Murff Turf Farms Articles RSS Feed

Why Settle For Second Best?

Scott Murff — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:00:00 GMT

A shade tolerance study was done at Clemson University during 2005 and 2006 on 42 different bermudagrass cultivars and the results have just recently been released. Celebration ranked the highest in shade tolerance of the 42 cultivars tested!

The study was performed at the Clemson University greenhouse complex where two sets of the cultivars were grown, one in full sun for eight weeks and the other in 64% shade for eight weeks. At the end of the two year study the results showed Celebration bermudagrass to have the highest shade tolerance of any of the tested varieties.

You can see a brief description and list of results at this site. For the complete description and results see here.

3-May-10 10:00 AM

St. Augustine Winter 2010 Update

Justin Wallace — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:00:00 GMT

5-Apr-10 12:00 PM

Empire Winter Update

Scott Murff — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

25-Mar-10 1:00 PM

Flawed Turfgrass Research Report Gets Mass Media Attention...Now What?

Jim Novak — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT

EAST DUNDEE, IL—(February 2010)

Turfgrass provides numerous environmental benefits and its ability to store carbon is one of them; but when a recently published and peer reviewed research study regarding the ability of turfgrass to store carbon reached the opposite conclusion of previous studies, more than a few turfgrass researchers and green industry experts were scratching their heads.

The study in question (containing miscalculations which we’ll address in a moment) got extensive media coverage because of the negative conclusions it presented. According to Amy Townsend-Small, Earth system science post-doctoral researcher at University of California, Irvine and the lead author of a study that was accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) it was suggested that the carbon-storing benefits of lawns were counteracted by fuel consumption.

Focusing on four parks and lawns in Southern California, the Townsend-Small and colleague Claudia Czimczik study found that greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production, mowing, leaf blowing and other lawn management practices were four times greater than the amount of carbon stored by grass in parks and lawns. The UCI study was supported by the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The reported conclusion reached by the Townsend-Small and Czimczik study was fundamentally the opposite of previous research findings regarding carbon sequestration in turfgrass and the amount of carbon resulting from the care and maintenance of turfgrass.

The study generated plenty of press coverage by way of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and a press release distributed by the University of California (Irvine). Publications and websites such as USA Today, National Geographic's Green Guide, Science Daily, China Meteorological Administration (CMA), First Science, Discovery News, Yahoo News India, and just about every science publication, newspaper, news outlet, green industry website and various blogs carried assorted headlines that read:

· "Urban Green Space May Aid Global Warming"

· "Green Spaces (Lawns) Are Not So Green"

· "Urban Lawns Contribute to Climate Change"

· "The Grass Isn't Always Greener"

· “Lawn Care = Bad for the Environment?”

· “City Parks May Be Bad For The Environment”

· “Study Fumes Over City Park Grass”

· “New CO2 Threat to the Planet”

There was only one problem: The authors of the Amy Townsend-Small research report acknowledge their study contained errors and miscalculations.

So how did the errors in the study come to the surface? Dr. Thomas Rufty, Bayer Distinguished Professor, Environmental Plant Biology, North Carolina State University questioned the findings based on previous research models and proceeded to point out several discrepancies in the Townsend-Small research report:

Rufty commented, "Regarding carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in urban turf' by Townsend-Small and Czimczik, we suspected an error in calculations because their numbers were so different from the models we are developing.” Rufty was challenged to find out why there was a discrepancy. He reported that two of his Ph.D. students took apart all of the assumptions and calculations in the Townsend-Small paper and found mistakes. When asked to provide a complete analysis of the situation … they immediately presented their findings. Rufty reviewed their findings and confirmed they were right and that errors had been made.

Rufty then emailed the authors and they confirmed there was a mistake in their spreadsheet that no one had caught during the writing or peer review. The authors said 'someone' had informed them of the mistake and a correction was sent to the journal. Their corrected calculations showed that CO2 generation was 122 g m-2 yr-1 rather than 1238 g m-2 yr-1 in the paper.

"This is important, because it makes the situation with 'ornamental lawns' carbon neutral to positive, depending on some of their other assumptions about fertilization. The students also are arguing that the authors made another mistake that will result in decreasing the estimated CO2 further – they did not take into account C speciation during combustion. Depending on the kind of mowers used, this will lower levels by another 15 to 50%,” according to Rufty.

Rufty added, "The Townsend-Small and Czimczik paper is being viewed as an important publication for the carbon sequestration debate. I'm hoping our efforts will help correct this misperception."

