Winter-Turf-Care_2023_AmeriTurf
Winter of 2022/2023 Is Looking Like A Big Curve Ball From Mother Nature
Posted in General, Winter Turf Care by Curtis Williams
By DALE MILLER, National Agronomist
Just a few weeks ago, temperatures were a low of 12 with highs in the mid 40’s.
This past week, temperatures were in the mid 70’s all week with lows in the mid 50’s and some noticeable humidity.
This week, we even had a couple days in the 80’s as highs.
Before that, it was generally a warm fall until Christmas. All grasses I looked at were holding color except where dormancy was induced by low nutrition during the late summer, early fall.
It’s not about pushing the plant, but it is about maintaining what you have and increasing stored carbohydrates, micro nutrient reserves. Forced growth in the late summer/fall is not advisable at all for any of our grass options.
Maintaining a focus on Phosphorus, Potassium, Micros and carbohydrate management continues to be the best option in the late summer/fall months. If you can slow the growth of the plant while improving root mass, rhizome and stolon thickness you are accomplishing exactly what you need to going into winter.
The plant will naturally harden off when you keep growth reduced and focus on reserves. The weather will further stimulate hardening off as temperatures decrease and day length shortens.
As discussed, many times, hardening off the plant starts after summer solstice, which is in June. Focus after that point to carbohydrate management will produce excellent fall conditions and give you the best chance for a smooth spring transition.
For the remainder of the winter assuming it will continue the roller coaster temperatures, it is absolutely critical to manage carbohydrate reserves.
Each warm up and flush of growth is a tax on reserves. Applied granular fertilizers this time of year can be very limited in release and uptake as the biology required is sluggish at best. If straight soluble fertility is applied, the majority will be lost to rain and leaching before the plant can get it.
As nitrogen applied in any form requires carbon to convert to Amino Acids, proteins, and then plant material, the use of inorganic products in the fall without the support of carbon is not the best option.
Remember for inputs, time around warm periods.
Best would be several days into a warm up when the plant is again active. Apply when temps are above 50 at a minimum. Applications when temps are in the 40’s will yield poor results by comparison and days when temps don’t get into the 60s will be similar.
This really emphasizes the benefit of Amino Acid-based fertility with soluble nutrition as Amino Acids enhance uptake, chelate/complex nutrients and provide a very soluble form of carbon.
Physically and culturally a few things need to be revisited.
Moisture is critical in the winter just as it is in the summer. If you dehydrate the plant, let the mix get too dry, it will drop in temperature much easier and the desiccation of the plant will eliminate any work done on carbohydrate management.
Those who cover or those who do not, do not matter. Make sure the mix is hydrated before any cold event and make sure moisture is maintained through the winter. Just because its brown doesn’t mean it doesn’t need moisture.
Culturally, during warm events, keep an eye on the ability of the surface to take water. It is easy to get hydrophobic surfaces during the winter. Maintain proper wetting agent use to keep water moving in efficiently and effectively.
If you need to take out the small 1/8” Viper tines, have at it. They will not create any surface issues, and will help in moisture as well as exchange management.
As soil temps are not conducive for carbon release biologically, the plant benefits greatly from Amino Acid inputs with soluble nutrient supplementation. Big granular applications in the spring are seldom if ever what is optimal or required. Targeted, well balanced, high Amino Acid inputs in the spring are optimal.
Remember staying ahead is always better than getting behind this time of year as you have no way to catch back up.
Take advantage of the warm days for spraying, make sure you are managing moisture and continue to emphasize carbohydrate reserves. You will be happy in the spring for doing so.