Northwest TURFGRASS TOPICS Vol. 19—No. 3 President's Corner As my term as President of the Northwest Turfgrass Association begins, I would like to report that the Board of Directors is busy working on next years conference. It will be held October 5, 6 and 7th at Salishan resort, Gleneden Beach, Oregon. The conference is shaping up to be one of the best we have ever held. Our program Chairman, Mr. Clayton Bauman and Dr. Roy Goss, are busy lining up speakers for the upcoming conference. If you have any suggestions for topics to be presented at this year's conference, your input is requested before January 31. Mail your ideas to Mr. Clayton Bauman, 29718 - 112 S.E., Auburn, Washington 98002, or Dr. Roy Goss, Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Puyallup, Washington 98371. Two new ideas for this year's conference include preregistration and open afternoon for golf or recreation. We will have more information on the conference in our next issue. May the coming year bring the very best of Good Health and Happiness to you and to your family. Dates to Remember: Golf Course Employees Workshop South Seattle Community College January 17, 1977 Turfgrass Field Days Western Washington Research and Extension Center June 14, 1977 - Golf Courses June 16, 1977 - County, State & Federal Workers June 17, 1977 - General Public Northwest Turfgrass Conference Salishan Lodge Gleneden Beach, Oregon October 5, 6, and 7, 1977 PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON DECEMBER, 1976 Pest Management Short Course Two 4-day courses have been scheduled for western Washington to prepare candidates for all categories of pesticide licensing. The first program is scheduled for January 31, February 1, 2, and 3, 1977 at the Sherwood Inn in Tacoma. The same course will be offered at Mount Vernon on February 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first session will be held at the Sherwood Inn in Tacoma, which is located along 1-5 at the south end of Tacoma. Take Exit No. 128 coming from the South or Exit No. 129 coming from the North. The Mount Vernon session will be held at the Town and Country Motel and more information for that area can be obtained by contacting Coordinator Marvin Jarmin, County Extension Agent, 306 Courthouse, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, telephone 236-2137. The sessions will help prepare individuals in all categories for State Licensing examinations and are highly recommended for review and updating. The mornings of the first three days will be devoted to basic information while the afternoons will focus on more specialized topics. The cost of the program is $24.00 for four days, $ 18.00 for three days, $12.00 for two days, and $6.00 for one day. This includes lunches and beverage breaks. Programs and registration forms can be obtained by contacting Coordinator William Scheer, Area Extension Agent, 5601 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98408, telephone 593-4190, or in the Mount Vernon area, contact Marvin Jarmin, whose address is shown above. Individuals who plan to take one or more of the exams should own or have access to a copy of the Washington Pest Control Handbook. An order form for the handbook can also be obtained from these County Extension offices. Study guides will be mailed to those requesting them on registration forms. Registrations should be returned by January 15, 1977, if possible. This short course provides the best and easiest means for preparing yourself to successfully pass license examinations and also for updating yourself to maintain your license. Turfgrass Field Day — 1977 The dates have been set for the annual Turfgrass Field Day at the Western Washington Research and Extension Center at Puyallup, Washington. Once again we will have a special day for all golf course oriented individuals on Tuesday, June 14. We encourage every golf superintendent to bring his assistant, green chairman, club president, golf pro and/or manager to this field day. It will help them to understand the problems that the golf superintendent faces and may make your job easier when you want to adapt important management practices and techniques to your own golf courses. Continued p. 2, col. 2 Turfgrass Field Day Continued from p. 1 Thatch Patch By Jim Chapman Looking over the December issues for 1974 and 1975 might seem like an exercise for someone with nothing better to do with his time. But the Articles are still timely and worth mentioning. Each issue mentioned a Pesticide Short Course being offered. Now 1 don't know how Washington is handling registration of certified pesticide applicators, but Oregon is doing it by way of Public Television in December, a neat idea. Don't lose track of the October 1, 1977 