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2o/o.2S'FMANJBOARD OF
DIRECTORSPresident.. Eleanora Murfift
Vice President............ John SalisburyGarden State Sports Turf
Secretary.. . Fred CastenschioldStorr Tractor Company
Treasurer.. Dean MarzoccaDean's Lawn & Landscape
DIRECTCIRSJim Gavigan, CSFM - Lesco Inc.
Dr. James Murphy - Rutgers University
Dr. John Grande - Rutgers Snyder Research
Bud Perdun - North Brunswick School
Jim Hermann - Total Control Inc.
Tom Torpey - Township of Monroe Parks
Gene Huntington - Duke Farms
Advisor..... ..Dr. Henry IndykTurfGon GSI Gonsultants, Inc.
"SFMANJ Update" Newslefter Co --editorsJim Hermann & Eleanora Murfitt
MISSION STATEMENTCommitted to enhancing the professionalism of athleticfield managers in New Jersey by improving the safety,playability and appearance of athletic fields at all levels
through seminars, field days, publications and"networking'with those in the sports turf industry.
STMA - 1 {00-323-3875 - www.sportsturfmanager.com
"Welcome New SFMANJ Members"Our membership is growing fast. Currently we have 219
members. lf you haven't renewed your membership pleasecall (908) 236-9118 in order to continue receiving thisnewsletter.
Dennis
James
Steve
Alan
Dave
Gerald
Eric
David
Tom
James
Marty
James
Thomas
Maft
Eugene
Harold S
John
Thomas
Robert
Jack
Thomas
Frank
Anderson
Bailey
Blehl
Barcheski
Coleman
Colloncini
Hammerdahl
lson
LaRowe
Maher
Matula
Messina
Minue
Moore
Peer
Pierce
Shannon
Torpey
Weaver
Warner
Williams
Zabawa
Delaware Valley Regional HS
Township of Holmdel DPW
Environmental Renewal, LLC
City of Perth Amboy
Raritan Twp Public Works
Manalapan/Englishtown Board of Ed
School District Of Chatham
City of Paterson
Township of Delaware
City of Paterson
Delaware Valley Regional HS
Landscape Plus
Township of Holmdel DPW
West Deptford Recreation
Montville Township
Winslow Twp Board of Ed
West Deptford Board of Ed
Township of Monroe Parks
City of Paterson
Freehold Township Parks & Rec
Twp of East Brunswick
Mercer County Park Commission
DROUGHT UPDATEDEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell has been
holding "meet the Public' meetings to discuss the droughtemergency. The state has been divided into six multi-county regions for drought management and each regionhas been having one of these meetings with thecommissioner and Drought Coordinator Dennis Hart.Campbell said it is highly unlikely there will be any changesin the current restrictions before the end of the summer,regardless of rainfall improvement. The DEP re-visits theadministrative order at the end of June. For updates,consult the DEP website at www.njdrought.org or calltheir hotline at 1-800-448-7379.
(This Week in Farm bureau, June 8, 02, www.njfb.org)
Count on it.
Toro lrrigationAthletic Field Specialists
For sa/es and design asslsfance, contact:Storr Tractor Co. Phila. Turf Co.Art Elmers Rich Toleno908-722-9830 267-266-0389
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey July/August 2002 [email protected]
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' lfurfg ras s Sp e cies anl S oit C onfrtiarc Afft tt I dg ation R9 quiremzn*'by Dr. James A. Murphy, Special ist in Turfgrass Management
I'RUTGERS GORNER''
Many factors influence the water requirements to growturfgrass. A healthy, high-quality turf may need up to 13/tinches of water per week to keep it growing vigorouslyunder hot, dry, windy summer conditions. This total waterrequirement includes both rainfall and irrigation. Turfgrasswill require much less water when the weather is cool orcloudy. Turfs that produce a deep root system will requireless frequent irrigation than a shallower rooted turf. Inmany cases, rooting is limited by poor soil conditions andsubsequently such turfs require more frequent inigation toproduce healthy vigorous growth and an acceptable playingsurface.
