keeping fairways alive Cancel The title field is required!

1. Naggatz Larry D

   
   6/19/2012 8:06 PM

   i have bluegrass fairways but have a lot of poa and we have trouble keeping fairways alive in the heat of the summer what is the best way to control soil temps and try to keep poa alive

   
   
   
   
2. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   6/19/2012 8:06 PM

   Larry more information, where are you? Soil type and drainage conditions? Irrigation system abilities can you syringe or applicator multiple times without puddling? Many issues and reasons to discuss before making a recommendation or ideas for your attempts to grow poa/bluegrass fairways. How about height of cut and how often you mow the for instance? Give more information and you will get more suggestions from the many here, but they would want lots of data before making recommendations.. Altitude, slopes, I am just guessing but you can catch my drift....
   
   Gregg R.

   
   
   
   
3. Taylor J Benjamin

   
   6/20/2012 11:06 AM

   Getting deep into the "100 days of hell" here in NW Ohio as well, mid 90's and exceptionally dry conditions. Irrigation pond will be tested for sure this summer!! Wondering though about any mechanical practices or other tricks that will help me conserve water on bentgrass fairways through the summer?? What can help me in the immediate future, we are very thatchy (solid 1" everywhere), know aeration would help but I'll have to water like crazy to keep it from burning up, considering an app or two of wetting agent to 26A of fwys but likely is too pricey......
   Was wondering about the pros/cons of raising mowing height for the short term (til labor dayish)- would it help or hinder water needs on fwys? Currently mowing at .525", considering moving to .7"ish. I understand that increased canopy will aide in cooling, but will 25% more leaf tissue require more or less water?
   Thoughts or suggestions?

   
   
   
   
4. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   6/20/2012 6:06 PM

   A slight raise of mowing height always reduces the use/need of water for bentgrass fairways. Your issues also go long back into the deep thatch that is wasting your irrigation water keeping it from getting to where it needs to go most, the root system. Nothing you can do about it now, an issue one needs to work on in the fall when thach reduction can occur. Now you need to survive the summer and work on the rest later! raise mowing height is a good easy first step. Wetting agents can help most in your dry areas, save money by just using it where it is needed most, slopes, obvious dry spots, windy locations. Hand watering when able to utilize water where needed most also is a good way to manage short supply of water, been there and done it in Mid-Atlantic often. Good luck and pray for rain it will come eventually...at least the weather man say it will?
   
   Gregg

   
   
   
   
5. Naggatz Larry D

   
   6/21/2012 9:06 PM

   im in Hannibal, Missouri we have single row irrgation its all hydralic We have a lot clay soil. i mow at 1inch twice a week we have the abilty to syringe. the golf course is very hilly we have a lot of poa over 50%