Since November 1, 2018 until now, the area has seen less than .5” of perception. Even by Colorado’s arid standards, this extreme lack of moisture is unprecedented. While the mild winter makes it particularly appealing to get outside and enjoy, Harmony’s golf course is more vulnerable to serious damage than ever.
When winter sets in, the course’s turf goes dormant. The leaf tissue dies, essentially becoming an insulating barrier to the crown; the delicate part of the plant that survives to return in the spring. If you’ve ever noticed the pale green strips left by cart tires driven over the turf, you’re looking at the crown. In this extreme dry winter, the leaf tissue has become delicate and severely brittle making crown exposure even more intense. This ultimately leads to desiccation – the death of the plant material. Making matters even worse are wind conditions coupled with above freezing air temperatures while the soil remains frozen. In short, it’s a perfect storm.
As a side note, residents, if possible, should consider hand-watering exterior trees, shrubs, and plants. Obviously, these dry conditions are impacting these plants as well. Please remember to disconnect hoses after winter watering to prevent freeze and bursting residential pipes. You can also contact your landscape installer or service company for any additional help.
In the meantime, we are searching for any rainmakers who can help with the water dance.