A P R IL 1 9 8 2 A D A T T 'U Official Publication of the Michigan & Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association SYSTEM. Because the flexibility of the Cushman Turf-Care System saves you time and money. Here’s how! The System is built around the rugged, versatile 18 hp Turf- Truckster, 3-or 4-wheel model. With this one power source and options, you can haul, spray, spike, spread and top dress. And 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. save as much as 35% on equipment in the process. Because, instead of buying separately powered units for each job, you buy only the Turf- Truckster and the modular Cushman accessories you need. So you pay less in total for equipment... and have only one power unit to maintain. C U S H M A N TURF-CARE EQUIPMENT OMC-Lincoln, a Division of Outboard Marine Corporation 6201 Cushman Drive P.0 Box 8 2 4 0 9 Lincoln, Nebraska 68501 Ibu 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 2 MICHIGAN & BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT BRUCE WOLFROM, CGC5 Barton H ills Country Club 435 Stein Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Off. 662-8359 - Res. 884-8684 VICE PRESIDENT WALTER TROMBLEY Arrowhead Country Club 3130 Orion Road Lake Orion, Michigan 48035 Off. 373-5240 - Res. 693-2924 SECRETARY-TREASURER KEVIN DUSHANE,CGCS Wabeek Country Club 159 Willards Way Union Lake, Michigan 48085 Off. 851-1689 - Res. 698-2924 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLEM WOLFROM Detroit Golf Club 530 Kendry Bloomfield H ills, Michigan 48013 Off. 345-4589 - Res. 334-0140 MICHAELEDGERTON Meadowbrook Country Club 32736 Hees Livonia, Michigan 48150 Off. 349-3608 - Res. 522-6238 CHARLES GAIGE Lakelands Golf & Country Club 7390 Rickett Brighton, Michigan 48116 Off. 231-3003 - Res. 227-4617 CRAIG ROGGEMAN St. Clair Country Club 22185 Masonic Blvd. St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48082 294-6170 DANIEL UZELAC Dominion Golf Club RR No. 1 Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada NOR 1LO Off. 969-4350 - Res. 969-4350 THEODORE WOEHRLE Oakland H ills Country Club 3390 Witherbee Troy, Michigan 48084 Off. 644-3352 - Res. 649-8512 PRESIDENT EMERITUS JAMES TIMMERMAN, CGCS Orchard Lake Country Club 7183 Buckhom Orchard Lake, Michigan 48033 Off. 682-2150 - Res. 360-0238 "A PATCH OF GREEN” P u b l¡ s h e d m onth ly by the MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Circulation: 1,250 Ted Woehrle, CGCS, Oakland Hills C.C. James Timmerman, Orchard Lakes C.C. CO-EDITORS P r in t e d A t BLAKEMAN PRINTING COMPANY 31823 Utica Road Fraser, Michigan 48026 Phone: (313) 293-3540 MONTHLY ADVERTISING RATES D o uble Page S p r e a d ............................................ $ 1 5 0 .0 0 B ack O u ts id e P a g e .................................................... 7 5 . 0 0 Ful I P a g e ......................................................................... 6 5 . 0 0 H a l f P a g e ...................................................................... 4 0 .0 0 Q uarte r P a g e ................................................................. 3 0 .0 0 E ighth P a g e ................................................................. 1 5 .0 0 S ixteenth P a g e ...............................................................1 0 .0 0 C l a s s i f i e d Ad (per column i n c h ) ................... 7 . 5 0 D I S C O U N T R A T E : One Y e a r 10% N o te : A d v e rtis in g fees may not be deducted from the above ra t e s . TttûHt&d A A A T ree Service Benham C h e m ic a ls Du Pont G o lf C a r D is trib u to rs L a k e s h o re E q u ip m en t C o rp oration L a w n E q u ip m e n t C o rp oration L e ban o n / A grico M ic h ig a n P r e - C a s t C o n c re te W .F .M i Her G arden & E q uip m en t O xfo rd P e a t Company R a in - B ir d S a le s , In c. O .M . Scott & Son, In c. Wm. F . Sell & Son, In c. S p rin k le r Irrig a tio n Supply C o . T e r m in a l S a le s Co rp o ratio n T i r e W h o le s a le rs , Inc. T u r f g r a s s , In c. T u r f S u p p lie s , In c. W il k i e T u r f E q u ip m e n t D i v i s i o n , In c . 