Monday, December 7, 2015

2015 Recap

 I haven't posted in a long while so I thought I would give a recap of the season.  2015 has come and is almost gone. The Zoysia turf (Fairways and Tees) had another great season.  Unfortunately we were unable to get them aerified due to unusually wet conditions.  The cool season turf (rough and greens) became weak and saturated due to the heavier than normal rainfall. Then the heat came. It was a recipe for disaster.  Because the roots were over saturated the plant failed to grow due to a lack of oxygen, and once the wet soil profiles get hot it in effect boils the plant.  The main recourse is to vent them with solid tines as much as possible during the heat stress period. Thankfully, the weather has cooperated this fall and allowed for us to get seed germination in areas that were damaged.  We also fertilized the entire course to strengthen the plant for winter.   In the fall the plant uses the nutrients to strengthen the roots, bottom growth.  When fertilizing in the spring or summer the plant uses the nutrients to produce more leaf blades, top growth. Which is why I tell homeowners, if you can only afford to fertilize one time a year make the application in the fall.  Thanks for reading, have a good Holiday Season, and come out and take advantage of this nice December weather! 
River Nine, Hole 2 behind the forward tees