As our predominate grass species, annual bluegrass produces a relatively moderate amount of thatch.

From URI website - Thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of living and dead stems, leaves and roots which accumulates between the layer of actively-growing grass and the soil underneath.

Between most of our courts is bentgrass and this species produces lots of thatch. 

Courts 13-15 were just dethatched.  The top picture shows them yellowing where the thatch in the bentgrass has been agressively removed.  The bottom picture is courts 15-18, one week after thatch removal.  It was just as yellow as courts 13-15 - but within a week it looks almost fully recovered from the aggressive treatment.

Two Pics

The first picture is a spot on the terrace which we covered with plywood most times we sprayed fungicide this summer.  A good way to exhibit the need and effectiveness of our fungicide program.

The second picture has four different colors of grass.  The foreground on court 17 is Poa annua with medium green color.  Next between court 17 & 18 is bentgrass with it's coarser leafblades looking a little lighter.  Then court 18 with it's dark green ryegrass.  Finally the embankment which is yellow and dead.  It is being overseeded with ryegrass and the lads in the picture are digging a trench for some irrigation.

USTA Tournament

A successfull day two of the national men's 85 and 90's.

Verticutting

Verticutting courts 13-15 early before the USTA Men's 85 and 90's begin on courts 1-12.

It is aeration season at LCC.  Below is a link on choice and timing of court aeration.
 Click on this sentence for a blog entry on when LCC aerates.

Boston Pro Tennis League Final

2012 Grounds Crew Classic

The 2012 Grounds Crew Classic was held on grass courts 1-4. Team Larry vs Team Magnus.  Some superb tennis was played by the lads with special guests John Gallagher, Tom Babson, Kevin Dodge, Steve Dean and Tom Ford. 

The festivities began with Magnus singing the Sweedish national anthem followed by our own Neil Johnson belting out the Star Spangled Banner. 

After some hard fought matches and a six point penalty on Tom Ford for having an illegal raquet, the tournament ended in a tie.

Larry Wolf won the prestigious Charlie Bartlett Sportsmanship Award and Neil Johnson won the Magnus Nicklasson Most Improved Player Trophy.  Thanks to all for a fun afternoon!

 

Challenges

August is usually the most challenging month for maintaining annual bluegrass (this is the predominant species of grass on the courts) and this year is no exception.  Hot and humid weather along with Mother Nature's endless quest to utilize the grass for its own uses means lots of stress on the grass.  Today's pictures show some of the challenges.

 Dollar spot fungus - Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Court 7

 Annual bluegrass weevil larvae - thinning of the turf

Court 16

 Drought / wilt

Court 14 

Wear from lots of play

Court 8

USTA Father/Daughter Final

The American Phytopathological Society is having their annual meeting in Providence, RI this week.  The conference covers all sorts of plants including turfgrass.  On Saturday some of the attendees took a field trip and visited LCC.



A short slideshow showing some of the early morning work of the crew before the Father/Daughter USTA Championship.  All pictures are between 5 and 6 am.

• Mowing the grass
• Taking down all the tennis nets and moving the net posts for mowing
• Watering the grass
• Marking the grass
• Trash
• Brush all the clay courts
• Water coolers
• Water clay courts

UMass Field Day

Andrew, Jeff and Mike attended the University of Massachusetts Turfgrass Field Day.  Some of the research projects that were discussed are seen below.

Dr DaCosta on water requirements of different bentgrasses.  In the background is an automated shelter that closes when rain begins - that way they can control all the water that is applied to the different types of grasses.

 Dr Ebdon on the testing of 88 new varieties of perennial ryegrass.  The unique part of this trial is that he is looking at both turf quality and wear tolerance.  The yellow weakened turf is where he has applied wear with a machine to simulate lots of traffic.  The varieties that can withstand wear are an important trait for grass used on tennis courts!

 Dr Bhomik explaining his trials on a new product that controls Poa annua.



A constructed wetland that is used for washing equipment.  The water is cleaned by native plants.

USGA Update

WSJ, August 3, 2012

Checking root depth on court18 (ryegrass) compared to the other courts (Poa annua).