Native Areas

You may have noticed that we have been cutting down some of the tall areas around ponds, in native areas, and in wildflower areas.  We are doing this because of the movement of Canada Thistle into these areas.

This is a evasive perennial weed that is characterized by it's prickly foliage and violet colored flowers that produces tons of seed. 

The largest area is the area effected is the areas between #8 and #11.  Due to the droughty conditions last spring the thistle got a jump on the native species that were planted.  The plan is to keep the Thistle from going to seed and exacerbate the problem.  Than in late fall we can make a herbicide application that should be taken down to the root and kill the Thistle.

We have been busy with a number of projects this week in addition to preparing for the Ladies Dellwood/North Oaks/White Bear Challenge and for the Memorial Weekend Tournament.  Earlier this week we took down a large Cottonwood tree off the right side of #11 tee.  This tree was removed because it was encroaching on the tee shot from the Blue tee and for another small tee (for #11) that will be constructed near the Blue tee for #9. 

These are the before and after photos of the area.

Colleen our Head Gardener and her crew have been busy filling gardens with fresh annuals.

 

We also were able to move some shrubs we had taken out from behind the Pro Shop and use them along the pool parking lot.

There has been a lot going on this last week.  Here is a look at some activities that the maintenance staff is doing and some things we are seeing.

Last Thursday we had a rain day where it was difficult to do anything on the golf course.  We decided it would be a good day to tackle a little project around the clubhouse.  This landscape was getting a little unruley so we removed some plant material so the Proshop could see better and help give the area more depth by opening up some sight lines.  We also had some overdue trimming to do on the four trees.  This should allow the trees to get more air flow and be more health.

A number of trees on the golf course look either dead or very weak.  The two species of trees are the Ash and the Honeylocust.  The Ash's leaves are curling up and turning black and falling.  This is not Emerald Ash Borer it is a fungus known as Anthracnose (not Anthrax) that develops during cool, wet weather.  This is an added stress to the tree but does not kill the tree.  I have seen this a number of times in my 12 years at Dellwood.  The Honeylocust are just slow to leave out which is very typical for these trees.  Here is a link to a great tool for diagnosing problems with plant materials.  http://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo/diagnostics/index.html

I have posted an update from the Department of Agriculture on this main page.

On the left is a picture of some Honeylocust to the right side of #9 fairway. The picture on the right is of some Green Ash to the right of #13 green. The photo above and on the left is of a lone Honeylocust next to the forward tee on #12.