Winter Preparations IV - Fungi

"Snow Mold" includes several diseases that occur over the winter, with or without snow cover. In a typical year, these fungi will not cause widespread death of fine turfgrass if treated preventatively with a fungicide. If left untreated, the damage can be severe.

The application of fungicides must be well timed. Just prior to soil freezing and before snowfall has worked best for us here at Oakland Hills. The application is usually best before any winter topdressing is applied and before the winter covers are installed.

This week we are applying a fungicide to all greens, tees and fairways to provide insurance against a heavy onset of snow mold. Some snow mold is always present in the spring, but the damage will be minimized by this application.