Spiio interviewed Curtis Tyrell in November 2022.

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A few years ago, we had the first opportunity to speak with arborist and Spiio customer Jerry White, the PHC manager at Arborwell. Arborwell, who recently merged with SavATree, is a professional tree management company who primarily operates on the West Coast.

For those that don’t have first-hand experience, there’s a lot involved in managing trees—pruning, tree removal, risk management, and more. Jerry’s role is to manage the operation of plant health care, including fertilization, protecting from disease, reducing insect issues, and improving overall tree and soil health.

In that conversation, we learned how valuable Spiio data was in managing the health of a tree—particularly because of its role in understanding the tree’s need for water intake, which is central to tree care.

Recently, we spoke with Jerry again and were excited that Spiio is continuing to be a part of SavATree’s growing operations. Jerry recently oversaw an installation of Spiios at a corporate campus in the Bay Area where Arborwell manages 19 redwood trees.

19 Spiios for 19 Redwood Trees

The site where the redwoods are, is doing some reconstruction of its landscape, which means that its irrigation has to be turned off. To complicate matters, the trees’ health had already started to decline from the stress of the construction process. We’re tasked with monitoring the overall health of the trees and helping them maintain proper moisture so that they can recover,” says Jerry.

When asked about this big installation, Jerry says it was quite a task. We were training three employees at the same time which further complicated the process. 

Spiio is known among its customers for providing support all along the way—installation, troubleshooting, replacements—to make this process as easy as possible. The job was done, and Jerry reports, “we’re really happy with it.

One unit was having trouble, so they had to replace that as well. However, thankfully Spiio is known among its customers for providing support all along the way—installation, troubleshooting, replacements—to make this process as easy as possible. The job was done, and Jerry reports, “we’re really happy with it.”

Using Moisture Readings to Cope with Drought

So, why so many sensors? Depending on the conditions of the tree and its soil, explains Jerry, some trees can be particularly finicky and require more personalized maintenance. “We’ve had significant challenges on the West Coast with dry weather, and especially, most recently, dry winters.”

Many people assume that hot, dry summers are the culprit when it comes to plant stress in drought. In fact, efforts to conserve water often reflect this by restricting water during the winter to save it for the heat. However, that’s actually counterintuitive. Trees in California are accustomed to a Mediterranean climate, including its hot and dry summers. They rely on reserves of moisture built up during the winter, which is why the current pattern of dryer winters is so concerning.

This isn’t a particular issue for the redwoods in the recent installation, but in other projects, SavATree is helping to create a plan to recover trees from drought stress. Spiio data helps monitor those recovering trees that need extra care.

And what about trees that aren’t adapted to the hot, dry Mediterranean climate? Jerry says they want to fine-tune their care for those trees using Spiio’s moisture readings so that they can help customers save water. For instance, they can recommend turning off the water for a couple of weeks at a site that just got two inches of rain. “Those are things we can be developing info on to help clients.”

Using Salinity Readings to Keep Trees Healthy

Spiio’s many features allow it to adapt to the needs of a wide variety of customers. While soil temperature and light readings are key for our many customers managing turfgrass, those aren’t so necessary for SavATree, whose sensors are far underground and operate in a relatively mild climate that only occasionally needs a soil temperature check. However, features like salinity measuring become really valuable in this setting.

“Another application of Spiio data for tree care is monitoring transplanted trees in a new environment: We have to find out, are these trees salt-sensitive? For example, redwoods are a popular commercial tree on the West Coast because they are so tall and majestic. However, they are not adaptive to high saline soils. Especially during a drought, salt content builds up in the soil and can affect these trees immensely. The salinity measure on the Spiio sensor is helpful to check this.”

Especially during a drought, salt content builds up in the soil and can affect these trees immensely. The salinity measure on the Spiio sensor is helpful to check this.”

Using data from Spiio sensors, SavATree is able to make targeted and efficient agronomic decisions for its trees. For example, if the salinity sensor finds that too much salt is building up for these redwoods, SavATree has several interventions in its toolbox:

“There are certain soil amendments that help reduce salt that we can recommend and apply, depending on the Spiio readings. We can incorporate specific products into the soil to reduce high saline sites.  We can also flush the soil through with water, or we might add calcium if there’s a calcium deficiency since that also helps reduce sodium.”

Gathering Data for Long-term Agronomic Decisions

Data isn’t just a short-term benefit for tree health. “The climate always is changing, and California’s noted for always having variable weather,” notes Jerry. “Gathering data over a long period of time is one of my goals so we can compare information. Being able to monitor the information that Spiio units provide makes the process much easier. 