It should be noted that Dr. Rufty isn’t alone in questioning the study. More than two dozen leading turfgrass extension specialists and turfgrass researchers from across the nation are currently reviewing the study and they have already indicated there are numerous concerns above and beyond miscalculations. They have indicated (under independent and non-collaborated review) that they are not only questioning the methodology that was used, but the absence of critically important information. It is likely the authors can expect to receive numerous questions and valid concerns following these reviews, and they can also anticipate a request to offer some valid explanations.

Now that it's apparent that flawed research (miscalculations alone) has received broad media coverage worldwide, and as of this writing the misinformation is still posted on the websites of the University of California (Irvine), the UCIrvine Today NEWS, the University of California UC Newsroom and on the American Geophysical Union (AGU) website (despite concerns expressed to UCI) the real question is, how do you get the same media coverage for the corrected version of the research report which will likely show that turfgrass has a positive impact on the environment when it comes to carbon sequestration? The challenge is much like getting the genie back in the lamp . . . or trying to get spilled coffee back in a cup.

8-Mar-10 2:00 PM

Football Players Prefer Natural Grass

Scott Murff — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Apparently there is a survey every year of professional football players in which they ask the players which surface they prefer. Below is a reprint of the article from the Sod Solutions website.

Thanks!

Scott Murff

Natural Grass Beats Synthetic in NFL Player Survey

Yearly statistics show that an overwhelming majority of players in the National Football League prefer natural grass. The number remains constant year after year, despite advances in artificial turf technology. The stats are based on natural grass versus the newest generation variety of synthetic turf that uses infill.

In a 2008 survey of 1,565 active players from all 32 teams in the league, 71.7% of players said they prefer to play on natural grass compared to 15% who prefer artificial infilled turf. 11% indicated they had no preference. These athletes have played on all varieties of natural and artificial grass at facilities throughout the league and consistently advocate their preference for the real thing.

Some other key statistics from the survey:

• Which surface is more likely to contribute to injury?
o 84.8% of respondents said artificial infilled turf.

• Which surface is more likely to cause more soreness and fatigue?
o 91% of respondents said infilled artificial turf.

• Which surface is more likely to shorten career?
o 92.6% of the respondents said infilled artificial turf.

• Which surface is more likely to impact quality of life after playing days are over?
o 61.6% of the respondents said infilled artificial turf.

Posted by Justin Wallace at 4:12 pm

2-Sep-09 4:00 PM

Stetson The Rocket Dog and Murff Turf

Scott Murff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Here is an interesting little article that appeared in the TPI (Turfgrass Producers International) E-Newsletter for August 2009. Robert Byrd is a good friend of ours and also a business colleague who has a great IT consulting business that helps us out; you can check out his company and the services they provide at www.truewater.com. We let Robert and Stetson use our fields when they need to blow off some smoke and in return we get to have a lot fun watching Stetson fire off the rockets. He gets so excited when they blast off! You can check out Stetson for yourself at his very own website www.therocketdog.com

21-Jul-09 4:00 PM

Turfgrass And The Environment

Scott Murff — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Turfgrass sometimes gets a bad name from certain groups and organizations. But in reality turfgrass has many environmental benefits that you may not be aware of. We just want to mention a few here briefly and then provide a link to an article that covers this in more detail.

Some of the benefits of turfgrass:

Pollution Control
Cooling Effect
Water Filter
Erosion Control
Picnicing

A properly cared for lawn can provide these benefits and more.

To read more about the benefits of turfgrass follow this link!

Thanks for stopping by today!

18-Jun-09 2:00 PM

Benefits of Sodding

Lindy Murff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT

The Dream Lawn Is Yours In Hours With Turfgrass Sod

The many benefits of turfgrass sod

Instant Beauty & Instant Value with Turfgrass Sod Within just a few hours, turfgrass sod transforms a yard from bare soil to a living carpet of grass, with mature density and a solid root system. And, it performs like an investment. Landscaping with turfgrass sod instantly increases the market value of the property from 5% to 10%.

Enjoy the Good Life with Turfgrass Sod Lawns established with turfgrass sod are an immediate joy and source of pride, while lawns started with seed, sprigs or plugs take from 2 to 3 years of constant effort and are frequently frustrating. Turf grown by Turfgrass Producers International members is the finest, most reliable grass available anywhere.

Create a Healthy Environment with Turfgrass Sod

In an instant, turfgrass sod creates a soft, clean and safe playing surface for babies and ballgames alike. It reduces heat, glare, noise and odors. But most importantly, it cleans the air and helps recharge our groundwater supplies. Turfgrass sod is one of nature's finest, least expensive filters, working to improve the environment.

Solve Troublesome Site Problems with Turfgrass Sod

Because turfgrass sod is fully mature the day it's delivered, it can immediately control erosion, even on steeply sloped areas, as it sinks down roots very rapidly. It can also be successful installed over a very long season. Turfgrass sod works when and where seed, sprigs or plugs would fail.

