The big dig on #15

The staff had to use the backhoe today to remove a water meter that measures the water that fill the irrigation  lake on #15.  The meter was buried about 3' deep and was at the bottom of 2' wide drainage pipe which helped to form a pit so the meter can be checked.  Glen Echo member Dave Adam has been working with MSD for a few months in an attempt to get a reduction in our sewage bill which is based on our water consumption.  The clubhouse and lake fill uses the same compound meter to measure the use of water.  MSD has given us a % reduction in our bill over the years.  With the installation of the new irrigation system, we believe that our water usage for the golf course has potentially increased.  MSD must do a survey for a full year to verify that we deserve a reduction in our bill.  The meter must be calibrated and verified by a pump company, so goes the big dig on #15. 

The pile of dirt will be there for a few days until the company can do the work to verify the accuracy of the meter.  Once that takes place, we have to install the meter and then backfill the hole. 

The picture below shows the staff in the hole removing the 1" sized nuts and bolts so the meter can be disconnected from the pipe and removed for calibration.

Assistant Mike and Jason down in the hole doing the dirty work.  Russ got his feet in the muck later in the project.  Most of the bolts had to be snapped off to remove.

Here is the picture of the 4" cold water turbine meter after it was pulled out of the hole.

First mowing of the season

The first mowing of the season took place today.  I don't have a picture since I was the lucky one getting to do the mowing.  The greens overall still lack a great deal of color but should respond to the warmer temperatures we will receive in the next few days.

Tree Removal Front Lawn

In the past month, we had noticed some severe damage to a large Black Oak that was in the front right corner of the clubhouse lawn.  A great tree that had been trimmed severely in years past.  This tree only had 4 large limbs that remained.  Three large branches grew in a clump toward the main road and the 4th branch which was the largest grew toward the portico of the formal entrance.  We noticed an extremely large crack in the limb growing toward the building.  This limb had to be removed.  Once that limb was removed, the tree was going to be completely out of balance.  The tree also had a substantial lean in its main trunk toward the road which put more pressure on the root system.  We removed the main trunk of the tree yesterday.

The picture below is the limb that was cracked.  As you can see, it was substantial in the length of the crack and the size of the limb which was 14-18" in diameter.

After the main trunk of the tree was dropped, you can see the real danger in this tree. It was completely hollow at the base.  Lady is inspecting our work.  4' diameter tree.

Assistant Mike doing some saw work.  Russ, Jason and Tom all pitched in to cut and haul away the remanents of the tree.

Looking down into the base of the tree trunk.  Not very much wood left in keeping this old tree standing.

I hate seeing an old tree that is not harming golf turf conditions having to be removed but in this case it had served its useful purpose here at Glen Echo.  The stump that still remains will be ground out in the next couple of days.

Stump grinding

The 9 foot diamter tree that we removed from hole #7 had to be removed to the ground in preparation for the arrival of the stump grinder today.  Our monster saw with a 48" blade went down so the guys had to use a different saw with only a 30" bar.  Tough job but it had to be completed.

Pictured below is assistant Mike and Russ chopping away.  Mike had already completed a great deal of cutting around the base of the tree.  Now it was time to work up a little higher.

The stump grinder beginning the process of removing the stump.

The aftermath of at least 2-3 hours of grinding.

A majority of this material will be hauled away.  If a large amount of dirt is mixed in with the ground material,  it will be used to help fill in the hole.  If there is too high a concentration of wood chips, dirt will have to be brought in so we will be able to grow grass over this spot.  The wood chips can pull too much nutrition out of the soil robbing the turf of the energy it needs to grow.  10 of the larger stumps were ground today.  This material will be removed early next week.

Syrup's complete

Just completed our first batch of maple syrup.  Little over1 gallon.  Flavor is excellent.  Produced with a little too much heat which created some crystallization when cooled but will be great none the less.  Should get some great production this weekend from our taps.  We will probably prepare another batch sometime next week.

Chef Rob came down and helped me strain the batch.  He's behind the camera.

Add-on furnace update

Good news regarding our add-on wood burning furnace.  Our Lacede Gas bill this month was
$ 296.13.  Average over the last 4 years was $ 1363 with low of $ 927 last year to a high of $ 1686 in 2007.  Total expense from 11-12-09 thru 2-16-10   $ 809.

Non-selective/Preemergent application on Zoysia

The soil surface of our zoysia fairways was frozen this morning when Assistant Mike started our dormant application of the non-selective herbicide Roundup and premergent herbicide Stonewall combination spray.  Since we are using a non-selective material Roundup, we have to spray it when the turf is dormant and not actively growing.  The preemergent application in thrown in with the Roundup to reduce the number of applications we have to make during a season.  The preemergent will lay on the surface of the turf until rain or snow will release it to the soil.  The non-selective product is targeting poa annua which germinates in the fall and begins to grow rapidly as the days warm in March.  I chose to apply this product at a lower rate but it can be effective on broadleaf weeds such as knotweed as well.

We attempt to make this application anytime in February on a sunny day when the turf is firm enough for the sprayer to drive on without damaging the fairways and when the temperature is near or above freezing. 
Poa annua can become actively growing very quickly with sunny days and temperatures above freezing.  As it becomes active and starts to grow, the Roundup will do its work and kill the plant.  The preemergent will create a barrier for crabgrass and goosegrass.  Most home owners will apply this material toward the end of March through mid-April through a fertilizer spreader or sprayed by a lawn care company.  We will begin applications on our rough in this time frame as well.  We will also spray our zoysia tees and some of our green surrounds that are solid zoysia/bermuda.  Our cool season green surrounds will be sprayed with just the preemergent only because the non-selective will selectively kill our fescue/bluegrass/poa surrounds if we had it mixed in the tank.    

A close up of poa annua that we are trying to control.  There is some additional cool season grass mixed in with this stand.

Assistant Mike on 18 fairway spraying.  You can see the drops of foam that are appliced at the end of each side of the spray boom to help him with his next pass.

A view from the back of the application being made.  This application can only be made on dormant zoysia/bermuda.