As summer closes, we take time to evaluate what worked well and what didn't work so well. An interesting happening is how smart turf insects are. In the two pictures, you can see insect damage near a green and just in the rough. The insects seem to have the ability to take up residence just outside of the area we apply insecticide. Usually these areas show up around Labor Day.
Our fall aerification has begun with Newport going first. The turf is tired, beat up, worn and needs rejuvenating. I think one of the reasons our aerifications are successful is we try to preserve the turf during summer stress period. We do this by using solid rollers, slightly raising heights, rolling during hottest days and weekly Foliar feeding. We make monthly fungicide applications that are watered into our root zone which keeps the plants healthy. When we perform the aerification, the turf really responds and rebounds quickly. It looks like a mess for a little bit, but its going to be a great fall season.
