The months of spring are some of our busiest months of the year here at
Nutters. We spend a lot of time preparing the turf for the summer
months to come, so that it can play at its best. Applications of
fertilizers and water are carefully planned so that the turf is as
healthy as possible when the heat comes.
This year the weather has been favorable for me to condition the greens
by keeping them relatively dry and firm. As the turf stays dry on top,
it will dedicate more resources to seek out water below. I've been
careful to only apply water when needed. The humps and slopes of greens
are first to dry out, and so I'll water those areas with a hose until
the rest of the green needs a drink.
A drier soil profile also allows for
more oxygen in the rootzone, and consequently we have healthier roots.
I've taken out many soil samples like the one below, which has been
rinsed in water. I'm relatively pleased with what I see, but I hope we
can get more white roots and more mass going into June.