen was very effective for
this purpose. Therefore, we were quite
surprised to find in this plastic house
test that some other types of nitrogen
increased the injury instead of decreasing it. This type of study, as well
as one on new fungicides, will be expanded in another experiment starting on February 19.
The other completed experiment
was a cooperative one with Roy Goss
and involved the effect of various
organic and inorganic fertilizers on
infection by the Fusarium Patch fungus. The fertilizers were applied in
two rates at bi-weekly intervals. Unfortunately, grass growth was weak
because of deficient light and excessive trampling during installation
of equipment. Only meager results
were obtained. It appears that for
such experiments, which must last
for several months, we will have to
either add lights or start the turf
outdoors.
We expected that it would take
some time to learn how to use this
plastic house most effectively. Our
expectations have been fulfilled. However, we have found that it can be
used very productively in preliminary
testing work. It should at least double
our output so that we can develop
better disease control measures much
more rapidly than heretofore—not only
for golf greens, but for high-cut (lawntype) turf as well.
In addition to the men and organizations listed at the beginning of the
article, we wish to thank the Greens
Section of the United States Golf Association for a grant of $1,000 which
has enabled us to run the experiments
this winter.

Looking Ahead

It is not possible to treat a great
many subjects in detail with each
printing of this paper, hence the idea
for this column presented some favorable aspects. The intent of this column
is not to bring to you a host of specific facts and recommendations but
to more or less informally mention
to you a few problems areas in the
turfgrass field for which to be particularly aware within the next few
months. — Ed.
WATCH FOR INSECTS THIS SPRING
by A. J. Howitt, Entomology
The Alfalfa Looper
The caterpillars are a dark olive
green with a light colored head. There
are dark lines down the middle of
the back and along each side. They
move in a looping fashion. The alfalfa
looper is a very general feeder and can
cause serious damage to golf greens.
The winter is passed in a pupae and
adult stages. There are two generation a year. The first generation appears early in the spring, while the
second appears sometime in July.
The Variegated Cutworm
These caterpillars are general and
destructive feeders and can cause serious damage to turf. The caterpillers
seen maturing are usually gray or
brown mottled above with gray or
darkish lines. They often have oblique
gray areas on the sides. This cutworm
is the most widely known and important cutworm in Washington. The
eggs are laid in rows in large irregular
masses on the stems of plants. Like
the alfalfa looper, mild winters favor
outbreak of the pest.
Frit Flies
Frit flies or grass stem maggots,
mine down the stem of grasses killing
the central shoot of young plants and
stunting older plants. The larvae spend
the winter in the growing stems.
Pupation occurs early in the spring
with the adults emerging in May or
June. The adult is a small yellowishgreen flv that has three stripes on its
back. The eggs are glistening white
and are laid in the fall on the stems
above or beneath the sheaths of the
leaves. The maggot is especially serious to lawn and golf course grasses
and greehs. Damage often shows in
the forth of small irregular brownish
patches.

Topdressing
Topdressing mixtures high in sand
(75% or more) should be ready soon
for applying. Avoid the use of material that is too coarse or too fine.
Unless putting greens are extremely
heavy or light, the topdressing material should be as similar in composition as possible as the putting
green soil in order to avoid the formation of layers. If the topdressing
material to be used is sterilized (with
cyanamid or methyl bromide types of
sterilants), be sure to wait until the
action is completed before spreading
or a burn may result.
Verticutting
Remember what happened last
year? Get the verticutting done early
in the growing season and avoid verticutting in the hot part of the summer. "Puffy" spots appeared in many
greens in May and June of last year
and verticutting scalped the spots
badly. Several (3 or 4) light verticuttings are always better than 1 or
2 severe treatments.
Summary Of Uses Of Neburon
(Kloben), 5 0 %
Formulation,
For Turf Purposes In
The Northwest

