Spring has Sprung!

TurfNews

WHAT’S INSIDE: Golf Course TIPSSee Page 24 – 25

Sports Turf TIPSSee Pages 18 – 22

GREEN INDUSTRY NEWSSee Pages 4 – 9

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E O H I O T U R F G R A S S F O U N D A T I O N

Volume 69 • No. 2April – May 2007

They can’tdeliver the fertilizer

until when???!!!

My preemergenceisn’t down yet!

How many

pieces of equipment

are already

broken down???

How manyevents are we

having thisweekend???

Half of my crewdidn’t show up

for work today!

I still needto aerify!!!!!!

Weeds, Diseases

and Insects ...

Oh My!

Poa seedheadsalready going

wild .......

TurfNews distributes useful and timely advice, information and research from Ohio’s most knowledgeable experts and professionals to OTF members and those in the turfgrass industry.

Vol. 69 • No. 2 April – May 2007

TurfNews is produced by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville, Ohio 43701-73031-888-OTF-3445 and is available to all memberswww.OhioTurfgrass.org

Back issues of OTF TurfNews are available on our website at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

TurfNewsT H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E O H I O T U R F G R A S S F O U N D A T I O N

Inside 07 Calendar EventsOF

Message from the OTF President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Green Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Residential Lawn Care Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2007 Buckeye Sports Turf Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Sports Turf Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Golf Course Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Hort Shorts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

New Growth & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

OSU Turfgrass Science Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Safe Lifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Corporate Sponsor – THE ANDERSONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

OTF’s 46th Anniversary!April 24, 2007

Ohio Turfgrass WeekMay 25 – June 1, 2007 • 888-683-3445

Ohio Sports Turf Spring Field Day (OSTMA)May 2, 2007 • 614-354-1196Hudson High School, Hudson, OH

Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar (OLCA)June 21, 2007 • 800-510-5296OARDC, Wooster, OH

OTF Regional SeminarJuly 17, 2007Yankee Trace Golf Club, Centerville, OH

OLCA Golf Outing July 26, 2007 • 800-510-5296 (OLCA)Deer Ridge Golf Club, Bellville, OH

Ohio Sod Producers Association Summer Field DayAugust 7, 2007 • 888-683-3445Henderson Turf Farm, Franklin, OH

OTF/OSU Turfgrass Research Field DayAugust 15, 2007 • 888-683-3445OTF Research & Education Center, Columbus, OH

Ohio Lawn Care Outdoor Summer Seminar (OLCA)August 16, 2007 • 800-510-5296OTF Research & Education Center, Columbus, OH

OTF Golf TournamentOctober 1, 2007 • 888-683-3445NCR Country Club, Dayton, OH

Ohio Turfgrass Conference & ShowDecember 4 – 6, 2007 • 888-683-3445Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH

The purpose of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation is to promote the turfgrass industry in Ohio, to encourage the further research and education in turfgrass science and to speak on matters of policy affecting the turfgrass industry – all of which provide better turf for everyone.

This Issue Sponsored By:

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2

MESSAGEFROM THEPRESIDENT

The older I get, the more I learn to appreciate this time of year ...

whether it is finding the sanity in life after “March Madness” or

seeing the aesthetically invigorating “perfectscape” the Masters

provides, the awakening mother nature provides gives us the

energy and focus to begin the execution of winter plans ... certainly

a season of hope.

Freshness is also something the OTF Board and Committees look

at while building programs for the upcoming year. One of the new

programs started last year, Ohio Turfgrass Week, provides an

opportunity for OTF members to help promote the turfgrass industry

in Ohio.

OTF launched the inaugural Ohio Turfgrass Week as an initiative

to create an awareness of the positive impact turfgrass has on

the environment, while creating an opportunity to generate new

revenue streams through non-traditional means from those who

benefit from turfgrass either recreationally or at home.

To promote Ohio Turfgrass week last year, we asked golf courses

to participate and donate a dollar a round during the week. This

year Ohio Turfgrass week, scheduled for May 25 – June 1, has

broadened the scope of the target groups. OTF is asking Golf

Courses, Lawn Care Operators, Athletic Field Managers and vendors

to participate by selling tickets for redemptive goods or services

offered (see detailed communication on page 4 of this issue).

Not only will those who buy tickets be eligible for prizes, but the

OTF member who sells the most raffle tickets will win a variety

of OTF packages including Golf Tournament registration, Conference

and Show Registration and an annual Membership to OTF.

We appreciate your support and participation in Ohio Turfgrass

Week. Help spread the word about the benefits of turfgrass in Ohio!

Yours for Better Turf,

Mark Jordan CGCS

Don’t Let Your Member Benefits Expire!

It’s time to renew your membership to OTF (unless, of course, you have already done so). The OTF Member- ship year runs from February 1 – January 31. Member- ship renewal invoices have been mailed 3 times to all 2006 members – and there was no increase in dues!

Please renew your membership immediately. If OTF does not receive your renewal before May 1, valuable member benefits and services will expire.

Following is a brief description of each OTF Member-ship Type:

Organizational: Any one company that is currently in-volved in the management of turfgrass. Includes golf courses, lawn care companies, parks & recreation, cemeteries, nurseries, landscapers, sod producers, athletic fields, suppliers, and related organizations. Organizational Members have one contact person with full voting privileges.

Affiliate Organizational Member: Any one person whose company has joined as an Organizational Member. Affiliate Members will receive all OTF mailings, will be listed in the membership directory, and will have all other member benefits, but will have no voting privileges.

Individual: Any one person who is currently involved in the management of turfgrass. Individual Members have full voting privileges.

Faculty: Any person involved in teaching turfgrass management, landscape, horticulture, or other related fields. Faculty Members have no voting privileges.

Retired: Any member for 10 consecutive years who is now retired.

Student: Any student currently enrolled in a high school, vocational, technical school, college or univer-sity. Student Members have no voting privileges.

If you did not receive your renewal invoice, or have questions about your membership, please call OTF at 888-683-3445, or visit www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

– WARNING –This will be the last OTF TurfNews

you receive if you do not renew your 2007 membership.

3

Would you like to win a foursome in the 2007 OTF Golf Tournament

at NCR Country Club, 2007 OTF Conference & Show Registration

and/or a free OTF membership? You can win them by supporting

the second annual Ohio Turfgrass Week, May 25 – June 1.

What is Ohio Turfgrass Week?In May 2006, OTF raised funds and generated public awareness

for Ohio’s turfgrass industry through the successful launching of

Ohio Turfgrass Week. This year, OTF hopes to dramatically increase

these funds by adding excitement and competition.

Reductions in the state government budget for support of The Ohio

State University have significantly affected research and extension

services available for Ohio’s turfgrass industry. All maintained green

space stands to suffer from the negative impacts of these budget

cutbacks.

Ohio Turfgrass week plans to raise research funds and educate

the community about the importance and positive benefits from

professionally managed turfgrass areas. OTF is currently seeking a

Legislative Proclamation officially naming “Ohio Turfgrass Week”.

2007 Ohio Turfgrass Week – Here’s how it WorksThis year’s plans include raffling prizes to golfers, customers,

homeowners and others who benefit from the expertise of Ohio’s

turfgrass professionals.

You, the OTF member, will sell $1 raffle tickets that will be supplied

to you by OTF. The prizes for the raffle will vary depending upon

each participating OTF member. For example:

Golf CoursesPro Shop sells raffle tickets for $1 each to golfers until the end of

Ohio Turfgrass Week. On June 1, a winner is randomly selected

to win a prize that you donate (Example: Free foursome of golf,

lessons from your Pro, etc).

Lawn Care Operators

Raffle tickets sold to your customers with a chance to win a prize

that you donate (Example: Free fall application or aeration).

Athletic Field Managers Raffle tickets sold to fans with a chance to win a prize (Example:

Free event tickets or opportunity for a behind the scenes experience).

Suppliers

Sales staff sells raffle tickets to customers with a chance to win a

prize (Example: Free seed, fertilizer, spreader, etc.).

The raffle tickets may be sold though May 31, with the winner being

drawn by you on June 1. The money that is collected from the raffle

ticket sales will then be donated to OTF for Turfgrass Research.

The three (3) OTF members who raise the most money from raffle

ticket sales win the prizes listed below.

1st Prize – TOTAL VALUE = $9851 Year OTF Organizational Membership ($170 value)

Foursome in OTF Golf Tournament at NCR Country Club ($600 value)

3-Day Registration for 2007 OTF Conference & Show ($215 value)

2nd Prize – TOTAL VALUE = $3851 Year OTF Organizational Membership ($170 value)

3-Day Registration for 2007 OTF Conference & Show ($215 value)

3rd Prize – TOTAL VALUE = $1701 Year OTF Organizational Membership ($170 value)

GREENI N D U S T R Y

NEWSMembers Can Earn Valuable Prizes

by Supporting Ohio Turfgrass Week!

Continued on next page

4

FOR THE LATEST RESEARCH AND INFORMATIONFOR OHIO’S TURF AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

VISIT THESE IMPORTANT WEB SITES:

Buckeye Turfwww.buckeyeturf.osu.edu

Lawn, Grounds & LandscapeBuckeye Yard & Garden Line • www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/bygl

These sites may also be accessed from the

OTF Web site at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

It’s a Win-Win Proposition! • Everyone who purchases a raffle ticket has a chance to win great prizes. Plus, they will learn something about turfgrass research because the raffle tickets will be printed with valuable inform- ation about the need for turfgrass research.

• You get to gather valuable information about your customers (i.e. email addresses).

• You can win valuable, money-saving prizes from OTF.

• Funds are raised for turfgrass research. Letters were mailed recently to all OTF members explaining how they can participate in this year’s Ohio Turfgrass Week and win valuable prizes. OTF encourages all members to take part in Ohio Turfgrass Week and help secure the future of turfgrass research in Ohio! Please discuss this fun, new fundraising effort with your owner or general managers. If you have questions, please call OTF at 888-683-3445. We look forward to your participation!

2007 Ohio State Golf Turf Spring Tee-Off ReviewThe 4th annual Spring Tee-Off just wrapped up and thank you to all

of those who participated. The new, two day schedule was well

received and the Wednesday evening Welcome Reception was

standing-room only. It is always great to get together with friends.

