Frost Pocket

A location in which denser, cold air is formed and trapped. This can typically be found in numerous places, including hollows, low lying land, by boundary features such as walls, sheltered areas, north facing areas, shaded spots, land at the bottom of hills.

Turfgrass surfaces which are exposed to frost pockets can be affected in several ways, including:
• Later spring growth.
• Reduced or delayed seed germination.
• Slower seed and sward establishment.
• A shorter growing season.
• The need to carry out earlier than usual autumn renovation.
• Reduced carrying capacity over the autumn-winter-early spring period.
• Reduced root growth.
• Extended periods of time needed to recover from wear.
• Reduced soil micro-organism activity, reducing soil organic matter breakdown, increasing thatch development.