The Turf Zone Podcast

MTC Turf News – Tom Samples, Ph.D. and John Sorochan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Department of Plant Sciences

There are more than one-hundred species of fescues worldwide. Some are annuals while others are perennials. Annual species are usually considered weeds. Six perennial fescues are managed either alone or in turf mixtures in the U. S. Presently, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), classified as a coarse fescue, is the primary cool-season species used as turf in Tennessee. Strong (Festuca rubra L. rubra) and slender creeping red (Festuca rubra L. ssp. trichophylla, Festuca rubra var. littoralis Vasey), chewings (Festuca rubra L. ssp. falax Thuill., Festuca rubra L. var. commutata Gaud.), hard (Festuca brevipila R. Tracey) and sheep (Festuca ovina L.) fescues are collectively referred to as fineleaf or fine fescues due to their narrow leaves. Because they generally perform better than tall fescue in low light, the fine fescues are commonly recommended for use as cool-season turfs in medium to moderate shade in northwest, north central and upper east Tennessee. A lack of heat tolerance limits the use of these species in shade in other areas of the state in which summer temperatures are much higher. They are also valued for their fibrous root systems when used as components of ‘meadow mixes’ along with legumes, wildflowers and/or native plants. Left unmowed, fine fescues often reach a height of 6–12 or more inches. Seeds of many improved, turf-type coarse and fine fescues contain beneficial fungi, or endophytes, that live between cells inside plants. Endophytes may improve the plants’ ability to withstand heat stress and enhance disease resistance (for example, dollar spot (Lanzia and Moellerodiscus spp.) in fine fescues). They also produce compounds capable of reducing the feeding activity of certain insect pests. Endophytes are transmitted from generation to generation in seed, and do not move from one plant to another by way of pollen.

Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is adapted throughout much of the continental U.S. except in non-irrigated arid regions, the Southern Coastal Plain and northern-most zones in northern tier states where plants are routinely severely damaged or killed by extreme low temperatures. Although the date at which tall fescue, a native of Europe and North Africa, was first introduced into the U.S. is unknown, the species was evaluated in several North American forage trials in the late 1800’s. ‘KY-31’, a cultivar found growing in a pasture on the farm of W.M. Suiter in the mountains of eastern KY and known to have been there before 1890, is still marketed for use as forage, roadside groundcover and utility and residential turfs. After lengthy testing begun by Dr. E. N. Fergus of the University of Kentucky who first visited the pasture in 1931, KY-31 was released into the marketplace in the early 1940’s.

Establishment and Management

The germination and purity of tall fescue seed should be at least 85 and 95 percent, respectively. Depending on cultivar and production year, there are usually about 230,000 or more tall fescue seeds per pound. The recommended seeding rate of tall fescue ranges from 5–8 pounds per 1,000 square feet. The lower rate is recommended when seed is ‘fresh’, and the quality and germination percentages are high, for example >90 and >95, respectively. Depending on soil moisture and temperature, tall fescue seeds may require from seven to 14 or more days to germinate. Turf-type tall fescue turfs generally perform well at a cutting height from 2–3 inches, while the recommended cutting height of KY-31 is usually slightly higher (for example, 2½–3½ inches). Lower cutting heights are more likely to allow weed infestations than taller cutting heights. The species often requires a medium level of N compared to other cool-season turfgrasses. For example, depending on cultivar and the level of care, tall fescue turfs often require from <0.

Wayne Philley has been a part of the Golf & Sports Turf Management Program for so long, it is hard to imagine it without him. We are certainly thankful that he answered the ad for a field technician in the Starkville Daily News placed by Dr. Jeff Krans — and that Dr. Krans hired him! But then, we all know how shrewd he is. That was the beginning of a long commitment and dedication to Mississippi State University and to the turf industry of Mississippi.

Turf Zone: Welcome to episode four of Virginia Turfgrass. Joining us today is Tom Tracy, Executive Director of the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Tom, today, will address the Council’s outreach efforts on behalf of turfgrass managers in Virginia and the public relations implications for the industry in the wake of recent policy and regulatory news.

