by Nolan Meggers

There's no grass that is idealfor all athletic field applica-tions and no one mower that's

perfect for all mowing situations.Mower selections must ultimatelydeliver the desired cut quality at thedesired turf height. No matter whatgreat features the cutting unit offers, ifit doesn't deliver a cut that consistent-ly meets standards, the mower will beunacceptable.

Different grasses and different cul-tivars of the same grasseshave varying tolerances tomowing. The blades ofsome grasses are easier tocut cleanly than the morefibrous blades of othergrasses. Creeping, stolon-producing grasses, such asBermudagrass, tolerateclose mowing. However,more upright growinggrasses, such as bluegrass-es and ryegrasses, needhigher mowing heights tothrive.

Another considerationis leaf texture. Fine-leafedgrasses, such as certainBermudagrasses and bent-grasses, can be mowedshorter than grasses hav-ing coarse leaf texture, liketurf- type tall fescues. Theheight of cut should bedetermined by the naturalgrowth pattern of the specific grassvariety (physiological characteristics),the form and structure of the specificgrass cultivar (morphological charac-teristics), and the role the grass has toplay.

Whatever the turf cultivars, the"one-third rule" is recommended. Thismeans cutting no more than one-thirdof the grass blade at anyone mowing.For example, hybrid Bermudagrassmay have a suggested height of cutranging from 1/4 - 1 in. Therefore,

mowing should take place when thegrass reaches a height of 3/8 in. for the1/4 in. turf, and a height of 1-1/2 in. forthe 1 in. turf. Kentucky bluegrassvarieties with a suggested height of cutof 2 in. should be mowed when thegrass reaches a 3 in. height.

Turf top growth helps insulate thegrowing points from temperatureextremes. Excessively warm tempera-tures can drive a cool-season grass todormancy. Temperatures that are too

positioned on the reel at an angle, andmove across the stationary bedknife ina scissors-like action to produce a cleancut.

Rollers are positioned at the frontand back of the cutting reel. Frontrollers pass over the turf prior to mow-ing. These can be solid, grooved or spi-raled. Optional roller scrapers can beused for cleaning the rear rollers tomaintain a more consistent height ofcut.

Reel mowers use individ-ual cutting units that con-tain one reel per unit, andthey can combine multiplecutting units to cover awider expanse of turf.Generally, walk-behind reelmowers will have a singlecutting unit, whereas ride-on reel mowers may haveone or multiple cuttingunits. Many options areavailable in reel mowingunits to meet individualneeds while providing con-sistent cut quality.

A reel mower with prop-erly sharpened blades givesa more precise, manicured-cut than a rotary mower.When the reel is powered ata consistent rate in the pre-set reel-to-bedknife positionand the cutting unit is prop-erly positioned for the ter-

rain, the mower produces a high-qual-ity cut.

The cutting units should offer theoption of being placed in fixed or float-ing position. The fixed position pro-vides an even cut for flat turf condi-tions, while the floating positionallows the mower to adjust to uneventerrain. The reel power source shouldbe able to deliver consistent powerunder a variety of mowing conditions.

To attain the desired clean-cut pre-cision, reel cutting units should be

A rotary mower clips Casey Field in Covington, VA.Courtesy: Allen Dressler

cool will curtail the growth of warm-season grasses. Top growth also servesas a protective cushion against wearand traffic damage for grass growthpoints, which is always a factor onhigh-use athletic fields.

The Reel ViewReel mowers have fixed blades,

which are part of a turning cylinder(reel) that moves down and backagainst a stationary bedknife at thebase of the mower. The blades are

February 1998 13

FOR PRODUCT INFO FAXED TO YOU NOW! DIAL: 1(800) 817-1889

A walk-behind reel mower helpsprune the field at Milwaukee CountyStadium. Courtesy: David Mellor

easy to adjust in small increments of1/16 - 1/8 inch within a range of mow-ing heights. On reel mowers, the cut-ting height is measured from a flat, solidsurface to the edge of the bedknife. Reelmowers offer an option in the number ofblades on the reel. Generally, the lowerthe desired height of cut, the greater thenumber of blades to the reel. For exam-ple, to maintain turf above 1 in., use fiveblades; for 1/2 - 1 in. turf, use six blades;and for turf maintained below 1/2 in.,use seven or eight blades.

Reel mower cutting units may bequickly detached from the traction unitso that reels can be checked or ground,and adjustments can be made. Optional

backlapping valve attachments allowsharpening in place, right on the mower.

