TurfNet TV - Latest Video is Live...

In my latest ONCOURSETurf video production for TurfNet.com I discuss a unique tool I came across to help with spray head maintenance. Spray heads, (pop ups) are becoming the norm for bunker surrounds. Keeping the surrounds in great shape will increase the longevity of the bunker itself. This tool is simple and easy to use. It can certainly be a big help with the maintenance of those bunker spray zones. To view the video click HERE As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor www.tantoirrigation.com

TurfNet TV....Latest Video is Live

In my latest ONCOURSETurf video production for TurfNet.com I discuss a photo/video tip I learned years ago that has helped me get better photos and video for many years. It's simple and easy to do and the results can be great. It involves just getting up off of ground level for that great shot. To view the video click HERE As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor www.tantoirrigation.com

TurfNet TV...Latest Video is Live

In my latest ONCOURSETurf video production for TurfNet.com I highlight an idea I picked up while on the agronomic team at Medinah Country Club setting up for the BMW Championships. This idea solves a unique problem while rolling greens and being unable to see your previous pass line. The use of simple snow stakes as guides makes it much easier to get rolling perfect. To view the video click HERE As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor www.tantoirrigation.com

TurfNet TV - Video

In this TurfNet.com video, I take a break from the golf course and talk about personal health. As agronomists we track so much data about the golf course, but do we know enough about our own personal data. Monitoring your blood pressure can be one of the most important things you can do....and it's easy. I explain in this video, to view click HERE As always thanks to my supporting sponsor tantoirrigation.com

Sweet Heart Winery Project.....

I was extremely excited when the owner of Sweetheart Winery in Loveland, Colorado, first contacted me concerning some agronomic consulting of the property.  Having been to the winery on a few occasions, I really loved their grounds. I always looked at the lawn areas thinking they could be something really special with the correct agronomic program.

After a meeting and walk-around with the owner, I was hired to do the exact thing I had thought about - come up with an agronomic plan for the property! So, I went to work on the perfect plan.  When you work as an agronomic consultant, there aren’t many times when someone tells you to do whatever it takes to get turf areas where they need to be. Starting with a blank canvas is always a good way to start. 

The winery sits on the Big Thompson River and is a very environmentally sensitive area.  In 2013, the river flooded and caused some major issues. The river restoration was just completing in the area at the time of my involvement with the property. Knowing the entire situation, the owner requested the use of an organic fertilizer source. It didn’t take me long to realize that one of my favorite fertilizers, Milorganite, would be my choice for this project. Milorganite is a natural slow-release fertilizer that I had used for some 35 years during my career as a golf course superintendent, and always was the mainstay of my nutritional program. Being a natural slow-release, Milorganite would offer the characteristics we would need. With the Big Thompson River flowing along the property, we wanted to protect the water quality and have no leaching of nutrients into the water. With the nitrogen in Milorganite, I knew there would be no leaching. We also wanted to build the soil structure and I knew that with the nitrogen from Milorganite, soil microorganisms would start to proliferate during the breakdown of the nitrogen. This would help build soil health quickly. With the winery only being open for two years, with minimal professional turf management, building long-term soil health was a goal of mine for the property. The iron in Milorganite would also be a big plus, as we could get some instant greening of the turf. Even though the use of Milorganite would be the mainstay of the overall fertility plan, there were other items to address as well.

The Winery is located on the Big Thompson River.

Although the property was not that old, the irrigation system certainly needed to have an audit performed. No matter what the nutritional plan was, if the irrigation coverage wasn’t good, the turf health would be the same. So, I performed a complete audit of the system. This audit identified many fix-its which would make the system perform more efficiently. Items such as crooked heads, broken/clogged nozzles, minor leaks, and programming were all evaluated and fixed. Once the irrigation was working well, I new we were ready to get the turf in great shape.

With the turf condition very thin and weak, I decided to also include a small amount of urea (0.25#/N/M) as a jump-start for the turf. I also incorporated some humic acid as part of the nutrient program. I have now termed the program “The Hybrid Method” which means a small amount of synthetic plus a larger fraction of organic.

There was one more item to address at the winery and that was watering. The owner had asked me to do whatever we could to save on the water bill. Domestic water in Colorado is very expensive, so anything would be helpful. Colorado also experiences some very consistent dry weather with very low relative humidity. It’s not uncommon to have ET (evapotranspiration) rates run as high as 0.35” + per day. So, I knew that there was no doubting the fact that the use of a wetting agent would make perfect sense for these issues. Although there are many manufacturers’ claims of what wetting agents do, the research tells us there are two definite benefits - they reduce surface tension and produce better soil moisture uniformity. Needless to say, I decided to incorporate a wetting agent as part of the overall management plan.

Before Photo.

At six weeks after irrigation audit and product applications.

I’m very pleased to say the results have been truly fantastic. The grounds at the winery have improved tremendously since the initial applications.  Going forward,  I believe regular Milorganite and wetting agent applications will be the backbone of turfgrass health at the Sweetheart Winery. Stay tuned to the blog for future updates.

TurfNet TV....Latest Video is Live...

My latest ONCOURSETurf video production for TurfNet.com is live. In this video I discuss a tool I made many years ago that can help with course set-up plugs. I show how this tool can help lower plugs that aren't level enough on the green surface. Whether it's just minor or more severe, this tool can help. View HERE. As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor, Tanto Irrigation.

TurfNet TV - Latest Video is Live...

My latest ONCOURSETurf video production for TurfNet.com is live. In this video, Jordan McCormick, superintendent at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland, Colorado shares his Custom Tool Roof Rack idea with me. A great idea, take a look, view HERE. Thanks for watching and enjoy!

TurfNet TV - Latest Video is Live.......

My latest video for TurfNet.com is live. This video is a follow-up to my previous video, the first ONCOURSE Turf Quiz. In this video I give the answers to the Turf Quiz. Check it out and see how you did. The quiz was a collection of just some of the issues I've seen in my travels over the past couple of years. Hope you had fun with it, because that's what it's all about. View HERE. As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor, Tanto Irrigation.

TurfNet TV - Latest Video is Live....

My latest video for TurfNet.com is live. In this video it's all about having a little fun with the first ever ONCOURSE Turf Quiz. This quiz is a collection of just some of the issues I've seen in my travels over the past couple of years. Have fun with it, test your staff, and send it around. Good luck! View HERE As always, thanks to my supporting sponsor, Tanto Irrigation

TurfNet TV - Latest Video....

My latest video for TurfNet.com is live. In this video I discuss the importance of having either a great supply house for fuses or keeping an extra set in stock. A few days at the wrong time of year can make a big difference if your pump station goes down. Be prepared. View HERE as always, thanks to my supporting sponsor, Tanto Irrigation