Winter Damage

The course experienced some freeze burn and wind desiccation from the Christmas weekend storm. On the night of December 22nd, the temperatures dropped 55 degrees in a couple hours, the highest and fastest temperature drop ever for the Cincinnati area. Freezing rain and snow soon followed and by the next morning the wind was howling with gusts up to 40 mph. This was a historic storm and actually qualified as an official blizzard for the tri-state area. Anyone who ventured outside during the storm realized fairly quickly that this was a dangerous environment with wind chills exceeding -20 F. Frost bite could occur within minutes and unheated exposed pipes froze in hours. 

The new USDA plant hardiness zone map has the Cincinnati area in zone 6. This means that the lowest yearly temperature should be between 0 and -10 F. The WHCC weather station had -9 F as the low temperature during the Christmas storm. This is at the lowest end of the cold spectrum that plants in our area can tolerate. Many of the southern landscape plants (crap myrtles, cherry laurels, hollies, azaleas, etc...) probably will have significant damage when they break dormancy in the spring. The extreme cold negatively affected the turfgrass as well. Before the temperatures dropped, the turf was still actively growing. It was in the 40s and 50s before the bottom fell out and the turf was not ready for it. Rain, then freezing rain, then snow accompanied the cold front, and any liquid precipitation quickly froze. Snow acts as an insulator and any grass that had snow cover made it through the harsh weather without any damage. Some areas had the snow blown off by the high winter winds. It was these exposed areas that suffered damage. Once the snow melted the windrow, brown turf became evident. Multiple greens experienced significant, cosmetic damage along with many areas in the rough. In addition to the cold and wind desiccation, other locations are also experiencing some pink snow mold issues caused by the weeklong snowpack. We only spray the greens for this disease and unprotected areas are susceptible. Currently the snow mold issues are confined to some rough and fairway areas and hopefully, with warmer temperatures, they will recover. 

The good news is the wind desiccation is isolated to the top of the leaf blades and there is enough green healthy tissue underneath for recovery. It will take some time for the grass to grow out of the damage and it could be until April before the grass is back to its green, lush color. The bad news is we are in the heart of winter and I’m sure jack frost has plenty left in his tank. Another polar vortex with less snow cover could cause significantly more damage or even death to an already weakened turfgrass plant. Right now, temperatures are well above normal, and the grass is starting to grow again. Hopefully, the extreme winter weather is behind us, but we will keep monitoring and updating on conditions as we head through the winter season.

The weather station at my house in Bright, IN showing the temperature at -10 F

Hard to see but at the top of the screen the WHCC weather station shows a low of -9 F.

#16 green showing winter leaf desiccation. The wind blew the snow cover off areas of this green exposing the still growing turf. This caused the tips to freeze, and the blades quickly lost moisture from the high winds causing brown scalding to occur. Notice the wind pattern and the green turf that was still covered by snow during the high wind gusts.

Another view of #16 green.

Damage to #18 green

Winter damage to #1 fairway

Snow mold and winter desiccation to #10 rough

Winter damage to #17 rough. Notice the windrow damage in the rough caused by the blowing of the snow, exposing some turf to the elements 

Pink snow mold on #15 fairway

Close up of the damage to #18 green. Luckily the brown desiccation is limited to the upper portion of the leaf blades. There is plenty of green, healthy tissue underneath. This should only be cosmetic damage that the turf will grow out of.

For more information on winter turfgrass damage click here for an informative USGA article.

Brad Piecuch

Grounds Superintendent