deadline! Get licensed before then. We have had a fall, haven't we? Speaking of pesticide application, that is. All of the golf courses I have seen or talked to have suffered from at least one severe epidemic of Fusarium nivale, often in spite of good fungicide programs. No, I don't think resistant fungi is the answer. Just the warm, muggy weather creating ideal conditions for disease development — faster than your fungicides could combat the symptoms. All you can do is use the proper amounts of fungicides, at times they will perform best for you, and at appropriate intervals. Overdoses and too frequent applications only run up the bill and can damage the turf, slowing recovery. Understanding the activity of each fungicide (mode of action) is helpful in selecting which ones you want and when (and how) to use them best. POTPOURRI — Jon Hooper has moved to the Yakima Country Club, Mark Snyder to replace him at Salishan. Allan Morris moves to Astoria Country Club and Don Packer replaces him at Emerald Valley in Creswell, Oregon. Art Mansfield took Don's job at Roseburg Country Club. Doug Holliday is now superintendent at Forest Hills Country Club in Reedsport, Ray Lekbergat Mountain View in Boring, Jack Darrow at Oak Knoll near Salem, Fred Fulmer at Seaside Golf Club, all in Oregon. In western Washington Terry Vanderstoope has replaced Dave Gianoli at Lewis River Golf Course, Woodland. David is at Green Meadows Country Club as you know. John Festus replaced Ray Mcllhoe at Tarn O'Shanter in Bellevue. Ray moved north to the Everett Golf and Country Club. 1 understand the Birch Bay Golf Course has sold to a group of our neighbors to the north (B.C.). Sahalee without Louis Schmidt? Not possible, you say. 'Tis so, Louie says as he plans to retire in June, 1977. What can you say about a man who has given so much of his life to the improvement of golf courses in the Pacific Northwest? How many of you out there have asked Louie for help one time or another? Hands in the air! Wow, maybe it would be easier to count the few who haven't had the opportunity. Bob Schoessler has retired in a way too, from Dungeness Golf Club to Dungeness Turf Farms and doing great. And so has Dale Kenyon — leaving Meadow Springs in Richland to grow sod. Are those guys on to something? We will check it out and report next trip. On Wednesday, June 15, we will have a private field day for all County Extension Agents, Federal, and State personnel involved in turfgrasses. On Thursday, June 16, we will have a public field day for parks, cemeteries, homeowners or anyone who wishes to attend. The golf course field day will start at 10:00 a.m. and will be completed between 1:00 and 2:00. This will give us enough time to show you the significant things that are occurring in our program and yet will allow some of the people you bring along to get back to their jobs or other appointments. The public field day will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will be completed between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. We have moved the field days to June this year in hopes of having a little warmer weather and perhaps less chance for rain. Mark these dates on your calendar now and reserve these dates and notify your club officials so they can reserve the dates as well. Let's everyone work to get a good turnout. NORTHWEST MOWERS, INC. JACOBSEN 542-7484 926 North 165th St. Seattle, Wash. 98133 Jocobsen Cushman Vermeer Standard and Par-Aide COMPLETE LINE OF TURF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES BALTZ & SON 9817 E. Burnside Portland, Ore. 97216 254-6593 FREAM/STORM/ASSOCIATES, LTD. INTERNATIONAL OOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS h S PLANNING CONSULTANTS 2 LO OLD N D TOWN. ON LOS GATOS, M E L B CALIFORNIA OURNE 95030 V A (408) NCO 354-8240 UVER Golf Course Maintenance Workshop The Northwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents will conduct a full day workshop for golf course maintenance crews at the South Seattle Community College on January 17, 1977. The program is in charge of Kevin Van, Program Chairman, and Sam Zook, President. The host for the workshop will be Mr. Steve Nord, Instructor at South Seattle. This workshop is designed to present a full day of fundamentals in many categories to all maintenance crews on golf courses. In most instances, the only members of the maintenance crew who are exposed to Conferences, Workshops, Seminars and other educational meetings are the superintendents and their assistants; however, this meeting is designed for all members on the maintenance crew. The workshop will commence promptly at 8:00 a.m. and will be finished by 4:10 p.m. The following items will be covered on the full day agenda: 1. What the golfer thinks he wants ^ panel discussion with A1 Mundle, Golf Professional, Overlake Golf and Country Club, Torp Peluso, Golf Professional, Auburn Municipal Golf Club, Ron Proctor, Rainier Golf and Country Club, and Ed Jennings, Snohomish Golf Club. 2. Operation and care of maintenance equipment. Toby Thompson, Jacobsen Mfg. Co., Babe Brinkworth, Toro Corp., and Art Kain, Superintendent, Wayne Golf Course. 