Tree Care Management

Due to herbicide injury on white pines and other conifers, the crew has had to re-think its tree care management plan.  Prior to this season, tree care was limited to the removal of dead limbs and contracted chemical applications when the need was greatest.  However, with over 150 white pines on the course all showing signs of chemical injury a more integrated approach of pest management and tree care is needed.  With input from certified arborists, professors of entomology at Michigan State and Arborjet Plant Health Solutions, a conclusive IPM and health care plan has been put into practice over the past week. 



Much Needed Irrigation



The first step was a simple one, in theory.  Large amounts of water from the irrigation system have been applied to stands of white pines around the course.  These stands are out of the irrigation sprinklers reach so quick couplers have been installed at necessary points to allow watering of these areas.  The past month has shown precious little rain making the need for irrigation even stronger on weakened trees. 

The dry months experienced by Michigan increases the amount of time the irrigation system is used, not only on tree stands but the course in its entirety.  Meadowbrook does not use municipal waters so whatever comes out of the wells is applied to the course.  The results of a water test have shown that the concentration of sodium bicarbonates is well above recommended levels, a definite cause for concern.  Bicarbonates destroy soil structure within the profile, compacting the ground.  Extended periods of no precipitation events will lead to a decrease in turf density, especially on fairways where the soils are namely silts and clay.  An acid injection system installed in the pump house will decrease the pH of the irrigation water, lowering the concentration of sodium bicarbonates. 

Mulch beds are an effective way of decreasing damage done to the tree by mechanical means (mowers and weed whips stripping the bark at the base of the tree).  Members have probably noted the appearance of several new, large mulch and pine needle beds around the course.  These beds cover areas where turf barely clings to life, making the stands more aesthetically pleasing.  Aesthetics is only a secondary benefit though, the main benefit being an alteration of soil types in these stands.  A heavy layer of chipped mulch is applied to the area first.  This large amount of carbon will increase microbial activity in the area, breaking down the mulch and adding organic matter to the soil profile.  Organic matter has excellent soil moisture and nutrient retention, making these more available to the white pines in the area.  Finally, pine straw covers the mulch adding to the aesthetic value and decreasing the weed pressure.  As pine straw decompose it slightly acidifies the soils beneath it, a tough environment for weeds to germinate or grow within.  300 yards of mulch have been applied to various new beds and over 2000 bales of pine straw have been placed on top. 



Devising a Tree IPM Strategy



Trees have feeling too.  Not emotions that people would recognize but they can be "stressed out".  When a tree is injured it gives off a pheromone that insects can sense, making that tree a beacon for insect feeding and habitation.  Numerous white pines on the course have the potential to become hotels for a variety of bark beetles and borers.  Worse, if only one tree in a stand is giving off the pheromone, the insect population attracted to the tree will spread to the other healthy trees around it.  To combat this problem, on the recommendations of our arborist, preventative measures have been taken.  Arborjet Plant Health Solutions sells equipment and chemical products for a means of insecticide application known as tree injection.  Tree injection applies chemicals directly into the vascular system of the tree, limiting the exposure of the harmful insecticide to the applicator and surrounding environment.  It also guarantees that a larger amount of product is taken up by the target tree (more so than a base drench, the alternative that relies heavily on root uptake).  This practice should nullify the amount of damage done by insects to already threatened white pines. 





Tree Injection



Many turf management professionals view trees as a hindrance, even a weed in some cases.  They can make maintaining a healthy stand of turf a nightmare (shade, root competition, leaf and needle drop).  However, with a tree population as old as Meadowbrooks, many of the white pines have stood for over 70 years.  They add a majestic quality to areas of the course and would be sorely missed, by member and crew alike, if it becomes necessary to remove them.  Remember to look up every once and a while, and enjoy. 









Irrigation Source

Members and guests see the pond off the 4th fairway as a variety of things.  An appeasing landscape fixture, a reminder to hit that second shot cleanly, a hotbed for wildlife gatherings.  To the superintendent and crew, it serves another vital function.  Our irrigation system draws all of its thousands of gallons of water from the pond.  Besides communication, irrigation is the most important tool a turf manager possesses. 
On an average night watering over 200,000 gallons of water are applied to the course.  The irrigation pond holds almost 3,000,000 gallons of water and if we only watered 15 times during the entire season, that amount would be sufficient.  Obviously that is not the case and the pond needs to be refilled.  We are lucky enough at MCC to have access to aquifers that more than supply our irrigation needs.  When the pond reaches a certain level, a sensor triggers the three wells (reaching over 60 feet deep) to start refilling.
The on-site water source definitely has it's advantage in terms of not having to pay a water utility.  However, municipal water is extensively treated and cleaned.  Drawing directly from the ground will not filter out any impurities.  The majority of these are harmless to turf, there is only one chemical that causes concern.  Sodium bicarbonates destroy soil structure, leaving it compacted and inhospitable for grass.  The levels in our irrigation water are significant and after extended use of the irrigation system, the turf and soil show signs of declining health.  Besides timely rain events, there is another solution to this issue.  An acid injection system in the pump house would alleviate this problem, breaking up the bicarbonates before the water is applied to the course.  The quality of the irrigation water is always a high concern, so chemical applications made around the pond are conducted with the utmost caution, especially when applying herbicides. 
As mentioned before, the irrigation system applies 200,000 gallons of water during a nightly watering.  The ability to move that much water does not come cheaply and to decrease the costs of power to the pump house, MCC utilizes a variable frequency drive that controls the number of pumps running (three 60 horsepower pumps) to provide the bare minimum of horsepower required.  The new software for the irrigation computer shortens the water window (amount of time necessary to irrigate) as well. 
Recently, the motor and the well pump had to be replaced.  The wells were only out of commission for a couple days but the crew has noted a marked drop in water level.  A timely inspection and repair was conducted by a well drilling and installation company and the pumps are back up and running, returning 4 pond to it's original level.   
To provide tournament type conditions requires an extensive irrigation system and a comprehensive knowledge of moisture management.  The goal of Meadowbrook Country Club has always been to provide these conditions on a day to day basis, making irrigation a vital aspect of turfgrass management.   

