During the last few weeks of December, the Southeast experienced very low temperatures, including many areas dipping into the single digits. Low temperatures and high winds caused challenges, many of which may not be revealed until these grasses break dormancy this spring. Hopefully courses with ultradwarf greens will come out of the winter unscathed, but if you’d like to learn more about protecting your greens from the next cold snap, the article "Best Management Practices for Preventing Winter Injury on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens" is a great resource.
While the cold temperatures created many challenges for golf courses with warm-season turfgrasses, it also created opportunities for winter weed control. Low temperatures have forced most inland, warm-season golf courses into deep dormancy. When warm-season turf is dormant it is the ideal time to control troublesome winter weeds like Poa annua with nonselective herbicides. Finding dry, warm afternoons to make herbicide applications may not be easy but remaining diligent will help you get a handle on these problematic weeds. For additional information on Poa annua control in winter, check out these Green Section Record articles:
Another important element of winter weed control is the evaluation of your current programs. Walking your golf course this time of year should provide insight into the accuracy and efficacy of your preemergence herbicide program. Take notes and pictures to improve pesticide application training for yourself and your staff. Note where and when preemergence programs lose efficacy and adjust your future programs accordingly. Record what worked well and include details on the timing, rates and weather around your pre and postemergence herbicide applications. Just because the grass isn’t actively growing doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do to improve conditions for 2023 and beyond.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Chris Hartwiger, director, USGA Course Consulting Service – chartwiger@usga.org
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., agronomist – jbooth@usga.org
John Rowland, Ph.D., agronomist – jrowland@usga.org