3. Employee relations — public and private. Doug Weddle, Superintendent, Tumwater Valley Golf Club, John Monson, Superintendent, Broadmoor Golf Club, Lonnie Goulet, Crew Member, Rainier Golf and Country Club. 4. Disease Diagnosis and Treatment. Dr. C. J. Gould, Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, WA. 5. Pesticide Application Techniques. Jim Chapman, O. M. Scott, Bellevue, WA. 6. Safe Pesticide Handling - Steve Nord, South Seattle Community College. 7. New Innovations — Larry Gilhuly, Asst. Superintendent, Seattle Golf Club. 8. Some Interesting Things About the Grass Plant - How to Listen to It, How to Read It — Roy Goss and Tom Cook, Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, WA. 9. A topic of interest from Bill Bengeyfield, U.S. Golf Association Green Section. All of these discussions will be open and ample time allowed for questions and answers and should be of tremendous interest and value to golf course crews. Lunch will be served at the South Seattle Community College cafeteria at a very reasonable price and coffee and pastry will be served at the breaks. „. Instant Lawn ifK: Consistant high quality Oregon sod Fast forklift delivery (1000 sq. ft. or more) ^ Serving Washington Nurserymen & Landscapers 5760 - 110th Ave. S.E. Bellevue. Wa. 98006 641-5916 M l / l i f e FERTILIZERS g Suppliers of All m TURF CHEMICALS and FERTILIZERS FUNGICIDES - HERBICIDES SOIL AMENDMENTS TACOMA 1424 Thorne Road Tacoma, Wash. 98421 BR 2-5171 CKNKR SEATTLE MA 2-3228 3 AUTOMATIC - MANUAL Sprinkler Systems Complete Line of Water Handling Equipment POLSON CO. DISTRIBUTORS SEATTLE SPOKANE MA 2-2891 FA 7-9571 Sunset Northwest •CUSHMAN Turf Vehicles •SIMPLICITY Power Products •COOPER Power Products • ROPER Power Products •ADVANCE Industrial Sweepers •CYCLINE — •AMERICAN-McKISSIC 1919 - 120th N.E. Bellevue, Wa. 98004 455-5640 ATTENTION "GREENS-KEEPERS" of Golf Courses FAST, LOW COST EXTERMINATOR We now have available a new Hand inexpensive cartridge loaded unit which dispenses poison bait automatically underground in pocket gopher's natural runway, out of reach of harmless birds and pets. $29.95. Write for detailed information to: George Merriman, Inc. 3211 East Trent Spokane, Wa. 99202 509-534-9339 1977 Northwest Turfgrass Conference The directors of the Northwest Turfgrass Association at their meeting in Spokane in October picked Salishan Lodge at Gleneden Beach, Oregon as the site for the 1977 Annual Northwest Conference. The dates of October 4, 5, 6, and 7 have been reserved by the Lodge for our Conference. Many of you will wish to arrive on Monday night, October 3, and perhaps stay over Friday night, October 7. The golf tournament associated with the Conference will be held on Tuesday, October 4, with registration beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing on thereafter. The Conference proper will start at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5 and will be adjourned at noon on Friday, October 7. It was decided by the program committee and the board of directors that we would have three educational sessions running from 9:00 a.m. to l :00 p.m. daily leaving the balance of the time available for special meetings, private conferences and recreation. There will be 12 hours of concentrated conference room activity, but this change will be a change of pace from our previous conferences. At the present time Russ Cleveland, Sales and Conference Director for Salishan, is holding 130 deluxe rooms for arrival on Monday, October 3 and departure on Friday, October 7. Please take notice that it is very important that all reservations and advance room deposits equivalent to one night's room rental must be received by Salishan no later than September 12. Room deposits can be refunded if notice of cancellation is received 48 hours or more in advance of arrival. In order to help you with your reservations, you will receive a mailing in early to mid-summer with room reservation application and a pre-registration packet. Early registration for Northwest Turfgrass Association members will be $12.00 and all late registrations will be $16.00. All others who are not members of the Northwest Turfgrass Association will pay $25.00 registration. As an incentive for early registration, a valuable door prize will be given to a lucky winner of a drawing at the