ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE



trimming crape myrtles



The end of February, Thur March is the time to start working on early spring cleanup of our ornamental plantings beds, and large mulch areas. Alfredo Sr. has been doing most of this work. Like trimming crape myrtles, hollies and plants in the parking lot islands. His latest focus is on trimming lirope, and ornamental grass plants that helps provides some contrast in the stark winter landscape. We have also started putting down the pre-emergent weed control in the beds, before adding new pine straw around the club house. This is a big job since we have over 2 acres of bed space just between the club house and golf course.



spot spraying existing weeds and application of pre-emergent



MORE RAIN IN FORECAST

#4 walk bridge under water

Augie checking out #5 flooding

The golf course has held up well despite having around 1.40 " of rain over the past weekend. We missed a flood on Monday for the front side. The Yadkin river was at first forecast to crest at 22.5 ft, but only got to 18.5 feet. So the river only effected #4 walk bridge and along the # 5 cart path. Another rain event is expected Wednesday with more heavy rain moving in overnite.  Unfortunately , the cart path only rule will be in place while the course remains wet. The maintenance staff will continue to repair washout areas in bunkers to make the course as playable as possible. We  have been working on cleaning #18 creek bank and spraying rough  last week. There will still be more clean up in these areas over the next three or four weeks.

U.S. SEASONAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK

Some one asked me today if it was going to be a dry spring and summer. I told them that based on Data from NOAA that it looked very likely for the spring.The following map is the expert assessement for the next  three months. Usually if the drought persist or intensify in these months, it will be a hot dry summer "GREAT". I added a link to the climate prediction center to look at all the maps for temperatures,  preciption, and drought monitor.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

MONDAY NIGHT STORM / GREENS

The Monday night storm bought some wind and heavy rain to the course. But we missed the hail and straight line 60-70 mile winds just to our south. The inch of rain did help the over all 3inch rain deficit that the area has been running. Of course it's extremely wet out there,so carts are restricted to the path and will be for the next several days. The cold weather at night is keeping the soil temperature at 46 degrees average on the greens. We have started to filled the irrigation system this week, so you may see a head or two come on to take out air in the system. The irrigation will be needed to water in applied chemicals on the greens next monday. We expect to find some leaks, that will need to be fixed before the turf season starts as well. Tuesday we had a small hydraulic oil leak with the greens mower on the putting green. A hose burst just as the operator was starting a pass across the green. The mower has a alarm on it that sounds if there a loss in system pressure. So he immediateily stopped and backed off the green. we flushed the oil off the green with water. The damage with hydraulic oil leak is not the oil, but the heat of the oil, it burns the turf. So there will be a strip about 6 inches by 4 feet on the edge of the green. Damage is always hard to determine this time of year since the turf is not growing that much.We have already topdressed it so, it will either fill in,or we will plug it with bent in april during some other scheduled green repair work.

SOIL TEMPERATURES AND TURF CONDITIONS

For Golf enthusiasts and anyone experiencing the winter blues. The last recent warm up is only temporary, in fact, winter is still some four weeks or so from being over. Historically North Carolina has the largest snow falls in March most years,and last frost date is mid April. Soil temperatures play a big part of turf and plant maintenance.  Just because the air temp is over 60, the soil temperatures is right at 40 degrees on greens and Bermuda turf areas right now. Things don't start happening until soil temperatures stay at least 55 degrees over 4 -5 days. That usually happens around here mid march. So mid March is a big starting time for turf related work. There is still some healing that's needs to be accomplished over the next months on greens . Some topdressing / seeding and plugging will be done to encourage the areas to knit back into a complete surface. We will start spring applications of pre-emergent herbicides to control warm season weeds and diseases about that time. We are monitoring the,weather forecast,soil,air tempertures daily,so that we start at the optium time. So in the mean times we are working on area cleanup projects and tree work.

SURPRISE THIS MORNING

There never is a morning checking the course, that I don't see some of the wildlife living on the course. whether it's deer,coyotes,beaver,otter, fox, turkeys, hawks, or all the different birds. The last week I have been watching the blue herons on the front side pairing up for mating season . There are about four pairs of adult herons and several juveniles, that are on the course. The adults have been hanging out in the top of the pine tree behind #8 green early in the morning.  The adults have also been working on the nests in the trees at #5 tee along the river as well. The last four years a number of you have mentioned seeing the osprey fishing the lakes,and mistaking it for and eagle. Well I was surprised this morning to see a bald eagle setting on top of a dead tree just across the river. The osprey is a big bird, but this guy is huge with white head and tail very visible from 500 yards away. I didn't get a picture yet, but will be trying for a shot. He just moved to the top of my picture list.

WARMER- SUN!

There was heavy frost this morning. But the sun is out and temperatures are expected to be near upper 50's today and 60's for Sunday. This is much improved and hopefully you will be able to get some golf in this weekend. Next week looks good for warmer, drier weather as well. The crew did get started on cleaning #4 creek banks and should finish next week. We are planning to start on cleaning brush next to #18 green  after #4 is finished.