Thinning and Off-color Bentgrass

Another cooler, moist morning here at the club, I guess I could say yesterday was relatively dry since we stayed under the .10” in the rain gauge.  Looking at the weather station more rain is making its way here for the early afternoon.  Why wouldn’t it?  Seems as though that’s all it wants to do anymore. 

Shot of the fog over the course this morning



With the conditions this spring some of our bentgrass is showing that it is not a happy camper.  Even though bentgrass is “cool season” turf warmth is needed.  Through spring we’ve seen mainly cooler temps with a few warm days sprinkled in.  The biggest issues we’ve had this spring is the availability of sunlight.  Bentgrass is a turf that likes full sun but can handle some light shade, as of late the sun has been very sparse.  Sunlight and warmth is important in helping it carry out its proper living functions like photosynthesis and respiration.  Without sunlight the plants ability to carry out these functions weaken the turf by reducing its energy producing ability.  You can see on our greens that some areas the turf looks thin as well as a copper/orange color.  This is all bentgrass which is affected negatively by the weather we are experiencing.  In some instances the turf is falling back into dormancy to help protect its self.  Shown below are photos of such instances:

Picture illustrates the off color, copper/orange color.  Notice the Poa bright green.  This is why our greens are a collage of colors right now.  Different growth needs for the different turfs.



Another photo illustrating the off color of the bentgrass and bright green Poa.  This is also a factor in the smoothness of our greens.  Poa is growing and the bentgrass is not so it can create for uneven growth and bumpy conditions.  Another major factor why we are regrassing.





This is a photo to illustrate what all the rain is doing with the turf conditions.  Even the rough is showing some blotchy color.  What happens with wet, cool soils is that Iron get tied up and isn't avaiable for the plant.  Iron is a key element in making turf green.  As we warm and dry up those important nutrients will become available and the turf will take it up.

I know some are questioning why things look like and play like they do.  All these factors go into creating quality playing surfaces.  We can manipulate as much as we can but when it comes to the normal needs and living process of these living organisms we're at the mercy of Mother Nature.  I can assure you that the thin, off color turf on the greens isn't dead or dying.  It is reacting to the weather and when we get some sun, warmth, and drier conditions it will recover.

Weather affects turf just as it affects humans.  Weather can compromise our immune system just as it compromises the turfs systems.  Humans don't have the same energy or ambition when it is cold, cloudy, and rainy for an extended period of time, just as the turf loses energy and the ability to grow normally. 

Bring on some sun!  Looks like the next week will help get us out of this funk, I hope.  We'll have a very busy week trying to get caught up.  This past week very little was able to be done with the wet conditions.  Catch up time is coming.