The Rotary ViewA rotary mower has one or more

horizontally moving, high speedblades that operate within the mowerdeck. The sharpened tips of the bladescut the grass by impact. On rotarymowers, the blades' function is notonly to slice bits of grass with the twosharpened tips of the blade, but to cre-ate a vacuum within the mower deck.This pulls the grass up for an even,clean cut. Where material discharge isdesired, the mower must generate suf-ficient clockwise blade rotation tomove cut material to the dischargechute.

The addition of second and thirdblades within the mower deck allowsthe rotary mower to cut a wider swath.With a two-blade deck, the two bladesmust overlap. One blade is set furtherin from the drive wheel, while theother remains positioned with thedrive wheel to facilitate discharge, asin a single blade mower deck.

In large-deck mowers with thethree-blade configuration, the middleblade is set out to the front of the deckwith the other two blades close to theright and left drive wheels. The closerthe blades are to the drive wheels, thesmoother the circle cut around a land-scape feature will be. Each bladetakes its series of bites. Horsepower

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Reel mowers designed these eye-catching patterns at MilwaukeeCounty Stadium. Courtesy: DavidMellor

requirements increase as the bite sizeincreases. Foliage removed by multi-ple-blade decks must move a greaterdistance to be discharged from themower deck. This also requires addi-tional horsepower.

On rotary mowers, engine speedcontrols the blade speed. The fasterthe mower moves forward, the largerthe size of the bite taken. Lift can alsovary with the type of 'blade used.Some blades have very little lift, whileothers provide a large amount andcreate a tremendous vacuum orpulling action. Some mower deckshave the option of changing blades tofine-tune the cutting and vacuum.With mulching mowers, or mowerswith the mulching option, the liftaction of the blades and other mowerfeatures allow the blades to cut andre-cut the grass several times. Thesmall sections of cut grass filter intothe turf to decompose. With all theseavailable options, model selectionsshould meet turf care needs while pro-viding consistent cut quality.

The rotary mower deck must followthe contour of the ground in order toput the blades in proper contact withthe grass. With large-deck mowers,the wheel placement and the flexibili-ty of motion should allow the deck tomove or "float". Mowers must respond'to the contour of the terrain by movingboth vertically and from side to side.This avoids scalping grass and leavinguncut grass on one side of the mowingswath.

Correct set up and leveling of therotary mower deck are extremelyimportant for proper performance and

good cut quality. With improper condi-tions, lift is reduced and too much ofthe blade comes in contact with thegrass. Cutting height options shouldrange from the lowest to the highestrecommended heights for the grassesthe mower will cut. The easier it is toadjust mower. deck heights, the morefrequently the adjustments will bemade. On rotary mowers, the cuttingheight is measured from a flat, solidsurface to the cutting edge of theblades.

In general, rotary mowers are bet-ter for higher cutting heights. Theyare more versatile, are better able toadapt to rough conditions, they canhandle tough grasses, and they chopclippings for recycling. Further, rotarymowers are usually simpler mechani-cally and require less skill to operateand maintain than reel mowers.

Putting Mowers to Workon Sports Turf

Sports turf managers must matchmowing frequency and height of cut to

the unique conditions of their fields.Variables include natural growth pat-terns of the grasses, weather condi-tions, the type of sports that will beplayed, the timing and intensity ofuse, and the type of mower used. Onthe highly maintained, irrigated fieldsof professional sports, seasonalchanges may require only minoradjustments. Greater adjustmentsmay be required on the practice andgame fields of sports complexes,schools, and park systems when theturf is subjected to heavy wear in lessthan ideal conditions. Mowing deci-sions affect turf health, density, playa-bility and grass variety dominance.

In southern regions; hybridBermudagrass may have a suggestedheight of cut ranging from 1/4 - 1 in.,while common Bermudagrass canrange from 1/2 - 1-1/2 in. In the north-ern transition zone, a Bermudagrasscutting height above 1/2 in. may pro-duce a surface too loose and spongy foradequate footing. The cool-seasongrasses, bluegrass, perennial ryegrass

and turf-type tall fescue, have a sug-gested cutting range of 2 - 3 in.

For cool-season grasses, the idealtemperature ranges from 60 - 75F; forwarm-season grasses the range is from80 - 95F. When temperatures at grassgrowing points are above or belowthese ranges, growth slows or stops,and the turf goes into a period of dor-mancy.

