TurfNews

Volume 68 • No. 3
May - June 2006

T H E N E W S L ET T E R O F T H E O H I O T U R F G R A S S F O U N D AT I O N

OSU TURFGRASS PROGRAM SPORTS INTERNATIONAL FLAIR.

ED NANGLE (LEFT) FROM IRELAND IS A GRADUATE STUDENT WORKING ON BENTGRASS PERFORMANCE AS
AFFECTED BY FOLIAR FERTILIZATION WITH NITROGEN SOURCES. MARCELA MUNOZ (CHILE) AND ANETA STUDZINSKA
(POLAND) ARE VISITING SCIENTISTS WORKING ON VARIOUS PROJECTS WITHIN THE TURFGRASS PROGRAM.
GRADUATE STUDENT RYAN BEESON AND DR. DAVE GARDNER (STANDING) ARE ALSO SHOWN.

WHAT’S INSIDE: Sports TurfTIPS

SEE PAGES 12 – 14
Golf CourseTIPS
SEE PAGE 15
OSU Turfgrass Science Program
SEE PAGE 22
 TurfNews
TurfNews distributes useful and timely advice, information and
research from Ohio’s most knowledgeable experts and professionals
to OTF members and those in the turfgrass industry.

Vol. 68 • No. 3 May – June 2006

TurfNews is produced by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation

1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville, Ohio 43701-7303
1-888-OTF-3445 and is available to all members
www.OhioTurfgrass.org
T H E N E W S L ET T E R O F T H E O H I O T U R F G R A S S F O U N D AT I O N
Back issues of OTF TurfNews are available on our Web site at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

This Issue Sponsored By:

Inside 06 Calendar OF Events

Message from the OTF President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 NORTHEAST OHIO LAWN CARE SEMINAR (OLCA)
June 15, 2006
OARDC, Wooster, OH
800-510-5296
Green Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 – 7
OSTMA SUMMER FIELD DAY
June 21, 2006
Columbus Crew Stadium and OSU Facilities, Columbus, OH
Special Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 888-824-9805

OLCA/OSTMA COLLABORATIVE GOLF OUTING

Sod Producers Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 July 20, 2006
Apple Valley GC, Howard, OH
800-510-5296 (OLCA) or 888-824-9805 (OSTMA)

Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 OTF REGIONAL SEMINAR

July 25, 2006
The Golf Center at Kings Island, Mason, OH
888-683-3445
Residential Lawn Care Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11
OHIO SOD PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER FIELD DAY
August 5, 2006
Sports Turf Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 – 14 Eastgate Sod, Batavia, OH
888-683-3445

OTF/OSU TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY

Golf Course Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 August 16, 2006
OTF Research & Education Center, Columbus, OH
888-683-3445
Hort Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 – 18
OHIO LAWN CARE OUTDOOR SUMMER SEMINAR (OLCA)
(formerly Ohio Lawn Care Diagnostic Seminar)
August 17, 2006
Graduate Student Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 OTF Research & Education Center, Columbus, OH
800-510-5296

OTF GOLF TOURNAMENT

New Growth & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 – 21 September 27, 2006
Westbrook CC, Mansfield, OH
888-683-3445
.NEW
OSU Turfgrass Science Program . . .SECTION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
OHIO TURFGRASS CONFERENCE & SHOW
December 5 – 7, 2006
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
Corporate Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 888-683-3445

2
MESSAGE FROM
THE PRESIDENT WARNING!
This will be the last newsletter you receive if you
do not renew your 2006 membership!
THE HEAT OF THE SEASON
Membership invoices have been mailed three
We are in the heat of the season now and times to all 2005 members. If you do not receive
time is at a premium – but we must get it all your membership renewal invoice, please call
done. Your OTF Board is hard at work getting OTF right away.
ready for this year’s events. The next, being
Ohio Turfgrass Week which is May 26 through Support Ohio’s turfgrass industry – renew your
June 2. You should have received inform- membership today! Call 888-683-3445, or print
ation from OTF about this new initiative. a membership application off the OTF Web site
Any help you can give will benefit OTF and at www.OhioTurfgrass.org.
its support of Turfgrass research. The purpose
of Ohio Turfgrass Week is to generate public
awareness of the turfgrass industry in Ohio and just how large it really is. It
will also be used to generate new funding sources for turfgrass research and
education. If at any time you as members of our brain trust have any ideas,
please contact a board member with your suggestions. We want Ohio Turfgrass
TURFNEWS
SPONSORSHIP =
Week to grow and be a success for many years to come.

We, as a Board of Directors, are always trying to find ways for OTF to
grow, because we all know good businesses know how to expand and
prosper. To recede means we may eventually disappear, or more importantly,
GREAT VISIBILITY!
not be able to help our industry grow in the ways we have in the past. We
The past several years OTF has offered an
need our members to recruit new blood. We all know of people in our
exclusive sponsorship of each issue of
company or organization or other companies and organizations that could
TurfNews. Due to increased postage and
use our help in some way. We can help others in the form of education,
printing expenses, the OTF Publicity
information on any number of products, or just a helping hand. It’s time to
Committee has decided this year to offer
move to the next level – with our member’s help.
2 sponsorships per issue. Sponsorships are
available for all remaining 2006 issues.
OTF has an auction every year at the conference and our great leader of
Contact Kevin Thompson at 888-683-3445,
the auction, Mr. Joe Enciso, is looking for a few great items to auction off.
ext. 3151 if you are interested in sponsoring
Please step forward and donate to this year’s auction.
TurfNews. OTF thanks Syngenta for sponsor-
ing this issue.
As you start into the summer you need to mark your calendar for the
OSU/OTF Field Day. It’s great to act like a sponge and soak up some great
knowledge. Make the trip to Columbus for a great day of fellowship and
food on August 16.

I hope everyone is having a great start to your season. In your busy season,
don’t forget family.

Your President, Glen Pottenger, CGCS

KEEP IT GREEN!

3
GREEN
INDUSTRY

NEWS
OTF to Host New Student
Turf Bowl Competition
The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation is excited to announce the first
ever Turf Bowl competition will occur during the 2006 OTF
Conference and Show.
The inaugural event will target participants from Career Centers
throughout Ohio that have a Horticulture or Turf program. Regional
competitions will be held and the winners will participate in the
Championship in Columbus.
Regions are segmented similar to the five state GCSAA chapters.
The regions and hosts include:
• Northern Ohio – OSU/ATI
• Northwest Ohio – Owens Tech
• Central Ohio – Ohio State University
• Greater Cincinnati – Cincinnati State
• Miami Valley – Clark State
The objectives of the Turf Bowl are as follows:
1. Provide OTF regional exposure throughout the state.
2. Provide students, career center faculty, college faculty and
administration exposure to OTF.
3. Provide Tech schools a great opportunity to recruit career
center students (and possibly increase enrollment).
4. Potentially increase OTF membership at the student level
and with that, future memberships once they graduate.
5. Add to the excitement of the OTF Conference and Show with
the state championship.
6. Increase the number of OTF conference and show participants.
Founders Club Update
The Ohio Turfgrass Research Trust (OTRT) is pleased to announce
the Northwestern Ohio GCSA joined the Founders Club as a
Gold Member. At its March 14 meeting, NWOGCSA Secretary/
Treasurer Don Lawrence and President Tim Glorioso presented
a check in the amount of $5000 to OTRT 2005 President Paul
Jacquemin (see photo).
OTRT greatly appreciates the support of the Northwestern
Ohio GCSA and hopes that other local chapters will show
similar support for this important fundraising effort. When the
Founders Club initially launched in 2004, the Greater Cincinnati
GCSA chapter joined as a bronze member, making it the first
chapter joining the Founders Club.
The OTRT Board of Directors would ultimately like to see all
chapters increase their support to the Platinum level. While
OTRT greatly appreciates the support of local chapters and
related organizations, individuals are also encouraged to join on
their own. Founders Club membership is for a lifetime!
For more information about the Founders Club, contact OTF at
888-683-3445 or www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

The format will be similar to that of the Turf Bowl conducted at the
Golf Industry Show, with testing on turf identification, and other
scholastic and practical applications of turf management.

In the future, this competition could include a collegiate competition

and potentially a competition between various industry teams. The
Turf Bowl committee is comprised of OTF Members, Board Members
and Faculty from the various colleges.

OTF looks forward to this exciting venture which is sure to strengthen

relations within the industry.

