FALL 1980-V0L. TWO Proprr’y of Soil, Crop Texas A Deptj JAMES u'niv. A PATCH GREEN Official Publication of the Michigan & Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association BEARD COUECnOM î MICHIGAN & BORDER C IT IES GOLF COURSE SUPERIN TENDENTS ASSOCIATION P R E S I D E N T JAMES TIMMERMAN, CGCS ORCHARD LAKE COUNTRY CLUB Orchard Lake, Michigan 48033 Off. 360-0238, Res. 682-7234 7183 Buckthorn Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236 435 Stein Road 20740 Marter Road V I C E P R E S I D E N T ROBERT HOPE, CGCS THE LOCKMOOR CLUB Off. 881-8112, Res. 884-8684 S E C R E T A R Y - T R E A S U R E R BRUCE WOLFROM, CGCS BARTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Off. 662-8359, Res. 663-9213 B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S WABEEK COUNTRY CLUB Union Lake, Michigan 48085 Off. 851*1689, Res. 698-2924 MICHAEL EDGERTON Howell, Michigan 48843 CHARLES GAIGE MEADOWBROOK COUNTRY CLUB Off. 349-3608, Res. 517-546-5927 KEVIN DUSHANE 159 Willards Way 3066 Sesame LAKELANDS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 7390 Rickett Brighton, Michigan 48116 Off. 231-3003, Res. 227-4617 ED HEINEMAN 10531 Bellevue WATERS EDGE COUNTRY CLUB Grosse lie, Michigan 48138 Off. 675-0927, Res. 676-3095 FRITZ MCMULLEN, CGCS FOREST LAKE COUNTRY CLUB Orchard Lake, Michigan 48033 Off. 335-1410, Res. 363-8030 3912 Fieldview BLOOMFIELD HILLS COUNTRY CLUB CHRIS MYERS 2831 Saturn Drive Lake Orion, Michigan 48035 Off. 642-0707, Res. 391-2074 P R E S I D E N T E M E R I T U S CLEM WOLFROM DETROIT GOLF CLUB 530 Kendry Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48013 Off. 345-4589, Res. 334-0140 "A PATCH OF GREEN” P u b l i s h e d monthly by the MICHIGAN AND BORDER C IT IE S GOLF COURSE SU PER IN TEN D EN TS ASSOCIATION Circulation: 1,250 Ted Woehrle, CGCS, Oakland H ills C.C. James Timmerman, Orchard Lakes C.C. CO-EDITORS P rinte d A t BLAKEMAN PRINTING COMPANY 31823 Utica Road Fraser, Michigan 48026 Phone: (313) 293-3540 MONTHLY ADVERTISING RATES D ouble Page S p r e a d . . . . ............................... $150.0 0 B ack O u ts id e P a g e ................................................7 5.00 F ul I P a g e ................................................................... 65.00 H a l f P a g e ................................................................ 40.00 Q uarte r P a g e ........................................................... 30.00 E ig h th P a g e ........................................................... 15.00 Six tee n th P a g e ......................................................... 10.00 C l a s s i f i e d Ad (per colu m n i n c h ) .................. 7.5 0 D IS C O U N T R A T E : One Y ear 10% N ote: A d v e r t i s i n g fees may not be deducte d from the above ra te s . 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CUSHMAN" T U R F - C A R E J I P M E N T E Q U I R — “ OMC-Lincoln, a Division of Outboard Marine Corporation 6201 Cushman Drive P.O. Box 62409 Lincoln, Nebraska 68501 f H K * b; But that's not all. The System is also a time saver that can cut your labor costs. Accessories mount on the back of the Turf-Truckster. Your men do their work quickly, efficiently... and then move on to the next job at speeds up to 22 mph. There’s less wasted traveling time, so you get more work out of each hour of labor cost. The Cushman Turf-Care System. Versatility, superior performance, economy. It’s a tough system to beat. Write today for your free Cushman Turf Care Catalog. Ymi can't beat the system. CALL NOW For a demonstration and price quotation. (313) 338-0425 GOLF CAR DISTRIBUTORS 1980 W. Wide Track Drive (U.S. 10) Pontiac, Michigan 48058 Phone: (313) 338-0425 / Anthracnose - Rediscovering The Wheel By J.M. Vargas Jr. Associate Professor Michigan State University Anthracnose, caused by Colletotri- chum graminicola (Ces) Wils., is an important disease on annual bluegrass, fine leaf fescue and perennial ryegrass. Anthracnose was originally described as a disease of annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in 1954 by J. Drew Smith (3). He demonstrated its pathogenicity and included excellent photo micrographs (pictures taken through a microscope) of the infectious process in the article. Couch (1), in his book on turf grass diseases, described anthracnose as an important disease on many turfgrass- es, although not annual bluegrass. However, in a more recent article, he reversed his earlier opinion and now believes C. graminicola is only a sap­ rophyte (2). Vargas and Detweiler (6) and Vargas (4,5) found severe anthrac­ nose infections associated with the loss of annual bluegrass fairways and greens during the warm summer weat­ her. Collectotrichum graminicola was isolated and subsequent inocculation experiments in the laboratory suppor­ ted Smith's (3) earlier coiiclusions that C graminicola was a pathogen on an­ nual bluegrass and caused the disease called anthracnose. This research was not published per se since the patho­ genicity of Colletotrichum on annual bluegrass was demonstrated 20 years before. To publish date showing C. graminicola to be a pathogen of annual would be equivalent to someone pub­ lishing an article on how he had re­ discovered the wheel in light of Smith's earlier work (3) and the fact that it was described as a disease in Couch’s Dis­ eases of Turfgrass. The significant discovery was not that