y

NORTHWEST TURFGRASS TOPICS
VOL. 11, NO. 1

From The President's Corner

PUYALLUP, W A S H I N G T O N

APRIL 1969

Repairing Winter Damage to
Turfgrass Areas

ROY L. GOSS

The winter of 1968 and 1969 proved to be
one of the toughest that the Pacific Northwest has experienced in a number of years.
Not only was it tough from the standpoint
of low temperatures, but also deep snows.
At the last report, areas in Eastern Washington still had approximately one foot of
snow on the ground around April 1.
Perhaps the most severe winter damage has
occurred from the action of turfgrass diseases beneath the snow layer. Much of the
snow encountered this last-year occurred
on nonfrozen surfaces or it remained on
the ground long enough that the surface
thawed beneath the snow providing a favorable environment for the growth and development of turfgrass diseases such as Fusarium
Patch and Ophiobolus Patch diseases. Persons
who were fortunate enough to have their disease control measures adequately applied
immediately prior to the snow came out of
the situation unscathed; however, some persons, although having thoroughly treated the
areas, experienced considerable damage from
diseases. The diseased areas dominant to
PPPOm-r*?a a n n u a w e r e the hardest hit. Two
1 1
aches can be taken to the repair of
*mtS [$m M ^ W r damage: 1) If the damage is severe
BY GEORGE HARRISON
CRQp^^Pr*"' this would be a good opportunity to
the dead grass on the greens that were
At this time of year most turf manag
hit and rebuild them. If the soils
faced with a problem of augmenting their
and
contours
of the greens were satisfactory
crews with new personnel and the training
prior
to
loss
of turf this winter, then only
that goes with it. It seems that the most
re-establishment
of desirable varieties will
pressing problem our industry has is facing
be
necessary.
These
greens can be reup to the seasonal slack period that we have
established
to
seeded
types such as Pennand the resulting replacements in the labor
cross,
Astoria,
Highland
or Exeter, or from
force that are necessary. The short courses
stolon varieties such as Old Orchard, Torthat are given during the winter are excelonto or other stolons available. In order
lent for training our permanent people, but
to prevent a green from being out of play
we must, in turn, pass on this information
for too long a period of time, stolonizinq
to the new people that we hire. Several
would be the fastest recovery procedure.
lecturers at these courses have pointed
Stolonized greens can be played approxiout the fact that personal responsibility
mately 8 weeks after they have been stolonand the will to do a good job is rather
ized and should putt very well. Greens can
hard to find in part-time people. Some
possibly be played as early as 6 weeks after
tricks that have been used by good turf
solonization. This would imply, of course,
managers can be very useful. One of these
that the stolons be planted at a favorable
is the setting of goals for the workers
period of time when temperatures were
such as competition in who can mow the
reasonably high and other ground conditions
greens in the shortest period of time and
Continued Page 10

1969 GCSAA Conf^etice Miami
Beach, Florida
DICK MALPASS
Our trip to the 1969 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference
in Miami Beach, Florida started on a very
cold, frozen Saturday morning, January 18.
We left shortly after 4 a.m. and drove to
Portland where we took an Eastern Airlines
flight via St. Louis to Miami. We saw the
ground only three times; when we left Portland? when we landed at St. Louis; and when
we landed at Miami. There were clouds all
the way. There was snow at Portland and
the temperature was near 24 degrees. When
we landed, that evening, in Miami, the
'temperature was 75 degrees. I doubt that
the temperature dropped below 72 degrees
while we were there since the gulf stream
tempers the climate to a marked degree.
Several of those who attended from this
area left for home after the conference
with a case of air-conditioning colds.
Hardly ever do we take a trip away from
home without meeting an old friend or acquaintance where least expected. While
waiting to leave Portland, we met an old
gentleman and his wife who were flying east
on the same plane we took. They had bought
corn for chicken feed from my Dad over 45
years ago. He is an elderly Mennonite
gentleman who has dedicated himself to
service to his church in his later years,
and was flying east to assist several congregations in Tennessee.
We spent Sunday, January 19, looking around
and met with a cousin and his wife who we
had never seen before. He is a doctor with
a research group which make the pacemakers
used for heart cases. He was very interested in landscaping, so we hit it off
quite well.
Monday, January 20 was the first day of the
conference so it was "early to rise" and
over to the Hotel Fontainebleau to see what
was going on. It is always a pleasure to
attend a national conference of golf superintendents. It is the only time that many
old acquaintances can be seen again. Nowhere, and at no time during the year will
so many prominent turf authorities be assembled together. At no time will the
opportunity be presented, as it is here,
to rub shoulders with the top golf superintendents of the United States. I count

