This spring has been cooler than normal with average moisture spread out very evenly the past month. We pressurized our system back in March but we have not used it yet this spring. We are working hard to force root growth down and it seems to be working quite well.
Late November of last year we deep tine aerified all of the putting surfaces ahead of covering them for the winter. We left the holes open hoping that any free water would go down those holes, freeze and help fracture or loosen the soil allowing for better root growth.
This photo was taken this week from one of our putting surfaces. You can see the mass of roots going down those aerification holes, acting as a channel for them to grow in.
The other part of this good equation is the fact that we are not having to use our well water. Our water is so high in bicarbonates and sodium. The bicarbonates seal off the soil and the sodium dehydrates the plant. When we become well dependent we have to water more to keep it alive and working. We then can not keep it as firm and fast as we like.
Having natural rainfall and good water makes growing quality turf much easier than when we are well dependent.