Winter On The Course - Ice Cover

Even though the winter involves much less work on the course, as evidenced by my lack of turf related posts, our concerns of the turf's well being is not lessened.  There are several maledies that can compromise the turf's health through the winter and into the spring transition.  Some of those include winter dessication, ice cover, freezing damage and disease.  I have touched on the diseases that can damage turf in the winter (November 20), but will go into some more detail here.

ICE COVER

I will start with ice cover because that is what promted this post.  There are several areas on the course that have had sustained ice cover for about the last 30 days, and the ice is still fairly thick.  Some of those areas are 14 fairway just over the hill, the start of 11 fairway and 5 green.  These areas have not become a concern yet, and likely will not, but we will keep our eye on them.

ice cover on 5 green

Ice cover becomes a problem after extended periods of time by preventing the turf's ability to properly exchange air.  Even in the winter, turf is still relying on air exchange to continue necessary processes while dormant.  If a cover of ice is in place, it prevents that necessary exchange of air.  As a result the air under the ice cover developes excessive supplies of carbon dioxide and the turf begins to sufficate.  It's the same reason you were told as a kid not to put a plastic bag over your head!  If turf is covered in ice long enough, it will die from suffication.

Ice cover would become a concern if annual bluegrass or kentucky bluegrass are covered for 60 days, and if creeping bentgrass is covered for 120 days.  We may consider removing the ice if it is still in place after 60 days, but even then just breaking the ice to allow sufficient air exchange will prevent damage.  Some ideas for removing ice include topdressing with sand, or a dark material to aid in the melting process; or mechanically removing the ice with through aerification.

Here are some links with additional information:

Winter Injury: Freeze Smothering - Karl Danneberger, Ph.D, The Ohio State Univeristy (Video)
Ice Cover and the Role in Freezing Injury - Karl Danneberger

I will continue in the successive days with information on winter dessication, freezing damage and disease.