MN HEAT Cancel The title field is required!

1. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   7/2/2012 6:07 PM

   Just a quick question with this lovely heat wave we are having in Minnesota. I've been syringing my greens four to five times a day for about three minutes every hour to every hour and a half. The dew points have been in the high sixties, humidity in the mid 30's to mid 50's with temps running 90 to 94 and winds coming from the south at 10 to 15 mph. Right now my greens are pretty soft and I need to dry them out. My TDR 300 meter readings are 18 % to 23%. I've been trying not to water the greens at night to dry them out. Is this the right play.. I'm just afraid if the greens get any wetter black algae will show up like last year. With this heat I mow one day and skip the next day. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Dave

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   7/3/2012 10:07 AM

   If you don't have the capability of handwatering, try running heads less and stretch intervals more. A true syringe cycle doesn't add moisture to the profile. If this heat continues, and you get/stay wet, you'll cook your roots. Right now, sounds like the wind is helping you out.

   
   
   
   
3. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   7/3/2012 9:07 PM

   Agree with the above statement, "syringing" that much you are putting down 12-15 minutes of water a day. If the wind is blowing that hard try 2 heads and let the wind push the mist across the green. My question is, is it worth it? The cool down only lasts 20 minutes, but that water may keep the profile wet for a heck of a lot longer cooking the roots. Wet soils retain more heat, its a tough battle and there is no magic bullet. Just my 2cents.

   
   
   
   
4. Green Robert B

   
   7/4/2012 8:07 AM

   David,
   
   This year is unlike anything we have experienced. Such early heat is very unusual for all of us. Most of my turf survival tricks all involve getting the plants through till you get a break in temps. That's worked for more than thirty years. The only problem is what if you don't get a break in heat, which is more like the situation we are in. Having a string of 90's and then three days in the hundreds is really new to Chicago area golf courses, especially since we have all of July and August left.
   
   My rootzones are very saturated from syringing. We are a small crew and we hose them lightly in the morning, syringe at peak heat and do not water overnite. We skip mowings as often as possible. PGR's help, acid injection, proper wetting agents and we use a Dac Signature Heritage to keep 90 year ole pushups alive.
   
   Good luck and know you are in good company.