Welcome to our April blog
The prolonged period of cold weather has held back our programme of feeding the greens, tees and surrounds. The low soil temperatures restricts the fertiliser from being taken up by the roots of the grass plant, a minimum soil temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius is needed to aid the up take of the nutrients.
We recorded soil temperatures of between 2-5 degrees Celsius over the past month which confirmed our reluctance to feed. It is hoped the weather system will soon allow temperatures to rise and bring spring like conditions, enabling us to carry out the applications.
Even though our fertiliser programme was interrupted by the dry cold weather it allowed us to scarify the fairways and practice ground.This picture shows greenkeeper Ken Bennison using our Kioti DK 501 tractor with the Wessex proline scarifier.
The scarifier slices through the turf sward removing any build up of fibre at the base of the plant.If the fibre is allowed to build up it would create a spongy surface that would retain moisture weeds and moss.
This practice works alongside vertidraining and slitting with the objective of maintaining a firm turf surface that creates a healthy deep rooting plant growing in desirable soil conditions.
The parkland setting of the course offers a haven for wildlife with woodland in and around the boundary,specimen mature oak, beech, ash, lime and silver birch trees are positioned around the course.
These trees create great environmental habitats and this is aided by our team putting up bird boxes and cleaning out last years used boxes.Jack Hosker and Chris Lewis can be seen cleaning out the box behind the 6th green.
Birds that have been spotted around the course include, the green woodpecker, kingfishers, hen harrier, siskin, reed bunting, and spotted flycatcher's
Hopefully the bird population can be increased in the colonels wood which has recently seen ten new bird and bat boxes positioned, special thanks to Messrs Arthur Richardson and Stan Wilcock for making and supplying the boxes.
Greens Aeration (Procore)
Jack Hosker can be seen using the procore on the greens, this machine enables aeration at various depths to take place with minimal surface disturbance. It reduce's surface tension and allows applications of fertiliser, top dressings and wetting agents to target the rootzone.
The procore uses various tines and sizes, it is used on a regular programme on greens, tees and surronds to reduce compaction and to promote healthy root structures.
Why we stay off frosty greens
When moisture in and around the the leaf blade freezes,it makes the leaf brittle, when foot traffic walks on to the frozen plants it breaks the leaf and causes them to die.
It is well recognised that in periods of deep frost that's penetrated the rootzone, damage will be caused to the roots when thawing takes place if walked on.
This happens when the upper profile thaws and the lower profile could still be frozen, foot traffic on the turf in these conditions will create shearing and breaking of the root system.Over a short period of time the turf would die back creating uneven surface levels.
We aim to keep the flags on the greens at all times, unfortunately in frosty conditions we have to use the temporary greens because of the above reasons.
Our blog in May will cover the various techniques used in preparing the course. It will also show and explain some of the cutting machines we use, and hopefully discuss our spring feeding programme.
Terry Wharton Head Greenkeeper April 2013