4
OTF Scholarship &
Research Golf Scramble
The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation is holding its annual Scholarship
and Research fundraising scramble Wednesday, September 27
at Westbrook Country Club, Mansfield, OH.
The Westbrook Country Club Golf Course was designed in 1922 by
renowned architect Donald Ross. The mature, traditional course
features bentgrass greens and fairways, providing a memorable
playing experience. The course is playable by golfers of all ages
and skill levels.
The 2005 tournament, held at New Albany Country Club gen-
erated nearly $10,000 for the OTF Scholarship and Research
fund. Next to the OTF Conference and Show, the Golf Tournament
generates the most non-dues revenue for OTF. Lawn care
companies, sod producers, athletic field managers, grounds
managers and golf course superintendents and their staff are
encouraged to participate and support OTF’s mission of funding
turfgrass research and education.
“We urge everyone to register as either an individual or team,”
exclaimed OTF Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “It is a great
way to build staff loyalty and to reward employees for their hard
work – while supporting OTF.”
Also contributing to the success of the tournament are the
sponsors. “We would be remiss in not mentioning the fact that
sponsors play a huge role in the success of the tournament”
adds Mark Jordan, OTF Golf Tournament Committee Chair. If
you are interested in sponsorship, please contact OTF offices or
simply fill out a sponsorship form on the tournament registration
form. Information and registration materials will be mailed to
all OTF members.
To reserve your spot in this year’s tournament, please register
early as space is limited to the first 144 golfers. The registration
form and general information will soon be available on the OTF
Web site at www.OhioTurfgrass.org. Call 888-683-3445 for more
information.
Westbrook Country Club
Ohio Lawn Care Association
4th Annual Northeast Ohio
Lawn Care Seminar set for
June 15
The Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA) is pleased to be offering
another all day, hands-on seminar at OARDC in Wooster, OH for
its fourth year of the Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar. This
highly-informative event provides a lawn care workshop that is
easily accessible to turfgrass managers in the north and northeast
areas of the state.
Registration will run 8:00 – 9:00 am with the program beginning at
9:00 am. Participants will get hands-on instruction and diagnosis
on the following topics:
• Lawn IPM Programs
Dr. Parwinder Grewal, OSU/OARDC (Cat. 8, .05 hrs)
• Lawn Insects Management
Alfred Alumai, OSU/OARDC (Cat. 8, 0.5 hrs.)
• Weed Identification & Control
Dr. David Gardner, OSU (Cat. 8, 0.5 hrs.)
• Pests of Ornamentals
Dr. Dan Herms, OSU/OARDC (Cat. 6a, 0.5 hrs.)
• Industrial Vegetation
Scott Lucas, ODOT (Cat. 5, 0.5 hrs.)
• Non-target Applications
Carl Petelle, Turf & Earth Lawn Care (CORE, 0.5 hrs.)
• General Session – Ask The Experts
Q & A with the OSU Team of Turf experts
“This Field Day provides a unique opportunity for lawn care
operators to see test plots of long-cut grass that we deal with on
a daily basis,” informs Jeff Bisker, OLCA Education Committee
Chair. “These plots include Turf Type Tall Fescue, Perennial
Ryegrass, and all the new varieties of Bluegrass.”
Pre-registration costs $30 for OLCA members and $65 for non-
members. Discounts are available for multiple participants from
the same company. For more information, or to register, contact the
OLCA office at 800-510-5296, or visit www.OhioLawnCare.org.
5
GREEN
INDUSTRY
NEWS
OLCA Elects New Officers
and Trustees
The Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA) recently announced the
election of Officers and Trustees to its 2006 Board of Directors.
Officers serve a one-year term and Trustees serve three-year
terms. OLCA proudly announced the following officers who will
lead the association and Ohio’s lawn care industry into the future.
“
“
With the leadership recently elected
by the nominating committee, OLCA
can look forward to a healthy future!
• Bill Hoopes, former Director of Training with Scotts Lawn-
Service and Barefoot Grass and 2005 founder of Grass Roots
Training, was elected President. Hoopes, has been active in
OLCA since 1990 and was the 2002 President of the Pro-
fessional Lawn Care Association of America. His industry
awards include Lawn and Landscape Magazine’s “Leadership
Award” and the prestigious “Person of the Year Award” from
Landscape Management magazine in 2002.
• Dave Winter, Advanced Turf Solutions, Hilliard, OH, was
elected Vice President. Winter graduated from The Ohio State
University in Turfgrass Management and has spent his last 14
years as a supplier for turf and horticultural products.
• Joyce Pelz, NaturaLawn of America, Akron, OH, was elected
to the position of Secretary/Treasurer. Pelz has served on
OLCA’s Board for two years and is currently serving on the
Finance and Membership Services Committees. She lives in
the Akron area and is active in state and local chapters of
the Audubon Society. She is a graduate of Youngstown
State University.
• Jeff Bisker, Your Lawn, Inc., Ashville, OH, will serve the
Executive Committee as Immediate Past President. Bisker
has served on OLCA’s Education, Membership and Legislative
committees and is also a member of the Ohio Turfgrass
Foundation and Professional LandCare Network.
6
Four new trustees began serving 3-year terms March 1, 2006 –
February 28, 2009:
• Michael Maravich, LESCO, Inc., Cleveland, OH was elected
to his first term as a Board Trustee. Maravich graduated from
OSU/ATI in 1997 with an Associates Degree in Landscape
Contracting. He is currently employed with LESCO, Inc. as the
product manager, for the Turf and Ornamental Fungicide
division. Previous employment was with the Bruce Company
of Wisconsin as the assistant superintendent of new golf
construction.
• Carl Petelle, Turf & Earth Lawn Care., Dayton, OH has returned
to the Board of Trustees. Carl has been involved with the
association since 1991 and is a past President. He is a graduate
of the University of Wisconsin, and former Vice President of
Technical Service for Leisure Lawn. Carl has spent 35 years in
the green industry.
• Mike Sloma, UAP Professional Products, Columbus, OH was
elected to his first term as a Board Trustee. Sloma attended
the Ohio State University graduating in 1992 with a degree in
Turf Management. He worked as a Golf Course Superintendent
at Whetstone Golf Course near Marion for 4 years. He then
went into sales selling Hunter Golf Irrigation for 7 years. He
joined UAP in November of 2003 selling chemicals and fertilizer
to golf courses, lawn care companies and nurseries.
• Chris Spellacy, Spellacy’s Turf-Lawn, Inc., Galena, OH was
elected to his first term as a Board Trustee.
President Hoopes comments, “OLCA offers many member benefits,
including professional field days in Wooster and Columbus, safety
training, education, plant and tissue testing, and a Workers’ Comp
group rating program. With our strong presence at the Ohio State-
house, we actively protect the industry against harmful legislation.
To do this successfully takes the cooperation and vision of OLCA
members, the Board, and its officers. With the leadership recently
elected by the nominating committee, OLCA can look forward to a
healthy future!”
The Ohio Lawn Care Association is committed to promoting and
protecting the lawn care industry in Ohio. To receive additional
information contact OLCA at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd., Zanesville,
OH 43701-7303; Phone: 800-510-5296; Fax: 740-452-2552;
E-mail: info@OhioLawnCare.org, Web: www.OhioLawnCare.org.
OSU/OTF Turfgrass
Research Field Day to
be held August 16
All turf managers interested in learning about current turf-
grass research at The Ohio State University should plan to spend
August 16 with hundreds of fellow turfgrass professionals at
the OTF Research & Education Facility in Columbus.
The annual OSU/OTF Turfgrass Research Field Day will be held
Wednesday, August 16 and will follow a similar format as in
past years. The field day provides a great forum to meet with
other turfgrass professionals and the OSU Turfgrass Science
Team – giving you the opportunity to seek answers to your
questions and solutions to your turfgrass problems.
The Field Day provides an excellent opportunity to learn from
many of the country’s best in turfgrass research and education,
tour the OTF Research & Education Facility, and network with
industry peers.
Brochures and registration information will be mailed to
all OTF members in July. For more information, contact the
OTF office at 888-683-3445, or visit the OTF Web site at
www.OhioTurfgrass.org.
OSTMA and OLCA to
Co-Sponsor Golf Outing
For five years and running, the Ohio Sports Turf Managers
Association (OSTMA) and the Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA)
will co-sponsor their annual golf outing. The outing is scheduled
for Thursday, July 20 at Apple Valley Golf Club, Howard, OH (near
Mt. Vernon).
Apple Valley is an outstanding 18-hole championship course that
plays to nearly 7000 yards over rolling hills and wooded areas.
The par 72 course is noted for its large, gently sloping greens and
their lightening-fast speed.
By co-sponsoring the event, the two associations are able to
combine resources while bringing lawn care and sports turf
professionals, suppliers, and other turfgrass managers together
for a great day of golf, networking and fun. Darian Daily, Paul
Brown Stadium and Dave Hofacre, Grassmasters, Inc. are serving
as the OSTMA and OLCA committee chairs, respectively.
For more information, contact OSTMA at 419-824-9805 or
OLCA at 800-510-5296.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Mike O’Keeffe is the recipient of the 2006 Buckeye
Sports Turf Global Excellence Award. This award is part
of the annual honors given out each year at the Sports
Turf Short Course. In it’s second year, the Global
Excellence Award is given to someone who has “made
a significant contribution to turfgrass science on a
global scale.”
Mike (picture left, with Dr. John Street) is the program
manager of the Ohio International Intern Program at
Ohio State. For the last twenty years, Mike has been
instrumental in placing turfgrass science students at
golf courses & sports venues all over the world. Each
year, American students have the opportunity to do
their internship in the British Isles, Australia or Europe.
Similarly, students from those countries have the
opportunity to come to the USA and train at top-notch
golf courses and sports venues.
A good example of this exchange is English turf student
Dan Bingle, interning at Columbus Crew Stadium this
summer, while Ohio State student, Brett Tanner will
intern at Arsenal Football Club in England.
In addition, Mike has worked with the OSU Turfgrass
Science Program to accommodate international visit-
ing scientists. Most recently, that list includes: Pam
Sherratt (England), Nuno Sepulveda (Portugal), Bobby
Kerr (Scotland), Pawel Lewinski (Poland), Ed Nangle
(Ireland), Aneta Studzinska (Poland) and Marcela Munoz
(Chile).
Congratulations to Mike on this deserved award. He is
truly one-of-a-kind.
2005 Recipient: Martyn Jones, National Turfgrass
Foundation, England.
7
OSPA
OHIO SOD
PRODUCERS
OTF Encourages You to
Support OSPA Members!
Since 2002 OTF and the Ohio Sod Producers Association have
shared a unique, mutually-beneficial relationship in which dues-
paying OSPA members automatically become members of OTF.
Since OSPA is a “division” of OTF, a portion of the OSPA member
dues pays for OTF membership, and the balance goes into an OSPA
restricted account. Therefore, the Ohio Sod Producers Association
maintains its identity as the only state association for sod
producers, and its members benefit from membership in OTF.
It’s a win-win relationship.
OTF members are always encouraged to patronize supplier
members – and the sod supplier members of OSPA are no different.
When making your next sod purchase, please contact the follow-
ing OSPA/OTF members. For information about OSPA, contact
OTF headquarters at 888-683-3445.
Columbus Turf Nursery
14337 US Hwy 23 • Ashville OH 43103-9667
Phone: (740) 983-8873 • Fax: (740) 983-6580 • www.columbus-turf.com
Eastgate Sod
10491 SR 48 • Loveland OH 45140-6625
Phone: (513) 683-6436 • Fax: (513) 683-2128 • www.eastgatesod.com
Green Acres Sod Farms, LLC
6801 Troy Rd • Radnor OH 43066-9613
Phone: (740) 815-2963 • Fax: (740) 369-2699
Green Prairie Turf, Inc.
6893 Jones Rd • College Corner OH 45003-9791
Phone: (513) 523-2634 • Fax: (513) 523-7229 • www.greenprairieturf.com
Green Velvet Sod Farms Ltd.
3620 Upper Bellbrook Rd • Bellbrook OH 45305-8938
Phone: (937) 848-2501 • Fax: (937) 376-1153 • www.greenvelvet.com
Greenspan Sod
10210 Dry Fork Rd • Harrison OH 45030-1819
Phone: (513) 367-4447 • Fax: (513) 202-0175
Henderson Turf Farm
2969 Beal Rd • Franklin OH 45005-4603
Phone: (937) 748-1559 • Fax: (937) 748-1568
8
Lavy Ent. Turf Grass, Inc.
12386 W National Rd • New Carlisle OH 45344-9725
Phone: (937) 845-3721 • Fax: (937) 845-0840 • www.lavyturf.com
Medina Sod Farms, Inc.
14349 Burton City Rd • Orrville OH 44667-9609
Phone: (330) 683-2916 • Fax: (330) 683-1256 • www.medinasodfarms.com
Motz Turf Farms
6280 Clough Pike • Cincinnati OH 45244-3961
Phone: (513) 231-4844 • Fax: (513) 231-6457
Riverside Sod Farm, LLC
10 Stewart Orchard • Winfield WV 25213-9760
Phone: (304) 755-0581 • Fax: (304) 755-0588 • www.riversidesod.com
Turpin Farms
3295 Turpin Ln • Cincinnati OH 45244-3446
Phone: (513) 617-3623 • Fax: (513) 561-1547
SUPPLIER MEMBERS
Princeton Delivery Systems, Inc.
955 W Walnut St • Canal Winchester OH 43110-9436
Phone: (614) 834-5035 • Fax: (614) 834-5072 • www.piggy-back.com
Sharon Lawn Equipment
11674 US Rt 42 • Sharonville OH 45241
Phone: (513) 769-4061 • Fax: (513) 769-4068
Attention Sod Suppliers
& Vendors!
The OSPA Annual Summer Field Day is scheduled for Saturday,
August 5 at Eastgate Sod, Batavia, Ohio (east of Cincinnati).
The Field Day is free to exhibit for OSPA member companies.
Non-OSPA member exhibitor registration is just $150 per
company. A continental breakfast and a luncheon will be
provided. For information on exhibiting or attending, call OSPA
at (888) 683-3445 or visit www.OhioTurfgrass.org under calendar
of events for more information.
Interested in becoming a member of The Ohio Sod Producers
Association? It’s easy! Just contact OSPA at (888) 683-3445.
OSPA – a division of OTF.
 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
David Hofacre, President, Grass Master, Inc.
Hard Work Brings Booming Business

