FREEZING RAIN ON COOL SEASON TURF. Through the northern United States, the potential for freezing rain and snow raises questions on the effects of ice cover on turf. Most of the cool season turfgrasses including creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass are pretty tolerant to ice cover. Continual ice cover of over 90 days is needed to cause damage to Kentucky bluegrass. For creeping bentgrass continual ice cover approaching 120 days is needed to cause injury. On annual bluegrass injury can occur when ice cover exceeds 60 continual days. Similarly perennial ryegrass injury is suspected to occur around 60 days.
Besides duration, the degree of icing influences injury. Ice encased turf will suffer more damage than a thin layer of ice on top of the turf. Thus, low lying areas where water can accumulate and freeze has a greater potential for injury than a well-drained area.
SOIL TEMPERATURES.
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