invaluable the assistance given by some of
these fellows regarding some of the questions I have put to them. In fact, Ben
Chlevin, Executive Director, GCSAA, in a
publicity release to CLUB MANAGEMENT
MAGAZINE before the conference stated as
follows: "Inspiration drawn from speakers
and fellow superintendents is equally important as the actual information acquired
in the educational program. Your superintendent will leave the conference with a
clearer picture of his own responsibilities
in addition to a better appreciation of his
position through contact with leaders in
his profession."
"Via the equipment segment of the show—The
Greatest Show on Turf—featuring the most
complete collection of turf maintenance
equipment and materials under one roof anywhere, the superintendent can speak face-to
face with the manufacturers, and in many
cases with the designers and engineers responsible for the new equipment. Here, he
also can view and evaluate new labor-saving
machinery."
"Through the conference, the superintendent
meets other superintendents. They compare
notes on methods and techniques, ideas and
similar problems. Attendance at the conference adds to the superintendents know-•
ledge; he becomes more valuable to his club
In the wake of rising costs, labor shortage
and heavier golf traffic that sharply reduces the available "time on course" for
maintenance, the superintendent must be a
skilled professional—flexible enough to
bend in whatever direction situations
demand."
General sessions began the conference on
Monday. Two top-notch speakers started off
the program with Dr. Frank Goodwin, Professor of Marketing, College of Business Admin
istration, University of Florida, speaking
on "Humor and Life." Dr. Carl S. Winters,
guest lecturer from General Motors Speakers
Bureau spoke on "Your Human Relations Are
Showing." These talks were both taped and
portions will appear in forthcoming copies
of "The Golf Superintendent." Subsequent
sessions dealt with the following themes.
Executive Management
What to Look for in the Future
Efficiency in Operation Which Help the
Superintendent
Greens Maintenance Practices as Related
to Puttability

\
would be optimum; 2) Greens that have not
been too badly damaged from diseases, dessication, or low temperature losses can be
verti-cut, aerified, overseeded, and topdressed, in that order, and accomplish the
desired purpose. Perhaps extensive losses
of turf from winter diseases could be a
blessing in disguise because this affords an
opportunity for improving the stands of desirable grasses. Most often, the grass lost
due to diseases or winter injury is Poa
annua.
Lawn grasses, parks, and other grounds having experienced extensive losses over winter
can easily be corrected by power raking to
remove dead grass and other organic debris
and overseeding the area thoroughly with
desirable grass types for the area affected,
In Eastern Washington, the grasses most
seriously affected by winter diseases are
bentgrasses and Poa annua. Where these
species have been invaders in bluegrass
stands (Kentucky-types) overseeding with
desirable Kentucky-type bluegrass will help
to improve the stands of desirable grass.
West of the Cascade Mountains, overseeding
with mixtures of bentgrass, fescue, or
bentgrass-fescue-bluegrass will help to
bring the lawns and other turfgrass areas
back to their original condition.
Oftentimes diseases do not completely kill
the plant, and after a few weeks of growing
weather, the diseased spots will heal themselves, and most of the evidence will disappear.
The diseased areas, however,
should be examined, and if the crown and
root tissue is dead, then early remedial
treatment should be practiced.
FERTILIZERS HELP TO RESTORE WINTER DAMAGE
While you are going to the problem of restoring extensive winter damage, carefully
investigate your fertility levels. If the
area has to be completely renovated, this
would be a good opportunity to incorporate
adequate amounts of phosphorus, potassium
and lime, if necessary into the damaged
areas. Maintain adequate levels of nitrogen after the new seed or stolons have been
planted to maintain vigorous and rapid
growth of the desired grasses. Many of the
improved Kentucky-type bluegrasses such as
Merion, Windsor, Cougar, Fylking, etc.,
require higher levels of nitrogen for maxi-

