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For golf superintendents across Ontario, spring success starts long before the snow melts. While winter may slow on-course activity, it’s one of the most important planning periods for natural grass maintenance. Decisions made now directly impact turf recovery, playability, and operational efficiency once golf season begins. 

Preparing early helps avoid spring bottlenecks, improves turf performance, and ensures your course is ready for increased traffic as soon as conditions allow. Below, we outline key techniques and tools golf courses should prioritize when planning for spring 2026, with a focus on proven solutions from GKB Machines and TrenchIt. 

Why Winter Planning Matters for Natural Grass 

Natural grass turf goes through significant stress over winter. “Winter kill” refers to the damage that various winter weather related events can cause. Snow cover, freeze–thaw cycles, debris accumulation, and soil compaction all affect how quickly greens and fairways recover in spring. Courses that wait until March or April to plan maintenance often face: 

• Delayed opening dates 

• Compromised turf quality 

• Limited equipment availability 

• Increased labour pressure during peak season 

By addressing equipment needs, drainage improvements, and maintenance scheduling during winter, superintendents can start spring with healthier turf and fewer operational challenges.  

Drainage: The Foundation of Spring Turf Performance 

Before focusing on surface preparation, it’s critical to evaluate drainage. Poor drainage is one of the most common causes of slow spring recovery, uneven growth, and playability issues on golf courses. 

Standing water limits oxygen flow to roots, increases disease pressure, and delays mowing and maintenance. Winter is an ideal time to identify problem areas and plan corrective work. 

TrenchIt: Precision Drainage Solutions 

TrenchIt trenchers are designed for precision drainage installation and repair on golf courses. They allow superintendents to: 

• Improve water movement in fairways and high-traffic areas 

• Address drainage issues without major surface disruption 

• Install or repair irrigation and drainage lines efficiently 

Addressing drainage before spring growth begins helps natural grass recover faster and creates more consistent playing conditions throughout the season. 

Preparing Greens and Fairways for Recovery 

Once drainage is addressed, attention turns to surface preparation. Spring recovery depends heavily on proper aeration, topdressing, and material distribution. 

GKB Tools for Greens & Fairways 

As the exclusive Canadian dealer of GKB Machines, Clean Turf Canada supports golf courses with equipment designed specifically for natural grass performance. 

GKB Sandfiller 
The GKB Sandfiller combines aeration and sand injection, improving root development and drainage while minimizing surface disruption. It’s especially effective for greens and high-performance turf areas. 

GKB Topdrop 
Consistent topdressing is critical for smoothing surfaces and improving turf health. The GKB Topdrop ensures even material application across greens and fairways, helping superintendents maintain consistent playing conditions. 

GKB Sandspreader 
For larger areas, the GKB Sandspreader delivers fast, uniform sand distribution, supporting efficient early-season topdressing and fairway preparation. 

Planning these operations in advance allows courses to move quickly once conditions permit, rather than waiting for equipment availability during peak demand. 

Scheduling Early to Avoid Spring Bottlenecks 

Spring is the busiest time of year for golf course maintenance. Equipment availability, contractor schedules, and staffing resources become limited very quickly. Superintendents who plan early benefit from: 

• Priority access to equipment and services 

• Flexible scheduling around weather windows 

• Reduced pressure on crews during opening weeks 

• Better overall turf outcomes 

Winter is the ideal time to finalize equipment requirements, book maintenance services and schedule drainage work so everything is ready when spring arrives. 

Partnering with the Right Support Team 

Golf course maintenance is complex, and having the right partners in place makes a significant difference. Clean Turf Canada works directly with golf superintendents across Ontario to provide: 

• Equipment expertise tailored to natural grass systems 

• Support with GKB machinery selection and usage 

• Precision drainage solutions using TrenchIt 

• Practical guidance based on real-world course conditions 

By combining advanced equipment with experienced support, courses can confidently prepare for the 2026 season. 

Get Ahead of Spring 2026 

Spring success isn’t achieved in March, it’s built during the winter. By focusing on drainage improvements, early equipment planning, and proven tools for greens and fairway preparation, golf superintendents can set their courses up for a strong, consistent season. 

If you’re planning for spring 2026 and want to discuss equipment options, drainage solutions, or early scheduling, Clean Turf Canada is here to help.