Golf Course Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2013 06 17

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4  Ice Cover: Since even dormant turfgrass plants require both oxygen and the ability to release carbon dioxide, a prolonged, thick ice cover poses the greatest risk for winter turfgrass damage. The two predominate turfgrass species found on CCGC's greens, tees, and fairways, creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass, are quite different in their ability to tolerate ice cover. Bentgrass can survive over 80 days of ice cover while Annual Bluegrass can be completely killed after only 40 days. It is important to note that not all ice is the same. For example if we received a couple of inches of rain on warm day, then the night time temperature dipped into the single digits, a hard, impermeable layer of ice would be formed. This type of ice presents the largest potential for turfgrass suffocation. Severe Ice Cover damage can be seen on greens 3, 5, and 6  Tree Root Competition: Several greens are susceptible to tree root competition for water especially from trees such as cottonwoods, white poplar and willow. Water loving species like these will have surface roots that have a vascular capacity to draw water from the soil at a more rapid rate than turfgrass. When roots are severed they respond by producing approximately 1 – 6 new roots that run parallel to the severed stem. The new roots will grow about 18” per year. Tree roots are very opportunistic and find the best possible rooting medium in the area and colonize it. Roots have been found 25 feet below the surface and will grow around barriers. When they find a way around the barrier to an attractive area they aggressively colonize the area. Tree roots can extend three times past the drip line of a tree. Prolonged competition will cause turf loss in these areas and also create avenues for pests such as ants to move in and colonize these areas. Tree root competition can be seen on holes 5 and 18. 11