
It is vital to ensure that seed is sown in contact with the rootzone below any organic thatch layer. Seed on the sward surface may germinate, but has little chance of successful establishment. Recommended sowing depths are in the BAR Range catalogue; please remember they are BELOW any thatch layer, for example a recommended sowing rate depth of 6-8mm means an actual sowing depth of 21-23mm if you have 15mm of thatch. In terms of species, bent grass should be sown at 2-4 mm and red fescue at 8-12mm below the thatch; it is therefore generally recommended to oversow with EITHER bent or fescue (rather than both together) in a single application.
What is the best grass to overseed your golf greens?
They include grass varieties such as perennial ryegrass, fescues, browntop bentgrass and meadow grass, that are perfect for large amounts of use and fast recovery. Here’s our advice for overseeding your golf greens:
How do you overseed a golf course?
Overseeding is most commonly done by courses that use bermudagrass, which goes dormant during winter months. In the fall, a bermudagrass golf course overseeds with, for example, ryegrass seed on top of the bermudagrass. Then, as the bermudagrass is going dormant for the winter, the ryegrass grows in.
Can golfers tell the difference between turf colorants and regular overseeding?
The majority of golfers could not tell the difference between fairways treated with turf colorants and the conventional overseeding practices. Low-handicap players at the course especially preferred the colorant-treated playing surfaces.
When is the best time to overseed your golf greens?
Here’s our advice for overseeding your golf greens: ● As with domestic grass seed for home use, the best times to carry out renovations are in spring and autumn. You should work to ensure that your pre-prep work lines up realistically with when you want to carry out your renovations.

Can you overseed over bentgrass?
Once you have had success destroying the bentgrass, you may aerate the lawn and then overseed with a bluegrass blend. You could also use a slit seeder to apply the seed. This will take longer to eradicate the bentgrass but may end up being a great option to avoid completely tearing up sections of your yard.
How do you grow bent grass green?
In the case of bentgrass, particular attention needs to be given to seedbed preparation. Well drained soil mixtures are essential for growing bentgrass in the South. Highly permeable mixtures of sand and organic amendments placed over a drainage system are commonly used for bentgrass green construction.
How do I fix bent grass?
1:497:39CREEPING BENTGRASS REMOVAL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the last option is what I'm gonna go with today I hope it works and that is to cut out that grassMoreSo the last option is what I'm gonna go with today I hope it works and that is to cut out that grass. So I'm gonna dig out all the creeping bentgrass I'm gonna dig down low enough to get all the roots
Is Bent grass good for golf?
Most people agree that the best putting surface is Bentgrass. It is a fine blade grass the complete opposite of Bermuda. It thrives when mown closely and is slow growing most of the year. Bentgrass can be cut down very low allowing the greens to become lightning fast.
How do you seed bentgrass?
Seeding Rate & Planting TimeNew turf: Sow 1 - 2 pounds of Bent grass putting green seed per 1,000 square feet.Plant Creeping Bentgrass Penncross seed when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees in spring up until a minimum of 6 weeks before frost in fall.
How do you manage bentgrass greens?
The following fourteen items are critical for managing creeping bentgrass putting greens.Use the Best Creeping Bentgrass Varieties.Interseed into Existing Greens.Schedule Timely Aerification.Summer Spiking to Vent Greens.Schedule Light Frequent Topdressing.Grooming Bentgrass Greens.More items...
When should bentgrass be treated?
The best time to start this process is in mid-July, and it requires three applications, spaced two weeks apart, to achieve complete control. Once Tenacity is applied to the lawn, the bentgrass will turn bright white and be very noticeable, so be prepared that this will happen.
What is bent grass on a golf course?
Bentgrass is characterized by very thin blades that grow densely and can be very closely mowed, resulting in a felt-like smoothness to the putting surface. It has a shallow, dense root system and its density helps protect it against foot traffic. Bentgrasses are tolerant of cold, but not too fond of heat.
Is bentgrass good for lawns?
The dense mat it produces has shallow roots and fine, bluish-green foliage. This makes it an attractive and resilient turfgrass, able to withstand foot traffic and frequent mowing. Bentgrass in lawns in the south is considered an interfering weed, but it is a useful species for cool zone lawns.
What is the best bent grass on a golf course?
A longtime favorite for use on golf courses, perennial ryegrass can be found in nearly any cool-summer region. Perennial ryegrass is used on the tee boxes and fairways at several of the Pebble Beach golf courses and is used to overseed the Bermuda grass on the tee boxes and fairways at Augusta National.
How fast does bentgrass grow?
Soil temperatures generally are high during late summer, and bentgrass will germinate quickly, usually within fiveto seven days.
What is overseeding in golf?
In golf, "overseeding" refers to a maintenance process on golf courses in which grass seed is spread on top of the existing grass to promote new growth or to swap out seasonal turfs, replacing one type of grass with another . Overseeding is most commonly done by courses that use bermudagrass, ...