Bermudagrass, an aggressive sod-forming and warm-season turfgrass, most likely originated in Africa and south and southeastern Asia. It is believed that the species was introduced into the U. S. in the mid- 1700’s from seed in hay used as bedding on ships sailing from Africa to America. Some turf-type bermudagrasses in today’s marketplace are non-seed bearing hybrids of two Cynodon species, C. dactylon (Common) and C. transvaalensis (African), and must be vegetatively established. Others are improved varieties of ‘Common’ bermudagrass and are prolific seed producers often referred to as ‘seeded-types’. Plants spread by both above- and below-ground stems referred to as stolons and rhizomes, respectively.

While there is currently much scrutiny around pesticides and their use, synthetic pesticides are an integral component of comprehensive pest management programs in all facets of agriculture including athletic fields, golf courses, lawns, sod production and other turfgrass areas. While this is not a new interest or concern, it is currently heightened, likely for a number of reasons including the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of glyphosate as a Class 2A probable carcinogen to humans in 2015 and subsequent events. While pesticides are an integral component, they must be used judiciously. It is imperative that facility managers understand various aspects of their utilization so environmental and human health aren’t adversely affected.

Turf Zone: Welcome to Episode 4 of the Arkansas Turfgrass TurfZone podcast. We are joined today by Dr. Mike Richardson, Professor of Turfgrass Management and Physiology at the University of Arkansas. Welcome, Mike. TZ: Today we want to discuss an upcoming event that you have been planning for quite some time – University of Arkansas Field Day. Before we dive into the details of the event, let’s talk about the University program’s relationship with Arkansas Turfgrass Association. What is the goal of that partnership?

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), is a significant pest of all turf and pasture grasses throughout the eastern United States. There are several species of armyworms in our area, but this species develops faster (21 days from egg to adult) than the others and has 4–5 generations a year in Alabama. Fall armyworms have a white wishbone on the head and four distinct dots on the end abdominal segment. They do not overwinter in Alabama; however, moths arrive every spring from southern TX and FL and have continuous generations through fall. Outbreaks of fall armyworms are most common in mid to late summer. By then, multiple generations are overlapping leading to large populations that cause significant damage. Fall armyworms feed in large numbers and, in urban lawns, these masses of larvae can easily scalp a lawn in a day. Despite their small size, they can move between lawns in a typical subdivision, between fields, or from rough to fairway in a short time.

The following article appeared in the February 2019 issue of Golf Course Management magazine. The research it cites was funded by the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation, which is supported by NESTMA. It is reprinted with permission. From food labels to cotton sheets, the concept of going “organic” is alluring. The idea is open to much discussion and debate, but it’s a fact that many municipalities are imposing bans or restrictions on the use of pesticides, especially around schools, sports fields and public grounds.

Zoysiagrass, one of the earliest grass species to be used as turf, is native to Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines where the weather varies greatly depending on season. This relatively slow-growing, sod-forming and warm-season species forms a durable, uniform turf in full sun and light, open shade. Many zoysiagrass varieties produce no viable seeds and must be established from sod, plugs or sprigs. Depending on the planting date, sprigging rate, and plug diameter and spacing, the vegetatively propagated varieties often require more than a year to totally cover the soil surface. Leaves and stems developing from nodes on stolons and rhizomes usually grow upright at an angle of about 90 degrees, a trait contributing to very good to excellent stand density. Zoysiagrass leaves are often stiff and stems are very tough due to high levels of lignin and hemicellulose. These attributes result in excellent wear tolerance.

Many athletic fields in the U.S. are built with native soils in contrast to constructed sand root zones such as those developed according to the United States Golf Association (USGA; USGA Green Section Staff, 2007). Native soils high in silt and clay tend to have greater soil water contents and slower water infiltration rates compared to constructed sand root zones (Pitt et al., 2008). The decreased water infiltration rates of cohesive soils (i.e., non-sand soils) are potentially problematic when precipitation occurs prior to athletic events. It has been reported that cohesive soil athletic fields with high soil water content tend to lose green turfgrass cover faster than those with lower soil water content (Rogers, 1988; Carrow et al., 2001).