Drought Stress

Just a reminder that top dressing is planned for Monday the 8th July 13, worth its weight in gold!

Some member's may be aware that at the end of July the irrigation ponds are being drained for two weeks, not to worry we are planning for it.

So what are we doing? 

Today 4th July 13 we have started our pre-stress conditioning, that is to say the greens are being prepared for severe drought.

There is every chance that it may rain, but we have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Here's the plan; today Steve has applied a growth regulator to the greens along with amino acid and a sniff of fertilizer, the growth regulator will slow down vertical growth but encourage tillering and root development all in all good for the greens and minimizes water demand, the amino-acid is a stress buster for turf and the fertilizer will encourage tillering (thickening)

One week before the drain off, we will be applying a wetting agent at full strength, this makes the rootzone "hold" water and minimizes evaporation, at the same time I will be watering to "field capacity" or as much water as the greens can hold without causing detrimental damage by over watering.

During the drain off period we will be hiring a "bowser" that will irrigate the greens during the day, hopefully the stress busting and "bowsering" will suffice. 

Aeration and top dressing will cease until after the drain off, it may be necessary however to heighten the cut somewhat and roll instead of cutting I will try my best to provide a putting surface throughout the drain off. 

Fingers crossed!