Everyone in the sports turf industry knows, the mid-Atlantic region of the United States has suffered through one of the harshest winters in recent history.

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2. Poa Annua
Sports Turf Industry Outlook for 2014 – Mid-Atlantic Region
cwsportsturf.com/blog/sports-turf-industry-outlook-for-2014-mid-atlantic-region/
Keith Kitchen
Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Industry
As everyone in the sports turf industry in the area knows, the mid-Atlantic region of the United States has suffered through one of
the harshest winters in recent history, with record snowfalls and colder than average temperatures. To add insult to injury, the
weather has teased the area with sunny, warm spring day temperatures followed by snowstorms or frigid temperatures,
sometimes within a 24-hour period. This means that many Virginia sports turf experts expect specific problems with turf in the
coming spring.
Annual Bluegrass
According to Elliot Dowling, an agronomist for the Mid-Atlantic region of the
USGA Green Section, one of the biggest concerns for those in the sports turf
industry turf season is annual bluegrass (poa annua), known as “poa” throughout
the turf world. This troublesome winter-annual is a grassy weed that turns a
yellow-green color and produces excessive seedhead in the spring. Poa looks
lush and attractive in the winter months, but when the weather turns hot, the
annual bluegrass dies, leaving large bare spots and thousands of seeds ready to
sprout in the fall. The best option for treating annual bluegrass is by applying
pre-emergent in the fall, normally in mid-September. Pre-emergents that help
control crabgrass can also control poa. For those that discover annual bluegrass
in the winter or early spring, using imazaquin is recommended on all grasses
except fescue. In dormant Bermuda grass, it is possible to spray poa with
glyphosate, but it is critical that the Bermuda grass be truly dormant before
spraying. One old trick for protecting Bermuda grass while eliminating poa is to
wrap an old towel that has been dampened with diluted glyphosate around a
rake, then, using the rake like a paintbrush, apply the chemical to the poa.
Winter Kill
Many golf superintendents are concerned about winter kill under the several
inches of snow that many areas of the mid-Atlantic are still dealing with.
Susceptible grasses such as Bermuda grass and perennial ryegrass may suffer
significantly from the excessive snowfall in the region. The snow also makes it difficult for evaluation of the grasses on courses
as frozen ground makes it difficult to remove turf plugs. One suggestion is to remove turf plugs from sensitive areas during warm
weather periods in order to assess winter kill. There are conflicting recommendations regarding the removal of snow from
greens, as snow can provide a layer of insulation should another cold period develop. However, snow and ice can also deprive
some grasses of oxygen, leading to additional winter kill. It is suggested that if superintendents remove snow or ice from greens,
that there are enough channels for surface water to exit the affected area. Water that is allowed to accumulate and refreeze
could lead to even more winter freeze issues .
Temperature Fluctuations
In some areas of Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states, temperatures have fluctuated significantly fromd day-to-day. Warm air
ahead of some of the cold fronts melted much of the snow cover that could have provided insulation against the cold
temperatures that followed. In addition, the duration of cold weather has a significant impact in the sports turf industry, even
though soil temperatures are more important to the health of grass than air temperatures. Soil helps buffer rapid temperature
changes for short periods, although saturated soil conditions can cause some concern when the temperatures drop due to ice
formation.

3. Ice Crystals On Grass
Many superintendents are concerned about crown hydration injury, which occurs when warmer temperatures cause the plant
cells to rehydrate. If the temperatures suddenly drop again, as they have
throughout this winter, ice crystals can form in the crown of the plant, causing
the rupture of cells and the death of the plant. Crown hydration often occurs in
late winter or early spring when the winter hardiness of the turf has been lost.
Annual bluegrass and fairways are the most susceptible to injury from crown
hydration. Because the temperature has gone from as high as 70 degrees one
day, down to 30 or below the next day in some areas of Virginia, there is a
significant risk of crown hydration for almost all types of turf grass. One type of
sports turf that is less likely to suffer from crown hydration is creeping bentgrass
as it remains dormant longer than other types of turf and does not begin taking
up water until later in the spring.
Winter Desiccation
In areas where there has been little snow cover, but historically low
temperatures and high winds, there is some concern of winter desiccation.
Wind freezes the leaves of plants, and the freezing can cause severe injury or
plant death. Covers can help prevent desiccation as they reduce the loss of
moisture. Desiccation injury is more likely on raised or exposed sites where
surface runoff is greater.
The mid-Atlantic region, which includes Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania have suffered a much harsher winter this year than they have in the past. This is leading many sports
turf industry experts to express concern regarding the health of the grasses used on golf courses and other playing fields. For
more information, visit Commonwealth Sports Turf online, or contact us by phone today to take advantage of more than 31 years
of experience in sports turf management.
Photo Credit: Poa Annua by Matt Lavin on Flickr
Satellite Sees Major Winter Storm Ready to Wallop Mid-Atlantic on Flickr
Frost on Grass by James Bowe on Flickr
Keith Kitchen
Owner at Commonwealth Sports Turf Services
Growing up on a working farm that feeds your family gave Keith an appreciation for the importance of planning
for growth. It was corn and peanuts then, now it sports turf. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelors
of Science in Agricultural Economics and spending 5 years with Southern States, Keith partnered into a new
business venture overseeing natural turf maintenance for Luxury Lawns, a startup maintenance company
.
Continued growth over 20 years has placed Luxury Lawns, a company Keith now owns, in the top small businesses in the
Midlothian area specializing in residential turf management, landscape design and installation, and hardscape applications. After
success in the residential turf market, Keith launched Commonwealth Sports Turf and now manages the day to day operations
of the business.
Latest posts by Keith Kitchen (see all)
Sports Turf Industry Outlook for 2014 – Mid-Atlantic Region - March 17, 2014
How To Manage Turf When It Wont Stop Snowing - March 3, 2014
What is in Store for Turf Management in 2014? - February 17, 2014
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Crown Hydration Injury