One of the Superintendents worst nightmares Cancel The title field is required!

1. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/6/2015 5:07 PM

   Ok guys, We are aerifying our greens today and its about 90-95 degrees. When I was topdressing our #3 green heavy this afternoon I blew a hose on our topdressor. Problem was the sand was wet and it was put down heavy on top of the oil so it was not detectable until I noticed the machine no longer throwing the sand out normal. I made three passes on it before finding out. At that point I had decided to leave that green alone and complete the rest of the course since I have a small crew and lots of 5/8" holes on the green. I really needed to think about it and get my topdressor repaired. Since my equipment tech was aerfiying greens I did not want to disturb him and made the repairs myself. completed the rest of the course and went back to #3 green and finished topdressing it. since everything had dried out I was able to see the oil and it was a lot. theres 1-2 passes about 1' wide and another one with 2- 1" wide stripes down another not to mention the iol on the approach and collar.
   
   For today I am not placing my drag mat on the green.
   
   I can tell through the sand that there was a wide area that got hit but will not know how bad until I can see the grass!
   
   I am open for sugestions.
   
   I did not aerifye two of my putting greens in case I have to strip sod and replace it on that green.
   
   I am thinking that I may need to either blow off the sand that was placed on top of the oil due to it absorbing it or maybe getting a billy goat vac and try to suck it up. I am thinking it would not be wise to let that sand get into my aerification holes.
   
   I think it is way to late to use charcoal at this point but may not rule it out.
   
   I really do not want to sod the area out unless it is the last resort because with my tifeagle you will see it for about 5-6 years. I do understand that this may be my only option though.
   
   Any ideas guys? either inside the box or outside the box. I will need to do something tomorrow.
   
   Does anyone think the oil will float enough if I flood the green out? I mean really flood it out!
   
   I am thinking that I can drag the rest of the green and fill those holes in first so whatever I try to do the oli will not get moved into those holes very easily.

   
   
   
   
2. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/7/2015 11:07 AM

   Ok an update, I brought in my personal generator and shop vac and sucked all of the sand off of the areas that had oil on it. it looks like the oil was on the surface only and not into the soil. For now I am going to let it dry out in the sun and then see if I can topdress it and drag it into the holes once the holes are filled my options open up.
   
   Still waiting on any sugestions!

   
   
   
   
3. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2015 11:07 AM

   We have had limited success with dawn dish soap for a heavy hydronic leak. I would plan on sod. The soap may clean the soil enough for it to take. Good luck

   
   
   
   
4. Barry Provo

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2015 12:07 PM

   very smart not to aerify your 2 putting greens in case you need sod!!!!

   
   
   
   
5. Dinger Greg

   
   7/7/2015 12:07 PM

   Since you're already aerating why not heavy dress the stripes, and double punch the crud out of those lines, maybe toss a little seed and let them go? Might be tough to strip sod later if its full of holes, but it may just come back?

   
   
   
   
6. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/7/2015 1:07 PM

   Greg - I have TifEagle Ultra Dwarf Bermuda, theres no seeding it. I wish it was that easy.
   
   Cecil - I have also used dawn for hydraulic leaks on my greens with limited success. My concern is moving the oil into the soil. Right now none is in the soil (I have pulled several test samples and their clean). so using dawn and trying to wash it out with all of the holes may be counter productive. The one thing I want to make sure of is that I do not do something that will make it worse down the road.
   
   In the past two hours I have already seen grass turning brown. so far it is limited to two 6" wide stripes and two 1" wide stripes. Since it is spotty stripes I am hopeful that not all of the turf will die off, but another day could make it a lot different. I have elected to let the oil dry out completely before doing anything else to the effected areas. Then I will topdress them again and drag in the sand to fill the holes in. After that I may look at trying a verticutting over these areas to remove some of the tainted grass blades and blow it off the green. But in another two hours some better plan may come up.
   
   Thanks for the suggestions, please keep them coming

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2015 3:07 PM

   James,
   How much oil, 1 quart 10 gal? That is one. Did the oil or the sand go down first? Get the sand off blowers, shovels, vacuum but I think, do not sweep that might just rub it in? Then flood the green with water and soap and flood it again. Keep it wet for a few days or until you can see the extent of the damage. If you have to sod.
   
   Keith,

   
   
   
   
8. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/7/2015 5:07 PM

   It looks like a gallon or less. there was not a puddle of oil at any time. I will post some pictures tomorrow. I took my verticutter out today and verticut out as much material as I could then I flooded all of the green that was not hit by the oil. I kept on flooding water right up to the area until I could see it coming up from underneath. this way I was not moving any leftover oil. I did flood a small area on the front of the green that had been hit and never saw a sheen from the oil. I am seeing the area that is dead already and there is still splotches of green withing the lines which will help it grow back in faster if I do not sod it out.
   
   I am considering topdressing it heavy tomorrow morning followed by dragging it in, and then flooding it out completely so if any oil is released it should float off the green instead of sticking to it.
   
   If I do not sod it out I will get on a grow in schedule for a month for just that area of the green and it should fill in quickly.

   
   
   
   
9. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   7/7/2015 8:07 PM

   Don't forget to take advantage of this opportunity to ask the powers that be for more money and new equipment

   
   
   
   
10. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/8/2015 1:07 PM

    Since were strapped for cash big time I doubt there can be any extra money thrown my departments way! I will however be handing them an estimate to change out all hydraulic hoses on anything older then 3 years. That will make their jaws hit the ground in itself! at least when they tell me we cannot afford it I can reply that they cannot blame me for any damages to our turf.

    
    
    
    
11. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    7/8/2015 4:07 PM

    James Smith said: It looks like a gallon or less. there was not a puddle of oil at any time. I will post some pictures tomorrow. I took my verticutter out today and verticut out as much material as I could then I flooded all of the green that was not hit by the oil. I kept on flooding water right up to the area until I could see it coming up from underneath. this way I was not moving any leftover oil. I did flood a small area on the front of the green that had been hit and never saw a sheen from the oil. I am seeing the area that is dead already and there is still splotches of green withing the lines which will help it grow back in faster if I do not sod it out.
    
    I am considering topdressing it heavy tomorrow morning followed by dragging it in, and then flooding it out completely so if any oil is released it should float off the green instead of sticking to it.
    
    If I do not sod it out I will get on a grow in schedule for a month for just that area of the green and it should fill in quickly.

    
    
    James,
    
    If you can get enough oil out you might use 1/4" to 1/2" tines at 1" centers or less, Try topdressing with pre germinated seed/sand/ fertilizer 4-5 days old, then core over the surface 2-3 times drag brush intill holes are full, a lot of hand work. Keep it damp.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Keith

    
    
    
    
12. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/10/2015 8:07 AM

    [img">http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq301/TheRandini/IMG_4327.jpg[/img">

    
    
    
    
13. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/10/2015 8:07 AM

    [img">http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq301/TheRandini/IMG_4329.jpg[/img">

    
    
    
    
14. David Stout

    

    0 posts
    
    7/14/2015 3:07 PM

    I've had a similar problem, though not as bad as that on mini-verde in Tucson AZ. I elected to just wait it out and sprayed transition HC colorant on the whole green to mask it while it grew back in. It took a while, but it did grow back. I'm with you on sodding it out, it will be visible for years. As long as the oil didn't seep down into the mat area, new leaves will eventually get generated and mother nature will take over. I'm guessing by today it should look as bad as its ever going to look. Maybe a small tine (1/4) could be used to remove some more damaged material allowing the new growth to take hold? Realistically you could be healed in 60 days or less with not real playability issues. Of course this all depends on your clientele. Good luck!

    
    
    
    
15. Mark Novotny

    

    0 posts
    
    7/18/2015 7:07 AM

    I know I am late to the game but I had an instance but not quite as wide. Here is what I did.
    
    https://markatwestchester.files.wordpre ... l-leak.pdf
    
    Hope this at least lets you know you are not alone.

    
    
    
    
16. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/19/2015 6:07 AM

    Mark Novotny, CGCS said: I know I am late to the game but I had an instance but not quite as wide. Here is what I did.
    
    https://markatwestchester.files.wordpre ... l-leak.pdf
    
    Hope this at least lets you know you are not alone.

    
    
    Mark, that presentation was great! I enjoyed every bit of it.
    
    Per my 1st Vice President, we are to leave the green as is and not replace the areas with sod (for now).
    
    I have already fertilized the whole green at 1lbN/1000sqft. I have also started a every four day folier spray program using ammonia sulfate and micro's using a backpack sprayer. This way I can treat just the affected areas. I will take weekly pictures in order to determine if and how fast it will grow in. I really do not expect to see great improvement until the 3-4 week. Since no oil got into the soil layer I am confident that it will grow back.

    
    
    
    
17. Michael Kuhn

    

    0 posts
    
    7/19/2015 7:07 AM

    If it turns out that oil did get into the soil you may want to try Aabsorb by Aabco Industries. It will neutralize the oil and flush it through the rootzone. The damage you see could be from the heat of the oil or the oil smothering the tissue. Quad tine those stripes, keep filling the holes and fert, fert, fert.

    
    
    
    
18. Corey Eastwood

    

    80 posts
    
    7/20/2015 11:07 AM

    I second Aasorboil. If you have it on hand and get it on spill there will be no permanent damage.

    
    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
    
    
19. Jason Knuutila

    

    0 posts
    
    7/20/2015 9:07 PM

    Had a hydro leak on fairways. The line blew and the oil dumped into the bucket, then into the reel. The only reason the operator stopped was because the mower no longer had enough oil to move. Bottom line, looked very similar and was 3 passes and the entire length of a long par 4.
    
    I used a wetting agent at a high rate and a heavy shot of N in a tank mix. I attached an irrigation hose to the sprayer and drenched the soil. The soil stayed moist and wasn't hydrophobic. This allowed for recovery, it took 4weeks with aid of aerifcation,seed and bent tillering from edges.
    
    Good luck