“I believe OTF’s role is that of educator, trainer and leader of people within the Green Industry,
communicating with manufacturers and researchers, bringing together the knowledge of all and sharing
such knowledge so that we all will have a greener, cleaner and safer place to work and play.”

Working with nature is nothing new to David Hofacre. Growing up
on a farm in Northeast Ohio, Hofacre spent his days cultivating
farm crops and working with animals. In his early twenties,
he realized he had a “passion for golf.” His love for golf guided
him to enter OSU/ATI at Wooster in 1973. He explains, “I couldn’t
get enough of it. And at the time, there was a new school
being built in Wooster that offered a program in the study of
Turfgrass, which I thought would lead to golf course management,
which I thought would be exciting.” His passion for golf did not
stop with the books. Hofacre extended his study by working at
a local golf course.
In 1975, Hofacre graduated from OSU/ATI at Wooster with
an Associates Degree in Turfgrass Science. Throughout the
years, he pursued his career in turfgrass harvesting and
replanting sod at Medina Sod Farm, working as a technician
making applications to residential lawns at Chemlawn Corp., and
working as an owner/manager at Spray-A-Lawn Corp. in Orville,
Ohio developing new markets of which he opened two locations
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in Youngstown, Ohio.
In 1981, Hofacre and a fellow classmate from ATI had “a great
idea to open up a small company, Grass Master, Inc., in which the
owners would service the customer’s lawn.” The first few seasons
proved promising, and it was not long until more employees,
equipment and service were needed.
Today, Grass Master, Inc. is a “full service lawn and landscape
company,” which during peak season employs a team of 35 and
serves over 5,000 customers in a 9 countywide area. Recently,
Hofacre purchased a three acre property for the company. This
growing company has posed Hofacre with the challenge of “letting
go of decisions and empowering others to make decisions.”
Even with booming business and growing responsibilities, Hofacre
stays involved in all aspects of the business: answering phones,
running service calls on problem lawns, working with the
technicians, training employees, holding weekly meetings
to discuss the current business activity, and making lawn
applications. His favorite task is “working on equipment either
repairing or developing something new, like our aerators or the
spreader/sprayer tractor unit.” He has learned the importance
of dedication and hard work, early in life from his grandparents,
parents, and uncles while working on the family farm.
From working on a farm to running a business, Hofacre knows the
industry and understands hard work. He wants newcomers to the
industry to know, “Do the job right! Don’t mislead your clients and
above all be a professional.” It is no wonder that Hofacre’s quote
to live by is, “You may be bigger, faster and stronger, but I will beat
you because I’ll work harder than you” – Woody Hayes.
Understanding hard work, Hofacre believes that education is
the key to success and professionalism. He uses OTF and other
organizations like OLCA and ONLA to provide him with education.
Hofacre says, “It’s important to be an OTF member from the
standpoint of education – professionalism.” He continues to explain
that teachers, Jeff Lefton and John Street, “made sure we,
students, were aware of the trade organizations,” and got involved
in them during college. “I believe OTF’s role is that of educator,
trainer and leader of people within the Green Industry communicat-
ing with manufacturers and researchers, bringing together the
knowledge of all and sharing such knowledge so that we all will
have a greener, cleaner and safer place to work and play.”

