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1. Nicholas Daak

   

   3 posts
   
   1/29/2013 9:01 AM

   Need some quick advice.
   
   Southern Minnesota, Today's temp might get to 35 degrees. With chance of more freezing rain tonight. Thursday's temp is suppose to be below zero.
   I have about 1/2in solid ice on my greens. With the lack of moisture this winter I have no snow cover.
   
   I am a small 18 hole course with absolutely no staff, in fact I am not contracted to be working. I have everything stored for the winter, but with chances like the one presented, I have easy access to my aerifier. My problem there is that I have a Toro 660 used with a tractor with turf tires on it. Topdressing would be nearly impossible because all greens are slightly elevated.

   
   
   
   
2. Terry Negen

   

   0 posts
   
   1/29/2013 10:01 AM

   I was a superintendent in west central minnesota and had ice of greens and did many differnt things to them, aerified some, put milorganite on some and left ice on others. The ones that we left the ice on came out of the winter fine. You could go out with some dark bird seed and put on the greens so if it does get warm that would warm the ice up faster and melt it off. I think that since it almost February the ice cover is not going to be on long enough to have dertrimental effects. Hopefully you have a good fungicide application on the greens.
   
   Terry Negen, Superintendent
   Atlantic Golf and Country Club
   Atlantic, Iowa

   
   
   
   
3. Verdun Scott M

   
   1/29/2013 4:01 PM

   My limited experience (3 years) with ice cover on greens is that first is it clear ice, that's what has caused problems for me in the past because it blocks off all gas exchange. If it's grey ice meaning it's porous and allows for some CO2 to release then this late in the year you'll probably be fine. Otherwise Terry's suggestions are exactly what I would say, something dark to attract the sunlight and melt some holes in the ice, I've used gypsum successfully if the temps are high enough.
   
   I know there are some serious experts on this stuff that have chimed in before, hopefully they can help you out.
   
   Best of luck to you, we are getting pouring rains as I type this but shouldn't be below freezing until tomorrow afternoon so we'll have time to push water if we need to.
   
   Scott

   
   
   
   
4. Venne Gregory

   
   1/30/2013 6:01 AM

   Nick,
   It all depends on the turf underneath that ice that should help make your decision. If you are heavily infested with Poa, then you have about 30 days that it can be covered with ice (solid, black ice) before having issues. If you are predominately bent, you have about 45 days. If you are very concerned, no matter how long it has been, get some black sunflower seeds and spread them out on the ice. They will attract whatever sun you get, and make nice holes through the ice to allow the exchange of gases. They are cheap, and you don't need to worry about organic fertilizer clumps in the spring. I have done this many times, along with all the other things guys will tell you (aerators, milorganite, etc.), and it is the easiest and most successful treatment.
   Hope this helps,

   
   
   
   
5. Jon Gansen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/30/2013 7:01 AM

   I agree with Terry. We are nearly into February and chance of damage is less. Had the same issues in the early 90s and the ones I cleared were worse off than the ones we didnt. I think the freeze and thaw cycles we have had may have more of an effect. If I were you and not contracted in the winter I dont think I would take the chance of making the situation worse (in their eyes) Good luck.

   
   
   
   
6. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   1/30/2013 7:01 AM

   I am an expert on what not to do when you have ice cover. I think our climates are relatively the same and current conditions similar. The black sunflower seed is about as far as I would go at this point in the season....maybe even later when we see temperatures rising for the spring melt. Trying to remove the ice by any physical means will expose the undelying turf to some very dramatic temperature shifts that it won't be able to handle. This year and last are very similar here. Last year, mid Feb we lifted ice with shovels on a mild day. We didn't get to all the greens. Everywhere we lifted ice the turf looked green but by spring we had dead turf. The greens we didn't get to were fine.
   
   Right now I would advise a "George Costanza moment of thought". and do the exact opposite of what you are tempted to do. That is my current motto

   
   
   
   
7. Hardy Andrew

   
   1/30/2013 2:01 PM

   I am with Red on this one. I've seen some extreme measures and have done a few myself to remove ice. And each time the greens I couldn't get cleaned off ended up better or less bad as the ones I cleared the ice off of. I'm not sure what this means but it was enough evidence for me to do nothing since 2010.

   
   
   
   
8. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/30/2013 3:01 PM

   I'm with the guys above. I personally have broken just about every aerator/verticutter I have worked with on ice with no tangable results. The black sunflower seed is a great tip as even Milargonite can burn if applied to thick. Black or green sand will work as well and will come out of a fertilizer spredder easier. From my limited experience its usually the weakest and lowest areas of your greens that get smoked from ice and it may offer you a chance to get some surface or subsurface drainage into these areas in the spring. With no snow cover hopefully your poa will not break dormancy with the milder temps and then refreeze. The best luck.

   
   
   
   
9. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   1/30/2013 6:01 PM

   I had issues with ice on greens once before in Maryland one winter, we had a very dark granular organic fertilizer that we were able to apply on top of the ice. It was very amazing to see it work nicely making holes into the ice over time allowing some air into it. Those greens were very shadey and slow to deice. We later ended up cutting down many of the trees behind the greens as summer shade also created issues down the road, this was a new course and only two years old at the time! But sun and dark color of organic fertilizer melted ice for sure allowing air to flow!
   
   GreggR

   
   
   
   
10. James Moore_2

    

    1 posts
    
    2/1/2013 8:02 AM

    You need a 3 point hitch snow blower to keep the ice from building up much more than you have .Watch the weathere If its approaching the the spring thaw Blow the snow off before it hits the freezing mark.Start breaking ice when temp just starts above the freeze .If there predicting cold weathere returning leave busted ice on greens .this will give some protection from a quick drop .But you must release the gases when your ice is as thick as it is 4 to 6inches when it starts to warm up and don,t wait to long.I use 33 hp Deere 4 wheel drive turf tires with 6 inch spacing bayonet tines aerator set just above turf line.U can always use chains ,if the ground is froze with ice theree won,t be any marks.