When is it going to be over?

It just wouldn't make sense to not start off by asking "is it over yet?" It all started on November 27 when we received our first blanket of snow and since then it has only accumulated. As I write this, it's the first day of spring which puts our golf course at 114 days of consecutive snow cover. What we as turf managers use number of days of snow cover for is to estimate the severity of snow mould pressure and in turn the possibility of damage. Generally snow moulds become active after 40-60 days of snow cover with mild severity where as severe pressure occurs when snow cover is prolonged for 90 days and over which is where we are at. Because historically 90 days of snow cover is the norm, we do use the highest plant protection methods available of preventative control to our greens, approaches, tees, and fairways. So with all that being said the possibility of damage from snow moulds are a secondary concern of mine compared to the ice damage like we saw last season.

So just a little background on ice and the types of damage I'm concerned with this season. Once again keeping track of the number of days of cover is used to help estimate the severity of damage and aid in deciding whether or not to take action to alleviate detrimental conditions (if even possible). Our greens are predominantly Annual bluegrass which can tolerate 45-60 days of ice cover. In comparison our other grass species, Creeping bentgrass can withstand 90 - 120 days of ice cover. Under ice turf death occurs through the depletion of oxygen which is referred to anoxia. Even through the winter months the turf and soil microbes are active there bye utilizing the available oxygen through their metabolic processes. With not sufficient levels of oxygen available turf and microbe death occurs
So here's the hard data. On December 5, 2013 we received just over a .5" of rain which created a layer of ice on areas of our greens. Then through the period of January 11-13, 2014 we received 1.25" of rain which increased the ice thickness as well as the surface area covered with ice. Susceptible areas have had detrimental ice cover for a period of 106 days and others where ice formed from the January rain event have been covered for 67 days. Compared to last winter we have had snow cover to this point 14 days more and ice cover 12 days more. Either way not ideal but it leaves me thinking, if there is damage we can repair it. We really won't know for sure until the tarps are removed and all you can do at this point is speculate.

Once the low temperatures show signs of rising we will begin to remove the bulk of snow off the greens to aid with the melt and hopefully reduce the potential of turf damage through "crown hydration". In general, annual bluegrass greens and fairways are the most susceptible to crown hydration injury. During the warm days of late winter, annual bluegrass plants start to take up water (hydrate). Potential for injury exists when a day or two of warm daytime temperatures in late winter is followed by a rapid freeze. The most common time for winter kill associated with crown hydration and refreezing to occur is during the late winter and early spring when there is snow melt or rainfall and then refreezing of the water that has not drained away. Crown hydration is a problem during these events because ice crystal can form in the crown of the plant, rupture the plant cells and ultimately cause the plant to die.

Annual bluegrass is more susceptible to crown hydration injury than creeping bentgrass because it emerges from dormancy and begins taking up water. Creeping bentgrass remains dormant longer and, therefore, does not take up water and is not as susceptible to crown hydration injury during the late winter.



7 Green 3' of snow over .5" of ice cover
(Typical of conditions throughout the golf course)

9 Green 3' of snow over 1.5" of ice
(Typical conditions of susceptible spots throughout the Golf Course)

                                           

With the sun throughout the winter being lower in the sky, green sights with neighbouring trees produce shade on the green which can exacerbate the conditions that cause winter kill, mainly crown hydration. One of the greens that continually struggles from the winter months is 10. Always the same location, and it's right side always is one of the last areas to loose snow cover. I have this app on my phone which is called "Sunseeker" and it shows you the suns path in real time and it helped in the decision to remove some trees from the right of 10 green to decrease shade and increase the amount of time that sunlight is on the green. I'm not saying this is the silver bullet but should aid greatly to minimize the severity of crown hydration conditions.

Sunseeker App for iPhone
I took this screen shot while standing in the middle of 10 green

 You can see on the above screen shot of the App how the green only receives sun from the back but mostly the right side where all the trees are blocking it. Essentially from 12pm - 5pm the trees were limiting the available sunlight.

 

Pictures taken at the same time of day 

10 green before tree removal
 

10 Green after tree removal

If you happened to see this weeks newsletter you be asking yourself why would they put trees on top of the ice in a pond? This is just one of many projects that we will be working on as we attempt to achieve certification through Audubon International. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses has been developed to allow golf courses to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. The large Silver maple on the corner of hole 11 was removed this winter in accordance with the recommendation made through the long range plan created by Doug Carrick, golf course architect. We essentially kept two large portions of the tree and placed one on top of the ice in the pond between 3 and 9, and  15 as well. Once the snow and ice melt a portion of the logs will sink into the water leaving some exposed on the bank of the pond. These will provide habitat in the water for things like frogs, snakes, turtles, and muskrats to name a few, and the portion above the water line will give the turtles somewhere to sunbath and provide a perch for birds.




Loading the tree for transport

 

Placing the tree on top of the ice in the pond on 3 

3 pond habitat tree



15 habitat tree

 

I will update our progress with regards to the condition of the golf course and will let you know through the weekly news letter when I have done so. Enjoy the beginning of Spring ;-)!

Jay Sisko
Golf Course Superintendent