12/18/2019 - By JJ Jansen

As I sit here writing this in the middle of December, it is cold, turf is dormant, and leaves have fallen off trees. Christmas is right around the corner and all our decorations are up both inside and outside of our house. I must admit, turf talk is not at the top of my priority list right now. Yes, I am already thinking of 2020, and certain goals I have both personally and work related have already been written down. I have reflected on the successes and failures of 2019, asking myself what we can do to learn from these mistakes and what we can do to make our successes better. That can all wait though. We have the best holiday ever taking place right now and this is my favorite time of the year. I love the cold weather and even though we don’t get that cold here in Texas, it is a nice relief from the brutal summer heat we endure. I literally dream of these December days come the end of August. Christmas to me isn’t about the presents anymore. I have two kids, ages three and one, and seeing Christmas through their eyes brings me pure joy. My son literally sings Christmas music non-stop, talks about Santa all the time, and wants to go see lights on a nightly basis. This is the time of the year to celebrate the birth of Jesus, giving, and spending time with our family and friends. Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas?

I use this time of the year to recharge my batteries. Going back to my superintendent days, this was when we slowed down tremendously and I didn’t have to worry about if the irrigation ran that night, or how the greens would respond to numerous days above 100 degrees without any rainfall. This was when projects were able to take place. That would entail trimming trees, re-staining tee markers, and making sure all our equipment was in good shape and ready for the next year. A good option for making sure all your spray rigs are cleaned up and ready to go is Harrell’s Pigment Cleaner Plus. This product is ready to use, and no dilution is needed. Apply Pigment Cleaner Plus liberally, wait approximately 60-120 seconds, brush, and rinse. It can also be used on sprinkler heads, cart paths, and any other hard surfaces, excluding marble, soft stone, granite, or unfinished aluminum. This is also a good time of the year to meet with your Harrell’s representative to make sure everything is ready to go for 2020 and pre-emerges are decided and a plan is set in place for your agronomic program.

Now back to Christmas! Use this time of the year to do a cookout or lunch for your crew and staff. Show them how much you appreciate their hard work throughout the year. I would also encourage you to volunteer your time if you can and give to others. There are a lot of programs set in place to help others. This could be your family going shopping together to buy gifts for someone else, volunteering your time to serve a meal at your local homeless shelter, or inviting someone into your home who you know may not be able to spend Christmas with their own family. This is the season for giving and let’s pay it forward. Now, remember to also watch all the staple Christmas movies…Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Miracle on 24th Street, The Grinch, and Die Hard (yes, this is a Christmas movie). From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.