The Atlantic Provinces have been hit with a drought this summer that is just not letting up. With the extremely dry weather, water is a hot topic. In my travels, many golf courses have reduced water to priority surfaces only, pumps are being used to transfer water from pond to pond, and golf course superintendents are doing everything they can to help the turf survive.
At this point, putting greens are the focus. These finely tuned playing surfaces require consistent moisture to perform at their best, but in prolonged heat and drought, water becomes scarce, turf roots shrink, and stress mounts quickly.
Through years of working with golf courses across Atlantic Canada, I’ve seen firsthand how hot, dry weather can either make or break a season. The difference often comes down to the preparation and daily habits we use to protect our greens.
Here’s my list of key strategies to help your putting greens survive when the heat is on.
- Prioritize Moisture Where It Matters Most
In a drought, you can’t water everything equally. Use a moisture meter to identify the driest spots and hand-water those areas first. Focus on keeping the root zone hydrated, not just the surface, so turf can draw water from deeper reserves.
Tip: Timing your irrigation cycle can have a big impact on your turf’s recovery potential. If you have a solid plant protection program in place, watering in the evening gives the turf all night to recover. Watering early in the morning, before sunrise, reduces disease incidence and I’m sure that one is better than the other for your individual situation.
- Use Wetting Agents Wisely
Wetting agents help water penetrate hydrophobic soils, improving efficiency so every drop counts. Apply them before extreme heat hits, then maintain with follow-up applications as needed to keep the soil receptive to water. In my time as a superintendent, wetting agents were usually my first application of the season.
If hand watering consistently, look at different options to help get the most out of the labour spent. There are many different products available, and they can come in a granular or pellet form for different methods of application.
- Reduce Plant Stress
During heat waves, think about what you can stop doing as much as what you should start doing. Avoid aggressive practices like heavy verticutting, deep aeration, or low mowing that can further stress turf. Instead, raise the height of cut slightly and keep blades sharp for a clean cut.
The members on the Haughn Turf chat forum have been sharing all kinds of information regarding growth regulator use recently. A strong growth regulator program helps you to reduce mowing, a stressful practice, while still maintaining speeds at or above client expectations. Certain growth regulators have stress fighting capabilities. With the number of products available to us now in Canada, we have several strategies that we can put together.
- Feed Light & Often
In heat stress conditions, heavy fertilizer applications can push unnecessary growth and stress roots. Instead, use light, frequent foliar or soluble feeding to maintain color and health without overloading the plant.
At the root of all Haughn Turf custom programs is the soil beneath the putting surface. Adding different bio stimulants during periods of stress can help the plant while also feeding the soil to help roots remain long and active following all the prestress preparations that have taken place to this point.
- Control Traffic
When turf is stressed, wear patterns develop faster. Use hole rotation, rope-off high-traffic areas, and move maintenance patterns to give the turf time to recover.
- Monitor for Pests & Disease
Hot and dry doesn’t mean you’re safe from turf problems—in fact, weakened turf is more susceptible to pests or diseases, like anthracnose. Regular scouting helps you stay ahead of outbreaks and treat only when needed. Often, a problem caught early through scouting can lead to a quick recovery.
When conditions are extreme, putting greens don’t need to look perfect, they need to survive. The key is focusing on the basics: targeted water management, stress reduction, and smart cultural practices. By working with what the weather gives us and protecting the plant’s reserves, we set the stage for a stronger recovery once conditions improve. If I can help with any part of that process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
