Though many dread losing an hour of sleep as part of the “spring forward” time change each year, it does mean some positives for superintendents. Of note, increasing sunlight and warmer temperatures will begin to aid turfgrass recovery and improve growing conditions – a much-needed relief after a challenging winter in the Southeast. The time change is also an opportunity to shift our mental focus to the growing season. Now is the time to prepare for months filled with cultural practices, labor schedule adjustments, and ever-changing weather patterns to combat.
Much like the time change reminds us to replace the batteries in our home smoke detectors, it also is a good reminder to carry out checklist items for the spring that otherwise get lost in the hustle and bustle. For example, now is the time to change out nozzles on the spray rig to ensure applications stay calibrated and true, exercise main-line isolation valves so they continue to open and close without worry, clean out cobwebs in the satellite boxes, thoroughly review the irrigation computer to make percentage run adjustments as winter wet spots are now trending drier, and more.
Looking to mowing operations, courses in warmer parts of the Southeast should review labor allocations and prepare to increase mowing frequency as growth increases in places like Florida. You may want to scalp down closely mown areas to regenerate growth or to begin mechanically working out overseed competition. Courses where the turf is still dormant have some time before active mowing and cultural practices begin, but spring greenup will be here before you know it. Make sure your equipment is tuned up and ready for verticutting and increased topdressing. Finally, be prepared for longer stints of dry weather and increasing evapotranspiration (ET) rates. Take the time to inventory wetting agents, update the hand-watering schedule and begin to closely monitor moisture levels in the field as they change with the season.
Southeast courses seem to always be at full throttle. Let the time change be a reflection point and an opportunity to start a little spring cleaning. It’s been a long winter – let’s welcome the brighter days ahead. Staying on top of the details will carry your mission along.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org