Mowing is an important part of theart and science of sports turf manage-ment. Sports turf professionals mustdevelop mowing strategies to fit their(Specificfields and conditions. 0

Nolan Meggers is Product Manager,Market Development, Golf and TurfEquipment, Commercial Grounds CareProducts for John Deere. He is basedin Horicon, WI.

Great Sports StripingAt Superb Prices

• Light on your wallet -low initial cost and long life• Great striping from the shearing reel cut of a National• Smooth, clean cutting builds hardier, healthier turf• Easier to sharpen and lower operating cost• Easier to maintain than rotary riding mower• Easy rear turning wheel for high maneuverability

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Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax # 1050298 and/or Circle 105 on Postage Free Card

February 1998 15

Calendar for February 1998-..Professional Lawn Care Short Course, Conference, Hilo, HI. Contact: Jo AnnHoliday Inn on the Lane, Columbus, Johnston. Phone/fax: (808) 969-2088.OH. Phone: (614) 292-4230. Fax: (614) E-mail: jaj@hilo.net.292-0492.

February 16-20Long Island Turfgrass

Management Short Course, LongIsland, NY. Contact: CornellUniversity, (607) 255-1792.

February 17-18The Ohio State

February 17-19The fourth annual Mid-Pacific

Horticultural Trade Show &University

Thousands worldwide have used the Verti-Drain®deep-tine aerator to relieve compaction. You mustsee it in action to believe it!

Compacted and poor draining soils canbe improved dramatically opening themup so air and water can move freely. Rootscan then grow deep, creating stronghealthy plants resistant to pests, weeds,disease, drought and hard play.

.Verti-Drain's unique parallelogramdesign forces each tine backwards instantlyas it penetrates the soil making new path-ways. This underground shattering effect isa Verti-Drain exclusive!

To really see the dynamic action of theVerti-Drain phone now for our informationpacket including our new, free video.

Verti-Dmin Greens Model 7316, justone of nearly a dozen models availableto fit virtually every budget.

VERTI-DRAIN®Redeximr;mttli"Wtfj

Verti-Drain's patented parallelogramdesign shatters the soil. Coring tines arealso available on all models.

P.O. Box 1349, Kingston, PA 18704 e1-800-597-5664

Circle 106 on Postage Free Card

16 -sporfsTURF· http://www.Sportsturfonline.com

February 18The Connecticut Grounds Keepers

Association's Trade Show andEducational Conference, The HartfordCivic Center, Hartford, CT. Contact:Donald Demichael,HINOKIOBT@aol.com.

February 19Northeastern New York

Nursery/Landscape AssociationEducation Day & Trade Show,Marriott Hotel, Albany, NY. Contact:NENYN/LA, (518) 783-1322.

February 23-24Turf and Grounds Exposition II,

Holiday Inn, Suffern, NY. Contact:New York State Turfgrass Association,(800) 873-8873 or (518) 783-1229.

February 23-27Long Island Turfgrass

Management Short Course, LongIsland, NY. Contact: CornellUniversity, (607) 255-1792.

February 24-25Advanced turfgrass management

symposium: "EnvironmentalManagement and Communication onGolf Courses," Cook College, NewBrunswick, NJ. Contact: KeithWilson, (732) 932-9271. Fax: (732)932-1187. E-mail: ocpe@aesop.rut-gers.edu.

February 24-26Western Pennsylvania

Conference & TradeMonroeville, PA. Contact:Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, (814)863-3475. Fax: (814) 863-3475.

TurfShow,

February 25-26The 16th annual Southern Illinois

Grounds Maintenance SchoolConference, Gateway ConventionCenter, Collinsville, IL. The programwill feature two keynote speakers,plus 21 educational sessions coveringwoody ornamentals, arboriculture,landscaping, turf and herbaceousplants. A trade show also will takeplace. Contact: Ron Cornwell, (618)692-9434.

HAPPENINGS-------------------,.,. -------------------Advanta Changes Name awards annually to recognize superior

Advanta Seeds West ofAlbany, OR., service and customer satisfaction.has changed its name to Advanta Distributors earning awards thisSeeds Pacific. Following the recent year included: Brandt Industries,merger of the UK-based Zeneca Seeds Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; G.L.and the Dutch-based Royal Cornell Company, Gaithersburg, MD;VanderHave Co., the new global seed Delta States Turf, Inc., Baton Rouge,company adopted the Advanta name. LA; B. Hayman Co. (Hawaii) Ltd.,

"Changing the name of AdvantaSeeds West to Advanta Seeds Pacificmore accurately reflects our positionas a member of the Advanta group andour approach to markets for our coolseason grasses," says GeneralManager, David Holman. "We arebased in the Pacific Northwest of theU.S.A. and are currently seeking toexpand our export markets into otherPacific Rim countries."

