NORTHWEST TURFCRASS TOPICS
V O L 12, No. 2

PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

By Tom Keel
I hope you have all recieved the information
about the conference that was sent out both in Turf
Topics and a news letter that gave the program. If any
of you didn't receive this information, you are not
listed on the mailing list. Please send me a post card
and we will correct this and send you the
information.
If things go as planned we should have an
outstanding conference, both in program and
attendance.
Also, you should have received from Art
Elliott, the material on membership. This should be
helpful as a tool in promoting and obtaining new
members.
I am looking forward to the conference for
several reasons. One is a chance to get away after a
busy summer. Our usage has jumped from last year
32% in the overnight camping areas, and 28% in our
day—usage area.
We have completed several major projects.
One is a reservoir project, and we expect heavy
attendance next season. Also, our salmon harbor at
the coast, has been breaking records. And, we have
started the second boat basin.
I am looking forward to seeing you at
Salishan.
(Cont'd on Page 4, Col. 2)

SEPTEMBER, 1970

IRRIGATION PROBLEMS
By Roy L. Goss
I have sat through many discussions with
designers and informed people in the irrigation
industry and have heard conflicting opinions and
stories about the water requirements for turfgrasses.
Anyone who has been on the receiving end of
an under—designed water system certainly felt the
pinch during the summer of 1970. A number of golf
courses and other turfgrass areas simply did not have
water capabilities to keep their areas green. This may
be due to inadequate water supply or inadequate
pumping systems or possibly have something to do
with the design of the systems.
This article is not intended to present a mass
of scientific facts about how to design an irrigation
system but only to point out some real hard facts
about water use by plants. There has actually been
little or no work done on the consumptive use of
water by turfgrasses. Certainly, there are differences
among species in their requirements for water due to
rooting depth and the management practices
associated with them, but basically all turfgrass plants #
will remove identically the same amount of water
from the soil before permanent wilting sets in. In
other words, this water still has to be replaced somewhere along the line.
I have heard figures quoted all the way from
1/2 inch per week up to 2 inches per week of
consumptive use by turfgrasses during the maximum
season of heat, wind and grass growth. Just to give
you a case in point, let's examine the following
information. During two or three weeks in July, the
U.S. weather bureau reported 1.77 inches of
evaporation in the Puyallup area. Some of the areas in
the Pacific Northwest had less evaporation and other
areas had more but basically this is about an average.
The "K factor" (a factor which compares the actual
use of water from the soil by the plant which includes
both the evaporation and transpiration as compared
to evaporation from an open pan) for turfgrasses is
almost 1 to 1 with evaporation. This means, simply,
that the grasses during that period used about 1.77
inches of water during that week. This indicates,
then, that the consumptive use was about 1 /4 inch of
water daily.
Obviously, when it is cloudy or if there has
been a shower or two, or the temperatures are lower
or there has been no wind, then we will not use as
much water as compared to the opposite. However,
for design purposes or for predicting a water1
requirement or pumping requirement we had better
be thinking about 1/4 inch daily consumptive use
during the maximum season.
(Cont'd on Page 6, Col. 1)

5 A L I S H A N
G l e n e d e n
O c t o b e r
THEME:

L O D G E

Oregon

B e a c h ,
7 , 8

&

9 ,

1 9 7 0

Turfgrasses In Our Environment.

GENERAL CHAIRMAN: Tom Keel, President, Northwest Turfgrass Association.
PROGRAM CHAIRMAN: Roy L. Goss.

WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 7, 1970

MORNING:
10:00 -

Registration.
Golf Tournament.

AFTERNOON:
1:15 - 1:30 Welcome: Tom Keel, President Northwest Turfgrass Association.
1:30 - 2:15 Environmental Pollution and Marine Life — Joel Hedgpeth, Oregon State
University, Resident Director, Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon.
2:15 - 3:00 Understanding the Physical Characteristics of Your Putting Green Mixes. William
B. Davis A.E.S., Extension Turf-Landscape Horticulturist, University of California,
Davis, California.
3:00 - 3:20 Break.
3:20 - 4:20 Solving Park Problems — Panel Discussion. Jack Sim, Director of Parks and
Forest, Josephine County Oregon, Grants Pass, Oregon and Roy L. Goss,
WWREC, Puyallup.
4:20 - 4:45
EVENING:
6:30 - 7:30
7:30 -

Question and Answers for the Afternoon Session.

