TurfComms Vol. 9,1. 9 ^^V Feb. 21, '97 PURPOSE: To pass on what we learn willingly and happily to others in the profession so as to improve turf conditions around the country. TEXAS TURF CONFERENCE: Dr. Monica Elliott, turf pathologist out of Florida, was on the program first. Her sound bite was, "Use your Brain first and Chemicals second." Which in the increasingly complex world of turf fungicides is a good idea to follow. Dr. James A. McAfee, North Texas turf extension specialist, talked about biological control of turfgrass pests. He noted the control of Rhodescale in St. Augustine in South Texas by the introduction of a small wasp as one success for biological control. He also talked some about use of BioTrek 22G for control of Brown Patch. He noted that for best results it needed to be soil incorporated and could 
not be followed by Banner or Benomyl as these two fungicides would kill the microbe doing the work in BioTrek. Wallace Menn, Texas turf researcher, discussed herbicides and growth regulators. He mentioned that Sencor and MSMA used together will control smutgrass. That Kleberg bluestem (Dichanthium annulatum {Andropogon annulatus}) is becoming a serious weed in turf. I think he and I are both talking about the same grass only I've been calling it Yellow bluestem 
(Andropogon {or Bothriochloral ischaemum). Mr. Menn mentioned that Image and MSMA can be used in bermudagrass to obtain control of this warm season perennial. Or a wick applicator and Roundup in St. Augustine. He also noted that Image helps in the control of Virginia Button weed. He noted that the dinitroanaline preemerges (Surflan, Treflan, Pendimethalin, Pordiamine, Benefin) do not control carpet burrweed for those having this favorite Southern winter annual weed. TURFCOMMS is published at unpredictable intervals by the editor and publisher: Douglas T. Hawes, Ph.D. 2408 Roundrock Trail Certified Professional Agronomist Piano, Texas 75075 Specializing in Golf Course (972) 867-0176 Maintenance Consulting Fax (972) 519-9263 Subscription cost is $15. Send checks to Doug Hawes at the above address. While covering the growth regulators he noted that soil has a big affect on the type II regulators (Primo TOR and Cutless). Also, that for some unknown reason common bermudagrass shows more damage to Primo at higher heights of cut than low. Dr. Monica Elliott came back the second day and talked about the Root Rot Patch Diseases. She told us that the main causal agent (Gaeumamiomyces graminis var. graminis) attacks all warm season grasses; and damage primarily follows periods of high rainfall or occurs in areas that have poor drainage. You must raise height of cut to out grow the disease; fungicides do not help. Banner worsens the disease! Culturally, aerify with large tines, topdress, raise height of cut. Do not use hydrated lime, as fungi likes higher pH. Potassium and minor element applications help turf recover. Ammonia nitrogen helps, nitrates hurt. Dr. Richard White, Texas A.M. researcher, discussed the new dwarf bermudagrasses. He noted that 'Champion' was the slowest of the five to establish. That mite injury was most severe on TW72, but that all dwarf cultivars have purplish color in the Fall and are susceptible to mites. 'Baby' is not a true dwarf. He announced that the Summer Conf. and Field Day would be at A.& M, College Station. July 15 and 16, Jim Moore, USGA Green Section, discussed Agronomic Resources on the internet. Noting that E-mail eliminates telephone tag. (Ed. So do fax machines with a lot more privacy.) He will fax you a list of turf Web sites (URLs), four pages. His phone number is 1(817) 776-0765 and Fax 1(817)776-0227. A local iumigator has moved into laser tee leveling. I guess he realizes methyl bromide is on its way out. He suggested rototill work be done to a uniform depth so it would settle uniformly. He claims costs of $l/sq. ft. for constructing tees in this manner. They had a bentgrass vs. bermudagrass greens panel with two superintendents on the panel that had switched to bermudagrass and two that were staying with bentgrass even though it was extremely difficult to grow under their conditions. One thing that came out of this was that those with the new 'Champion' cultivar of bermudagrass were so far, very happy with it. Dr. Richard White, TX A & M researcher, discussed interseeding of new bentgrass cultivars into old greens for increased genetic diversity. He convinced a biased me that a light application of Roundup followed by two day wait, vertical mowing, seeding and then topdressing is the best way to go and that anything short of that is almost a waste of time and money. He like Dr. Engelke, his mentor, is convinced we are using fans to correct a water management problem not for cooling. In other words the fans save turf because we are overwatering those problem greens. You may not want to hear this but I think there is a lot of merit to this although 
I'm certainly not completely sold, and if nothing else the fans allow you to dry out these greens after soaking rains. INDEX TO TURFCOMMS AVAILABLE: At the request of one customer 1 produced an index by subject to Turfcomms Vol. 1, issue 1, through Vol. 9, issue 8. Although many journals publish such indexes as an issue each year I don't generally have much use for the yearly indexes unless I have saved that journal or newsletter. Then what I really appreciate is the index that covers many years, so here is one. I will not publish this subject index with cross references as an issue as I feel few would desire it. If you are an old customer and wish a copy; one is yours for the asking and $5 to cover cost of printing and mailing of this 14 page document. I have sent one to the TGIF at Michigan, 
