Turfgrass Management in the Transition Zone. A. J. Powell, Jr. 49 years +/-

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1 Turfgrass Management in the Transition Zone A. J. Powell, Jr. 49 years +/-

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4 Why Such an Important Topic? Transition zone keeps growing No Grass Is Always Best WEATHER threatens survival most years Grasses Keep Getting Better Management Keeps Getting Better -?? Often causes Research and management experience to be misleading and causes consultants to be flip-floppy or wishy-washy.

5 Why Such an Important Topic? Perfection is the expectation, regardless - Traffic intensity Weather -The Show Must Go On Cost for repair If you grow it good, they will succeed in overusing it! Thus establishing and/or renovation is an annual chore. Football is the chief most culprit, mainly at the HS and P&R levels where 100 or more events may occur in a single season, with no rain-outs.

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7 GRASS SELECTION for Hard Use Fields Ky Bluegrass??? Zoysia??? Tall Fescue

8 Which is the best prettiest, toughest, most lovable, least costly to nurture, etc.?

9 Ky 31 Turf Type TF

10 Tall Fescue GRASS SELECTION for Hard Use T-zone Fields Ky Bluegrass??? Zoysia??? --Best T-zone adaptation --Best for limited budget & irrigation --New cultivars are finer textured & darker green

11 Bermuda vs Perennial Ryegrass

12 Perennial Ryegrass Love to Hate Grass Quick to establish in one fall or spring season Seedlings mature quicker than other grasses Seedlings withstand traffic better than seedlings of other grasses Persistence is outstanding, albeit clumping may occur Can be mowed at most required heights GLS can usually be controlled by cultivar selection

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14 Gray leaf spot of perennial ryegrass

15 Gray leaf spot of perennial ryegrass

16 GLS Perennial Rye NTEP, 05 Seeded 2004, Data = % Green Cover 9/6 9/29 12/22 Exacta II Dart MMW Panther GLS Secretariat II Gray Star Paragon GLR Silver Dollar Repell GLS Quicksilver

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20 Major Fit For Bermuda Often Less Expensive to Maintain Carpet-Like Surface which everyone wants! Can Mow at most required heights Established/renovated in summer off- season vs. Best Grass for Summer Use (paradox) Unfortunately, bermuda quits growing about 2 months before football season ends. Bermuda turns brown about a month before the football season ends, & doesn t green up for spring

21 Grass Selection Conundrum Off-season establishment/renovation requirement in the Transition zone: Summer - Bermuda Fall or Spring Perennial Ryegrass But most want the carpet of bermuda and the color of Ryegrass thus consider the late summer or fall overseeding option Overseeding not a good choice for continuous use bermuda fields in the fall

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23 Seeded Bermuda

24 Riviera

25 Bermuda Seeded Cultivar Establishment Seeded 6/1/10 & 6/10/10. % Gd. Cover taken on 6/23/10* Cultivar At 23 d, Remay At 23 d, No cover At 13 d, Remay Casino Royale Sunbird Savannah Sunsport Transcontental Riviera Yukon Common Hulled Common Unhulled At 13 d, No cover *Data taken after tests were damaged by flooding. During the 11 day period prior to flooding (Test 1), the Remay increased the surface temp an average of 3 F at night and 23 F in day, with a max of 75 F at night and 120 F during day.

26 Growth Chamber Temperature Effect - Days to Germination* Cultivar Simulated Soil Temp. for KY - May 15 Simulated Soil Temp. for KY - Aug. 1 Riviera 14 8 Yukon 14 7 Common Hulled 13 8 Princess LaPalamo 11 5 Mirage II 9 5 Savannah 9 4 Transcontinental 6 3 Casino Royal 6 3 *Calculated from preliminary data taken by Michael Deaton, UK Grad. student.

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29 Cultivar Seedling Year Traffic Effect Upon Bermuda Cultivars* 49 d Simulated, Late Season Traffic - % Residual Ground Cover Riviera Princess Southern Star Sun Sport Mirage II SR Transcontinental d Simulated, Late Season Traffic % Residual Ground Cover *Calculated from preliminary data taken by Michael Deaton, UK grad student.

30 Seedling Year Traffic Effect Upon Bermuda Cultivars* Cultivar 49 d Simulated, Late Season Traffic - % Residual Ground Cover d Simulated, Late Season Traffic % Residual Ground Cover Yukon 25 0 Casino Royale New Mex Sahara Sun Star Mohawk Savanah *Calculated from preliminary data taken by Michael Deaton, UK grad student.

31 Transition Zone Mgt Quirks Don t overwater nature may do it for you. Delay irrigation when rain is in the forecast. Mow frequently but not when soil is wet unless grass is not more than double the mow ht. Mow as high as allowed then raise it a little Think summer when applying N to bermuda. Think fall when applying N to PR. You probably don t want a long residual N on native soil fields.

32 Transition Zone Mgt Quirks PGR s are sometimes helpful, but not always. Growth is already regulated by a lack of moisture, a lack of soil oxygen, low light, temp extremes for your grass, shallow roots, heavy traffic, etc. Don t overseed bermuda with PR - unless you must! Don t spray a preemerge on a sand based bermuda field in the fall unless you must!

33 Transition Zone Mgt Quirks Exotics seldom work, but if you are inquisitive, always have an untreated check. Exotics can confuse you. Use new Technology to assist in Agronomic decisions, but not to replace proven Agronomics. You don t have to have a Ph.D. to manage grass in the Transition zone, but experience is extremely important. A few mistakes are the best teacher.

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35 Transition Zone Mgt Quirks You probably cannot core aerify too much; you can core aerify too little. Don t slice aerify or deep verticut just prior to the traffic season. May cause cleavage planes and increase sod kick-out. Use the Turf Dipstick (soil probe) religiously.

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