3 INTRODUCING! T H E O N L Y A U T H O R I Z E D D I S T R I B U T O R O F B A Y L E T O N A N D O F T A N O L IN M IC H IG A N - Benham Chemicals 3190 M artin Road Walled Lake, Ml 48088 313/624-3200 4 Your Office- A Reflection of Your Abilities good When your green chairman drops by your office for an unexpected chat, what does he see? Is your desk piled to eyebrow level with papers, broken parts and unsorted clutter? Do you have to search for 15 minutes to find the magazine article you need to show him? Does the dust on your filing cabinet excite his allergies? Like it or not, the condition and appearance of your office reflect on your abilities as a manager. Granted, no one ever claimed that a golf course could be completely managed from behind a desk, and most superinten­ dents’ offices are not exactly accessi­ ble to the general public. It’s also true that many superinten­ dents’ offices, particularly at older clubs, are carved from buildings that originally housed everything from polo ponies to plows, and almost all are in the maintenance facility, which has a near-magical attraction for dust, dirt and grease. However, the degree of order in your office and, by extension, your entire facility, reflects the degree of organi­ zation you bring to your work. You can say it’s all right because you know where everything is, but what if you’re not there? Does everything stop while someone tracks you down? Even if you’re limited on space and your office is at the bottom of the budgetary priorities list, there are some things you can do to bring order No synthetically produced fertilizer can compare with from chaos. Here are some sug­ gestions. A place for everything and every­ thing in its place. This time-worn adage still has merit. Filing cabinets, baskets and blueprint organizers are excellent investments. Develop a system. There is no best way to develop a filing system. The only important criterion is whether it works in your operation. It does, how­ ever, have to be based on some sort of logic.Develop organizational habits. Work at putting things away when you have finished with them. Develop a system for moving things from the top of your desk into some sort of permanent home and stick to it. Try to work out some sort of sche­ dule. It’s right and proper that clean­ ing up your office should take a back seat to dealing with on-course emer­ gencies and important maintenance procedures. That’s your job. But take a moment at the end of the day or even at the end of the week to police your office area. It’s not only the impression your office leaves on others, it also matters how it makes you feel. Besides setting a good example for your employees, a clean, well-organized office can make you feel that you’re in control and on top of things. And that’s where you’re sup­ posed to be. MILORGANITE Golf Courses Use More M ILO R G A N ITE - Than Any Other Fertilizer TERMINAL SALES CORK 12871 E A T O N A V E . D E T R O I T , M I C H . 482 27 (313) 491 -0606 5 IDEAS ABOUT ROOTS Dr. W. H. Daniel, Purdue University Introduction 1. What is a root? 2. Where are the roots? 3. Roots are plant membranes 4. What is water-air balance for roots? 5. Roots are strong 6. How would you insult roots? 7. What could you do to favor roots? ConclusionRoots Turfwise Our historical roots, as a family and individuals, have recently received special attention. However, the roots of concern in turf are those little white stringy things that supposedly are below the grass you see on the surface. First, what is a root? Roots are initiated at the nodes occurring along stems. These may be concentrated in a crown or spread along a stolon. Por­ tions of mature roots are mainly con­ ductive tissue plus providing some storage especially starches. The working part of any root is the soft, absorptive root tip and the root hairs near it. This is where the payload of water and elements are absorbed for transfer to the crown, stems and leaves known as the turf cover. And, woe is the plant which had lost its root tips! So, a living root is that plant tissue joined to the node and extending to and includ­ ing a root cap. Although some branch­ ing is normal, when individual root tips of nutrients, die, the older root parts seldom initiate new root tips. Physiologically, the plant’s response is to initiate a new root at the node and just start again (provided extra energy is available and time is allowed). In other words, the energy path is to start a new root, which ahs least transfer distance for nut­ rients. So, keeping root tips alive and active is the first challenge of turf managers. Bud Esterline at Muncie one time said, “Bill, on Monday I cut the cups and , could see roots about five inches deep. It