I have re-printed the latest USGA Green Section Northeast Report below. Take the time to read this informative report.
A SUMMER BRAWL
SEPTEMBER 2, 2016By Jim Skorulski, agronomist, Northeast Region
Damaged annual bluegrass is a common sight
on golf courses in the
Northeast this August.
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Roberto Duran's famous phrase "No mas" that ended
his brawl with Sugar Ray Leonard, and essentially his career, comes to mind
this summer. Enough is enough already! Whether dealing with season-long drought
or the effects of heat and humidity, this season has pushed turf and many turf
managers to their limits. Courses in the northern half of the region continue
to hope for rain while those in southern half wish the rain would stop for a
while.
Drought
Drought conditions in parts of the Northeast have not improved
and in some areas have worsened. As a result, golf facilities have had to
reduce or eliminate irrigation to fairways and nonessential areas. The drought
has drained water from irrigation ponds and energy from maintenance staffs,
which have been busy with hoses far too long to remember. Courses that have
significantly reduced, or eliminated, fairway irrigation are anticipating some
turf injury, especially where cart traffic is heavy. The extent of
drought-related injury is difficult to determine until we begin to see some
regrowth. However, we know there will be overseeding ahead once the drought
breaks and there is enough water available to initiate that work. Weed
encroachment has been extremely high in areas that have experienced both
drought and rain events. Drought thins the turf and then rains promote weed
germination and growth.
Heat and Humidity
High temperatures combined with rain and humidity has taken
its toll on putting greens in the region. Cool-season turfgrass can tolerate
heat but is pushed to its limit by persistently high temperatures. Higher soil
and air temperatures increase plant respiration rates, drawing more energy than
plants can produce. Plants’ energy reserves are depleted; the gas tank is
empty. Weakened plants are vulnerable to temperature extremes, physical damage
and disease. We have seen weakened annual bluegrass plants fail on greens
located in difficult growing environments or in areas with poor drainage. Wet
wilt, heat stress and physical damage have caused the greatest injury. Many
turf pathogens are still active too. Creeping bentgrass has been holding its
own, but it too has been damaged in very hot environments.
About the only grasses thriving in this heat are crabgrass,
goosegrass, nutsedge and kyllinga. These weeds are well suited for this type of
weather and are taking full advantage of the ideal growing conditions and
weakened cool-season turf. Pre-emergent herbicide programs that usually provide
season-long control of annual grasses are breaking down early with the elevated
soil temperatures.
The annual bluegrass weevil has also decided to join the
party after being conspicuously absent for most of the spring and early summer.
Reports of more extensive feeding damage have been observed this month. It is
just one of those years!
Going Forward
The calendar tells us that things should be getting easier
with shorter days and cooler nights ahead. That would be ideal for badly-needed
aeration and overseeding programs. Let's hope the stubborn pattern of hot
weather breaks soon. Until it does, maintain a conservative management
approach, especially if turf is very weak. As valuable and necessary as
aeration may be, at this time proceed with caution. As they say, it is
sometimes best to live to fight another day.