Pushing Spring Growth Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   4/7/2016 7:04 AM

   The first half of March was unseasonably warm. But the last half and April so far has been cold and rainy with the occasional snow flurry. The bentgrass has not kicked in and started its spring flush yet. The bent is green, but we're only mowing greens 2x/week.
   
   
   
   Weather permitting, I am scheduled to deep-tine and core aerate greens this next Monday. I was hoping to spray some AMS and other foliar ferts to help the healing process prior to softening the surfaces. Then make a 2nd application ~ 7 days after completion.
   
   
   
   I understand that the turf is not actively growing and the application of a granular fertilizer CANNOT force turf to grow when it doesn't want to and when conditions do improve the turf will flush like crazy. But, can I expect the same response with a foliar application? Will the turf absorb the products and hang onto them until conditions improve and then utilize them for growth? Or will it be lost and wasted?
   
   
   
   The weather is looking more favorable in 5-7 days. So, I'm OK if the growth spurt is delayed. I was just hoping to get the recovery fert in place prior to poking holes.
   
   
   
   Thoughts?
   
   
   
   Thanks

   
   
   
   
2. Joshua Sawyer

   

   0 posts
   
   4/7/2016 9:04 AM

   While I am south of you, therefore a little different situation, it seems to me the logic is there. Get some foliar out there and as long as the plant is actively up taking, it should pickup what you put down. I have had good success with organic granulars in this type of situation, even though it feels early for these products. They aren't going to give you any release if the soil temp's are below mid 40's (due to lack of microbial release), but once conditions warm, you have that fertilizer sitting waiting to kick in, rather than chasing it with a quick release. Then just watch to see how much more 'bump' you need to give them.
   
   Good luck.

   
   
   
   
3. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   4/7/2016 10:04 AM

   I am in the exact same situation. Greens started to green up but then slowed down due to low temps. Doesn't help that I have two heavy doses of growth regulator for poa seed head suppression. I am punching this sunday. I have yet to put down any granular. I have sprayed .2 lbs of N from AMS. I have also sprayed several minors, soil amendments, 10-34-0, and some other stuff. My greens are still not growing. We can mow all greens and not empty the buckets on the triplex. I will be putting down an organic fertilizer at about .5 lb N.

   
   
   
   
4. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   4/7/2016 11:04 AM

   I think a lot depends on how much nitrogen you intend to apply, whether or not you applied N apps last fall and how well your root growth is doing right now. I'm always hesitate to go too heavy with N apps now to force aerate recovery as tripping the trigger to stimulate shoot growth effectively shuts down the prime root growing season. You made need those carbohydrates later this summer. But I've never seen that happen with small doses of foliar applied N.

   
   
   
   
5. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   4/7/2016 1:04 PM

   I applied 0.5 lb N/M last fall through AMS. I was only targeting 0.1#N/M with this spray. Half of which would be AMS and the others through a few foliars. I'm sure I'll still get a spring flush once my soils warm. So, I don't want to hammer it and cause unnecessary growth longer into the season.

   
   
   
   
6. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   4/7/2016 7:04 PM

   Similar situation in central Indiana.
   
   We mowed Feb 1 and started mowing a few times a week the beginning of March. This is several weeks ahead of average.
   
   Two weeks ago I did apply a foliar fert at .1 lb N/m along with a fungicide, to check some minor snow mold showing up, and a turf colorant. As we have very little to zero poa on the Pennlinks greens over USGA mix I won't be applying a growth regulator for a while.
   
   The idea was to give them a little kick before we deep tined last week and the colorant was used to possibly absorb more sun to heat up the profile a little more.
   
   We 1/2" solid deep tined last week and they are growing a little. We have had several nights in the low 20's with a few more to come so the holes are slow to grow over.
   
   Tuesday I made the same ap to the greens but with a different FRAC fungicide.
   
   The greens look really good and play well considering the holes.
   
   According to our schedule, I should have applied a granular this week but will not until the soil temps increase.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
7. Peter McPartland

   

   0 posts
   
   4/7/2016 8:04 PM

   I am in the same situation. I also will be doing a primo proxy application once recovery happens. My plan is to punch next week, and once temperature rises to promote recovery I hope to recover fast enough to still apply primo proxy with in the window. Going to be interesting! Also feel the seed head control will be interesting this year. Seems guys in New York State area are all over on first application dates for proxy. The temperature difference across the state this spring was huge.

   
   
   
   
8. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   4/8/2016 7:04 AM

   Christopher Thuer, CGCS said: Similar situation in central Indiana.
   
   We mowed Feb 1 and started mowing a few times a week the beginning of March. This is several weeks ahead of average.
   
   Two weeks ago I did apply a foliar fert at .1 lb N/m along with a fungicide, to check some minor snow mold showing up, and a turf colorant. As we have very little to zero poa on the Pennlinks greens over USGA mix I won't be applying a growth regulator for a while.
   
   The idea was to give them a little kick before we deep tined last week and the colorant was used to possibly absorb more sun to heat up the profile a little more.
   
   We 1/2" solid deep tined last week and they are growing a little. We have had several nights in the low 20's with a few more to come so the holes are slow to grow over.
   
   Tuesday I made the same ap to the greens but with a different FRAC fungicide.
   
   The greens look really good and play well considering the holes.
   
   According to our schedule, I should have applied a granular this week but will not until the soil temps increase.

   
   
   
   Chris,
   I like the idea of adding a dye to help absorb some solar heat.
   
   Thanks

   
   
   
   
9. Max Lamas

   

   0 posts
   
   4/9/2016 8:04 AM

   Organic granular fertilizers: Don't apply till soil temps rise above 60 degrees. Microbes will not be available to break down the fertilizer at low temps.
   
   Synthetic granular fertilizers will be uptaken once the grass starts growing.
   
   Foliar fertilizers will work if they are absorbed by leaf tissue or watered in. Problem is though; if they do not get watered in and stay on the leaf surface without being absorbed; you just threw money away. Probably loose it to voltilization. Regardless though, both methods wont work till the grass is growing. At least if its watered in, it will attach to the soil molecules.
   
   Your pretty much in the hands of mother nature. Best thing you can do in my opinion is apply a synthetic granular so it is available as soon as the grass starts growing.

   
   
   
   
10. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    4/10/2016 11:04 AM

    The product I used is a foliar uptake fertilizer.

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN