As the season begins, there will be a common question heard from many returning members. “When are you going to cut the greens shorter?” Following winter, many of the grass plants “slough off” their root systems and begin growing new roots. Roots serve several functions for the turf. Most people understand that roots remove water and nutrients from the soil. The turf utilizes the water, nutrients and sunlight to produce food. This food is then reserved within the turf roots for use at a later time. So, storage is another function of roots. In a way, root systems behave similar to that of a refrigerator. When the turf gets hungry, it can then pull out some food out of its “fridge”.
Spring is an extremely important time for the turf to produce roots and food reserves. The longer leaf blades provide maximum surface area for photosynthesis and food production. It is critical for the turf to store sufficient food reserves prior to the arrival of the hot summer months. When the soil temperatures get hot during the summer temperatures, the turf can stop producing food and will enter into a survival mode. As the turf’s food production slows, the turf begins using food reserves. The more extensive the root system, the greater chance for survival during July and August.
Mowing also causes the turf to use its food reserves. Mowing causes injury to the plants which in turn recover by producing more leaves. Plants will utilize their food reserves for this process. As the mowing frequency increases and the height of cut is lowered, the injuries occur daily and there is less leaf tissue available for photosynthesis and food production.
Therefore, lowering the height of cut too fast in the spring can negatively impact the greens turf ability to grow an extensive root system and “fill its fridge” required to withstand a potentially difficult summer. The mowing heights are slowly lowered through April and May. By mid-late May, the Oconomowoc Golf Club’s green speed will return along with a healthy root system ready for the summer.
