From the TTA President

The weather roller coaster ride in the transition zone is like nowhere else in the world. The entire region is still recovering from the extreme low temps experienced during the holidays with widespread winter injury. Grow-in efforts have been further slowed by continued cool temps well into the spring with frosts as late as the end of April. Sod farms are not exempt from these setbacks. You combine that with the supply chain issues and it makes for an even slower recovery process due to the lack of available plant material.

While I have recently relocated to South Florida, Mother-Nature is still large and in charge. Winter injury isn’t a concern, but the availability of water has been this spring. While nearby areas like Ft. Lauderdale have experienced floods of historic nature, we have been in a severe drought at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. You mix in the lack of available water, warmer than normal temps with low humidity, and the challenge to keep grass alive is real. Through the middle of April, we had received less than 2” of rain, so the courses were for sure playing firm and fast. I am enjoying the weather to this point, but I am again reminded as I write this article of who is in charge as next week, June 1st is the first day of the 2023 hurricane season.

There is never a dull moment in the world of turfgrass and mother-nature will always remind us of who is really in charge. We are just along for the rollercoaster ride and respond accordingly.

Godspeed on a great growing season for all!

Always a Tennessean,

TTA President