Bermudagrass Update

I wanted to write about the progress of the Midlawn Bermudagrass.  This year, through my hiring and the visits by the USGA, a commitment was made to grow bermudagrass on Newport Bay.  To recp, we sprayed the firways with Revolver EXCEPT parts of 3,5,8,9, 11, 14, 17 and 18.  Revolver completely kills all cool season grasses within the bermuda.  We then scalped the bermuda and began an aggressive fertilizing program.  The results have been outstanding.  With some tree removal and some selective sodding, I believe we will achieve outstanding results.  The bermuda exceeded my expectation on #8, 9 and 18.  The plan going forward is to embrace the tan.  The first week of September, we seeded 3 passes around the bermudagrass with a blend of perennial ryegrass and turf type tall fescue.  The hope is this ring will highlight our nice fairways.  I have raised the height of cut on the fairways, so there is more grass blade going into winter, for protection.  YES, there will still be some ryegrass, bentgrass that will come up within the bermuda.  We have applied the herbicide BARRICADE to the fairways for poa annua.  The goal is 75% control.  We will then apply ROUNDUP at 32 oz/acre in late winter to clean them up.  This process is ongoing.  One year will not solve all of our issues.  They will be less and less over time.

Seaside Tee Corrections

Some of the tees on Seaside gave us some problems this summer.  A look underground gives us a clue as to the extent of the problem.  The layer of thatch can be seen where my knife is pointed, up to just below the green leaf blades.  The excess thatch dries out quickly, causing localized dry spots.  then when we rewet the dry spots, the wet thatch acts to hold in the summer heat, boiling the root systems of the cool season grass.  We began an aggressive thatch removal this past week.  Over time, this will manage this problem.  This also can cause turf disease, so proper maintenance can save money.  Remember, verticutting is like a major surgery.  You arent ready to run a maarathon after having heart surgery do you?

Greens Maintenance

Awhile back I posted photosof the solid greens rollers we switched to to lessen the stress on the greens for July and August.  With the cooler nights, we are transforming back into a more intense maintenance mode.  Our aerification went well and generally healed well.  The only exceptions are 5 Newport and 14 Seaside.  Notice BOTH greens are surrounded by trees.  We will try to remedy this more this winter.  We placed the heavy grooved rollers back on the greens mowers after Irene's wetness subsided.  We then set our new verticutters at a 1/16 inch depth.  We mowed two ways removing the excess mat and stolons created by the solid rollers.  To me it is just a part of normal Mid Atlantic maintenance.  The hope is you will understand how we go to great lengths to protect the greens in July and August.  The result is a fast healing aerification and better greens when the weather cooperates.  Here is a close up of the verticut blades.