9
 RESIDENTIAL
LAWN CARE
TIPS
Entomology Update
Dave Shetlar, Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State University
Introduction
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed that several lawn insect
problems have increased in our Ohio lawns, yet they often go
misdiagnosed. Several “non-pest” insects have also been
causing confusion. While white grubs remain the number one
pest problem in Ohio lawns, a majority of the lawns that were
heavily damaged last year were attacked by bluegrass billbugs
and hairy chinch bugs. Areas of lawns that were killed last year
were loosened by winter freezing so that they may appear to
have been attacked by white grubs this spring (e.g., the patches
can be picked up like a loose carpet). These bare areas are also
prime places for weed emergence. I’ve also had reports of crane
fly or March fly maggots being found in abundance under these
patches of dead turf. Unfortunately, the uneducated homeowner
or lawn technician might think that these maggots were the cause
of the damage, not just insects utilizing the decaying plant material!
Billbugs
By the following spring, billbug-killed turf can be difficult to diagnose.
However, if you look carefully at the stems of grass that may still
remain, you should be able to still detect the tell-tale sawdust-like
frass (fecal pellets) that remains within the stems. Simply pull up
on the dead grass stems and inspect them with a hand lens. If you
are inspecting the lawn on a sunny day, you will also likely see
the adult billbugs wandering across the sidewalk or driveway.
The best way to control bluegrass billbugs (don’t let the name fool
you, they’ll attack all of our cool season turf!) is to take a preventive
strike! Since the adults overwinter, and they become active when
the soil surface temperature reaches 68º F during the day, you
can apply a pyrethroid insecticide in early to mid-May over most of
Ohio that will knock out these adults before they can lay sufficient
eggs to cause a problem later in the season. Bifenthrin, beta-
cyfluthrin, deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin are the best
performing pyrethroids for this purpose. On the other hand, you can
use either imidacloprid (Merit) or clothianidin (Arena) at the same
10
time which will also control chinch bugs, and their residues will
kill annual white grub species that show up later in the season.
On the other hand, if billbugs are a constant threat to the lawn
(most likely the entire neighborhood!), consider reseeding or over-
seeding with a high endophyte perennial ryegrass blend or three-way
turf-type tall fescue blend. These endophytic grasses are lethal to
billbugs (and other surface insects) so that you won’t have to worry
about surface insects in the future.
Hairy Chinch Bugs
These pests are dramatically increasing in Ohio lawns, especially
Kentucky bluegrass lawns that have been established by sod!
I know that sod producers won’t like the implications of this,
but this is what we are seeing in neighborhoods that are using sod
as the major lawn establishment technique.
In early spring, chinch bug damage from the previous season will
look like grub or billbug kill, winter kill or similar problems. There
will be major patches of dead grass, often with a few clumps of
surviving Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue or perennial ryegrass
scattered across the decimation. I also see a lot of weeds in these
areas, primarily oxalis, chickweed, spurge or other quick-to-
establish weeds.
To diagnose chinch bugs, you can’t look in the dead turf! Chinch
bugs need plant sap in order to survive, so when they kill turf, they
move into the surrounding live turf. I look along the edge of any
surviving Kentucky bluegrass clumps, but the chinch bugs will often
hide at the bases of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue clumps. In
April and early May, all you’ll likely see are the black and white adult
chinch bugs, but by mid-May, the bright red-orange nymphs will be
come evident.
Currently, we are seeing two complete generations of hairy chinch
bugs in Ohio lawns with the first batch of nymphs in the turf from
late May through June and the second batch of nymphs being
found from mid-July through August. Either generation can cause
damage to the lawn and this nymphal damage is commonly
mistaken for disease or summer drought dormancy. Don’t assume
that disease or dormancy are causing the problems observed! Get
out on the lawn, get down on your hands and knees, and spread the
turf to see if the tiny bugs are present. If they are there, it shouldn’t
take you more than a couple of minutes to find them!
As with the billbugs, you can take the “adult preventive” approach
which is to use a pesticide to kill off all the adults before they
lay too many eggs. This used to be the strategy of choice when
chinch bugs were causing extensive problems in the 1970s and
early 1980s. Since the loss of Dursban and diazinon, we’ve had to
switch to pyrethroids for this adult control strategy, but not all
pyrethroids are equal! Bifenthrin is the top performer, but beta-
cyfluthrin is not far behind and lambda-cyhalothrin also does a
respectable job. In our field studies, imidacloprid and clothianidin
also control chinch bugs, but maximum control may take seven to 10
days, compared to the almost immediate action of the pyrethroids.
You don’t have to take the preventive approach, however, to control
chinch bugs. Since they are insects with a gradual life cycle, nymphs
and adults are likely present when you find them, and the above
insecticides will knock out both stages, whenever you find them!
Chinch bugs are also discouraged by endophytic turf, so this would
be another reason to use these grasses if lawn repair is needed.
Crane Flies and March Flies
In Ohio, crane fly larvae have been the most common maggot found
in damaged or killed turf. Whether the turf was killed by drought,
grubs, billbugs, chinch bugs or disease, our native crane flies
commonly dine on the decaying plant material (thatch, crowns and
stems) that remains on top of the soil. The adult crane flies, which
look like giant mosquitoes, detect dead turf in September and
October in which they deposit their black, jellybean-shaped eggs.
The eggs hatch in the fall and the gray-brown larvae feed on the
decaying plant material in the fall, often under the cover of snow,
and early in the spring. By mid-April, these larvae are about one
inch long. Once these larvae finish their development, they often
will dig into the soil where they will remain for the rest of the spring
and summer. In September, they pupate and emerge as adult flies
to repeat the life cycle again. We also have other species of crane
flies that emerge in the spring to lay eggs in decaying plant material
at this time. These larvae only partially mature in the spring and
finish their development in the fall season.
In either case, finding crane fly larvae under dead turf in Ohio is
no major cause of concern! They are merely nature’s agent for
disposing of the dead plant material. On the other hand, there are
some imported species of crane flies (found mainly in the Pacific
Northwest and in eastern Canada) that feed on grass leaf blades
and stems. So far, we haven’t seen these in Ohio.
March fly larvae look more like dirty white wireworm larvae.
While crane fly larvae pull in their heads when disturbed, March
fly larvae have the black head capsule always visible. March fly
larvae rarely get more than 3/4 inch long and are less than 1/8 inch
wide. March fly larval infestations in lawns is less common, mainly
because the adults fly in April and May (okay, they fly in March in
the southern states!) to lay eggs. These adults are also attracted to
soils covered with decaying plant material, but in a lawn these
areas are usually repaired over the summer. Occasionally, when
you are dealing with a “thatched out” lawn, this decaying material
can support a lot of March fly larvae. And, if this lawn or patches of
this lawn are killed during the summer, the March fly larvae will be
easily found the following spring. Again, they were not the cause of
the dead turf!
Summary
Billbugs and chinch bugs are rising in importance as agents that
can severely damage Ohio lawns. However, billbug and chinch
bug activity goes undetected and their resultant damage if often
blamed on something else – drought, grubs or disease. Correct
diagnosis and early treatment can eliminate damage from billbugs
and chinch bugs, thereby improving the overall quality of lawns.
Crane fly and March fly larvae should be considered as “indicators”
of other turf problems (e.g., death from something else or too much
thatch). Correcting these more general turf problems will eliminate
these fly larvae!
While this is “classic” billbug damage to a home lawn, without proper
diagnosis, one could easily mistake the damage to be summer drought,
chinch bug or a disease problem.
Crane fly larvae are often called leatherjackets by Europeans because
they have very tough exoskeletons. Notice the anal papillae that are often
extended when the larvae are submerged in water.
11
 SPORTS
TURF
TIPS
Summer Maintenance Tips for Sports Field Managers
Pamela Sherratt, Dr. John Street & Aneta Studzinska, Dept. of Hort & Crop Science, The Ohio State University
During the last few years we have had variations of both cool and
hot summers. In 2005 the heat & drought persisted right through
late fall. In 2003 and 2004, the cool/wet weather kept grass
growing all year. So, what will 2006 bring? The almanac predicts
a mild spring, normal summer and mild fall – but who knows.
As a rule, we should expect hot temperatures in July & August
and some periods of drought.
Keep Stress to a Minimum
Cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and
tall fescue) all prefer optimum air temperatures of 60 – 75º F and
optimum soil temperatures of 50 – 65º F. Once the temperatures
go above these optimum levels, the grasses become stressed.
Root loss can be as severe as 50% & top growth significantly slows
down. In Ohio, this usually occurs towards the end of June until fall.
During this stress period it is wise to avoid any turf management
practices that severely stress the grass or roots. This would include:
• Verticutting or scarifying • Core aerating
• Lowering mowing heights • Applying herbicides
Avoiding aggressive cultural practices is one key management
approach to dealing with summer stress. In addition there are
summer management practices that will keep the field healthy for
summer & fall play. These include:
• Irrigation • Mowing
• Fertility • Pest, Disease & Weed Management
IRRIGATION
As a rule of thumb, cool-season grasses require about 1 inch water
per week to replenish water lost through evapotranspiration (ET).
If rainfall does not provide this water, then supplemental irrigation
is needed. If grass does not get adequate water it will go dormant.
Grasses can survive in a dormant state for several weeks but
dormant grass should not be played on because it cannot
recuperate from traffic.
12
Types of Irrigation
Supplemental irrigation is provided in a number of ways; in-ground
automatic system (pop-up sprinklers), rain train, or water cannon.
In-ground systems are the most expensive but certainly the most
effective. Rain trains and water cannons are less expensive but
require manpower to move them from field to field. At the very
least, a quick-coupler hook-up allows for a hose connection or a
sprinkler.
Irrigation Timing & Frequency
Applying 1 inch of water via irrigation is usually done over 2
to 3 increments or cycles. This is usually necessary due to the
low in-filtration rate of finer-textured soils and to avoid puddling
& run-off.
It is essential to calibrate the irrigation system periodically to
determine the precipitation rate (ppt rate) and uniformity of
water distribution. Where soil infiltration rates are low, match ppt
rates to soil infiltration rates. The ppt rate will determine the total
running time to match the ET rate and the need for cycling. Lower
ppt rate nozzles may be available with certain irrigation systems
and sprinklers. The ppt rate and uniformity of distribution is
determined simply by placing straight sided containers around the
sprinkler head at equal intervals out to the perimeter and
measuring the depth of water per container in inches for a set
time of 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Ideally, the water should be applied in the very early morning
(3 – 10 am). Early morning watering offers the following advantages:
• Temperatures are cooler in the morning, so the water is less
likely to be lost through ET than it is during the daytime hours.
• The leaf tissue only remains wet for 5 – 6 hours. Early-mid
evening irrigation can result in much longer periods of leaf wet-
ness (> 10 – 12 hours). The longer the leaf tissue is wet, the more
susceptible that tissue is to disease, especially in July & August.
• Irrigation will remove morning dew from the leaf tissue, which
also helps in the prevention of disease.
• Wind is less likely, resulting in more uniform water distribution.
In contrast, watering very early (3 – 7 am) can have one dis-
advantage in that no one knows if the irrigation works or not.
Finally, irrigation should be timed to allow the field to ideally dry
for 24 – 48 hours prior to play. Preferably, the soil moisture
content of the field should be 20 – 30% below field capacity
during peak activity. A general rule is to maintain the field slightly
on the dry side. Alternating fields, if possible, is the most
practical way of allowing appropriate windows of opportunity
for proper irrigation programming and drying.
MOWING
The primary impact of mowing turf is the removal of photosynthetic
leaf surface. Mowing turf too low can result in plants that are much
smaller, have fewer roots, and are less tolerant of stresses (Table 1).
With that in mind, there are optimum mowing heights for athletic
turf (Table 2).
In the stressful summer periods, particularly if it’s as hot & dry
as 2005, it is best to mow at the higher end of the mowing range.
For example, those fields that might normally be mowed at 2
inches could be raised to 3 inches in July & August. The mowing
height should be brought down gradually before fall play.
Gradually lowering the height of cut is done according to the 1/3
rule – whereby no more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue is removed at
any one time.
FERTILITY
Temperature responses of a cool-season grass have a major
influence on timing & rate of nitrogen (N) and other nutrients. Periods
of highest nutrient need for cool-season grasses is the spring &
fall (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Growth cycle for shoots and roots of
cool-season grasses (Carrow et.al., 2001)
Important fertilizer considerations in summer are:
• Some N may be required to prevent deficiency, promote some
growth for recovery (if played on), prevent wear & tear, prevent
stress (disease) and maintain color.
• Excessive N will substantially decrease drought & heat tolerance.
• Withhold N if turf is dormant.
• If N fertilizers are applied, choose a source of N that is AT LEAST
50% slow-release (water insoluble).
PEST, DISEASE & WEED MANAGEMENT
Under summer stress conditions, a general rule is to limit the use
of herbicides because some of the herbicides may cause injury
to the desirable grasses.
There are several major pests & diseases that can occur in
summer and that can severely injure or kill turf (Table 3).
For cultural & chemical control options, please see our online
bulletin L-187 Management of Turfgrass Pests, Weeds, Diseases
and Insects (http://ohioline.osu.edu/l187/index.html).
In summary, remember that the cool-season grasses grown on
sports fields in Ohio do not favor Midwest summer temperatures.
With that in mind, limit stressful practices and raise mowing heights
to the higher end of the preferred range, particularly if we have a
summer like 2005.
If possible, prevent play on fields that are dormant through lack of
irrigation. If fields are irrigated, recovery from play will be enhanced
significantly by good irrigation, fertility & mowing practices. These
practices will also help prevent diseases. Let’s hope it’s a moderate
summer, with lots of sunshine & adequate rain to keep these fields
healthy. It will go a long way to helping fields recover and enhance
their durability in fall 2006.
References
• Carrow, R.N., Waddington, D.V., Rieke, P.E. (2001) Turfgrass
Soil Fertility and Chemical Management, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc. New Jersey
• Hull, R.J. (2000) Mowing; Its Impact on Turfgrass. Turfgrass
Trends. Vol 9, Issue 1, p.1-8
CONTINUED (CHARTS) ON PAGE 14
13
 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Table 1. Mowing Height Effect on Turfgrasses

