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Have I inhaled too much PVC primer?

10 posts
  1. Casavant Gerry
    Casavant Gerry avatar
    9/9/2012 8:09 PM
    Not sure if I've inhaled too much PVC primer over the years, but a thought crossed my mind the other day. After the first sand topdressing on our young nursery green was swept in, we were left with several small pebbles & stones (we don't get the highest quality sands in our area) that had to be removed prior to the next mowing.I rolled these off the next morning with a backpack blower in the dew with two things in mind. Firstly the wet sand would not be displaced if done with enough care to just move the pebbles along (vs in the dry afternoon when the sand would tend to blow out) and Secondly, I saw this as an opportunity to remove the dew without dragging a hose or whip (which would rub the pebbles around) or have to apply unwanted water via a pass of irrigation (we are in a rainforest climate and water only when absolutely necessary)
    The epiphany I experienced that made me question my experiences with pvc primer though was when watching the young bentgrass "hold their ground" to the force of the blower. Just as trees are known to develop stronger and larger root systems from predominant winds, might grass also do the same & am I putting this turf through a positive physiological exercise regime?
    If this might have any merit, this may be a smart dew removal practice in my case ... or have I just inhaled too much primer?

    Gerry Casavant
    Prince Rupert Golf Course
    Prince Rupert BC
    Canada
    Earth



  2. Rosenthal Gregg
    Rosenthal Gregg avatar
    9/10/2012 5:09 PM
    Gerry,

    Deep infrequent irrigation makes roots go deep! Wind and blowing makes the leafs and debris go away! I know in Canada the smoking of some things are more legal than here in US so just be careful! LOL... As stated before be patient your roots will go deep over time as they search for nutrients and water, blowing them had nothing to do with it, mind games just make you go wild! Patience is a virtue, you just keep letting it grow and do as you are doing. Fertility, micronutrients, and deep watering will take care of business! As my Favorite band Little Feat sings Old Folks Boogie... Off our rockers acting crazy,when the mind makes a promise that the body cant fill! Do not get like that!

    Gregg



  3. Keith Pegg
    Keith Pegg avatar
    0 posts
    9/10/2012 5:09 PM
    Not sure but don't think it would help with roots but it does help with Fungus control and that is a good reason to blow. As for the primer I may just try myself, can't hurt.

    Keith



  4. Casavant Gerry
    Casavant Gerry avatar
    9/11/2012 7:09 AM
    Deep yes, but infrequent irrigation is but a "pipedream" in my climate ... re: Rainforest where precipitation is typically Light & Frequent. This is why we have poa annua as our predominate grass and have learned to live (see manage it) with it, and some struggle to grow bent. We don't have the luxury of irrigation control/management. Water management in our case relates more to drainage.
    Regards wind .. it also desiccates plants, and in turn encourages water uptake (via root activity, which may also encourage growth/strength) from the soil, which dries the soil (sort of like "drainage", but in reverse as we typically think of it).
    I still believe there may be merit in root strengthening from the stress imposed by this direct intense "wind" from the blower as trees respond to strong predominant winds. Plants, as living organisms and like humans, have natural defence mechanisms to stresses (like root growth in drought conditions ... deep infrequent irrigation being a management practice targeted to this response).
    Plants, like all living organisms, are subject to & respond to the old doctrine: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" ... Like inhaling primer? ... ( ;



  5. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    9/11/2012 2:09 PM
    Gregg Rosenthal said: Gerry,

    As stated before be patient your roots will go deep over time as they search for nutrients and water, blowing them had nothing to do with it, mind games just make you go wild! Patience is a virtue, you just keep letting it grow and do as you are doing.
    Gregg


    Physiologically that is not really what is happening. Roots do not have a brain and do not seek water. They do need water and oxygen to survive. Water logged soils do not provide adequate oxygen thus shallow rooting occurs. Deep and infrequent has to be frequent enough as to not to entirely desiccate the root zone. Cell division occurs in the presence of both adequate water and oxygen. It does not occur very well in water logged or drought stressed soils.