\\

mum beauty and vhlue. Do not neglect this
very Important part of your program.
Continued

tentional abuse may result from school
children (or any other aqe, too), from incorrect application of weed-killing chemicals, or from careless use of equipment,
particularly lawn mowers. Prevention is
the best angle on all aspects of such
damage.
One example of prevention is to install beds
or mowing areas around the bases of trees.
All trees up to 6 or 8 inches trunk diameter
benefit from a grass-free space around the
trunk so the tendency to run the hand mower
against the trunk is eliminated. A few cuts
by a lawn mower blade can girdle a small
tree. The grass-free space may be a stone
or gravel-covered circle of black plastic.
Bark or other mulch may be used. Or a
shrub and flower bed may provide the protection. Time and expense required for
putting in such beds creates a much neater
landscape. Years of tree life may be saved
as well.
Fertilizer applications for shade trees are
desirable. Tree fertilization probably is
not commonly done. A general recommendation
is to use 2 to 4 pounds of a complete fertilizer (e.g. 10-6-4) per inch of diameter.
Trees under 6 inch diameter should receive
one-half that rate. The best method of application is to put the fertilizer below
the grass roots. Punch holes (crowbar,
Continued Page 7

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As you know, NWTGA is a non-profit organization interested in turf research and
the development of new turf management
ideas and disseminating the results to as
many people as possible who are directly
involved in turfgrass growth and maintenance .
On behalf of the new membership committee
and the Board of Directors, we all extend
our heartiest welcome to the new members
and shall look forward to seeing and meeting all of you at the annual meeting and
turfgrass seminars this fall at Hayden
Country Club in Idaho. Plan to bring your
wives as well as your notebooks.

ARTHUR D. ELLIOTT

Northwest Turfgrass Conference for 1969

WELCOME N E W MEMBERS

This is your second announcement of the
Turfgrass Conference to be held at Hayden
Lake Golf and Country Club at Hayden Lake,
Idaho on September 24, 25, and 26, 1969.
If you wish to obtain a room in the Clubhouse, write directly to the Manager of
Hayden Lake Golf and Country Club for such
reservations. If the rooms have all been
taken, suggestions will be given for nearby
motels. Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and vicinity
has a huge number of tourist motels, and
all of these are less than 9 miles driving
distance to the County Club. The list of
these available motels and prices will be
mailed to you sometime prior to the Turfgrass Conference so that you may book your
reservations.

Noting that the papers and articles at the
annual NWTGA conventions and "Turfgrass
Topics" covers the broad spectrum of turf
and ornamental areas and that the membership and attendance at the convention was
heavily golf course oriented, the Board of
Directors of NWTGA appointed me at 1969
chairman of the membership committee to
expand the membership with stronger emphasis on invitations to join NWTGA by
more schools, cemeteries, and other turf
maintenance institutions.
We set a quota of 35 new members by
April 30. Happily, we have just about
filled our quota. > As of this date, we
have added -about 30 new members of which
28 are engaged in turf maintenance involving schools, cemeteries, hospitals and
other industrial and public institutions.