was dry, so Monday evening we made a big effort to water the greens real good. Tuesday morning early it rained and it was so cloudy and wet that we couldn’t mow Tuesday. Although still raining, we finally mowed a little Wednesday afternoon, and the rain just set in there. Brown patches began to show. We finally got our greens mowed on Friday, and on Saturday the weather cleared up, and all I had for roots were a few black strings! I lost my complete root system between Mon­ day night and Saturday morning.” Now what? Bud knew he had to lightly water those greens, to watch for wet wilt, to keep the leaves moist enough so they wouldn’t wilt until new roots would generate. If he could get by for about seven days, he’d have some new roots Continued Page 13 t AAATREESERVICE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCED RELIABLE DEARBORN OFFICE LO 25225 I | PLYMOUTH OFFICE 459-9555 COMPLETE TREE CARE SERVICE_____ FULLY INSURED • LICENSED • SINCE 1947 6 CAUSES OF LATE WINTER-EARLY SPRING DAMAGE TO TURFGRASS During late winter-early spring fluc­ tuating temp eratures 1m d_ wat e rlo gg e d, partially frozen soil produce conditions that cause the loss of turf. mayJbe4he'direct or indirect restrlt of one_ o r -more of these—ph errrrnTSna. Direct damage or kill of the permanent grass may occur at any point of the freeze - frozen - thaw cycle so charac­ teristic of this season. Indirect injury may result from attacks by disease producing organisms (mostly snow- mold and other low temperature fungi) and by traffic on frozen and partially frozen turfgrass areas. Turfgrass may be destroyed- at the time it freezes, during the time it’s frozen, during the time it’s thawing, or after it’s thawed and growth has begun. Some killing probably occurs during each of these periods. This cycle of freezing, frozen, thawing may be repeated several times during each winter and early spring. When asso­ ciated with the intermittent growth in late winter-early spring, damage may be severe. Death as the plant freezes happens most often in the late fall- early winter, but may occur after a period of growth (particularly rapid growth) in the spring when a sudden drop in temperature occurs. This is most damaging when the grass plants are in a no-hardened condition. Ice crystals from within the cells and this disruption of the protoplasm may cause death. Too, repeated cycles in the spring will exhaust food reserves upon which the plants must draw to initiate growth. For this reason, Poa annua is especially vulnerable. Death during the time the plant is frozen is unlikely to occur unless it is subjected to traffic. This will seldom occur if a good snow cover exists, which is the case most often during the winter months. However, play during the time Continued Page 16 7 The EASI-SET® GOLF UTILITY BUILDING Patent Pending Steel reinforced precast concrete construction provides a secure, fire and vandal resistant, waterproof facility for a wide variety of uses on the golf course. This maintenance- free, portable building can be installed rapidly and is easily moved from one location to another. Ideal for use as: • Restroom facilities • Pump house • Snack bar • Equipment storage Please send me a full color brochure on the EASI-SET Concrete Building Name ____________________________________________________ City __ State_ Phone 8 MICHIGAN PRE-CAST CONCRETE 4950 Mason Rd. Howell, MI 48843 (517) 546-1005 Licensed by EASI-SET® Industries POG 0 4 /8 2 KNOW YOUR LELY Without a doubt, the Lely Spreader is one of the golf course superinten­ dent’s biggest allies. When set correctly and operated at the proper gound speed, the Lely applies granulars - fertilizers, pesticides and combination products - quickly, efficiently and economically. But unfortunately, the Lely Spreader settings can often be confusing. The numbers that control the size of the feed ring opening present no difficulty because they are displayed on the feed ring calibration device. However, the Roman numeral settings, which control the pattern of the spread, can be confusing because they are not marked on the spreader. When this adjustment is set incorrectly, some materials are thrown against the frame­ work of the spreader - resulting in striping and uneven applications. The diagram on this page illustrates the position of these Roman numeral settings. Marking these numerals on your Lely can save a lot of time and effort and prevent