CONTROLLINGTURFGRASS

PESTS

BOOKSTORE!Controlling Turfgrass Pests, 2nd edition, by I W.Fermanian, M. C Shurtleff, I Randall, H. I Wilkinson, and Pi.Nixon. This book concentrates on the diagnosis, fundamentalbiology, and control of turfgrass weeds. Demonstrates how toidentify turfgrass pests, when and why they occur, the dam-age that may take place, the life cycles of the pest, plus cul-ture, chemical and other management strategies designed to

l keep pest damage to a minimum. 720 pp. 4031 $ 8 5 . 0 0

Management of Turfgrass Diseases, 2nd edition, byJoseph M. Vargas, Jr. Completely revised and updated to pro-vide the latest information on maintaining a healthy turf andidentifying turf diseases, covers cultural, genetic, biologicaland chemical approaches to turf management and providespractical solutions to everyday problems. Fungal, bacterialand viral diseases; black layer disease; and diseases caused bynematodes are addressed for all major grasses. Tips on irri-gation, fertilization, and grass culture w. 72 full-page photosand more than 100 figures. 320 pgs. 4 0 1 6 $67 .00

Color Atlas of Turfgrass Diseases on Golf Courses, by Dr.Toshikazu Tani and Contributing Author, Dr. James B. Beard. Presents over350 high-quality color photographs of all the major turfgrass diseasesthat occur on both warm and cool season grasses and is international inscope. The standard color guide to disease diagnosis and pathogen iden-tification for golf course superintendents and turfgrass practitioners.Maps are included to assist in disease identification by providing geo-graphical locations where each disease/pathogen is likely to occur. It alsoprovides color photos of step-by-step guidance on diagnostic techniquesfor laboratory analysis which can be used by practitioners. 140 pages.4005 $79.95

)LOR

TURF GRASSDISEASES

TREE TURFAND

ORNAMENTAL

• M R ®PESTICIDE

GUIDE1994-95 EDITION

Toshikazu TaniI >mcs B Beard

Tree, Turf, and Ornamental Pesticide Guide, W.I Tomson. This isone of the few references today designed as a guideline to pesticide usagein the specialized ornamental field. It lists the major ornamentals growneither in the home or garden, in nurseries, in greenhouses, or in com-mercial production with a cross reference as to what pesticide may beused on them. Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and growth regulatorsare listed along with what each will control. This is a valuable tool forPCO's, nurserymen, greenhouse operators, groundssuperintendents, turf specialists, etc. 200 pgs.4127 $18.50

Pictorial Guides to Quality GroundskeepingBook I and Book I I , by Floyd Perry. The onlytextbooks on the market for the grounds supervi-sor, athletic coach, little league volunteer, or base-ball purist. Over 500 photos in each text with manyin color. Book One, "Covering All The Bases" (100pgs) covers Mound and Home Plate Repair; Edging,Dragging, Lip Reduction; Water Removal;Homemade Equipment and Tricks of the Trade.Book Two, "There Ain't No Rules",(108 pgs.) cov-ers Football, Soccer, Softball, Little League, MinorLeague, College and High School Facilities. Also covers Curbside Appeal;Tricks of the Trade, New Ideas for Easy Maintenance; ProfessionalResearch from Higher Learning Centers and much more. 4008—BookI, 4009—Book II $36.60 ea. or 2 bk set—4022 $69.90

«

Order online at www.industrybooks.com

INCLUDE SHIPPING& HANDLING

1-2 bks3-6 bks7-1010+

$7.50SI 0.00SI 5.00S21.00

Please indicate quantities of each publication.

Charge your order by phone call 1-800-396-3939 • Payment Enclosed

Order online at www.industrybooks.com Q charge my Credit Card

Card Number

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM AND RETURN

PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY ALL ORDERS

Visa • M/C • A m e x Signature

Exp Date

4031 Controlling Turfgrass Pests

4016 Management of Turfgrass Diseases

_ 4005 Color Atlas of Turfgrass Diseases on Golf Courses

4127 Tree, Turf, and Ornamental Pesticide Guide

Pictorial Guides to Quality Groundskeeping4008 Book I4009 Book II4022 2 bk set

$85.00 IL residents add 8 . 2 5 % sales tax.