C. graminicola caused anthrac­ nose on annual bluegrass, but that something other than direct high tem­ perature kill or “wilting" was respon­ sible for annual bluegrass loss during high temperature stress. Anthracnose appeared at the time to be the major factor responsible for the annual blue­ grass loss (4,5,6,7,8). This belief was based on the large amounts of anthrac­ nose (acervuli) present on the diseased plants, inoculation studies with C. graminicola and the fact that the only other pathogenic fungus isolated was Helminthosporium sorokinianum (syn Drechslera sorokinianum), the cause of leaf spot. H. sorokinianum was orig­ inally ruled out as a major factor be­ cause the benzimidazole systemic fun­ gicides (benomyl, thiophanate-methyl and thiophanate-ethyl), which gave ex- cellant anthracnose control, were re­ ported not to be effectie against Hel­ minthosporium disease whereas labor­ atory bioassays showed the benzimid­ azole fungicide to be very effective against C. graminicola. It was logically concluded based on these facts that anthracnose was the major cause for the annual bluegrass dying. Based on research subsequent three factors are now believed to be responsible for annual bluegrass loss during the warm summer weather where the symptoms are a yellow-bron­ zing of the turf, followed by tan to brown withering and eventually, death. The term used to describe this disease complex is HAS decline of annual blue­ grass - Helminthosporium leaf spot caused by H. sorokinianum, Anthrac­ nose caused by C. graminicola and Senescence or the dying of a plant due to “old age". Research is currently underway to evaluate these factors to determine the role each plays in HAS decline of annual bluegrass during heat stress periods. The key environmental factor in the development of HAS decline appears to be high nighttime temperature or this is not to say high daytime tempera­ ture or high humidity are not predis­ posing factors, but unless 70 degree plus temperature is experienced for 2- 3 nights in a row, severe HAS decline epidemics will not occur. The past two seasons (1978-1979) the daytime tem­ peratures were above 85 degrees many times including several days above 90 degrees, but HAS decline was not ser­ ious. A widespread problem occurs because the warm nightime tempera­ tures did not occur. HAS decline was only a problem in 1978-79 where no fungicides at all were used, where an­ nual bluegrass herbicide control pro­ grams were being used, where phyto­ toxic fungicides were applied during warm weather, or where poor soil and air drainage were present, but, there has not been a severe HAS decline epidemic since 1977 in the northern areas of the cool season grass regions. Preventing annual bluegrass loss through the use of fungicides meant a golf course superintendent no longer had to stand by and helplessly watch his annual bluegrass die during the warm summer weather. Nor did he have to feverishly rush around syring­ ing or irrigating to prevent his annual bluegrass from ‘‘wilting”, only to have it die anyway. He could treat his annual bluegrass with a fungicide and have it survive the warm summer weather. For the scientific community, it meant a re-evaluation of annual blue­ grass as a potential desirable turfgrass species and the subsequent research on its fertility requirements, mowing requirements, cultural requirements, disease and insect problems. This has now begun, even if begrudgingly, and even if sometimes only through the pressure from golf course superinten­ dents associations for answers on how to maintain bluegrass. This pressure is understandable when you consider the superintendent has been bombarded with annual bluegrass chemical con­ trols for the past 50 years, none of which have been very successful. The reasons include: 1) lack of chemical efficacy, 2) lack of thorough research on these herbicides before they were introduced, and 3) the belief that a chemical is going to selectively remove a “weedy” grass species from an envir­ onment it is adapted to and replace the weedy grass with an unadapted “desir­ able” species without changing the management regime. Such reasoning is ludicrous and has directly contributed to past failures. If annual bluegrass could be removed selectively and pre­ vented from returning through the use of herbicides what grass is going to replace it? If it is replaced with Ken­ tucky bluegrass maintained at 1/2 inch mowing height and irrigated frequently to maintain soft fairways, then the question has to be, what will replace the Kentucky bluegrass when it dies if annual bluegrass is prevented from doing so? Creeping bentgrass? Poa trivialis? Or perhaps bare soil? The problem is not the annual bluegrass, but the cultural regime under which the turf is being maintained. Annual bluegrass is simply replacing Kentucky bluegrass which is not adapted to close mowing and frequent irrigation be­ cause it is adapted to such a manage­ ment regime and no chemical is going to change that! The selective herbicide may prevent the annual bluegrass from returning but it will not prevent the Kentucky bluegrass from leaving. What is wrong with annual blue­ grass? Nothing. It is not better or no worse than any other cool season turf­ grass species. They all have their strong and weak points. Annual blue­ grass is adapted to the 1/2 inch mowing height and frequent irrigation regimes employed on golf courses where the golfer insists on low-cut soft fairways. It does have its share of disease prob­ lems, but so do all the other turfgrass species. (Table 1). If a healthy annual bluegrass turf is to be maintained, these diseases have to be treated. The same is true of all the other species. If the diseases on annual bluegrass are not controlled, it will die and the voids will be filled in when the annual blue­ grass reseeds itself. If disease preven­ tion is not practiced on the other spec­ ies they will also die and the voids in the turf will be filled in by another bluegrass.Therein lies the difference. Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bent- grass and perennial ryegrass only die once. Annual bluegrass dies year after year after year if its disease problems are not treated. The fact that the other turfgrass species died is forgotten be­ cause they only died once. The prob­ lem did not occur year afte year. The fault is never placed on the disease that caused the “desirable” turfgrass spec­ ies to be lost, the fault is placed on the annual bluegrass which replaced it. Annual bluegrass didn’t make the Continued on Page 12 / PROFESSIONAL APPLICATOR MUST KNOW MIXING BASICS by: Paul A. Sartoretto, PH.D. Concluded From Last Issue Rule Number 4 states that soluble disperse throughout the water in a fertilizers and trace elements can be stable emulsion without incurring an added individually or mixed, provided oily layer separation on standing. The that the amount will not exceed one emulsifiable concentrates should be ounce solid per gallon tank spray mix. added last, after all solubles and wet- The author has used two ounces per tables have been added. (However, I gallon, and has not experienced any strongly urge not to tank mix emulsi­ burning at the higher rate, but prefers fiable concentrates). the lower rate. The components that Thirdly, when wettable powders are fall into this category are solubles such components of a tank mix, after stand­ as urea, ammonium nitrate, ammon­ ing awhile, the mixture should be siev­ ium sulfate, muriate of potash, am­ ed through at least a 100 mesh screen. monium phosphate, ferrous sulfate, If residue appears on the screen, agglo­ chelated iron, epsom salts, etc. meration or precipitation has taken Exceptions to the rule governing place, signaling incompatibility. compatibility of solubles is as follows: These tests can be run in a conven­ Heavy cations such as mercury and ient quart glass jar. The sieve screen cadmium fungicides and Paraquat and should be wet with water with some Disquat are incompatible with heavy surfactant added before sieving. anionic herbicides such as DSMA, Soluble iron or magnesium salts MSMA, 2,4-D, MCPP, MCPA and might remain clear in the glass jar for DICAMBA. Precipitation will take about an hour and will then begin to hydrolyze in hard water or in water that place in the spray tank. These combi­ hs a pH of 7 or above. They will nations are not likely to be used be­ cause selective weed killers such as decompose to oxide precipitates that are of no value. Whenever possible, use Paraquat or Diquat, and the applicator chelated forms of iron and magnesium is not likely to use a soluble fungicide which will not hydrolyze. They are such as cadmium or mercury. more expensive, but one can use far There are quick methods to check less and be able to count on their compatibility. When solubles are mix­ effectiveness. ed with water in the proportion to be Coincidentally, herbicides also fall used in the spray tank, the solution should remain clear for the number of into two classes - solubles and insol­ hours anticipated for spraying. ubles. The soluble herbicides are post- Emulsifiable concentrates should emergent in nature whereas the insol- No synthetically produced fertilizer can compare with MILORGANITE MILORGANITE Cmlf C ourses l Tse M o re ^ Than Any Other Fe rtilizer TERMINAL SALES CORR 12871 EATON AVE. DETROIT, MICH. 48227 (313) 491 -060Ó ubles are preemergent in activity. The insoluble preemergents are safe to ap­ ply because by their very nature they slowly release the active toxicant by hydrolysis in the soil (although certain preemergents exhibit some phytotox­ icity on certain species and cultivars; however, these cautions are covered on the labels). The rate of release of active toxi­ cants is sufficient to kill the germinat­ ing weed seedling and, strangely enough, insufficient as a rule to kill the mature weed plant. The rate of release will determine the length of residual activity of the product. Each individual preemergent has its own time release schedule. The residuals range any­ where from 45 to 90 days, with an average of about 60 days. It should be noted that one impor­ tant factor which will materially alter the residual is oil structure. Absorp­ tion of the hydrolytic toxicant by soil particles dictates different rates for different soils. Label directions must be carefully followed. But the parent pre-emergent compound is an insol­ uble, thus nonbuming. Pre-emergents should be applied before the weed seed germinating sea­ son begins, which is usually in March, April or May depending upon that portion of the country. Preemergent chemicals can be tank mixed and- sprayed as a wettable powder or can be applied with a granular carrier as a spreader. It is obvious that wettable pre-emer- gent powders will