Turf-type tall fescue will require less frequent irrigationthan Kentucky bluegrass, if it can grow a deep root system.ln many cases, however, tall fescue rooting is limited bypoor soil conditions and, subsequently, such turfs requireas much watering as Kentucky bluegrass to look good andmaintain healthy vigorous growth. Perennial ryegrass willtypically have poorer drought tolerance than tall fescue andKentucky bluegrass.
Turf, or any plant, should be irrigated in a manner thatapplies enough water to moisten as much of the root zone aspossible. A soil probe can be used to determine what theaverage rooting depth is in a turfed area lawn. lf the rootsgrow down to 6 inches deep, irrigate to moisten the soil to thatdepth.
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey 3
ln addition to rooting (soil) depth, the quantity of water toapply is also a function of the soil's texture, organic mattercontent, structure, and bulk density. Examples of the effect ofsoil texture on soil water availability are provided in Table 1.From Table 1, it is evident that the amount of irrigation waterapplied in a single event is predicated on the soil's ability tohold water. Sands typically can only be irrigated with a % toTz inch of water at a time, whereas a silt loam can have 1/" ormore of water applied in a single irrigation event (providedthat the water is not applied too intensely resulting in runoff).
Continued on next page.
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Continued from page 2 "Rutgers Corner"
Table 1. Available soil water for various soils.
Soil TextureAvailableSoil Waterinchesfoot of depth0.51.01.52.O2.52.0
r
SandsLoamy SandsSandy LoamsLoamsSift and Clay LoamsClays
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l; EmRlover.
Adding organic matter (e.9., peat, compost) to soil willincrease the water holding capacity of a soil. Unfortunately,the structure of a soil is often destroyed during earthmovingoperations and typically creates a very high soil bulkdensity. High bulk density soils will not only suffer frompoor water infiltration but also low soil water availability.Thus, turf grown on soil damaged by compaction will beextremely prone to drought stress because it dries out veryquickly. To improve your ability to conserve water, devoteconsiderable effort to loosening (cultivating) any soil that iscompacted during earthmoving operations. Cultivation withan agricultural subsoiler, chisel plow and discing equipmentprior to establishing a turf will greatly improve the capacityof the soil to avoid drought problems (high frequency ofinigation) after establishment. A
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
RUTGERSJuly 31 - Rutgers Landscape Turf Field Day,
Adelphia Plant Science Research Station, Adelphia, NJ.(Leam about the research on tuff grasses to improve yourtufl.
August 1 - Golf & Fine Turf Research Hort.Farm ll- Ryder's Lane, North Brunswick, NJFor information call: Bea Devine (732) 821-7134 or DickCaton (856) 853-5973 or (732) 932-971 1 ext. 135.Pesticide Recertification Gredits Offered On Both Days
SFMANJAugust 8 - Field Day at Bernards Twp's Harry
Dunham Park, a day loaded with equipment demos, fiveways to attack your goal mouths, writing specs,maintenance programs and more. 8:00am to 3pm. Flierswere mailed in June. Call Eleanor at 908-236-9118 for info.
NEW JERSEY RECREATION & PARKS ASSOC.September 25 - Skatepark Risk Management
Workshop - 9:00 am to 1:00 pmRed HillActivity Center, Middletown, NJContact: NJRPA at (732) 568-1270Registration: $80.00 NJRPA member, $100.00 non memberNEW JERSEY TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
December 10-12 - New Jersey Turf andLandscape Expo 2002 , Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ.(Athletic Field Educaflonal Sesslons begin Wed., Dec.1lfrom 4pm to 6pm. & Thurs. Dec. 12 from 10am to 3:30pmwith annual SFMANJ meeting at 1pm, Thursday).
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey
O rga n i zati o n I I n sti t uti on..Additional member from facility.....$2o
I Co^-erciallContractorlVendorlsupplier......-.---.$gS I
I aaAnional memher from company.,...$25
|
, Sfudent.......,......,, ..........,,$1O I_ STMA Members deduct $1O for first applicant .I Sena with Check or voucher to I
SFMANJP.O. Box 37O
Annandale, NJ O88O1
Did you know? lf you store your stringtrimming line in a bucket of water it will remainsofter, less brittle and will last longer.