The climate always is changing, and California’s noted for always having variable weather, notes Jerry. “Gathering data over a long period of time is one of my goals so we can compare information

So, it’s not just about recognizing and addressing immediate needs of the trees they manage—it’s also about using that information over time to inform long-term decisions and recommendations for clients. That’s why long-time Spiio customers like SavATree are continuing to look for new ways to utilize the value of in-ground data.

Tree health has broad implications. Not only does it impact the aesthetic of a landscape, but dying trees also present a safety and liability risk. We also know how valuable trees are in contributing to an area’s environmental, physical, and mental health. Combining years of experience and expertise with timely and easily-accessible data allows SavATree to do its important work, both for its clients and for the communities where their trees live.

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Chevy Chase Country Club is a beautiful championship golf course situated near Chicago in Wheeling, Illinois. Jeremy Turton has been the course superintendent for over six years now. He brought with him about 20 years of experience, having previously been the super at the George Dunne National Golf Course in Oak Forest, IL. Before that, he worked as an assistant superintendent at Idlewild Country Club (Flossmoor, IL), Glenwoodie Golf Course (Glenwood, IL), and Thunderbird Hills Golf Course Huron, OH).

Turton’s career started, however, like many others, with a high school job on a grounds course. He attributes his initial interest in the field to that initial job, which was at a course near Cleveland. “I really enjoyed being able to see instant results from my work. I also learned a lot from the super there,” he says.

That superintendent was the one who pointed Turton toward the Turf and Turfgrass Management program at Ohio State University, where he got his degree. His initial job hunt landed him in Chicago for a couple of seasons, and the rest is history.

Challenges at Chevy Chase

“This job at Chevy Chase actually came to me,” says Turton. The course needed lots of help, and its staff and leadership trusted Turton to bring that help. “There was definitely some overwatering going on, and there wasn’t any aerifying. I don’t know that I’d ever seen greens quite like that.”

However, Turton also acknowledges that at Chevy Chase he found “the best crew I’ve worked with. They have a lot of experience, and they don’t need me to babysit them.” Together, they worked to drastically improve the course’s health and playability.

It’s been a challenging few years, to say the least. In 2017, the course experienced massive flooding and had to close for the season. Then, of course, three years later came Covid-19, which rocked the industry everywhere. However, he’s overseen progress and improvement even through these obstacles.

Spiio, Watering Efficiency, and Course Playability

One of Turton’s most recent efforts to continue improving the Chevy Chase course was to install a Spiio sensor. He decided to compare its moisture readings with the TDR readings he had been using already.

“I use Spiio as a baseline. I can see drydowns there.” He placed a sensor in a section of the green that was drying out faster than other sections. “It’s our alert,” he says. “It’s typically the first spot we have to check with the TDR, and we often have to hand water there. So, we know that as long as that spot is doing well, everywhere else is good too.”

Climate change and other large-scale factors make real-time data that much more necessary.

The primary reason Turton has for using Spiio to monitor the course is to get reliable data for water management. The goal is to decrease watering as much as possible. In addition to the expense and environmental cost of overwatering, too much moisture also leads to disease in turfgrass. Specifically on a golf course, another factor to keep in mind is playability. The turf needs to be dry enough to be firm for playing (while, of course, staying healthy enough to be sustainable.)

The Long-Term: Climate Change and the Relevance of Spiio’s Current Data

In addition to moisture, Turton also uses Spiio to check soil temperatures under 65 degrees. That temperature threshold gives him important information about when to apply fungicides.

But moisture is the biggest interest for Turton. The data from Spiio informs agronomic decisions, such as whether and how much to water, which Turton monitors by watching the decrease in moisture throughout the day.

Watering and other agronomic decisions are further impacted by larger factors like climate change. “It feels like the season is longer; fall stretches longer and winter slams harder,” notices Turton.

Watering and other agronomic decisions are further impacted by larger factors like climate change. “It feels like the season is longer; fall stretches longer and winter slams harder,” notices Turton. “That affects the impact of storms, which we are having to worry about on a more regular basis than we used to. Staying warm longer also effects our fungicide applications.”

Climate change and other large-scale factors make real-time data that much more necessary. Many highly experienced professionals in the turfgrass industry are recognizing the value of in-ground data. It’s becoming increasingly the case that what happened last year and the year before, let alone ten or twenty years ago, just might not happen this year. Those who see the value of concrete, timely data are more likely to invest in technology like Spiio to inform their agronomic decision-making.

