Greens sections encased in ICE! Cancel The title field is required!

1. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/11/2021 2:01 PM

   Looking for any helpful hints/advice when trying to melt ice on greens. Recieved 4/10 inch of rain December 6/2020 that quickly pooled and froze as temps dropped overnight. I have been monitoring spots by bringing plugs in and at the moment no damage yet but have at least 60 t0 70 days of winter left. Ice thickness anywhere from.25 to 1 inch thick and clear like glass. Bringing in a couple of different types of organic ice melt that will be experimenting with, and have also been able to melt some small sections with a ground/frost heater. Feel like I am flying blind but ownership wants to try everything possible as I have explained the situation and its probable outcomes. Appreciate any help.
   
   Tony Feheregyhazi
   Bridges Golf Course
   Winnipeg, Canadqa

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   1/13/2021 11:01 AM

   Been there.  We have chipped and shoveled but with some damage.  Apply something dark to help build heat from the sun.  Maybe spray a dark colored dye like a SPI or a colorant over the ice?  Maybe a dark amendment like green dyed sand or similar or a high volume low analysis dark organic fert?  I tried that many years ago but can't recall the product or how well it worked as we didn't have a control, but the ice melted under the dark material.
   
   For several years I have been adding a colorant with the December snow mold ap on greens to help build heat.  Has it helped?  No idea but they sure look good all winter for the winter play.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
3. Brian Sturdevant

   

   2 posts
   
   1/14/2021 8:01 AM in reply to Tony Feheregyhazi

   My foreman was a concrete guy and he said that you can get ground heaters with whatever length of hose you need and also with thermostats so you don't cook your turf.  You maybe could lay the hose out over the entire surface like a floor heater would be laid out.   They keep the ground thawed in the winter to pour concrete that way.  Wacker Nueson makes a big portable one on a trailer.  Just a thought.  I have never used one but it should work quite well.  Let me know because My course sits at 7000' .  https://www.wackerneuson.com/us/products/heaters/hydronic-surface-heaters/model/e3000/

   
   
   
   

   Last modified on 14 Jan 2021 14:01 by Brian Sturdevant
4. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/14/2021 1:01 PM in reply to Brian Sturdevant

   Thanks Brian, we tried a small section on our putting green with that machine as one of our members is in the construction industry. Worked great and allowed the melted ice to soak in instead of squeegeeing. Took about 24 hours and warmed soil temps to 70 Fahrenheit. Concerns about the plant breaking dormancy but the alternative is worse. Would be the most expensive and labour intensive but  may be the way to go. Thanks

   
   
   
   
5. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/14/2021 1:01 PM in reply to Christopher Thuer

   Have been experimenting with some CMA (calcium magnesium acetate) which appears to be mild on grass and is turning the ice into 'swiss cheese. Im thinking that maybe enough for gas exchange but really have no clue. Thanks for the feedback
   
   Tony

   
   
   
   
6. Todd Currie

   

   2 posts
   
   1/14/2021 7:01 PM in reply to Tony Feheregyhazi

   Hi Tony,
   
   I had very good success with black sand. Timing is eveything as you require the sun. I've had the black sand eat through thick ice (3/4") in 4-5 hours with temps around zero on a clear day. Another product which I heard works well is leaf compost/wood ash pellitized fertilizer. works similar to the sand.
   All the best with your efforts and stay safe
   
   Todd Currie
   
   

   
   
   
   
7. Corey Kuhl

   

   1 posts
   
   1/19/2021 9:01 AM

   Anderson's Black Gypsum worked very well for me.  As the others have said, sun is needed.  Unlike black sand or crumb rubber it actually stains the snow and ice.  A couple days of sun will cut right through the ice.  Also, there are agronomic benefits!

   
   
   
   
8. Steve Schommer

   

   5 posts
   
   2/12/2021 1:02 PM

   Try your aerifier.  Toro 648 with solid tines set shallow does wonders for breaking that thicker ice.  Wouldn't try it if you had 1/8 inch or less, but for the thicker spots, you'll be amazed at how well it breaks up.  Shovel it off after shattering it.  Good luck!

   
   
   
   
9. Jon Ferrucio

   

   6 posts
   
   2/18/2021 11:02 AM

   Tony, we are located in NY and have had very good success using black oil sunflower seeds to melt ice on our greens. We get it from Agway or Home Depot. They do a great job of quickly melting the ice and we simply just blow them off in the spring...