As spring approaches, it’s always helpful to refresh your knowledge on turf care. Revisiting key topics from the classroom or manuals can set you up for success this season. Here are three podcasts that will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips for maintaining healthy, vibrant turf in the spring.
1. Managing Fertilizer Inputs in Spring (3min)
Rebuilding damaged turf areas requires strategic management of fertilizer inputs. This episode dives into the best practices for using starter fertilizers, nitrogen applications, and consistent watering to promote healthy growth and recovery. Whether you’re dealing with winter-damaged spots or want to give your turf a jumpstart for the growing season, this episode provides actionable advice on reestablishing strong growth.
For residential lawns, an extensive root system is key to preventing insects, diseases, and drought stress during the summer months. Homeowners can check out the Lawn Feeding guide for expert advice on how to properly feed their lawns for long-term health and resilience.
2. Warming Up Golf Surfaces and Managing Winter Injury (9 min)
Dr. Kevin Frank from Michigan State University offers expert advice on how to prevent and recover from winter injury, particularly for golf courses. From monitoring soil temperatures to using protective covers and turf pigments, Dr. Frank discusses a variety of strategies to protect turf during the colder months and help it recover quickly as temperatures rise.
One of the key topics in this episode is the use of black sand for heat retention, a common technique for warming up golf greens during early spring. Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of this method, and discover other effective ways to re-establish damaged greens and ensure they’re ready for the season ahead.
3. Tracking Growing Degree Days (DDG) 101 (8 min)
Growing Degree Days (GDD) are an essential tool for turf managers who need to predict plant growth and plan seasonal maintenance. In this episode, climate expert Dr. Art DeGaetano from Cornell’s Northeast Climate Center discusses how temperature fluctuations influence grass response and how to use GDD data to fine-tune turf care strategies.
Dr. DeGaetano explains the science behind GDDs and how they help predict key turf care events like fertilization, aeration, and pest management. Turf managers can also use this episode to learn how to incorporate GDD data into their planning for the spring season.
For those looking for real-time temperature data, check out the ForeCast: Weather for the Turf Industry tool to track temperature fluctuations and GDDs in your region.