Groundhog Day?

Here we go again.  First it was the aerial attack of the herons on the greens, followed soon thereafter by a foraging fox digging in the putting surface, and now what?  None other than a dastardly deer has assaulted the greens.

 

Yes, this is the time of year when deer start scampering about on a regular basis.  But once again we ask of them:  Anywhere but on the greens, please.  Paranoia is setting in as it's beginning to feel as if all of the wonderful woodland creatures have decided to gang up on us.

 

One thing is for sure, if groundhogs (or gophers) start tunneling in the greens, we're going to have to call in some expert help...

 

Just Another Average Year?

When dealing with the weather on a daily basis, one quickly learns that what is considered "average" actually seems to be the exception rather than the rule.  For example, in looking at rainfall for the six month period of April-September this year, things were hardly typical:

• April and May total 4.75" 
• June and July total 23.25" 
• August and September total 4.95"

How do these numbers compare to average?  The excessive rainfall of June and July was almost 300% of normal.  However, these two months were bookended by April and May at only 65% of average, and August and September at 68% of average precipitation. 

Similar to the peaks and valleys in rainfall, so too the temperatures rarely seem to be average.  Some unseasonably cool days in September were quickly followed by a full week of highs in the 80's in the beginning of October.  How does this affect things?

While temperature swings in the fall may not seem like a big deal, it does once again have an impact on the maintenance operation by forcing us to redirect labor from one activity to another.  And at a time when we have already significantly reduced our staff size from the summertime high, the need for just an extra fairway mowing (which takes 24 man hours) makes a big difference.

Yet, there is no choice but to go with the flow when Mother Nature is calling the shots. This may mean adjusting labor priorities from hand watering one day, to pushing sand and pumping bunkers the next.  The key is not to stress over what we can't control, and try to take it all in stride.

Often times our memories of the weather last as long as remembering what we ate for dinner the night before.  So, a few years from now, we may think back to 2013, and remember it as just an "average" weather year.

Mowing in the rain is not ideal for the turf or equipment operator, but sometimes it has to be done.

Say Hello to Joe

October is a great month for grass growing.  With moderate daytime temperatures, cool nights, and timely rainfall, we can really push the turf, and provide some of the best conditions of the year on the course.  However, somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature that fall is here, and we're now experiencing temperatures well above average--what many are referring to as "Augtober." 

We've also gone two weeks without any rain, leading to some of the driest conditions we've seen all year.  Irrigation systems in this part of the country were designed to supplement rainfall, not replace it.  So during periods of no precipitation, we do a lot of hand watering to makeup for any deficiencies in our sprinkler coverage.

Hand watering may not sound like a difficult job, but when performed properly, it is something of an art form.  And there is nobody better at hand watering than one of our longtime employees, Joe Honnig.  With over 20 years of experience at Laurel Creek, Joe probably knows what spots will dry out first without even checking.  However, he goes out every day equipped with an array of tools to make sure the job gets done efficiently.

The water wagon is ready for action.

What do you need besides a hose when watering?  Well, here is some of the equipment that Joe has on his cart:

• A traditional soil probe and an electronic moisture meter
• An electric hose reel so he can quickly wind up the 125' of 1" hose
• Different nozzles to use for hand watering and syringing turf
• Quick disconnect adapters for hooking into snap valves and sprinklers
• A screw gun for quickly disassembling sprinklers
• A wetting agent injection system that allows him to meter how much wetting agent is applied

One of the more difficult aspects of Joe's job (besides dragging a hose with a 120 psi of water pressure) is the need to work on greens, and try to avoid interfering with play.  If Joe is working on an area, he's definitely there to prevent turf problems.  So, please allow him to finish-up, and if you have the chance, say hello to Joe.

Joe, checking soil moisture.

We'll Try (Almost) Anything Once

Cart path entrances are one of the most difficult areas to maintain a healthy stand of turfgrass.  These spots are commonly referred to as "pinch points" since all of the cart traffic is funneled into a very narrow area, often resulting in some bare ground.

