Tree Work...Lakes 7 & 8

We started out this week by continuing our assault on the thick brush and trees near the green on Lakes 8.  This is our second year working in this area due to the number and size of the trees that are creating problems from too much shade and limited airflow.  A couple of the trees are 80 feet or taller, and because of the shadows they create we're having to go further into the woods to remove them.  While on Lakes 8, we also cleaned up a large oak tree that separated from it's stump and fell late last year.  This particular tree had two main trunks growing out of the same stump.  After cleaning up the fallen trunk it was determined that the other trunk still standing had significant decay and had to be removed for safety reasons.  It was hanging over the cart path at such a severe angle that it was only a matter of when, not if, it was going to fall and anyone passing underneath was in harm's way.

After finishing up on #8 we moved the operation to #7 and started removing trees that were casting heavy shade on the silver and blue/gold tees.  If you recall from an earlier post, the staff began removing brush and smaller trees in these areas several weeks ago to speed up the removal process once the excavator was there.  We also removed a maple tree that had up-rooted in a recent storm and was hung up in another tree across the cart path.  It would have taken a tree company all day to perform the removal and cleanup, and cost around $2,000 just for that one tree.  We had it down and cleaned up in an hour, and for a fraction of the cost thanks to the right equipment and exceptional staff members.

One half of a double-trunk oak tree down to the right of Lakes 8 fairway

Significant decay inside the base of the other trunk still standing on Lakes 8

Here you can see the other part of the oak tree on the right side of the picture leaning over the cart path towards the fairway on Lakes 8

A large maple tree too close to the blue/gold tee on Lakes 7

Thin, unhealthy rough along the blue/gold tee on Lakes 7 from too much shade

Even a highly maintained bentgrass tee can't compete with big trees

Up-rooted maple hung up in an adjacent tree safely removed by the maintenance staff

Tree Work...Orchard 6 & Lakes 9

Last week we finished up on Orchard 6 by removing the dead trees in the left hazard at the beginning of the fairway.  They had been dead for many years and were an eyesore from the tee.  I was also able to get a better picture on Orchard 6 after all the snow melted.

So far this week we finished removing the pine trees along the tennis courts and started cleaning up around the green on Lakes 9.  The trees and brush along the right greenside bunker had become so thick that grass wouldn't grow along the outer edge and roots were visible in the bunker sand.  As an added benefit, the back portion of the green will now receive full sun and stay drier in the spring and fall.  While on Lakes 9, the staff also spent a good deal of time cleaning up the overgrown area to the right of the cart path just past the green.  The tangled mess of honeysuckle, jaggers, locust and sumac was very unappealing and didn't fit the manicured look of the course and surrounding homes.

Orchard 6...before

Orchard 6...after

Dead trees left of Orchard 6 fairway

30" diameter stump from a dead poplar tree removed on Orchard 6.
You can stick your entire arm down into the cavity.

Dense trees and brush right of Lakes 9 green

No chance of getting turf to grow in these conditions

Overgrown area just past Lakes 9 green...before

Overgrown area...after

Tree Work...Orchard 6

In between all the snow and ice events this week, we were still able to find some time to work on Orchard 6 between the tees and the fairway.  The big tree in the pictures below was a half-dead poplar that had a 30" diameter at the base.  We only have a 25" bar on our largest chainsaw, so it took some time to get the tree on the ground and cleaned up.  We anticipate another day to remove the last few trees in order to have a full view of the fairway.

White tee view...before

White tee view...after

 

Blue tee view...before

Blue tee view...after

Tree Work...Orchard 6

With the ground being thawed the available areas to work in are limited, but that hasn't stopped our progress.  We started clearing vegetation between the fairway and tees on Orchard 6 where significant growth has occurred over the years.   The entire right side of the fairway was blocked from view along with the Out-of-Bounds stakes.  Approximately 25 trees have been removed so far, and we anticipate another couple days to finish removing the vegetation and restore the work area.

Orchard 6 fairway prior to removing trees

Work in progress viewed from the Gold tee

Work in progress viewed from the Blue tee

End of day 1 viewed from the Blue tee

Tree Work...Orchard 5 Green & Lakes 7 Tees

Late last week we started removing trees to the left of Orchard 5 green.  Some work had been done there last year, but more trees needed to come out that continued to cast heavy shade on a majority of the green.  The shade created weak turf that struggled to survive during the summer, which resulted in bare spots on the putting surface.  As the removals progressed, we also discovered that most of the trees had some form of structural damage which led to internal decay.

We had planned to finish the work near 5 green at the beginning of this week, but all the snow melt and heavy rain over the weekend put that on hold.  The turf was too soft to drive the equipment over, so we started thinning out some areas adjacent to the tees on Lakes 7.  The staff was able to keep the equipment on the cart path and have been focused on brush and small trees.  The end result is amazing, just with the brush gone, and we plan to work our way back towards 6 green.  The next step will be to remove a few bigger trees hanging over the path near the tees that are blocking sunlight and airflow.

