I'll never forget the first time that I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn play. I can't. Because way before I ever saw him, I heard him. A friend who was a friend of a friend who was a roadie for The Police swore up and down that he could get us backstage at the small club where SRV was playing. He didn't quite have that kind of pull, but we did get to hang around a back door during the sound check if we promised not to hassle anyone, namely Vaughn. What I heard was akin to four musical jet engines. At the
When the word Fungus is mentioned, Turfheads often run for the spray rig. Regardless if you want to talk pesticide free turf or not, there has to be a better discussion on Fungi and the resulting role in Humus development by being as key in decompositional shredding as strings on James Hetfield’s guitar.
The first stage in the development of Humus is called Catabolism. It isn’t the warm up act, it is part of a multi-billing. This process should be initiated by fungi and fungal bodies. In their
When the word Fungus is mentioned, Turfheads often run for the spray rig. Regardless if you want to talk pesticide free turf or not, there has to be a better discussion on Fungi and the resulting role in Humus development by being as key in decompositional shredding as strings on James Hetfield's guitar.
The first stage in the development of Humus is called Catabolism. It isn't the warm up act, it is part of a multi-billing. This process should be initiated by fungi and fungal bodies. In the
The Difference between Dirt and Soil has to do with this amazing word: Humus.
I love humus. I do. I spend time contemplating how it works, what it is about and how it affects everything that we do in soil management. So in my small brain, any discussion about what soils are and are not has to start (and end) with some kind of thought as to what does and does not happen to the Humus content in the soil.
Most of us will agree that soil is perhaps the most major natural resource that we are in
The Difference between Dirt and Soil has to do with this amazing word: Humus.
I love humus. I do. I spend time contemplating how it works, what it is about and how it affects everything that we do in soil management. So in my small brain, any discussion about what soils are and are not has to start (and end) with some kind of thought as to what does and does not happen to the Humus content in the soil.
Most of us will agree that soil is perhaps the most major natural resource that we ar
It’s time.
Recent forum discussions, people asking me and even Herr Peter have prompted me to get with it and talk about soils. I’m told that this is one of the things that people want to hear most from me. That’s nice.
My perspective comes from having the words Soil Consultant make my living, a zillion soil tests looked at, a half-zillion golf course visits and way way too many nights up late writing recommendations. I’ve been told that this perspective, while not unique, is valuable and pr
It's time. Recent forum discussions, people asking me and even Herr Peter have prompted me to get with it and talk about soils. I'm told that this is one of the things that people want to hear most from me. That's nice.
I think I've stayed pretty current and I think I understand that much of the so called controversy is just a way for someone or something to make waves and therefore get attention.
My perspective comes from having the words Soil Consultant make my living, a zillion soil test
California Turfheads need the education hours that our wonderful state government requires for being a Qualified Pesticide applicator. It’s not a stiff requirement, a few hours of Laws and Regs and a few more hours of “other”. I’ve just finished 3 days, in three different cities helping to put on what we call our “Last Chance” meetings. That’s right, you get it, it’s a “Last Chance” to get those continuing education hours. We build this program around giving suppliers and company representatives
California Turfheads need the education hours that our wonderful state government requires for being a Qualified Pesticide applicator. Its not a stiff requirement, a few hours of Laws and Regs and a few more hours of other. Ive just finished 3 days, in three different cities helping to put on what we call our Last Chance meetings. Thats right, you get it, its a Last Chance to get those continuing education hours. We build this program around giving suppliers and company representatives time slot
I’ve been a little quiet the last couple weeks…..
October was a blur of face melting insanity. If I told you how many hours I worked or how many miles I put on the vehicle, you’d never believe me. And I really don’t care to brag about it amidst a crowd of people that work a zillion hours themselves. Seems pointless. Let’s just say it was crazy busy and really, I like it that way. I don’t know how to do it any other way. Call it work ethic or call it not having a life, but either way, it’s me. 2
I've been a little quiet the last couple weeks..
October was a blur of face melting insanity. If I told you how many hours I worked or how many miles I put on the vehicle, you'd never believe me. And I really don't care to brag about it amidst a crowd of people that work a zillion hours themselves. Seems pointless. Let's just say it was crazy busy and really, I like it that way. I don't know how to do it any other way. Call it work ethic or call it not having a life, but either way, it's me.
Purpose. Pre. During. Post.
The entire subject of greens aerification is fraught with the very same issues that often make monkeys fly out of people’s butts. Go ahead, read it again. Keep trying. It will make sense eventually. Or not.
