UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION S o u t h e rn T u rf l e t t er No. 6 December - I96I DR. MARVIN H. FERGUSON M I D - C O N T I N E NT D I R E C T OR N A T I O N AL R E S E A R CH C O O R D I N A T OR JAMES B. MONCRIEF A G R O N O M I ST CHARLES E. CROLEY A G R O N O M I ST SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT U N I V E R S I TY OF G E O R G IA A T H E N S, G E O R G IA T E L E P H O N E: L I B E R TY 8-2741 SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT T E X AS A a M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE S T A T I O N, T E X AS T E L E P H O N E: V I C T OR 6 - 3 2 10 BENTS CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN THE UPPER SOUTH The bentgrasses as a whole have held up quite well during 1961 in the Upper South. More courses are considering bents for use on greens. Country Club in Athens, Georgia have shown, for the past three years, that bents may be grown under their conditions. The grasses giving the best putting surface and appearance throughout the year are Old Orchard, Cohansey, and Penncross. The poorest appearing bent has been Seaside. These plots are part of the practice putting green and usually have 2-cup settings the year round. was prepared following physical analysis of the sand, soil, and organic material. The prepared mixture was installed over a good sub-drainage system. The plots at the Athens The soil mixture PASTEURIZATION OF TOPDRESSING SOIL Pasteurization is becoming popular with golf courses in soil sterilization. Several courses during 1961 have gone to the LP gas method of sterilising soils. Random sampling has shown good weed control. and winter is an ideal time for sterilization of the soil. The soil may be used immediately COMING EVENTS January 26 USGA Green Section Educational Meeting Biltmore Hotel, New York, N. Y. January 29-February 2 GCSAA International Conference and Show Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida February 13-1^ February 26-2? Virginia Turf grass Conference Executive Motor Hotel, Richmond, Virginia Southern Turfgrass Conference Peaboay Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee NOW WHERE DID I PUT THOSE P R U G NO TOOLS? With winter coming on and turf maintenance activities slowing down, it's time to be thinking of those pruning jobs that were put off till more time was available in the winter Here are some pruning points to think about f f Why? Pruning should be done only when there is a reason for it. Here, in order of importance, are some of those reasons: killed growth• (2) To balance the amount of top or branch growth on a plant with the amount of root system at the time of transplanting. (3) To remove parts of plants that are injured seriously by diseases or insects• (4) To repair injuries to the plant by weather conditions, such as storms. (5) To rejuvenate older plants by removing older stems and branches to encourage vigorous new young stems to take their place, (6) To maintain or develop a desired size or (l) To remove dead wood or winter- 1 • form« (7) To produce more or better flowers and fruit» Incorrect and Correct Pruning Methods PROPER P R O C E D U RE IN P R U N I NG A L A R G£ LIMB R E M O V AL OF VERY L A R GE LIMB ) SAFETY RULES FOR PRUNERS 1. Know the type of wood in the tree. Be especially cautious when pruning trees with weak, brittle wood such as silver maple, willow, poplar and tulip. Oak, hickory, pecan, elm and plane trees have strong, flexible wood. 2. Check your pruning tools often for safety and efficiency. 3. Study and decide on the general condi- tions of the tree. Greater care must be taken in old or weakened trees than in sound ones. is warm and the trees are dry. When temperatures are low and the trees are wet, the job of pruning is always dangerous. When electric wires run 4. If possible, prune when the weather through or near the tree, the danger of electrical shock is increased in wet weather. 5. Never allow tools to come in contact with wires, even though they are supposed to be in- sulated. 7. When pruning 6. Bark peeling and fungus growths are signs of dying and dead branches. Never depend for support on limbs that show these symptoms. trees, remember that any branch, no matter how sound in appear- ance, may give way under the weight of the pruner. Always have a safety rope properly large attached. The information on pruning was taken from the Texas Agricultural Extension Bulletin "Modern Pruning Methods" by A. F. DeWerth. Recommended Reading Material Modern Pruning Methods A, F. DeWerth, Texas Agricultural Extension Service Bulletin B-9T7- The Pruning Manual E. P. Christopher, The MacMillan Co., 195^» The Home Book of Trees and Shrubs ,.J. J^ Levison, Alfred A. Knopr, 19^9- Pruning is Simple John & Carol Grant Frank McCaffrey, Publishers, 19b8. Maintenance of Shade and Ornamental Trees P. P. Pirone Oxford University Press, 19la. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Green Section Staff would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - ;rV-.Yt 'V f , ; :.. W' r ' - /i .'-V ^•'••/r-Vj \i ^ V ^ Southern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID College Station, Texas Permit N o. 80 •Dr. J- H. Watson Chief Agronomist Toro Mfg. Corp. Minneapolis 6, Minn, \ a :'