Big trees create big shadows

Work in progress between Orchard 1 fairway and 5 green

5 green from the approach

Main trunk logs showing signs of decay

Brush removed left of Lakes 7 silver tees

Staff removing brush left of Lakes 7 blue/gold tee

Tree Work...Grove 8 Fairway

This week we've been removing trees on Grove 8 in the hazard left of the fairway approximately 120 yards from the green.  This area had grown up so much that anyone hitting their ball down the left side of the fairway would not have a clear shot to the green.  Removing the trees also addressed a safety issue where players in the fairway could not always see the group ahead of them on the green.  Approximately 30 trees were removed ranging in size from 2" to 15", and plans are to keep the area a hazard and maintained as such.

Before...no view of the green or bunkers

After...green and bunkers in full view

Looking back from the green

Tree Work...Update

With the recent mild temps and snow melt, the conditions are too wet to continue work on the course.  We were able to finish on Orchard 8 early in the week, and then started removing pine trees along the pool and tennis courts.  We'll also be removing pine trees as you drive into the club along the hillside that overlooks the putting green and Orchard 9 green.  Unfortunately, these trees are being killed by a variety of factors and are past the point of saving.

The main cause of death for the trees planted on the hillsides are girdling roots.  Girdling roots are lateral roots that grow around (encircle) the base of the tree.  As the tree matures, the roots become tighter and will cut into the bark and inner cambium.  Over time the girdling roots will cut off the natural flow of water and nutrients throughout the tree, which leads to death.  The main cause of girdling roots is that they develop as a result of trees being planted too deeply.  When roots are covered by too much soil, less oxygen and water is available.  The roots will grow up towards the surface of the soil and encircle the trunk.  All the trees removed so far had girdling roots evident at the soil surface, some worse than others.  The problem with planting trees on hillsides is that for the tree to be straight, one side of the root ball will be covered by too much soil and the other side typically doesn't receive enough soil.  The steeper the slope the worse the problem becomes.

A handful of the pine trees are also being killed by Diplodia Tip Blight.  It's a naturally-occurring fungus that easily spreads by wind and water movement.  The fungus will attack new growth at the tips of the branches and form cankers that will restrict the flow of water and nutrients.  As the infection progresses, the lowest branches will die off and the disease moves upward in the tree.

Pine tree being killed by girdling roots

Girdling roots caused by planting on a hillside

One of several dead pine trees along hillside overlooking practice green

Pine tree near tennis courts showing signs of Diplodia Tip Blight

Tree Work...Update

This week the staff finished clearing the unwanted brush and downed trees near the short fairway on the right of Grove 9.  There was a considerable amount of debris that had accumulated over the years, but the end result is amazing.  We can't wait to see it this spring when everything starts to green up!  The next area on the list is to clean up/remove a few trees and the remaining brush along the lake edge on lower Orchard 8.  The beginning of the fairway still had considerable shade from a handful of trees, so we are getting them out while the ground is frozen.  The next location for targeted removals is to the left of Orchard 5 green.  We did some work in there last winter, but realized this summer that more trees need to come out that are casting heavy shade on the green.

Hazard area before right fwy on Grove 9 all cleaned up

View from Grove 9 tees prior to tree work (Spring 2016)

View from Grove 9 tees after tree work (Winter 2018)

Bryan Morgan (Assistant Superintendent) flush cutting a stump

Maintenance staff thinning out trees along Orchard 8 lake edge 

 

Having the right equipment makes the job safer and more efficient

Tree Work

The recent plunge in temperature has resulted in frozen ground that is ideal for tree work, so we're taking a break from drainage and picking up where we left off last winter.  Removing trees can be a contentious issue, but recent trends show that selective removals have significant results when it comes to improving turf health and playability.  The majority of our work is removing underbrush and undesirable trees such as locust and sumac, but we sometimes have to remove oak, maple, cherry or elm trees if they're too close to greens, tees or fairways.  These species have shallow root systems that will out-compete turfgrass for water and nutrients, all while blocking sunlight and airflow.

Trees are also removed for safety reasons, and we've been proactively removing trees that are in decline.  Visible damage to the trunk, especially around the base of the tree, is an indicator of a potential hazard.  Also, dead branches at the very top of a tree indicate a problem.

Click here for a recent article from the USGA about trees and their effect on turfgrass.

Shaded putting green turf will always be lesser quality
compared to turf that receives full sun.

Rotting heartwood makes trees weaker and more likely to come down in storms.

Thin turf under a dense tree canopy.

This tree only had minor indicators of poor health, but was clearly in decline.

Maintenance staff removing brush and undesirable trees near Grove 9 green.

Course Update

The recent stretch of mild weather has allowed us to continue the drainage projects on the Orchard course.  We're currently working in #5 fairway and have installed 130 feet of pipe thus far, with another 30 feet to finish installing before Christmas.  That brings the total drainage installed to 210 feet.  Unlike the drain line on #6, the two sites on #5 did not have existing drainage and it makes sense why we experienced problems with the turf in those low areas every year.  Since there wasn't sub-surface drainage to remove the excess water, the soil remained water-logged and the turf died due to a lack of oxygen.  By using a combination of sand over gravel in the drain lines, we ensure that water can easily drain from the surface which results in better playing conditions and healthy turf!

Ready to start digging on 5 Orchard fwy

 

Bryan & Justin digging around existing basin to connect new drainage

Installing new 4" pipe & gravel

Installing 12" basin to accommodate future drain lines

Drain line ready for sod near 5 approach

Gray clay only 2" below the fairway surface allows little to no water drainage