Social Hour.
Banquet and Evening Program.
THURSDAY - OCTOBER 8, 1970

MORNING:
8:30 - 9:30

9:30 - 10:15
10:15 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:00

Panel Discussion — Personnel Management and Public Relations. John Zoller,
Eugene Golf and Country Club, Bill Bengeyfield, U.S.G.A. Green Section, Garden
Grove, California, Tom Keel, Director of Parks, Douglas County, Oregon,
Roseburg.
Proper Specifications for Irrigation Systems. Roger Gordon, Landscape Irrigation
Consultants, Redondo Beach, California.
Break.
A Survey of Parks Problems in Oregon. Wilbur Bluhm and Willard Lighty, Area
Extension Agents, Oregon State University.
Question and Answer Session.
Northwest Turfgrass Association Membership Annual Meeting.
(Cont'd on Page 3)
2

AFTERNOON:
12:00 - 1:15 Lunch.
1:15 - 2:30 Panel Discussion. Equipment for
Jacobsen Manufacturing Co., Boise,
St., St. Paul, Minn., W. H. (Babe)
Cupertino, California.
2:30 Free time for recreation, committee

the Turfgrass Industry. Tobe K. Thompson,
Idaho, Russell E. Rose, Ryan Equipment Co.,
Brinkworth, Toro Manufacturing Corporation,
meetings, or other conferences.

EVENING:
8:00 -

Certification. The Turf Professional's Degree. A general discussion regarding
educational training and professional requirements for all turf managers. Cliff
Wagoner, Director, G.C.S.A.A. Modesto, California, Walter Boysen, G.C.S.A.A.,
Oakland, California, Bud Johnson, Washington Tree Service, Seattle, Washington,
and John D. Beheyt,Eastside Spray Service, Kirkland, Washington.
FRIDAY - OCTOBER 9, 1970

MORNING:
8:30 - 9:15 Trees and Their Care. Bernard Wesenburg, WWREC, Puyallup.
9:15 - 9:45
Role of Turfgrasses in Environmental Pollution. O. M. Scott Company.
9:45 - 10:20 Studying the Problem Green. William B. Davis, A.E.S., Extension Turf-Landscape
Horticulturist, University of California, Davis, California.
10:20 - 10:35 Break.
10:35 - 11:10 Pre-and Post-Emergent Controls for
POA aNNUA. Roy L. Goss, WWREC,
Puyallup, Wash.
11:10 - 12:00 Research Reports, Charles J. Gould, Plant Pathologist, WWREC, Puyallup, Wash.,
Roy L. Goss, Associate Agronomist, WWREC, Puyallup, Wash.
CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION:
Members—One Register Free, Others from member's organization—
Non-Members- S 15.00.
Ladies Registration—$5.00.

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Tacoma 1, Washington

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Maintenance Equipment and
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8917 E. Burnside Street
Portland 16, Oregon

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Order Banvel-D-4S from your distributor now!

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341 E. Ohio St.

Chicago, III. 60611

President's Corner
(Cont'd from Page 1, Col. 1)

FROM THE OREGON

EDITORS NOTE: The editor has in his possession,
evidence that we have a true athlete in our group. It
seems that our athlete was attending a county parks
conference in Portland and dropped by Benson Tech
to get in his daily three miles of running. It seems
that an all—comers track meet was in progress so this
athlete entered the three—mile event along with six
other fellows in the 30—40 year—old age group.
Not only has this athlete claimed to have lost
42 pounds this last year but also won this track event
in a time of 17:58.5, bettering his previous best of
18:00.9, during an all—comers meet in Roseburg.
This sterling athlete is non other than our President,
Tom Keel, Director of Douglas County Parks. This
evidence indicates "No wonder the County
Commissioners can't catch him."
Congratulations Tom, this is a great
accomplishment and now we can believe you are also
in great shape.

