• Home
• News
• General
• April Wash Out

April Wash Out

 

 

Weather records show it rained more than 50% of days in April last year, with some areas suffering repeated heavy rain events. All regions, except Northern Ireland, experienced above average rainfall (Table 1). The UK has had above average rainfall in April for eight of the past 10 years. 

 

Table 1. Long-term average April weather
	Av daily max temp (°C)		Av daily min temp (°C)		Av Temp (°C)		Sun (hours)		Rain (mm)
	2008	30-yr av.	2008	30-yr av.	2008	30-yr av.	2008	30-yr av.	2008	30-yr av.
UK	11.1	10.9	3.1	3.1	7.1	7.0	155	141	76	70
N. England	10.8	10.8	3.1	3.1	6.9	6.9	128	135	78	63
S. England	12.6	12.2	3.8	3.8	8.2	8.0	166	152	58	54
Scotland	9.5	9.3	2.0	2.1	5.7	5.6	154	131	98	87
Wales	11.0	11.0	3.6	3.4	7.2	7.1	160	151	90	86
N Ireland	11.7	11.1	3.4	3.3	7.5	7.2	174	141	47	70

 

With frequent rainfall during April, be aware that nutrients can be rapidly washed out of the soil, especially highly soluble feeds provided for a quick kick-start.  At a time when the plants are really starting to get moving, any nutrient deficiency can increase stress and cause discolouration of the turf.

 

The record levels of rainfall from March onwards last year meant the problem was widespread and very evident last year, especially on sand construction greens, tees and sports fields.  

 

Turf nutrition

Appropriate nutrition should be always be tank mixed with Primo MAXX applications made in April and through the season. Starting the PGR programme in April as soil temperatures rise will prepare turf for the maximum control of growth through the peak growing season in May and June.  

 

The risk of nutrient loss in wet soils also applies to trace elements, including manganese and magnesium, which must be provided to encourage strong green growth in the spring and help reduce the risk of Take All. 

 

The incidence of Take All was very high last season, appearing at damaging levels on many turf surfaces where it had never been experienced in the past. Turf disease records on www.greencast.co.uk (Fig 1). show that Take All risk began to appear during warm spells at the beginning and, for a protracted period, from the 20^th of April onwards last year.  

 

 

Although Heritage applications are not usually made for Take All and Fairy Ring until May or June, it was an early warning of the potential problem facing turf managers and advisors and an indication that, in milder spells, earlier action may be required.  

 

The disease records also show that Fusarium risk can remain high throughout April. It is a good opportunity to clear up residual inoculum with the curative contact activity of Instrata or Daconil Weather Stick. Once disease inoculum has been cleared up in early April, turf surfaces may out grow further mild attacks, but if turf growth is held up by cold or wet and the risk of infection rises, further applications may be required, switching to systemic products such as Banner MAXX or Heritage where turf is actively growing.  

 

Seed germination

GreenCast records also show that Poa germination rates also begin to increase significantly during April. Designed as a risk warning of potential weed ingress, it is also a useful indication of suitable timing for over seeding to repair winter damage to sports pitches and golf courses.

 

This year, GreenCast now includes a five-day forecast of soil temperatures to further assist with decisions on appropriate timing for over seeding and other turf management activities.