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, for the second year partnered with

the Central Ohio Golf Course Superintendents Association to have

one of their monthly meetings in conjunction with the Spring Tee-

Off. Not only was there great networking, attendees received

pesticide credits and superintendent’s received valuable GCSAA

educational points. Speakers included most members of The Ohio

State Turf Team, Dr. Bill Pound of the Ohio Department of Ag-

riculture, Bob Brame and Bill McCarthy of the USGA, golf course

architect Jason Straka, Hurdzan-Fry, Golf Course Design and Larry

Aylward, Golfdom magazine. Just about all topics were covered

either by a speaker, panel discussions or the evening discussion at

the Welcome Reception.

Although the program might appear similar to the sessions at

the December Conference and Show, the Spring Tee-Off is much

different. The speakers, all of which are from The Ohio State

University or have ties to Ohio, were asked to look into their crystal

ball to try to get the attendees in the right frame of mind to start

their programs in the next 30 to 60 days. Every talk had a take

home message. Whether it was new products, or combining old

products, ideas were shared to save time and labor. Data showed

that early applications in the spring could pay dividends all season

long. Communication is always needed, whether you are trying to

explain hand watering, or why the course should hire an architect.

Vendors got a chance to attend educational sessions, which is a

little different than always having to man their booth.

The room was full which made it possible to have great question

and answer sessions. Conversations could have lasted well into the

evening, and from rumors I heard, some of them did. I hope every-

one has a happy and healthy 2007. The OTF Conference and Show

is only about 8 months away – when we can all get together again

and ponder what to do next. Have a great year!

5

Founders Club Continues to GrowThe Ohio Turfgrass Research Trust (OTRT) Founders Club continues to add new members in its mission to generate funding for turf-grass research. At the 2006 OSU/OTF Turfgrass Research Field Day, OTRT announced a new level of membership for just $500 – pay-able over a 5-year period. The new Emerald Level Membership has enabled many new members to join and help OTRT in its pursuit of establishing an endowment for funding turfgrass research in perpetuity. Several other members joined at the Founders Club Reception held during the OTF Conference & Show. Following is a complete list of all current Founders Club Members (as of 3/30/07), in alphabetical order:

GREENI N D U S T R Y

NEWS

Jeff Bisker

Dr. Michael Boehm

Al Brant

Dr. Karl Danneberger

Dr. Chuck Darrah

Jim Dillard

Joe Duncan

Ed Eaton

Susan Everett

Fairmount Minerals

(Best Sands)

John Fitzgerald

Doug Gallant

Dr. David Gardner

Tim Glorioso

Mark Grunkemeyer

Doug Halterman

Mark Heinlein

Paul Jacquemin

Randy Kehres

Kim Kellogg

Rick Kucharski

Don Lawrence

John Lavelle

Paul Mendezoff

John Meyer

Joseph Motz

Harry Murray

Northwestern Ohio GCSAA

Bob O’Brien

Ed Odorizzi

Walter Offinger

Gene Probasco

Jerome Schwieterman

Jim Sharp

Brad Smith

Sam Stimmel

Randy Tischer

Richard Warner

Todd Voss

SpoTlIGhT oN GIvINGThe Founders Club – Jeff Bisker, Your Lawn, Inc., Ashville, OH

“I was invited to the Founders Club Reception at the 2006

OTF Conference & Show, so I went to learn more about

the Founders Club. I learned a lot about how OTF, Ohio Turf-

grass Research Trust and OSU work together to benefit

the turf industry in Ohio. OTF has done a lot to support

research at Ohio State for many years, but there’s still so

much that can be done. The OSU Turf Team has helped me

run a better lawn care company, and since I graduated

from OSU, I thought this would be a good way to give back

to our industry. I signed up before leaving the reception”.

�

5th Annual Northeast ohio lawn Care Seminar June 21 in WoosterThe Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA) will hold its 5th Annual Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar June 21 at OARDC in Wooster. The hands-on, outdoor workshop provides education for lawn, land-scape and grounds managers at a location easily accessible for those in the northeast and central parts of the state.

Participants will get hands-on instruction and diagnostic training on the following topics:• Woody Ornamental Pest Management• Insect Damage Identification and Control• Pre and Post Emergence Control on Grassy Weeds• Nutrient Management• Application Accuracy• Equipment Operations Safety

Pesticide Re-Certification credit will be available, and the Ohio Depart-ment of Agriculture will offer testing for those interested in taking their Pesticide Applicators License Test.

Pre-registration costs $35 for OLCA members and $70 for non- members. Non-members who join the association at the time of registration receive complimentary registration for the workshop. Discounts are available for multiple participants from the same company. For more information, or to register, contact the OLCA office at 800-510-5296 or visit www.OhioLawnCare.org.

oTF Encourages You to Support oSpA Members!OTF and the Ohio Sod Producers Association (OSPA) share a

unique, mutually-beneficial relationship in which dues-paying

OSPA members automatically become members of OTF. Since

OSPA is a “division” of OTF, a portion of the OSPA member dues

pays for OTF membership and the balance goes into OSPA re-

stricted funds to support the activities of OSPA. Therefore, Ohio

Sod Producers Association maintains its own identity as the only

state association for sod producers and its members benefit from

membership in OTF.

OTF members are always encouraged to patronize supplier members – the sod supplier members of OSPA are no different. When making your next sod purchase, please contact the follow- ing OSPA members (as of April 13). For information about OSPA, contact OTF headquarters at 888-683-3445.

Columbus Turf Nursery14337 US Hwy 23

Ashville OH 43103-9667Phone: (740) 983-8873

Eastgate Sod10491 St Rt 48

Loveland OH 45140-6625Phone: (513) 683-6436 x103

Green Velvet Sod Farms Ltd.3620 Upper Bellbrook RdBellbrook OH 45305-8938

Phone: (937) 848-2501

Henderson Turf Farm2969 Beal Rd

Franklin OH 45005-4603Phone: (937) 748-1559

Lavy Ent. Turf Grass, Inc.12386 W National Rd

New Carlisle OH 45344-9725Phone: (937) 845-3721

Medina Sod Farms, Inc.14349 Burton City Rd

Orrville OH 44667-9609Phone: (330) 683-2916

Motz Turf Farms6280 Clough Pike

Cincinnati OH 45244-3961Phone: (513) 231-4844

Princeton Delivery Systems, Inc.8170 Dove Pkwy

Canal Winchester OH 43110-9674Phone: (614) 834-5035

Sugar Run Sod Farm13195 McWilliams RdGreenfield OH 45123

Phone: (937) 763-8882

Turpin Farms3295 Turpin Ln

Cincinnati OH 45244-3446Phone: (513) 617-3623

�

olCA Elects 200�Officers and TrusteesThe Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA) recently announced the

election of Officers and Trustees to its 2007 Board of Directors.

Officers serve a one-year term and Trustees serve three-year terms

that began March 1. OLCA announced the following officers and

trustees who will lead the association into the future:

PRESIDENT

Dave Winter, Advanced Turf Solutions, Hilliard, OH

Winter graduated from The Ohio State University in Turfgrass

Management and has spent his last 15 years as a supplier for turf

and horticultural products.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Dave Hofacre, Grass Master, Inc., Canal Fulton, OH

Hofacre graduated from OSU/ATI in 1975 with an Associates

Degree in Turfgrass Science. In 1981 he and an ATI classmate

began Grass Master, Inc., a full-service lawn care company serving

northeastern Ohio.

SECRETaRy/TREaSuRER

Joyce Pelz, NaturaLawn of America, Akron, OH

Pelz has served on OLCA’s Board for three years and was Secretary/

Treasurer in 2006. She lives in the Akron area and is active in state

and local chapters of the Audubon Society. She is a graduate of

Youngstown State University.

IMMEDIaTE PaST PRESIDENT

Bill Hoopes, former Director of Training with Scotts LawnService

and Barefoot Grass and 2005 founder of Grass Roots Training.

Hoopes, has been active in OLCA since 1990 and was the 2002

President of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America.

GREENI N D U S T R Y

NEWSTwo former trustees and one new trustee were elected to

serve three-year terms that began March 1, 2007:

Jeff Bisker, Your Lawn, Inc., Ashville, OH

Bisker is a Past President of OLCA and will be serving his third term

as trustee. He has chaired the Education, Grants and Scholarships

Committee for several years.

Jeff Benton, St. Clair Lawn Care, St. Clairsville, OH

Benton was elected to a second trustee term on the board. Benton

graduated from The Ohio State University in turfgrass management

and is very active in his community.

Rob Palmer, Weed Pro, Sheffield Village, OH

Palmer, owner of Weed Pro, Ltd., with operations in Cleveland and

Columbus, started his business in 2001. Before starting Weed Pro,

Ltd., Robert worked for Lesco, Inc. as a market sales represent-

ative. Married with 3 children, Robert lives in Amherst, Ohio.

The Ohio Lawn Care Association is committed to promoting

and protecting the lawn care industry in Ohio. For more inform-

ation contact OLCA at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd., Zanesville, OH

USA 43701-7303; Phone 800-510-5296; Fax 740-452-2552;

info@OhioLawnCare.org, www.OhioLawncare.org.

�

oSU STUDENT TURF ClUb UpDATEThE MAIN GoAl oF ThE TURF ClUb IS To ENAblE ThE STUDENTS To bECoME ACTIvE AMoNGST ThEMSElvES

AND WITh oThERS WIThIN ThEIR pRoFESSIoN WhEThER IT IS SpoRTS TURF MANAGEMENT, GolF CoURSE MANAGEMENT,oR ThE SooN To bE pRoFESSIoNAl GolF MANAGEMENT hERE AT ThE ohIo STATE UNIvERSITY.

It has been quite an exciting year for The Ohio State University

Turf Club as the members were able to attend conferences and

interact with many professionals already established in the turf

industry. The club is advised by Dr. Dave Gardner and is com-

prised of nearly thirty members out of the seventy students

enrolled in the turfgrass program.

The main goal of the turf club is to enable the students to be-

come active amongst themselves and with others within their

profession whether it is sports turf management, golf course

management, or the soon to be professional golf management

here at The Ohio State University. To accomplish this goal, the

students hold regular meetings every other Thursday not only to

have a good time and get to know each other, but to coordinate

different events which allow them to come in contact with current

superintendents and other influential figures within their profession.

Most of the energy spent is invested into planning fundraisers

that allow club members to attend the golf industry show for the

GCSAA, which was held in Anaheim, California. This year twelve

students, including three international students, were able to

make the trek out west and attend the trade show. They set

up their own booth amongst the other elite turf programs and

interacted amongst their peers. The students also were fortunate

enough for the Toro Co. to have a guided tour of all of their current

and upcoming equipment that will soon be available.