First International Turfgrass
Research Conference
Plans are shaping up rapidly for the first
International Turfgrass Research Conference to be held at the Old Swan Hotel at
Harrogate, England beginning July 15, 1969.
The conference will last four days and will
have papers presented from research people

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topics were presented at the educational
assemblies.
from all over the world. Participants
have already registered from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the European
countries. The heaviest attendance at
this conference will come from the United
States. Your editor is planning on attending this conference and will present a
paper regarding turfgrass nutrition and
its interaction with turfgrass diseases in
the Pacific Northwest. Out of the three
weeks spent in England, Scotland, and other
parts of Europe, only two or three days
will be left open for sightseeing, etc.
The remainder of the three weeks will be
devoted to research stations and consultation with industrial representatives in
those countries. This should prove to be
an extremely fruitful conference and tour
and should stimulate a number of new ideas
and applications for our own particular
turfgrass industry including not only the
golf courses, but playfields, parks and
other recreational areas.

1969 International Turfgrass
Conference and Show
The 40th International Turfgrass Conference
and Show which was held this year at the
Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida
on January 19 through 24 had the highest
attendance record of any previous International Conference. Over 3,500 people
attended this conference. The weather
cooperated quite beautifully most of the
time that we were at the conference although we were not able to fully enjoy it
because of the great amount of time which
was required to attend the educational sessions and the equipment and product
displays.
The educational assemblies are very important to any delegate at this conference.
Such a wide variety of subject matter was
presented that it would not be reasonable
to try to reproduce it in this paper.
Proceedings from this conference can be
obtained by writing directly to the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of
America. However, such subjects as Managing Yourself, Executive Management,
Getting the Message Across, What to Look
for in the Future, Public Relations, Increasing Play on Public Courses, Efficiency in Operations Which Help the Superintendent, and many other interesting

Several research institutions were present
and presented information on new turfgrass
research and development. Dr. Skogley of
Rhode Island presented Turfgrass Research
in the Northeast, Dr. Reed Funk discussed
Advances in Breeding Cool Season Grasses,
Dr. Glenn Burton discussed Developing New
Varieties for Southeast and Southern Golf
Courses, Dr. Gilbert discussed Turfgrass
Research in the Southeast, Dr. Wayne
Huffine, Research in the Southwest, Dr.
Youngner, Turfgrass Research in the West,
Dr. Roy Goss, Turfgrass Research in the
Northwest. Drs. Daniel, Skogley, Goss and
Beard discussed Poa annua Control in the
North, while Drs. Burt, Youngner and
Huffine discussed Poa annua in the South.
Most of these researchers were in general
agreement that controls would eventually be
available for Poa annua. It was generally
agreed that most of the better pre-emergence
herbicides today do produce important effects on Poa annua control. These, however,
must be used judicially and timed with the
germination of the species in your respective areas. Although arsenicals are not
accepted by all persons equally, they have
proven effective in the Mid-Western area in
the control of Poa annua. There are certain
problems, however, associated with the use
of arsenicals, and you must be willing to
run the risk if you intend to use them. It
is the opinion of the writer, however, that
controls will be on the market in the near
future for the inhibition of seedhead formation which will be one of the first steps
in the right direction in controlling the
species. If we can eliminate seed production, we can continue to overseed with
desirable varieties and eventually eliminate
Poa annua altogether.
Next yearfs International Conference will
be held at the Rice Hotel in Houston, Texas,
and should prove to be a great deal of
interest to everyone.

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L.W. GETZIN

The Case for DDT and Other
" H A R D " Pesticides
As most of you probably know, there was a
bill before the Washington State Senate
(Senate Bill No. 219) during the recent
legislative session which proposed to restrict the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon
insecticides. This bill should be of interest to you because it involves the use
of DDT, aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin,
lindane, etc. In other words, many of the
insecticides you rely upon for control of
earthworms, sod webworm, wireworms, white
grubs, cutworms, ants and termites.
In effect, Senate Bill 219 proposed to outlaw the use, sale and distribution of DDT
and all other chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides with a half-life of more than
30 days, except for research purposes or,
for use in controlling an epidemic of
insect-borne animal or human disease. This
bill was drafted by the Washington Environmental Council, which is a citizenfs group
concerned about our environment and its
pollution and was sponsored by Senators
Durkan, Grieve, Ryder and Sandison.
A hearing on the bill was held before the
joint Senate-House Agricultural Committee

