Warm weather has turned up the maintenance a notch or two on the course this week.  Insect activity rapidly increased so we sprayed greens and tees this morning, though our monitoring has not seen as much annual bluegrass weevil activity as in the past. Dimension herbicide was applied to nearly 40 acres of rough this week as well.  We use split applications as this gives better weed control than a single application.  The second application will occur in six weeks.  Soil temperatures are now in the mid-fifties.  This is a significant temperature for fairy ring fungal control.  Tourney fungicide was applied today to control this disease on greens.  A second application is necessary in three weeks.

It's a beautiful time of year.  Our tulips are stunning, and the viburnums are in their prime.  If you are unlucky to have allergies, it can be rough though. There is plenty of pollen in the air from grasses, trees and shrubs.  Next up will be the oaks with their catkins falling throughout the property.  White oaks have the reputation of being a very strong tree but have struggled over the last few years.  Too many crazy weather extremes have left an impact on them. We have lost quite a few and now borers are attacking many of them.  We are contract spraying as many white oaks as reasonable next week and will do the additional sprays in house.  

Tees were aerated and topdressed this week.  Fairways and greens are scheduled to begin Monday.

Greens were sprayed this morning and lightly watered afterwards. 

Look closely and you might see a dead weevil.

Here's a dead turf beetle.  The insecticide worked!

As the hardwoods leaf out the course looks much fuller.  Specific specimens now stand out.  The old saying about not seeing the trees for the forest couldn't be truer!

Two of our honeybee hives were relocated from our shop to the 12th hole just above the wildflower beds.  These hives struggled in their previous site-maybe too close to chemicals and equipment fumes?  Honeybees are very docile and rarely sting humans.  Keep an eye out for hornets, wasps and yellow jackets.  Thise are the ones to worry about and are controlled as best we can.

Our beekeeper introducing a new colony.

What a tulip display!

Prairie Fire crabapples on the 11th hole.

Jeff William's memorial bench dedication Thursday.