by Roy Goss
The chemical Neburon, now being
marketed under the name Kloben, is
manufactured by the du Pont Co.
Chemically, it is 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)
1-methyl-l-n-butyl urea and belongs
to a group of the substituted urea
herbicides.
Some of the favorable aspects of
Neburon are:
1. Persisists for some time in the
soil (somewhat less than a year).
2. Has a high affinity for organic
matter; therefore, the higher the soil
organic matter, the less the injury to
the grass. (Putting green soils and
old lawn soils are usually high in
organic matter.)
3. Residual effect in soil is not
permanent, since decomposition occurs.
Some unfavorable aspects:
1. It is nonselective if the rates
used are high; therefore it must be
used with care as is true of most herbicides.
2. It does not dissolve in water but
forms a suspension which must be
agitated constantly while being used.
Chickweed, both common (Stellaria
media) and mouse-ear (Cerastium vulgatum).
Apply Neburon to the chickweed
any time during the season of rapid
growth (May-August) or warm (not
hot), sunny days (temperature 85° F.
or lower). Make the applications at
the rate of 4 pounds of 50% active ingredient material per acre, or 1.4
ounces per 1,000 square feet in 5
gallons of water, or 4.1 grams per 100
square feet in 1 gallon of water. (See
table of measures below.)
Since spot spraying is usually all
that is needed, mix just enough material to wet the leaves of the
chickweed. The kill should be complete within a week if weather conditions are good.

Pearlwort, Sagina procumbens
Apply Neburon in the same manner and rate as for chickweed and
observe the same weather conditions.
Individual plants of pearlwort are
so small that they easily escape detection until they have multiplied into
many. Therefore, it is important to
extend the sprayed area slightly beyond the observed spot for complete
kill.
Black algae
Algae conditions usually occur in
the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest during the wet winter months
and cause a considerable thinning of
the turf and promote a scummy appearing surface condition. When the
immediate ground surface dries, algae
residues form a thin, tough crust
which discourages re-establishment of
grass in these places until this crust
is broken.
A complete control of algae has
been achieved on the Inglewood Golf
& Country Club in Seattle (Jack
Spalding, superintendent), by applying
Neburon at the rate of 1 pound of
50% material per acre, or 10 grams
per 1,000 square feet in 5 gallons of
water. Treatments were made in
November and control was complete
in December. One application should
do the job; however, if a second treatment is necessary, it should be apparent within 3 weeks. This rate of
application is very low, hence the
toxicity to grass is also very low.
Table of measures for Neburon
(Kloben) (50%)
1 teaspoon (level)
Neburon
.
1.2 grams
8 tablespoons (level)
Neburon
1 ounce
28.3 grams
1 ounce
455 grams
1 pound
3 teaspoons
1 tablespoon
This material is not being recommended by the company for some of
these uses, hence they are not liable.
Therefore, do not go beyond the rates
recommended here unless you are interested in some experimentation on
your own.
I am told this material is available
in the 50% formulation from Van
Waters & Rogers in Seattle and Spokane, under the name "Kloben".
You will find that by spraying
chickweed or pearlwort when the
spots are very small some grass is
still present and the spots will heal
rapidly, but older, large spots have
eliminated the grass. Small spots will
not have to be plugged out when dead,
since the grass will fill in. Kill the
large spots with chemical, then plug
them out if necessary. This way, you
are sure of getting all the weed.
Since these uses have been found
for Neburon on turf, it is desirable to
make this information available to
interested persons in order to lick the
three weed problems listed and to
insure some degree of safety and accuracy in the use of the material.

Officers Of The Northwest Turf
Association

Mr. Don Hogan
President
Mr. Glen Proctor
Vice President
Mr. Henry Land Sr.
Treasurer
Dr. J. K. Patterson _ Executive Sec.
NORTHWEST T U R F G R A S S
TOPICS is sponsored by the Northwest Turf Association and financed
through funds of this organization.
Any communications concerning
distribution of this paper or association business should be directed to Henry Land Sr., Tacoma
County & Golf Club, Gravelly Lake
Drive Southwest, Tacoma, Washington, or Dr. J. K. Patterson,
Agronomy Department, Washington
State College, Pullman, Washington.
Communications concerning content of this paper should be directed to Roy Goss, Editor, Western
Washington Experiment Station,
Puyallup, Washington.
Calendar

Of

Coming

Events

Northwest Golf Course Superintendents Association, April (Date not
announced)
Annual meeting with presidents,
pros, and greens chairmen
British Columbia Sports Turfgrass
Conference, April 27-28
Univesrity of Brit. Col., Vancouver,
B. C. Conference theme: Irrigation
Methods and Practices
Oregon Turf Manag:rs Assn., March
2, 1959. Corvellis Country Club —
10:30 a.m.

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