From river birches to rhododendrons, we have it all in this week's special plant healthcare episode of the EarthWorks Podcast! We are joined by our friend Bobby Solar of Solar’s Custom Arbor Care in southwest Virginia. Bobby recently joined me in the EarthWorks booth at the 2024 Tree Care Industry Expo in Baltimore, where he shared some fascinating case studies from the past year on beech trees, river birches, rhododendrons, and azaleas. He had some truly wild findings that will benefit everyone!

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Lawrence Mayhew has become one of our most requested podcast guests, thanks to his in-depth understanding of soil’s inner workings and the dynamics of soil geo/bio/chemistry. Lawrence spoke at the country’s premier regenerative agriculture conference, ACRES USA, in Madison Wisconsin. We asked Lawrence to join us to discuss his presentation, entitled “Biological Carbon Fertilizers.” As usual he was full of enthusiasm, delving into everything from the importance of balancing soil nutrients to the incredible role of enzymes in plant systems. We also spent some time discussing his definition of the phrase “biological buffers,” and what it means as it relates to dynamic soil systems. As always, we had a bunch of fun and laughs while he shared his expertise with us. 

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

This week Kevin caught up with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS, MG as he is getting settled into his new role as Rick Tegtmeier, retired golf course superintendent. Rick was one of our early guests on the podcast back in 2020, so it seemed only fitting that we have him back after just completing his final month at Des Moines Golf & CC. We talked about the changes he saw in his 40+ years in the industry, what his plans are now that he doesn’t need to check into the office every day, and how he changed his philosophy through the years to meet the needs of an evolving labor force. He even got into a little advice on how folks in the golf industry can prepare for retirement, regardless of their age. Rick has made a huge impact on our industry, so it was our good fortune to have him on and celebrate a career well served.

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Mike Nowicki is the Director of Agronomy at a famously tough golf course to play and to manage: Victoria National Golf Club outside of Evansville, Indiana. The property was designed by Tom Fazio and built in the late 1990s, with the mandate to make one of the toughest golf courses to play in the world. Most would agree that he accomplished that task. It was built on an old coal mine and much of the property's soil came from deep in the ground. As Mike describes in the podcast, it was not easy to work with. Because the soils were so bad the course started an aggressive top dressing program on fairways, ultimately building a 10-12 inch sand cap which brought its own set of agronomic challenges. Mike has worked on golf courses in “transition zones” like Evansville, Indiana and Richmond, Virginia for most of his career and enjoys the challenge. One of the more interesting points of our conversation was when he shared his stories about how he has had to become creative when it came to building a staff. He has a large contingency of crew from Middle Eastern countries that have proven to be wonderful, although the language barriers were a bit challenging! When listening to Mike, you will get the feeling that he is a “soils” guy and is very intuitive when it comes to getting things done on the course.

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Ken Kleinedler is a self-proclaimed carbon based soils guy. It might be because his course has been hit by multiple hurricanes over the past few years and the saltwater infiltration has been unreal. Ken has been the superintendent at Collier’s Reserve since March of 2017. Located in Naples Florida, a couple of miles off the Florida coastline, he has seen his fair share of hurricanes. He talked to us about some of the precautions he takes before a storm rolls in: removing irrigation controllers from the property, aerifying prior to the rains, and adding penetrant surfactants to allow the salts to flush through. Collier’s Reserve is an Arthur Hills designed course, built in 1993. It was the first course given the Audubon International Sanctuary distinction, and has since reached the Gold Audubon status. It is clear that Ken and his team are very proud of their environmental work and what it has meant to the club.  When Ken did a renovation, he interviewed other architects but ultimately made the decision to stay with the Arthur Hills group to stay consistent with the original design. Everyone was thrilled with the results. Perhaps the funniest stories of our conversation were the ones Ken told us about his grandfather, who owned a small mom & pop course. His grandfather passed his love and passion for the game onto Ken. Lots of informative and fun stuff here!

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Beware of the Headless Horseman! I think I heard the pounding of hooves in the distance as our guest, Jon Heywood, CGCS and I rounded the corner to reveal the stunning view of the Hudson River from the top of the 15th fairway at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. This is a Halloween special and we have a lot in store for you. A dual perspective episode looks back at the USGA’s 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Hear from Jon Heywood, the host superintendent, and my friend and mid-amateur, Jason Bataille, who went all the way to the round of 16 in this international tournament.

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

The hardest thing to do as a guest on this podcast is to be vulnerable and talk about mistakes. Juan Casiano does just that in the first minutes of this episode. His candor comes as no surprise: Juan is a confident guy and an excellent turf manager. He is also dedicated to maintaining a very low ecological impact by greatly limiting his annual pesticide and fertilizer use. Enjoy this conversation from the back patio of East Orange Golf Course!

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

This week we caught up with Dean Piller, longtime superintendent at the beautiful Cordova Bay GC in Victoria, British Columbia. Dean has been on the property since it was built 34 years ago. We discussed the keys to longevity and staying fresh in a long-term position. Dean also dove into the ways he and other Canadian superintendents manage turf in varied climates with very few traditional tools at their disposal. Along with creative management, we tackled conservation efforts at the course and how the ownership supports the management team’s plans. It was a fun conversation that we think you’ll really enjoy.

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Are you wondering how to set yourself up for success? Well, the secret is out: it’s all about outlook and attitude! We run through a lot of topics in this podcast, but I love when Vinny shares the thoughtful ways he takes care of his crew. His passion and love for humanity really comes through in this talk. Our conversation took place on the golf course, and that set the stage for a nice leisurely vibe. Enjoy the great agronomic tips included in this podcast that will benefit every listener. You’ll have a great time dipping into this conversation between two passionate turf guys!

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/ 

Kevin takes the conversation in a different direction by interviewing his oldest son, Mike. He wanted to have this conversation to offer a glimpse into the life of a college athlete and why so few succeed at balancing school with athletics. Mike had a successful college career that led to opportunities off the field and forged a work ethic that will lead to successes in life. It’s not all fun and games though, and we wanted to highlight the challenges of balancing so many things. We also discussed life as a superintendent’s son and how that’s led to a love of the game as the baseball chapter drew to a close during the COVID era. We hope you enjoy this non-turf discussion with a part of the EarthWorks family. 

Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/