SDS and soil temperatures

Spring Dead Spot (SDS) isn’t the only disease that affects Bermuda grass, but it is the only one that we worry about. It will very soon be time for our first of two applications to preventatively treat for the disease.

We have discussed some of the nuances of SDS treatments in the past, which can be found here and here. The difficulty with treating for SDS is that we must treat in the fall but have no indication of whether the treatment was effective until the following May. And, even if the fungicide worked well, if the winter was too harsh for the Bermuda grass, we may still have a lot of disease and possibly winter kill.

Regardless, our program still follows the best available university research. We are working on adding in the newest and best chemicals for our applications. We water the applications down into the soil where the target pest is located and use enough water to fully penetrate the thatch at the surface. But most importantly we monitor the soil temperatures to accurately time when the applications should be made. Soil temperatures need to be below 70 degrees for 5 consecutive days. This sounds simple but it still takes monitoring and recordkeeping.

 

Soil temperatures follow the same trajectory as air temperatures but do not swing as wildly or rapidly. There is a gradual cool down as we head towards fall and not many spikes, even if we have a very warm day. Since we have been diligently checking these temperatures, our first application has been applied sometime between the September 20^th and October 1^st.

Starting September 1^st, we check soil temperatures every 5 days and wait to hit the threshold. Once we do, then we start to monitor every day so that we know when it has been 5 in a row. Finally, we must find a window to actually make the application. To have the best chance at success we must apply when Mother Natures says so, not just whenever we want. And it is a slow process- spraying all 47 acres of Bermuda grass as well as watering every sprinkler for 15 minutes afterwards.

All of this comes together to make these the two most important applications to the Bermuda grass all season. We expect to get it right and for the control to be as good as it can, but it will be 7-8 months before we know for sure.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

  

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org