Turfgrass Spring Blog #1:
2023 Edition
Warm-season Grass Green-up
Clint Waltz, Ph.D.
University of Georgia Turfgrass Specialist
As
a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist, I
have received numerous calls and emails over the past couple of weeks
regarding warm-season turfgrass “green-up” issues.
Fortunately,
my travel schedule has taken me statewide over the past month. I have
had opportunity to see grass over an array of Georgia’s climatic
conditions (i.e. South to North Georgia). Most
years slow growth is not as consistent statewide as it has been this
year.
Simply stated, green-up of warm-season turfgrass has been stalled through most of March, April, and first week of May. Despite
the low temperatures associated
with the "Christmas Freeze" (December 23 to 26, 2022), December,
January and February were relatively warm, giving a false sense of an
early spring green-up. When March cool temperatures arrived, grass
growth stalled.
From what I have seen
since statewide since the "Christmas Freeze", I am not convinced that
this particular weather event had a long-term or detrimental
effect on warm-season turfgrasses.
The most recent conditions are more likely influencing spring green-up and growth. Here's what's happened in early 2023:
- Using data
and observations from the UGA Griffin Campus weather station as an
indicator,during March and April there was only one night (April 6)
where the low temperature did not fall below 65° F.
- There were three (3) frost events in March (15, 16, and 21).
- From
April 30 through May 5, the low temperatures were in the 40’s – six (6)
consecutive nights. These conditions resulted in 4-inch soil
temperatures struggling to reach the mid-60’s, when warm-season
turfgrasses initiate rooting and active growth.
- My
comments to the calls and emails have been that our grasses have been
“sitting on go” just waiting for favorable environmental conditions.
Our grasses have been
green but not growing, up (e.g. no clippings) or filling-in thin
areas. I have complaints from sod producers, landscapers, and homeowners
of grass not responding to fertilizer applications. Considering
the air and soil temperatures of March and April, these complaints are
not surprising or agronomically unfounded. It can be difficult, and
frustrating, to tell clients that there is not much we can do but be
patient, and let’s reevaluate in a few weeks once
environmental conditions become more favorable for growth.
Temperatures this
week (May 7 to present) have been more conducive for growth and the
10-day forecast is encouraging. Warm, daytime and nighttime temperatures
are what the doctor ordered.
Going forward,
maintain the basic agronomics for the growth of warm-season
turfgrasses. Maintaining proper mowing heights, not over-irrigating, and
applying proper fertility are good practices and will pay
dividends as we move from spring into summer.
Please contact me if you have any additional questions -
Dr. Clint Waltz, UGA
CAES News