not present a phyto­ toxic problem at the time of applica­ tion, however some preemergents will release the toxicant rapidly and pose a phytotoxicity to certain types of grass­ es such as bentgrass. Some applicators will split the rate of application of a preemergent wettable powder in half when treating bentgrass greens and put on two applications a month apart. The problem of phytotoxicity is an important factor when dealing with soluble postemergent herbicides. As a general rule the phytotoxicity index (safety factor) is narrow for all post- emergent chemicals. Yet they are used rather extensively and effectively, pro­ vided the rates of application are fol­ lowed closely. The tank mixing of two or three soluble postemergent herbi­ cides is becoming more and more pre­ valent. This practice is useful because the applicator has found synergistic effect with combination; but, in doing so he must again apply rule number 2 which states that whenever solubles are dded to the spray tank the dosage rate should be cut proportionately, depending upon the number of sol­ ubles.Surfactants or wetting agents should be treated as solubles. Wetting agents are usually added to the spray tank in order to reduce the surface tension of the water so that the spray comes out as finer droplets and wets the blades of the weeds or grasses giving a more uniform coverage. This also reduces the safety factor of soluble herbicides and promotes phytotoxicity. If a wet­ ting agent is used, apply Rule No. 3. Cut the rate of the soluble herbicide. When used with insoluble fungicides, it is not necessary to reduce the rate. Finally, there are two classes of chemicals which are infrequently used by applicators and by their very nature cannot be tank mixed. They are nem- Continued on Next Page (Scotts) P ro T u rf Controlled Release Fertilizers Fertilizer/Pesticide Combinations ■ ■ Finest quality turfgrass seed-Fairways • Greens • Tees • Roughs Scotts Windsor and Victa blends scotts • lely • gandy spreaders Helping the superintendent through tu rf research... Fungkides-Herbicides-Insecticides Soil Testing-Weed & Disease Identification J im B ro c k le h u rs t ■ ■ Technical Representative 1964 Cataipa Berkley, Michigan 48072 Telephone: 313-547-9632 Mixing Basics, Cont. aticides, such as Dasanit and Nema- gon, and general week and grass killers such as Phytar, Paraquat and Round­ up.When the applicator embarks on a new formula it would be wise for him to practice on small areas, preferably his nursery.Also, according to the Federal En­ vironmental Protection Agency, if a chemical applicator wilfully uses more than the recommended amount on the label and destroys turf, he is techni­ cally criminally libel. But we are addresing ourselves to be applicators who are faced with mul­ tiple diseases and multiple weeds. In this situation, one single product is inadequate, and it becomes costly and somewhat ridiculous to spray each in­ dividual product separately. But never apply more than the ammount recom­ mended on the label, and following the rules outlines in this paper, it is nec­ essary to split dosages of solubles. EC. S, SP Solubles Solubility and Formulation SP, F Insolubles Fore Maneb Zlneb Captan Daconil 2787 Dyrene Fungo RP26019 FUNGICIDES PMAS Caddv Cadminate Actldione TGF INSECTICIDES Dursban Dlazlnon Chlordane Sevln H ERBICIDES 2,4-D 2.4,5-T MCPP dicamba Malathlon Proxol Dylox DSMA MSMA AMA Betasan-EC FERTILIZERS urea ammonium nitrate ammonium phosphate ammonium sulfate potassium nitrate muriate of potash Tersan 75 Tersan LSR Tersan SP Spotrete Bromosan Spectro 3336 1991 Diazlnon Dursban Sevln Malathion Dacthal Tupersan Balan ureaform IBDU Soluble-lnsolube Combinations Calo-Clor Kromad Actidlone RZ Actldione Thiram Thimer Cadtrete This article was presented at the 1980 Canadian Turf grass Show Need Golf Course Equipment? FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Phone (313) 482-4210 2. Ask for Charlie Wells 3. Tell him what you want - " If he doesn’t have it, he’ll get it.’’ 4. Choose as you please- a. He will restore yours b. He will repair yours c. He will follow your instructions d. He will guarantee his work - " If he can’t fix it, Throw it away.” 5. Tell your friends to buy "WELLS BUILT.” CHARLIE WELLS & COMPANY LOOKING AHEAD: Snow Mold Control Snow mold describes a group of diseases that occur under snow cover or in the advancing margins as the snow melts. For many years it was believed that two fungi species were primarily responsible for snow mold turfgrass injury: Typhula blight (gray snow mold) caused by Typhula incar- nate (svn. T. Itoana) and Fusarium Patch (pink snow mold) caused by Fusarium nivale. However, recent research have shown other fungi to be involved in snow mold complexes in the more northern regions of the west­ ern United States and Canada. These include Typhula ishikarienses (Ty­ phula blight), Sclerotinia borealis (Sclerotinia patch) and an unidentified fungus belonging to the basidiomycete class of fungi (low temperature basi­ diomycete or LTB). Good snow mold management be­ gins early in the fall with the advent of cool weather. This is when the first fungicide application should be made, SEPTEMBER 1980 GCSAA BULLETINS James E. McLoughlin recently be­ gan duties as GCSAA Executive Direc­ tor. McLoughlin was Executive Direc­ tor of the Metropolitan Golf Associa­ tion for 14 years prior to accepting