Turf grass 101 - Soil Temperatures and Turfgrass Recovery From Damage

I was having a conversation yesterday about the weather this year, and it made me realize that there are a few basic principles at play with vole damage recovery, and general turf density throughout the course that would be good to explain.  In general we have about a 2 month growing season in Truckee. 

Weather and Temperatures This Year Historical averages

Putting Green late April, 2011

This past epic winter had 5 1/2 months of continuous snow cover.  November 24th, Lahontan received 3 feet of snow, and the course was not completely clear of snow even upon opening May 13th.   Lahontan was the first course in the Tahoe area to open, and was one week delayed from its scheduled opening of May 6th. Once we did open it snowed 3 of the next 5 days. The May mean temperature of 42 was 5 degrees below normal. The average high was 55.  For June the mean average temperature of 52 was 3 degrees below normal, and the mean low at the golf course maintenance weather station site of 36 is a temperature that creates frost on 75% of the course. July was 2 degrees below normal, with an average mean low of 40; Jack Frost showed up 12 days in July. Typically Golf Course Maintenance are the only ones on site at 5:30am when frost is occurring, so it makes sense that in the course of my conversation yesterday I was met with skepticism when mentioning that it has been cold, and frosty in the mornings. You get the point, the temperatures have been much below normal for Truckee which has the distinction for being one of the coldest places in the United States; and Lahontan being in the Martis Valley, is the coldest part of Truckee.  Well, let's just say it is one cold frickin' ride up to the practice area to start my day, making me keenly aware of when it is warm, and when it isn't.

Turf grass Response to Temperature Temperature and Turf Growth
We are now going to talk about soil temperatures, and the plants growth response. In the simplest terms, the grass found here at Lahontan predominately grows its below ground parts (roots, rhizomes) below 55 degrees.  Above 55, shoots, and leaves grow best. Grass seed generally does not germinate, and grow below 55 degrees soil temperature. Soil temperatures this last week taken at 7am, at a 3 inch depth are still below 55. The correlation between growth and temperature is well documented.

Greens rooting seen July 26th, 2011 

There is a reality to these temperatures, and that is: things just don't grow quickly here. Damaged turf takes time to recover, and in no way resembles the rates of growth at elevations below 5,000 feet. The seed, and soil that we are applying to the damaged areas will germinate and grow, but it is not surprising that very little has happened in the way of recovery so far this year.



 Kevin