If you take a few minutes and review the recent updates from some of the other Green Section Regions a fairly common theme emerges. Along with the summer golf season beginning to wind down, the focus of course management efforts is shifting from survival to recovery and preparations for the fall and winter. As is the case with the rest of the country, the kick-off of college and NFL football and the approaching major league baseball playoffs also dominate the sporting news and everyone's conversation in Florida. However, it will be at least another six to eight weeks before there is any break in the normal Florida summer weather pattern of hot daytime and nighttime temperatures and high humidity. These conditions favor maximum growth of bermudagrass and seashore paspalum, and keeping up with routine mowing and other aspects of course management is a primary challenge at facilities throughout the state. However, it is also very important that measures be underway to prepare for the upco ming winter season, which is the primary focus of most clubs and courses throughout the region.
In late August to early September, a final core aeration of putting greens, tees, fairways, and primary roughs always needs to be a priority for controlling organic mater accumulation and soil compaction, and, in turn, maintaining good moisture infiltration and gas exchange. With sustained warm season turf growth, a reasonably fast recovery from this final coring rotation occurs. However, constant hot temperatures and high relative humidity exerts an additional stress, and care must be exercised to avoid excessive damage with cultural management practices.
Based on our experience, it is best to conduct close center core cultivation of putting greens using 3/8ths to 1/2-inch diameter tines. Also, with all turf areas, only light verticutting for grooming purposes rather than thinning of the turf cover and removal of thatch/surface organic matter accumulation is advised. Hopefully our luck will hold out through the remainder of the hurricane season and no major storms will hit the state that would prevent accomplishment of late summer cultural management programs. There are obviously many other reasons for not taking a direct hurricane hit, but, in years past, when major storms hit the state and it was necessary to alter programs, a price was paid during the winter season.
Regardless of whether or not winter overseeding programs will be undertaken in a couple of months, producing optimum bermudagrass turf health and ensuring good carbohydrate storage occurs are naturally key components in preparing for the winter. If the base bermuda is not in a healthy condition, the likelihood of surviving the peak winter play season is reduced and there is an increased potential for transition problems in the spring to early summer. Supplying adequate, but not excessive, nitrogen and making sure that sufficient levels of all other nutrients are available is extremely important. In the most recent issue of the Green Section Record (September/October 2007), an excellent review of basic fertilization is presented.
Especially with putting greens, adequate leaf surface area must be maintained for balanced growth, carbohydrate production, and storage. While the ultradwarf bermudagrasses can tolerate extremely low heights of cut in the range of 0.100 inch or less, continual close mowing does still exert significant mechanical stress and weakens root system development. Typically during the late summer and early fall in Florida, periods of reduced sunlight intensity due to heavily overcast skies is a problem and can reduce photosynthesis. The practice of slightly elevated heights of cut is strongly encouraged. If it is necessary to provide faster putting speeds, especially for the play of tournaments or special events, double cutting or cutting and rolling on a regular basis are the best options.
If there are additional questions or concerns about fall preparations, or if the Green Section can be of assistance in any manner, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Source: John Foy, jfoy@usga.org or 772-546-2620.
