2011 Ice Damage

This post describes the ice damaged incurred in 2001.  At this time i am a little concerned about the possibility of ice forming on the greens.  Historically the greens have fared well over the winters with the exception of two years ago.   2010/11 winter brought tremendous amount of snowfall followed by a warming trend in late winter.  The snow slowly melted and formed ice on the greens.  That winter we had a three inch layer of ice accumulation on four of our greens.  Poa annua does not survive under ice for prolonged periods of time.  We had varying amounts of damage that year with the third green hit the hardest.  These pictures were taken in mid march.

If memory serves me correct the course also flooded and this green was under water.  There was silt on this green which is evident by the black smears.  We cleaned the green up as well as we could.

In early April it started to warm up and it was evident that these areas were dead.  I covered the green with a semi permeable green cover to help warm up the soil.  I then double aerated these areas with block needle tines and overseeded with Mackenzie bentgrass.  This is a mixture of Tyee and 007 bentgrass.  NTEP seeding trials showed it performs well in our type of climate.  The pictures below were taken April 8th.

The cover is working well and the green is responding to the warmer soil temperatures.  The pictures below are from April 15th.  The areas are getting a little smaller but need some more time.

 

 

The picture below was taken April 29th.  I walk mowed it at .250 and i got alot of grass!  The seedlings have germinated and organic fertilizer application has the grass growing.

 

 

In early May i double aerated with small diameter coring tines.  It was topdressed and seeded again.  I opened the green for play in the middle of May.  Mackenzie bentgrass is a great cultivar!