In this issue:

As Fall is now here it is a great time to measure your infiltration rate with the Turf-Tec Infiltrometer. These Fall readings can then be compared to your Spring readings to determine how the green fared through the Winter, and also what types of aerification will be needed to bring the green back up to Fall infiltration standards. Remember when checking infiltration; be sure to use a moisture sensor. Moisture readings should be identical each time you use the Infiltrometer. This will insure that the next time you check infiltration, the readings will be easily comparable.

I surf the Internet a lot for information relating to turfgrass. In the past I would search for "Fairy Ring" and all my search engine would find was information on the "Tooth Fairy". If this sounds familiar, I wanted to pass along a very valuable (and free) program that I have come across. It is called Web Ferret and it is an actual program that you need to download off the Internet. It is only about one megabyte in size. What this program does it uses ten search engines at one time and returns you the first 500 matches! You can download this free program at the following address:

Well, the chemical companies continue making some pretty unbelievable claims and figuring out what they can stuff into a bottle next. As a Turf-Tec customer, I am sure you realize the importance of cultural turfgrass practices. There is nothing that will compensate for live, white grass roots growing in soil with good air exchange and a healthy microorganism population. To insure this occurs, be sure that you examine the soil profile with the new Mascaro Profile Sampler this Fall. This will insure that the air exchange is good and not building up those nasty anaerobic microorganisms that can persist over Winter and raise their ugly little heads in the Springtime (if you could see their heads). With a good handle on turfgrass soil culture, you will insure disease and insect resistant turf.

In February 16^th, 1922 issue of the "Bulletin Of Green Section Of The USGA" it states the following: "Grass roots and deep rooting. – All perennial grasses make a new set of roots each year, or in other words, the roots are annual. These roots extend vertically and fill the soil with their slender branches. The depth of which the roots extend depends in part on the kind of grass, but more on the character of the soil. Looseness, richness, and dryness in a soil tend to induce large root systems. Even in poor sand, grass has an enormous root system. On the other hand, compactness, poorness and dampness in a soil tend to restrict root development."

It is amazing how much we can still learn from the past.

*Copyright 1999