Advantages of Mowing at the Advantages of Mowing at the
LOWER end of the Optimum Range HIGHER end of the Optimum Range

Density increases – more tillering, results in more plants per Mowing too low for the species results in thin turf as tillers will
square ft. decrease, especially in hot weather.

Removes more culms, so turf plants less likely to flower & Root, rhizome & stolon density increases as height increases –
therefore will stay vegetative. resulting in better drought, high temperature, disease and
insect pest tolerance.

Long turf tends to “lie down,” is more prone to disease and Very short turf is stressed, and therefore less able to compete
produces excessive thatch. with weedy grasses and broadleaf weeds.

Leaf texture of coarser grasses (such as tall fescue) is finer at Greater carbohydrate reserves.
lower heights.

Table 2. Optimum Range of Mowing Heights for Sports Fields

Sports Field Use Grass Species Mowing Height

Baseball infields, field hockey Kentucky bluegrass &/or 1.0 – 2.5 in.
& high quality soccer fields perennial ryegrass

Baseball outfields, soccer, football, Kentucky bluegrass &/or 1.5 – 2.5 in.
lacrosse, polo and rugby fields perennial ryegrass

Intramural & multiple-use fields Kentucky bluegrass &/or 2.0 – 3.0 in.
perennial ryegrass or tall fescue

Table 3. Common Summer Insect & Disease Problems on Major Sports Field Grasses
Species Pythium Brown Patch Gray White Grubs Billbugs
Patch Diseases Leaf Spot

Kentucky YES YES YES – YES YES

bluegrass

Perennial YES YES – YES YES –

ryegrass

Tall YES YES – – – –

fescue

14
GOLF
COURSE
TIPS
Spring Diseases
Joseph Rimelspach, Dept. of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University

With the arrival of spring certain chronic diseases seem to always wet) persist this disease will continue to be active and pop up
occur. Three of the more common diseases that we see in Ohio quickly. There is often a large amount of inoculum in the turf
during mid to late spring are listed below. which can easily move and become active under favorable
environmental conditions. With the return of warm weather turf
RED THREAD will recover. Specific recommendations for fungicides can be
(in creeping bentgrass, bluegrass, ryegrass, and fine fescues) obtained from OSU Bulletin L-187, Management of Turfgrass
This disease can occur on all cool season turfgrass, although relative- Pests, check the section on diseases. This bulletin is online at
ly uncommon on the bentgrasses. This is usually considered a novelty http://ohioline.osu.edu/l187/index.html.
disease and does not cause serious damage. An accurate diagnosis
can be done by carefully examining the leaves for the presents of
the reddish/pink fungal growth on the leaf tip and leaf surface. If a
fungicide application is made many products work well. Specific
recommendations for fungicides can be obtained from OSU Bulletin
L-187, Management of Turfgrass Pests
Pests, check the section on diseases.
This bulletin is online at http://ohioline.osu.edu/l187/index.html.

DOLLAR SPOT
(in creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass)
Several sites including the OSU turf research area show symptoms
of the first active dollar spot of the season. This is on fairways, tees
and greens. Dry and cool weather or abnormally hot temperatures
may slow development. If dollar spot is a chronic problem, consider
initiating a preventative or early curative fungicide application. Dollar spot leaf symptoms are characterized by an hour-glass shaped
Staying ahead of this disease, as is the case with many diseases, is lesion that is bleached out in the middle with brown borders. Photo by
Dr. D. Gardner.
often considered the preferred management strategy. If the turf is
under regulation a preventative program is highly recommended.