on February 18. Homer Wolfe, entomologist
from the U.S. Public Health Service in
Wenatehee, and Richard Maxwell and your
author from Washington State University were
asked to present background information on
the subject. Homer Wolfe summarized what is
known about the effects of DDT upon man and
presented evidence that DDT has no adverse
effect upon man when it is used properly.
Dick Maxwell outlined the care taken in registering pesticides and discussed many of
the problems which arise in attempting to
study and define persistence. I informed
the group of the present status regarding
the use of chlorinated hydrocarbons in Washington and explained the immediate effects
that passage of Bill 219 would have upon the
production of crops where chlorinated hydrocarbons are used.
Proponents of the bill included housewives,
scientists, physicians, animal lovers and
several representatives of the commercial
seafood industry. Obviously, opponents of
the bill were those who derive immediate
benefits from the use of pesticides. The
State Department of Agriculture opposed the
measure because, according to Director
Donald Moos, the use of pesticides is wellcontrolled and properly checked by existing
state laws and state regulatory officials.
He also felt passage of the bill would
create disadvantages for state producers in
interstate commerce.
This bill never did reach the Senate floor
but died in Committee, so for the time
being, there will be no additional restrictions on the use of these persistent
chemicals.
Other states and other nations, I might
add, are concerned about the detrimental
effects of chlorinated pesticides and you
should keep abreast of the regulatory paths
Continued Page 10

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etc.) within the branch-spread area of the
tree and place fertilizer in the holes.
Early spring is the best time to apply it;
summer applications should be avoided unless irrigation is being used.
Trees which have suffered injury should
have damaged branches pruned out. Final
cuts, when properly done, should be quite
flush with the trunk surface so healing can
cover the wound area. Lost terminal leaders
are not really serious. The typical growth
pattern will be disrupted. However, many
conifers in Western Washington are intentionally topped so the vertical growth will
be repressed. This choice may be made when
a Douglas fir (which may grow to 200-300
feet) is planted on a residential lot.
Lastly, I want to recommend some excellent
trees that should be planted where outstanding permanent trees are wanted. Certain of these may not readily be available
from nurseries but they are all excellent
trees. All are selected from the recommended list which are endorsed for Washington. Our native conifers — Douglas fir,
Western Hemlock, and Ponderosa Pine are
excellent. Austrian Pine is very good.
Few trees equal the beauty of Deodara
Cedar. Deciduous trees? 10-20 feet, Sourwood; 30-50 feet, Yellowwood; 50-75 feet
Pin Oak; 75-100 feet, White Oak, European
Beech, Kentucky Coffeetree, Littleleaf
Linden [and a broadleafed evergreen,
Southern Magnolia]; over 100 feet, Sugar
Maple, Gingko, Honeylocust, Hackberry and
Sweetgum.

Turfgrass Field Day
The annual Western Washington Research and
Extension Center Turfgrass Field Day will be
held on June 11, 1969 beginning approximately
at 10 a.m. All persons attending the Field
Day will be asked to meet at the main administrative headquarters on West Pioneer Avenue
for the initial discussions. The major part

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of the Field Day will be conducted at Farm
where most of the turfgrasses and plots
are established. This is your opportunity
to find out firsthand what is going on in
your local research program and to settle
questions or problems that you may have.
A number of well-qualified people will be
in attendance at this Field Day and will
provide you with an opportunity to obtain
a great deal of information.

