Winter Wonderland – Cold Is Here!!!

BBBRRRRRR!!! Its cold. With recent drops in temperature, bentgrass growth has seized to exist.  As temperatures warm to around 50F bentgrass will slowly become active again and we will resume applying fertilizers and implementing our regular mowing schedules on the greens.

Until that time, the turf plants are constantly going through a freeze and somewhat thaw period.  When temperatures dip below 32F, water inside the plant’s cell freeze, just as a puddle of water would freeze in the parking lot.  This is the second most damaging time in a coll-season plants life cycle, other than the stress of summer heat. Once water in the turf plant is frozen, all traffic must remain off the plants to minimize damage. If a plant is stepped or driven on during a frost or freeze period, frozen cells in the plant are crushed, destroying plant resources and pathways for food and water to travel. This is why on a cold morning we have frost delays. These delays allow enough time to thaw the turf plants and ensure no damage can be done to the plant from traffic. A turf plant struggles to recover, if it can recover, from traffic impacts when frozen. Areas that are damaged normally warrant resodding or a long recovery period to regrow.  Please be aware of any cool season turf that might be frozen when out and about on the golf course. Stay warm!!!!