With the cooler temperatures, I have been asked a few times “Why are the fairways brown?” "Are they dead?" I will discuss the factors involved that makes this change happen and when they will be green again.
In the fall, bermudagrasses will start to lose their green color when the soil temperature drops below 55 degrees F. When soil temperatures drop to and stays below 55 degrees F, bermudagrass has difficulty producing chlorophyll more rapidly than it is degrading in the plant, particularly with high light intensity. As a result, the turfgrass will start to lose its olive green color. All bermudagrass will go dormant with air temperatures below 32 degree F. The ice crystals that form within the cells of the leaf tissue pierce the cell walls, ultimately killing the leaf tissue. It does not kill the plant only the leaf, the stolons, crown, rhizomes and roots are fine. It takes several days after this event for the bermudagrass to turn its characteristic dormant color; this happens gradually over several days as the sunlight degrades the chlorophyll in the leaf tissue.Once the soil temperature rise and stay above 55 degrees F for a couple weeks the Bermudagrass will start to grow and regain their green color.
An aerating and fertilizing application is planned for the fairways on the third week in March. The fertilizer application is scheduled from analyzing historic weather data to determine when the soil temperatures will favor growth. The fertilizer will put the proper amount of nutrients in the soil for the 25 weeks following. I expect the fairways will be green the second week of April, but the temperature of the soil will have to be adequate to be 100% certain.
Calamity Jane (Hole #5)
