In Finland, because of the fluctuating weather, only one green was covered between 8 December 2008 and 7 April 2009. It was difficult to determine the correct time for covering and the fungicide had to be applied 5 days before covering. In spring, it was discovered that the plots that had been covered with plastic film were severely infected with snow mould. Living ground cover was 3-5% and the situation remained nearly the same throughout the spring. In areas covered with Evergreen and control areas, the living ground cover was 40% and 25%, respectively.
It is possible that the fitting of the impermeable plastic film with wooden planks was so tight (to avoid leaking water) that it allowed an accumulation of carbon dioxide and a corresponding reduction in oxygen concentration, thus weakening winter survival of the turf. Another factor that may have promoted the strong growth of snow mould was the time between fungicide application and covering day.
On 11 December 2009, two greens at Lepaa Golf Course were covered. Because Aulanko Golf Oy was no longer involved in the project, a new trial green with new materials (gj-Foam Insulation, gj-afs Insulation and GreenJacket Cover) was used at Lepaa.
In Sweden the greens were covered between 6 November 2008 and 20 April 2009 at Timrå GK and 4 November 2008 and 29 April 2009 at Bodens gk. There was a lot of snow and no ice at Boden during the winter, while Timrå had ice from the beginning of December. Before covering the greens, half of each plot was sprayed with fungicide. Only small differences were seen between fungicide-treated and untreated areas. In this winter there were also some problems with leaking water under the covers, which caused dead areas of grass. Apart from that, the best survival at Timrå gk was under the different impermeable covers (including that with plastic bubble wrap). The results at Bodens gk were more or less the same, but compared with an ‘icy’ winter, the grass in control areas and under Evergreen also survived quite well in that year.
In the beginning of November 2009, two greens at each course were covered. There was no area with impermeable plastic from Lantmännen in this winter at Bodens GK and it was not possible to spray the trial with fungicide due to early snow. At Timrå gk, no Evergreen was used in this winter but half the greens were treated with fungicide.