his new position. Palmer Maples Jr., CGCS, GCSAA director of education, has served as Acting Executive Director since Nov­ ember when the association undertook a nationwide search for a new Execu­ tive Director. The search culminated in the ammouncement of McLoughlin’s acceptance of the post in July. especially in areas where long periods of cool wet weather precede snowfall. In areas where snow covers the ground for two or three months the best time to make the final fungicide applications is when vertical growth ceases. The other key to good snow mold control is to avoid late summer or early fall nitrogen application that leaves the turf in lush growing condition just prior to snowfall. Lush turfs are much more susceptible to snow mold than turfs that are in a hardened-off condition. If the snow mold killed large turf areas, some form of cultivation may be necessary. Reseeding wil be necessary to reestablish creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass turfs. Annual blue- grass turfs should be spiked and aeri­ fied to allow germination of seed from the reservoir in the soil and thatch. Editors note: This article is a condensed version of an article written by Joseph Vargas in the 1980 June issue of Golf Course Management GCSAA President Melvin B. Lucas Jr., CGCS, stated, “GCSAA looks for­ ward to the years ahead. We feel Jim McLoughlin brings new dimension to the association and the golf world.” "PREMIUM PRODUCTS-Economically Priced" Wfe D istrib u te: Fertilizers Chemicals Lime & Gypsum Trees & Shrubs F D S ENTERPRISES, INC. Seeds Accessories Paving Blocks Equipment 5324 W. BLOOMFIELD LAKE ______________ PHONE: (313) 851-7766 • W. BLOOMFIELD, Ml. 48033 TORO Toro Debris Handling Equipment for 1977 Two machines in one Makes cleaning a breeze With th* Toro Vacuum/Blowor you can claan up to a quarter- acra In lass than an hour. Tha 5-horsepower vacuum has a 30" vacuum head that rakes In leaves, twigs, and even cans. For batter vacuum action, It has a flexible rubber lip on the vacuum head and seven height ad­ justments. The heavy duty bag can handle seven bushels and has a sturdy metal alpper. The vacuum Is available In hand-propelled or self-propelled models, and with an optional attachment, hitches to the back of a tractor or rider-mower. Both Toro vacuum models can be converted to a leaf blower In about 5 minutes - without costly optional equipment or tools. Just take off the vacuum head, attach the special discharge chute, rotate the Impeller housing, and raking becomes a breeze! As a blower, It uses a 100 M.P.H. “ jet stream” to blow damp or dry debris into an easily bagged pile. The air discharge chute converts to straight ahead or side use, too. And, there’ s an optional hose kit to get In and out of . . . corners and tight places. The two and only Toro Vacuum/Blower. It’ s a product of over 60 years of experience In lawn maintenance equipment. WILKIE TURF Equipment Company P.O. BOX 749 • PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48056 1050 OPDYKE ROAD • PHONE (313) 373-8800 V e r t a g r e e n A product for all reasons Vertagreen Fertilizer For P rofessional Turf w ith Balan 1 7 -0 -8 • Balan offers pre-emergence control of Poa Annua, crabgrass, goose grass, water grass and foxtail. • One-fourth the nitrogen is Urea-Formaldehyde. • Uniform particlesflowsmoothly, spread evenly. • Contains secondary and micro-nutrients. g g g j j g g Agri-Chemicals Division of United States Steel P.O. Box 1685 Atlanta, Georgia 30301 ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION? F IL L IN THE QUESTIONAIRE BELOW AND MAIL TO: CHARLES GAIGE LAKELANDS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 7390 Rickett Brighton, Ml 48116 Office 231-3003, Residence 227-4617 d a t e ___________________ NAM E ____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________ __ C IT Y ___________________________ S T A T E ______________ Z IP ___________ OR Y O U M A Y C O N T A C T T H E N E X T G O L F C O U R S E S U P P L IE R W HO C A L L O N Y O U A N D G IV E H IM T H E IN F O R M A T IO N N E E D E D F O R A P P L I C A T I O N . Anthracnose, cont. voids, it simply filled them in. The voids occured from diseases, insects, wear or mismanagement. If annual bluegrass had not filled in these voids some other “weedy” grass or broadleaf weed would have. The reason annual bluegrass persisted was because it was the species most adapted to the cultur­ al regime under which the turf was being maintained. Cultural regimes of the various turf- ?‘ass species can be seen in Table II. ou will notice a cultural regime for perennial ryegrass is missing. Little research has been done to determine the optimum cultural system for grow­ ing perennial ryegrass in spite of the fact that it is widely recommended as a desirable turfgrass species, becuase of its improved mowability over common perennial ryegrass. The other failure of annual bluegrass chemical control programs has been the lack of understanding of the turf­ grass plant itself. There are two sub­ species of annual bluegrass: Poa annua var. annua L. Timm., an annual type, and Poa annua var. reptans (Hauskins) Timm., a perennial type. The annual type is supposed to be a winter annual which germinates inn the fall, lives through the winter, produces seed in the spring and then dies.but in the cool season grass regions, seed production is usually followed