The company's major cool seasongrass products include Kentucky blue-grass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrassand fine fescue.

Pioneer LaunchesFields of Excellence

CampaignPioneer Manufacturing is initiating

a national "Fields of Excellence"search for outstanding athletic fieldsand their caretakers. Any institutionthat regularly maintains an outdoorathletic field may apply for award con-sideration. The campaign is designedto foster community and school spirit.A select number of exemplary fieldswill be awarded a certificate and ban-ner, and a few schools randomly cho-sen from this pool will receive scholar-ships to comemorate the award.

Applications must. be postmarkedby March 31, 1998, and must include acompleted application form, an essayand a non-returnable photograph. Forinformation, contact: PioneerManufacturing Co., 4529 IndustrialParkway, Cleveland, OH 44135. (800)877-1500; FAX (800) 877-1511.

Jacobsen HonorsDistributors

During Jacobsen's recentInternational Business Conference atthe Wigwam Resort near Phoenix, thecompany honored eight of its distribu-tors by presenting them "Raving FansAwards" for 1997. Jacobsen, a divisionof Textron, manufactures professionalturf maintenance equipment usedworldwide. The company gives the

Waipahu, HI; Jacobsen Textron - PalmDesert branch, Palm Desert, CA;Malvese Mowers & Equipment, Inc.,Hicksville, NY; PT J ayasaktiMardikaguna, Jakarta, Indonisia; andWisconsin Turf Equipment Corp.,Janesville, WI.

WEST COASTURF

OWERS ANDTALLERS OF

IUM QUALITYND STOLONS

P.O. Box 4563, Palm Desert, CA 92261 (800) 447-1840

Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax # 1070298 and/or Circle 107 on Postage Free Card

February 1998 17

FRONT LINES-------------------,..--------------------called in a consultant to evaluate thesituation to see if anything was miss-ing.

After surveying the program, theconsultant concluded that it lacked onekey element that is crucial to success:training. My friend immediately dis-missed the evaluation. How couldtraining be the problem? He has one ofthe best computer programs for workorder management, irrigation control,labor management, etc. He has anoperations manual which outlines theprotocols for all of the work performedby the staff. He has regular safetytraining meetings with the entire crew,and weekly staff meetings with thesupervisors and management. Thereis an excellent exchange of informationwithin the office. How could trainingbe the problem?

The problem was in the organiza-tion's definition of training. Training isa never ending process. A good train-ing program should include the follow-ing characteristics: a well defined planof how to do things; a system for pre-

by Dave Ashman

Simpler is better ...A colleague of mine is experiencing

some difficulties in getting his opera-tion on track and keeping it on track.The same problems keep coming back,despite his best efforts to keep the pro-gram moving in the right direction.The situation reminds me of that oldsaying about not seeing the forestbecause of the trees ...

Sometimes you have to coloroutside the lines ...

My friend has one of the best turfmanagement programs in his area. Hehas a definite vision of what wants. Hehas a good plan for the area and haswritten clearly defined policies andprocedures to realize his goals. He hasinvested in state of the art equipment.He has adequate funds, a good crewand knowledgeable supervisors. Heseems to have all of the tools for a cut-ting edge program in place. He even

NOW One pass aeratingand clean-up!

VVith Goossen's new

VErsa-vac Aerator AttachmentTurf can now be aerated and cores harvested in just one pass.

With one single pass, Goossen's 50-inch aerator attachmentpenetrates the soil with

hydraulically controlled

pressure followed by a 70-

inch counter-rotating steel

flail rake that pulverizes

the cores allowing the

thatch to be lifted into the

trailer while the soil is left

behind as a fine top dress-

ing. Immediate pick-up of cores eliminates the smashing that

occurs when the cores are driven over by other methods used

for harvesting. A finishing roller smooths the turfwhere the

cores were extracted. The rake has steel knives or rubber fingers

which are interchangeable depending upon the type of soilbeing treated.

senting the information to the crew ina "classroom" setting; a system fordemonstrating the protocols in thefield; a system of benchmarks for mea-suring progress; and finally, a systemfor trainers to follow up in the field andin the classroom at regular intervals.

