Verticutting and Deep Tining on Greens

Yesterday we spent the day deep tining and verticutting greens. Vertcutting is a process that in years past we were not able to complete at this time of the year due to the health of the green. Because the overall health of the Greens, in respect to the density, has improved dramatically over the last several years this is a process we are now able to complete earlier in the year. This is a process that just as in the condition of the Fairways it will also help dramatically improve the condition of the Greens.

Dead tree removal

This week we will begin removing the dead trees from last year's drought. We left trees that showed signs of stress after the drought last year to see if some of them might come back this year. Unfortunately many of the trees did not. Many of you notice the orange tape we've used to mark these trees over the last couple months. We did this to help us locate them after the leaves have started to drop.

We also have an abundance of firewood from the last two years at our shop. Any member is in need or want of some firewood for the winter season please contact me I'll be happy to help.

November Native Mowing

Our second mowing of the native areas on the course is currently underway.  We started on the course last Thursday.  The mowers are on #11 this morning and I anticipate with the lot mowing already complete in the new Fairway Homes section we can have the remaining holes completed by the end of today.  This process is a long arduous one and will be great to have this task behind us until next May!!
 

Biennial Inter-seeding

Last Monday we spent some time inter-seeding the greens.  It was a several step process.  The first step began with a light verticutting.  Then we mowed and cleaned up the debris from the verticutting.  After the debris was cleaned through mowing and blowing we poked holes with our bayonet tines for the seed to drop into.  We used drop spreaders to disperse the seed onto the greens.  These spreaders are a more accurate way to disperse seed than rotary spreaders.  The greens were then rolled to initiate seed soil contact.  Topdressing was applied at this point as well to aid further in creating good seed soil contact, which is crucial to seed germination.  We also applied a fall granular fertilizer, as we typically do, to provide a constant food source as the temperatures fluctuate so much at this time of year.  We want there to be a food source available when the temperatures are conducive to growth on our greens.

We began this inter-seeding program two years ago.  The idea is to introduce potential for new growth into our greens.  We are using the same grass type as what is currently in the greens.  You may have heard of some people trying to change grass types through this process.  However, we feel the cultivar we have is well adapted to our environment here and see no reason to change.

From bottom to top these pictures show the greens after being verticut, the holes being poked, and our own Brad Sladek putting the seed out.