Keep
in the
Green
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It will be delivered to your
Turf Supply Storage area by
the following distributors:

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1424 Thome Road, Tacoma, Wash. 98401
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needed to produce fruit crops is a burden,
and should be eliminated.
What is involved in proper choice of trees?
Size - is an important one, there are plenty
of variations in kinds of trees so ones
which mature at 20-25 feet can be selected
if that is the appropriate size. Properly
placed trees should never require pruning
to control size — only a rare clean-up of
dead limbs, or minor shaping of branch
pattern, or no pruning at all.
BERNARD G. WESENBERG

Healthy Shade Trees
Almost everyone likes trees for one reason
«or another. Desirably placed trees are
financially valuable to the site they occupy. Golf courses with excellent grass
will be improved considerably with good
trees.
Field and orchard crops are grown for production. Their value is in the harvest
taken. This is increasingly true of lumber,
or Christmas tree production, also. In
contrast, the value of a shade tree is not
measured by any type of yield, such as
growth of 1, 5 or 10 feet this season.
Shade or ornamental trees are only expected
to BE THERE AND LOOK GOOD. And at best, demand little care or attention.
Basic thinking about trees for golf courses
should be proper selection of the kind of
tree planted in each specific place. The
services of a landscape architect is one
way to accomplish this. Such services include the choice of a pleasing variation of
desirable trees to compliment your grounds.
Knowledge of plant material is one aspect
of a landscape architect's training.
Properly chosen and properly placed trees
should be CARE FREE. Any ornamental plant
requiring an involved spray schedule as is

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Shape, or silhouette, is another aspect.
Conifers, or Christmas trees, are one example. Low, round-headed trees are another
category, illustrated by the flowering magnolias, flowering cherries, hawthorns and
Mountainash. Overstory, or the typical
shade trees, are trees which almost always
have lower branches taken off so there is
headroom for people to walk below all
branches. But there are series of sizes
there too, 50-75 feet, 75-100 feet, or
over 100 feet.
Adaption
be hardy
"once in
expected

is
to
10
to

another aspect. The tree must
the climate. Especially to the
year" freezes, etc. as they are
remain for many years.

University recommendations of kinds of
trees, typical mature size and other landscape characteristics are available through
Washington State University's Extension
Service. Extension Bulletin 592, "Plant
Materials for Landscaping" recommends trees
and shrubs in various height categories, as
well as hardiness ratings and brief descriptions. [This bulletin is being mailed to
all who registered for it at the Golf
Course Workshop held in Puyallup on
March 6 and 7. Others may request their
copy from their county Extension agent.]
The authors represent years of experience
with the study of landscape plant material
at Oregon State University, Corvallis,
Oregon. Their recommendations are endorsed
for use in Washington and especially for
Western Washington.
Tree selection is the best course to pursue
to have good, healthy trees. Adapted trees
will be able to endure most insects and
diseases which occur with only rare demands
for protective spray treatment.
Tree care for the existing trees you already
have is the next consideration. There are
no trees which are immune to damacre. Unin-

Spraying Methods and Chemical Combinations for Greens and Fairways
New Turfgrass Research and Development
(This subject was broken into two
sections, North and South)
Poa Annua in the North
Poa Annua in the South
Of course f there were numrrous speakers
participating in each theme.
Tuesday, January 21, saw the opening of the
exhibits. There were 50,000 sq. ft. of
exhibit space in one huge room with 300
exhibitors participating. This was probably
one of the better conference facilities as
far as exhibitors were concerned. I am sure
that it was better for those wishing to see
the exhibits. This area remained open
through Wednesday and Thursday and was
thronged with superintendents whenever I
had the opportunity to go through.
Since the EVERGREEN GCSAA of OregonWashington was represented by so few, this
year, we had to double up on Committee
assignments with John Jaslowski meeting
with the Advisory Committee and acting as
Voting Delegate. I attended Chapter Secretaries meetings as well as Chapter Editors
committee get-to-gethers. In addition as
a candidate for national office, I,had to
appear before the Delegates meeting and at
the main business meeting on Wednesday
afternoon. Consequently many general sessions were missed and many talks which I
would have liked to hear will have to be
read in the general proceedings which have
been recently sent to GCSAA members. Unfortunately, many fine talks do not appear
in the proceedings and so will be missed
entirely.

