Mark Hunt’s Weather Assessment 10th May – 17th May 2010 (Updated)
Well the weather is playing games this week and can't make it's mind up, a bit like our political situation at present. The potential change and next week’s early indications have prompted me to update Monday's outlook and let you know what's coming.
A little low pressure has formed off the North-West of Scotland and this is bringing showers into the U.K. and Ireland from tomorrow.
Currently there is rain belt arching down from Donegal to Wicklow and also in the north and Midlands of the U.K. bringing some sharp showers and as I look out of my office window it's pretty black on the horizon. These showers will move in from the West on Wednesday morning (12th) affecting the South-West and Wales primarily, which isn't a bad thing as it's been dry down that neck of the woods for awhile now. A more concentrated rain front reaches the West coast of Ireland in the early hours of Thursday morning and is due to reach the East coast of Ireland by late afternoon. At the same time, more showers will bubble up in the West of England and Wales and move eastwards to a line parallel with the A1. Friday looks like being the best spray day for the U.K. with dry weather the further east you are, so for foliar absorbed plant growth regulators / herbicides, this should be fine.
I mention plant growth regulators because up until now we haven't had a spring flush of growth by any means, but next week looks like turning warmer from Tuesday onwards and with moisture in some areas, this will kick off growth. So if you are thinking of spraying a PGR, Friday / Monday is the time to do it. The same goes for any liquid fertiliser applications where a small growth kick is required.
Although there is a frost risk right up to and including Friday, this will depend entirely on cloud cover during the night, but by the weekend, we should be frost-free. Temperatures, particularly night temperatures should pick up from Monday (17th) with a change in the wind direction to Westerly's and by mid-week we may well be warm, so for areas which receive rain this week, that could kick off a surge of growth. A new low pressure is on the horizon later next week, but I think we'll have sunshine and showers, so good growing weather on all height of cut areas.
This is important as Perennial Poa isn't too keen on growing at the moment, whereas Bentgrass is, and Annual Poa is seeding heavily, so many surfaces are bumpy and uneven at present, particularly if the cutting height is high and aeration has been carried out recently. If this weather pans out as planned we should see more even growth, a heavier seedhead flush (Ireland aside as they are always a couple of weeks ahead of us) and an opportunity to bring these surfaces together.
Mark Hunt
Technical Director
Headland Amenity Ltd
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