The students also competed in the Turf Quiz Bowl, which is

routinely held at the annual convention. The team of Club President

Ian Gallagher, Secretary John Gruneisen, Casey Taylor and John

Price had the best showing for Ohio State taking 8th place out of

81 teams.

In order for the students to be able to attend the GIS, numerous

fundraising projects helped finance the trip. The club was very

fortunate to receive a generous donation from the OTF and was

given the opportunity to work the coat check and help set up

booths at the OTF Conference and Trade Show which allowed the

club to earn tips and hourly rates on top of their donation. The

Turf Club is fortunate to have a resource like the OTF involved

with our group as they constantly provide support and help the

students interact with turf industry professionals.

With the main goal of the Turf Club providing an outlet for

students to interact with other turf students and professionals

to enhance networking skills and assist in the advancement of

the industry, the students desire to set up meetings with super-

intendents from local courses and find internships to enhance

their knowledge and gain practical experience. It is our ambition

to be prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow. With the guidance

and knowledge from the faculty and staff at The Ohio State

University, the generosity by members of the OTF and companion-

ship with experienced superintendents, its definitely attainable.

The Ohio State Turf Club thanks everybody for their support and

hope that it continues in the upcoming year.

To carry on the tradition of the Turf Club, the planning and pre-

paration in Thursday meetings will be continued (as well as the

post game at the Varsity Club). Fundraising for the GIS in Orlando

is already in progress under the leadership of newly elected Turf

Club President John Gruneisen, Vice President Mike Odrumsky,

Treasurer Zach Westenbarger, and Secretary James Grdina. GO

BUCKEYES!

�

As spring approaches it becomes important to begin thinking about

your turf weed control programs. Remember that the first step to

controlling weeds is to identify which weeds are present on a site.

Proper identification of the weed will assist with two things: 1)

selecting the correct herbicide and 2) applying that herbicide at

the right time in the weed’s life cycle in order to maximize control.

If you are primarily dealing with annual broadleaf weeds (Tables

1a or 1b) then you can control these possibly with a preemergence

herbicide (check the label of your crabgrass control product) or

postemergence. The issue with using a preemergence herbicide is

usually one of timing. For example, knotweed germinates in late

March, before we recommend application of preemergence her-

bicides. Late germinating weeds, such as oxalis, germinate very

late, after most preemergence products have lost effectiveness.

However, the preemergence herbicide will provide some defense.

Always check the label and remember to target the application for

crabgrass control, making the application sometime in April when

Forsythia are in bloom. If you have some breakthrough then post-

emergence products are very effective. However, you will want

to target the weeds early in their life cycle, before they have the

chance to set seeds that will become next year’s infestation.

Use tables 1c and 1d to determine if you have perennial broad-

leaf weeds and when the most appropriate time to control them

is. Usually fall time applications are recommended for perennial

broadleaf control. If you make a springtime application (and most

do for obvious reasons) then know that this is going to be effective

probably for 60-90 days depending on the product used and the

rate applied. Broadleaf weeds, whether new or regrowth from

below ground structures on the surviving original weeds, will re-

appear. Fall applications tend to result in longer term control due to

more complete translocation into below ground weed parts. If you

see weeds this fall, consider making an application with an ester

formulation of an herbicide recommended in Table 2.

After determining your target weeds then use table 2 to select the

best herbicide for the application. Table 3 includes a list of comb-

ination herbicides which are commonly applied in order to broaden

the spectrum of control on sites with multiple weeds species.

Always read the label prior to use of a herbicide. Be particularly

mindful of the reseeding interval if any renovation work is planned,

susceptible weed species and the site and or use restrictions of

the product.

broadleaf Weed ControlDave Gardner, The Ohio State University

RESIDENTIAllAWN CARE

TIpS

10

TAblE 1a: Annual broadleaf Weeds

Black medic – Medicago lupulina(Stem on end of leaf distinguishes from white clover)

Mallow – Malva rotundifolia(Has a central taproot and does not root at the nodes)

Corn Speedwell – Veronica arvensis Knotweed – Polygonum aviculare(Sometimes confused with crabgrass when first emerging)

Lambsquarters – Chenopodium album Virginia Pepperweed

11

TAblE 1b: Summer Annual broadleaf Weeds

Pigweed – Amaranthus blitoides(May have reddish stem and taprrot)

Purslane – Portulaca oleracea(Fleshy leaves)

Spurge – Euphorbia supina(Milky sap distinguishes from knotweed)

Oxalis (Yellow Woodsorrel) – oxalis stricta(Heart-shaped leaves)

Carpetweed – Mollugo vertiicillata Pineappleweed – Matricaria matricarioides

12

TAblE 1c: perennial broadleaf Weeds(figures include recommended timing of herbicide application for best control)

White CloverTrifolium repens

Fall

DandelionTaraxacum officinale

Late Spring or Fall

Wild VioletViola papilionacea

Spring or Fall

Blackseed PlantainPlantago rugelii

Fall

Buckhorn PlantainPlantago lanceolata

Fall

Canada ThistleCirsium arvense

Fall

Mouse ear ChickweedCerastium vulgatum

Fall

Curly DockRumex crispus

Fall

Ground IvyGlecoma hederacea

Spring or Fall

13

TAblE 1d: perennial broadleaf Weeds(figures include recommended timing of herbicide application for best control)

Bull ThistleCirsium vulgare

Fall

ChicoryChicorium intybus

Spring

Field BindweedConvolvulus arvensis

Early Summer

Creeping SpeedwellVeronica filiformis

Fall

Indian Mock-StrawberryDuchesnea indica

YarrowAchillea millefolium

Late Spring to Mid-Summer

Wild Carrot (B)Daucus carota

Spring or Fall

Red CloverTrifolium pratense

Fall

Birdsfoot trefoilLotus corniculatus

Fall

14

SuMMeR AnnuAL BROADLeAF WeeDS

Black Medic

Carpetweed

Common Mallow

Corn Speedwell

Knotweed

Lambsquarters

Oxalis (Yellow Woodsorrel)

Pigweed

Pineappleweed

Prostrate Spurge

Purslane

Virginia Pepperweed

WInTeR AnnuAL BROADLeAF WeeDS

Common Chickweed

Common Groundsel

Henbit

Prickly Lettuce

Shepard’s Purse

Sowthistle (Annual)

BIennIAL AnD PeRennIAL BROADLeAF WeeDS

Birdsfoot trefoil

Blackseed Plantain

Buckhorn Plantain

Bull Thistle

Canada Thistle

Chicory

Creeping Speedwell (Veronica)

Curly Dock

Dandelion

Field Bindweed

Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie)

Indian Mock Strawberry

Mouse-ear Chickweed

Red Clover

White Clover

Wild Carrot

Wild Violet

Yarrow

TAblE 2: Recommended herbicides for broadleaf Weed ControlWhere the recommendation is denoted by a letter, the combination of herbicides with the same letter is recommended (Black = Best Choice, Green = effective).

PostemergencePreemergence

Ben

sulid

e

Weed Species

Etho

fum

esat

e

Ben

efin

Pend

imet

halin

Prod

iam

ine

Dith

iopy

r

Sidu

ron

Oxa

diaz

on

Isox

aben

2,4-

D

2,4-

DP

MC

PA

MC

PP

Dic

amba

Clo

pyra

lid

Flur

oxyp

yr

Tric

lopy

r

Qui

nclo

rac

Car

fent

razo

ne

Sulfe

ntra

zone

4

444

44444

444

44

4

444444

444

4 4

4 44

44

4

4

4

4

4

4

44

44

4

4

4 4

4

4

4 4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4 44

4

44

44

44

44

4

44

44

4

44

44

44

44

4

44

44

44

4 4

4

a a

4

444

44

b b

44 4 44

4444 4

444

15

Formula40,Dymec,WeedoneLV4,Weedar64,LESCOA-4D, WeeddestroyAM-40,Opti-Amine,Harball,BarrageHF

MCPP4-Amine,Lescopex,TurfgroMCPP4K,Mecomec2.5,Mecomec4 2Plus2

Banvel,Diablo,Vanquish

Four-PowerPlus,SuperDWeedone

TrimecClassic,Trimec899,Trimec992,TrimecLAF-637,Strike3, ThreeWaySelective,TrimecBent,BentSelective,TripletWS,TripletSF,Trexsan, Mec-Amine-D,MecAmine-BG,TrimecPlus1

Tri-PowerSelective TrimecTurfEster,SuperTrimec,Brushmaster,WeedandBrushKiller

ThreeWayEster,Tri-ester,Tri-amine,Dissolve

WeedoneDPC,TurfD-DP

Tri-esterII,Tri-amineII

TrimecEncore

Turflon

Chaser,Chaser2

ChaserUltra

ChaserUltra2

CoolPower,Eliminate,Horsepower

Lontrel

Confront

Momentum

MomentumFX

Battleship

MilleniumUltra2,MilleniumUltraPlus1

StrikeThreeUltra

TruPower

TruPower2

Spotlight

Escalade,Escalade2,EscaladeLowOdor

StrikeThreeUltra3

Dismiss

Surge

Quicksilver

Shutout

Speedzone

Powerzone

Drive

Q4

Table 3: broadleaf Herbicides and Combination Products1 Trimec Plus and Millennium Ultra Plus also contains the crabgrass herbicide MSMA.

Products

2,4-

D

2,4-

DP

MC

PA

MC

PP

Dic

amba

Clo

pyra

lid

Flur

oxyp

yr

Qui

nclo

rac

Tric

lopy

r

Car

fent

razo

ne

Sulfe

ntra

zone

4

4

44

4

44

4 4 4

44 4

4 4 4

4 4 4

4 4

44 4

44 4

4

44

4 44

44 4

4 4 4

4

4 4

4 44

4 4 4

4 4 4

4 4 4

4 4 4

4 4 4

444

4

4 4 4

44 4

4

44 4 4

4

44 4

4 4 4 4

4 4 4 4

4

444416

2007 buCkeye SPorTS Turf awardS

Dave Saltman is the recipient of the 2007 Buckeye Sports

Turf Global Excellence Award. This award is part of the annual

honors given out each year by The Ohio State University Sports

Turf Program. In it’s third year, the Global Excellence Award is

given to someone who has “made a significant contribution to

turfgrass science on a global scale”.