COMPOST HEAP
VIKING SHIP
By Byron Reed
It looks like a great crowd is in the offing for
Salishan Lodge and the Northwest Turfgrass
Conference, October 7, 8, 9, 1970, Those who
haven't thought of reservations by this date are not
enjoying the hospitality of Salishan. The house is
full!!! Your reservation will be honored by Salishan
and placed in a nearby motel.
This has been a real hot summer and all of the
golf superintendents, here in Oregon, have been put
to the full test. One only has to observe the crowds
on golf courses, these days, to know that the golf
superintendent has his hands full. If someone ever
comes up with a method of handling the crowds and
good turf management all at the same time, we will
all breathe easier.

FROM NORWAY

The smooth, round, flowable, quickly soluble
NPK homogeneous fertilizer
FOR TURF

with Sulfur and
Nitrate Nitrogen

Order today

from:

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270 Lawrence

Ave..

So. San Francisco.

P.O. Box 1290.

Some job changes since the last column.
Myron Olson, formerly with John Zoller at Eugene
Country Club has taken the Superintendent's job at
Springfield Country Club. Richard Malpass, formerly
at Shadow Hills Estates Golf Course, has taken the
Superintendent's job at Riverside Golf & Country
Club in Portland, Oregon. Dick Lovell, formerly with
Harvey Junor at Portland Golf Club has taken the
Superintendent's job at Bend Golf Club.

Offices

Tampa.

California

Florida

also in Los Angeles.

94080

33601

Portland.

• Phone:
Seattle

415-589-8830

813-223-4127

and Salt

Lake

City

LILLY'S
Organic Fertilizers
"Keeps Grass Greener — longer"
Custom mixing of seed and fertilizer to your
requirements.

Chas. H. Lilly Co.

Portland Seed Co.

MA 2-8484

BE 2-5135

Inland Seed Co.
TE 8-8211

Looking forward to seeing you at Salishan.

• Phone:

VIKING SHIP HYDROPRILLS ARE MANUFACTURED BY NORSK HYDRO OF OSLO. NORWAY WHO PRODUCE
ANNUALLY OVER 2,000,000 TONS OF NITROGEN BEARING FERTILIZERS.

ft

Sunset Golf Club, in Coos County near
Charleston, Oregon, opened August 1, 1970. Dennis
Olson has done a fine job bringing this golf club to
the open date.

HYDRO-PRILLS.

IN MEMORIAM

Frank Gavan

George Avard Lawton
George Lawton died at his home in Tacoma,
Washington on April 14, 1970. He was born in the
same city on June 6, 1929. The cause of George's
death was diagnosed as acute subarachnoid
hemmorrhage which was caused by a birth defect.
George leaves behind his wife, Anna, and Daniel, age
14 and daughter, Joanne age 9.
After returning from the Korean war, George
worked at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club under
Henry Land Sr. from March 1953 to March 1956.
From March 1956 to June 1959 he was the
superintendent at the Elks Allenmore Golf Course.
He then moved to Olympia as Superintendent of the
Olympia Golf and Country Club from June 1959 to
January 1965. In January 1965, George returned to
Tacoma Country Club as Assistant Superintendent
until he took over as superintendent on March 1,
1968. We allmournhis passing and wish to convey our
deepest sympathy to his family.

TURF-TRUCKSTER
The Ail-Purpose
Grounds Maintenance Vehicle
B E L L E V U E — Sunset Northwest
1919-120th Ave. N.E.
P O R T L A N D — Ray Garner
2232 E. Burnside
S P O K A N E — Audubon
1329 N. Ash St.

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Co.
232-2588

Cushman Sales
G A 5-2527

Frank was golf course superintendent at the
Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria, B.C., when he
died at the age of 65. His death was a result of
multiple injuries received when a part of a fallen tree
broke off and fell on him when trying to clear the
tree from the golf course.
Frank was born in Ireland, raised in England «
and came to North America in 1929, travelling
throughout the U.S. and Canada as a Musician. He
married in Terrace B.C. where he led a 30 piece
orchestra and a 10 piece dance band and also
designed and managed a 9 hole golf course later in
Nanaimo, B.C.
Frank worked as a logger and surveyor in the
B.C. interior and was secretary of the Rod and Gun
Club at Terrace, and field man in that area for Ducks
Unlimited.
In addition to Frank's many talents, he was
an accomplished woodcarver and painter, particularly
of wild life settings. He is survived by his wife Bertha,
who still resides in Victoria. The Turfgrass
Association extends to Mrs. Gavan, and the family,
our deepest sympathy.

