This also allowed the disease Summer Patch to become a big issue in the Bluegrass intermediate cut and the rough. This is a disease we preventatively treat for in the early spring, which we did the same this year as to prior years. The weather conditions this year were ideal for Summer Patch to develop even with the preventative treatments. Once the disease is present their are no curative fungicides to control Summer Patch. The only cultural control for Summer patch is allow the plant to grow out of it by raising mowing heights. From mid July to the end of August we didn't mow Intermediates for this reason. Below are a few pictures showing when the disease first became active as well as after we raised the mowing height to help put less stress on the plant.
This fall we will be seeding Ryegrass into the intermediates around the greens because it is not susceptible to Summer patch. We are also doing some sodding in the roughs with Tall Fescue where the Summer Patch was the worst. Any large clumpy areas in the roughs will be areified and seeded with Tall Fescue. The Kentucky Bluegrass always bounces back and fills in from Summer Patch during the cooler growing months. This means it will still be present and susceptible to it but the Ryegrass and Tall Fescue will decrease the amount of area affected by it.
Here is a link to a great article going more in depth about Summer patch. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-115-w.pdf
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| Number 15 on July 24th |
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| Number 15 on August 31st |
Thx for the efforts of the grounds crew but there are still many areas of concern in the fairways, around the greens, tee boxes, rough. What else is being done during the "off season" to ensure the conditions next spring are better and we don't have a repeat of the last year?? Is the management team planning on having a "fireside chat" of sorts with the membership to discuss concerns and work together on a plan forward for next year?? Thx for your attention, Chad Hess
ReplyDeleteWe are continuing to work on improving these areas. This past week we have done some tee box repair on holes 11 and 17. The rough and fairways are getting extra fertilizer this fall and spring to make sure these areas are healthy for next season. We are adding some other grass types around greens and in the roughs to help with the summer patch. With the majority of our rough being Bluegrass we will always be susceptible to summer patch in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the response. The rough being susceptible...ehh...I think most of us can live with that...not thrilled but ok. Around the greens and the fairways...the key "grass" for every course and what makes this course stand is my concern and what I've heard from others. As you said additional fertilizing/fungicide.
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