I can't believe I'm still getting soil temperature readings in the fifties and it is May 24th!
Don't let this fool you. The turf is finally breaking dormancy.
Especially the rough!
We mow the rough around the greens at a two inch height and the primary rough at two and one-half inches. Don't be fooled... The turf is growing quickly, so what is two inches today might be 25% higher in two days!
Our goal is to mow all rough areas at least once per week. Primary rough and heavy play areas will get mowed twice per week. We also try to "ring" the fairways and greens with a third cut on a weekly basis. Approximately twenty-five feet wide. This cut ensures that a player has a decent lie if they just miss the mark in primary play areas.
Summer is going to come quick. We have already seen signs of wilt (by design) on the course despite the unusually wet Spring weather and high water table.
You may see some greens that look stressed because they are. My ability to stress specific turf varieties, especially Poa Annua, during a "non-stressful" spring weather period, is an opportunity to further improve our chance of surviving summer stress. I know it sounds crazy!
We keep turf as dry as possible while soil temperatures remain cool. The goal is to have turf roots "dig-deep" for water. The enhanced root depth we develop now helps our turf to survive the anticipated summer stress.
THE BETTER THE ROOTS... THE BETTER THE SHOOTS! (shoots are the leaves of the plant)
What You Need To Know!
- Greens are getting healthy and playing better every day
- Rough is growing fast!
- Weed control is almost complete
- Course fertilization is 75% complete
- City water project progressing quickly!
- New irrigation for tennis courts and lawn areas is complete
- Hydro-seeding on hole #10 is complete
- 10,000 square feet of sod being laid on hole #10 on Wednesday May 28th, in primary areas, to quickly improve playability and reduce "washouts" from potential heavy rain.
- ETC.
- Any Questions??? Let me know!