conference. Not only will you save $4.00 by pre-registering, but you will also have a chance to win this valuable door prize. So start your plans now and reserve these dates and look for the registration packet which will be coming to you. P r o T u r f The Pro's Know... NITROFORM Agro quality really counts! WEED KILLERS Pacific A g r o C o m p a n y 903 Houser Way No. HYDROPRILLS Renton 98055 FUNGICIDES P.O. Box 326 • 228-6565 Suppliers of all your professional needs! TURF & TORO DISTRIB., INC. Toro—Moist-O-Matic—Ryan, Standard, Par-Aid 6001 Maynard Ave So. RO 2-7242 Cumberland Valley Turf :vr Professional Turf Supplying Top Quality Sod • Seed • Fertilizer Call Us For Prices (206) 825-5266 We Deliver 45533 - 212th Ave. S.E. Enumclaw, Wa. 98022 Helping the superintendent through turf research... • Controlled Release Fertilizers • Fertilizer/Pesticide Combinations • Fungicides-Herbicides—Insecticides • Soil Testing-Weed & Disease Identification SCOTTS • LELY • GANDY SPREADERS Finest quality turfgrass seed-Fairways • Greens • Tees • Roughs Scotts Windsor and Victa blends L. Ben Malikowski N. 8007 Howard Spokane, Wa. 99208 (509) 326-4344 ' ' Growers James 2R. Chapman >™ 21*t St. ® < ? 8 0 0 » v 206 7 4 6 1569 < > (Seattle (503) 287-3414 (Portland) Do Fescues Have a Place in Bluegrass Turf? By Dr. John Thome Almost everyone will agree that, when healthy, fine fescues are quite attractive. Over the years a reputation has been established for an ability to persist in shade under trees and on dry, poor soils where most other grasses fail. For these reasons, grass seed mixtures formulated for shade have traditionally included large percentages of fine fescues. In recent years, however, the shine has faded from the appeal of the fescues. The "tarnish" may have been provided by the trend toward higher maintenance (frequent close mowing, fertilizing, and watering) and the diseases that often follow. Under these high maintenance conditions, prolonged summer heat may result in the death of large patches of fescues in pure stands, or a major reduction in plant population of the fescue component in a bluegrass-fescue mixture. Because most fescues do not "fill in" as do the bluegrasses, these occurences are usually permanent. It may also be that some of the "tarnish" has been provided by the development of greatly improved bluegrass varieties, a few of which thrive in moderate shade as well as full sun. These bluegrasses don't seem to mind the dog days of summer, and appear to have better overall disease resistance than the fescues. Generally these attractive new varieties perform best under the same high-maintenance conditions that spell trouble for the fescues. What about the future of fescue/ bluegrass mixtures? Here the problems arise, for in addition to the ever-widening gap in management requirements, varietial difference in aggressiveness make it very difficult to recommend compatible blend components for a stable mixture. Repeatedly the chewings fescues have proven to be too aggressive for all but a few aggressive bluegrass varieties even at only 15-20% by weight. Resulting turf is quite variable in texture, with alternating clumps of broad-bladed, dark-green bluegrass and fine-bladed, light to medium green fescues. The spreading or creeping red fescues would seem to be better suited for blending with bluegrasses. In theory their spreading habit, broader leaves, and good shade tolerance would seem to favor them over the aggressive, clumpforming chewing types. But again, problems. The resulting turf often has reduced sod strength as well as less than desired shade tolerance, disease resistance, and stand uniformity. If fescues have a place in today's high-maintenance bluegrass turf, it would seem to be as a-minor component — the exact percentage and variety depending upon the type of fescue, aggressiveness of the bluegrass variety, and type of growth conditions expected. At best, fescues would contribute o n l y a measure of shade and possibly drought tolerance to the blend of bluegrasses (but also a safety factor should the high maintenance lawn someday revert to a low maintenance lawn, under which conditions red fescue will quickly dominate — even if only present as 10% of the original bluegrass/ fescue mixture). d « J Potential for Washington Agriculture in Year 2020 — Turfgrass Management By Roy L. Goss FOREWORD We were asked by the College of Agriculture of Washington State University to prepare a statement (crystal ball) of our views of our respective fields and where we might predict they would be in the year 2020. These are some of the writer's views and I would be most appreciative of your views as well, so take a few minutes of your time and jot some of these down and send them