Heading into winter

 

Like it or not, fall is here, and before we know it snow will be on the ground. There are many things that happen in the fall to prepare the golf course for the winter months ahead. Fertilization and aeration are two of the most important things that we do. Fertilization is a key component in allowing the plants to build up carbohydrates. Aeration removes organic matter accumulation, relieves compaction, and allows for oxygen and nutrients into the root zone. I have attached a video done by Pace Turf that explains the importance of aeration.                 

Meteorologists are predicting a winter a lot like last winter, and there are few extra steps that we are going to do to try and reduce the risks of winter kill to certain areas of the course, particularly the greens. The first thing that we are going to do is raise our greens mowing heights. By raising the heights, more carbohydrates can be reserved in the turfgrass plants. Last winter we did sustain some minor damage to the greens, but with a good plan, we were able to recuperate these areas with more creeping bentgrass. As mentioned in previous posts, creeping bentgrass can survive extremely harsh winters, even a little worse than last year.