MLP OnSite @ Lueders Companies a Success
Mike and Connie Lueders hosted MLP ’ s first member company tour on July 14 at their facility in Medfield , MA . The mood was energized as members enjoyed reconnecting on a beautiful summer evening . The Lueders designed and built their new facility about five years ago . They shared their objectives including the labor-saving efficiencies and systems that informed many of their decisions . The Lueders Companies ’ team led tours of the impressive operation and answered in-depth questions from the crowd .
“ After all the cleaning and tidying up in preparation for the tour , our team was very happy to host the event . It gave them all a fresh perspective on where they work ,” said Mike Lueders , MCLP . “ It was an excellent experience for our company .”
Many thanks to Mike , Connie , and the entire team at the Lueders Companies for launching what promises to be a valuable new opportunity for MLP members . Check out more photos on MLP ’ s Facebook page . If you ’ re interested in hosting an MLP OnSite Tour , please contact the MLP office . ❖
TURF CARE ( continued from p . 6 )
In addition to direct low temperature kill , keep an eye out for other potentially damaging agents in the ‘ winter injury complex ’:
◆ Frost damage – Frost can in some cases be lethal to seedlings , but it is less common that frost alone causes lasting damage to mature turfgrass plants . A notable exception is when traffic ( foot , equipment , vehicle ) occurs on frosted turf . The compression drives the frost crystals into cells , rapidly killing tissue . Even if crowns are not directly affected , frost injury can destroy frozen shoots and leave crowns more exposed and vulnerable to other stresses . Visible frost injury caused in the fall will often be apparent throughout the winter until growth resumes in the spring .
◆ Desiccation is caused by excessive drying of plants from dry air and winter winds . Moisture is driven from vital tissues and is not replaced as a result of dormant plants and frozen soils , resulting in plants that do not recover when growth resumes in the spring . Desiccation is especially common during ‘ open ’ winters or due to other factors that leave turf exposed for lengths of time .
◆ Critter damage – Voles are the most common culprit . Winters with lasting snow cover provide voles with protection from predators , frequently resulting in damage to turf areas and woody plantings .
◆ Low temperature diseases , particularly snow molds , which are fungi that can grow and thrive despite cold temperatures . Often exacerbated by available moisture , higher N levels going into winter , and extended snow cover . While snow molds can be lethal on intensively managed turf such as that on golf courses , they are typically a temporary , superficial nuisance on lawns and grounds .
◆ Ice damage – this injury is caused by lack of sufficient gas exchange when ice cover is present on turf for long periods ( typically > 60 days ). Can be widespread and incredibly damaging under the wrong mix of weather conditions .
◆ Mechanical damage and heaving – Physical surface disruption from either natural frost heaving or snow removal operations . Can necessitate extensive springtime repairs .
◆ Salt damage – De-icing salts that contact turf areas can impact plant growth in several ways : by affecting the ability of plants to able to absorb water from the soil , by alteration of physical soil structure , by competition with desirable nutrients in terms of root uptake , or simply by direct toxicity from some critical level of undesirable salts .
MLP Newsline | Fall 2021 7