MICRODOCHIUM PATCH
(Fusarium Patch or Pink Snow Mold – annual bluegrass)
In the spring, even into June, samples often arrive in the clinic
with Microdochium Patch (Microdochium nivale). In almost all cases
the turf affected is annual bluegrass. There are many cases where
the spores are moved on mowing equipment, follow drainage
patterns, or even foot traffic and result in interesting patterns Heavy production of Microdochium nivale conidia can lead to rapid
i.e. lines, streaks etc. If weather patterns of cool wet (especially movement of this disease.

15
 HORT
SHORTS
COLUMN
Sure Fire Rules of Diagnosis
Jim Chatfield, Nursery Landscape and Turf Team, The Ohio State University Extension
Diagnosing plant problems is difficult and requires a great deal of
discipline and diverse knowledge. Yet everyone wants an instant and
simple answer, not to mention an inexpensive and certain solution.
Is there a sure fire way to make diagnosis easy? Certainly. Not. (See
Rule #6). There are some tips to keep in mind, though, some rules
which lead to improved diagnostic success.
Rule #1: Know your plants.
Many a larch or bald cypress is cut down because a new homeowner
does not realize that these are deciduous conifers, naturally losing
needles in the fall. As arborists you know this is natural, that the
change in leaf color and needle drop is not a sign of death. You know
the plant and its normal growth, just as you know that inner needle
yellowing on pines in late summer is not abnormal. Just as you also
know that Eastern white pines do not hold their past seasons’ needles
as long as, for example, Austrian pine. White pines hold 2 – 3 years
of needles, Austrian pines four years of needles. While loss of 3rd
year needles (2 1/2 years old) is typical of white pine, it is not normal
for an Austrian pine. Loss of the 2 1/2 year old needles on Austrian
pine suggests that the plant is stressed.
Knowing the pest and problem profile of a plant is often a helpful
start to proper diagnosis. A pin oak with severe yellowing between
the veins may not have an iron deficiency due to unavailability of
iron in alkaline soil pH, but its a good hypothesis to test, since this
is a common problem for pin oaks. Roadside black locusts looking
like blow torch advertisements in August may not be skeletonized by
locust leafminer adults, but knowing how common this is gets you
started on the diagnosis. Sycamores with clusters of browned leaves
and twig dieback, accompanied by leaf drop in June may not have
sycamore anthracnose but it is a good possibility to check further.
Some plants can even be identified from afar by their problems:
think of witches-brooms on hackberries or severe cedar quince rust
on hawthorn fruits.
16
Each plant has its profile of pests, even though we sometimes get
carried away and talk about “pest-free” plants. Honeylocusts were
widely planted after most elms were lost from Dutch elm disease,
elm phloem necrosis and other maladies. We now know that honey-
locust has plenty of problems, quite serious in certain cases, ranging
throughout the season from the honeylocust plant bug complex, to
mimosa webworms, to honeylocust spider mites. This does not mean
that honeylocust is not an excellent plant. It is a tough city street
survivor, good for underlying turf with the dappled shade it provides
(although surface roots can interfere with mowing). All plants have
their place. Flowering dogwood has borer problems where exposed
to poor soils and unprotected from heat, and anthracnose problems
where the climate includes cool, moist summers and plantings are
dense, shade is dense and air movement is poor. But flowering
dogwoods still thrive where properly sited.
Finally, if you know your plants, and where they should be sited, you
will have an idea why the Taxus in a low, wet area is turning off-color
and browning. Or why a European white birch in the Midwest heat
is losing upper branches from bronze birch borers. Or why a rose
growing in the shade where there is little air movement has leaves
yellowing from blackspot disease.
Good diagnosis begins with plant knowledge: a very good place
to start.
Rule #2: Look for patterns.
The pattern of plant injury is important – on several levels. First,
determine the range of plants affected. If widely different species are
damaged, for example, it is unlikely that the problem is an infectious
plant disease. Most disease-causing fungi and bacteria affect a
limited number of plant types. Some plant pathogens have wide
host ranges (e.g. some of the root rot fungi, the Botrytis gray mold
fungus, and Verticillium which causes vascular wilt disease), but
even with these fungi it is rare to see them causing problems on
many different types of plants in the same location. If all the trees and
shrubs in an area are dying, the problem is typically environmental or
cultural, rather than from disease.
So, begin to look for factors that explain damage to diverse species.
Note if problems are more widespread in low areas where poor
drainage may be the key factor. Ask questions about whether or
not soil was disturbed earlier due to construction work: trenching,
soil grade changes, soil compaction. Often this is difficult to know
from observation alone after the fact (See Rule #5). If contamination
or overdoses of a pesticide mix are suspected review what
properties were sprayed with that mix and in what order (if the
problem is contamination of a hose line with an herbicide or fertilizer
the first properties sprayed should show greater damage).
Also notice the pattern of damage on the individual plant and plant
parts. Diplodia tip blight of pine generally starts on the lower parts of
the pine, spreading upward over the years due to splash of spores
which cause new infections. Dutch elm disease generally starts with
flagging of upper branches where elm bark beetles have trans-
mitted the fungus to vascular tissue of upper tree branches.
Manganese deficiency of red maples causes yellowing between the
veins of the leaves. Heat scorch of Japanese maples causes
tannish spotting all over the leaves. Anthracnose of maples often
causes blotches along the leaf veins. As noted in Rule #1, coloring
of the older needles on evergreens may be normal, while damage to
the new growth signals a problem: to a diagnostician the pattern can
make all the difference.
Rule #3: Learn the symptom profile.
An easy trap is to make a diagnosis on the basis of only one
symptom. The problem is, it’s often not that simple. For example,
curling of new leaves on a crabapple can be due to many different
causes: aphid feeding, powdery mildew disease, growth-regulator
herbicide injury, moisture stress. It may even be a characteristic of
a particular cultivar, such as on the crabapple cultivar, Adams.
Take the next step and match the symptom with further evidence,
such as unfurling the curled leaf to look for the aphids or the white
cast skins of the aphids that are long gone. Look for evidence of
powdery mildew with your hand lens.
Better yet, recognize that many problems have a whole set of
characteristic symptoms. With Verticillium wilt of maple there is leaf
wilting and browning, dieback of branches, often one at a time, and
discolored streakings (sometimes greenish, sometimes brown) in the
wood. Again, each symptom alone is not sufficient for good diagnosis.
For example, other fungi also cause discoloration of stem tissue.
But with a full profile of all the above symptoms you have enough
to suspect Verticillium wilt, which can then be verified by fungal
isolation in the laboratory.
Dogwood anthracnose is a problem that is often misdiagnosed.
The symptom profile includes tan leaf spots with purple rims
that often enlarge to large irregular blotches, sometimes with
accompanying scorching of leaves, dieback of twigs and branches,
retention of dead leaves from one season to the next, twig and branch
cankers often with fungal fruiting bodies on the twig tissue, and more.
If you just know about the tan leaf spots with purple borders you
may misdiagnose Septoria leaf spot, a much less serious and more
common problem, as dogwood anthracnose.
Learn the full spectrum of symptoms for each problem: in the end you
will make far fewer errors. In the long run your customers will reward
the depth of your knowledge and skills.
Rule #4: Perspective is valuable.
Sometimes you cannot determine the specific cause of the problem,
but you can rule out certain possibilities, such as a disease or pest
that is of great concern due to serious potential damage to an
important planting or for regulatory reasons. Determining that
branch dieback on a birch is not due to bronze birch borers or
that Dutch elm disease is not the cause of a branch flagging on an
American elm is useful information even if you do not nail down
the specific cause.
Perspective is important in another way. You can probably find at
least one pest or disease problem on any tree. That does not mean
that the maple bladder gall mite on the silver maple or the oak
leaf blister on the red oak is important to plant health. This is a
crucial perspective to relate to customers, who may not utilize this
diagnostic filter to separate out the important pests from the mere
curiosities. It is also essential to not yield to temptation: when you
do not know the cause of the declining ashes, don’t point to leaves
with ash anthracnose as if that is the answer.
Which brings us to an important realization. Although insects,
mites and diseases are certainly problems of trees, I would maintain
that the vast majority of tree problems are not caused by pests.
Environmental and cultural factors such as soil drainage, improper
siting in terms of sun and wind exposure, construction damage,
storm damage, improper pruning, drought, winter injury: these are
at least seven deadly sins in terms of tree health. Everyone wants
a “squirt-gun botany” solution to plant problems, but when you spray
a fungicide on fungal canker you have missed the point – the canker
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
17
 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
is there because the tree is stressed, often by root problems. Not
only will you not control the canker fungus (which is already into
the plant tissue), you are not really even attacking the true problem.
Even in diagnostic clinics where most samples are sent in as
suspected pest and disease problems, the majority of problems are
due to cultural and environmental factors instead. As good arborists,
working with trees over the years, this comes as no surprise.
A final word on diagnostic perspective: if you do not constantly work
at it you will lose that perspective. If you focus on only one symptom,
if you always look for the easy answer like an identifiable leaf-
spot when the real problem is root decline, if you diagnose tree
decline by simply asking if the customer has a lawncare service –
you will not only be wrong most of the time, you will also soon lose