Dave Saltman started his career as a Landscape Gardener

and designer, including building award winning gardens at the

Chelsea Flower Show, London before being invited to relay the

turf at Queens Park Rangers’s Loftus Road Stadium in 1988.

Since then he has been involved in construction, renovation and

the maintainance of all grass sports, including many Premier,

League and non league winter sports grounds.

A former Soccer Groundsman of the Year and lecturer for the

Football Association, Dave decided to use the power of the inter-

net to share advice, knowledge and experience.

In 2001 he launched Pitchcare.com and five years on, the web-

site now has over 25,000 members, creating in excess of a

million page impressions monthly. Pitchcare has members in

112 countries sharing knowledge, experience and techniques to

improve all natural turf surfaces.

During the last three years he has also been the Head Grounds-

man and then Project Manager for the Millennium Stadium in

Cardiff, Wales and currently holds a similar position at Wolver-

hampton Wanderers Football Club.

Dave will receive his award this December at the Ohio Turfgrass

Conference & Show, where he will be a speaker in the sports

turf track.

Previous Recipients:

2005: Martyn Jones, National Turfgrass Foundation

2006: Mike O’Keeffe, OSU International Internship Program

The Joe Motz Sports Turf Student of the Year Award is given to

a sports turf student that has shown great enthusiasm for both

their studies and the industry. It is given in honor of OSU Alum,

Joe Motz. Joe graduated from OSU in 1977 and went on to create

one of the largest international sports turf construction companies

in the world. He currently has field projects in the USA, Europe,

Australia & the Middle East. Joe sponsors this award with a mon-

etary gift for the student and a donation to the OSU Turf Club.

This year’s award recipient is Russell Horn. Russ has interned

at Ohio State Varsity Athletics and the Cleveland Browns. Chris

Powell, Field Manager with the Browns said, “Russell Horn’s

transition from the classroom to the field was very impressive.

Russell’s depth of knowledge and its practical application,

assured me of his thorough understanding of the concepts taught

to him. With such a sound foundation, coupled with his work ethic

and dedication, he excelled well beyond the expectations of an

intern. Russell is definitely ready for our profession and our pro-

fession is definitely looking for people like Russell.” During his

time at OSU he got involved with the turf club and traveled to the

national STMA conference each year to participate in the student

quiz bowl. He graduated this spring and is now an assistant field

manager at the Washington Redskins.

dave Saltman russell Horn

17

Warm season grasses (C4 grasses), like bermudagrass, have a

different growth cycle compared to cool season (C3 grasses). In

the case of C4 grasses, the root replacement program is more con-

centrated, and begins in the springtime when soil temperatures hit

63 – 65° F; at the same time the grass is overcoming winter dorm-

ancy. Immediately after spring root decline, the grass will produce

new roots, but there is a period of some weeks when the grass is

susceptible to injury from traffic & other stresses.

As soil temperatures increase into the summer, root growth and

recovery become stronger. The C4 root system grows vigorously

through summer, so that by autumn the root system is as extensive

as possible before the onset of winter dormancy. Thus, C4 grasses

are not generally stressed in the summer months but do need care-

ful management in the spring (Table 1).

C3 plants used on sports fields do not perform well during summer

heat and drought. The bluegrasses (Poa sp.), ryegrasses (Lolium sp.),

and fescues (Festuca sp.) are all thought to have originated in

temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and North Africa, where heat

and drought are not extreme. Through evolution, these grasses have

adapted to, and perform best under cooler temperatures (60 to 75° F).

When temperatures begin to rise above 80°F, and soil moisture

becomes limited, cool season turfgrasses respond by going into

dormancy (Table 1). This is a process whereby active photosynthesis

in the leaves slows down and the turf takes on a characteristic brown-

ish color. The crown, or living center of the plant is still alive, and is

capable of regenerating leaf tissue when temperature and moisture

conditions once again become favorable.

Moderate to severe moisture stress is often imposed on C3 grasses

during the summer period. Dry soils will often lead to significant de-

cline in quality and loss of C3 grasses unless proper management

practices are implemented. C3 grass plants need soil moisture to

sustain normal growth and development. The water use rates of grass-

es during the summer period will often exceed the rate with which

natural rainfall returns water back into the soil. Once the soil moisture

reserves are nearly depleted, the C3 grass will begin to wilt. This condi-

tion is evident as the turfgrass turns from green to either bluish-green

or gray-green. Wilt is a sign of water stress and is usually most evident

during mid to late afternoon periods. A period of continual water stress

that limits or prevents the growth of plants is termed drought. Once

drought conditions develop, the grass will stop all growth and devel-

Minimizing Summer StressesPamela Sherratt, John Street & Dr. Dave Gardner, The Ohio State University

SPorTST u r fTIPS

Table 1. Turfgrass Temperature Comparison

Parameter Cool Season Grasses Warm Season Grasses (e.g. Kentucky bluegrass) (e.g. Bermudagrass)

Optimum 59 to 75° F 81 to 95° F Shoot Growth 15 to 24° C 27 to 35° C

Optimum 50 to 64° F 75 to 84° F Root Growth 10 to 18° C 24 to 29° C

Significant > 75° F (24° C) Root Loss

18

opment and proceed into dormancy. The dormancy mechanism pre-

vents the C3 grass from either running out of internal plant moisture

or expending its carbohydrate reserve.

The length of time C3 grasses can survive in a dormant condition

is contingent on a number of factors, including soil moisture levels,

daytime temperatures, condition of the turfgrass at the onset of

dormancy (shoots and roots), etc. In general, C3 grasses can be ex-

pected to survive in a dormant condition for up to 4 to 6 weeks with

limited damage if summer temperatures are at or below normal. If

daytime temperatures are high (mid-80’s or greater) consistently

through the stress period, C3 grass plants may begin to show injury

after 3-4 weeks. Dormant grass is lost once the crowns, rhizomes and

roots begin to dehydrate.

Field managers have limited control over the daytime temperatures in

the field. However, they can improve the survivability of the C3 grass

on the field by proper management.

MINIMIzING STRESS BY PROPER SUMMER CULTURAL PRACTICES

Choose the right C3 grass!

Tall fescue has a deeper root system that allows it to remain active

during prolonged periods of heat and drought (Figure 1). Kentucky

bluegrass lacks a deep root system, but has the capacity to enter

dormancy and regenerate when conditions are more favorable.

However, each time it regenerates back from dormancy there is a

considerable depletion of carbohydrate reserves. Perennial ryegrass

has the lowest tolerance to summer heat and also lacks the ability

that Kentucky bluegrass has to remain dormant for prolonged

periods.

Mowing is a key management tool that can be manipulated to

reduce stress on turfgrass.

• Maintain cool-season grasses at the highest acceptable height

throughout the season for the species and playability demands.

Taller grass will have deeper, more extensive root systems than short

cut grass, which will help grass plants withstand summer stresses.

Higher cut grass will also provide more shading of the soil, thereby

keeping soil temperatures cooler and reducing evaporation of soil

moisture. Higher cut grass will also have more leaf area available for

photosynthesis. This will help reduce or offset the lower photo-

synthetic rate of the cool-season grasses under higher summer

temperatures.

• The cardinal rule of mowing is not to remove more than one than

1/3 of the leaf tissue with any one cutting.

• Mow the field only as needed and preferably during the morning or

evening hours.

• Make certain the mower blades are properly sharpened to avoid

“tearing” the ends of the grass blades. Also, make sure mower

figure 1: under low maintenance, limited irrigation situations, tall fescue (left) provides better drought resistance than other cool-season species.

Continued on next page

19

decks and mowing units on mower are adjusted and uniform to

prevent scalping and uneven cutting (Figure 2).

• Never mow grass that is under stress or witling as this will result

in direct physical injury to the tissue. This injury may be permanent

and will certainly result in a browning & reduction in aesthetics

for several weeks (Figure 3).

Potassium Fertilization

The merits and demerits of increased potassium fertilization have

been debated for years and will continue to be debated. Physio-

logically, potassium is involved in plant water relations (much the way

sodium regulates our water status). The thinking is that increasing

potassium will improve water status in the plant as well as the

plant’s ability to pull water from the soil.

On finer textured soils, with moderate-high levels of K, it’s less likely

to see a stress tolerance response to additional K applications. On

sand-based fields, where K is low and it is difficult to build reserves,

stronger relationships between K fertilizer applications and stress

tolerance will be evident. If you choose a higher K strategy, use a

fertilizer with as much potassium as nitrogen. Results usually take

about a year to become noticeable and a response is going to depend

on soil mineral nutrient status. Note of caution – Potassium chloride

has a high physiological burn potential, so apply when temperatures

are below 70° F and water thoroughly after application. Potassium

sulfate is another option that is more expensive but is safer to turf.

Nitrogen Fertilization, Photosynthesis, and Plant Health

Photosynthesis (food production) of warm-season grasses occurs

more readily than cool-season grasses at higher temperatures (i.e.

approximately 80° F and above). Therefore, under higher summer

temperatures, food production and the storing of food reserves in

warm-season grasses is easier to manage than cool-season grasses

and is less sensitive to the negatives of over-fertilization with nitrogen.

Also, respiration (a carbohydrate/food utilizing process) continues to

increase as temperatures increase (Figure 4).

Cool-season grasses have a much greater potential in the summer

for (1) respiration to exceed photosynthesis resulting in a summer

“carbohydrate/food deficit” and (2) respiration to be higher at higher

nitrogen levels placing a further drain on carbohydrate/food reserves.

Thus, nitrogen fertilization on cool-season grasses should be main-

tained at low to moderate levels to reduce stress from over stimulation

of growth, carbohydrate/food depletion, and high respiration rates in

the summer.

Proper nitrogen fertilization – a seasonal strategy – is very important

for managing stress tolerance of all turfgrasses in the summer

months, especially with cool-season grasses. Carbohydrate/food

reserves in cool-season grasses (Figure 5) shows a depletion as

temperatures and nitrogen levels increase. A good carbohydrate/

food balance is the ultimate objective in the physiological manage-

ment of turfgrasses and this condition typically reflects a healthy,

more stress tolerant turfgrass.

figure 2: Scalped grass.

figure 3: drought stress symptoms initially show up as a bluish- green wilting, then a whitening of the grass blades (photo), followed by browning.

