Around the Grounds in Late Fall

We've experienced some fantastic golfing weather this fall. But this week Mother Nature delivered a blast of record-breaking cold to the area. Hopefully, this was just an isolated event and we'll have additional fair weather ahead before true winter settles in.



An air compressor...

Due to this week's Polar Vortex, your Maintenance Team moved up its timeline as it relates to winterizing the golf course. All comfort stations were winterized and the irrigation system was shut down. Ball washers, bubblers, waterfall features and fountains were winter-proofed and brought indoors were applicable. The weather is expected to moderate next week so we do plan on mowing all surfaces again at this time.



...blowing out the lines.

Besides routinemaintenance and leaf removal on the golf course this season, a critical cultural practice was also completed: a majority of next year's fertilizer was applied.

Some people are surprised to learn that most of the fertilizer applied to the golf course goes out in fall. In Northern Virginia, fall is the best time to feed the turf and prepare it for next season, We use an organic fertilizer that breaks down slowly and provides an even, steady feed over time.

Fall is also a great time to control perennial broadleaf weeds like dandelions and clover. In fall, the weeds prepare for winter by pulling nutrients and starches from their leaves and into their roots. By doing this, they also draw herbicides into their root systems, thus more effectively killing the weed. Actively growing grass will quickly fill in the bare spots created after the weeds die.

Thatch management is another wonderful fall cultural practice. Thatch is a build-up of living and dead grass roots and stems between the soil and green grass blades. The amount of thatch may be checked by cutting three to four inches down into the turf with a shovel and lifting up a piece of sod. Thatch looks like a thick tangle of dark brown roots above the soil. If thatch is greater than 1/2 inch, the area should be core aerated or dethatched. In areas with a thatch layer over 3/4 inch thick you should aerate then top dress with a thin layer of soil or compost. Topdressing adds micro-organisms that help break down thatch.

Finally, fall is a great time to scratch and seed any thin areas. Newly seeded areas must have adequate moisture for seed germination and seedling growth. The seedbed and later seedling must be kept mois for six weeks.

Let's all hope for improved weather, followed by a mild winter. In this way, we'll al be able to get out and enjoy the golf course.