Transcript Herons Glen

Herons Glen
Greens Update
History
 Typical life span of a green in South
Florida with Ultra dwarf
Bermudagrass is 10 – 15 years.
 Herons Glens Greens Renovated in
2006 with Tif-Eagle Ultra dwarf
Bermudagrass built to USGA
specifications.
Decline in Green Health
 Main reason is excessive organic matter
buildup in root zone.
 A buildup of organic matter is a gradual
process that occurs when the rate of
plant-deposited biomass exceeds the
rate of microbial decomposition and the
physical removal through aerification
and verticutting.
What does this mean?
 As the grass grows, naturally, parts of the plant including
roots begin to decompose in the upper ½ inch of the soil.
 As they break down the plant material turns into thatch and
eventually organic matter.
 Without physically removing the thatch, the layer of organic
matter continues to grow and eventually will encompass
the entire root zone.
 As organic matter grows, it eliminates space for air and
increases the water holding capabilities of the root zone.
 Without air, the soil begins to create toxic gasses such as
Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide.
 The increased water, combined with gasses will eventually
suffocate the plant.
Limiting Organic Matter
 Aerification
 Verticutting
 Sand Topdressing
 Avoid Excess fertilization
 Compaction
Aerification
 Opens up pore space, allowing the soil to breath.
 Replace built up organic matter with USGA sand.
Verticutting
 Removing the uppermost layer of thatch
before it has a chance to break down into
organic matter.
 Opens up channels for new sand to be
incorporated into soil profile.
 Reduces “grain” in the green.
 Creates smoother greens.
Topdressing
 Incorporating new sand into the root
zone.
 Helps to minimize thatch and break down
organic matter.
 Creates a firmer, smoother putting
surface.
Excess Fertilization
 Excessive Nitrogen causes rapid growth
in the plant, thus creating more plant
material which ultimately turns into
thatch.
 Tif-Eagle requires approximately 1 lb.
Nitrogen/1000 ft2 /growing month.
Compaction
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Most difficult to manage.
Caused by equipment and foot traffic.
Core aeration in summer.
“Pencil” tines or venting in winter months.
What does organic matter look like?
#6 Green January 2005
#6 Green January 2010
#6 Green January 2013
Comparison
#6 Green 2005
#6 Green 2010
ISTRC Report
January 22, 2010
Comparison
#6 Green 2010
#6 Green 2013
What does this mean?
 Current aerification practices are helping
but not enough.
 Weekly sand topdressing is helping to
dilute the organic matter in the upper 3
inches of the root zone but we must
continue this practice.
What can we do?
 Increase number of core aerifications in the summer.
 Perform double aerification in June and July.
 Will require closing on Monday and Tuesday during these
2 weeks.
 Will require additional temp. labor on Monday and
Tuesday during these aerifications.
 Greens will have double the amount of holes in them
requiring additional time to fully recover.
 Proposed Aerification Dates:
 May 6th
 June 10th (Double)
 July 15th (Double)
 August 19th
Additional Challenges
 Shade
 Contamination/Encroachment
 Nematodes
Shade
 Bermudagrass requires 8-10 hours
of direct sunlight/day.
 Morning sun is especially important
to dry grass from overnight irrigation
and dew.
 Excess moisture creates disease,
shallow roots and algae.
#8 Green
Photo taken at 12:00 pm
# 10 Green
Photo taken at 12:00 pm
Consequences
 Shade combined with high organic
matter in the soil = recipe for
disaster!
 Root zone never has a chance to dry
out resulting in even more organic
matter.
 Ultimately loss of grass is inevitable.
What can we do?
 Trimming trees is simply not enough.
 Removal of select trees becomes
necessary.
Contamination
 Contamination occurs when foreign
grasses, typically from the collar grow in
the putting surface.
 Most often begins during grow in
process.
 Causes uneven, inconsistent putting
surface.
#16 Green Contamination
#16 Greens Contamination
What can we do?
 In severe cases often times it is too late.
 Must be controlled during grow in
process.
 Foreign grasses need to be physically
removed early on when plant is small to
prevent spreading.
 Very noticeable when dew present.
Encroachment
 The grass from the collar creeps into the
putting surface decreasing the size of the
green.
 Greens can easily shrink up to 25% over
a period of time if not controlled.
 Allows foreign grass to find its way into
the middle of the green via mowing
equipment.
What can we do?
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Green perimeters must be stick edged almost weekly beginning with
the grow in process.
Manually remove “runners” from putting surface.
Encroachment is so severe that the affected green perimeter along
with a portion of the collar would have to be sod cut to a depth of up
to 6 inches. New soil added and re-sprigged.
This process is very time consuming and labor intensive. Sprigs
must be continuously hand watered when first planted for up to a
month.
Perimeters of greens would have to remain free from foot traffic until
fully grown in, approximately 90 days.
In my best estimation, using in house labor and materials we would
only be able to repair 2-3 greens in a summer.
In my opinion, given the current condition of the greens, spending
large amounts of time, money and labor to correct the encroachment
problem would not be cost effective.
#7 Green Original Size
Edging greens and removing runners
Nematodes
 Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms, different from
earthworms that are segmented.
 Only visible through a microscope.
 As Nematodes feed on the root system of the plant they reduce
the ability of the grass to obtain water and nutrients from the soil.
 Over-compaction reduces oxygen penetration to the root system
and enhances susceptibility to nematode damage.
 Excessive nitrogen fertilization can increase succulent root growth
and tips which are more susceptible to nematode damage.
 The threshold for “Sting” Nematodes in Bermudagrass is
10-25/ft3 of soil.
 Soil tests performed on Putting Green, numbers: 1,2,6,8 and 10 in
October of 2012 show Sting Nematode levels of 88 – 144/ft3 of
soil.
What can we do?
 Increased cultural practices
 Aerification
 Sand Topdressing
 Limiting Nitrogen Fertilization
 Chemical Control
 Nemacur
 Highly effective
 No longer available. Banned by E.P.A.
 Currently using Neo-Tec
 Sesame Oil
 Does not kill Nematode, simply protects the root from
damage.
 Results have been positive however, Large number of
Nematodes still present in the soil.
What can we do?
 Soil Fumigant
 Curfew is only available fumigant that can be applied safely to
turf.
 It is injected into soil with specialized machinery.
 Some surface damage can be expected from machinery and gases
coming to the surface.
 Has a re-entry period of 24 hours.
 Kills all nematodes present in soil at time of application.
 Does not have any residual effect.
 Possibility of Nematodes returning.
 We will be applying Curfew to our greens on Monday, May 20th.
 Putting Green and numbers 1-10 will be treated.
 Notices will be sent out via newsletter and e-mail as we get closer.
 Signage will be posted in numerous spots on every hole.
Back to the beginning
 Herons Glen greens built in 2006
 Expected life span of Ultra Dwarf
Bermudagrass green in
Southwest Florida 10-15 years.
Take home message
 Increased aerification is a must to
manage organic matter.
 Continue sand topdressing and
verticutting.
 Manage shade issues by removing select
trees.
 Prepare for greens renovation in the
future.