Continued from page 19

20

Timing of Nitrogen Fertilization

As a rule, fertilizer nitrogen should be applied lightly in the spring

and summer and more heavily in the fall on cool-season grasses.

Heavy spring fertilization promotes more top growth, reduced root

growth, and a more lush/succulent plant growth, resulting in a re-

duced ability to withstand summer stress. High nitrogen fertilization in

the summer, especially on cool-season grasses, poses a physio-

logical stress on the grass due to a depletion of carbohydrate/food

levels. Today, the summer fertilization recommendation is to use a

nitrogen fertilizer that contains an N:K ratio of 3:2 to 1:1, with the

nitrogen component low-moderate in the summer, and at least 50%

slow-release. Apply a slow-release in summer for 2 reasons:

1. To reduce fertilizer “burn” potential

2. To avoid over-stimulation/growth

Late season fertilization (LSF) has been found beneficial to enhanc-

ing turf health and summer stress tolerance of cool-season grasses.

Benefits on warm-season grasses are less predictive because of

the potential negative relationship between fall nitrogen and winter

hardiness. LSF enhances the rate of spring green-up without stim-

ulating excessive shoot growth, thus allowing the turf plant to

maintain higher levels of carbohydrates than when spring/summer

fertilization is used. Nitrogen applied during early spring & summer

increases shoot growth rates and decreases the levels of available

carbohydrates in the plant, resulting in depressed root growth rates.

Athletic Field Irrigation

One of the easiest ways to damage a turf stand during summer

months is with haphazard and inconsistent irrigation. When plants

sense a water deficit, it begins to senesce leaves as a water conserva-

tion strategy. The crown remains alive, but the leaf tissue dies. When

conditions are favorable, new leaf tissue is generated, at tremendous

expense to the carbohydrate reserve. If irrigation is not timely, the

plants will lose tissue, then subsequently lose carbohydrates to re-

generate new leaf tissue. If this cycle is repeated too frequently, the

plant is drained of carbohydrate reserves resulting in a less stress

and disease tolerant turfgrass that is more susceptible to injury &

decline. To avoid problems with drought damage, water the turf

correctly, or allow it to go dormant. Correct irrigation is applied deeply

and infrequently (approximately 1" of water in the summer), and

when the plant shows signs of moisture stress. Irrigation is designed

to replace water lost due to evapotranspiration (ET) and this occurs

most readily in the summer (i.e. 0.1 – 0.3" per day)

There are 2 easy methods of determining moisture stress:

1. Foot printing – if the plant is moisture stressed, it will not have turgid

leaves. Foot or vehicular traffic will leave noticeable wheel or foot-

prints (Figure 6).

2. Color – moisture stressed grass will turn a bluish-gray green. The

nature of this color change is similar to what happens when the turf

is rolled to stripe the field. When the leaf is moisture stressed, it

begins to roll up (Figure 7).

figure 5: relationship between Nitrogen fertilization and relative Carbohydrate/food in Various Grass Parts.

figure 4: Typical Photosynthesis and respiration responses of Cool and warm-season Grasses to Temperature and Nitrogen.

Continued on next page

21

The amount of water applied during irrigation can be measured

by placing several empty straight-sided containers, such as pet food

containers, in the sprinkler’s pattern. Monitor the amount of time

for water in the containers to reach 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1". These

amounts will provide a guide to the length of time to run the

irrigation system (e.g. if 1/2" of water is desired, then run the

irrigation for half the time). To ensure that the water does not run

off, especially on finer textured or compacted soils, apply irrigation

in cycles (e.g. three ten-minute cycles, compared to one thirty-

minute cycle).

• Typically, turfgrasses use 0.1 to 0.3 inches of water per day

during hot, dry, low humidity periods. Weather data on ET rates

should serve as a guide to turf water use.

• Irrigation should be performed early in the morning. At this time

of day the grass is already wet from dew, temperatures are

cooler, humidity is high and calm conditions usually exist. These

conditions all favor infiltration of the water into the soil and

utilization of the supplemental water by the turfgrass plants.

• Break some rules! To provide a dry playing surface with maximum

shear strength, time irrigation to get the maximum time between

games. For example, if there are games on two consecutive

nights, the irrigation could be applied directly after the first evening

game. This goes against the thinking that watering should not

take place at night, but would give you the maximum time be-

tween irrigation and the game.

• When the water supply for irrigation is limited, or when watering

restrictions are in place, the field manager might designate

priority fields and water those fields first.

• Watering on an “as needed” basis is common. After all, the

irrigation schedule will depend on the amount of activity, when

the activity occurs, and the condition of the grass.

In conclusion, stress tolerance on athletic field grasses requires

the proper management of a multiplicity of agronomic factors.

Proper management prior to stress periods (i.e. summer) are critical in

insuring a successful seasonal management strategy. Best manage-

ment for enhanced stress tolerance of turfgrasses evolves around

being a physiological manager with the key objective of maintaining

turfgrass with good carbohydrate/food balance and prolific root

system.

figure 6: Turfgrass showing symptoms of severe drought will be easily damaged by foot or vehicular traffic.

figure 7: effect of water Status on appearance of leaf Cross Section.

Continued from page 21

22

MeMber SPoTlIGHT – IT’S a oNe-MaN SHow

Jim Walter’s life working in the

green industry began early. At

the young age of seven, Walter

sorted tomatoes in his grand-

father’s greenhouse and during

high school and college he worked

for his family’s greenhouse busi-

ness. In addition to working for

the family greenhouse business,

Walter also raced and sold go

karts from his family’s own go kart

shop, winning national champion-

ships in Illinois, Indiana, New York, Georgia and Florida. In 1970, he

received his Business Administration Degree from OSU.

After graduation, Walter served in the U.S. Army as a Personnel

Specialist, E-5. Upon discharge from the Army in 1973, he eventually

became Vice President of W.A. Walter, Inc. and managed his family’s

vegetable greenhouse business. During the late 1970’s, Walter and

his father talked about starting a lawn treating business due to the

natural gas cost for heating the greenhouses becoming too pricey.

After losing his dad in the blizzard of 1978, Walter operated the green-

house during the day for his mother and went to school at night to

earn his MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College on the GI Bill. It was in

1980 when Walter and his mother made the difficult decision, due to

Walter being a fourth generation greenhouse grower, to lease the green-

houses to a local nursery grower, who would have lower heating

demands, and start his own lawn treatment business. He chose the

lawn treatment business, “because it had many similarities to the green-

house business without the utility bill burden,” and he wanted to be in

business for himself. “It combined my growing and mechanical

abilities,” Walter explains.

On April 1, 1981, Walter started LawnAlive in his garage with a 200

gallon tank in the back of his El Camino. It wasn’t before long that

he moved to a mini warehouse and in 1987 he bought his present

location in a small industrial park in Elyria.

Being owner/operator of LawnAlive and running a “one-man business”

brings with it many responsibilities and challenges. Servicing 300

residential and commercial customers in western Cuyahoga County

and all of Lorain County, Walter does it all. “From the office work, to

repair and maintenance, to the actual applications, I do it,” Walter

comments. Walter explains that “low-ball pricing” is the main

challenge. “There are companies out there charging less than we

charged in the early 1980’s. When you adjust for inflation, it is

amazing they can exist and many do go out of business. However,

there always seems to be new ones popping up taking their place. We

must promote and provide value to the customer, not a cheap come-

on price. It’s not about how big you get, but it is about great service

and turf performance.” His dedication to the industry is seen in his

work. “I love seeing a beautiful, pest-free lawn and when you’ve

helped a customer who previously had nothing but weeds for a lawn

and I grow it into a showplace, it’s like winning another championship.”

This passion for the industry is the wisdom he wants to pass down to

newcomers to the field. “If you don’t have a passion for it, don’t do it.”

Building a good reputation and keeping his company growing for 27

years has been his greatest achievement. He has done this by “always

looking for more efficient/effective methods of operating” his business,

using “the art and science of growing plants” that his dad taught him,

following his step-dad’s “optimistic and upbeat attitude of life” and

being a member of OTF.

The year Walter started LawnAlive was the year he joined OTF. He

believes being an OTF member is important “to support research and

education. We must promote the professionalism of our industry to

the public and OTF helps us to do that.” He sees OTF’s role in society

as being educators and researchers who “demonstrate the great

value of healthy, beautiful turfgrass to our society, whether it’s a golf

course, sports field or commercial and residential lawns.” He wants

OTF members to know, “We are all in this together. Sometimes I feel

like I’m on an island. It’s good to know my association has an interest

in us little guys too.”

Outside of his professional achievements, Walter’s greatest achieve-

ment has been raising his children “who will leave this world a better

place than they found it.” His quote to live by, “For nothing is impossible

with God,” is seen in his dedication to his profession, family and

church. Walter is an Elder at Community Church Ministries in Amherst,

Ohio.

Jim walter, lawnalive, llC

23

GolfC o u r S e

TIPS

Twenty-five years ago moss was of little problem on golf courses.

Moss was found in dense, moist, shaded areas in roughs, or if

present on golf greens, it usually was restricted to mild moist

oceanic climates. In areas like United Kingdom, Ireland and New

zealand moss is a “ubiquitous” problem on golf courses. Although

still considered a minor nuisance, moss is becoming a more severe

weed problem on an increasing number of putting greens through-

out the temperate region.

History and Characterization

Mosses are primitive plants that have changed little over the

course of history. Fossil records date the appearance of moss 350

million years ago. Moss is believed to have originated from filamen-

tous (thread-like) green algae. Interestingly, moss and algae often

share the same habitat and are often confused with each other.

However, algae lack the leafy stems associated with moss and for

the most part algae exist as individual cells or clusters of cells.

Mosses are classified as Bryophytes, which include the liver-

worts and hornworts. Within the mosses, approximately 15,000

species are classified into three groups. The first group is the

granite mosses, which contain approximately 100 species. These

mosses are primarily restricted to mountainous and arctic regions.

The second group is the peat mosses which consist of roughly 350

species. Sphagnum is the important genus in this group, as it is

added to soil mixes to enhance the soil’s water holding capabilities.

Each dead cell of sphagnum peat moss can hold up to 20 times

its dry weight in water. The third group contains the true mosses,

which are the most pertinent to golf courses, and also the largest

group with over 14,000 species. The true mosses can be divided

into two major groups: tufted mosses which form on trees and

rocks and carpet-type mosses which are found on forest floors. In

relatively dry conditions such as putting greens, the short, compact

carpet mosses generally predominate.

