UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION S O U T H W E S T E RN D I S T R I CT TEXAS A8EM CO L L E GE COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS S O U T H E A S T E RN D I S T R I CT PL A NT INDUSTRY ST A T I ON BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND MARVIN H. FERGUSON MID-CONTINENT DIRECTOR NATIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR JAMES B, MONCRIEF SOUTHWESTERN AGRONOMIST JAMES M. LATHAM, JR. SOUTHEASTERN AGRONOMIST SOUTHERN TIIRFLETTER Vol. I No. 2 June 1957 DALLISGRASS CONTROL Dallisgrass is s t i ll a major weed problem in turfgrass throughout the South. With good growing conditions it w i ll reproduce and spread rapidly. Considerable work has been done on the control of Dallisgrass Recently results of work by Eugene R. Bockholt, of the Texas A. & M. College, were published in the USGA Journal (February 1957)- His conclusions were as follows: 1. Disodium methyl arsonate w i ll give selective control of Dallisgrass in Bermudagrass turf. Apparently under some s o il moisture and plant development conditions a complete k i ll may not be obtained with a single application. 2. The addition of 2,^-D or ammonium nitrate to disodium methyl arsonate may increase its effectiveness. 3. Disodium methyl arsonate, when used at rates necessary to control Dallisgrass, w i ll harm and possibly k i ll St. Augustine. severely k. Present data indicate that 10 pounds of disodium methyl arsonate per acre in 87 to 17^ gallons of water per acre in one application w i ll give good control of Dallisgrass. Research is needed on the use of lower rates in several applications. 5. A wetting agent w i ll increase the effectiveness of disodium methyl arsonate. Joe Wildman, Superintendent of the Country Club of Birmingham obtained good Dallisgrass control with a mixture of 3 pounds of 100$ disodium methyl arsonate and 1 pound of 100$ to 50 gallons of water. A household detergent was added as a wetting agent to obtain better coverage. This mixture was applied twice with an interval of 7 days between applications. Joe warns that a rain soon after an application ruins its effectiveness and a repeat treatment w i ll be necessary. -D per acre, applied in *I0 PLANTING NEW GREENS Quite a number of Southern golf courses are beginning to change their common Bermudagrass putting greens to Tifgreen. Many different planting methods are being used with good results. The following points should be considered in planning the change-over procedures: 1. A ll planting areas as well as topdressing s o il should be sterilized carefully. Thorough aera- tion is necessary if the existing green surface is to be used. This w i ll help the sterilant to penetrate the s o il better. 2. If the s o il is to be disturbed by discing, etc., the required lime and f e r t i l i z er should be ap- plied and mixed into the s o il before planting. If the planting is to be made into the existing surface the green should be aerated heavily and f e r t i l i z ed and watered prior to planting. 3. Any planting method can be used -- sprigging, broadcasting, plugging or sodding. The f i r st two methods are the most popular. When broad- casting, about 5 bushels of chopped planting material per 1,000 square feet is required. Chopping can be done in a vertical mower, a large chopper or hammermill. After topdressing, the surface must be kept moist to prevent the sprigs from drying. Light watering w i ll be necessary several times a day. Sprigs can be planted into s l i t s, grooves or aerator holes, with equal ease. This method does not require strict water management or as much planting material as is indicated above, but more labor is needed. lw To achieve maximum growth, new plantings should receive about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet at intervals of 2 weeks during the establish- ment period. 5- Young, tender grasses are damaged easily by in- sects, especially sod webworms. Newly-planted areas should be sprayed periodically by insecti- cide to prevent such damage. LOUISIANA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Bulletin No. I of the Louisiana Turfgrass Association is indeed a credit to this Association. The o f f i c e rs are as follows: President Vice Presidents Lou G. Vickers Metairie Country Club B. F. Carroll Sherwood Forest Country Club Baton Rouge, La. C. D. Smith Barksdale Golf Association Secretary-Treasurer and Research Director J. M. Peek Southwestern Louisiana Institute What It Is The Louisiana Turfgrass Association is a non-profit organization dedicated, as stated in the Constitution, to the gathering, preserving and dispensing of technical and practical information pertinent to the propaga- tion, maintenance and improvement of turfgrasses in Louisiana. Membership Anyone who is in any way interested in turfgrass, whether profes- sionally with the responsibility for the care of many acres of turf or as an amateur with a few hundred square feet of lawn, is e l i g i b le in one of the several categories. It is a declared policy of the Association to devote a proportional amount of time and energy to a ll turfgrass interests. There are plans for a July Field Day for the Louisiana Turfgrass Association. The date has not been set at this time. CLOVER CONTROL This past f u ll month has been ideal for clover growth. Recent results have shown excellent control by the use of Endothal. Use 3 pounds of acid or 1 l/2 gallons of commercial material in 80 gallons of water per acre. ways have been mowed. Do not spray shrubs, trees or flowers. It is suggested that spraying be done 1 or 2 days after the f a i r- Southern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION Sec. 34.66, P.L.&R. U. S. POSTAGE VH PAID Beltsville, Maryland Permit No. 4