Turf talk

Whether maintaining a simple green yard, an extra-lush lawn or the sports field of your dreams, professional help is available

Douglas Karcher summarizes research into the effects of different types of shoe spikes on golf courses during the University of Arkansas’ biannual Turfgass Field Day in 2016 at the Agricultural Research Center in Fayetteville.  Douglas Karcher summarizes research into the effects of different types of shoe spikes on golf courses during the University of Arkansas’ biannual Turfgass Field Day in 2016 at the Agricultural Research Center in Fayetteville.
Douglas Karcher summarizes research into the effects of different types of shoe spikes on golf courses during the University of Arkansas’ biannual Turfgass Field Day in 2016 at the Agricultural Research Center in Fayetteville. Douglas Karcher summarizes research into the effects of different types of shoe spikes on golf courses during the University of Arkansas’ biannual Turfgass Field Day in 2016 at the Agricultural Research Center in Fayetteville.

Temperatures are up and we are seeing less rain, so it's not so appealing to spend time outside in the garden. Nonetheless, some gardening tasks require weekly attention, and one of them is tending your lawn.

Some gardeners want a perfectly manicured, weed-free and lush green lawn to showcase their flower and shrub gardens. Others just want something green they can walk or play on. Regardless of your preference, lawn grasses require some care.

Depending on the quality of the lawn you want, that care level can vary. Weekly mowing during the growing season is required regardless of what other maintenance you do, but for turf to do its best, water, fertilization and weed control are added into the mix.

Some homeowners do all the work themselves, while others hire a service to do the mowing, fertilizing and spraying. If you are doing the work yourself, the University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture Extension website has many good resources, from lawn care calendars for each of the grasses grown in Arkansas to fertilization tips, mowing and advice on general maintenance. See uaex.edu/yard-garden/lawns.

There are also many companies across the state that maintain and manicure lawns.

For turfgrass professionals -- and interested homeowners -- the University of Arkansas will host a Turfgrass Field Day in Fayetteville at the Agricultural Research Center on July 25 (a Wednesday).

The field day is an opportunity to hear the latest information about new products and research studies. Professionals can network with others in the turf industry, and everyone can visit with vendors at the trade show.

The cost to attend the field day is $80, which includes breakfast, a hat, program, lunch and, for commercial pesticide applicators, pesticide recertification (if desired). A registration discount is given to companies or organizations that register multiple attendees.

The information offered at the field day not only applies to lawn care, there also are divisions for athletic- or sports-field maintenance and golf-course maintenance. On the program are drone demonstrations and demos of a Fraze mower, Trimax mower and Z-spray. Other topics include the following:

• Using super-oxygenated irrigation water

• Prairies, native grasses and pollinators

• Fraze mowing for bermuda grass control

• Wetting agents and surface firmness

• Water conservation irrigation technologies and buffalograss

• Water effects on fungicides and turfgrass diagnostics

• Fungicide programs for bent-grass greens

• Diseases of bermuda grass sports fields

The tentative agenda and a link to online preregistration are at arkansasonline.com/61618turf.

Registration is also available onsite, beginning at 7:30 a.m. July 25, but meals, hats and programs are only guaranteed for those who pre-register.

TURFGRASS PROS

Another gathering of interest to the lawn-care professional is held by the Arkansas Turfgrass Association (arkansasturf.org), which is dedicated to providing education and a network for those in the turfgrass industry.

Membership in this organization is included in the fee to attend an annual two-day educational conference and trade show every January at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The 2019 conference will be Jan. 10-11.

After the UA Field Day, which is held every other year, this conference is the best source of turfgrass education in Arkansas.

It includes a strong educational program with some of the leading industry authorities as speakers. This is where you go to get the most up-to-date and relevant research and recommendations for the turfgrass industry.

In addition to the educational seminars, there is also a trade show and, for those who need pesticide recertification, that is available, too.

General sessions cover all areas of the turfgrass industry, with breakout sessions geared specifically to lawns, athletic fields and golf courses.

OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD

Two years ago, the association added an awards program to recognize companies and people who are making a difference in the industry across our state. There are three divisions for the awards -- lawn, sports field and golf course.

In the lawn care area there are two awards -- the ATA Turf Site of the Year for Commercial or Residential Site. To qualify, a site must be at least 2 years old and under the continuous care of the entrant for at least two years. The two categories are:

• Under 10,000 square feet, and

• 10,000 square feet and above.

People who maintain sports fields can compete for ATA Field of the Year. Fields must be 2 years old or older and under the continuous care of the entrant for at least two years.

Sports complexes can be entered as one entry, and could be football, soccer, baseball or softball fields.

The third award is the ATA Golf Course of the Year, which is awarded to a private/resort or public/municipal golf course.

All the guidelines entering are at: arkansasturf.org/awards. Applications for these awards will be accepted through Oct. 31; winners will be recognized at the annual conference in January. In 2017 the winners were:

2017 Turf Site of the Year under 10,000 square feet: Better Lawns and Gardens (David Munsey, Little Rock).

2017 Turf Site of the Year over 10,000 square feet: Ace of Blades (Josh Landreth, Springdale).

2017 Field of the Year: Conway Parks & Recreation (Trey Price).

2017 Golf Course of the Year: Hot Springs Country Club (Trey Rutledge).

For many homeowners the only thought they give their turf is the weekly time they spend mowing it, but for many in our state, turf is big business.

It is a growing industry, and there is a great deal of research ongoing to determine best practices to maintain home lawns, commercial lawns, sports fields and golf courses.

Luckily for those in the industry there are some great resources to help them do their jobs well.

YOUNG BLADES

For students deciding on a field of study, there is a turfgrass degree program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The horticulture department's Mike Richardson and Doug Karcher lead this program. Students learn cutting-edge techniques and all about turfgrass management in a hands-on learning environment.

For more information on this program, contact the horticulture department at (479) 575-2603 or visit the website horticulture.uark.edu Look under "Research & Extension" for "Turfgrass Science."

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

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Lawn

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette/JANET B. CARSON

Dan Sandor, a doctoral student when he spoke to the 2016 Turfgass Field Day, explains how irrigation technology such as soil moisture sensors and rain sensors conserve water without sacrificing turf quality, and can pay for themselves within a growing season.

HomeStyle on 06/16/2018

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