Thank you for your patience through greens aerification! We had some delay during the process due to weather events, but overall the goals of the practice were achieved. Opening up the greens broke up compacted soil which allowed for gas exchange and new root growth. It took a couple of weeks to heal up, but from here on, you should find the greens in great shape the rest of the season.
Number Seven
The renovation of #7 fairway is nearly complete! Through our recently installed irrigation addition, we were able to keep the sprigs wet enough to take root. Weekly applications of fertilizer has the sprigs looking more like a fairway every day. This week we will begin mowing it! As the grass continues to spread, we will lower the height of cut incrementally until we reach fairway height. In case you have ever wondered, we currently cut our fairways at .600 of an inch. Tees, collars, and approaches are cut at .500 of an inch.
Every Monday?
It seems like I get asked fairly often if and when we are “sanding the greens”. The term used in the turf industry for sanding greens is topdressing. In order to maintain a fast, firm, and true putting surface it is necessary to vertically mow, and topdress with a fine sand every week during the growing season. Yes, every week. It’s not convenient if you want to play golf every Monday, but it certainly keeps the greens looking good later in the week and in to the weekend.
Lawn Maintenance
The three numbers on a bag of fertilizer stand for the percentage of three major nutrients in the bag. Those nutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. So just remember N-P-K.
Always prepare your grass for dormancy with a helping of Potassium. If you want your yard looking good next spring, make sure you get a fall fertilizer applied near the end of August or the first part of September. Be thinking about getting what you need now and you’ll be ready to apply it when you need it. With centipede lawns, I don’t recommend a lot of fertilizer, a single application of 10-10-10 once a year in May should be fine. If you have a Zoysia lawn, Bermuda grass lawn, or a mixture of any other warm season grasses I would recommend making an application both spring and fall. This fall make an application of 0-0-22, or 5-5-25, or 10-0-24, or something similar with the last number being the largest of the three.
I love growing turf grass, and I enjoy talking with the good folks at Beechwood. Some of you have reached out for advice or stopped to ask me questions about the golf course, and hopefully I’ve been helpful. If you have questions about your lawn, or the golf course, don’t hesitate to stop me, send me an email, or give me a call. If I don’t have the answer off the top of my head, I know where to find it, and that’s half the battle.
Come out and play a round today! The warm weather will be over before you know it.
See you on the course!
Buckley Brockmann
Golf Course Superintendent