Spring Fertilization

As of a couple weeks ago, the turfgrass in the fairways and rough has consumed all the nitrogen and other nutrients the crew applied last fall and the grass is hungry.  On Monday, May 7th, we contracted a fertilization company to apply product to our fairways in their entirety, and over 40 acres of rough.  With the heavy rate applied, the fertilizer should supply the turfgrass with sufficient nutrients into the mid-summer months. 

Normally a 3-4 day process, contracting this practice out saved the crew numerous man hours and some rather back-breaking labor (manually loading and unloading over 9 tons of fertilizer).  The rough received a separate fertilizer than the fairways.  To provide extended nitrogen, the rough was fertilized with a slow release product that will satisfy turf needs deep into summer.  The following slide show depicts the fertilizing process from the loading of material and equipment, to actual spreading of the fertilizer.



Sand HAZARDS

Over the past week, the crew has focused on bunker quality and maintenance.  Besides grooming, the bunkers are edged every 2-3 weeks and constantly checked for drainage and other issues that would impede play from the sand.  This week specifically, the crew individually checked each bunker to make sure it met the requirements for the amount of sand required (4" in the middle and 2" on the flashing or sides).  Light areas were marked and new bunker sand was applied. 

The type of sand in a bunker is obviously important, sand particle shape in particular.  The more angular shape to each particle the firmer the sand will be, providing for less fried-egg lies.  At MCC we mix a generic sand type with a Pro-Angle sand (provides desirable whitish color) at a ratio of 3:1 respectfully.  Since the bunkers have been redone in 1984, we have seen little issues in regards to drainage and are happy with the consistency of them as a whole.  After extreme rain events there is some pooling but these events are limited.  With 75 tons of new sand already applied, and 25 more on the way, the crew should be able to complete the process within the week.  Enjoy the beaches.   

    

Tee Times for Turf

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is starting it's annual Tee Times for Turf benefit program, April 29th and runs through the 15th of May.  Golf courses around the midwest offer tee times that are placed on auction, with all the proceeds going to turfgrass research.  This is a great way to further the advancement of turfgrass knowledge and all donations are tax deductible.  There are excellent clubs offered this year and great deals are possible so please visit this link; Tee Times 4 Turf if you are interested in bidding or want more information.  Enjoy.

Compaction, Crumb Rubber and the Environment

Throughout the season, certain areas surrounding MCC's greens see constant traffic (walk-on walk-off areas).  Whether it be from golfer and caddie, crew and equipment or simply just carts that were not driven and parked on the cart path, the high traffic areas around the greens see a substantial decline in turf health and density as the season progresses. 

What can we do? Encircle the green with traffic stakes and rope? Re-sod every 2 weeks?  There are feasible solutions.  The root of the problem on these areas is compaction.  The soil losses all its structure and combined with summer heat, makes a poor environment for anything to grow in, even for species as tough as turfgrasses.  To alleviate the effects of compaction, the crew will, on occasion aerify these areas.  However, there is a recovery time involved with aerifying and weather conditions have to be taken into account as well.

The solution, or so we hope, comes in the form topdressing.  Michigan State University performed a study in 2008-09 that compared the effects of topdressing with various materials in regards to traffic.  The materials included variations of topdressing sand and crumb rubber.  Crumb rubber was not applied as heavily as sand but yielded the turf with the least amount of density loss.  Admittedly, crumb rubber is more expensive than sand but the area's we intend to utilize it on are not large. 

Not only does crumb rubber perform the best, it is produced from reused material.  Automotive and truck tires are taken from landfills and junkyards and during the recycling process steel and fluff are removed, leaving just tire rubber with a specific granular consistency.  Sound environmental practices like these are a necessity that the golfing industry will have to embrace in the very near future.  What better time to start than now? 



Crumb Rubber Topdressing



Sand Topdressing



Fairway Aerification

Is it May already? The turf thinks so and the time has come to aerify fairways.  While this process is a hindrance to golfers and an eye-sore to members, it is a necessary practice to ensure quality fairways throughout the summer months.

Fooled by the mild winter, the turf in the fairways has been growing and accumulating thatch quicker compared to a normal year.  Fairway aerification removes a percentage of this thatch, which will provide better surface drainage and a firmer playing surface. 

Along with thatch removal, aerification will alleviate some of our compaction issues.  The lack of frost and cold temperatures never allowed the ground to freeze, and moisture remained near the soil surface.  Traffic on saturated soils compacts the ground extremely quickly, resulting in poor turf density.  Compaction and saturated soils combine to form another problem.  Air movement is very limited under these conditions, but aerifying the fairways opens up channels for air exchange.  Poa roots are not equipped for total anaerobic conditions and this will allow the roots access to oxygen.

The weather has been perfect for fairway aerification and the crew has nearly completed the daunting task.  Recovery time might be slightly prolonged due to the cold night time temperatures but we expect excellent results.  Enjoy.