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• February weather and turf activity forecast

After two bitterly cold months - with record lows across parts of the country and extensive snowfall blanketing turf for up to four weeks in some areas - turf mangers will be hoping for an early start to spring in February. Maintenance schedules have been badly disrupted and, with so many cancelled matches and golfers kept off the course, there is a serious backlog of games to be played and prospect of extra demand and extra damage over the coming months.  

February weather usually creates real dilemmas for turf management. Recent years have all featured a series of bright warm days that appear to herald the arrival of spring, only to be followed by an icy blast that kills off any hope - along with the risk of damage to new grass growth.

Whilst over the past five years the February weather has exceeded the long term average on four occasions, last year temperatures plummeted to an average -1.6°C below the norm (Table 1, above). No region escaped, with Scotland hit even more severely than usual.

Snow risk

The extensive snow blanket already experienced this year has been the precursor to some of the most aggressive attacks of Fusarium Patch (or Pink Snow Mould) witnessed in recent seasons. Insulated beneath the snow, the pathogen thrives in the constantly wet conditions in the thatch layer where the ground remains unfrozen.

When the snow receded, the full impact of infection was clearly apparent. Unless controlled, disease spots can quickly coalesce into severe patches during  periods of warmer, wet conditions in February. This year there will inevitably be a high level of inoculum still present on untreated turf and in the thatch.

GreenCast records show the close correlation between temperatures, moisture and Fusarium diseased risk experienced last season (Fig 1, above). Loss in turf quality now will be made worse by the extra demands for play before there is any spring recovery. 

The three-way activity of Instrata can help avoid turf loss; the contact+ activity of fludioxonil reduces pathogen potential in the thatch and protects the leaf, whilst the 'cool-weather systemic', propiconazole, provides additional action within the leaf.

If turf is actively growing during February - which may be the case in milder western regions and on under-soil heated pitches or urban sports facilities, where temperatures could be two to three degrees higher - turf managers may opt to switch to the straight propiconazole in Banner Maxx.