Bermudagrass Spring Transition

Each spring the warm season grasses transition from a dormant state of growth to a new period of awakening. As with almost any plant growth cycle weather is clearly a significant factor in the overall outcome that relates to plant growth and health. As most are well aware, the winter brought in a very cold spell in late December and early January where the plant is just now expressing the effects of those cold temperatures.  While we are still in the month of February, recent warmer than normal temperatures are causing the warm season grasses to try and break dormancy.

Farm Ultradwarf Greens - Why Do They Look So Odd?

Most noticeably breaking dormancy are the new Ultradrawf putting surfaces at the Farm.  The tightly mown surfaces and the sand based growing medium create a warmer than normal soil profile.  The remaining areas of the course (tees, fairways and roughs) that are in large part grown on heavier soils and have much thicker canopies are slightly slower to warm up and break dormancy.
Adding to variations currently expressing themselves on the Farm greens are the effects of our winter covering program that served to protect the greens from the dangerously low temperatures over the past few months.  Growth is now occurring in several different areas.  The most noticeable areas are where the dual covers overlapped resulting in a form of double insulation.  Winding streaks throughout many of the greens are also very noticeable.  This is the result of wrinkles in the cover that provided an extra layer of air, which in effect offered an increased layer of protection.  The final areas that are noticeably different are areas where pine straw and tennis balls were used to ensure an added layer of air and increased level of protection.  All three of  the conditions listed above have resulted in these areas breaking dormancy quicker than other areas of the green.  These areas are now actively growing while the remaining and majority of the green is still in a state of dormancy.  While we still believe we are in good shape with the overall health of the greens as it relates to potential winter damage the uneven rate at which certain areas of the green are breaking dormancy has and will continue to result in an odd look to the putting surface.  We expect as this continues it will also have a negative effect on ball roll as the areas actively growing will affect ball roll more than the dormant surfaces.  Everyone who has managed Ultradwarf greens in our area always speaks of the spring transition period being the most difficult time of year to provide consistent playing surfaces and this year may prove to be slightly more difficult than normal.

Partial Dew Resulting from Actively Growing Areas

Closeup of Actively Growing Area

Closeup of Dormant Area

White Healthy Stolen from Dormant Area

All Other Areas of Bermuda

Those same cold temperatures that are now expressing themselves on the Farm greens will certainly begin to show themselves throughout other parts of the course as the soil temperatures begin to gradually rise.  Not unlike any other year where a significant cold snap invaded the area, we do expect to see some signs of damage in the areas most prone to winter damage.  On the Farm course the Zoysia is more cold tolerant, so we don't expect to see anything beyond the normal wear and tear in these areas.  But as the rough is Bermuda there will be certain areas that may show signs of damage.  Areas where shade has weakened the turf or north facing slopes resulted in colder soil for a longer duration may be prone to thinning or death.  Our largest risk comes at the Irving Park course where we have numerous areas that are shady or poorly drained.  While we don't expect the level of damage we experienced with the late freeze of 2015 we are planning for more turf repairs than we would have to deal with in a normal year.