It looks like spring may finally be here! Last week’s noreaster thankfully appeared to be a dud. Many locations only received 2 inches of snow after receiving a warning that they would get 2 feet. Now that spring is here, your fleet should inspect lawns and turf for winter damage. Below are some common ways of how snow damages grass and turf.
How Snow Damages Grass and Turf
Snow Mold – Snow mold is caused by cold-weather fungi. Signs of a problem aren’t visible until the spring when snow melts. It is caused by heavy snow that covers the ground before it is completely thawed. There are two types of snow mold: gray snow mold (also called Typhula blight) and pink snow mold (also called Microdochium patch or Fusarium patch). Snow Mold can be recognized by the distinct straw colored patched it leaves. Protecting greensand lawns from this during the winter months requires some consideration of fungicide applications for snow mold prevention
Crown Hydration – When warm weather is followed by a freeze, turf grasses that have absorbed water can expand and freeze, and this kills the crown. This is most common in later winter and early spring. This can be prevented by cracking the ice that has accumulated on top of the grass or turf.
Winter Desiccation – Dessication occurs when the amount of water lost by the foliage exceeds the amount picked up by the roots. To prevent Winter Desiccation, give plants a deep soaking before the ground freezes if it has been a dry fall season. This gives them more moisture before the frozen ground prevents the roots from getting enough water.
Valley Green was founded by Charles Dooley in 1990. Headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts, we have grown to seven branch locations supported by inside & outside sales associates specializing in turf seed, sod production, golf sales, turf maintenance, nursery production, agriculture and arboriculture. The average green industry tenure at Valley Green is well over 20 years per associate
Valley Green, Inc. • 642 S. Summer Street • Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040 • 1.800.862.0089