TURF IRRIGATION
for
*

GOLF COURSE

•

PARKS —

—

CEMETERY

RESIDENTIAL

H. D. FOWLER, INC.
13440 S.E. 30th Street
BELLEVUE, W A S H I N G T O N 98004
P.O. Box 160

Ph. SHerwood 6-8400

Irrigation Problems

HOW MUCH NITROGEN?

(Cont'd from Page 1, Col. 2)
You may wonder why, since this maximum
season occurs for perhaps only two to four weeks,
that we should design a system to deliver the
maximum amount of water all the time. Many
turfgrass managers are descriminating to the point
that they do not want brown areas at any time. If so,
then the maximum use factor dictates the design. If,
on the other hand, you have no objection to some
off—color or brown turf for approximately one
month, then you can possibly get by with less water.
It is a poor practice to apply on a continuing basis,
less than the consumptive use because the soil
continues to dry out in spite of your efforts to the
point where high tensions build up and water will
simply run off of the high spots and into the low
spots. You end up, therefore, with a few green spots
and many brown areas.
There is some consolation, however, when
turf does go dry. Poa annua will dry out just as
quickly, if not more so, than desirable bentgrass,
fescues, and bluegrasses, therefore, it will help to
keep down POA aNNUA. somewhat and in the case
of golf courses, the golfer does score better since he
gets much longer dreves on dry courses.

(Cont'd from Page 7, Col. 2)
Most of these organic additives require
additional nitrogen applications, Loamite has had
nitrogen added and does not require any appreciable
quantity of nitrogen outside of the needs for the
grass. Loamite will supply some nitrogen to the
growing grass for a short period of time. All of the
other materials will require additional amounts of
nitrogen over and above the needs of the grass. The
best way to judge this is to watch the color and
growth rate of the grass and supply sufficient
nitrogen to keep it in a healthy growing condition.
One last important consideration with organic
materials, is to be sure that they are uniformly
incorporated with the soil so that no pockets of pure
organic material exists. These pockets will decompose
and cause uneven settling of surfaces. They will cause
other problems as well. Off-site mixing is generally
recommended where organic materials are to be
incorporated.

PACIFIC AGRO COMPANY
We enjoy working with turf people.
Helping to Keep Washington Green.

YOUR SOURCE OF NITROFORM
1075 S . W . Spokane S t .

The best foursome to
keep company with...

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A Review of Organic Materials for Turfgrass Construction
By Roy L. Goss
New materials and products are constantly
appearing on our market. Due to the vast size of the
Turfgrass Industry a lot of interest has been
stimulated in this area by persons who have products
to develop or sell. This article is a brief review of
some of the organic materials available in the Pacific
Northwest and the author's comments»
WHY DO WE USE ORGANIC MATERIALS?
Before deciding which organic material to use,
perhaps we should ask ourselves why we use it. Under
conditions of synthetic construction such as athletic
fields, putting greens, etc., the basic material for the
surface is sand. Sand is inert in reaction, holds little
moisture, and will compact when particle sizes are
quite fine. Organic materials added to sands will
increase water holding capacity, nutrient holding
capacity, and help to prevent the soil sand particles
from compacting too closely together or, in other
words, provide some softness, or resiliency to the soil.
Organic material will also provide nutrients, and a
medium for bacterial activity.
Soils that are truly classed as topsoil that are
used for lawn construction purposes, playgrounds,
golf course fairways, parks and other areas, usually do
not require the addition of organic material since the
organic matter level is usually high enough under
natural conditions. Secondly, it is not entirely
feasible to add organic material to large turfgrass
areas such as parks and school grounds. Our organic
discussions then should be confined to the specialized
areas as pointed out above.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE?
1. Sphagnum peatmoss
2. Sedimentary peat
3. Sawdust
4. Loamite
5. Seaforest
6. Other organic materials such as manures.

