Effect of Snow Removal on Typhula Blight Development at High Elevation Golf Courses in Colorado

Abstract

Golf course superintendents at high elevations in Colorado apply fungicides in late October before permanent snow cover to suppress Typhula blight development. Many remove snow from putting greens in late winter or early spring assuming this practice helps suppress Typhula blight late into the snow season. They also remove snow to prevent ice formation and freeze damage to turfgrass during snowmelt. However, the benefits of spring snow removal in disease suppression and freeze avoidance have not been demonstrated in Colorado. We compared Typhula blight severity and turfgrass health in Kentucky bluegrass and annual bluegrass fairways where snow was removed weekly from late October through mid-November, from early- to mid-March until the end of the snow period, or not removed. Fall snow removal did not reduce Typhula blight severity compared to no snow removal, but it did result in freeze damage to annual, but not Kentucky bluegrass. Spring snow removal had no effect on Typhula blight severity or freeze damage. Thus the practice of snow removal was of no apparent benefit in our studies. Accepted for publication 3 June 2013. Published 21 August 2013.