Protecting greens and green dye.....

As we have moved into December, we can tell you about our efforts to prepare golf course turf from winter snow and ice, cold extremes and drying winds. This week, snow mold fungicides were applied to greens, tees and fairways. These materials protect plants from two winter turf diseases that form with or without snow cover. The fungicide materials provide protection for the entire winter. Also included was a high dosage of nutrient iron, that will encourage the growth of deep turf roots well into winter months.

Scheduled for next week, the green dye used in previous years will be applied to greens. The dye is a dense waxy covering that protect greens from winter winds. The material's thick viscosity requires two complete and separate applications. Drying winter winds that blow on greens, without snow cover, can dry plants to the point of killing turf. The "Wintergreen" product we use insulates turf similar to fiber or cloth coverings you may have seen protecting greens at other northern courses.

Also this year, we will protect greens with a layer of topdressing sand left over from greens aeration. The sand must be used this year because we have no way to store this special "oven dried" sand during wet winter months. So, the leftover sand will give greens an extra layer of protection from the harshness of winter.

Finally, colder temperatures will arrive this week compared to the last few weeks of great golf weather. Depending on how much snow we receive tonight, we may be able to keep the greens open depending on conditions we see during the next few weeks. We will keep you posted!!!