This spring, superintendents across the Southeast have been fielding a familiar but frustrating comment from golfers and club members: “The grass looks green, but it still seems kind of thin.” It’s a fair observation. Many bermudagrass golf courses greened up early this year thanks to a string of sunny days in late February and March. But while the turf may have shed its winter brown and taken on a vibrant hue, growth and recovery – particularly in high-traffic areas – have lagged behind expectations. As a USGA agronomist who walks a lot of fairways and greens at this time of year, I’ve seen the same story repeated across the region. The turf looks ready for the season, but underneath that green facade, it’s still very much in neutral. What’s happening and what can you do about it?
Soil temperatures lag behind air temperatures.
In early spring, warm sunny days can trigger chlorophyll production in the leaf blades, giving turf its green appearance. However, actual soil temperature, especially at the 1-inch to 2-inch depth where most bermudagrass roots function, is a far more reliable indicator of plant activity. For sustained growth, soil temperatures generally need to be consistently above 65 degrees F.
Despite some unseasonably warm days this spring, nighttime lows have remained cool in many parts of the Southeast, and those fluctuating temperatures prevent soils from warming up consistently. The result is green leaves but a sluggish root system that’s not ready to fuel aggressive growth or recovery.
Root systems are still rebuilding.
Bermudagrass relies heavily on its carbohydrate reserves when it emerges from dormancy. However, those reserves can be depleted after a harsh winter or an extended dormancy. Top growth remains slow until the plant reestablishes its root system and resumes photosynthetic efficiency. Courses that had late-season play, aggressive fall cultural practices, or suffered winter damage may see even slower spring recovery.
Moisture issues have hampered growth.
Early spring tends to be feast or famine regarding rainfall. Most courses in the Southeast have endured prolonged dry spells, leading to localized dry spots that delay uniform greenup and growth. Others have experienced overly wet conditions that create anaerobic soils, inhibit root respiration and exacerbate disease pressure, all of which slow active growth.
What can be done?
There’s no substitute for patience, but a few strategies can help you navigate this sluggish spring.
Monitor and Manage Soil Temperatures and Moisture: Soil thermometers and moisture meters give more actionable information than air temperatures. Delay aggressive cultural practices until the turf can recover optimally. Adjust irrigation to supply the correct amount of water needed for the plant to thrive without overwatering and causing more issues with disease pressure.
Adjust Nitrogen Timing: Early season nitrogen can push color, but without root activity it won’t translate into sustainable growth. Focus on spoon feeding with light foliar applications to maintain turf health without overstimulating top growth. Fertigation, especially during drier conditions, can provide valuable nutrients for plant uptake.
Cultural Practices: Aeration will eventually be necessary, but timing it during favorable weather windows and avoiding overly aggressive techniques can prevent prolonged surface disruption.
Communication is Key: Understanding the lag between greenup and active growth is critical for course leadership and golfers. A transparent explanation of why things look better than they really are can go a long way in managing expectations.
Conclusion
It’s easy to mistake green grass for actively growing turf, but for superintendents and agronomy teams the signs of actual growth go much deeper than color. In years like this, where spring weather sends mixed signals to the turf, patience and precision become the most critical tools in the shed. Golfers may have to wait a few more weeks before the course catches up to its color. Growth will come, but it will not always be on our schedule.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org