$67.00Title

$7995 C o m p a n y

Type of Bus iness

$1 8 -5 0 Street

City State Zip

$36.60 Count ry$36.60 Te lephone$69.90

FaxA L L S A L E S A R E F INAL

ADAMS BOOK GUILD • 2101 South Arlington Heights Rood, Suite 150 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4142 • Tel: 1-800-396-3939 • Fox: 847-427-2037 Pleose allow 4 weeks for delivery ST5

sportsTIIIIF

by Jim Puhalla

M id-summer brings us faceto face with one of themost demanding seasons

of sports field management. We'reexpected to deliver a solidplaying surface for thehighest-profile sportsevents of the year. Thatused to only mean football,but now soccer is growingby leaps and bounds inmany parts of the country.The field maintenancetask has become evenmore critical.

Field professionals andathletic coaches share atleast one important aspectof their work: the prepara-tions made before the sea-son determine how suc-cessful the campaign willbe. As Joe Paterno tells hisplayers, "The will to win isimportant, but the will toprepare is essential."

evaluated, including the practicefields.

One of the first things to look for ismowing problems. Lots of field prob-

InspectionsIf you haven't already

been inspecting your fieldsregularly, a detailed inspection is agood first step for fall sports prepara-tion. All fields should be thoroughly

This combination football/soccer field was completely re-sod-ded in mid-July. With careful watering and mowing, it wasready for competition by Labor Day weekend.Courtesy: Jim Puhalla

ing amount of clippings on the turf,which can literally kill the grass.What's more, cutting off more than 1/3of the plant weakens the grass and

makes it less resistant tostress.

Look for clean shear-ing—dull blades tear thegrass and make it suscep-tible to disease. If grasshas a whitish cast aftermowing, it's a sign of dullblades. Close examinationof the grass will probablyreveal that the blade endsare shredded instead ofcut cleanly.

Inspections should alsoinclude a quick look atfield moisture. A soilprobe/profiler allows youto remove a small coresample four to six inchesdeep to examine soil mois-ture. Samples can also bechecked for compaction,thatch accumulation, androot development.

lems occur because the grass isallowed to grow too high, and is cuttoo short. This spreads an overwhelm-

High-traffic areasWatch for weeds in high-traffic

areas of the field, especially in thecenter and bench areas of football

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

fields and in front of the goals on soc-cer fields. In the North, knotweed fre-quently appears in these areas. Thisis usually a sign of over-compaction.Relieving that compaction will allowthe turfgrass to crowd out theknotweed.

Traditionally, many field managershave given minimal attention tobench areas, but the growth of soccerhas changed the demands on thesesections of the turf. They are fre-

quently part of the playing area of thesoccer field. Make sure you don'tneglect bench areas during yourinspection.

If you have reached mid-summerand the turf has not fully recovered inthe high-traffic areas of the field, con-sider sodding thin areas only. There'san obvious expense to sodding, butperforming the process only on dam-aged areas is much less expensivethan doing a whole field, and it can

Figure 1. Warm-season maintenance program

Field Name:

Sample Maintenance Schedule(Warm Season)

Address:Type of Field:

Condition:Type of Grass:Type of Mower:Type of Soil:

Football Practice Field

goodTifway bermudagrass5 gang reelnative clay

Soil Test:Year:PH:

19976.7

_ Phosphor:Potassium:

65300

Compaction:Drainage:Irrigation:Thatch:

Notes:

limitedsurface drainage - goodinstalled automatic system1/4" to 1/2"

primary wear between hash marksand blocking sled at NE corner

TimeofYear

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

Fertilization

13-13-131 IbN

34-0-01.75 IbN

34-0-01.75 IbN

21-2-201 IbN

8-24-241/2 IbN

34-0-01 IbN

Aeration

12" solidtine

12" hollowtine

dethatchif needed

Topdress

1/4" anddrag

1/4" anddrag

1/4" anddrag

1/4" anddrag afteroverseed

Overseed

20 lbs/1000perennialryegrass

spot seed

1/3 Rulet Mowing Hi

7/8"

7/8"

7/8"

7/8"

7/8"

7/8"

7/8"

1 1/2"every

2 -3 weeks

1 1/2"every

2-3 weeks

1 1/2"every

2-3 weeks

7/8"

7/8"

V'WeekWatering

as needed

30 min.every day

30 min.every day

as neededfor

overseeding

as needed

as needed

WeedControl

2.4-D plusMSMA

spot treat

2.4-D plusMSMA

spot treat

assure you of a solid season of fieldperformance.

Warm-season field preparationFigure 1 is a sample maintenance

program that can be tailored to fit theneeds of any football field in thewarm-season zone. A major southernuniversity uses this schedule on itspractice football field. It provides aglimpse of where managers should bein their mid-season preparations forthe fall sports season.

Fertilization: The field gets aggres-sive nitrogen fertilization Maythrough August to maximize growthand recovery of the bermudagrassduring its primary growing season.Water-soluble ammonium nitrate actsas the primary nitrogen source; 21-2-20 and 8-24-24 are applied in mid- tolate summer to prepare turf for thedemands of competition.

Aeration and topdressing: Ideally,core aeration should be conducted inJune, though this process can be per-formed in early July if severe droughtconditions are not being encountered.After aerating, topdress the field with1/4 inch of sand, and then drag it witha chain-link mat to work the sand intothe turf.

These cultivation events can beperformed as long as the turf is active-ly growing. Its recovery will beenhanced by the recommended appli-cation of fertilizer with high nitrogenrates.

It's also wise to dethatch the fieldin July if the thatch layer exceeds a1/2-inch depth. After dethatching, top-dress and drag as before. Under thisregimen, the turf will have about amonth to recover before fall practicebegins.

Despite accepted wisdom, it's notnecessary to dethatch if your thatchlayer is less than 1/2 inch deep. Anappropriate layer of thatch can helpcushion the field surface, and it cankeep players out of the mud in rainyconditions. This can be especiallyhelpful for football.

Mowing: Bermudagrass sportsfields are typically mowed to heightsranging from 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. Thefield in our sample maintenanceschedule is cut to 7/8 inch during theseason by request of the coaches. Themowing height is raised to 1-1/2 inches

continued on page 18

July 1998 15

In The Field.

OfficialGolf CourseEquipmentSupplier

From municipalities to the major leagues—ballfield

managers everywhere are depending on John Deere

equipment to help make their diamonds shine. Because

only John Deere delivers a full range of tools like these.

Start with the versatile 1200A Bunker and Field Rake.

Its power, and ability to simultaneously work with a front-,

mid-, and rear-mounted implement, makes it quick and

productive. John Deere cutting units deliver strength and

superior quality of cut for the 2653 Gas and 2653A Diesel

Utility Mowers while infield striping is enhanced with the

straight-tracking 220A Walking Greens Mower.

Add the Aercore Aerators, Gator® Utility Vehicles, 1800

Sprayer, and a full line of gear and hydrostatic-drive utility

tractors and you begin to see why John Deere is the only

name you need on your lineup card. For the name of your

nearest distributor, or free literature, call 800-537-8233. Or

write John Deere, P.O. Box 12217, RTP, NC 27709-9601.www.deere.com.

NOTHING RUNS LIKEADEERE (

AeratorsCircle 106 on Postage Free Card

COVERMASTER:

When you rely on (he Covermaster® RaincoverSystem to keep your field ready for play, you Ml makelife easier for you and your grounds crew at thesame time.

The Covermaster® Raincover System featuresequipment that makes it simple to install, remove andstore your tarp. It will also save you time and labor.