the ability to even know what you are seeing. And if you constantly
blame others in the green industry unfairly by saying they some-
how did it by applying pesticides, or planting improperly or pruning
like butchers, when for example the real problem is weather-related
or soil-related you will lose more than your perspective. You will
lose respect, referrals, and revenues.
Rule #5: Timing is everything.
One of the challenges of diagnosis is properly factoring time into
the equation. Large, older trees that decline five years after a new
subdivision is put in are often dying from soil compaction by
construction equipment, changes in soil grade which bury root
systems, and outright root destruction by trenching. Unfortunately
for those who wish for a simple world, these trees do not typically
fall overnight from this abuse. They factor out this stress over a
period of years. When smaller leaves, poor leaf coloration and scorch,
branch dieback, borer insects, canker diseases, and tree death
arrive the tendency is to blame the borers and cankers, the last
person working on the property, the new factory in town, sunspots,
global warming, higher salaries for baseball players, whatever.
Anything but the real cause, which may be far removed in time.
Rarely does a customer want to hear about the role of these earlier
stresses, about the role of droughts of seasons’ past, about the fact
that a tree has been declining for years rather than “up and dying”
overnight. Nevertheless it is so often true. Try to be proactive by
keeping records and informing customers of pre-existing conditions
once you start maintaining their trees. Set proper expectations of the
success of your practices based on a clearheaded estimate of
tree health and the underlying history of the plants you will maintain.
Estimate if tree health is declining by measuring annual growth
increments using the bud scale scars.
18
Another aspect of diagnosis and timing relates to treatment
recommendations. The time to do something about borers is often
before the borers are finishing off the tree. A pine tree with a
massive borer infestation and half the needles brown is not a
good candidate for borer control treatments: it is probably already
too late. A hawthorn with cedar quince rust in July will not be helped
by fungicide applications at that time. Treatments must be made
the next year, before the rust fungus arrives from the alternate host,
junipers, not after the infections already occurred. A plant that is
seriously overwatered during establishment may have developed
so much root decline and root rot that it is too late for recovery even
if the overwatering is stopped. Diagnosis of the problem is only
the first step to correction – sometimes diagnosis helps only with
correcting the problem in future years or with future plantings.
Finally, when diagnosing, TAKE YOUR TIME. Everyone wants an
instant answer, and there is always someone around wiling to
give one. However, step back, look for the pattern of damage,
assemble the symptom profile, factor in what might have happened
on the planting site in the past, and ask as many questions as
possible (“oh, by the way, this tree was transplanted when it was
twenty years old,” or “this area was underwater for two weeks
after the hurricane” shed a different light on things). You will save
yourself a lot of embarrassing and costly moments by being patient
and thorough.
Rule #6: Nothing is sure-fire.
In the end, there are new things under the sun. The best
diagnosticians, the best horticulturists, learn every time they go
onto a landscape. There are always new things to learn about
plants. Diagnosis is both an art and a science. There are the
occasional gimmes, but more often than not your diagnoses will
not be proven or certain. A more reasonable goal is to arrive at
the best evaluation of cause and effect from what is almost always
incomplete information.
 GRADUATE STUDENT CORNER
ANETA STUDZINSKA
I was born in Boleslawiec, a small town located in the south-
western part of Poland. Boleslawiec has a good reputation as
one of the most beautiful towns in Lower Silesia. It is situated
between two rivers – the Bobr and Kwisa, which roll their waters
amidst the biggest forest complex in this part of Poland, called
Lower Silesian Coniferous Forests. The history of Boleslawiec
dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Silesian tribe of
Bobrzanie settled down on the left bank of the Bobr River. In 1251,
the town received a foundation charter.
I stayed in Boleslawiec until I was 19. After I graduated from
high school, I moved to Wroclaw to continue my education at The
Agricultural University. Agricultural University of Wroclaw (AUW),
a well-recognized scientific and educational centre, is the only
agricultural university in the south-west region of Poland. It
employs about 1,500 people, (160 full and associate professors)
and offers a wide range of degree courses in agriculture and
related areas for full and part-time students (11,000). The
heritage of the Agricultural University of Wroclaw is deeply rooted
in the traditions of two institutions founded in Lvov (Ukraine):
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of Lvov Polytechnic in
Dublany and the Veterinary School of Medicine, founded in 1881.
During my studies I enriched my knowledge and gained
experience working for Botanical Garden in Wroclaw (one of the
most famous gardens in Poland) and landscaping company in
my home town. I was also traveling a lot. In 2003 I came to
the United States as a participant of “Work and Travel” program.
I spent four great months sharing my time between New York
and Chicago, cities where my friends and family live.
In 2004 I graduated from the Department of Agriculture at The
Agricultural University of Wroclaw with a Degree of Bachelor in
Landscape Planning and Masters Degree in Agriculture. During
my studies I was especially interested in turfgrass so I wrote my
Master’s thesis on quality of turf on the soccer fields.
Before I left my University I found out about The Ohio State
University International Internship Program that was establish-
ed in 1979 to organize internships for students and recent
graduates. I applied for the internship in turf and shortly there-
after I found myself in The United States.
I did my internship at The Broadmoor Golf Courses in Colorado
Springs where, working with some of the best people in the
industry, I gained my first experience in golf course maintenance.
After my nine months of practical training at The Broadmoor
I was enrolled for Winter Quarter at the Ohio State University to
improve my professional knowledge in turf science. After the
Winter Quarter was completed I decided to continue my intern-
ship. The OSU program gave me a fantastic opportunity to do
my internship at the Ohio State University. A few months ago
I started my training in the Department of Horticulture and
Crop Science where the next four months I will work with
Dr. Danneberger and Pam Sherratt as a student research
assistant. I will be involved in field studies at The OSU
Turfgrass Research Center, like: Poa annua seed control, green
speed studies or evaluation of turfgrasses for sport fields.
19
 NEW
GROWTH &
TECHNOLOGY
Beneficial Ground Beetles in Turf –
a New Perspective
Dave Shetlar, Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State University and
Sophie Rochefort, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada
Introduction
As part of a large research project investigating the influences
of turfgrass management levels and overseeding of endophytic
grasses into existing stands of turf, several indicator arthropod
groups were also intensively surveyed. Springtails (order
Collembola) are considered to be rather ubiquitous arthropods that
have been shown to be sensitive to environmental disturbances.
Ground beetles (order Coleoptera, family Carabidae), as generalist
predatory insects, are also commonly surveyed in forest and
agricultural ecosystem studies.
In our studies (located in or around Quebec City, Canada), two types
of lawns were sampled over three seasons to determine the seasonal
abundance of ground beetles. One site consisted of a new Kentucky
bluegrass lawn established using turfgrass sod. In this lawn,
broadleaf weed cover was 2% or less. The other site was a 10-year-
old municipal lawn that consisted of 30% Kentucky bluegrass, 20%
fine and tall fescues and 4% bentgrass. Over 40% of the rest of the
lawn was covered by broadleaf weeds, mainly dandelion, chickweed,
white clover and black medic.
Plastic cups with an ethylene glycol solution were inserted into
the turf to serve as pitfall traps. Two pitfall traps, placed in five
subplot replicates, were used at each site. The contents of these
traps were collected each week during the growing season (from
mid-May through mid-November in Quebec), labeled and returned
to the laboratory for identification and tallying.
Ground Beetle Abundance
Over the three seasons, the total number of ground beetles recovered
from the municipal lawn was 1,763 beetles while only 297 beetles
20
were recovered from the sodded lawn. This represents a six-fold
difference in numbers! However, the “species richness” (a common-
ly used measure of biological diversity; basically the number
of different species found in a defined area) for the two sites
was quite similar. In the sodded lawn, 9, 10 and 11 species were
collected in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively; while, in the
municipal lawn, 12, 13 and 15 species were collected in the same
years. Since 17 different species were recovered from both sites,
it is obvious that some species did not occur in both locations (one
not in common from the sodded lawn, and four not in common from
the municipal lawn). Close inspection of the numbers of the
species not found at both sites reveals that these were found in
very low numbers and my not be actual residents of these sites,
but occasional transients.
It also appeared that the species richness steadily increased in
the sodded lawn, but remained relatively stable in the municipal
lawn. If we remove the suspected transient species, the species
richness is virtually the same though the numbers of beetles
trapped is obviously different.
Upon looking closely at the individual species, it soon becomes
evident that the greater abundance found at the municipal site
is actually due to one species, Amara aenea! This species
accounted for 31% of the beetles found from the municipal site,
but only 12% of those recovered from the sodded site. This beetle
is found across northeastern North America and Europe and is a
commonly recovered inhabitant of open grasslands and sandy soils.
The adults are considered to be herbivores with a general preference
for weed seeds, though the adults will make a meal of other insects
when the opportunity arises. In one study, this beetle was shown
to prefer dandelion seeds as their primary food source, and this
was the major weed found in the municipal plots!