in. It might be interesting to publish some of these views in the next issue of Turfgrass Topics. Turfgrasses will become increasingly more important in the urban environment during the next 50 years. As urban areas expand, there will be greater demand for play and athletic fields, parks, and open space areas for recreation. Soccer and field hockey are on the increase and will become more popular. Golf courses will increase in number to provide recreation, exercise and natural beauty for many people. Increased leisure time and travel restrictions will result in greater interest in home grounds and local recreational opportunities. Synthesized fertilizers (nitrogen) will be in short supply and possibly restricted or prohibited from non-food production uses; and possibly the same may hold true for phosphorus and potassium. Hence, turfgrasses will be bred for low fertility requirements with possibly some sacrifice in aesthetic beauty. Turfgrasses will utilize greater amounts of solid waste which cannot be used in industry. Chemical growth retardants will be perfected to turn the grass plant "on and o f f ' without the undesirable problems with today's chemicals. This will reduce mowing labor and equipment, use of energy, fire hazard and reduce fertility and water requirements. It is doubtful, but possible, that more synthetic turfgrass substitutes will appear; however, due to the cooling effect, oxygen producing factor, water holding characteristics, etc. of natural turf, this area of development is doubtful. As products of petroleum industry synthetic turf costs may become so high they eliminate themselves from the turf picture. Scientific management and varietal breeding may keep pace with increased disease, insect and environmental pollution problems (smog, ozone, etc.) since chemical pollution of the environment will receive priority attention. In all probability, no one will be allowed to purchase and apply most classes of pesticides without rigid licensing examinations and permits; and a critical need will have to be demonstrated. More trouble-free and simplified maintenance programs will have to be developed. Water will definitely be a limiting factor. More people will require more water. Non-food producing areas will be the first restricted. Grasses and management programs will have to be developed to exist on minimal or no supplemental water other than natural precipitation. Colorado and certain otehr areas are already facing this problem. Synthetic aquifers may be developed for storage of excess water to be recycled during periods of water stress. These are but a few of the problems the writer sees facing us in the next 50 years, but alas, time will tell. TURF & TORO MOBILE SERVICE 6001 Maynard Ave So. RO 2-7242 TORO SOD LAWNS — TEES — APRONS BEAUTIFUL — DURABLE Ask us for price FOB Sumner or your location Emerald Turfgrass Farms RT. 1, BOX 146A, UN 3-1003 SUMNER, WASH. 98390 VE 8-9911 &J ULLYTMILLER Portland 256-4600 Controlled Release FERTILIZERS also SEEDS & CHEMICALS Seattle 762-0818 Spokane 838-8211 Hindsight If foresight was as good as hindsight, no doubt we would all be wealthy and successful. But, alas, such is not the case. The case in point is the Fusarium patch disease situation which occurred extensively over the Pacific Northwest from August through November, 1976. It all began with the cool, wet conditions of July and August for the first attacks, and this was elaborated upon in the September issue of Turf Topics. Many golf courses including those in eastern Washington were badly damaged by Fusarium patch during August. This was followed by a very dry and beautiful September when the disease situation was not very bad; however, it is likely that high levels of inoculum built up during August and when conditions became favorable for disease attack in October, the lid blew off. October and November were both characterized by unusually mild conditions for our part of the country with some periods of fog and high humidity. The result was the worst Fusarium attack damage ever experienced in the Northwest. The astute turfgrass manager who practiced a preventative program during the summer and carefully observed turfgrass conditions at all times was able to stay ahead of the disease; whereas the less fortunate individuals experienced heavy grass damage. We have elaborated at length upon the need for maintaining some preventative control fungicidal applications during all parts of the year and this is the best advice we can offer for the future. Experimental plots at Puyallup that received regular applications on two to three week intervals into early summer after which no fungicides were applied, suffered little damage from best treatments all through the fall. Both