other publications, we will not try to say
much about them except to note that most
speakers we were fortunate enough to hear
handled their subjects in an outstanding
manner.
We left Miami Beach early on Saturday,
January 25 only to sit in our plane for
1-1/2 hours while the radio was repaired.
We flew to Orlando, Florida, and visited
with relatives near there and in Bradenton,
near Tampa, for another week. In flying
north up the east coast of Florida, we
could not help but note the evidence of
Continued Page

11

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Grass will not grow without sufficient available

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they take. Sweden has outlawed the use of
DDT for the next two years and Russia has
severely restricted its use, also. Several
states have limited its use on certain
crops, or on certain lands for periods ranging from several months to one or two years.
A significant case to watch is a hearing
being held by the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources. They are going to decide
if the use of DDT should be banned or, if
its continued use shall be allowed in the
State.
Spearheading the opposition to
DDT in the Wisconsin hearing is the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit group
of scientists and interested citizens who
aim to protect natural resources by recourse to legal action. This group made an
all out effort, with testimony by six
prominent scientists, to prohibit the use
of DDT. The defense will present its
testimony during April and May. If a DDT
ban is announced for Wisconsin, a precedent may be set and other states will probably follow with similar legislation.
Most of us who use chlorindated hydrocarbon
insecticides feel they are a desirable
asset to our well-being. However, we
should recognize that these pesticides do
adversely affect certain portions of the
biological system. We also know that enormous benefits have been derived from the
use of these pesticides and that their ban
will result in a number of problems.
Because DDT and certain other "hard" insecticides do not always stay where they
are put, but instead become part of the
biosphere, any decisions and laws governing
their use should be made, not at local and
state levels, but preferably at NATIONAL
and INTERNATIONAL levels.
Ultimately, the desirable must be weighed
against the undesirable so thoughtful, wellbased decisions on the use of pesticides can
be made that will be of the greatest total
benefit to the entire public.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

been told, too, that most workers respond
better to performing jobs if they know the
reason they are doing them, given the best
instructions in the use of the equipment
entrusted to them, and are complimented on
doing a good job as well as being criticized if the work fails to come up to
standard. All of these approaches can
certainly help us, as turf managers, to
do a better job with the part-time help
that we must use.
While attending a sprayers board meeting,
I was interested to find out that they
have the same problem in training personnel that we do in the turf business. One
thing that many of them have done is to
place their applicants on a bonus system
whereby they are paid more if they are
able to do more. It seems to me that
possibly this could be used on many of our
turf managers' jobs by setting up standards
and rewards for exceeding these standards.
The sprayers, incidentally, are putting
on their Sprayorama, a conference running
for 2-1/2 days early in September, which
will stress the safe, efficient use of
various pesticides. The sprayers have shown
themselves to be very cognizant of the danger of incorrect application of their mateials and are going all out to see that their
people are instructed and informed in the
proper use. Their conference is open to
anyone willing to pay the registration fee.
For those who are using pesticides in quite
large quantities, such as golf course managers, cemetery owners and park supervisors,
attendance at this conference miqht prove
very profitable. It is a specialized field
in which no one can ever become too well
informed.
A nursery I visited some time ago held one
hour instruction classes every Friday morning. Each session a different man was assigned a topic and he instructed the whole
crew. Why can't proper handling of engines
and equipment be emphasized this way? A
couple hours of down time eliminated each
week would soon pay for the instruction
time cost.

from Page 1

still do acceptable work; how many acres
an hour of fairway can be covered without
harming machinery or showing lapses in the
work, or incentives for coming up with
labor-saving ideas, or in efficient ways
of doing various items of work. We have

W A T C H FOR T H E N E W T U R F G R A S S !