The Short-Term: Spiio’s Impact on Staff Training, Course Playability, and Ease of Data Access

However, even aside from long-term issues like climate change, real-time data pays off here and now. A course’s playability is directly affected by its watering, and that watering has shown to be more efficient and more cost-effective when determined by relevant and current data.

Best of all, the data comes easily to the user. “The app is addictive!” admits Turton. He is one of many who really appreciates the ease of access to the most recent data, which updates regularly. These updates allow the user to quickly notice crucial trends in the soil throughout the day.

“The app is addictive!” admits Turton. These updates allow the user to quickly notice crucial trends in the soil throughout the day.

Finally, we know that no technology can completely replace the necessity of good, reliable staff. Turton has noticed that Spiio data has actually helped him in working with his staff. For example, he has a new assistant whose professional background is slightly outside the field. While his assistant is being trained on some of the intricacies of managing a golf course, it helps Turton to have demonstrable data to point to.

Right now, Turton still has already noticed its potential in the short and long term, especially when it comes to watering decisions. That kind of opportunity-oriented focus on improvement is one of the reasons that Turton and his capable staff have helped make Chevy Chase the destination that it is.

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For most, the idea of researching for a PhD conjures up images of a frazzled student poring over books, spending hours in front of a computer, or slaving away in a laboratory. For Travis Roberson at Virginia Tech, however, doctoral research is happening outside on the golf course. His research focuses on water conservation—specifically, using in-ground sensors, drones and light reflectance tov build a correlation for soil moisture. That information can be used to make data-driven decisions, and data-driven decisions are what Spiio is all about.

Research and Partnership: Roberson, Virginia Tech, Independence Golf Club, and Spiio

When Roberson finished his undergraduate research at Virginia Tech, his advisor, Dr. David McCall, introduced him to his research using light reflectance for water conservation. After gaining some foundational knowledge and getting to experiment with some of the advisor’s equipment, an interest was sparked.

The connection to a golf course was incidental. “I had never played golf,” says Roberson. “I loved the agronomy, the science, and I got introduced to golf from the first job I ever had.” I worked  as a greenkeeper  many years prior and gained exposure to  the importance of incorporating data into management decisions.

I loved the agronomy, the science, and I got introduced to golf from the first job I ever had.

That brings us to 2017, when Roberson was at Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg. He was doing greenhouse studies, looking at using the same technology through  intensive drydowns. David McCall and  Jordan Booth, predecessor to Travis, , struck a partnership with Giff Breed, president of Independence Golf Club. In essence, VT uses the Bear research course at Independence for real-world research, and that research is marketed for interest. Then, when Booth left to work at USGA, Roberson picked up where he left off.

Roberson came across Spiio at an industry conference and was very interested, as was the owner of the course. Roberson requested some sensors from Spiio to use in his research, and another partnership was born. In early May, Independence Golf Club installed sixty Spiio sensors in their greens.

Potential Gains from Roberson’s Research with Spiio: Water Conservation

“One issue that we have with the research I’m doing using drones is that we need a real-world way of using the data,” notes Roberson. “The optimal way would be that data would automatically inform the decision about when and how much to water, and then do it. But we’re not there technologically.” Roberson hopes that Spiio sensors will help bridge that technological gap.

The optimal way would be that data would automatically inform the decision about when and how much to water, and then do it.

There are a few key ways that Roberson sees Spiio sensors contributing to his research.

The first area of opportunity, of course, is water. Roberson points out that “water is the most limiting resource for the planet. Everything depends on water.” He also notes that “because golf courses are in the agriculture field but are there for leisure (rather than food or another necessity), using excessive water for turf quality preservation can be frowned upon, especially in a drought.”

In addition to growing concerns about climate change, drought, and other environmental factors, water conservation is crucial in this field because water is such a key part of managing healthy turfgrass. Water determines nutrient uptake as well as basic survival and appearance of any plant. However, those in the turfgrass field know that you can overdo it. Overwatering not only wastes money, but it also causes disease, weed growth, and other problems that cost even more money to treat. 

Using excessive water for turf quality preservation can be frowned upon, especially in a drought.

One question Roberson has going into the Spiio partnership is how to determine optimal placement of the sensors. Right now, the best way to decide where to place them is  based on historical knowledge from the superintendent. You ask where the wettest and driest areas are, and make decisions from these areas of interest.. Roberson hopes that eventually, that decision can be made with data as well. His research is primarily on fairways (since that is typically where the most water consumption occurs).

Additional Insights: Winterkill and Soil Temperature Monitoring

Another major research objective that Roberson aims to utilize Spiio for is winterkill.  Winterkill is an important research area for Independence Golf Club, because it is a huge issue in the transition zone. “Greens are a lifeline,” states Roberson. “Lose those, and people lose jobs. We get cold enough that the greens in the top few inches are sand-based and fluctuate a lot in temperature. Bermuda grass is not adapted for severe temperature fluctuations we tend to observe in the transition zone; which can lead to potential death of the plant .”

