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Solid Tine Ultradwarfs - winter

8 posts
  1. Dru Clark
    Dru Clark avatar
    0 posts
    11/29/2012 11:11 AM
    I am curious to see how many, if any guys, are solid tining their greens during the winter. Any input would be good. I cant decide if I should needle tine or not. I am on USGA spec greens and a couple of them are "sealing off" even after monthly apps of Cascade. I don't want to heave anything or force us to have to roll if I don't have to.



  2. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    11/29/2012 1:11 PM
    We do it monthly. Keeps the greens from dying and sitting in mush all winter.



  3. Dru Clark
    Dru Clark avatar
    0 posts
    11/29/2012 2:11 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said: We do it monthly. Keeps the greens from dying and sitting in mush all winter.


    I am obviously new to bermuda grass greens. Do your greens go completely dormant? What size and type of tines?
    Are you having to roll them out afterwards? If so with roller, walkmowers etc. ?



  4. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    11/29/2012 2:11 PM
    Dru Clark said:
    Andy Jorgensen said: We do it monthly. Keeps the greens from dying and sitting in mush all winter.


    I am obviously new to bermuda grass greens. Do your greens go completely dormant? What size and type of tines?
    Are you having to roll them out afterwards? If so with roller, walkmowers etc. ?



    No, not completely dormant, but definitely not growing. But, this is our high play season and non-overseeded. We use 5/16" x 8" tines and go in about 6". We roll right behind and can get 4-5 done before play in the morning using a Soil Reliever model 54. We see no heaving with this process and equipment we use.

    I doubt your greens go fully dormant. The stolons and rhizomes beneath the surface are still alive, although probably not growing. Keeping an aerobic profile is part of the equation. Solid tining throughout the winter months is the key. Helps keep root and crown diseases at bay by providing the necessary oxygen for the plant to survive.

    Of course you are way further north than I am. But, i think if you do a test green, you'll see no adverse effects, and probably gain some early green up during a warm spell in the spring.



  5. Dru Clark
    Dru Clark avatar
    0 posts
    11/30/2012 5:11 AM
    This is only the second winter with these greens and last winter was very mild. Even with that said I do believe you are right in that they will not go completely dormant. I was pretty sure this would be a good idea I just wanted some more info on it to confirm my thoughts. Very helpful thank you!



  6. Neidhardt John J
    Neidhardt John J avatar
    11/30/2012 7:11 AM
    We needle tine in February, any earlier I fear poa problems at our club. Afterall, We put the Rubigan down for a reason.



  7. Cooper Hayes
    Cooper Hayes avatar
    0 posts
    12/4/2012 5:12 AM
    We HyrdroJect our greens every two weeks and hit low spots once a week to continue the venting and oxygen exchange throughout the year. It also helps to keep them receptive to approach shots throughout the busy winter months. No rolling involved other than walk mowers. Come February, we will most likely Needle Tine every three weeks. This was a good practice we followed last year that I believe helped increase the recovery come spring.

    Cooper Hayes
    Lead Assistant Superintendent
    Naples Grande Golf Club
    Naples, FL



  8. Dru Clark
    Dru Clark avatar
    0 posts
    12/6/2012 5:12 AM
    Thanks to all! I solid tined our greens with .25"x6" tines then rolled with salsco roller the following day. They put great! I am sure the plants are thankful. Oh yeah this is with a Toro 648 on 2.5"spacing.



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