Spring's arrival is due in a few days, but you would never know it looking out your window. Much of the region remains covered with snow, and temperatures, although creeping upward, remain below normal. The feeling thus far is positive throughout much of central and southern New England.

Mary Owen, University of Massachusetts, reports that all turf samples received thus far from cooperators involved with the Winter Injury Study are in good condition in the growth chambers. Turf managers in northern New England and eastern Canada are more concerned as an ice layer and snow pack has been in place since January. It is likely that annual bluegrass under the ice layer has lost much of its cold temperature hardiness and carbohydrate reserves, and may be facing anoxic conditions. The prospects of damage in the north will be known soon enough as more and more superintendents begin to examine greens and collect samples.

We are not out of the woods yet, as spring in the Northeast can be fickle, with severe variations between day and nighttime temperatures and a melting snow pack. This was illustrated this past week when another coastal storm tore through the region. For many it started as rain and transformed into sleet and snow as temperatures dropped below freezing. A high temperature of 61° was recorded at Manasquan River Golf Club in Brielle, NJ at 2:00 pm on March 7^th and 24 hours later plummeted to 20° and ended with a low of 16° the following morning. Was it cold enough to be lethal to annual bluegrass in March? Only time will tell. Fortunately, there was some snow on the ground that may have buffered the temperature swing.

Weather data also was collected for the same dates at Tedesco CC in Marblehead, MA where canopy (under impermeable cover and snow) and air temperatures are being monitored. Note the canopy temperature for both greens was buffered from the colder air temperatures. Once again, the importance of snow as an insulator against the potentially lethal air temperatures is evident.

So what do you do at this point when annual bluegrass is probably at its most vulnerable point of the winter season?

1. If a snow pack is in place and no ice layer present.

It is probably best to do nothing, especially in northern parts of the region where the likelihood of lethal cold temperatures remains. Keep the snow in place and let it melt naturally. Begin clearing paths through drainage swales in anticipation of snow melt, but allow Mother Nature to proceed.

2. If a snow pack exists and an ice layer has been in place under forty-fifty days.

There is no need to panic, but it is a good idea to clear off a portion of a green or two and extract a turf sample with a reciprocating saw or hole bit to check for anaerobic conditions and the quality of the turf. Any sign of an anaerobic condition probably justifies initiating snow removal work to begin exposing the ice layer. Once the snow is cleared, the ice can be allowed to melt naturally or with the help of darkening agents or ice melt products. It is always best to work with the weather when initiating snow and ice removal and make sure that there is no standing water as the snow and or ice layers recede. Have a permeable cover available to recover recently exposed greens to protect them from cold nighttime temperatures or desiccating winds.

3. A snow pack is present and the turf is encased in ice that has been in place 60 days or longer.

Hopefully, there is no problem, but this is the worst case scenario for turf managers. Clear off a portion of green or two to collect some plugs and check for anoxia and the turf's viability. It is likely there will be some indication of anoxia under dense ice layers and in that case it is a good idea to begin removing snow immediately to deal with the ice layer. The process should be initiated even if you a fairly sure damage has already occurred. The removal will help vent toxic gases that may have accumulated and speed the soil's warm-up in preparation for seeding. Keep the permeable covers available to protect recently exposed, de-hardened turf or turf that may be only partially damaged from the cold and wind. Some have even gone as far to blow snow back on to exposed greens to protect annual bluegrass from cold temperatures.

This is crunch time for annual bluegrass and turf managers alike in the Northeast. Hopefully, the winter has treated you well and the snow melt will be a gradual one in which the temperatures remain spring-like. It is always difficult to generalize snow and ice removal recommendations so we encourage you to contact our offices to discuss various techniques and options for snow and ice removal, and recovery strategies should they be required.

Northeast Region Green Section- Dave Oatis, Director doatis@usga.org; Jim Baird, Agronomist jbaird@usga.org; Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist jskorulski@usga.org.