Adding a Little Color to Stonebridge

Winter Annuals

On Monday, November 18th, we received delivery of our winter annuals.  The entire staff put in long hours to ensure a timely installation of all the flowers.  I would like to commend Lee Dixon, our Common Area Manager, for the plant selection and design of all the beds.  We are looking forward to a very colorful and vibrant season.

Below are a few pictures of the activities and oddities found around the golf course.  The first picture shows the results of our Root Pruning project we completed in late October.  This process severs the feeder roots that rob the turf of essential nutrients and moisture.  The turf outside the line is thriving due to decreased competition from the tree roots.  The second picture is our Pencil Tine aerification program.  This vital part of our cultural program helps to relieve compaction, increase oxygen levels in the soil, improve percolation and enhances nutrient uptake.  We complete this task ahead of play and follow the aerification with a roller.  This ensures a quality putting surface throughout the season.

The last picture is another installment of my "photo quiz".  Late last week I discovered a number of these spots on #5. They were scattered throughout the center section of the putting surface. The brown turf is surrounded by a deep green ring of turf.  This is the result of "bird droppings", the concentrated acidity in the middle, tinges the grass and the overwhelming amount of nutrients in the substance results in the dark green edges.  We are working with our "fine feathered friends" to fine tune their distribution, in an effort to reduce our fertilizer requirements.  Stay tuned.


Root Pruning Results

Pencil tine aerification

 



Putting Surface #5