Left side was uncovered
Right side was covered
It is almost a comical, brilliant green (which I guess is way better than a depressing, dull brown!) that is due entirely to the geotextiles or tarps we have been covering the greens with since the snow left. We often use tarps when we are trying to speed the recovery of weak areas but this time we used them to protect the turf from the unseasonably cool weather and to increase the soil temperatures and promote quicker growth. Generally, temperatures under tarps are about two degrees warmer overnight and can be near 10 to 15 degrees warmer than air temperatures on a sunny day. Characteristics of a good "green up" tarp are 50 % light penetration, permeable to air and water, and lightweight (1 to 3 oz/ sqyd). Warmer temperatures, moisture, and air exchange allow turf to grow like it is summer. The risk of covering greens is the possibility of "baking" the grass or drying it out if air temperatures under the tarp get too high for a length of time. This time out the worst thing we may have done was grow too much grass. The first mow caused scalping and the H.O.C. was probably to low but nothing serious.