How long does it take for grass to grow without cutting?
Overseeding often involves putting the seed down along with a thin layer of sand, then allowing the new grass to grow in for many days without being cut. So overseeding (which is sometimes done in conjunction with aeration) can, for a period of a week or 10 days or so, result in very "hairy" greens, fairways and tee boxes.
What is a temporary green?
Some courses also use "temporary greens"—an area adjacent to the real green that is mowed down to putting green-height—during the overseeding process to keep golfers from walking on the fresh and newly growing putting green grass.
What is topdressing in a green?
If the green in question is aerated, the topdressing consists of a mixture of sand, soil, and fertilizer. If the green is overseeded, the topdressing consists of a mixture of sand, fertilizer, and seed.
Do putting greens turn brown?
Those dormant grasses turn brown or tan in color, however—they look dead, in other words, even though they aren't—and many golfers and golf course staffs don't like the cosmetics of brown putting greens.
What is Overseeding?
Overseeding a lawn is the process of spreading new grass seed over an existing lawn. The term commonly gets confused with another lawn care process called reseeding, which involves killing the existing grass and weeds, then starting fresh by planting new grass seed.
Why Should I Overseed My Lawn?
One of the main benefits of overseeding a lawn is that it revitalizes a thinning lawn without having to start from scratch and reseed the lawn. Over time, even the best lawns can begin to lose the vigor they once had.
When Should I Overseed My Lawn?
Overseeding a lawn at the right time is essential for the best results. The right time to overseed a lawn depends on the type of grass seed you have. For cool-season grass, aim to overseed in the fall, preferably in early September.
How to Overseed a Lawn
The first, crucial step to overseeding a lawn is choosing the correct type of grass seed. When selecting grass seed, you should always consider the region you live in to determine if the climate conditions are suitable for proper germination and growth.
Conclusion
Overseeding your lawn is an important part of your lawn care routine. It’s a simple hack that will deliver lasting results for a lawn you will be proud of.
How deep should I sow bent grass?
Recommended sowing depths are in the BAR Range catalogue; please remember they are BELOW any thatch layer, for example a recommended sowing rate depth of 6-8mm means an actual sowing depth of 21-23mm if you have 15mm of thatch. In terms of species, bent grass should be sown at 2-4 mm and red fescue at 8-12mm below the thatch; it is therefore generally recommended to oversow with EITHER bent or fescue (rather than both together) in a single application.
Why is overseeding important?
Overseeding in favourable conditions is an important consideration to ensure successful germination and establishment. Germination will only commence when sufficient temperatures are present and adequate moisture is available for absorption. The following points are paramount:
What is a tight green sward?
tight, dense green sward is a very competitive environment for young seedlings to successfully establish in. Creatingspace in the turf canopy is an important factor to consider, particularly if the long-term goal is one of species exchange. Doing this in the middle of the playing season may not be popular with golfers, but it will dramatically speed up a species exchange programme if conditions are right for the introduced species. It can be achieved in two main ways:
Do you top dress after overseeding?
It is common to top-dress immediately following overseeding but this should not be considered an absolute requirement. If using top dressing as part of your thatch control programme, do not apply too thickly over 5the newly sown seed or emerging seedlings.
Why do I need to oversee my greens?
Aside from divot and general wear and tear repairs, you may need to overseed your greens due to the some of the following issues: Thin or patchy grass cover. Compacted ground which indicates by poor drainage, high weed content, moss and poor grass growth.
What is the most common form of damage to a golf green?
The most common form of damage to a golf green will be divots, and this will require repair. Divoting. With golfing often divots are left on the surface after play. It is vital that these divots are tended to maintain an even surfaced and weed free green. Divoting is one of the most regular methods of maintenance on any course ...
Why do golf greens have pitch marks?
Pitch marks are caused by a golf ball landing on the grass from a high trajectory. If not repaired they can affect the quality of the playing surface and stress the affected areas of turf. They can be easily fixed with the use of a pitch mark repairer. Aside from divot repairs and pitch mark repairs, all golf greens become worn when played on ...
What causes grass to die back?
Aeration. Soil compaction, preventing the flow of oxygen and nutrients throughout your soil can cause grasses to die back and thin or bare areas will appear particularly on greens and tees.
What can I do if my lawn doesn't have divots?
This can be done by hand or a machine known as a turf cutter.
What is the best way to remove oil spills from a lawn?
Turfing. This can be done by hand or a machine known as a turf cutter. This method is used to remove damaged areas, turf contamination such as oil spillages from machines or simply to allow access to a burst irrigation pipe etc. Plugging / patching.
How long does it take for a seedling to germinate?
Watering. ● Your seedlings will require water to germinate. To save a little on the water bill for your club, you may plan to sow when there is some rain forecast. Germination can take as little as seven days – although 14-21 days is more likely.