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Bemie WhiteSales Reptes€ntagve
Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.888€l l -O891 V mai l -Ext . I14201-931-1730 Fax9734OG0525 Pager 19 Central Boulqr'ardsalesowiffredrnacdona{d.com South Fla*ensack Nj 07606
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July/August 2002 [email protected]
,.GIVE IT WHAT IT NEEDS'''Sefection of topfressing fuIateriafs'by Jim Hermann
The following information is based on practical experience(some good, some bad) and a great deal of research. lt is oneperson's opinion offered as food for thought and does not promotethe use of any specific produds or materials. lt should be pointed outthat there are exceptions to the principles and situations discussedthat go beyond the scope and complexity of this article. This artideis directed to the Public Works departments, Parks departments andall thme whose job it is to maintain native soil fields, many of whichare heavy textured, problem fields. The intent is to bring attention tosome of the considerations necessary when selecting a topdressingmaterial. lt should be mentioned that there are very few absolutes inthis or any other area of athletic field management.
In order to have a successful topdressing program, it isnecessary to have an understanding of a few very basic physicalproperties of soil.
Soil is made up of sand, silt and clay (physical analysis). Theproportion of each is what determines the coarseness or fineness(texture) of a soil.
New Jersey soils can vary from very fine, heavy texturedclayey soils to very coarse, light textured sandy soils, depending onthe location. Therefore if the same topdressing material is used ondifferent locations it may have different results. Maybe good, maybenot so good.
Soil is divided into 12 different classifications based on texture.The lower the corresponding number, the heavier and finer thetexture.
These classifications are:
A principle to remember; water will move from a @arsertextured soil to a finer textured soil more readily than the otherway around, providing there is adequate pore space between theparticles. For this reason, always try to topdress with a materialthat has the same or coarser texture than the existing root zoneof your field (coarser is befter, within limits). Always seek theadvice of an agronomist or turf consultant when selecting atopdressing material.
When using any material to modify an existing root zone,adequate cultivation is necessary to insure proper incorporationof the material. The more a topdressing material varies from theexisting root zone in relation to its texture classification andphysical properties, the more cultivation is typically needed.
Without adequate cultivation there remains a very realpotential for layering in the soil. Anytime there is a layer createdin the soil, the interface between the layers will have the potentialto negatively effect hydraulic conductivity, root penetration andeven air and gas exchange characteristics of the soil.
PurposeBefore you can determine the proper topdressing material to
use, you must first determine why you are topdressing. What areyou attempting to accomplish? A few reasons for topdressingare:r Modification of existing root zone
. lncreasecontact
o Increase water conduclivityo Increase organic matter contento Increase tiltho Increase (Cat ion Exchange Capacity)success rate of renovation thru imoroved soil seed
. Smooth a rough uneven surface Continued on next page.
1- Clay2. Silty Clay3. Sandy Clay4. Clay Loam5. Silty Clay Loam6. Sandy Clay Loam
7. Loam8. Silt Loam9. Sandy Loam
10. si l t1 1. Loamy Sand12. Sand
Note: The number assigned to each classification is used solely forthe purpose of understanding and clarification and is not auniversally accepted means of classification.
It is important to know the texture of the soil in your root zone.A physical analysis of your soil will give you this information. Mostsoil testing laboratories provide this service.
Water movementIt is a generally accepted fact that water will permeate sand
faster than it will permeate clay. You will notice clay and sand are atopposite ends of the soil texture list. Sand is coarse or light texturedand clay is fine or heavy textured. Keeping this in mind, you c€rnassume water will infiltrate sandy loam (#9) faster than silty clayloam, under most conditions (#5). Likewise silt (#10) usually has ahigher percolation rate (hydraulic conductivity) than loam (#7).Hydraulic conductivity is a term used to describe the ability of a soilto transmit water. (Natural Turf for Sports and Amenity, Adams andGibbs 1994).