Institute of Applied Agriculture, Maryland, and Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Massachusets. and the customer who made the original request. URL's: I mentioned these above as being available through Jim Moore. Here are some not in his current list. Most were in the last two issues of The Avant Gardener. http://trine.com/GardenNet - this is the biggie gateway to other sites http://www.prairienet.org/ag/garden/ - another gateway to other sites http://www.nhn.ou.edu/howard/garden/html - another gateway to other sites http://www.gardenweb.com/vl/ - another gateway to other sites http://olympus/net/pointl.htm - another gateway to other sites http://www.gardenscapes.com - another gateway to other sites They also suggest the following sites which may be of interest to superintendents: http://www.bamboo.org/abs - bamboo, Am. Soc. of http://cissus.mobot.org/AABGA/Lhtm - Am. Assoc. of Bot. Gard. http://www.helsinki.fi/kmus/botgard.html - internet of botany http://www.bulb.com - bulb info, center http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/wnt/biocontrol - biological control http://mgfx.com/butterfly/ - attracting butterflies http://www.lstres0urce.c0m/t/treed0c/ - arboriculture http://rampages.onramp.net/-garylip/index.htm - wildflowers And many more. Also in a recent magazine of another journal is a page of web sites of mostly commercial green industry manufacturers such as Toro and Jacobsen. I can photocopy or fax you this information in more detail if you are interested. I also have an Arbor net page from the Tree Care Industry magazine. My temporary e-mail address is. doughawes@bigfoot.com Now if I can only get myself to check it regularly. ALAN MACCURRACH PASSED AWAY: As I understand it this PGA-Tour agronomist passed away in mid-January while on the road in Palm Springs, Calif. I first meet him while he was superintendent at Chevy Chase Club in the early 70's. But my fondest memory is a long discussion at one superitendent's meeting after that where we talked about Dr. John Madison's two turf texts. All who knew Alan on a professional basis were always pleased to have the pleasure of visiting with him again. I only wish our paths had crossed more frequently. Anyone wishing to have his memory live on a little longer it is suggest you contribute to the Mike Richards Memorial Scholarship Foundation, 1009 Ruth Ave., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 in his name. This is a Foundation he helped initiated in honor of a dear friend. PINES FOR THE ARID WEST: Howard Garrett wrote an interesting column in the Dallas Morning News approximately January 23rd. concerning this subject which I find worth while passing on. He writes here mostly about the Eldarica pine, also called Mondell and Afghan pine that has been widely planted in the arid west in the last twenty years. It is very tolerant of high pH soils and dry conditions. Its cold tolerance seems to be zone 8 or maybe 7. He notes that it has two problems. There is some susceptibility to the pine tip moth when young and it is not tolerant of wet feet. Mr. Garrett has had several reports of larger trees with fungal diseases of the root system which appeared to develop from above average rainfall or too much irrigation. He suggests that for watered sites in North Texas the ponderosa pine might be a better choice. I would like to note that zone 8 is the southern limit of the ponderosa pine and that it is also not 
very tolerant of wet feet. Other pines mentioned are Slash, Austrian, Japanese black and Cross pine The latter being a hybrid between Austrian and Japanese. All but the slash pine have some tolerance of arid conditions and high pH soils but, as the trees mature more iron supplements are often needed in Western soils. HOWELL: Met Leon Howard, consultant, golf course architect, and researcher instrumental in developing tests for USGA Specifications at the Nov. No. TX GCSA meeting. Asked for his comment on use of either Milorganite or Composted Rice Hulls as putting green mix additives (he 
is now doing consulting work for a zeolite producer who was standing near him so his replies 
might have been biased). He felt Milorganite use encouraged black layer and he was very unenthusiastic about the use of composted rice hulls. He did agree they weren't apt to do any harm, especially on sands that percolate slowly where peats are apt to slow the percolation rate down. Mr. Howard spoke to the superintendents meeting very enthusiasticly about the use of 10% by volume clinoptilolitic zeolites in putting green soil mixes to add both nutrient and water holding 
capacity. MY SUMMER - Preliminary Plan: Greater Dallas Area till May 15th May 15 till June 11th + or - a day Š Eastern Half of U.S. (LA, GA, SC, NC, VA, MA, MO & NE? in that order) June 11th till July 5th Greater Dallas Area July 6th till July 30th Western U.S. (NM, AZ, NV, CA, ID, Salt Lake in that order) Aug. 1 till Aug. 13th Greater Dallas Area August 14th till Labor Day Central U.S. (NE, SD, ND) Want a Turf Advisory Visit ? Give a call. (972) 867-0176 END