Flooding has occurred on golf courses, lawns, and other turf areas as a result of recent rainfall occurrences. Whether or not the turf survives depends on how long it was buried and whether or not soil deposition happened. In several parts of Australia, heavy rains have dumped over 5 inches of rain in the last week. Buffalo Turf near streams and rivers, as well as low-lying regions, was momentarily flooded. Unlike floods in the spring, lawn damage in the summer can be extensive. Buy flood-free turf species, submergence length, submergence depth, water temperature, and light intensity are all factors that influence turf survival underwater.
The capacity of different turfgrass varieties to withstand flooding varies
The capacity of different turfgrass varieties to withstand flooding varies. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules, such as Kentucky bluegrass surviving five days underwater and creeping bentgrass surviving 15 days. Instead, species were given relative submersion tolerance ratings: good for creeping bentgrass, medium for Kentucky bluegrass, and fair for Poa annual and perennial ryegrass.
As the depth of submersion rises, so does the risk of harm
The risk of harm rises as the depth of submersion rises. The turf will most likely survive if the leaf tissue is above the waterline–even just a small amount. Many people have seen spreading bentgrass floating on the edge of a golf course or even growing out into a lake. This is an excellent example of turf surviving when buried in water.
Water temperature and light intensity are the final two parameters that affect turf survival. When the ground is submerged for even a brief time during flooding in the summer when the temperatures are high, the turf is typically damaged.
The lawn may turn yellow or brown as a result of flooding. The discoloration is caused by the turf’s decreased capacity to absorb nutrients. It doesn’t take long for soil oxygen levels to drop and root hairs to die once the turf is soaked. Nutrient extraction and water uptake will be reduced when the root system deteriorates. Once the water has retreated, keep this in mind because the lawn may benefit from a small fertilizer application.
To determine if submersion has resulted in harm
Extract several plants from the flooded site and cut a horizontal cross-section across the crown to see if submersion has caused harm, according to Australian University Extension. It has survived if the crown is white and firm. It’s time to construct a reestablishment plan if the crown is brown and mushy.
Conclusion:- Finally, you’re probably dealing with silt or soil deposition in places that were flooded as a result of a stream or river overflowing a bank. Soil deposition can be difficult to remove, thus planting into the deposited soil is a possibility. After you’ve effectively rebuilt soil, use cultivation techniques like core aeration or slicing to help the turf by breaking through accumulated dirt layers and allowing rooting and water infiltration to take place.