It should be mentioned that in addition to the proportions ofsand, silt and clay in a soil, the coarseness or fineness of the sandportion, (it's particle size distribution or sieve analysis) also has aneffect on the physical properties and water conductivity) of a specificclassification of soil.
Example: A medium size sand with a relatively consistentparticle size (lower gradation index) usually has a higher rate ofhydraulic conductivity than a material containing a more diverseblend of coarse, medium and fine particles, (higher gradation index)such as quarry screenings. As you are probably well aware, quarryscreenings can pack like concrete. This is due to the highergradation index or broad range of particle size distribution.
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Root zone ModificationThere are as many reasons to modify a root zone as there are
soil classifications and growing conditions. Two common materialsused to modify a root zone are organic matter (in the form ofcompost) and sand. Caution must be practiced with either material.
In certain situations, sand can be used to ensure that theplaying surface is smooth and firm under wet conditions. lt does notimprove drainage unless cultivation and topdressing reach a soildepth below the surface that has improved water percolation. lfimproved drainage is the prime focus of your topdressing program'be sure there is somewhere for the water to go. Be sure there is anoutlet. Another approach to improve drainage is to combine sand-based topdressing with verticallslit drains.
The use of sand as a topdressing material should not bejustified merely because it is an inexpensive material. A heavytextured soil requires a tremendous amount of sand' applied over aperiod of years to have a positive effect on hydraulic conductivityand that's if there is an outlet.
It is important to understand the physical characteristics (sieve
analysis & gradation index) of the sand you are using. A steadysupply of a uniform material, which conforms to very specificguideiines, should be consistently available. Variations in materialuniformity can void the success of the most well planned program.An agronomist can best prescribe these specifications.
Leaf compost is being used more and more to topdress athleticfields. Production by private and public recycling plants alike hasmade it a widely available material. lt is sometimes blended withfine sand and sold as organic topsoil. The benefit to incorporatingcompost into the root zone is realized through the addition of organicmatter.
The addition of organic matter can provide a number of benefits.In a light sandy soil, organic matter can be of benefit by increasingthe ability of the soil to retain moisture. This would be classified asan increase in "field capacit/. Field capacity is the upper limit ofwater storage in a field layer after excess water has drained throughdue to gravity. This increase can maximize irrigation efficiency.
The incorporation of organic matter into a soil adds essentialplant nutrients. Depending on the source of the organic matter, this"fertilizer effect" can be substantial and could replace one or moreapplications in a fertilization program. Organic matter can alsoincrease the ability of a soil to retain nutrients. This increase isknown as an increase in CEC (cation exchange capacity) Thisincrease is not usually necessary with heavy textured clay soils butmay be of benefit in sandy soils. Note that it takes a tremendousamount of organic matter to increase soil CEC. Thus, in mostsituations, the benefit of incorporating organic matter is more a resultof increased water retention and nutrient addition, than increase inCEC.
The addition of organic matter can decrease the compactivetendencies of a soil and over time help to improve the soil structure(tilth) of a heavy textured soil. Tilth can be associated with the soft,fluffy texture of a well-maintained garden soil. A lack of tilth can beassociated with the hard clumpy soil of a goalmouth. The benefits oforganic matter can be realized in all areas of an athletic field butmore noticeably in high traffic areas where existing soil structure hasbeen destroyed.
Once soil structure is destroyed the ability of the soil to drainand maintain turf cover is severely compromised. The result is aweed-infested area of high compaction. A major cause of thisdestruction is playing games in wet waterlogged conditions wherethe soil is actually smeared under the stress of heavy foot traffic.
Materials similar to leaf compost are sewage sludge and spentmushroom compost. These materials are much the same as leaf
compost in that they have high organic content but many havethe added benefit of higher nutrient availability and therefore thepotential for a greater "fertilizer effect".
As with any topdressing material, care must be taken whenacquiring and applying compost. A quality compost materialshould be composted for at least a year prior to purchase and beproperly screened to eliminate all twigs and debris- lt shouldshow no resemblance to its original components and have aclean earthy odor.