The most common moss species on golf course greens is silvery

thread (Bryum argenteum ). Somewhat easy to identify because

of its silvery white appearance, it also found in open sites, paths,

sidewalks and parking lots. As a point of interest silvery moss

is commercially in bonsai plantings. Another species we have ex-

perienced in our studies is Bryum lisae. It appears as dark green

to yellowish tufts or dense clumps. It is a common species in the

Moss: Part 1Karl Danneberger, The Ohio State University

24

Midwest and is found on rocky or sandy soil. Finally, we have also

found the species Amblystegium trichopodium on putting greens

but it is rather inconspicuous. This species we usually find in wet

conditions. Although silvery thread moss is probably the most

commonly found, given the diversity of species no doubt numerous

mosses are colonizing turf sites.

Mosses differ structurally from higher plants, including turfgrasses,

in that they are nonvascular (lack a phloem and xylem), have a very

thin cuticle, and have no “true” roots, but do have structures called

rhizoids that absorb water and nutrients. The lack of a vascular and

root system restricts the size that the vast majority of mosses can

grow. The moss species that inhabit a putting green may grow only

to a millimeter or two in height. This is well below the acceptable

mowing height for a creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass or

bermudagrass putting green.

Life Cycle

Mosses have two phases in their life cycle. The green leafy phase

that is observed on golf courses is called the gametophyte. This

phase consists of a germinating spore giving rise to a green fila-

ment (protonema) from which the moss plant with its stems and

leafs (gametophores) and rhizoids develop. At maturity the pro-

duction of sperm and egg give rise to a zygote (fertilized egg). Upon

germination, the zygote does not produce another moss plant, but

a structure consisting of a slender stalk with a capsule at the top of

the stalk containing spores. This phase, from the fertilization of the

egg until the production of the stalk and the capsule, is termed the

sporophyte phase. The spores are released from the capsule and

will give rise to new moss plants, thus completing the cycle.

One difference between the life cycle of mosses and vascular

plants is the production of spores (which requires free moisture for

fertilization) by mosses, versus the production of seeds by vascular

plants. Thus, Spanish moss is not a true moss because it produces

seeds (it is related to the pineapple family).

In the next issue of Golf Course Tips we will look at some of the

control methods for moss.

25

HORTS H O R T SCOLUMN

A Host of ProblemsJim Chatfield and Joe Boggs, OSU Extension

Horticulturists use a range of criteria to select plants. Plant pests

and pathogens use two: the suitability of plants as food, and the

competitive advantage that is gained over their rivals. Host range

describes the outcome. The host range of a plant pest or plant

pathogen, the range of plants they affect, is of great importance to

entomologists and plant pathologists. It is in fact one of the three

sides to the disease or pest triangle. However, does it matter to the

everyday concerns of the green industry? It does – let’s take a look

at why.

Most importantly, host range is crucial for plant selection decisions

and matching a plant to a particular site. An example would be

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) . Japanese beetles have a wide

host range, occurring on many different plants, from roses to rasp-

berries. Two plants highly susceptible are little leaf lindens (Tilia

cordata ) and many different taxa of roses (Rosa spp.). Planting a

linden allee next to a large rose garden is asking for trouble, sort of

setting up a training table for Japanese beetle pig-outs. There are

ways to control Japanese beetles other than simply not planting

susceptible plants, but there is no reason to stack the deck against

your company and your customers.

Host susceptibility is also critical in situations where the host range

is narrow. The apple scab fungal pathogen (Venturia inaequalis )

occurs only on apples and crabapples (Malus spp.). A nursery-

man who wants to market crabapples to landscapers, landscape

architects and garden centers wants to know which will hold their

leaves and look attractive in the landscape. Thanks to university

research and the International Ornamental Crabapple Society’s

(IOCS) National Crabapple Evaluation Program there is excellent

information on which crabapples have genetic resistance to apple

scab disease, in other words, which crabapples are hosts for this

pathogen. The good news is that there are dozens of crabapple taxa

with outstanding genes for resisting the apple scab fungus: up-

rights and spreading weepers, yellow fruited and red fruited crabs,

white flowering and pink flowering crabapples.

The bad news is that crabapples and apple scab illustrate an un-

fortunate reality relative to host range: genetic resistance may not

be forever. The apple scab fungus is a good example that “You can

drive out nature with a pitchfork, but she always returns.” While

horticulturists and plant pathologists conduct plant selection and

breeding programs, the fungus conducts its own natural experi-

mentation, evolving due to genetic recombination and mutation.

New races of the apple scab fungus emerge and cause apple scab

on taxa resistant to previous strains of the fungus. ‘Harvest Gold’ in

Ohio is a good example. Different parts of the country may have dif-

ferent strains of a pathogen, not to mention different environmental

conditions. That is why plant evaluation programs such as the

crabapple program of IOCS help with localized information, use-

ful at the local level relative to recommended selections and for

nurserymen nationally who ship to different areas.

26

Host range information is also critical in communicating with your

customers. Will emerald ash borer spread from ashes to lindens

and Callery pears? No – the host range of the emerald ash borer,

Agrilus planipennis is narrow, occurring only on the genus Fraxi-

nus. Can bacterial crown gall spread from euonymus to rose? Yes,

since the host range of the crown gall bacterium, Agrobacterium

tumefaciens , is quite broad and includes both euonymus and rose.

Someone with a large rose garden needs to be especially observant

as to whether there are any galls on the stems of their euonymus

plants: crown gall may be no big deal on the occasional euonymus

but it will wreak havoc over the years on their roses if infested soil

blows or is tracked over to the rose garden.

Host range knowledge also teaches us a great deal about plant

relationships. As horticulturists, we need to know how closely

plants are related to each other. A genus is a group of related

species: bronze birch borer has a narrow host range, occurring

only on birches, a number of species in the genus Betula . Plum

black knot occurs only on the genus Prunus , which includes plums,

cherries, flowering almond and others. Bacterial fireblight has a

limited host range but it is a little broader host range than these

other two examples, occurring only on plants in the rose family (the

Rosaceae). Remember a plant family is a group of related genera,

and fireblight is common on related genera such as Malus (apple),

Pyrus (pear), Pyracantha (firethorn) and Sorbus (mountainash).

Knowing this is very helpful diagnostically. If a plant is not in the

Rosaceae then fireblight is not one of the possible causes of prob-

lems you might see on the plant. Knowing that mountainash (Sor-

bus ) is not related to true ashes (Fraxinus ) tells you not to worry

about fireblight on the ash and conversely that emerald ash borer

is not a problem on mountainash.

The fungal pathogen Apiognomonia veneta causes sycamore an-

thracnose, resulting in twig cankers and leaf blight. It has a narrow

host range, occurring only on the genus Platanus . American plan-

etree or sycamore (Platanus occidentalis ) is far more susceptible

to this fungus than is oriental planetree (P. orientalis ) and as it

turns out the hybrid between these two species, London planetree

(Platanus x acerifolia ) is intermediate in suspetibility to sycamore

anthracnose. This example illustrates that the suitability of plants

as food for pests and pathogens is linked to genes and resistance

can be selected through selective breeding.

Finally, host range tells us a great deal about the natural history of

our landscape and forest plants. Bronze birch borer is native to

North America and so exotic birch species such as European white

birch (Betula pendula ) and the Asian white birch (B. platyphylla )

have less natural selection history with this insect, and are thus

more affected than native birch species such as river birch (B. nig-

ra ). This is in contrast to its emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis )

cousin, an Asian native, which is devastating to our native North

American ashes, such as white ash (Fraxinus americana ) and green

ash (F. pennsylvanica ) which have not evolved resistance to the

pest under natural selection pressures. Control involves proper

species selection such as river birch, limiting drought stress through

irrigation, planting in shade, and use of mulches, and as needed,

insecticide injections by professional hofrticulturists.

This last example illustrates that the first step in using host range

information for pest and disease management is to recognize that

it should never be ignored. Host range does not trump other horti-

cultural considerations in plant selection. It is not the only consid-

eration for pest control and plant health management practices,

but it should be part of the package. A plant that dies because it

is planted in the wrong place is just as dead as a plant killed by

pestilence. Horticulturists, know thy plants.

27

Many golf course managers in Ohio and other mid-western states

have used phosphonate products (phosphites or fosetyl aluminum-

products) on putting greens for one reason or another. In fact, you may

be using one or more of these products as a regular part of your

putting green management program during the summer. Whereas,

there is little doubt that phosphonates help reduce some summer-

stress related problems and suppress Pythium and anthracnose

diseases, recent research does not confirm some other reported

benefits. The purpose of this two-part article is to help you understand

the different phosphonate products and what they do for your turf,

so that you can better navigate through the marketing maze and

make an appropriate choice for your needs.

What are phosphonate products and how do they work?

Phosphonates include those products made up of the salts and

esters of phosphorous acid (not to be confused with phosphoric acid,

the basic ingredient of phosphorus fertilizers). Phosphorous acid is

a solid compound that can be bought through various chemical

supply companies. When mixed with water, it forms a strong acid

called phosphonic acid. This acid is too strong to be used on turf and

must be combined with an alkaline compound to raise the pH and

decrease the potential for turf burning.

Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is an alkaline compound that is used

by some formulators to neutralize the acidity of phosphonic acid.

The resulting solution contains mono-and di-potassium salts of

phosphorous acid and is often referred to as potassium phosphite.

This is the active ingredient in phosphite fungicides (Alude, Magellan,

Vital, Resyst) as well as phosphite fertilizers [K-Phite (0-29-26),

Ele-Max Foliar Phosphite (0-28-26) and Nutri Phite P + K (0-28-26)].

Phosphonic acid can also be reacted with ethanol to form ethyl

phosphonate. Aluminum is added during the manufacturing process

and the resulting product is referred to as fosetyl-aluminum or

aluminum tris O-ethyl phosphonate. This is the active ingredient in

Aliette WDG and Chipco Signature fungicides, marketed by Bayer

Environmental Science (2).

Phosphonate fungicides and fertilizers should not be confused

with phosphate-derived fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate

and triple super phosphate. Even though phosphonate and phosphate

compounds have similar (but not identical) chemical structures, they

differ significantly in how they act in plants and fungi. For example,

phosphate fertilizer is taken up by plants and incorporated into cells

where it participates in reactions that are essential for root and foliar

growth, photosynthesis and respiration. It does not have a direct effect

on turfgrass diseases (although phosphorus-deficient plants are more

susceptible to certain diseases than phosphorus-sufficient plants).

