Blog By: Craig McKinley, Golf Course Superintendent
Summertime golf is in full swing, which means the typical summer temps and conditions are, too. In today's blog, I want to provide four tips to help your lawn get through these dog days of summer.
Employee Spotlight - Mike Kenyon
However, before we get to that, I would like to thank and spotlight one of our staff members for their years of service at Bucks Run. Our Crew Foreman, Mike Kenyon, has been with us for ten years and brings a ton of experience and knowledge to the property. Mike is hardworking, honest, and does a great job training our young college staff. We are thankful to have him as part of our team.
Tip #1 - Increase your Lawn's Height
Now on to some summer time lawn tips! One trick for giving your lawn less stress during the hot, dry stretches is to increase your lawn's height of cut. Even raising your height of cut by 0.5 inches can make a lot of difference during these couple of months. Grass with more leaf tissue can grow longer roots. The plants leaf tissue acts kind of like a solar panel, grabbing sunlight. The more area it has, the more photosynthesis can occur, giving the plant the energy to grow deeper roots.
Tips #2 - Proper Moisture is Key
Keeping proper moisture in the soil during these months is also crucial. However, too much moisture can also be detrimental. Soil that is saturated not only doesn’t leave as much space for oxygen, but it can also invite disease. It is also important to not leave excess moisture on the plant during hot and humid nights like we had this past weekend. So, on those nights where the night time low is in the 70’s, it is best to water first thing in the morning, instead of overnight. Below, are a couple pictures of diseases that can develop from overwatering. The first image is Pythium Blight and the second image is Brown Patch.
Tip #3 - Keep Lawn Mower Blades Sharp
Another way to make sure your lawn makes it through the summer is to mow with sharp blades.
Tip #4 - Mow in Cooler Temps
When the plant is nearing its wilting point or close to it, you will often see tracks in your lawn, called Heat Tracks. Heat Tracks from mowers and even foot prints happen on turf that is stressed. During summer months, it is best to mow early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler to prevent this.
I hope these tips will help you and your lawn get through the summer months looking great. As always, we look forward to seeing you out on the golf course, and please remember to fix your pitch marks, replace your divots, and rake out bunkers after a shot.