Professionals combat winterkill by using covers to retain warmth and keep greens alive. However, revenue is lost when you have to keep greens constantly covered. Spiio sensors track soil temperature continuously and makes them optimal for winterkill research since soil temperature cannot be taken when the greens are covered. Roberson plans to install sensors under makeshift covers to track the minimum temperatures and find out exactly when you need to cover to prevent winterkill.

From what I’ve seen with Spiios so far, and assuming we’re able to collect the data we’re looking for— I think they’ll provide significant reductions in water usage.

Roberson is optimistic that the results of this project will be positive. “I don’t have data to support this yet, but I think—from what I’ve seen with Spiios so far, and assuming we’re able to collect the data we’re looking for— I think they’ll provide significant reductions in water usage. I also think we’ll be able to use these sensors to provide input, in real time, on when to cover and not to cover. As we tease out the data, I think we’ll be able to notify golf course superintendents within hours of when they need to cover.

All in all, the partnership is promising. The ability to make data-driven decisions in turf care has the potential to pay off in the short- and long-term, and we are continuing to discover new applications for that potential to improve water conservation and winterkill.

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Last year, Matt Morton moved to El Niguel, a private country club in south Orange County, CA. He came with plenty of experience, having been the superintendent at the prestigious Riviera Country Club for twenty years. He also came with a degree in Turfgrass Management from the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 2000. However, new territory still constitutes a learning curve. “It’s like starting from scratch,” says Morton. “You’re familiar with turf and how it responds. But on a new property, you’re re-teaching, re-learning, and re-evaluating the practices you’ve used for years.” Now, as the new superintendent at El Niguel, he’s taken this challenge head-on.

The Spiio Sensor’s Value in Measuring Soil Temperature and Other Indicators

One resource that has been helpful in riding this learning curve is the Spiio sensor. Morton installed four Spiios on the El Niguel course in August of 2020. “It’s been an additional tool to help you understand what’s happening below the greens,” Morton says. For instance, being able to consistently measure soil temperature helps drive several essential turfgrass decisions. “Getting a consistent baseline helps you make any agronomic decisions you need to.” 

Getting a consistent baseline helps you make any agronomic decisions you need to.” 

The soil temperature and other data has been helpful in Morton’s efforts to better know his new course. However, the value extends beyond that. “I haven’t changed a lot of my agronomic program, but the Spiio has validated my decision-making,” he notes. “The way I’ve touched and felt things for years is now being backed up by science and data.” This validation helps Morton and other turfgrass professionals have greater confidence in their decisions. It also aids in communication with other stakeholders. “I can use the sensor data to educate staff and board members,” he says. 

I can use the sensor data to educate staff and board members,” he says. 

Utilizing Multiple Sensors: Getting Both the Broad and Focused Views

Morton strategically spaced out the four sensors he started with. “We put them in different areas of the course to help identify different threats or indicators. For example, we put one sensor down in an area where salinity has been a problem. We put another down in a newer green, and another on a colder, more shaded area in the farthest corner of the course.” Moving forward into the 2021 season, he hopes to add more sensors to his program. “I’d like to expand into more areas to get a more comprehensive view of the different microclimates around the course.” The Spiio sensor’s portability and ease of install allows superintendents to put eyes on several areas of their course. This way, the data is more specific and accurate, able to drive smart decisions in irrigation, chemical application, and more.

The Spiio sensor’s portability and ease of install allows superintendents to put eyes on several areas of their course. This way, the data is more specific and accurate, able to drive smart decisions in irrigation, chemical application, and more.

Of course, that moisture and soil temperature data is only as good as the user’s ability to access it. “I think the user-friendly app has been what’s really put me over the top,” says Morton. The Spiio sensor records data continuously, and it reports those numbers frequently to a web interface and mobile app. The user has round-the-clock access to up-to-date information to see what’s happening on the turf at any given moment. They can also build a model for patterns their turf exhibits over time. This kind of technological innovation is always useful, but the unique challenges of the pandemic underscored its value. “Especially under the tough conditions of the last year, it made things a little easier,” Morton admits. Yet, as we recover from the challenges of the pandemic, the value of timely and user-friendly data only grows.

The Spiio sensor records data continuously, and it reports those numbers frequently to a web interface and mobile app. The user has round-the-clock access to up-to-date information to see what’s happening on the turf at any given moment

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