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A major concern for green industry professionals is damage or loss of turf grass due to colder winter weather. As the temperature outside drops, you may be worried about your turf experiencing harm from these harsher seasonal conditions like winterkill. What’s amazing about turf grass is that it naturally tries to prepare and adapt to winter to prevent damage or death. This preparation for cool weather is called cold acclimation. This term refers to turf grasses' ability to make changes to help it tolerate lower temperatures and prevent ice accumulation in plant cells (ice accumulation can result in cells rupturing which injures the plant). During the cold acclimation process of turf grass, it accumulates certain sugars and proteins to create a cell wall that becomes more fluid and allows for plant cells to dehydrate in order to become hardier over winter. Colder winter weather brings challenges for both cool season and warm season turf grass. Although both species have the ability to prepare themselves for winter, there are still multiple factors that may arise that can cause damage or even death to turf.
WHAT IS WINTERKILL?
Winterkill is an all-inclusive term that is used to describe the various causes of turf loss over the cool winter months. Winterkill can happen due to a combination of factors including low-temperature kill, ice sheets, desiccation, crown hydration, and disease.
LOW-TEMPERATURE KILL
Extreme cold can produce the winterkill problem known as the low-temperature kill. Low-temperature kill can happen on two different levels; on the surface and below the surface. Low temperature kill above the surface is caused by ice crystal formation on plant cells at temperatures below 32˚F. The ice accumulation can result in plant cells rupturing which ultimately can cause injury and even death to the plant. Above the surface, low-temperature kill is more likely to happen prior to below surface low-temperature kill. Soil temperatures fluctuate less than air temperatures, insulating the crown (the growing point) of the plant and its roots from winter temperatures. Unfortunately, soil temperature can still drop to a point where damage is done below the surface parts of the plant.
Another issue that can lead to low-temperature kill and interfere with turf grass winter survival is the freeze/thaw cycle. When freezing and thawing happens rapidly throughout the winter months, damage can increase because there is more stress to the plant.
ICE SHEETS
Ice sheets or ice accumulation on turf grass can result in plant death if left on turf for a sustained period of time. Different turf grass species have different hardiness to ice sheet build up, for example, annual bluegrass experiences damage between 45-90 days of ice accumulation while creeping bentgrass can withstand ice until 90-120 days before plant death occurs. Ice sheets cause death because it prevents gas exchange, increasing carbon dioxide to toxic levels.
DESICCATION
Desiccation, also known as winter drought, is the term used to describe turf grass death due to drying out over the course of winter when the grass is dormant or semi-dormant. Desiccation is more likely to appear in areas where soil was dry prior to entering winter or where there has been little snow precipitation or cover throughout the cool winter months.
- NOTE: In regions where drought occurs regularly throughout the season, desiccation is more likely to be prominent (i.e. the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska and others).
CROWN HYDRATION
Crown hydration injury occurs during the warmer days of winter when temperatures increase enough that turf grass awakes from dormancy and begins to take up water again. Damage happens when a day or two of warm daytime temperatures arrive, followed by the continuation of freezing temperatures. Damage or death to turf happens because of ice crystallization forming within the plant, causing stress and rupturing to the plant's cells. Crown hydration commonly takes place during late winter/early spring when snow or rain occurs and then freezing temperatures return but the melted snow or rain has not fully drained away.
- PRO TIP: Cool season grasses are especially susceptible to crown hydration injury since they’re more likely to awake from winter dormancy at the first break of warmer temperatures.
DISEASE
The most common two diseases caused from winterkill is snow mold; gray and pink snow mold. Areas of turf grass that appear to be “glued” together, pale yellow in color and have a straw-like quality may be affected by snow mold. Although snow mold doesn’t occur every year, it is not uncommon to find it in turf grass in years when early and deep snow prevented the ground from freezing. The fungal growth from snow mold can cause winterkill injury, causing grass to take a little longer to green up.
Spring dead spot (SDS) is another common winter kill fungal disease in the warm season species, bermudagrass (although less common, spring dead spot can be found in zoysiagrass). This disease can be identified by its well-defined circular patches of bleached out, dead turf. This disease can become evident when turf begins to green-up in spring. This is a destructive, persistent disease that happens when turf is exposed to freezing temperatures for extended periods of time. The fungi of SDS are active in fall and spring when conditions are cool and moist. The fungi don’t actually kill turf directly but instead weakens the turf by feeding on grass roots, rhizomes, and stolons, making it more susceptible to winterkill injury. SDS fungi can infect turf anywhere from temperatures above 50° F to below 70°F.
Spring Dead Spot Fungal Disease
RECOVERING FROM MODERATE - SEVERE WINTERKILL
Unfortunately, winterkill damage cannot be fully assessed until turf grass goes through its spring green-up and warmer weather returns. If spring arrives and you notice some damage from winterkill, sodding or seeding may be necessary to help with turf grass recovery. Prior to seeding it is crucial to understand your region and which grasses will thrive.
*IMPORTANT* NEVER USE A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE WHILE SEEDING/SODDING. PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDES WILL KILL GERMINATING GRASS SEEDS.
Predicting winterkill is not something you can always forecast since a variety of winterkill damage is caused by seasonal factors out of our control. By choosing a thriving and adaptable turf grass species and maintaining good turf care practices, turf grass can avoid winterkill and defend itself against the cool, harsher winter weather.
Winterkill prevention on turf can be helped with a healthy, dense turf and a strong root system with a regular lawn care routine including fertilization, soil amendments, proper mowing and watering as well as aeration and thatch management practices. It is also extremely helpful to take the necessary steps to “winterizer” your lawn for a hardier winter lawn and a quick spring green-up".
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
References:
https://www.sportsfieldmanagementmagazine.com/columns/turf-health/protect-turfgrass-winter-damage/
https://www.sportsfieldmanagementmagazine.com/maintenance/winter-weather-forecasting-field-management/
http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/extension/factsheets/cool-season
http://purdueturftips.blogspot.com/2014/03/cool-season-turf-winterkill-potential.html
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/winterkill-of-turfgrass
http://purdueturftips.blogspot.com/2014/03/warm-season-turf-winterkill-2014-what.html
https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/lawns/snow-molds-in-lawns/
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1012
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/hot_topics/2016/pdf/09%20preparing_managing_warm_season_grasses_during_the_offseason%202%20col.pdf
Photos:
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1012
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.
Dear Valued Industry Partners and Customers, We are pleased to announce that Turf Care Supply, LLC has acquired Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (October 1, 2024) a respected manufacturer in the turf and ornamental fertilizer industry. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing you with an expanded range of innovative products, services, and industry expertise, all designed to support your business’s continued growth and success. As a valued partner or customer, you will benefit from enhanced service capabilities and an extended geographic reach, thanks to Agri-Nutrients, Inc.’s strategic facility located in the Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma. With this established presence in the Southwest and Western markets, Turf Care Supply, LLC’s expanded operational footprint will allow us to serve a broader region with greater efficiency, delivering even stronger support to help drive your business forward. We are dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining the high standards of service you expect. If you have any questions or would like to explore how this new location can enhance your operations, please feel free to contact your account manager or our customer service team. Thank you for your continued trust in Turf Care Supply, LLC. We look forward to partnering with you as we grow together and continue supporting your success. Sincerely, Mark Mangan President Turf Care Supply, LLC
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.