My friend's training program pre-sented information to the crew in meet-ings, but there was no mechanism forfollowing-up in the field. Another col-league gave him the example of theCalifornia Highway Patrol. Fieldsupervisors stop CHP officers out onthe road to quiz them on informationpresented in the morning briefing. Myfriend was finally willing to concedethat his program could be improved. 0

If you have a story or anecdote youwould like to share, call (562) 425-2449, or write it down with your nameand phone number and mail it to:Ashman & Associates, 3164 NorthGreenbrier Road, Long Beach, CA.90808.

INDUSTRIESP.O.Box705 • Beatrice, NE 68310

Toll-Free: 1-800-228-6542 In NE: 402-228-4226 Fax: 402-223-2245

Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax# 1090298 and/or Circle 109 on Postage Free Card

18 sports TURF• http://www.sportsturfonline.com

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...About The Shape of Your Turf?Delta Bluegrass Company has the solution - Tifway 419 and our patented,

exclusively grown Baby Bermuda. These Hybrid Bermudas are perfectly suitedfor the strenuous conditions your stadium turf is accustomed to enduring.Washed for your convenience, these warm season grasses are available onsand, meeting USGA specifications, as well as peat soil.

For over a decade, Delta Bluegrass has been producing and installing theindustry's highest quality peat sod. Give us a call for

~l: more information on Hybrid Bermudas andother varieties of our premium sods -

Your turf will be glad you did!

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SRel!S1~'lurton'ine.comT---by Dr. Henry Indyk

Athletic field turf is composedof a mass of complex organ-isms stri ving collecti vely

and individually to grow and thrive inwhat all to often becomes a hostileenvironment. The job of the sportsturf manager is to create and main-tain conditions which support the pos-itive elements of that environment,and to reduce or eliminate the nega-tive elements. Tissue testing is a diag-nostic tool which provides importantdata on the nutritional status of theturfgrass plant in its struggle forgrowth, health, vigor, persistence andsurvival. On the other hand, soil test-ing identifies key elements in grassplants' growing media by quantifyingsoil acidity, nutritional levels and thesalt index.

Tissue testing quantifies the levels

of major and minor nutrients in theplant. Tissue testing doesn't replacesoil testing, but works in conjunctionwith it. Tissue test results comparedto soil test results reveal what is hap-pening between the soil and the plant.When discrepancies occur between theresults of the two tests, the sports turfmanager must investigate the cause ofthose discrepancies.

It's important to know what is inthe soil before an attempt is made togrow grass plants. Soil testing at thisinitial stage gives the sports turf man-ager data to work with in adjustingthe levels of acidity, salts and nutri-ents to create conditions which matchplant needs as closely as possible.Without this initial step, grass plantsmight not survive long enough to pro-duce sufficient tissue for testing.

Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax # 1030298 and/or Circle 103 on Postage Free Card

20 sporlsTURF· http://www.Sportsturfonline.com

On established fields.. annual soiltesting done late in the growing sea-son is generally sufficient to providethe necessary data. However, whendifficulties arise in turfgrass growth,more frequent testing may be neces-sary.

Once the grass plants are growing,tissue testing is a good way to monitorwhat the plant is actually gettingfrom the soil. Tissue testing is neededmore frequently than soil testing, andshould be done monthly throughoutthe turf's active growth period whenturf is performing well. When poorturf performance occurs, despite ade-quate maintenance procedures, "nor-mal" field use and "normal" weatherconditions, additional tissue testing isbeneficial.

For accurate test results, the pro-cedures for taking samples andpreparing them for delivery to thetesting facility must be followed prop-erly. Tissue testing should not betaken right after fertilization. Forgeneral tissue testing, random sam-ples from the entire field are used.When problems occur in isolatedspots, samples from the problemareas and controls from areas per-forming adequately should be takenseparately and submitted for testing.Samples for tissue testing should beas fresh as possible when delivered tothe testing facility.

Soil test results produce quantita-tive figures that can be compared toacceptable standards set for the par-ticular kind of soil being tested.Tissue test results also produce quan-titative figures, and they can be com-pared to the adequate range for eachcomponent of the testing. Each testhas its own strengths and weakness-es. For example, tissue testing is themore reliable method for determiningNitrogen levels. For this reason, dis-crepancies may occur between theresults of the two tests. In this case,the first step is to repeat testing toassure the veracity of those results.

A soil testing may confirm thatacidity and salt levels are appropriateand nutritional levels are within theacceptable range, but tissue testing of