#11 green's cart path entrance is one of the spots that shows wear the worst.  We keep the area to the right of this path entrance roped in order to have the green surrounds in good shape.  And unless you have a cart with pontoons, there's no way to get cart traffic to enter the path at different points on the left.

 

So, we've pretty well defined the problem.  Now what about a solution?  Well, there have been several products that have come and gone over the years that were supposed to reduce wear on the turf in these high traffic areas.  The latest of these possible solutions is called, "Coverlawn, EZ Hybrid Turf." 

As you play #11, you'll definitely notice the material which has been installed near the cart path entrance.  While it currently looks more like artificial than natural turf, we're hoping that will change in a few weeks.  Prior to placing the Coverlawn material on the surface, we aerified and seeded the area beneath it.  This is where the "hybrid" part comes in.  With any luck, the natural grass will grow through the honeycomb of the Coverlawn material, creating something that looks like real grass.  The benefit of using the synthetic material is that it is supposed to take much of the wear and tear, instead of the grass growing within it.



If nothing else, Thor believes the EZ Hybrid material is quite comfortable.

Will it work?  That's a great question, and the reason why we're installing it on only one area for now.  If it still resembles the Brady Bunch lawn next summer, it's probably not a good fit for the long run.  However, if it works as advertised, we'll try it in some other areas.

Not the lawn we're hoping for.





We Love Our Wildlife, But...Part Two

When we recently discussed the damage that the Great Blue Herons have been inflicting upon the greens, there was no desire to have this turn into an on-going series.  However, over the past couple of weeks one of the course's other residents has decided to have some "fun" on the putting surfaces.

Two spots on #6 were dug up Tuesday and Wednesday night.

We have spotted a red fox digging in the bunkers on several early mornings.  Based on the footprints and damage, it's a safe bet that this is the culprit digging holes in the greens. 

In the bunkers, the fox acts more like a cat than a dog, as he will play with a vole he has caught, throwing it up in the air, then eventually burying it in the bunker.  Apparently foxes dig both to find and bury food.  Whichever our fox is interested in doing, we'd really appreciate it if he would choose any place other than a green.

Our camera-shy fox heading into the wetlands on #12.
 

Not More Weevils!

After a few warm days this week, it looks like we might be heading into some welcome fall weather.  Cooler temperatures will give us some good root-growing weather for the turf, and fewer pests to be concerned about...at least that's how it's supposed to work.

For several years we've been battling the Annual Bluegrass Weevil, which favors damaging Poa Annua (given their name, that makes sense) over Bentgrass, and usually lays its eggs in collar height turf.  These little guys are now considered by many to be the greatest insect pest in the northeast.  Their first damage often shows itself in late spring, and by this time of year, there are no longer well-defined generations of the weevils.  That is, you can find them in all phases of development--eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults--making control especially difficult.

As mentioned, they typically cause problems on collar height turf, leaving the putting surface alone.  However, it looks like several of the weevils overcame the challenges of egg-laying in greens height turf, as we're now finding larvae in the middle of greens.  Why would this happen now?

It's quite possible that the days immediately following greens aerification gave the weevils the opportunity they were waiting for.  During that period we skip mowing for a couple of days and raise the height of cut, allowing adult weevils to happily traverse the putting surface without fear of a mower sweeping them up.

While it's unlikely that there will be a great deal of damage to the putting surface at this time of year, it still makes sense to treat for them.  After all, any weevils that are taken out now, won't be around to lay eggs in the spring.

The legless larvae are the size of a grain of rice.

 

We Love Our Wildlife, But...

Over the years, we've witnessed the course's Great Blue Herons consume fish, frogs, mice, and even a muskrat.  It is wonderful to have these large majestic birds reside on the course--however, there can be a downside.

It seems that whatever the Herons have been eating recently, it has a high burn potential.  Just as a dog can cause yellow spots on your lawn, so too the herons can really do a number on greens height turf.  Due to their proximity to the lakes, greens #5, 8, and 11 have all required repair in several areas this summer.

Plugs from our nursery will be used to repair this large spot on #8.