Spring Transition - It's Not Always Perfect but So Far So Good this Year

Coming Out of Dormancy

The Bermuda and Zoysia are trying their best to come out of dormancy, but the ups and downs of the weather pattern typical to the spring don't make this a consistent transition period.  This week we are experiencing high 80's and next week they are projecting a low of 32.  Last week in an email we discussed the growth surge of the Ultradwarf greens at the Farm, which we hope that we are now on the tall end of the lusher than normal growth slowing down green speeds.  With all the new growth on the short cut areas of tees and fairways we are now going out with our first mow of the season.  This is the lowest we will cut these areas all season and the first few times out will result in a lot of excessive growth mown from the surface left over from the higher heights we went into the fall season last year. The before and after can sometimes be dramatic but with the proper weather the green surface will quickly return in a few short days.

Problematic winterkill which we are always concerned with after a long winter does not appear that it will be a significant issue this year despite the well below normal temperatures in the month of January.

Also, the spring flowering trees and shrubs such as Cherries, Dogwoods, Pears and other trees are nearly in their full flowering stage.  Some of the earlier flowering shrubs such the Forsythias are on their way out but will soon be followed by the Azaleas.

Shaving off the Winter Canopy

Dogwoods and Redbuds in Bloom

 

Farm Tennis/Swim Entrance

!6 Irving Park

Spring Mulch

Each spring each course applies around 600 yards of shredded hardwood mulch on both courses.  This a a very labor-intensive job but the aesthetic and cultural returns are well worth the effort.  We will follow this up in May with over 3,000 bales of pine straw applied to the courses underneath pine trees and other areas where pine straw is more conducive.

Staff Hard at Work Spreading Mulch