Spring Blooms/Practice like a Pro

Tulips-

Another tulip season in is the books, which showcased roughly 10,000 tulips this year and over 10 different colors and patterns. The tulips over the next week or so will continue to drop their petals, I am often asked what happens to them next. A great question and to keep the landscape beds fresh and new for the following year, we pull all the bulbs out of the ground so that we do not get any unwanted colors mixed in with the new bulbs that will be planted in the fall. We also amend and till the beds in preparation for the Summer Annuals, in many cases this damages the bulb from blooming the following year.

If you are interested in recycling the bulbs to create your own masterpiece at your home we will remove the tulips and place in piles in the landscape beds with a picture of what they looked like at full bloom. Please bring your own buckets/boxes/bags and gather what you would like beginning Monday May 9th. Below, is a brief guide on how care for the bulbs.  Any questions do not hesitate to ask? Spring bulbs were a huge success, and we are getting close to planting the summer annuals. 

How to care/store/replant springtime bulbs:

• Find a covered well-ventilated area to lay out all your bulbs (leaves and bulbs still attached), making sure they do not touch.

• Once the leaves have dried out and turned yellow or brown, you can cut the leaves off all the way back to the bulb (this could take a few weeks).

• Store in a cool, dark, ventilated area like a basement or garage until fall.

• When it is time to plant in the fall, plant bulbs 3-5 inches in the ground, please keep in mind that 100 percent of the bulbs may not bloom again, so plant a few extra! 

Cheers!

Bryan Miller

Horticulturist at Hyde Park CC

Zoysia-

We have finally seen some green in the fairways but there are still some areas that continue to be slow to transition. Carts continue to scatter to the fairways when the soils are not saturated, unfortunately carts are restricted to the path on 18 until the turf wakes up a little more. We have yet to mow the fairways due to below-normal temperatures lack of growth and the stress the mowers can place on the turf. The Grounds team has replaced the turf on the right side of #5 where the large Oak shaded the fairway and on 13th approach. The fairway height sod is coming from behind the 3rd green and is being replaced with new fescue sod.

#5 Right Side

 

Newly Sodded

13 Approach

Practice Area-

I have been asked a few questions on the proper etiquette on divot removal on the grass tees. Below are a few pictures of divot patterns that are exhibited at HP. Ideally there is one divot pattern that should be utilized for increased recuperation and the most efficient use of turf, better known as a “lineal” divot pattern. The lineal divot pattern is a series of divots connected in a lineal fashion with a minimum of 2-3” of turf between each strip. The creeping Bentgrass/Zoysia grass left between the divots will grow horizontally, decreasing the amount of time for recovery.

Thanks for the feedback and questions on the golf course and grounds please do not hesitate to reach out. grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien,

Grounds Superintendent