And with our wide choice of cover materials,Covermaster can custom design your tarp in the sizeand configuration that will meet your special needs.

The Covermaster® Raincover System. You could saywe have you covered.

For more information call us today.

This lightweight andeasy to handle roller withspecial end caps providessafety against injury forboth grounds crewthe players.

Takes the heavy workout of rolling the coverover the field. Attaches tothe P.T.O. on your tractor.

Visit ourWEB vww.covermaster.net

E-MAIL info@covermaster.net

MEMBER

fiHlManagers Association

MASTERS IN THE ART OF SPORTS SURFACE COVERS

COVERMASTER INC., 100 WESTMORE DR. 11-D. REXDALE, ON, M9V SC3TEL 416-745-1811 FAX 416-74-COVER (742-6837)

Circle 107 on Postage Free Card

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

continued from page 15

in late fall to promote winter hardiness in the bermuda-grass.

If you let your fields grow higher in the off-season, besure to reduce the height gradually during the season. Cutthe turf as often as required to keep the 1/3 rule in effect.For best results, mow two to three times per week through-out the active growing seasons of the bermudagrass andryegrass—even when a field is not in use during the sum-mer. It's a common mistake to neglect the field during theoff-season, only to have the first practice or game datesneak up before the field is ready.

Watering: Bermudagrass typically needs one to 1-1/2inches of water per week during the summer months tomaintain active growth. The watering program shoulddeliver deep and infrequent irrigation.

Cool-season field preparationCool-season turfgrasses run through an annual cycle of

strong active growth in the spring and early summer, fol-lowed by dormancy in the hottest part of the year, and thenanother strong growing season in late summer and fall.Many maintenance practices used for cool-season fieldstake this annual cycle into consideration. Figure 2 is asample maintenance program that can be tailored to fit theneeds of any football facility in the North.

Figure 2. Cool-season maintenance program

Sample Maintenance Schedule(Cool Season)

Type of Field:

Condition:Type of Grass:Type of Mower:Type of Soil:

Football Game Field

goodblue/rye60" rotaryday/loam

Soil Test:Year:pH:

Phosphor:Potassium:

Compaction:Drainage:Irrigation:Thatch:

Notes:

yes - middle & benchinstalled pipe drain systeminstalled automatic system!4" sides - 0" middle

knotweed (middle & bench area)some clover - crabgrass (N.end)check sprinkler head elevations

oTyTar UertUizaSonl Aeration

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

18-24-12VilbN

50% SRN

24-5-11% Ib N

50% SRN

16-0-31VilbN

25% SRN

32-5-71 Ib N

50% SRN

20-5-10% Ib N

50% SRN

1 Ib Nafter lastmowing

coreentirefield

12" solidtine

aeration

core 50'each side

slicemiddle

coreentirefield

Topdress

for surfaceleveling

for surfaceleveling

Slit-seed

bluegrassmiddle &

bench areas

blue/ryetouchup

spots

primedryegrassmiddle

now orApril

1/3 RuleMowing Ht

2"

2V4"

2Vt

2'/,"

2"

2"

2"

2"

1"WeekWatering

lightfrequentintervals

deeperless

frequent

deeply

deeply

cautiously

cautiously

WeedControl

spottreatment

Letting grass get too high and thentrying to rapidly reduce the height tomid-season levels can spread anexcessive layer of clippings that willkill the grass. It's best to work downto competition heights gradually,while still observing the 1/3 mowingrule. Courtesy: Jim Puhalla

Fertilization: During the summer,one application of 1/2 pound of nitro-gen and one pound of potassium helpspreserve plant health during periodsof greatest heat. It also enhances theturf's ability to resist disease.

Aeration: Aerating frequently helpsmake turf stronger. Vary your equip-ment use according to the season, andtailor your program to your fields' par-ticular needs. In the summer, coreonly the sides of the field. Stay off themiddle and any other newly seededareas; the grass plants are not yetmature enough to withstand thestress of aeration.

