Freeze Injury: Is it in the cards?

As January ends, and the GCSAA show is on the horizon, I thought this would be a good time to look at where the "turf" stands. On January 1st I was playing golf in a shirt and sweater and within a few days temperatures dropped and we had one cold January. The question I encountered during January was, "If it was warm in late December and early January and then cold, could we expect freeze injury to annual bluegrass?" In general, the answer is no. Turfgrass plants are their most cold hardy during late December through January. I think most of the plants were in their hardening off phase during late December and the "warm break" we had probably had no effect.

However, over the next 2 to 4 weeks the risk of freeze injury to annual bluegrass is the greatest. I always use the GCSAA Conference and Show as the "yardstick" or reference when freeze injury for us in Ohio is potentially the greatest. For example, if we get an extended period of warm weather during or immediately after the GCSAA show, where the turf breaks dormancy and greenup occurs, annual bluegrass could be at risk. If this warm period would occur, followed by a significant rainfall or snowstorm with a corresponding rapid temperature drop injury could occur. In this instance, annual bluegrass in low lying or wet areas would be at risk.

The picture below was taken in 2001 at the beginning of April. The actual damage (freeze stress) occurred around the 2nd to 3rd week in February.

Authors: Karl Danneberger