The results of a compost analysis report should berequested prior to purchase. These results should supply aminimum of pH, % organic matter, soluble salt levels, heavymetal levels and the Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Also includedwith these lest results, should be a reference made to theacceptable levels of soluble salts and heavy metals. lf it is ablended material it should carry a physical (sand, silt, clay)analysis and have a texture classification such as loamy sand'sandy loam etc. A chemical analysis is also useful in determiningthe potential "fertilizer effec{" of a topdressing material-
The C:N ratio is used as a barometer to measure the levelof decomposition and should be less than 30:1. Higher C:Nratios can cause nitrogen supplies in the soil to becometemporarily unavailable to the turf until the C:N ratio is reducedthrough further decomposition. This can have a negative effecton turf quality.
After acquiring a compost material, a test should be done byyour soil-testing laboratory to insure conformity to the compostanalysis. Continued on next page...
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Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey July/August 2002 [email protected]
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With compost materials, as with any other topdressingmaterial, care must be taken to provide adequate cultivation inconjunction with the topdressing procedure. As was stated earlier,the more a topdressing material differs from the existing root zone,the more cultivation is necessary to blend the two materials. Thisis done to minimize the effects of layering. Applying highly organiccompost to a mineral based soil such as is the predominant soil inNJ, brings with it the risk of layering. lf adequate cultivation is notprovided, this risk can become greater with each subsequentapplication. In this particular situation more is not necessarilybetter. An anaerobic organic layer (black layer) in the soil is apotentially devastating problem on athletic fields
TimingCultivation in conjunction with topdressing should be
accomplished during times of the year when there is adequatemoisture available, the turf is actively growing and is in a positionto repair itself. With cool season turf such as Kentucky bluegrass,perennial rye and tall fescue, spring and fall typically represent theoptimum conditions for topdressing and aerification. Topdressingmaterials with high organic matter content such as straightcompost materials should not be applied when there areinadequate moisture levels or when there is the potential fordrought stress. These materials have the ability to rob the turf ofavailable moisture when moisture is in limited supply.
Core AerificationCore aerification is generally the recommended means of
cultivation with any topdressing application. Multiple passes donein different directions are typically recommended. Again, theintensity of the aerification procedure is governed by the extent oftexture variation between the topdressing material and the root
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey
zone. When root zone modification or turf renovation is theintent of a topdressing application, multiple passes to provide acoring pattern of a maximum distance between core holes of 2"and at a depth of 2" to 3" is recommended. The application oftopdressing should be accomplished prior to core aerification.The cores, along with the topdressing should be dragged intothe core holes using a drag mat at the completion of theprocedure. lf a more rapid change in the surface conditions isdesired, the soil cores can be removed after aerification; in thiscase it would be appropriate to topdress after soil cores areremoved.
Where severe soil structure damage has orcurred such asin goalmouths, it is sometimes necessary to till the area in aneffort to blend the topdressing material with the damaged soiland create an adequate seedbed.
Be wary of over-cultivating with the rototiller style ofequipment, especially if the soil is to dry. Rototiller stylecultivators can actually destroy existing soil structure bypulverizing the soil into a fine grainy (dusty) material if overused. As with most soil cultivation procedures, the soil shouldbe moist enough to hold its shape after being clenched in yourfist but dry enough to crumble if rubbed between your thumband forefinger.
Smoothing RoughnessIt is not uncommon among sports field managers and
contractors alike to incorporate topdressing into a renovationproject. Topdressing can not only smooth and thereforeimprove the topography of a field, but also improve soil seedcontact, which is critical to the success of an athletic fieldrenovation'
continued on next page...
Jqly/August 2002 [email protected]
When renovating an athletic field, itis recommended that a material verysimilar to the existing root zone be usedfor the purpose of filling holes anddepressions. Once an acceptablecontour is achieved. a material thatprovides the objectives of a desiredroot zone modification program can beused.
Example:A soccer field was renovated that
consisted of a heavy textured loam rootzone. The center portion of the fieldwas approximately 50% turf cover. Thegoalmouths and center circle wereextremely depressed, along with thecoaches and players. Years of abuseand inadequate maintenance hadproduced a very compacted soil withseverely compromised soil structure.