a lot of application errors. They can be paitned on, scratched in the paint, labeled with a magic marker or labeling machine. Once the Roman numerals are clearly marked, you can be confident your products are being applied accurately. If you have a wood burning stove or fireplace, this should interest you: Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year. Chestnut’s only good, they say If for long it’s laid away. Birch and Fir logs burn too fast. Blaze up bright and do not last. Elm wood burns like churchyard mold, Even the very flames are cold! Poplar gives a bitter smoke, Fills your eyes and makes you choke. Applewood will scent your room With an incense like perfume. Oak and Maple, if dry and old, Will keep away from winter cold. But ash wood wet and ash wood dry A king can warm his slippers by! FOR ALL YOUR IRRIGATION NEEDS YOUR FULL STOCK FULL SERVICE DISTRIBUTOR Slmjal (Enarl)' JIM VINCE GENE STENNETT PETE ASARO {B u c k n e r' SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SUPPLY CO. 1316 N. CAMPBELL ROAD ROYAL OAK, Ml 48067 PHONE: (313) 398-2233 9 GROUNDSMASTER 72 Durability, versatility and top performance features make the Groundsmaster 72® worth more. WILKIE Equipment Division, Inc. Turf 1050 OPDYKE ROAD PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48057 (313) 373-8800 10 Put the proven performers control of brown patch, serious Tersan® 1991 fungicide and Daconil* 2787 are two of the most effective disease control products on the market. And now, these proven broad-spectrum fungicides are labeled for tank mixing. Together, they give you even better control of major turf diseases than with either product used alone. You get improved control, yet without the problem of phytotoxicity common with some tank mixes. A Tersan 1991/Daconil 2787 tank mix will give you consistent performance against brown patch and dollar spo£—the two most troublesome diseases on turf each summer. You’ll also get strong action on leaf spot and other important diseases. It’s the kind of performance superintendents de­ pend on when a quality course can’t be compromised. ’Daconil 2787 is a registered trademark of Diamond Shamrock Company. together for even better dollar spot and other diseases. Tank mixing brings other advantages, too. With Tersan 1991 in your tank, you get systemic action for protection from within the turf plant. Disease control is longer last- ing and is less affected by rainfall or fre­ quent irrigation. Thnk mixing fungicides with different modes of action also reduces chances of benzimidazole resistance. You help insure the long-term effectiveness of Tersan 1991 in your disease control program. This year, plan on using Tersan 1991 in combination with Daconil 2787. It’s the tank mix turf diseases can’t match. With any chemical, follow labeling instruction and warnings carefully. 11 NO ONE MAKES RAIN SO MAN Y WAYS. Ra in ^ B ik d Sim ply Better. 12 Ideas About Roots, cont. the wear distributed, sidered quite long. When trenches are made across roughs or tall grass areas, the long root extension in the soil profile is usually impressive. Roots are plant membranes. “Here, you root; do this! Absorb (take in) 5000 pounds of water plus one pound of elements the plant must have. By the way, keep out the excessive and avoid the unneeded. Meanwhile, let’s hope nematodes make no holes and rhizoctonia doesn’t infect. And, while you’re constantly expanding, we’ll try to keep the leaves healthy, the mower sharp, the drough averted, and we’ll try to avoid scalping or other turf stress.” After all, the top must send energy clear down to the root tip. When energy is short, the number of root hairs diminishes, the diameter reduces and the root initia­ tion slows. Roots are powerful absorbers. Before the plant wilts, roots will take water from soils down to 13.6 atmo­ spheres, a pF of 4.5 or tension equiva­ lent of 14 meters of water. The wise turf manager has every reason to utilize the reservoir of moisture within a root zone between irrigations. In other words, it is foolish to ignore the root zone moisture storage potential when managing fine turf. What is water-air balance for roots? Incidentally, that root tip must have some oxygen as it works. Water­ logged soils are hard on roots. Being waterlogged for more than 24 hours Roots cm % 0-5 -10 -15 below growing, and later some good roots working again, and back to normal Five days of wet