Seaforest is one of the most recent additions
to the turfgrass market. It is a ground bark product
which has been fortified with kelp to provide a
number of factors; among them would be minor
elements. Bark decomposes very slowly in the soils,
hence the life of the material should be excellent.
Sphagnum peatmoss is probably one of the
oldest organic products on the market for amending
sandy soils. Although sphagnum peatmoss is an
excellent material, it does have the tendency to
compact under intensive use. It will not hold up so
well as the bark or sawdust materials. It is still,
however,an excellent material for use in construction.

Sawdust can come from a number of sources
and this factor should be carefully considered. It is
not recommended that cedar sawdust be used alone
in a soil mixture. A sawdust mixture can be
composed of cedar up to 25% without producing
harmful effects. For the most part, fir or hemlock
sawdust is best. The hardwood sawdusts, although
satisfactory, do decompose more readily in the soil
and do not produce the desired effect as long as fir or
hemlock. Sawdust should be composed of particles
no more than 3/8 inch in size and preferably smaller.
Many people receive shavings and chips which cannot
be classed as sawdust. Sawdust should be leached
before mixing.
Loamite is a processed sawdust material with
much of the cellulose removed producing a more
stable material that will hold up longer than sawdust
or peatmoss in a soil mixture. Data are not available
to compare Loamite with Seaforest. Specialized areas
that have been constructed with Loamite have
reported excellent results.
Sedimentary peat is a completely decomposed
plant material that is found in local bogs in the
Pacific Northwest. The material has little or no
identity to the original plants that formed these
deposits. The material can be broken down to a
powder form by hand when dry and it appears almost
as a mud when wet. These materials should be
completely avoided where possible for construction
of specialized areas. Small amounts of this material
may possibly be used in areas outside of greens or
football fields since it will supply organic material
which will increase the nutrient and water-holding
capacity of soils. Under heavy traffic, however, these
extremely fine organic particles will float to the
surface and cause sealing of the soils. This is
ocassionally referred to as a "locked-up or frozen
soil".

HOW MUCH ORGANIC MATTER SHOULD WE USE?
For the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the
wetter areas, we feel that 30% organic matter by
volume is the highest amount that should be used and
preferably 25%. Organic matter will increase the
water-holding capacity, therefore causing wet-soggy
conditions during the winter. On the other hand,
consider the fact that irrigation is practiced
throughout the playing season on golf courses
particularly, so it could likewise cause excessive water
to be held in the surfaces in the drier regions as well.
Therefore, volumes of 26-30% should be acceptable.
In calculating peatmoss, always calculate on the basis
of loose volume and not on baled volume. Baled peat
has only about one-half the volume as loose peat.
(Cont'd on Page 6, Col. 2)

IT'S TIME TO LIME
Grass will not grow without sufficient available

CALCIUM!
Kiln dried - Fine ground limestone Flour

HEMPHILL BROS. INC.
Seattle MA 2-4277

J. A. JACK & SONS, INC.
High Calcium, Sacked, Bulk or Spread

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•

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End T u r f Moisture Problems

•

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MANUFACTURED BY

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Cincinnati, Ohio 45201
DISTRIBUTED BY

The Chas. H. Lilly Company
5200 Denver Avenue, South

Seattle, Wash. 98108

The Inland Seed Company
228 W . Pacific Avenue

Spokane, Wash. 99204

The Portland Seed Company
109 S.E. Alder Street

Portland, Ore. 97214

SOD andjSTOL0NS
LAWNS — TEES — APRONS
BEAUTIFUL — DURABLE

Stolons Grown on Contract
ASK US FOR PRICE F.O.B. SUMNER
OR YOUR LOCATION

Emerald Turfgrass Farms
1703 Dexter Ave.

Seattle, Wash. 98109

Officers of the Northwest Turf
Association
Tom Keel
President
Doug Weddle
Dick Haskell
Dr. Roy Goss

Vice-President
Treasurer^
Exe.. Secretary

NORTHWEST TURFGRASS TOPICS is sports"
sored 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. [35th,
Seattle, Wash. 98155, or Roy L. Göss, Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyjatlup,
Washington.
i ^
Communications concerning content <j>fAhi£
paper should be directed to Dr. Roy Gqss?3
Editor, Western Washington Experiment [StaCD
tion, Puyallup, Washington.
c
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