Ice Damage and the Potential for Winterkill II

All over the Midwest, the question on every superintendent's mind seems to be, "what conditions will my greens be in coming out of winter?"  One can speculate all they want but there is a way to at least predict the amount of turf loss when the snow thaws and temperatures warm.  Pulling plugs from dormant greens and bringing them inside to break dormancy is a useful procedure used by superintendents for decades to see what they will be dealing with in the spring. 
Of the 20 putting surfaces at MCC, 8 are covered with the combination of bubble wrap and heavy tarps.  These covers have been, for the most part, completely successful in eliminating winterkill from these greens.  Notably, these greens have been the most problematic in the past and need this extra protection even during the average winter. The remaining 12 greens were sampled for turf recovery.  Two cores were taken from each green, in areas prone to winter damage (based on past experience).  The depth of the cores varied despite trying to keep them at a consistent two inches.  A grow lamp was utilized as well, set for a 12 hour cycle. 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 6

As the pictures depict, the majority of the plugs show recovery and growth after only 6 days.  Weakened and dead plugs consistently had over 2 inches of dense ice formation, leading the crew to believe that these conditions are conducive to winterkill, obviously over extended periods of time.   The following table shows all the data collected from the greens during this process.  Depth of ice cover was an average taken from both sites of samples on each green but a special note was made if one of the plugs was underneath +2" of ice. 

While these sample results are promising, it is important to note that the greens are still under ice cover, and the potential for turf death only increases every day they are under ice.  Also of concern are the cold temperatures predicted into April.  Crown hydration and ice formation are still a real concern with the amount of water that could potentially sit on the green surface.  To limit the amount of water settling on these susceptible plants, the crew is removing the snow from all uncovered greens but even this presents the possibility of damage (weight on the green surface can crush the ice into the plant leaf blades and crown).  That being said, the dangers posed by crown hydration are greater than the risks associated with snow removal. In conclusion, while the majority of the plugs survived, it is important to remember that this isn't completely representative of what will happen in the spring.   We are not out of the woods yet by any means so please keep those fingers crossed and send the course some positive vibes.  Enjoy. 

 

Snow removal on the 16th Green

Snow removal on the 12th Green

Snow removal on the practice putting green required the use of the tractor

Continuing Education

On the 26th of February, the assistant superintendents attended the Spring Management Meeting put on by the MiGCSA at the Inn at St. Johns.  The meeting boasted lectures on various topics and a chance to network and discuss current events and problems faced by other maintenance crew's around the Detroit area.  Topics discussed include:

• Research updates concerning the myths and misconceptions about the fungal disease Pythium
• The use of blogs and other social media software as tools for communications with customers or members
• Methods to achieve success in the interview process
• Techniques for making pesticide applications more efficient and effective
• Ice formation and the potential for winter kill (the hot topic of the meeting)
• Administrative announcements having to do with the different turf organizations present in Michigan

While everyone at these education conferences have completed their schooling, none have finished learning.  The turf industry, like other industries, constantly changes due to economic climates, changing weather patterns and environmental issues to name just a few factors.  New technologies, chemistries and cultural practices are being researched and developed every year and to stay current, these educational meetings are necessary.  The Michigan Golf Course Superintendent Association and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation not only provide funding for research but create a knowledgeable network for superintendents to utilize.  The crew at MCC would like to thank the MiGCSA and the MTF for it's continued commitment to turf managers across the state.  Enjoy.