If you choose to aerate late in thesummer, be sure to fertilize and waterthe turf to maintain active growth.Spiking or slicing in August opens upthe soil to air and water and won't dis-rupt the surface. These techniquescan be continued throughout the play-ing season on a bi-weekly schedule.

Mowing: In July, grass should behigher than at any other time duringthe year. A height of about 2-1/2 tothree inches is optimal. Three to fourweeks before the first game, beginlowering the height to game height.Remember to reduce height graduallyby taking off no more than 1/3 of thegrass plant at any one mowing. Thisgradual reduction in advance of theseason will allow turf to recover fromthe lower cutting height and be fullyready for play.

Mowing height is another areawhich is affected by the shared use ofa single field for football and soccer.Most soccer coaches and players wantthe field to be cut shorter than the typ-ical northern football field. If your fieldwill host both sports, begin reducingthe height four to five weeks before theseason.

Special notes

When establishing a field prepara-tion program for the TransitionalZone, use a program that is appropriatefor the type of turfgrass being used onthe field. Prepare warm-season vari-eties according to the warm-season pro-gram, and cool-season varieties accord-ing to the typical northern program.

Q: What do all of these teams have in common?Oakland A's

Arizona Diamondbacks

University of Texas Longhorns

San Diego Chargers

University of Southern California'

California Angels

Arizona State University Sun Devils

San Francisco 49'ers

San Diego State University Aztecs

San Francisco Giants

jii San Diego Padres

" os Angeles Dodgers

Oakland Raiders

Arizona Cardinals

A: They are at "HOME" on West Coast Turf!

WEST C AST

GROWERS ANDINSTALLERS OFPREMIUM QUALITYSOD AND STOLONS

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

Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax* 1080798 and/or Circle 108 on Postage Free Card

July 1998 19

Preparing fields

In the South, the programoutlined in Figure 1 should befollowed on most native-soilfields, game fields, and practicefacilities. If the stadium field isoverseeded, many field man-agers choose to overseed thepractice field to closely simulategame conditions.

In the North, most teamswith one practice field that musthost 100 practices will be prac-ticing on dirt by the end of theseason. From a preparationstandpoint, limit damage byapplying one pound of nitrogeneach month in June and July,before the field is being heavilyused. Combined with carefulmowing and watering practices,this aggressive fertilization pro-gram should allow the field tohold up much better to thedemands of the season.

A badly damaged football bench area can disrupt theplaying field for soccer on a dual-use field. Theyellow line is the touchline of the soccer field. Thisarea can be sodded to restore playability in sixweeks. Courtesy: Jim Puhalla

It must be said that effec-tive preparation for fallsports should begin at theconclusion of the previousyear's season. Steps that canbe taken now will have someeffect on the health of theturfgrass culture, but sub-stantially upgrading a foot-ball or soccer field takesmonths to achieve. •

Jim Puhalla is president ofSportscape International, Inc.,ofBoardman, OH, and Dallas,TX. He is author, withMississippi State Universityprofessors JeffKrans and MikeGoatley, of a forthcoming book:Sports Fields—A Manual forDesign, Construction andMaintenance.

ARE WE INSTALLING TURF OR STRIPPING??

ALLTELL STADIUMHOME OF JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Actually, we are stripping. Our process is so clean and efficient that it's easy to be con-fused. So, whether it's to strip a field, or install a field using our turf or yours, CYGNET TURFis able to perform under all kinds of conditions and we are able to respond to most emer-gencies.

Stripped and installed JacobsField Cleveland Indians

Installed Jack Kent CookeStadium Washington

RedskinsOur patented machines carry the rolls, turn them atground speed, and install down a controllable slidefor tighter seams.

NO ONE ELSE CAN MAKE THIS CLAIM.U.S. Pat. #5,215,248 & 5,307,880

Stripped and Installed OhioState & Univ. of Iowa

Football Fields

TURFEquipment Phone: (419) 354-1112

Farm: (419)655-2020Fax: (419)352-1244

889 use FastFaxti 1090798 and/or Circle 109 on Postage Free Card

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