Frost Advisory

 

We have had a couple frosty mornings now, and will begin having more as we move deeper into fall.  The black and soon to be brown foot prints down the middle of various fairways reminded me not everyone realizes walking on frost covered grass typically results in death.  During conditions that favor frost, the moisture in the grass plants and the dew produced by the grass freezes.  When pressure from animals, people, vehicles, etc is applied to the frosted grass, the cell walls of the plants shatter.  It is similar to breaking spaghetti noodles before they are cooked in boiling water.  The grass typically can not recover and begins showing signs of death within a few hours of when the pressure was applied during the frosty conditions.  Death is more prominent in greens, tees, and fairway because of lower mowing heights.  The crown, or growing point of the plant, is not as protected and more likely to be damaged than taller maintained turf.   

People tracks from walking on frosty grass

Deer tracks from playing on frosty grass