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An Icy Start To Winter
By the USGA's Adam Moeller
December 16, 2009
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Dealing with ice formation is difficult and requires careful analysis
before removal is considered. Snow/ice removal followed by a significant
drop in air temperatures can be lethal to the turf. On the other hand,
turf covered by ice for an extended time can be severely injured by
suffocation or anoxia. For Poa annua, ice encasement problems typically
arise after 60 days of continuous ice cover while bentgrass generally
lasts for a month longer under ice. However, there are many variables
affecting turf performance such as organic matter levels, the level of
hardiness attained, soil temperatures, etc. Removing ice now probably
isn’t necessary, but given the injury experi-enced last year, it might be
tempting.
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Many locations of the
Northeast Region are off to a tough start to the winter season
with recent snow and rain storms causing an early formation of ice
across greens, tees, and fairways. Widespread winter injury
occurred across the northern tier of the region last year and the
early ice formation this year is extremely frustrating and also
threatening.
Early snow/ice accumulation
in the Toronto area and other parts of the region should be
closely monitored over the next few weeks to identify the best
course of action to minimize potential winter injury.
Since most turf has probably not fully
hardened off, tolerance of ice encasement will be reduced. |
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At this point, it is
difficult to determine the best course of action. The ice may melt
all by itself, solving the problem. Removal often is risky, but
assisting natural ice removal if temperatures warm a little would
make good sense. For instance, if there is a predicted warming
trend that looks sufficient for melting the ice, helping it along
by applying melting agents (i.e. black sand) would be appropriate.
Hastening the melt if the weather is not likely to be warm enough
for the turf to clear off completely may lead to more freeze-thaw
cycles, which can be disastrous. |
Pressure to remove snow/ice layers early could be a
response from pressures created by course decision makers who remember the
problems experienced last winter. Keep in mind, removing snow/ice layers
can cause significant mechanical damage so if you do need to remove
snow/ice accu-mulations, be careful not to create a problem when trying to
solve another.
The recent
snow/ice accumulation may also have disrupted preventative snow mold
applications in the southern tier of the region.
Hopefully the warming trend
experienced earlier this week has helped clear some snow/ice and the
applications can be made as soon as possible. Now is the time to make
these applications if they haven’t been done so already.
The winter season is certainly off
to an interesting start. When communicating the potential problems that
can arise on golf courses as a result of winter weather, be sure everyone
understands that there are some variables that can be controlled and some
that cannot. |
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