Why is the rough so......rough???

photo courtesy of Kris Siegers, lie courtesy of water & fertilizer

"Why is the rough so long?"

"When are you gonna cut the bloody rough?"

"Why are you fertilizing and watering the rough so much?"

"Are there even any blades on the rough mowers?"

"Are we hosting the U.S. Open next week?"

If I had a nickel for every time I answered these questions over the past couple weeks, I'd be well on my way to retirement.  Actually, if I had a nickel for every time I answer these questions following every aeration, I'd be retired!  So, once again, here it is:

Our rough and surrounds mowers are currently set at 1.75".  The rough is growing rapidly due to the consistent warm weather, aeration/fall fertilizer applications and increased irrigation.  Prior to aeration, we apply fertilizer throughout the entire property to promote a speedy recovery.  Following aeration and the topdressing that goes along with it, we must increase our watering practices to help knock down the sand and prevent the already stressed turf from "burning up" and becoming even more stressed.  

Furthermore, we haven't been able to achieve the best quality of cut over the past couple weeks due to the aeration topdressing sand constantly dulling the mower blades.  That being said, now that the sand has worked into the turf canopy, we put new sharp blades on all our rough and surrounds mowers this morning and they are cutting much better.  As for our mowing schedule, we are down bodies now that many of our seasonal staff have returned to school, but we are mowing it entirely at least once or twice a week right now, but unfortunately, with the current growth rates, that has not been able to keep it consistently at 1.75".  The growth will slow down and we anticipate keeping it under control now.

Please understand that this is normal procedure for aeration and you should come to expect this each and every time we aerate - spring and late summer.  The surge of growth is not as "bad" following the spring aeration due to much lower soil and air temperatures, so maybe that's why golfers tend to forget until the late summer aeration.