DECEMBER WEATHER Waiting for a cold snap to clean up

After a wet, wild and windy - but incredibly mild - November, greenkeepers and groundsmen will be desperately hoping for a repeat of last year's weather in December, with bright dry days to let the surface dry out and clear cold nights to help stop disease spread.

But the chances are not good. Whilst last December experienced over 14 days with an air frost - nearly 30% more than average - and an average temperature more than 1.1°C below the long term norm, in the past decade the temperature has dipped below the average 4.2°C only twice. By comparison, and as further evidence of rising temperature trends, in the 1960s the December temperature was below average every year and under 3°C for four consecutive years. 

Last year's good average conditions also mask the localised microclimate peaks and troughs that have the all important influence on turf management. Historic weather and disease records on the GreenCast website (www.greencast.co.uk) for Edinburgh, for example, reveal that the vast majority of the month's rainfall fell in two concentrated periods, the first week and then in the week before Christmas (below). Both rain events coincided with peak rises in temperature - which typically occur under the blanket of associated cloud.

The result was a sharp increase in Fusarium risk during both periods. The effect of the falling temperatures and drier periods are also clear to see, with some prolonged periods of welcome relief from disease pressure.  For turf managers the weather and disease records provide a valuable insight into creating effective control strategies.

Where it is possible to foresee periods of disease risk there is potential to get the best protection from proactive applications of a preventative contact fungicide, such as Daconil Weather Stik, applied as close as possible to the infection period. But if weather conditions have prevented application - or disease hits during the Christmas break - then treatment with a curative and eradicant Instrata could prove the best option to clear up infection and protect clean turf from attack.

GreenCast weather and disease records have also proven a persuasive tool to help greenkeepers and groundsmen to justify and explain their management regimes to greens committees and managers.      

Retain cover

With little opportunity for grass plants to recover over the cold, wet winter months, turf managers need to make every effort to retain turf cover. Over recent years the consistent quality of surfaces for golf and winter sports has improved immeasurably at every level; few players now experience or tolerate the winter season mud baths on bare pitches of yesteryear.

Integrated Turf Management (ITM) programmes operated right through the year have been instrumental in creating healthier turf better able to withstand the rigours of increased demand and intense use. Identifying the problems now and highlighting the issues to redress makes the winter months the ideal time to undertake the training and start the planning for next season's ITM programmes.      

Click here to search your local historic weather and disease.