It was August of "99", the year ofthe drought. The core aerator wouldn'tpenetrate the ground 1/2". For thisreason the field was aeravated twiceover using a solid tine vibratingaeravator. After which it wastopdressed with 100 cu. Yds. ofscreened topsoil, taking care to addadditional topsoil in the holes anddepressions. The objective of this partof the renovation procedure was tosmooth the field. The screened topsoilwas very similar in texture to theoriginal root zone.
Screened, mineral based nativetopsoil, available at many landscapesupply companies, is one of the mostdifficult products to control consistencyand quality. Every load has thepotential to be different. lt can comefrom many different locations before itreaches the retail supply company.
We found a supply company thathad only one topsoil supplier. Hisproduct looked to be fairly consistentfrom month to month and the randomtests we had done were acceptable tous.
Once the field was smooth wetopdressed with an additional 50 yards(114"\ of 60/40 mushroom compost,sand based toosoil blend that wasclassified as a sandy loam. Thismaterial was a somewhat lighter(coarser) textured material than thescreened topsoil used to smooth thefield. This particular material wascomposted for three years, which gaveit physical characteristics more typicalof soil than compost. lt was alsovapamed; a treatment which, Iunderstand, kills unwanted seeds.lf you are working with a limitedamount of topdressing, once you havesmoothed the major depressions and
wear areas, always start topdressing in the middle ofthe field, up one side of the centerline and down theother side, working your way out to the sidelines. Inthis way, if you run out of material, ifs typically in anarea of lesser need. With heavier applications applyat half rate and work the same way, from the middleof the field to the sidelines and then back starting inthe middle again. The more severely damagedareas down the middle will receive the mosttopdressing.
The field was seeded using the aeravatorequipped with a seed box calibrated at half rate. Weaeravated and seeded twice over which helped toincorporate the 60/40-compost blend with the base.The field was then dragged with an infield drag matto further aid in soil seed contact and smooth thefield.
Topdressing Thru Core AerificationThe most economical means of topdressing a
field is through core aerification. By pulling coresand depositing them on the surface, you aretopdressing your field with a material that is 100%compatible. lf you core aerate to an average depthof 2.25" with Y+" tines and mainlain a maximumdistance of 2" between holes you will bring up theequivalent of /o" cover of material over the entirearea. On an average size soccer field this is approx.58 cubic yards. lf you figure the cost of atopdressing material, this is a very cost effectiveprocedure.
ln most situations topdressing should beviewed as a discretionary tool available to theathletic field manager. When used properly, itcan provide beneficial results which, in certainsituations, could not otherwise be achieved aseffectively. The cost of these benefits must bejustified when compared to all other availableoptions. A
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Order from our website at www.sfmanj.orgto receive your discount, just use the linkfor books or call {d34 4754411. Don'lforget to say you read it in "SFMANJUpdate".
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Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey July/August 2002 [email protected]
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Storc Tractor CornpanyDistributors of Quality Turf Equipment & Irrigation
Supplies & Senrices
Serwing the Industry Since L945
A Prcud Distributor of Toro Products
3L9l Route 22Somenrille, New Jersey
908-72%9830
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey I July/August 2002 [email protected]
..WHITE GRUB MANAGEMENT IN ATHLETIC FIELD TURF''cBiafogy of tfre wfrite gru6 compfe4 by Dr. Albrecht M. Koppenhoferl
In the northeastem USA, a complex of primarilyintroduced white grub species are the most widespread anddestructive turfgrass insect pests. Until recenfly, theJapanese beetle (Popillia japonica) was regarded as thekey species, but surveys have indicated that the orientalbeetle, lExomala (=Anomala) oientalisl has become themost important white grub species in New Jersey and someneighboring areas. Thus, the average white grub speciescomposition in New Jersey home lawns in fall 2001 (5counties, 61 sites, primarily central NJ) was 63% orientalbeetfe, 14oi Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea),9o/onorthern masked chafer (Cyclocephala borealis), 8o/oJapanese beetle, 4o/o MaylJune beetle (Phyllophaga spp.),and 2o/o green June beetle (Cotinis nlfrda) (Koppenh6fer etal. unpublished data). Another species, the Europeanchafer (Rhizotrogus majalis) is the major low maintenanceturfgrass pest north and west of New Jersey and may bemore common in northwestern counties of New Jersey.However, it is important to keep in mind that speciescomposition can vary considerably among sites.
