Early Spring Putting Green Performance

Many people wonder this year why it is taking awhile for the greens to recover from aerification.  We look at long range weather forecasts and they were trending towards colder than normal.  We then made the decision to use SMALLER 3/8 inch tines compared to 1/2 inch last year.  the times that were put aside for us to aerify were very cold and damp.  It was impossible to fill the holes.  With the damp weather, we could not over apply sand.  The soil temperatures we measured yesterday were at 54 degrees.  We will be applying supplemental liquid fertilizers to help the greens along, but as Dr. Clark Throssell describes below:


Temperature Drives Spring Putting Green Performance

The warmer spring temperatures are driving the green-up and even a little bit of growth on putting greens at many courses. Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass putting greens are all starting to emerge from dormancy and begin growing for the season. Temperature will dictate how quickly greens emerge from dormancy and determine their spring performance. Despite the management practices implemented or the products applied to greens, temperature still has the greatest impact on spring green-up and putting green performance.
Bermudagrass performs best when air temperatures are in the 80 to 95 ^oF range and creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass performs best when air temperatures are in the range of 60 to 75 ^oF. In many areas of the country these ideal temperatures have not been reached or at least not reached on a consistent basis. Additionally, while the daily high temperature might fall within the ideal range, the temperature for most of the day falls below the ideal temperature range. Cool and even cold nights, which are common in spring, slow the rate at which temperatures warm up the following day.
The bottom line is to be patient in the spring with putting greens. Let the turfgrass respond to the temperature. Don't try to force the turfgrass to green-up and reach mid-season performance through management. Work with the weather. Adjust your management practices as the temperatures warm up.      
-- Clark Throssell, Ph.D.