weather cost Bud his root system, and then it took him 10 days to get partial replacement. Where are the roots? Would you believe 90% of root length is in the upper two inches or five cm. In West Germany, my friend, Dr. Boecker, reported extensive testing. Inches 0-2 4 6 90 Boeker found 81 to 91% for fescue 5 86 to 94% for bluegrass 3 85 to 94% for bentgrass Root distribu­ tion in June and December were near equal. Don’t fret over this distribution; just relize that it is the active root tips doing the work. Ideally, a diffuse extension root system is desired, but for every use, manage­ ment, root zone and irrigation, what is normal, adequate and necessary will vary. As turf managers, you want all the roots possible or practical. Roots have been found over 100 inches long under Bermuda in California tests. However, roots of three feet for fescue and zoysia, two feetj for blue- grass and bentgrass would be con- Continued Next Page 13 Ideas About Roots, cont. under stress weather is a cause for concern. Most turf managers have seen roots growing over the surface of the ground in an attempt to be where there is aid. Roots may be deep or shallow just in response to air supply. We’ve seen roots grow in water when air is needed, but remember, oxygen travels through water 1000 times faster than through wet compacted soils. Roots are strong! When roots are numerous, their combined strength is in athletic fields, tees and traffic areas. New roots in new soils always look good. A measure of success is to have sufficient roots to hold the soil mass for their entire depth of penetration when held by the surface sod. Research on rooting of sods has been conducted to determine resistance to an upward pull after one month of growth. How would you insult roots? 1. Reduce the air at root tips 2. Increase the water to excess 3. Compact the soil; use equipment and carts 4. Smear, seal the surface 5. Raise the temperature 6. Overcrowd the plants 7. Lose leaves to disease; lose energy 8. Reduce leaf surface 9. Shade by trees, buildings, other plants 10. Overfertilize and stress plants What would you do to favor roots? 1. Increase oxygen in root zone 2. Avoid any overwatering or con­ tinued wetness 3. Vertically core, spike, slit open root zone surface 4. Topdress to raise cutting height 5. Topdress to minimize surface com­ paction and effect of thatch 6. Increase leaf surface 7. Avoid or spread wear 8. Avoid disease or turf weakening 9. Lower the temperature - cooling when possible 10. Reduce shade or competition 11. Fertilize - low to medium nitrogen 12. Provide ample potassium and minor elements Turf managers and their crew can’t make a root! You can help; let the plants make them. You can kill the root or slow it down. 14 FOR SALE DITCH W/TCH J20 TRENCHER Flotation Tires - Excellent Condition New Chain Sprockets - $4500.00 DITCH WITCH V30 TRENCHER w/Backhoe 30 HP - Flotation Tires - $7500.00 M4 DITCH WITCH 12 H P - $1000.00 EVERGREEN SPRINKLER (313) 474-3090 'F o r Land's Sake-'Use P eat" oxfoj® r m co. 1430 E. Drahner Rd. Oxford, Michigan 48051 PROCESSED PEAT Top Dressing Blends Custom Blending FRED LATTA 313/628-5991 Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. I Phone: (313) 354 5644 TRUCK-CAR MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRIAL TRAILER Ihll J TIRES WHOLESALE PRICES TO COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS T h e best in T u r f Supplies-» L E S C O 100% S u lfu r-C o a te d F e r t i l i z e r s , G o lf C o u rs e A c c e s s o ri e s , C h e m ic a ls in c lu d in g LESC0SAN’ A H ig h ly E f f e c t i v e P r e - E m e r g e n c e C ra b g ra s s and P o a An nua C o ntrol * L e s c o s a n ( B e t a s a n - R e g . TM o f S t a u f f e r C h e m i c a l , C o .) (800) 362-7413 IN OHIO (800) 321-5325 NATIONWIDE Available From: Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. ‘•Home Of LESCO Products” 300 South Abbe, Elyria, OH 44035 Dealing With Doubts It was a difficult decision, but you carefully weighed all the factors and did your best to make the right choice. The decision has been made, and there is nothing more you can do. So why is it keeping you awake nights? It’s a normal reaction. Psychologists say that everyone has doubts once in awhile, particularly when they begin to think about the good features of the choice they turned down. When that happens, we go back over the reason­ ing by which we reached our