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| Squirrel! |
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
How low can you go?
The recent cold snaps have everyone staying inside to stay warm and cozy, but unfortunately we had to leave the golf course outside. Those couple of cold days really drove the soil temperature down to the point where almost all metabolic processes in the plant stop and the grass goes dormant.
Once the soil temperature drops to 55 degrees the plant starts becoming sleepy and wants to go dormant. As you can see in the picture below, for a short while, for couple of days the soil temps were in the 40's. The picture is of the information I get from a buried wireless soil monitoring device in the 15th green. The low temperatures are why the course looks a little off from the normal green we are used to seeing. The good news that as you can also see, the soil temps popped right back up after a few warm days. We just need it to stay warm for longer than a week between cold snaps so the place can green up again.
Once the soil temperature drops to 55 degrees the plant starts becoming sleepy and wants to go dormant. As you can see in the picture below, for a short while, for couple of days the soil temps were in the 40's. The picture is of the information I get from a buried wireless soil monitoring device in the 15th green. The low temperatures are why the course looks a little off from the normal green we are used to seeing. The good news that as you can also see, the soil temps popped right back up after a few warm days. We just need it to stay warm for longer than a week between cold snaps so the place can green up again.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Cold weather recovery
Anyone that has played the course in the last couple of days has probably noticed how the course looks a little faded. The dullness is from the frost last week. The affects of the cold weather usually peaks about 4-7 days after the weather passes through. This temporary dulling of our normal luster will disappear quickly as we enjoy the beautiful weather we have now. To aide in a quicker recovery I am having the playing surfaces sprayed with a fertilizer to "jump start" the plant back into active growth.
One of the best benefits of the cold weather is that the putting surfaces are absolutely spectacular right now. The cold makes the plant harden off and completely stops leaf elongation which normally creates ball roll resistance. Cold means green's speed, but it also means a lack of surface recoverability from ball marks and cleat marks. So to help the plant, and the playability, when the greens were sanded yesterday I had the staff apply a liberal amount of sand. The intent was to make sure any surface blemish caused indirectly from the cold weather were filled in and smoothed. The sand will dissipate quickly as the plant resumes normal growth and the sand shouldn't create any playability issues.
One of the best benefits of the cold weather is that the putting surfaces are absolutely spectacular right now. The cold makes the plant harden off and completely stops leaf elongation which normally creates ball roll resistance. Cold means green's speed, but it also means a lack of surface recoverability from ball marks and cleat marks. So to help the plant, and the playability, when the greens were sanded yesterday I had the staff apply a liberal amount of sand. The intent was to make sure any surface blemish caused indirectly from the cold weather were filled in and smoothed. The sand will dissipate quickly as the plant resumes normal growth and the sand shouldn't create any playability issues.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Frost Delay
Patchy frost this morning here, see the first picture of one of our tee slopes. The second picture is another course here in town from this morning as well. As you see, we fared pretty well. 
Monday, January 2, 2012
Protecting your plants during a frost
As I'm sure you all know, we are going to experience some cold weather in the next few days. This is just a friendly reminder to cover your cold sensitive plants (Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, Begonia's, Salvia, etc). This also goes for any tomatoes plants, strawberry plants, herbs or any other plant outside that you might think is susceptible to cold damage. Also, make sure to tent the frost cloth above the plants, if the cover rests on the plants it will stick to them and do damage to the foliage. Plants like geraniums and petunias can take a bit of cold weather.
The type of frost cover is also very important. Avoid plastic covers if you can! The reason is the material transmits the cold to the plants better than the fibrous materials when in direct contact. If you can't move the plants inside and do not have the right frost clothes you can use bed sheets, old blankets, pine straw mulch or anything that will give the plant a little protect from the freeze. Be creative if needed. When I was a kid and it was going to freeze I remember my Dad emptying out the linen closet to cover all of his prized plants and bushes. Mom wasn't too happy about it!
Lastly, don't forget to secure the covers. The cold will be preceded by lots of wind. You do not want all of the work you put in to protect your plants to be literally blown away and the plants still get damaged.
P.S. There is a very strong chance that we will have a frost delay on Wednesday morning. Maybe Tuesday, but with all the wind that is supposed to proceed the real cold I'm doubtful. If you have an early morning tee time, please call the golf shop to check for any delays on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Happy New Year!
The type of frost cover is also very important. Avoid plastic covers if you can! The reason is the material transmits the cold to the plants better than the fibrous materials when in direct contact. If you can't move the plants inside and do not have the right frost clothes you can use bed sheets, old blankets, pine straw mulch or anything that will give the plant a little protect from the freeze. Be creative if needed. When I was a kid and it was going to freeze I remember my Dad emptying out the linen closet to cover all of his prized plants and bushes. Mom wasn't too happy about it!
Lastly, don't forget to secure the covers. The cold will be preceded by lots of wind. You do not want all of the work you put in to protect your plants to be literally blown away and the plants still get damaged.
P.S. There is a very strong chance that we will have a frost delay on Wednesday morning. Maybe Tuesday, but with all the wind that is supposed to proceed the real cold I'm doubtful. If you have an early morning tee time, please call the golf shop to check for any delays on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Better get out your heavy coats
Local Severe Weather Alert for location
Special Weather Statement in effect
... TURNING MUCH COLDER LATE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA MONDAY AFTERNOON. BEHIND IT, AIR TEMPERATURES BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 30S WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO THE MID AND UPPER 40S ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. EVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY MORNING, WITH TEMPERATURES POTENTIALLY FALLING BELOW FREEZING OVER GLADES, HENDRY, INTERIOR COLLIER, AND INTERIOR PALM BEACH COUNTIES. LOW TEMPERATURES ELSEWHERE WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM THE MID 30S TO THE LOWER 40S. IN ADDITION TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES, BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. WIND CHILL ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES DURING THIS PERIOD MAY RANGE FROM THE MID 20S WEST OF THE LAKE TO THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
Special Weather Statement in effect
... TURNING MUCH COLDER LATE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA MONDAY AFTERNOON. BEHIND IT, AIR TEMPERATURES BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 30S WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO THE MID AND UPPER 40S ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. EVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY MORNING, WITH TEMPERATURES POTENTIALLY FALLING BELOW FREEZING OVER GLADES, HENDRY, INTERIOR COLLIER, AND INTERIOR PALM BEACH COUNTIES. LOW TEMPERATURES ELSEWHERE WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM THE MID 30S TO THE LOWER 40S. IN ADDITION TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES, BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. WIND CHILL ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES DURING THIS PERIOD MAY RANGE FROM THE MID 20S WEST OF THE LAKE TO THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
Feds propose delaying controversial water quality rules while Florida works on its own | The Florida Current
Feds propose delaying controversial water quality rules while Florida works on its own | The Florida Current
Please take a minute to read the article about the latest news on an issue that potentially would have massive reprocussions across the entire United States regarding water.
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