Phosphonate fungicides and fertilizers are also absorbed by plants

and incorporated into cells, but do not appear to be involved in typical

phosphorus metabolism and cannot be directly linked to plant growth,

NEWGROWTH &TECHNOLOGY

UNdERSTANdiNG PHOSPHONATE PROdUCTS Part i: fungicide and fertilizer propertiesPeter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science and Joshua Cook, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University

28

pyrophosphate, in fungal cells. Accumulation of these compounds

is thought to divert adenosine triphosphate (also called ATP, a vital

energy containing chemical in cells) from other metabolic path-

ways, resulting in a decrease in fungal growth (12).

More recently, phosphonate fungicides were found to inhibit several

key enzymes needed for growth and development in Phytophthora

palmivora (15). These studies suggest that the mode of action is at

least partially, if not mostly, direct inhibition of the fungus. Also, the

mode of action of phosphonate fungicides appears broad enough so

that the potential for rapid resistance development is not as strong as

with some other systemic fungicides.

Considering that the phosphite ion has little or no influence on

phosphorus metabolism in plants, it seems unlikely that it can

prevent disease by stimulating host defenses. Nevertheless, re-

search has revealed that when certain species of Phytophthora infect

certain plant species treated with phosphonate fungicides, fungus-

inhibiting chemicals called phytoalexins are produced. A recent

study involving Eucalyptus trees showed that the concentration of

phosphite ions in these plants may determine the extent of host

defense activation. When concentrations of phosphite ions in the

roots were low, host defense enzymes were stimulated; but when

concentrations of phosphite ions were high, host defense enzymes

remained unchanged and the phosphite ions inhibited growth of

the pathogen before it caused disease (7).

Studies on stimulation of host defense mechanisms are difficult

to conduct and require the ability to detect minute quantities of

complex compounds in the plant; much less is known about this

mode of action than the direct fungitoxic effects of phosphonate

fungicides. To our knowledge, very little is known about activation of

host defenses in phosphonate-treated turfgrass, but many plant

pathologists assume that this is possible, if not likely.

What about resistance?

The widespread use of phosphonate products as disease control

agents, fertilizers and for the improvement of turf quality during

periods of environmental stress, has led to concerns about the

development of pathogen resistance (16). To date, we are not aware

photosynthesis and respiration. Over time, phosphonate products can

be converted by soil microbes to phosphate, where it can be taken

up and metabolized by plants. However, this conversion is not a very

efficient means of phosphorus delivery to plants when compared with

phosphate fertilizers. Phosphonate products have direct fungitoxic

effects on certain plant pathogens, a benefit that is not found with

phosphate fertilizers.

Phosphonates as fungicides

Phosphonate fungicides are true systemics (have significant

mobility in both xylem and phloem) and are effective in controlling

diseases caused by oomycete fungi, such as Phytophthora, Pythium,

Plasmopara and others (5). In turf, they have good efficacy on Pythium

diseases when applied preventatively; but are thought to have poor

efficacy when applied after disease symptoms and signs are visible.

They also have some suppressive effects against anthracnose basal

rot, but results are variable depending on the particular product and

where and how the fungicide trials are conducted.

The mode of action of phosphonate fungicides is a source of some

mystery. Some scientists believe that the primary mode of action is

directly on the fungal pathogen; whereas others suspect that these

fungicides have both a direct effect on the target fungus and stimulate

natural host defenses to prevent disease.

Early studies with phosphonate fungicides showed no direct effect

on Pythium aphanidermatum; and it was assumed that the mode of

action did not involve killing the fungus directly; rather, it involved a

stimulation of the plant’s natural chemical and physical defenses

against disease (13). However, subsequent studies showed the reason

for the lack of fungal inhibition in phosphonate fungicide-amended

media was that the phosphate concentration in the media was too

high. Lowering the amount of phosphate in the media allowed direct

inhibition of fungi by the phosphite ion (the fungitoxic portion of the

phosphonate fungicide). Apparently, both phosphite and phosphate

ions compete for the same transporters across cell membranes and

phosphate tends to out-compete phosphite for access to these sites,

thereby blocking uptake of phosphite by fungi (10). This finding led

scientist to explore how phosphonate fungicides disrupt phosphate

metabolism in fungi.

In a study using three Phytophthora spp., Australian scientists found

that phosphonate fungicides interfere with phosphate metabolism

by causing an accumulation of two compounds, polyphosphate and Continued on next page

29

Continued from page 29 Phosphonates as fertilizers

Phosphonates were first investigated as fertilizers in Germany and

the U.S. during the 1930s and 40s. At that time, agricultural officials

were concerned that war activities would disrupt vital shipments

of rock phosphate for fertilizer production, so alternative sources of

fertilizer phosphorus were explored (6). Results of studies con-

ducted in both countries demonstrated that phosphonates were not

effective substitutes for phosphate fertilizer. Scientists in the U.S.

found that yields of legumes and grasses treated with calcium

phosphite (a phosphonate fertilizer) were lower than phosphate-treat-

ed plants, and in most cases, lower than control plants receiving no

phosphate fertilizer. However, a second crop seeded into soils treated

with calcium phosphite showed improved yields. The scientists

attributed the delayed phosphorus response to the conversion of

phosphite to phosphate in the soil (9). Subsequent research revealed

that phosphite could be converted to phosphate primarily by soil-borne

bacteria, but that these bacteria would not use phosphite until most

phosphate was depleted (1). Based on the results of these studies,

phosphonate (phosphite) fertilizer was viewed as an inefficient

and costly means of supplying phosphorus to plants and scientists

eventually lost interest in this compound as a phosphorus fertilizer.

Despite previous research findings, phosphonate compounds have

been marketed by some companies as a source of phosphorus and

potassium fertilizer. Preliminary results with turfgrasses growing in

sand culture and treated with equal amounts of potassium phosphite

and potassium phosphate have supported claims that potassium

phosphite does not supply usable phosphorus to turfgrasses (Figure

2). Although potassium phosphite can be converted to phosphate in

soil, turf managers should realize this is an inefficient means of supply-

ing phosphorus to plants when compared with phosphate fertilizer.

Claims that phosphonates consistently enhance rooting are debatable

and more evidence is needed to support these claims. A two-year

study performed at North Carolina State University showed that bent-

grass root mass was unaffected by phosphonate products (4). Certainly,

more research using precise root measurement techniques is needed

to determine if enhanced rooting due to phosphonates occurs under

different environmental and management conditions. If enhanced

rooting does occur, it could be due to product formulation, or from the

suppression of minor root pathogens (most likely Pythium spp.) due to

fungitoxic action of the phosphonate product, leading to healthier and

more extensive roots.

of any confirmed reports of pathogen resistance to phosphonate

fungicides in turfgrass (although phosphonate-resistant mutants of

Pythium aphanidermatum have been induced in a laboratory) (14).

Two factors are probably responsible for the reduced resistance risk

with phosphonate products; (1) the mode of action in target fungi may

involve several sites and (2) the involvement of host defenses in

disease suppression. Both of these factors create a broad front

against disease development and a difficult hurdle for pathogens to

overcome through resistance. Nevertheless, a recent report from

California suggests that sensitivity to phosphonate fungicides was

compromised in populations of Bremia lactucae (causal agent of

lettuce downy mildew) treated repeatedly with phosphonate fungicid-

es and fertilizers (3). The California experience may be an isolated

case, but should serve as a reminder to managers that resistance

development is a possibility with phosphonates and that indis-

criminant use of these products may lead to problems down the road.

Figure 1: Effects of reagent-grade potassium phosphite (H3PO3) and potassium phosphate (H3PO4) on symptom development of Pythium blight of creeping bentgrass. Potassium phosphite has good efficacy against this disease when applied preventatively.

Figure 2: Annual bluegrass treated with a nutrient solution contain- ing potassium phosphate as the source of phosphorus (left); and the same nutrient solution with potassium phosphite as the source of phosphorus (right). Annual bluegrass treated with potassium phosphite shows phosphorus deficiency symptoms (stunted growth and a red tint to foliage) indicating that this compound is not supplying usable phosphorus to the plants.

30

Findings that phosphonates do not affect phosphorus metabolism or

yield in grasses appears convincing, but should be tempered by the

fact that many of these products have demonstrated improved turf

quality. Quality enhancement with potassium phosphite products is

probably not due to nutritional effects, as our studies have shown

no such improvement with equal amounts of potassium phosphate

fertilizer. Certainly, formulation enhancements, as in the case of

Chipco Signature fungicide, have led to turf quality improvement (8,

11), but when we apply reagent grade potassium phosphite (with

no formulation enhancements) to turf we also see slight quality

improvements. It remains to be seen what causes turf quality im-

provement, but one proposed cause may be the suppression of

minor, plant debilitating pathogens – such as Pythium species. More

research is needed to determine the cause of enhanced turf quality.

Note: Part II of this article will focus on results of disease control

and turf quality results.

Literature Cited

1. Adams, F. and J.P. Conrad. 1953. Transition of phosphite to

phosphate in soils. Soil Science 75:361-371.

2. Anonymous. 2005. Greenbook turf and ornamental reference

for plant protection products. Vance Communication Corp., New

York, NY.

3. Brown, S., S.T. Koike, O.E. Ochoa, F. Laemmlen, R.W. Michelmore.

2004. Insensitivity to the fungicide fosetyl-aluminum in California

isolates of the lettuce downy mildew pathogen, Bremia lactucae.

Plant Disease 88:502-508.

4. Dorer, S.P. 1996. Nutritional effects of a fungicide combination on

summer bentgrass decline. Master of Science Thesis, North

Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

5. Griffith, J.M., A.J. Davis and B.R. Grant. 1992. Target sites of

fungicides to control oomycetes. pp. 69-100. In: Target sites of

fungicide action. W. Koller (ed.), CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL.

6. Guest, D. and B. Grant. 1991. The complex action of phosphonates

as antifungal agents. Biological Reviews 66:159-187.

7. Jackson, T.J., T. Burgess, I. Colquhoun, G.E.S. Hardy. 2000. Action

of the fungicide phosphite on Eucalyptus marginata inoculated with

Phytophthora cinnamomi. Plant Pathology 49:147-154.

8. Lucas, L.T. 1994. Development of management of summer decline

of bentgrass. Proceedings 1994 Golf Course Superintendent’s

Association of America International Conference, Dallas, TX.

