Industry sounds-off about turf damage
Record-setting heat is challenging turf pros to keep turfgrass roots and leaves from literally baking-to-death this summer.
The Wall Street Journal article, "The Ugly Summer of 2010," describes the brutal heat conditions wreaking havoc on turf across America. According to the article, golf course superintendents are fighting to save their courses from ruin.
Reports from coast-to coast also note similar summer stress and damage to residential and commercial lawns, athletic fields and parks across the country.
Tell us how summer weather is impacting your operation or maintenance program
How is your turf looking? Is it surviving or thriving? What are you doing to keep turfgrass cool, healthy and/or disease-free under these adverse conditions? Have you learned anything this season that may help your peers in the turf business?
Share your quick update and turf tips with your fellow pros by COMMENTING below.
Posted at 1:06 pm
About the Author
Tom Hill
Tom Hill is a communications manager for BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals and is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
I am the last bentgrass grower in FL. This summer is worst since 2005. 90′s everyday since late may. Above average temps with no rain and very few clouds. Truely the “Sunshine State” this year. Plant is so stressed that spots can fool you. One day looks like nematodes, the next day it can look like disease. Have gone to a 7 day rotation from 10 on fungicide and of course handwatering daily. October will get here. Venting every two weeks.
Constant use of the hydroject and regular use of wetting agent pellets (penetrant) to resolve localized dry spots. Letting areas dry a bit for better playablilty. Not pretty but plays well.
We started out in June and the first half of July with no rain and high temperatures consistently over 90 degrees. We started venting the greens the first part of June every two weeks with 1/4 inch solid tines on the quad blocks at 1 1/2 inch centers. We also increased the frequency of our fertility and fungicde programs from 14 to seven days starting in June. Our rotation with the fungicide program has been Signature/Fore, Insignia,Segway and Disarm. Our fertility program started out with Performance Nutrition every 7 days starting in June. The first of July we switch nine holes over to the Florantine Stress Relief program and found that after two weeks we were seeing better results and recovery so we have just recently started spraying all 31 greens with the Florantine Stress Relief program with good results. Recent heavy rain followed by high humidity is starting to seriuosly challenge our bentgrass. Looking for some relief soon hopefully.
Still hanging in there. 52 days above 90 so far. The last four days have been over 100*. Forcast still looks bad, as far as the heat goes.
We are rolling instead of mowing 3 days a week, compressed our fungicide applcations, spoon-feeding weekly, micro-managing all water applications and hand watering much later into the afternoon than ever before.