Rain

     Rain has been the norm lately.  Since October of 2018 I have recorded 33'' of moisture on the golf course.  8'' was recorded in April alone.  The golf course is extremely wet.  If you have played you have seen some Zoysia struggling to green up or fill in.  We have some dead Zoysia in our fairways.  Most of it is in areas that stay wet longer.  We will have to do some sodding in some fairways and a few tee's.  This is not isolated to FCCC.  Courses all over the state are experiencing the same problem.  We are struggling trying to get projects done and just mowing the golf course. Rough might get little hairy at times until we can get out and cut.  We will try to keep course open as much as possible.  In the case it is just too wet course will be closed for the safety of members and the golf course.  When course is open please stay on the cart path.  Driving your cart around a cart can cause damage.  Please only take 2 carts per foursome.  We have some groups that take 3 or 4 carts per foursome.  If you drive around your partners that is double the damage.  Below is some damage from too much moisture.

Low area front of 2 green

                                                               Forward tee #13 dead.                                                                            

Dr. Miller from University of Missouri posted this article last week talking about the lack of Zoysia Green up.  We are not alone.

Waiting for Zoysia Greenup: Panic or Patience?

 

Conspicuous Zoysia Issues

1. The first symptoms of large patch evident late last week.
2. Concerns of zoysia winter kill abound in the region.

Several reports in the last week have expressed extreme concern over the lack of zoysia greenup, and the potential for large amounts of winterkill on some golf courses and home lawns. As mentioned previously, the 2019 winter was the wettest since 1984-85, and the 5th wettest on record. Low lying areas, those in shade and on northern facing slopes are the most impacted presumably due to prolonged ice buildup and anoxic conditions. Some of these areas have "the smell of death" associated with sulfur and methane production of anaerobic bacteria. Perhaps not as important (!), we have also observed our first hint of large patch infection at the research farm on untreated plots.

Although some minor attrition of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass has occurred in low lying areas since 2010, for the most part the variety has endured many a hard Missouri winter. The polar vortex of 2013-14 severely impacted much of our warm-season NTEP trial (https://turfpath.missouri.edu/reports/2014/update05_08_14.cfm), but 'Meyer' was one of the few varieties that persisted.

There is still time for zoysiagrass greenup and recovery, and most of the reports are from mid-Missouri and St. Louis where wet soils still predominate. These wet soils are colder soils, (compare St. Louis and Kansas City in the Threshold Charts) since soils with water-filled pore space hold temperature much more tightly than air. In some instances, perhaps a little time and dry down will let zoysia recuperate.

Since this is uncharted territory for us, we are conducting a quick field experiment to investigate methods of recovery, or at least assess if the stand is dead.

Current suggestions include:

• An application of darker topdressing sand, or a pigment, to warm areas more quickly and allow for a better gauge of winterkill severity.
• Rake, drag, or conduct a very, very shallow verticut to break up the tight layer of interweaved brown stolons and allow for further soil warming.
• If winterkill is feared at your facility or lawn, pot and place a sample indoors by a window to warmup and hopefully greenup. Give it 7-10 days to perk up prior to making the call for replacement.