by a resurgence of vegetative growth, suggesting that the perennial type is dominant. When death does occur, it is usually later in the season during warm weather stress. If it was a true annual or if the annual type was dominant, should not death occur soon after seeding? If it was a true annual, or if the annual type predominated, should annual blue­ grass not die every year? Yet, on well- drained, adequately irrigated fairways, severe annual bluegrass loss occured only in 1975 and 1977 during the past five years in the upper Midwest and Canada. This is even true of areas where no fungicides were applied! If it was a true annual, should not all the plants die everywhere every year? The fact is that most of the plants present in a fairway or greens do not die every year. All the annual bluegrass plants are not lost on a fairway green even in years of severe HAS decline. It is predominately annual bluegrass plants that are growing in stress areas (poor soil or air drainage, slopes, heavily trafficed areas) that most frequently die, suggesting that something other than normal dying of a winter annual is occurring. The exception is where an­ nual bluegrass herbicides, like the ar- senicals, have been used, nearly all the annual bluegrass plants in a treated area will be destroyed during heat stress periods. WILT The term wilt is often used to des­ cribe what happens to annual blue­ grass when it dies during heat stress periods. When grass wilts, it turns dark blue to purple in color. Annual blue­ grass does not wilt in the northern areas of the cool season grass region without mitigating circumstances. The circumstances can be knolls or slopes where adequate irrigation is not ap­ plied, or where irrigation cannot be applied fast enough. This form of wilt is controllable with soil modification, proper irrigation, timing, and an ade­ quate irrigation system. Wilt can be found on annual bluegrass fairways where irrigation is adequate, but re­ cent studies have shown much of this is due to grubs, either the common large white grub, or the small Black Ataenius beetle grubs. Both can be controlled with the application of an effective insecticide. The fact that annual bluegrass nor­ mally does not wilt from high temper­ ature alone where adequate irrigation is propertly used first has to be accept­ ed. Next time annual bluegrass begins to wilt, tear back the sod to determine if grubs are present before reaching for the irrigation system. It could help save your fairways! HAS Decline of Annual Bluegrass However, wilt is not the problem being referred to. The problem being referred to is one that causes an annual bluegrass turf to turn a dull yellow to bronze in color and eventually die. The disease involving these symptoms is called HAS decline. The symptoms are very different from the bluish-purple color turf grass turns when it wilts. HAS Decline Management HAS decline management involves a cultural system for maintaining annual bluegrass plus fungicide application at the proper time. The cultural system will probably change with time because it is currently based on a limited re­ search. This is due to the fact that past research on annual bluegrass has been limited to means of controlling it. Re­ search on how to culture annual blue­ grass has been conducted only in the past few years. At the current state of the art, the following is the best pro­ gram available for maintaining annual bluegrass fairways. Mowing Height - 1/2-7/8 inches. Irrigation - infrequent and deep during cool weather to encourage deep root growth. light, frequent during warm weather. May involve daily syringing during warm weather depending upon : soil type, spring weather, capacity of irriga­ tion system. Fertility - Nitrogen 1/2 lb. of actual N June, July, August 1 lb. of actual N September and dor- mantly. New research data (Illinois) indicates annual bluegrass survives better with no nitrogen in July in the warmer areas of the cool season grass region. Phosphorus and potassium as needed, based on soil test. Preliminary evi­ dence indicates high phosphorus levels favor annual bluegrass survival. Fungicide Program There are 4 major annual bluegrass diseases which occur during the grow- ing season: Sclerotinia dollar spot, Pythium blight, Rhizoctonia brown patch and HAS decline. Trying to maintain annual bluegrass without managing these diseases is futile. The following is an idealized fungicide pro­ gram for managing these diseases. It is not a hard and fast program which should be followed to the letter. It is a framework from which you can build your own fungicide program. The program incorporates all fungi­ cide types at the most appropriate time. The best contact fungicides for HAS decline management are chloro- thalonil, mancozeb, and maneb zinc sulfate. The best systemic fungicides are benomyl, thiophanate-ethyl, and thiophanate-methyl. This is not to say other fungicides may not be appro­ priate. Substitutions should be made based on personal experience. Table I. Major Turfgrass Diseases on the 4 Major Cool Season Turfgrasses KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS CREEPING BLUEGRASS ANNUAL RYEGRASS PERENNIAL Dollar spot Melting-out Fusarium blight Brown patch Stripe smut Pythium blight Fusarium patch Leaf spot Typhula blight Fusarium patch Brown blight Brown patch Dollar spot Brown patch Pythium blight Pythium blight