April snow showers bring May?

 

Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red' in full bloom and covered in snow!

It has been an unusual April. Typically, this month is cool and wet; however, this year April produced a plethora of extreme warm, cold and dry conditions. After starting the month with snow and frigid temperatures, that killed off early blooming flowers, it then quickly pushed up to 80° for a week. Then in the middle of the month three inches of snow fell along with many frost delays. This was a perfect setup for the tulips, pushing them into bloom around Easter, and the cool second half extended their flowers an extra week. In addition, the dry conditions throughout the month allowed the golf course to play firm-similar to late fall conditions. As we move forward the chances for rain seem to be increasing which would cause the golf course to go back to regular spring conditions-soft, wet, long rough, and medium green speeds.

Saucer magnolia's flowers scorched by an early spring freeze

The golf course on April 21st

Annual tulip display

Our green's maintenance program is underway. Topdressing, verticutting, and spraying have begun, helping to make the putting surfaces firm and fast during the early spring season. On June 1, the greens are scheduled for deep-tine aerification and the course will be closed. This is a much needed procedure that will help the health of the greens heading into the very stressful summer season (for more information click here for an informative USGA article. on aeration). 

The taxus bushes adjacent to #1 tee were removed. This will help with safety, allowing people coming from the driving range to see golfers teeing off #1 tee, and opening up the view of the golf course from the pro shop and patio dinning area. It will take a couple weeks for the sod to root in, but judging by the initial reception it was a much needed improvement. 

Taxus bushes before

Sodding in the snow

#1 tee after removal and new sod added

Extra sod was used in the bare area by #16 green bunker

Much of the cool season grass is exploding out of its winter dormancy; however, as the grass grows so does the springtime weeds. Some of these weeds include dandelions, purple deadnettle, chickweed, hairy bittercress, and violet. One of the most invasive spring weeds is lesser celandine. It is a short lived perennial that is on the rise in our area. It is a non native plant brought here from Europe in the 1800s. It blooms in the spring, then dies down to the ground in the summer, and returns the following spring as an expanded colony. It forms a dense mat that chokes out many of our native woodland plants. We are currently making herbicide applications to eliminate this weed and other broadleaf weeds on the golf course.

Lesser celandine taking over the wood’s floor by #4 tee

Dandelions

Herbicide spray of all the rough has been completed

The irrigation system is up and running and, as usually is the case, many irrigation leaks have needed to be repaired. Bell-end pipe leaks and loose irrigation heads have been the most abundant issues in the early season.

A fixed pipe leak #10 tee

Bell-end pipe leak #3 tee

Hopefully May brings us back into the normal spring temperatures and the Grounds Department is looking forward to a great upcoming golf season. As always you can email us with any questions or concerns at maintenance@westernhillscc.com.

Brad Piecuch                                                       Grounds Superintendent