Beneficial Ground Beetles – Is there a dual benefit?

Most general books dealing with turfgrass insects openly state that
ground beetles are beneficial predators. There are several studies
that have shown that ground beetles are excellent predators of
turf-infesting caterpillars and their eggs. Others have indicated that
there may be some ground beetle predation on other turf pests,
such as white grubs and billbugs. However, it is evident from our
studies, that many of the ground beetles found in turf habitats are Ground beetle larvae are very elongate and usually move rapidly.
The larvae may be predaceous on other insects or they may feed on
primarily herbivorous, or general omnivores (feeding on both plant germinating plant seeds.
and insect food).

This can be illustrated by looking at additional species of ground

beetles found in our studies. At the municipal site, Bembidion
minimus and Dyschirius brevispinus were the second and third most
abundant species, 21% and 19%, respectively. Both are known
carnivores, so if we combine them, we get 31% herbivorous and
40% carnivorous species as representing over 70% of the total
populations. The most common species found in the sodded plots
was Harpalus rufipes which is also known to have larvae that are
primarily seed feeders. If we combine H. rufipes and A. aenea from
the sodded plots, we end up with 42% of the three most common Ground beetle adults are usually black or shades of brown, but some
are iridescent green or blue.
beetles being herbivorous!

It appears that our general textbooks are only partially correct!

While ground beetles should be respected and conserved for their
insect predatory behavior, they may also be important in reducing
the weed seed bank load.

We commonly get small ground beetles sent in from golf course

superintendents who are concerned about finding large numbers
of the beetles running across their golf greens. In fact, some of the
superintendents state that they have sprayed with the idea in mind
that these beetles must be up to no good! Many of the submitted A relative of the seed-corn beetle occasionally digs into golf greens,
beetles turn out to be some of the phytophagous species and they throwing up tiny mounds of soil. These beetles are likely looking for
were probably running about in search of plant seeds. Most of these places to lay eggs where their larvae will feed on germinating seeds.

submissions occur in the spring and early summer, after annual

bluegrass seed formation. Huummm??!! Now, we have even more
questions about what these beetles are doing. Perhaps they are being
dually good by helping remove weed seeds as well as insect pests!

This ground beetle is a relative of the seed-corn beetle which feeds

on germinating crop seeds.

21
 IN AN ATTEMPT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT OF THE OSU TURFGRASS SCIENCE PROGRAM, EACH EDITION OF OTF TURFNEWS WILL FEATURE
A NEW SECTION ENTITLED “OSU TURFGRASS SCIENCE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS.” WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS NEW ADDITION TO THE OTF TURFNEWS!”

The Ohio State University Turfgrass Science Program

2005 – TEACHING & ADVISING
The mission of The Ohio State University Turfgrass Science Program is to investigate, synthesize, and disseminate
knowledge on turfgrass science to students, consumers, and professional clientele throughout Ohio and
the nation. Through these efforts, the functional uses, environmental benefits, and aesthetic values of turfgrass
will contribute to further enhancement of the quality of life for society. The OSU Turfgrass Science Team strives to maintain
national and international excellence by providing leadership in teaching, research and extension-outreach education.

FACULTY AND EXTENSION PROGRAM SPECIALISTS OF
THE OSU TURFGRASS SCIENCE PROGRAM
Dr. Mike Boehm (Department of Plant Pathology)
Dr. T. Karl Danneberger (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)
Dr. David S. Gardner (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)
Dr. Parwinder S. Grewal (Department of Entomology)
Dr. Ed McCoy (School of Environment and Natural Resources)
Joseph W. Rimelspach (Department of Plant Pathology)
Pamela J Sherratt (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)
Dr. David J. Shetlar (Department of Entomology)
Dr. John R. Street (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)
Dr. Daniel C. Voltz (Agricultural Technical Institute)
David A. Willoughby (Agricultural Technical Institute)
• OSU Turfgrass Science professors taught 31 courses
to over 500 students.
• OSU Turfgrass Science professors advised 118 under
graduate students majoring in Entomology, Plant
Health Management and Turfgrass Science.
• OSU Turfgrass Science Majors interested in sports
turf management successfully completed intern-
ships with the Columbus Crew, Cincinnati Reds,
Boston Red Sox, OSU Stadium and the Jacksonville
Jaguars.
• OSU Turfgrass Science professors advised 25
graduate students and 6 postdoctoral researchers
and visiting scientists.
• There were 87 Turfgrass Science Majors enrolled
in the four-year OSU Turfgrass Science Program
at the beginning of Autumn Quarter 2005.
• The Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
at OSU received approval to launch a new major
called the Professional Golf Management Major.
The OSU PGM Major combines the academic requirements of
OSU with the golf business knowledge and golf aptitude expect-
ations. The PGM Major will be offered starting Autumn Quarter
2006 and will be the first of its kind in Ohio. Although students
can enroll in the PGM Major immediately, the program must still
be reviewed and accredited by the Professional Golfers’
Association of America. This important step will enable OSU PGM
graduates to become eligible for membership in the PGA of
America. Students entering the first year of the OSU program
will be placed in a “Pre-PGM” Major until the PGA approves
the program.
• Ohio State ATI ranks #1 in nation in awarding of
associate degrees in agriculture and related sciences.
Once again, Ohio State ATI has been ranked #1 in the U.S. by
Community College Week in the awarding of associate degrees
in agriculture and related sciences. Using the most recent data
from the U.S. Department of Education, Community College
Week identified the top 100 associate degree producers among
two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Since
Community College Week began publishing its Top 100 list in
1993, Ohio State ATI has consistently ranked either first or
second and has held the number one spot since 2001.

• Upon graduating with his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology,

Young-Ki Jo was hired as a postdoctoral researcher
in, Department of Plant Pathology, University of
Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

22
 A little goes a long way.

Now there’s a fairway fungicide that protects against all major turf diseases.
What’s better, it offers a low 0.75 oz fairway rate for control of dollar spot
and brown patch. New Headway™ fungicide’s dual mode of action provides
complete systemic protection, so the whole course can have the full
protection it needs.

Contact your Syngenta representative to learn more:

Northern Ohio: Adam Neate 614-570-7240
Central & Southern Ohio: Gregg Schaner 614-402-3701

www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com
Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using this product. ©2006 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional Products, Greensboro, NC 27419.
Headway™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
 1100-H Brandywine Blvd
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OTF Board of Trustees 2006 OTF Officers 2006 OSU Turfgrass

Science Team
Trustees President
Term Expires 2007 Horticulture & Crop Science
Glen Pottenger, CGCS
Joe Enciso Larch Tree Golf Course
Dr. John Street
Century Equipment
Vice President Dr. Karl Danneberger
Randy Shaver Dr. David Gardner
Strategic Golf Alliance, Inc. Mark Jordan Ms. Pamela Sherratt
Westfield Companies Country Club Ms. Jill Taylor
Trustees Ms. Deborah Holdren
Treasurer
Term Expires 2008
Entomology
Todd Voss
Doug Gallant
Double Eagle Club Dr. Dave Shetlar
Cincinnati Reds
Dr. Parwinder Grewal
Immediate Past President Mr. Kevin Power
Trustees
Term Expires 2009 Dr. Chuck Darrah Mr. Dan Digman
CLC LABS
Mark Grunkemeyer Plant Pathology
Buckeye Ecocare
Director of Education Dr. Michael Boehm
Kim Kellogg Dr. John R. Street Mr. Joseph Rimelspach
Grasshopper Property Maint. The Ohio State University Mr. Todd Hicks

Don Lawrence Executive Director School of Natural Resources

Red Hawk Run G.C.
Kevin Thompson Dr. Ed McCoy
Dan Walter OTF/Offinger Management Co. Mr. Stephen Schneider
City of Blue Ash
Agricultural Technical
Institute (ATI)
Mr. David Willoughby
Dr. Daniel Voltz
1500/0606/061