April 23, 2013

Sod coming this week

We have started repairing damage on the 1st, 9th, and 18th holes. Last week we stripped the turf from the areas that were damaged last fall or did not completely heal from the previous spring. We have already replaced the fairway turf and corrected some surface drainage. We will be working on the rough areas early this week in between rain storms.
We have been closely monitoring the progress of the greens as they continue to heal from aeration. The below average temperatures have delayed the process, and I have been reluctant to try to push the issue with excess fertilizer. When soil temperatures are low, nutrients remain in the soil until the plants are ready to use them. Adding more will add to the reserve in the soil which can lead to excessive growth and slower greens later in the spring. I have scheduled two sprays this week which will help, especially if we get the rain that is forecast for the middle of the week.
We have been gradually lowering our height of cut over the last couple of weeks. A lot of the sand that we applied last fall was pulled to the surface during the aeration, and dulls the mowers each time we mow. We have been gradually lowering the height of cut to avoid the sand and are on schedule to be at or slightly above our normal mowing height by the Opening Day Golf Breakfast. I will keep you posted on any developments over the course of the week.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Sod was delivered this afternoon and we were able to roll out about one third of the area. We also sprayed the greens with the next fertilizer application. Hopefully we will get some rain tonight and sunshine for the rest of the week.