Turfgrass Sod's

'Instant Finish'

Before Sodding…early morning

After Sodding…a few hours later

A home, business, park or sports field can be bare ground in the morning and covered in mature turf within hours, with turfgrass sod. The finished look achieved with turfgrass sod adds prestige while it helps protect the environment from erosion, children from cuts and scrapes, and carpets from mud.

Turf Care

Turfgrass sod is a living product, delivered fresh from the farm where it was professionally grown. Keep in mind that your newly sodded lawn must be properly watered and mowed at regular intervals. Fertilizers and pesticides should be used only as required for the turf's health. For specific information on caring for your new lawn contact the firm that provided it, a local member of Turfgrass Producers International, or your local turfgrass specialist.

9-Jun-09 7:00 AM

Empire Turf on ABC's Extreme Home Makeover

Sod Solutions — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Always looking to better the communities around them, Bethel Farms of Arcadia, Florida recently donated drought tolerant EMPIRE Turf for a great cause. The grass was given to a family in need that was featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The project took place last February in Tallahassee, Florida and aired on the network in mid-April. Bethel Farms decided to go with EMPIRE Turf for the yard because, like the design of the new home, EMPIRE will save the winning family time and money.

"When we were contacted about teaming up for a home makeover project, we jumped at the chance to help out and told them our first choice was to put in EMPIRE Turf," said Will Nugent, President of Bethel Farms. "EMPIRE will need fewer inputs from this family. They won't have to fertilize or treat it with chemicals as much and with EMPIRE's drought-fighting abilities, they won't have to worry if water restrictions come their way."

The EMPIRE zoysia grass was delivered from Bethel's southwest Florida location on day five of the building project and was installed the same day. EMPIRE, which has become the proven zoysia grass for Florida, also meets the Florida Green Building Coalition's standards for "green-home" certification. This designation fits in perfectly with the energy-saving design of ABC's other home makeover projects. It should provide the Kadzis family many years of an aesthetically pleasing lawn.

Tobey Wagner, President of Sod Solutions was happy to see EMPIRE donated for a meaningful cause. "Bethel Farms is always willing to give back to the community and we were pleased when we heard they were going to donate EMPIRE," remarked Wagner. Wagner's company is the developer and patent holder of EMPIRE Turf. "EMPIRE is a grass that is great for the Florida climate. It's great at repairing itself, which will come in handy with a family that size. It handles wear and tear. I think Bethel couldn't have picked a better grass for the project and we are proud to know its going to be used by such a deserving family."
http://www.sodsolutions.com/producers/for_our_producers

1-Jun-09 8:00 AM

40th Anniversary

Scott Murff — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:45:00 GMT

Murff Turf Going Strong After 40 Years

Bill Murff, owner and founder of Murff Turf in Crosby, believes he knows the secret to success in business. “You’ve got to love what you do,” he says. “And at Murff Turf, we love grass!”

The pride in his business is evident in every phase of the family operation, which is celebrating its 40th year in business. With over 2,800 acres of grass available, it can meet the needs of just about any customer. “The business has changed a lot over 40 years,” says Murff. “I remember having all my kids, nieces, and nephews out cutting grass by hand. Now, we do it all by machine.”

Well-known in our immediate area, Murff Turf also supplies many commercial users, such as golf courses like Tour 18, Hermann Park, Kingwood Country Club, and Walden. Besides golf courses, it has also supplied turf for places like Minute Maid Park, Sam Houston Race Track, and NASA, as well as many universities, school districts and municipalities across Texas. “We pride ourselves on our commercial accounts, but the backbone of our business are the local folks who come and see us on a regular basis,” says Steve Martin, sales director at Murff ’s. “We value those folks just as much as anyone. “We pride ourselves on customer service and good, consistent product,” says Martin. “Our goal is to have your order, no matter the size, waiting for you by the time you walk out of our office with your paperwork. We stock everything we can right up front, so we can get our customers on their way as soon as possible. “If your order requires delivery, we will expedite that as well,” says Martin. “Our transportation company, Mark Walker Trucking, is the best in the business, and it just so happens they’re right next door – we can have a truck here almost immediately and deliver quickly and on time.”

With over 50 employees, Murff Turf is one of the larger employers in Crosby, and Mr. Murff is very proud of the fact that many of his employees have been with him for more than 20 years. “I’m thankful that this business has been able to provide a good living for my family,” says Murff. “But I’m also really proud that we’ve been able to provide that for many other families as well. We work just as hard at making our employees happy as we do at making our customers happy.”

