Tucking It In

The short week for Thanksgiving is here and we are making our huge push to get things wrapped.  Rule of thumb is usually to have all necessary winterization tasks completed by this time as weather is so unpredictable.  November has been a slightly mild month making the grass keep pushing along but has since slowed the last few weeks.  Now with the mowers put away we've been concentrating on wrapping things up.  Major winter tasks include blowing out the irrigation system, fungicide applications, topdressing, and dormant fertilization.  By tomorrow afternoon we'll have 3 of the 4 complete with some rough fertilization to be done next week.  Our hopes then by the end of next week is that things are tuck in for bed! 

Topdressing application has been done here to the approach on #8.  Sand helps act as an insulator to the turf.  In the spring the turf will grow up through the sand and we'll just need to do a light brushing to clean it up.  All greens, tees, and approaches will be topdressed for winter.

Planting of shrubs to the back left of 16 green.  This fall we've gone through and planted some new trees and shrubs.  Logical selection and placement are taking place.  Some are completely new landscape schemes but other are to replace some that were taken down or need to be taken down due to health as well as environment for turfgrass growth.

Refugio is applying a dormant fertilizer here.  Dormant fertilization helps eliminate early spring fertilization.  Spring it can be quite wet and make application tough this way the fertilizer will sit and soak into the soil over winter and spring help with growth initiation.

The grand finale, blowing out the irrigation system.  Every year we pump air through the irrigation system to get all water removed.  This helps eliminate the risk of frozen pipes and breaking.

The season is officially at a close.  Our winter will be filled with equipment maintenance, course accessory refurbishing, as well as education seminars.  One other important task is to spend time with friends and family as limited availability is there in the spring through fall.  Stay tuned for winter updates and information.

Happy Thanksgiving!