With October upon us, much of our attention will be focused on plant health in preparation for winter. Although we have no control over the winter weather, we can control what we do for the plants now to put them in the best position to succeed.
Our preparation this year has not dramatically changed from years past. We will continue to be proactive in maintenance practices that promote plant health. A healthy plant is the best defense against inclement weather.
Our plan this fall has included:
Aerification - this increases pore space, increases water infiltration, and provides an area for increased rooting.
Raised Mowing Heights - a slight raise in the height of cut allows for increased leaf blade surface, which aids in increased photosynthetic activity.
Fertility - sun angles in autumn arereduced, which decrease photosynthesis. In our weekly sprays we supplement the plants with various nutrients and amino acids, which help increase the plants carbohydrate reserves and winter hardiness.
Shade Reduction - this winter we will prune significantly around several greens to reduce the amount of shade. Much of our winter damage in years past was in heavily shaded areas on greens.