Late Winter Spring Cleaning

Abnormally warm weather will continue in Springfield Illinois into early next week.  High temperatures each day are likely to be 25 to 30 degrees or more above normal for mid March, and many record highs are likely to be approached or broken during this period.  Even the low temperatures will be warmer than the normal highs, and will likely set daily "warm low" records.  We are about two weeks ahead on our growing degree days, which means earlier than normal mowing, fertilizing, preventative fungicide and pre-emergent application.  If you are a homeowner and want a weed free lawn this year plan on applying your pre-emergent for crabgrass soon.


No later than I got back from the Golf Course Superintendent's Industry Show, spring was here and the Green Department was in full swing preparing the golf course for an anticipated great week of golf play.  The focus of our operation this week has been on smoothing putting surfaces, implementing our first mowing procedures on greens, tees and fairways, detail bunker work and removing debris in the rough.  The first few mows will be considerably higher than our normal in season mowing heights.  The objective is to slowly cut off the old winterized leaf tissue at the tops of the plants.  This will prevent the grass from going into shock and possibly re-winterizing.   

Jason Herbert Rolling Greens

Jordan Snyder concentrating on straight lines