decision. This justification process can involve some very intricate calculations. Some people can resolve the matter right there by deciding that it just isn’t worth the trouble to figure it out. Another factor that can ease your mind is how easily you can reverse your decision. If it’s simple, ther’s no point in being uneasy. If it can’t be done once the decision is made, why worry about it? The only way to finally resolve such doubts is to accept the fact that you can never be right all the time. When you can relax and accept the fact that everyone makes mistakes, it’s easier to receiving put the matter aside and move on to a new problem. Dear Ted, On behalf of the membership of the Michigan and Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association and myself, I would like to extend our congratulations on the GCSAA Award for Outstanding Chap­ ter Newsletters. This award reminds us all of the untiring and thankless work you have put in to this publication over the past many years. We members of MBCGCSA are proud to belong to a local with such a quality publication available to us as members. I would like to further congratulate you as a recipient of the twenty-five year pin at the national meeting this past week in New Orleans. Our local was well represented at this ceremony. We all are proud of the continuing concern by members like you to build a strong local organization and a national one which we newer members have reaped many benefits from and have relied on so heavily. Thank you, Bruce J. Wolfrom ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION? FILL IN THE QUESTIONAIRE BELOW AND MAIL TO: CLEM WOLFROM DETROIT GOLF CLUB 530 Kendry Bloomfield H ills, Ml 48013 Off. 345-4589, Res. 334-0140 D A T E ___________________ NAME ___________________________________________________________________ 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 I E R WHO C A L L ON Y O U A N D G I V E H I M T H E I N F O R M A T I O N N E E D E D F O R A P P L I C A T I O N . 15 c d u iUNTRY CLUB TURF PRODUCTS —Homogenous Granulation —High UF (W.I.N.J —Balanced Feeding —Fits Your Budget Distributed by.^— Lebanon Chemical Corporation P.O. Box 847. Danville. Illinois 61832 uim.F.seii & Son,inc. SINCE 1923 RENTAL SALES - SERVICE * SWEEPERS * LOADERS * TRENCHERS* MOWERS * ROTARY CUTTERS * BACK HOE DIGGERS * BACK FILL BLADES * POST HOLE DIGGERS JOB TAILORED EQUIPMENT 282-5100 Complete Une of Moteriol Hondling & Form Equipment 16555 TELEGRAPH RD. — TAYLOR 1 MILE SOUTH OF EUREKA 16 Causes of Damage to Turfgrass, cont. period under discussion may cause mechanical damage either by attrition or from pressure which forces the ice crystals through the cells, thereby puncturing them and causing death. Play during time the grass is covered with frost has the same effect. Death at the time of thawing depends on the amount and the state of the “bound” water within the cell (intra­ cellular water). Unless adequate bound water is present in the protoplasm, death may result if thawing is rapid or if inter-cellular water re-enters the cell too rapidly. In the latter case, the cell wall is permeable but the protoplasm is unable to absorb the water. Prolonged cold may be conducive to death be­ cause it contributes to brittleness of the protoplasm and, if contact (from traffic) is made, the plant is highly susceptible to damage. Causes Relating to Traffic Grass will initiate growth during the warmer periods of late winter-early spring. If the season is characterized by widely fluctuating temperatures, the grass is vulnerable to the freeze- frozen-thaw growth cycle with its at- tendent problems. Too, the environ­ ment produced is highly conducive to disease development. Thus, this may be the most critical phase of the turf management program facing the golf course superintendent. And, he often finds his turf management programs (and, therefore, himself) in direct con­ flict with the golfing membership, especially those desirous of playing a few early rounds. Mechanical traffic on partially frozen or wet soil may be immediately evident (visible) or de­ layed (invisible). Visible injuries (soil displacement) are the footprints and ruts caused by foot and vehicular traffic - sliding and slipping, walking or rolling - on partially frozen or satu­ rated soil. Invisible injury stems from soil compaction. Although this type of mechanical damage is not confined to the winter months, soil