Different white grub species can vary significantly insusceptibility to different control agents. Therefore properspecies identification can be critical. The safest way toidentify white grub species in the larval stage is to examinethe raster pattem just in front of the anal slit on the grub'sunderside (Figure 1, see insert). ldentification is the easiestwhen the grubs are 3'o instar larvae but at this point, thedamage is often already done or impending. Therefore,identification should be done when grub populations arebeing monitored to determine whether curative treatmentsare necessary, i.e., in mid August.
Although the general life cycle of the important whitegrub species is very similar, the egg{aying period (majortarget for preventive treatments) and accordingly theoccurrence of the voracious 3'o larval stage can vary by afew weeks among species; another reason for obtainingknowledge about the prevalent species in a turf site. Adultbeetles emerge between June and August, mate, and thefemales return into the soil to lay eggs (total of about 20-60)in several batches over a period of 2-4 weeks. The eggstage, 1s larval stage, and 2nd larval stage each last about 3weeks so that through September most of the grubs willmolt to the 3'0 and last larval stage. As the soiltemperatures cool down in October, the grubs move todeeper soil layers to stay below the frost line to overwinter.During this time most species are more or less inactive. Asthe soiltemperatures warm up in spring, the grubs come upto the root zone to feed for another 4-6 weeks in April andMay before they pupate in the soil.
Signs of infestationWhite grubs damage turf by chewing off roots close to
the soil surface. The voracious feeding of the larger late 2ndstage and 3'0 stage grubs, when combined with hot and dryconditions, can result in quick and extensive loss of turffrom late August through mid-October. All cool-season andmany warm-season grasses are susceptible to white grubs.
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey 10
Being alert to the signs and symptoms of white grubinfestations will help avoid unexpected loss. Early signs ofa white grub infestation include gradual thinning, yellowing,wilting in spite of adequate soil moisture, and theappearance of scattered, irregular dead patches. Thepatches grow and may join together until large turf areasare affected. Due to the grubs' tunneling activity, infestedturf feels spongy underfoot and can be pulled up easi[,exposing the C-shaped white grubs. Secondary, oftenmore severe, damage can be caused by vertebratepredators (e.9., crows, skunks, raccoons), that tear up theturf to feed on the grubs.
Early detection, sampling and monitoring, damagethresholds
Mid- to late August, when the grubs are primarily 2ndinstars, is the time to monitor for potentially damaging whitegrub populations. The only way to accurately determine thepresence of white grubs is through examining the upper 3-4" of soil under the turf. Most conveniently turf/soil plugsare sampled with a standard golf course hole cutter (4.25"diam - 0.1 ft'). More tedious is the use of an oversizedhole cutter (6" diam - 0.2 f( "turf mender'') or cutting asquare-foot sample with a flat-blade spade. The plugs canbe broken up and examined on the spot (preferably on atray). To improve sample survival, split the soil end of thesample first into halves and then quarters and smallerpieces to reveal the grubs that typically will occur near thethatch-soil interface. Record the number, species (checkraster pattern with a hand lens), and life stages on a datasheet or map. Place the soil back in the hole and replacethe sod cap. lrrigate to promote turf recovery especiallywhen dry. Because white grub populations have a patchydistribution, several samples should be taken in a gridpattern. Rarely does an entire turf area require treatment.
To save time and effort, sampling can be concentratedon suspected infestation areas, high risk or low toleranceareas, or areas with a history of grub infestations. lfhistorical information is not available and/or a moreaccurate idea of grub distributions is necessary,
Continued on next page - -
sher )11c.'lll
Randy Rider902-24e-$848
Earthworks . Lebanon . Grlgg Bros.
July/August 2002 [email protected]
