Light & temperature
Turf performs best when light levels and temperature are matched.
Light fuels the metabolic fires of the plant, as long as we have enough water, CO2 and fertility available we should be seeing growth pour in.
Low temperature is a spanner that can be thrown in the works at this time of the year.
No matter how much of the other ingredients for growth we have, if we don’t have consistent temperatures it will be limited.
At the moment it’s a bit like constantly switching the light switch off and on, the plant doesn’t quite know what to ‘think’.
As we can see from the Turf Advisor cutting I took, for Cambridge where I’m based, whilst we are seeing dizzying highs for the end of April.
Keep an eye on the overnight lows.
When we have high light levels and temperatures in the day, but cool conditions over night that can lead to plant stress.
Look out for purpling as a classic symptom.
That’s the plant saying “I need to block some of this excess light” as it’s not warm enough to turn on the accelerator and really grow.
Even if you don’t see purpling it’s still happening.
Keep a close eye on turf in high light conditions, it’s not just drought conditions that are the enemy here.
Consider pigment technologies like Ryder to keep stress out of the game.
And for the team just normal sun cream is really important this time of year. – No lobsters please!
I’m not seeming too much dollar spot yet, but from here on out be mindful, and I’d be checking the Smith Kerns daily.
Ideally have an option on the shelf ready to go as we are well in the zone now if humidity picks up.
