Putting the Course to Bed

Well it’s here.The leaves are falling and the frost has hit.  As I make course visits, I hear a familiar mantra, “Wow, I need a break!”  Winter's grip will be here soon enough and the long break you all deserve will be upon us. The glorious hiss of compressed air howling through irrigation heads will be like a whistle at the end of a long shift.

To me, the practices that take place in the fall are the most important of the season. We are always at the mercy of Mother Nature, but never so much as when we put the course to bed for the winter. Topdressing, aerifying, fertilizing, covering or not covering turf are all decisions that can have a huge impact on how our turf makes it through the winter. This is my twenty-third winter in this industry, and the options still bounce around in my head every fall.

I am not sure if there is one proper way to prepare turf for an uncertain winter. We have to do the best we can and rest assured that we have done all that our expertise and experience have taught us. As you are executing your winter plan, remember time spent now may save double that time in the spring. Finish strong and do all you can to ensure the turf will be at its best in the spring. Also, take some time to do whatever you enjoy in your down time. Ask your neighbors what they do. 

Your ProGro agronomist can be a great resource for information. They see many interesting things, which are being tried at other facilities, and some are finding great success. For instance, wetting agents and growth regulators are being used late into the year. Dyes and pigments are also being applied with snow mold applications. There is even a new ice melt for turf! You will enjoy the winter more knowing that your turf has been taken care of properly. Thank you for entrusting us to be a part of your program.  

Rusty Stachlewitz

ProGro Sales Representative