Fore (Dithane M-45) and RP 26019 showed little infection and a fairly good residual effect. We are hoping that RP 26019 will be available on the market for Fusarium control in the fall of 1977. At least this is the goal of Rhodia. Persons using the alternating program of Fore and Tersan 1991 or PMAS substituted in the place of either of these had good disease control when fungicides were applied regularly. In some cases more control was experienced after the onset of the disease with fungicidal applications made at 7 to 10 day intervals. This vas probably due to a high buildup of inoculum making the disease much more difficult to control. Those of you who experienced worse damage in 1976 may want to alter your budgets for fungicidal protection in 1977, so stay alert and keep ahead. I am reluctant to continue extolling the virtues of sulfur nutrition programs but you may be interested in knowing that all of our plots that received 3-lA lb. of sulfur (elemental wettable) per 1000 sq. ft. for the last several years had little or no Fusarium patch infection without any fungicides being applied in summer or fall. This should prove the point that balanced nutrition and higher levels of sulfur certainly impart resistance or protection against Fusarium patch disease. Likewise, our ammonium sulfate treated plots were practically free of Fusarium while adjacent urea treated plots were heavily infected. Do you need more convincing? I should point out also that those of you who are managing near 100% Poa annua turfgrass stands should not be applying more than 2-!^ lb. of elemental sulfur per 1000 sq. ft. per year since it will cause Poa annua decline. If you are farming Poa annua, be sure to maintain adequate phosphorus levels while maintaining a balance of nitrogen, potassium and sulfur. It's a real dilemma, isn't it? I I I I I I SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98119 SALES and SERVICE AUTHORIZED JOHN BEAN DEALER I I I I I I I NORTHWEST MALSBARY 2232 - 15th AVENUE WEST [ t u r f - s e e d , inc. P.O. Box 250 Hubbard, Oregon 97032 IT'S TIME TO LIME Grass w i l l not g r o w w i t h o u t sufficient a v a i l a b l e CALCIUM! Kiln dried - Fine ground limestone Flour HEMPHILL BROS. INC. Seattle MA 4-6420 J. A. JACK & SONS, INC. High Calcium, Sacked, Bulk or Spread WE SERVICE MORE (206) 283-5340 TWA 1N A I N ' AT WF q F I , W M M 1 V V t D C L L J O H N BEAN DEALER H.P. PUMPS & PARTS SPRAYERS - ACCESSORIES I national o 3D H X THE ED SHORT Z m c/> H CO. 00 Powered Turf and Garden Equipment —J 2:- SEATTLE: 18303 Andover Park West Tukwila, WA — Ph. (206) 575-0281 C 5 M -n ' Z o 30 6 ' PORTLAND: 106 North Main Milwaukie, O R . — Ph. (509) 653-0071 & > KJ — F w ~ SO ~ 71 (/> 2S ^ >w 8 00 (/> C O o o > H TOP VITALITY FOR YOUR TURF . . . with VELSICOL Chemicals VELSICOL BANVEL® 4S This new herbicide was developed especially to combat s t u b b o r n b r o a d l e a f weeds . . . even those considered tolerant to phenoxy herbicides. It's absorbed two ways — through the leaves and through the roots—for complete control. And it works in either cool or warm weather. Approved for use on St. Augustine, Centipede, Bermuda, Zoysia, Bentgrass and Bluegrass — Banvel 4S effectively controls: Curly dock, common chickweed, mouse-ear chickweed, stitchwort, dog fennel, carpetweed, knotweed, sheep sorrel, clover, knawel, chicory, lawn burweed, spurry, henbit, English daisy, spurge, purslane, pepperweed, hawkweed, creeping charlie, spotted spurge, and many others. • End Turf Moisture Problems • with DIALOAM * a soil conditioner that absorbs 1 5 0 % of its weight in water. Not a ctay • W i l l not compact • Write for free sample and prices. MANUFACTURED BY EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES, INC. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 DISTRIBUTED BY Chas. H. Lilly Company 5200 Denver Avenue, South Seattle, Wash. 98108 Chas. H. Lilly Company 228 W. Pacific Avenue Spokane, Wash. 99204 Chas. H. Lilly Company 7737 N.E. Killingsworth St. Portland, Ore. 97218 Officers of the Northwest Turfgrass ASSOCIATION Joe Lymp President Sam Angove Vice-President Jim Chapman Treasurer Dr. Roy Goss Exec. Secretary N O R T H W E S T T U R F G R A S S T O P I C S is sponsored by the Northwest Turfgrass Association and financed through funds of this organization. Any communications concerning distribution of this paper or association business should be directed to Jim Chapman, 17012 N.E. 21st St., Bellevue, Washington 98008, or Roy L. Goss, Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyallup, Washington 98371. Communications concerning content of this paper should be directed to Dr. Roy Goss, Editor, Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, Washington 98371.