To visit Murff Turf, take FM1942 to Bohemian Hall Road and take a right. Murff ’s is located about two miles on the right at 15204 Bohemian Hall Road.

19-Mar-09 8:45 AM

Irrigation for New Sod

Scott Murff — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update here about watering and also to see if the RSS feed works!

Watering new sod is extremely important and deserves a quick update here. When sod is harvested, placed on a pallet, delivered to a new site, and then transplanted, it becomes stressed out if you can imagine. One of the best things you can do is to plant it as soon as possible because when the grass is stacked on a pallet it generates heat in all those layers. If left on the pallet too long (more than a day in the Summer) that heat will start to cook the grass and it will start turning brown. So step number one is to plant it as soon as possible!

The next step is to water it properly. By the time the grass gets to your site it will be thirsty and be starting to dry out. You don't want the dirt on the block of grass to get dry and hard. Dry dirt is hard on the roots. So put a sprinkler out as soon as you finish laying the sod down. If you are doing a very large area then put a sprinkler down as soon as you have an area down big enough for the sprinkler and it won't be in your way of the other areas you are still planting. The sprinkler needs to stay in place long enough for the grass to get 1.5 to 2 inches of water which is hard to measure with a sprinkler so we just tell people to leave the sprinkler in place for a minimum of 1 hour, maybe 2 depending on how much water your sprinkler puts out. Then move the sprinkler to another area. Be sure to overlap the watered areas otherwise you will have dry spots between where the grass will turn yellow.

Keep moving the sprinkler around the yard until you have watered the entire yard. Then it will be time to start over again. The first 2 weeks are extremely critical for newly planted sod. You don't want the grass to dry out at all during these 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks you can cut way back on watering to once a week or once every two weeks really but the first couple weeks are critical to keeping the grass alive. Without water, newly planted grass will start to wilt and turn yellow/brown within a matter of hours. We have pictures of yards where grass was planted and a sprinkler was placed on it and the grass looks good and green and the area right next to it that has not been watered yet is already starting to lose some of its green color.

Hope this helps someone out there. Please call us if you have any questions! We cannot stress enough that you need to water your sod immediately after planting it!

Thanks,

Scott Murff

8-May-08 1:00 PM

Fall Armyworms Now

Lindy Murff — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:00:00 GMT

Did someone forget to tell me that the Fall season came early this year? It is 100 degrees outside. Actually, I think someone told the Fall Armyworms that it was their season, because they are here and on the march. Maybe we should rename them the Summer Armyworms. If you have a Bermuda grass or zoysiagrass lawn then you may be aware of the presence of this pest already. To be sure, they are real pests, but take heart, they will not kill your established lawn but they make you think they did. Armyworms will eat the green right off of your lawn when the populations get heavy. Know this, you can identify them and you can control them.

People sometimes believe that the turf producers do not have to deal with all of the problems a homeowner has when it comes to having a beautiful lawn. Well let me tell you, we have to deal with all of your typical problems, except shade issues, and on a much larger scale. Below I will give you a few things to think about when it comes to dealing with armyworms. I am not going to get real scientific but just give you some plain talk about these pests.

What are armyworms?

Caterpillars which grow to about 1 and a half inches in length at maturity.
They are shades of green with white stripes running the length of both sides of their backs
They typically like to feed at night.

When do they appear?

I look for them after heavy rains in the summer
Typically I see them in the months of July and August
They are more easily seen at night while feeding on the leaves

How do I know if I have an infestation in my lawn?

If you began to see patches of brown grass in the lawn, this may be an indicator.
If you notice birds , more than usual, in your lawn, then you may want to check for worms underneath the canopy of the turf
Get a large coffee can and cut out both ends. Press the can firmly into the ground and fill with soapy water. Caterpillars will float to the top. If you see one or two, treatment is not essential. If you see five or six, it is time to treat.

How do I treat the infestation?

Go to your local garden center and look for a product called Sevin and follow the label or find a permethrin.
If possible it is good to mow your yard prior to applying the insecticide.
Apply the insecticide in the late afternoon.

Armyworms, generally, are pests of Bermuda and zoysia and do not have a great impact on St. Augustine lawns. St. Augustine lawns have a pest, the chinch bug, which can do greater harm to your lawn than what the armyworm will do to your Bermuda or zoysia. We will leave that discussion to a future article.

As a producer of turf, I always like to remind people that there is no perfect turf in the South. They are living organisms and all have challenges to face. Your environment is one factor in determining the grass that is right for your lawn and there are lots of grasses to meet different environmental factors.

Good luck and watch out for those armyworms. Thanks for visiting our web site.

21-Aug-07 10:00 AM