With September just a week away, I am getting less aggressive with the maintenance on the 16th green. Once the sun angle changes, this green sees a dramatic reduction in the amount of sunlight it receives. By mid-October and November, it receives no sun. Therefore, reducing the stress on the green now is critical so the grass can store adequate carbohydrate reserves leading into this period of no sun. This means, the green will only be single cut daily, with double cutting and even rolling held back.
You may notice a perennial wet area on the right side of #14 that never seems to go away. While many think its an irrigation leak, it is actually a town water line the feeds the homes on Hummingbird Rd. The town repairs this line several times a year and once again, it's leaking. Ultimately a new line will need to be installed.
Here are a few pictures of Boxwood Blight. This is a mild case. Young, newer boxwoods are most susceptible but as you can see, mature boxwood are also being hit hard. The dead give away of the blight is the black lesions (see immediately below) on the stems. If you see these black lesions, you are dealing with boxwood blight. Also, this blight is a rapid decline. It is not a pathogen that impacts the plant over time, rather it is a quick death, sometimes in as little as 7 days. See yesterday's post about treating boxwoods at your home. This isn't a pathogen that you "wait and see" because it will hit hard and by then, it's too late. If you have Boxwoods you want to save, you need to treat them every 7-14 days. Do no not wait...Start now!!