9. MacIntire, W.H., S.H. Winterberg, L.J. Hardin, A.J. Sterges and L.B.

Clements. 1950. Fertilizer evaluation of certain phosphorus,

phosphorous, and phosphoric materials by means of pot cultures.

Journal American Society Agronomy 42:543-549.

10. McDonald, A.E., B. Grant, and W.C. Plaxton. 2001. Phosphite

(phosphorus acid): Relevance in the environment and agriculture

and influence on plant phosphate starvation response. Journal

Plant Nutrition 24:1505-1519.

11. Mudge, L.C. 1997. Fungicidal compositions for the enhancement

of turf quality. United States Patent #5,599,804, www.uspto.gov/

patft/index.html.

12. Niere, J.O., G. DeAngelis, B.R. Grant. 1994. The effect of

phosphonate on the acid-soluble phosphorus components in

the genus Phytophthora. Microbiology 140:1661-1670.

13. Sanders, P., W.J. Houser and H.Cole, Jr. 1983. Control of Pythium

spp. and Pythium blight of turfgrass with fosetyl aluminum. Plant

Disease 67:1382-1383.

14. Sanders, P.L., M.D. Coffey, G.D. Greer, M.D. Soika. 1990. Labor-

atory-induced resistance to fosetyl-Al in a metalaxyl-resistant field

isolate of Pythium aphanidermatum. Plant Disease 74:690-692.

15. Stehmann, C. and B.R. Grant. 2000. Inhibition of the glycolytic

pathway and hexose monophosphate bypass by phosphonate.

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 67:13-24.

16. Vincelli, P. 2004. Resistance to phosphite fungicide: But not yet

in turf. Hole Notes 35(6):12.

31

The Ohio State UniversityTurfgrass Science Program

iMPACT 2006 – RESEARCHThe mission of The Ohio State University Turfgrass Science Program is to investigate, synthesize and disseminate

knowledge on turfgrass science to students, consumers and professional clientele throughout Ohio andthe nation. Through these efforts, the functional uses, environmental benefits and aesthetic values of turfgrass

will contribute to further enhancement of the quality of life for society. The OSU Turfgrass Science Team strives to maintain national and international excellence by providing leadership in teaching, research and extension-outreach education.

FaCuLty and ExtEnsion Program sPECiaListsoF thE osu turFgrass sCiEnCE Program

Dr. Mike Boehm (Department of Plant Pathology)

Dr. T. Karl Danneberger (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Dr. David S. Gardner (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Dr. Parwinder S. Grewal (Department of Entomology)

Dr. Ed McCoy (School of Environment and Natural Resources)

Joseph W. Rimelspach (Department of Plant Pathology)

Pamela J Sherratt (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Dr. David J. Shetlar (Department of Entomology)

Dr. John R. Street (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Dr. Daniel C. Voltz (Agricultural Technical Institute)

David A. Willoughby (Agricultural Technical Institute)

during 2006, osu turfgrass science professors advised 23 graduate

students and 4 postdoctoral researchers/visiting scientists.

dr. doug richmond, former m.s. & Ph.d. student of dr. shetlar’s was

hired as an assistant Professor of turfgrass Entomology at Purdue

university.

ruisheng an, a Ph.d. student working with dr. grewal, received

a $5,000 grant in the osu-oardC director’s graduate research

grants Competition.

One means of assessing productivity of university faculty is to track

the number of peer-reviewed publications authored. In general, the

more responsibility one has for conducting research, the greater the

number of peer-reviewed publications. The adjective “peer-reviewed”

indicates that prior to having an article, book chapter or book

published that two or three other scientists have critically reviewed

the piece and approved it for publication. It is a process designed to

validate the scientific soundness of a contribution. The peer-review

is done in an anonymous fashion so that reviewers are free to be

critical without hurting anyone’s feelings or out of fear for retribution.

Although no system is perfect, the peer-review process ensures that

sound science is published. In lay terms, the peer-review process

could be considered similar to the “Good Housekeeping” or “J.D.

Power’s” Seal of Approval.

the osu turfgrass science team published 23 peer-reviewed

scientific journal articles, 9 edited book chapters and received

one patent in 2006.

the osu turfgrass science team published 58 trade Journal

and newsletter articles in 2006.

in 2006, otF provided $130,000 in programmatic and facility

support to the osu turfgrass science team. $52,000 was used

32

to support operations at the otF research and Educational

Facility. $78,000 was provided to the following faculty and

extension program specialists: $10,000 each to drs. Boehm,

danneberger, gardner, grewal, mcCoy and street; $8,000 to

dr. shetlar; $5,000 each to Joe rimelspach and Pam sherratt.

the osu turfgrass science team leveraged the $130,000

provided by otF to attract $608,000 in competitive grants and

industry support representing nearly a five-fold return-on-

investment.

The OSU Turfgrass Science Team leveraged OTF’s $130,000 to attract an additional $608,000 in competitive grants and industry support.

2006 OTF Grants and Scholarships Chair, Mark Jordan, presents a check to dr. Bobby Moser, dean, OSU College of Agriculture, during the OTF Conference & Show.

33

PRACTiCE SAFE LiFTiNG ANd SAVE YOUR BACKLifting is an important part of our job duties. While it is a re-quired part of the job, we do not need to suffer injuries as a result. Back injuries can be very painful and can be difficult to heal. The vast majority of back injuries can be prevented. Back injuries are caused by a number of factors.

the following is a list of the most common:• Over exertion over a period of time• Lifting more weight than you’re physically capable of handling• Lifting in an awkward position• Lifting objects too far away from your body• Twisting while lifting or carrying a heavy object• Trying to lift objects too high into the air or trying to lift down objects from overhead• Hurrying and not taking time to plan your lift• Failure to maintain proper muscle tone and strength • The natural aging process and the gradual reduction in physical capabilities that go along with it

the following items are important to keep in mind when you are preparing to lift:• Try to reduce the weight of the load if possible• Get help for objects that are too heavy and can’t be lightened• Think through the lifting process before actually lifting• Take your time, don’t hurry• Try to lift only what you can handle comfortably• Use your legs while lifting, not your back• Don’t bend over at the waist when picking up an object• Avoid overhead lifting as much as possible• Keep objects close to your body while lifting• Never twist or jerk while lifting• Use mechanical assistance whenever possible• Do not try to reach over an object to lift another object• Exercise and stay in good physical shape

Before lifting an object always remember:A. Seek alternative methods if possible • Lighten the load • Use mechanical assistance such as a hoist, crane, lift truck, pallet jack or two wheel dolly • Get help from others when you cannot lighten the load • If items are stacked too high, use a ladder – remove items one at a time

B. Size up the load and determine how heavy it is • If the weight is unknown, review the type and size of the object • Shake the object, if it moves easily you should be able to lift it

C. Inspect the object to be lifted for sharp edges, tears or other problems which could cause an injury Know the proper steps of lifting:• Start by placing feet about shoulder distance apart, stand back from the object to be lifted (about six inches). Turn the box or object to be lifted to the left at a 45 degree angle to your body. This will allow you to get as close as possible and reduce the stress on your back.• With feet should width apart, kneel down, putting your hand on the object to be lifted, to maintain balance.• Slide up to the box. Place left foot alongside the left side of the box. Get as close to the box as possible. The inside corner of the box should be directly below your breast bone.• Place your right hand under the right side of the box. Your right arm should be straight up and down. Make sure the box or object to be lifted, is balanced properly. • Place your left hand on the left side of the box. Hand should be centered on the box to provide best balance.• Do not bend over.• Lift straight up with legs in a smooth steady lift. Do not jerk. • Pull object into your body as soon as you stand up. Get a good grip on the box with both hands.• Keep elbows in tight.• Never twist your body while lifting or carrying an object. Always step, turn and pivot in direction of travel.• Set the box down by bending your knees. If setting on a table, set the box down on the edge, then slide into place.• When picking up a box, or object, from a counter, shelf or table, slide the object as close to your body as possible. Bend your knees, then lift with your legs.• Do not reach over an object to lift another object or box. Lifting at arms length puts extreme pressure on the back.

Remember, always practice proper lifting habits. You can prevent a back injury if you follow proper lifting procedures all the time.

The proof is on the green,not in the clippings!

www.AndersonsGolfProducts.com

• SGN 75 for greens applications• Homogenous - high uniformity• Enhances distribution of nutrients• Reduces player down-time• 40 lb. bag / 50 bags per pallet

18-9-18 #AGC8348.317-0-17 #178WMDG413-0-26 #AGC131WDG4

Brand XNo mower pick up. Significant mower pick up.

Patented, dispersiblegranule technology

With Contec DG there’s no mower,shoe, ball or pickup!

Contact your Distributor, or yourAndersons Golf Products TerritoryManager at 800-253-5296

Marketed internationally as Nutri DG™

These photos show the difference in mower pickup after 5 minutes of irrigation!

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1100-H Brandywine BlvdZanesville OH 43701-7303888-OTF-3445Fax: (740) 452-2552www.OhioTurfgrass.org

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OTF Board of Trustees

Trustees Term Expires 2008

doug gallantCincinnati Reds

Trustees Term Expires 2009

mark grunkemeyerBuckeye Ecocare

Kim KelloggGrasshopper Property Maint.

don LawrenceRed Hawk Run G.C.

Trustees Term Expires 2010

mike dietrichLesco, Inc.

Joe EncisoCentury Equipment

randy shaverStrategic Golf Alliance, Inc.

2007 OTF Officers

President

mark Jordan, CgCsWestfield Companies Country Club

Vice President

todd VossDouble Eagle Club

Treasurer

dan WalterCity of Blue Ash Golf Course

immediate Past President

glen Pottenger, CgCsClark State Community College

director of Education

dr. John r. streetThe Ohio State University

Executive director

Kevin thompsonOTF/Offinger Management Co.

2007 OSU TurfgrassScience Team

Horticulture & Crop Science

dr. John streetdr. Karl dannebergerdr. david gardnerms. Pamela sherrattms. deborah holdren

Entomology

dr. dave shetlardr. Parwinder grewalmr. Kevin Powermr. dan digman

Plant Pathology

dr. michael Boehmmr. Joseph rimelspachmr. todd hicks

School of Natural Resources

dr. Ed mcCoymr. stephen schneider

Agricultural Technical institute (ATi)

mr. david Willoughbydr. daniel Voltz

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