Preparing greens for winter

Towards the end of the summer this year we discussed how we were going to approach our maintenance practices for the new Bermuda sod heading into fall and winter. Adjusting mowing heights and reducing wear on this turf is a vital aspect to our plan. These same principles are applied to our maintenance of greens.

Our greens are our most important piece of property. We focus the greatest deal of our energy and resources towards them. Similarly, we are also very conscious of taking great care of them when we head towards winter. While the greens do not completely stop growing at all during the year, when it is very cold they do slow to a crawl. Growing this slowly means that any damage will not heal. So we make sure to prevent any damage we can, and to reduce any stress going into the winter.

Raising mowing heights is the first and most easily achieved tactic we employ. The philosophy behind raising mowing height on the putting greens is very similar to that of Bermuda grass; more leaf tissue equals more roots, which equals a healthier plant headed into stressful times. We raise the height of the greens by .03-.035” gradually as winter approaches. This may seem minuscule, but it is a 30% increase over our regular height. 30% increase in roots, leaves, food production, and stress tolerance prepares the plant for handling winter.

In addition to mowing at a higher height of cut, we also mow less frequently. The growth of the grass slows, thus the need to be mowed declines. Mowing is also stressful to the plant, even though it is a regular practice. In fact, many of the practices we perform on the greens are stressful. Winter is also stressful on the plant, even though it is inevitable and turf grass has survived many winters before and will survive many more to come. However, if we can do anything to build the strength of the plant, we try to help. So our strategy is to mow less and roll more. Rolling is also stressful to the plant, but the far, far less than mowing. So we trade 1-2 cuts per week for a roll instead.

Topdressing is another practice that we use to help with winter strength. Putting sand on the surface of the greens is very common for us and is something we do all through the year. Continuing the practice through the fall and winter is our goal. One of the greatest benefits of the addition of sand to the soil profile is increasing water infiltration and percolation. Allowing water to break through the turf soil surface and then allowing it to move down through the root zone, means the water is not drowning the plant. This allows oxygen to stay in the soil. The sand topdressing on the greens also helps to physically protect the plant. The sand is applied lightly and falls into the canopy of the turf grass. The sand particles settle into the canopy and surround the crown of the plant, which is the “head” of the grass. This sand layer protects the plant from the cold and traffic.

We beat the turf up in spring and summer, so the least we can do is help the turf headed into winter.

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See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org