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve had some calls to come and look at greens that just didn’t come through fall aerification the way they were expected to. There are some common denominators that show when we do the diagnosis. If you are dealing with this, it mig
Purpose. Pre. During. Post.
The entire subject of greens aerification is fraught with the very same issues that often make monkeys fly out of people's butts. Go ahead, read it again. Keep trying. It will make sense eventually. Or not.
Over the last couple weeks, I've had some calls to come and look at greens that just didn't come through fall aerification the way they were expected to. There are some common denominators that show when we do the diagnosis. If you are dealing with this,
Agronomy, you monkeys! Agronomy!
One of the things that the “New Economy” is going to bring on is a whole bunch of talk about how to reduce inputs, irrigation, mowing and therefore $’s. Pretty simple and I love it. And I’m hearing a ton of golf course architects that aren’t building anything new suggesting that there are ways to save inputs by doing some creative design work. Love that too.
This week I was fortunate enough to do my quarterly (or so) visit with one of my favorite places, Clarem
Agronomy, you monkeys! Agronomy!
One of the things that the New Economy is going to bring on is a whole bunch of talk about how to reduce inputs, irrigation, mowing and therefore $'s. Pretty simple and I love it. And I'm hearing a ton of golf course architects that aren't building anything new suggesting that there are ways to save inputs by doing some creative design work. Love that too.
This week I was fortunate enough to do my quarterly (or so) visit with one of my favorite places, Clar
It didn’t take long. I figured it was going to happen within a couple days, but indeed it was really just a couple hours.
And as a human monkey (and a turfhead to boot), I’m prone to mistakes and even, yes… failure. So when a young (and amazing) superintendent whom I did some soil tests for early in the year wrote me an email today it made for a really good moment of introspective guilt. I don’t want to violate the confidence of personal email communication, but I think he might not mind if I p
It didn't take long. I figured it was going to happen within a couple days, but indeed it was really just a couple hours.
And as a human monkey (and a turfhead to boot), I'm prone to mistakes and even, yes failure. So when a young (and amazing) superintendent whom I did some soil tests for early in the year wrote me an email today it made for a really good moment of introspective guilt. I don't want to violate the confidence of personal email communication, but I think he might not mind if I
Today, this week and really… all month, I’ve been angry. No, actually, I’ve been pissed off. I usually have what I have come to call “Red October”, where at some point I have a meltdown of some sort of a series of Chernobyl like events that last until about Christmas.
Last week, I had a conversation with TurfNet’s Maestro (that’s Herr McCormick to you…) about the plusses and minuses of blogging a little more from my heart and soul and getting my daily experience into words. Great. So here you g
Today, this week and really all month, I've been angry. No, actually, I've been pissed off. I usually have what I have come to call "Red October", where at some point I have a meltdown of some sort of a series of Chernobyl like events that last until about Christmas.
Last week, I had a conversation with TurfNet's Maestro (that's Herr McCormick to you) about the plusses and minuses of blogging a little more from my heart and soul and getting my daily experience into words. Great. So here you
Superintendents amaze me sometimes at the way they lick their finger, put in in the air and declare the weather is, well, something. If that’s you, Captain Windfinger, then we have some work to do. Because in the world of plant growth there are critical decisions to make based on actual data.
I was on a site visit a few days back and when this kind of keen obervation began, I started to ask some questions. In this case I was asking about soil temperatures. “Oh, pretty cold”, was the scientific
Superintendents amaze me sometimes at the way they lick their finger, put in in the air and declare the weather is, well, something. If that's you, Captain Windfinger, then we have some work to do. Because in the world of plant growth there are critical decisions to make based on actual data.
I was on a site visit a few days back and when this kind of keen observation began, I started to ask some questions. In this case I was asking about soil temperatures. Oh, pretty cold, was the scientifi
Everybody wants seed! (and Bananas) It’s time to do some Agronomy.
This fall, no matter what climate you grow grass in, you are probably going to buy some seed. It’s actually one thing that cool- and warm season Turfheads have in common: generally there is some kind of fall overseeding on some kind of playing surface. And the reason is supposed to be the same, get better grasses going for short or long term gain. Simple. But leave it to us to make it into a snake pit.
Seed, in its innocent s
Everybody wants seed! (and Bananas) I's time to do some Agronomy.
This fall, no matter what climate you grow grass in, you are probably going to buy some seed. I's actually one thing that cool- and warm season Turfheads have in common: generally there is some kind of fall overseeding on some kind of playing surface. And the reason is supposed to be the same, get better grasses going for short or long term gain. Simple. But leave it to us to make it into a snake pit.
I see seed buyers maki