  6. Rosenthal Gregg
    Rosenthal Gregg avatar
    9/11/2012 5:09 PM
    I do agree with what you say, where drainage is an issue the USGA sand based green is the choice for sure! It is a proven base for good turf and drainage where too much water in the soil is an issue! As the reality of a sand based green is you are growing turf in the desert and must provide all of the nutrients! However you do control the water management very well in that condition! Soil based green the opposite may be the case, nutrients are there but drainage is poor and water management becomes the issue, too much and it is a wetland, too little and its the rock! The Sand based green is at least somewhat more consistent in its water use and control management! No absolute positive or negative resolution just lots of choices and ways to get it done, many methodologies and approaches! Each side has its own positivity and negativity! I have grown greens on all sides of the spectrum and love the challenge of it all! No right or wrong just the challenge! But I would always say drainage, drainage, drainage is key to maintaining a good green! JMO!

    Gregg



  7. Peter Bowman
    Peter Bowman avatar
    11 posts
    9/11/2012 6:09 PM
    Gregg Rosenthal said: I do agree with what you say, where drainage is an issue the USGA sand based green is the choice for sure! It is a proven base for good turf and drainage where too much water in the soil is an issue! As the reality of a sand based green is you are growing turf in the desert and must provide all of the nutrients! However you do control the water management very well in that condition! Soil based green the opposite may be the case, nutrients are there but drainage is poor and water management becomes the issue, too much and it is a wetland, too little and its the rock! The Sand based green is at least somewhat more consistent in its water use and control management! No absolute positive or negative resolution just lots of choices and ways to get it done, many methodologies and approaches! Each side has its own positivity and negativity! I have grown greens on all sides of the spectrum and love the challenge of it all! No right or wrong just the challenge! But I would always say drainage, drainage, drainage is key to maintaining a good green! JMO!

    Gregg


    Hey Gregg, just a quick question and not important at all....

    Does your computer automatically type an exclamation point every time you type a period?



  8. Rosenthal Gregg
    Rosenthal Gregg avatar
    9/11/2012 8:09 PM
    Almost every time...... but not quite! LOL Just enjoying life after surviving epilepsy and brain surgery!!! So a few exclamations may be expected, but not meant to overwhelm. If you had gone through what I did you would understand my pride and joy for everyday life.

    Gregg

    PS: Don't need to inhale any primer or drink any liquor as my medication does not allow it anyway!!!!! Just enjoying simple things in life! like a few exclamations.....



  9. Peter Bowman
    Peter Bowman avatar
    11 posts
    9/11/2012 8:09 PM
    That's what I thought.



  10. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    9/12/2012 6:09 AM
    Gregg Rosenthal said: I do agree with what you say, where drainage is an issue the USGA sand based green is the choice for sure! It is a proven base for good turf and drainage where too much water in the soil is an issue! As the reality of a sand based green is you are growing turf in the desert and must provide all of the nutrients! However you do control the water management very well in that condition! Soil based green the opposite may be the case, nutrients are there but drainage is poor and water management becomes the issue, too much and it is a wetland, too little and its the rock! The Sand based green is at least somewhat more consistent in its water use and control management! No absolute positive or negative resolution just lots of choices and ways to get it done, many methodologies and approaches! Each side has its own positivity and negativity! I have grown greens on all sides of the spectrum and love the challenge of it all! No right or wrong just the challenge! But I would always say drainage, drainage, drainage is key to maintaining a good green! JMO!

    Gregg


    I'm not saying deep and infrequent is not the way to go, just that roots do not "seek out" water and nutrients. They grow through cell division which must be in the presence of both water and oxygen, in the right balance. I guess it's just a semantic thing, except not knowing the difference can lead to guys putting the root zone under extreme drought stress trying to get roots to "chase" water.



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