real estate development with many new
hotels, subdivisions, condominiums, and
new golf courses being built. This was
also evident in a tour of golf courses in
the Miami Beach area which we were privileged to take on Friday afternoon, January
24. In fact, we were on one course which
cost $15,000 to join with dues of $1,500
per year. There were 85 members with the
intention of having only 125. The course
was a superintendents dream.
We wish to take this means to thank the
many superintendents and businesses in the
Northwest who contributed to the cost of
our trip. We are deeply indebted to all
of you. We can only wish that each of you
may have the opportunity to visit future
conferences. We would hope, also, that
our efforts will result in one day having
the opportunity to host the GCSAA Conference
in the Pacific Northwest.

Fertilization program for the
Bluegrasses
a y 1
J <
?
The days qf tlie old common Kentucky bluegrass for beautiful turfgrass areas in the
Pacific Northwest are practically gone.
Common Kentucky bluegrass does not respond
to high levels of fertilization. Two to
4 pounds of available nitrogen per thousand
square feet is usually satisfactory for the
maintenance of common Kentucky bluegrass.
Eight to 10 pounds of available nitrogen is
considered too high. Since the advent
Merion, Cougar, Windsor, Fylking and Newport
bluegrass, we have had to re-evaluate nutritional programs for these new grasses for
our area. Nitrogen rates from 8 to 12
pounds of ayailab.le nitrogen per 1,000
square feet per season have produced the
most outstanding quality from these newer
varieties.
HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS
If these bluegrasses are being maintained on
areas of heavy traffic, high fertilization
is a definite requirement to stimulate new
growth and maintain a dense stand of turf.
Once the turf has worn out and soil has been
exposed, the ultimate end is in sight, par-

ticularly on golf tees, football fields and
playground areas. Rhyzomes are necessary
to create a more dense turf and higher rates
of fertilization will stimulate their development .
Annual bluegrass, as most of us know, is
an extremely shallow-rooted species and
will grow and produce a crop of seed on
soils low in nitrogen. This is one of the
major reasons why Poa annua becomes dominant
on areas of heavy traffic.

LIME REQUIREMENTS FOR BLUEGRASSES
High calcium contents and soil pH levels
from 6.4 to 7.0 are necessary to insure
good longevity of bluegrass varieties. In
the cool acid areas of the Pacific Northwest
such as coastal regions, heavy applications
of lime are frequently necessary to favor
the bluegrasses. Soil tests should be conducted to determine the calcium levels as
well as the pH before indiscriminately applying agricultural limestone or dolomitic
limestone. Areas east of the Cascade Mountains only rarely would be expected to be
low in calcium and have acid pH conditions.
It is possible, however, to observe these
conditions in that region on areas such as
artificially constructed athletic fields,
golf course tees, etc. Sandy soils are low
in nutrient holding capacity and continued
leaching from irrigation can result in loss
of calcium as well as other nutrients.
Balance of nutrition, of course, is important in maintaining any turf. It is just
as important in the maintenance of the
bluegrasses. Be sure to keep the phosphorus
and potassium levels adequately balanced
with the nitrogen. It is still wise to main
tain approximately a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen
phosphorus and potassium for permanent turfgrass areas.
The control of turfgrass diseases wherever
possible will also help to maintain better
stands of bluegrass. Grasses weakened by
diseases such as rust, mildew, Helminthosporium or other diseases are quickly replaced by those that are not susceptible
to those diseases.

o

NORTHWEST
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Seattle, W a s h .

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Ph. SHerwood 6-8400

O f f i c e r s o f the Northwest T u r f
Association
George Harrison
John Zoller
Dick Haskell
Dr. Roy Goss

President
Vice President
Treasurer
. Exec. Secretary

N O R T H W E S T TURFGRASS 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 Dick Haskell, 1000 N.E. 135th,
Seattle, Wash. 98155, or Roy L. Goss, Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyallup,
Washington.
Communications concerning content of this
paper should be directed to Dr. Roy Goss,
Editor, Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyallup, Washington.