compaction may be far more damaging during this period than generally recognized. Traffic on par­ tially frozen or wet soil, without the injury by C on tin ued N e x t Column 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 I P Fill In New Address: N A M E A D D R E S S Z I P S T A T E C I T Y Mail this form to: A PATCH OF GREEN 31823 Utica Road Fraser, Michigan 48026 TURF SUPPLIES INC. 6 9 0 0 Pardee R d .,Taylor, Michigan (313) 29 1-120 0 DON'T EVEN THINK OF BUYING....................... GRASS SEED FERTILIZERS FUNGICIDES WITHOUT CALLING 291-1200 TURF SUPPLIES INC. 6 9 0 0 Pardee R d .,T aylor, Michigan (313) 29 1-120 0 17 Causes of Damage to Turfgrass, cont. and Ponded Water protection of living grass, will exert greater pressure (hence, more com­ pacting force) than during the normal growing season. This results, subse­ quently, in poor growth and may explain “problem areas” which show up in spring and summer for no apparent reason. Cupping areas are particularly vulnerable in this respect. Traffic on frosted turf causes the frost crystals to puncture leaf cells and kill the grass. Removal of frost, or preventing play when the grass is frosted, is essential. Control of traffic during vulnerable periods does not always contribute to harmony between early golfing and harmony between early golfing mem­ bers and the less enthusiastic golfing and non-golfing members. The respon­ sibility for control rests with the club officials - president, green chairman, superintendent and golf professionals. Causes Relating to Ice Sheets Turfgrasses, although essentially dormant during the winter months, nevertheless, carry on metabolic (growth) activity, particularly respira­ tion. During late winter-early spring, as growth activity increases, the grass may suffocate (a) if diffusion of atmospheric and soil gases is re­ duced or stopped; (b) if excess carbon dioxide accumulates, or (c) if oxygen supplies are reduced to a minimum. Such conditions exist under ice sheets in poorly drained areas where the soil re­ mains saturated for extended pe­ riods and, under flooded conditions when ponded or standing water persists. The higher the tempera­ ture, the shorter the period of time the grass can survive adverse con­ ditions.Under limited (and rare) condi­ tions, ice sheets and ponded water may act as a lens. When this hap­ pens, the sun’s rays are magnified to the point the excessive heat produced may cause a burning or scalding of the turfgrass. Causes Related to Reduced Desiccation is a “wilting” pheno- Continued Next Page Winter Water Intake Causes of Damage to Turfgrass, cont. menon. Like wilt, which occurs during the normal growing season, desiccation occurs when évapotranspiration ex­ ceeds water intake. This inability of the roots to absorb water, or for the plant to transdpot it to or through its system, may result from a shallow, poorly branched root system, diseased vas­ cular system, or, from a reduced or restricted soil water supply. Limited soil moisture may be the result of a “dry” soil (not enough water) or of a frozen or partially frozen soil (water unavailable to the root because of its physical state). Thus, the roots simply cannot take in enough water to offset that being lost by the plant and it “Desiccates” or cries up - it wilts. Although more serious during periods when the soil is “on the dry side” or partially frozen, desiccation on high windswept sites may occur at any time. The increased air movement causes excessive transpiration and under li­ mited or reduced soil moisture con­ ditions, the plants may die unless protected. In late winter-early spring, before the irrigation system has been acti­ vated, damage from desiccation may be severe. Water hauled in spray tanks or by other means and applied to critical sites will preclude or minimize loss. Techniques and procedures that protect, avoid and correct the damage that occurs in late winter-early spring are well known to and understood by the golf course superintendent. For the most part, protective measures relate to production of a healthy vigorous grass and to the control, to the extent possible, of the soil-plant environment. When these factors are adversely impacted by anomalous conditions of weather, poor construction or inade­ quate equipment and supplies, the responsibility for loss of turfgrass must be shared.J.R. Watson, Vice President The Toro Company Protective Measures V'X:-