Winter weed control

Faint blue spots are weeds sprayed
by hand

Each winter we make an effort to remove as many weeds from the Bermuda grass as possible. This year was no exception. The only difference this year is the scope of our program. Through a little bit of planning, some good weather, and a lot of luck, the weed totals this year are far below what they have been in any of the past few years.

Our general program in the past has consisted of hand spraying dormant Bermuda grass tees and approaches with round-up, the non-selective herbicide that can kill all types of plants. We would then follow that up with a broadcast spray application of the same chemical, Roundup, across all of the dormant Bermuda grass fairways to kill all of the weeds in those areas. Finally, we would make one more broadcast spray application with a selective herbicide, once the Bermuda grass has begun to grow. This herbicide does not hurt the Bermuda grass, but kills all of the other weeds.

Blue spots are visible here as well

Similar to years past, we started with hand spraying. If you have played over the last couple of weeks, you will have noticed the blue spots on the tees and approaches. This was the grounds staff spot spraying the weeds on the dormant Bermuda grass. We target the tees and approaches with hand spraying because it is too dangerous to get the big sprayer in such tight areas using chemicals that will kill all of the grass. We can be much more effective, efficient, and safe by using the small sprayer.

Next, we would have normally needed a full or spot spray on all of the dormant Bermuda grass in the fairways. However, this year, there are so few weeds that we won’t be making this application at all. There are probably several reasons that the weeds are so few this year, with the most important being the health of the Bermuda grass headed into last fall/winter. The fairway turf was thick and healthy so there were not any thin areas for weeds to establish.

Lastly, later in spring, once the Bermuda grass has begun to grow, we would make our selective herbicide application. Again, though, due to the lack of weeds, this will be adjusted this year as well. This normally has been a full application on all Bermuda grass. However, this year, our plan is to make only spot applications. We will use our large sprayer, make up a full tank, and drive across all of the fairways, but only spray where there are weeds. This is another opportunity for us to be more effective and efficient.

By reducing the amount of weeds in the Bermuda grass with healthy turf and some good fortune, we will eliminate one entire application and reduce another by more than 50%.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Winter cart path only rules are designed to protect the dormant Bermuda grass. It is not dependent on if the fairways are too wet or not.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org