Leaf spot Anthracnose HAS Decline Fusarium patch Typhula blight Typhula blight Anthracnose Red thread Rust Table II. Comparison of Survival Requirements for Fairway Grasses KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS CREEPING BENTGRASS ANNUAL BLUEGRASS Mowing height Irrigation Nitrogen Phosphorous 1-1/2” Minimal' 1-4 Ibs/s Adequate 1 /2 ” Minimal 1-4 Ibs/s Adequate 1/ 2 ” Frequent 3-4 Ibs/s High June 7 RC ----------------- July 1 10 S C — — Dollar spot Brown patch Pythium blight HAS decline RC — residual contact S — systemic C — contact August 1 10 s C September 1 C or RC MI LO RG AN ITE^iâ (io 1/ ('olirsi .s ( sr M ori’ /^ 7 Than Any Other Fertilizer __________ / M ILO R G A N IT E FOR DO RM AN T TURF l It works 2. It elioilootes spring S. Its o work saver 4. lor Her greening than waiting until spring and applying a chemical 5. It will not increase snow mold 6. It helps to thaw ice TER M IN A L SA LES CORPORATION 491-0606 BENHAM CH EM IC ALS 624-3200 now available GCSAA Management Manual is This is the first management manual specifically prepared for members of the Golf Course Superintendents As­ sociation of America. The manual en­ titled "Managing Human Resources - Getting Things Done Through was written by Ronald C. Frame, an Oklahoma City-based management consultant who has conducted a num­ ber of GCSAA management seminars. The manual provides a concise, pra­ ctical explanation of modem personnel management techniques and organiza­ tional dynamics, specifically adapted to golf course management. The manual will be distributed as part of the registration fee to partici­ pants in the association’s Management II Personnel seminars. Members may obtain copies for $3.25, while the cost to non-members is $5.25. Copies may be ordered from GÒSAA Headquart­ ers, 1617 St. Andrews Drive, Law­ rence, Kansas 66044. BEING AN EDITOR..; Getting out this magazine is no picnic If we print jokes, people say we are silly. If we don’t they say we are too serious If we stick to the office all day, We ought to be around hustling ma­ terial. If we go out and try to hustle, We ought to be on the job in the office. If we don’t print contributions, We don’t appreciate genius; And if we do print them, the paper is filled with junk! If we edit the other fellow’s write-ups we’re too critical; If we don’t we’re asleep. If we slip things from other papers, We are too lazy to write ourselves. If we don’t we are stuck on our stuff. Now, like as not, some guy will say We swiped this from some magazine.* *We did. It’s difficult for a heel to toe the mark. E N G I N E E R E D R A I N Turf Topics- Precision Controllers With Unmatched Flexibility. J-M Buckner is first in the industry to offer you solid-state microelectronics in an irrigation controller. Our KCS line of controllers are as easy to operate as pocket calculators. KCS offers unmatched flexibility with 12 or 24 individual circuits and four 14-day schedules... all with timing accuracy down to a fraction of a second. The KCS totals daily watering time, allows skipping up to nine days, has both automatic and manual syringe cycles for services such as dew removal and many more unique features. Operation is simple, fast and accurate. NOW is the time to consider converting existing quick coupling valves or manual systems to automatic -- with J-M/Buckner, solid state KCS automatic equipment and new automatic valves and sprinkler heads. You may do i t yourself -- or check with Jim Vince on design and in sta llatio n . Write or call direct o i ¿ c o E N G IN E E R E D R A IN Sprinkler Irrigation Supply Co. A division of A.J. Miller Inc. 1316 No. Campbell Rd. Royal Oak,Mi. 48067 Phone (313) 398-2233 Chicago Sales Office/Warehouse 1115 Republic Drive, Addison, IL 60101 (313) 543-5330 If you have changed your address, please let us know so we can keep our addressing plates up to date. Present Address: N A M E A D D R E S S C I T Y S T A T E Z IP Fill In New Address: N A M E A D D R E S S C IT Y S T A T E Z IP Mail this form to: A PATCH OF GREEN 31823 Utica Road Fraser, Michigan 48026 TURF SUPPLIES INC. 6 9 0 0 Pardee Rd.,Taylor, M ic h ig a n (313) 291-1200 DON’T EVEN THINK OF BUYING....................... GRASS SEED FERTILIZERS FUNGICIDES WITHOUT CALLING 291-1200 TURF SUPPLIES INC. 6 9 0 0 Pardee Rd.,Tay lor, M ic h ig a n (313) 291-1200 GETTING OLDER HOW TO TELL IF YOU ARE Everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals Your children begin to look middle- agedYou decide to procrastinate but never get around to it You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions. Your knees buckle and your belt won’t You just can’t remember to stand people who are intolerant. You burn the midnight oil after 9 p.m. Your back goes out more than you do The best part of your day is over when your alarm clock goes off Your pacemaker makes the garage door go up when you watch a pretty girl The little gray haired lady you help across the street is your wife. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall. Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D. You look forward to a dull evening. You turn out the light for economic rather than romantic reasons. You regret all those mistakes resisting temptation. You feel like the morning after the night before, and you haven’t been anywhere. Your mind makes contracts your body can’t meet. You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going. After painting the town red, you have to take a long rest before applying a second coat. You’re 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist and 96 around the golf course. You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there. A fortune teller offers to read your face. ‘For Land's Sake-'Use OXFORD PERI CO. 1430 E. Drahner Rd. Oxford, Michigan 48051 PROCESSED PEAT Bulk or Bag Custom Blending FRED LATTA 313/628-5991 LA K E S H O R E EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. HOME OF LESCQ PRODUCTS And SULFUR COATED FERTILIZERS Distributor &• Formulator GRASS SEED, FERTILIZERS INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES, HERBICIDES Call Us Today TOLL FREE 300 S. Abbe Rd. Elyria, Ohio 44035 (216) 323-7544 1-800-321-5325 Price Quotation On Request 51st ANNUAL MICHIGAN TURFGRASS CONFERENCE January 13 and 14 AT THE KELLOGG CENTER MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. Phone: (313) 354 5644 TRUCK-CAR MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRIAL TRAILER Itili J UHIROYM. TIRES WHOLESALE PRICES TO COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS BLOW! AS LOW AS You can forget about being stuck in the snow when you have a reliable Kubota snowblower and Kubota diesel tractor clearing the way for you. A FULL UNI OP MID-RANGI DIISIL TRACTORS AND IMRUMINTS MUKiiBonr T E S T DRI V E A K U B O T A D I E S E L TR A C T O R NOW AT: WM. F. SELL & SON, INC. 165 55 T E L E G R A P H R O A D T A Y L O R , M IC H IG A N 4 8 1 8 0 3 1 3 /2 8 2 -5 1 0 0 COUNTRY CLUB THE BALANCED FERTILIZER ... a valuable asset— In growing good turf FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL LEBANON CHEMICAL CORP. P 0 Box 647 Danville. IL 81832 u THE IDEAL GOLFER by Bill Smart Doesn’t play early, nor after five, Always walks, never drives. Hits them clearly off the tee, No divot mark, for all to see. Carefully disposes of paper wraps, Rakes the footprints out of the traps. Doesn’t play fast, nor too slow, Stands aside and lets us mow. Always speaks with a friendly grin, Plays the geune not just to win. His wife stays home while he makes the loop.She doesn’t belong to the ladies group. He doesn’t golf till the first of May, And stops right after Labor Day. Eats at the club, and buys a few drinks, Helps carry his share of the cost of the links. Plays once a week, usually Sunday, Sometimes a Saturday, never a Mon­ day. Plays the game square, U.S.G.A., Doesn’t care what the local rules say. Fixes the ball marks on the greens, Never on his putter leans. Sees no need for spikey shoes, That mar the greens, and leave a bruise I’ve written these words with no trace of a sneer, But where is this golfer? He doesn’t play here. BALLAD TO A GOLF COURSE “A golf course is a pretty thing. It needs a lot of care. It’s hard to keep it lookin’ good with all that wear and tear. Mow the greens, and fairways too; It’s an all day job. Water, spray and aerify; and then wait for the mob. Now golfers are peculiar guys, it seems they do no wrong. It’s always cause the green’s not right, that makes their putt too long. The green’s too soft, the tee’s too hard. That’s always what they say. No matter what you do for them, it messes up their play. Credit: Iowa GCS Reporter FAMOUS GIANT-VAC’S GIANT-BIO G IA N T BLO G IANT-VAC M fg.Jnc. Affiliate of H.L.Diehl Co .Inc. • South Windham, Conn.06266 Choice of A H.P. Kohler engine (No. 4B> or 5 H.P. Briggs «. Strat­ ton engine (No, 58) 10 x 2.50 semi-pneumatic wheeis are stand­ ard, Fully pneumatic 10 x 3.50 w«e«!s optional. Giant-Blo whisks away leaves and debris at super-hurricane velocities. Well balanced for operator ease and maneuverability. A Giant-Blo will clean many acres in a fraction of the normal time. A unique exhaust deflector is standard on all models and directs the air in either a side or forward direction. This is ideal for cleaning hard to get at places. Intake and Ex­ haust hose kits are also available. Giant-Bios clean debris as neatly as hand raking, yet, 11 tim es faster and 10 times easier. M A C H IN E S LOADERS D IE H LM O B ILE LAWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION 520 W. 11 M ILE ROAD R O Y A L OAK, MICH. 48068 TELE PH O N E : (313) 398-3636 154-154T SWEEPERS The patented rubber pick-up fingers is the reason that the Jacobsen Model 154 Sweeper picks up the debris that other sweepers leave behind. Two reels of counter-rotating, interlocking rubber fingers pick up every­ thing in sight . . . from small branches to cigarette butts. They’ ll police your grounds better than a company of recruits. With a 48 " sweeping width and a one cubic yard hopper capacity, the Jacobsen Sweeper lets you stay ahead of the job. The Model 154 self-propelled Sweeper (pictured above) and the Model 154T pull behind Sweeper are designed to sweep wet and dry clippings, leaves, rocks, cans, bottles, branches and litter of both, turf and hard s urf aces - CALL 313-647-7700 FOR A DEMONSTRATION - W.F. Miller ^mfnftZpany 1593 S. WOODWARD AVE. BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN 48011 TELEPHONE: (313) 647-7700 "A Patch of Green” 3 1 8 2 3 U T I C A R O A D F R A S E R , M I C H I G A N 4 8 0 2 6 DEPT# S O IL 6c CROP SCIENCES TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE S T A T IO N . TEXAS 77840 A T T N : D R . JAMES BEARD U S POSTAGE PAID | PERMIT NO 37 BEARD o o u ic n o N