Is algae management difficult on golf course putting greens?
Mar 21, 2011 · Mar. 21, 2011. • 24 likes • 25,537 views. 24. Share. Education Technology Business. Algae management can be difficult on golf course putting greens. This presentation highlights various aspects of algae including: biology, problems associated with it, research findings, and management strategies. John Kaminski.
How to maintain a fast green on a golf course?
Spike greens weekly in June, July, and August (depth of 1 – 1 1/4 inch - 2.5 – 3.0 cm) to allow gas exchange and add oxygen to the root zone. ... Solve Drainage Problems in Greens. ... With thin turf algae and moss can become a serious proplem. Also, thin turf allows Poa annua to easily invade a bentgrass green. Use morning rolling on ...
Should you double cut greens on a golf course?
If algal crusts are present, aerify, spike, slice or verticut prior to sand topdressing. It is critical to physically break-up the crusts. Raising the height of cut is critical for relieving stress on closely mowed turfgrass. The turf will then be able to grow more vigorously and shade out the algae.
What is considered damage on the putting green?
Apr 05, 2022 · Ammonium sulfate, hydrated lime, or other materials can be applied to “burn” the algae in infested areas. Extreme caution is needed when doing this, especially on golf course putting greens, as these materials can also burn the turf or cause nutritional imbalances in the soil. The fungicides chlorothalonil and mancozeb are effective algaecides.
How do I get rid of algae on my golf greens?
Chemical Control. Ammonium sulfate, hydrated lime, or other materials can be applied to “burn” the algae in infested areas. Extreme caution is needed when doing this, especially on golf course putting greens, as these materials can also burn the turf or cause nutritional imbalances in the soil.
When should you Verticut greens?
“The general rule of thumb is to verticut as often as recovery and improved turf health are noted,” he says. “I do it every 10 days in some areas of the course, but it might be wise to limit verticutting to two or three times a year in other areas.” Verticutting methods vary.
How do you restore golf greens?
Turf ReplacementInterseeding (Greens may even stay in play) Aerify and remove plugs. Place seed/sand mixture back in holes. ... No-till method. Kill existing turf with Roundup or equal. Rototill turf to remove, discard. ... Partial greens mix replacement/modifications — an opportunity to: Kill existing turf with Roundup or equal.Mar 17, 2015
How can I speed up my putting green?
To balance green speed and turf health, it is recommended to mow as high as possible to achieve the desired green speed, which preserves extra leaf material for photosynthesis and growth. Increasing mowing frequency is another common method to improve surface quality and increase green speed.
Is it better to Verticut or aerate?
Core aeration is great for the lawn as it breaks up compaction and helps control thatch. It is not the best practice for seeding. If your main focus is to overseed then verticut as it provides for the best and most even seed bed. Core aeration can be used but verticutting is preferred.Sep 1, 2017
Why do we Verticut greens?
With a Greens' Maintenance Program of aeration whereby greens are hollow cored, verti-cut, vertidrained and top dressed the spongy thatch is reduced and is replaced with free draining sand. This over time changes the profile of the soil structure and allows for firmer, truer and more disease resistant greens.Jun 1, 2016
How often do golf greens need to be replaced?
Greens must be rebuilt every 15 to 20 years, even those of USGA method construction - or do they? complex reconstruction plans, including the long-range plan for the entire golf course. The grass variety has been chosen for the putting surfaces.
How do you reseed a golf green?
0:232:05How the seed is applied to greens - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need fuel down here you need a source of oxygen. And then finally you need a spark so to haveMoreYou need fuel down here you need a source of oxygen. And then finally you need a spark so to have fire you need those three things to make the triangle for overseeding.
Do golf greens need to be replaced?
A very general rule for the life expectancy of greens is that the construction should last at least 20 years. Over that 20 year period there are likely to be major changes in the golfer's expectations for how the greens should be maintained.
What makes a green fast or slow?
Resiliency, uniformity, smoothness, and firmness contribute to overall green speed. Resiliency is the capacity of the turf to absorb shock and affects the ability of a putting green to hold a properly struck golf shot. Uniformity implies that each green on a course and all areas of each green putt the same.Nov 10, 2016
What makes a green slow?
Green speed can become slower. Turfgrass growth, golfer traffic, ball marks, thatch and organic matter rebounding after morning mowing and rolling, and increased humidity are common factors that could cause slower afternoon green speeds.Apr 21, 2017
Are wet greens fast or slow?
Too wet greens are soft, dry slowly and leave bumpy footprints, casting worms and particularly deep pitchmarks.
What are the two groups of algae that live on greens and tees?
Most terrestrial algae found on greens and tees can be divided into two groups, the green algae and the blue-green algae. The third group one might encounter are the diatoms and yellow-green algae.
What is copper sulfate?
Copper sulfate has been reported to control surface algae, but superintendents often note that it burns greens and tees. One reason for this burning is they were using the fertilizer formula-tion of copper sulfate, CuS04 . 5 H20, which is hydrated copper sulfate (blue vitriol) and is very soluble in water. The fungicide formulation of copper sulfate, CuS04 . 3 Cu(OH)2, is insoluble or only slightly soluble in water. It is often referred to as basic copper sulfate or tribasic copper. This latter material must be registered for golf course turfgrass use in your state to be legally used as it is a fungicide and not a fertilizer material.
When do algae grow in a golf course?
Algae may develop whenever thinning of the turf canopy permits sufficient air, light, and water to reach the thatch surface. Algal growth is most aggressive during the late spring, summer, and early fall when warm, humid conditions are conducive to algae growth and turf thinning. Low mowing heights, shady conditions, poor soil drainage, and frequent irrigation also encourage algal growth in the turf canopy. Repeat applications of plant growth regulators and / or DMI fungicides may cause thinning of the turf canopy in close-cut turf such as a golf course putting green and lead to algae invasion.
Is blue green algae a problem?
Although they do not infect grasses, blue-green algae are a significant pest problem in the turfgrass industry. These organisms contain chlorophyll just like plants, but they grow by producing chains of thread-like cells similar to fungi. Symptoms of algae appear in areas where the turf canopy has been thinned by poor growing conditions ...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Due to the large volume of play experienced during this time of year, there are several cultural practices utilized throughout the course to continue to provide quality conditions.
Greens Spiking
Due to the large volume of play experienced during this time of year, there are several cultural practices utilized throughout the course to continue to provide quality conditions.
What is the job of a golf course superintendent?
1 Managing Greens Under Stress. Managing Greens Under Stress. Among the responsibilities of today's golf course superintendent, the need to maintain a good stand of grass on putting greens is perhaps the most basic of all. Greens are the bread and butter of a golf course, and the reputation of a course and the superintendent who maintains it is ...
What is the difference between warm and cool season grass?
This illustrates a significant difference which exists between the management of cool-season and warm-season grasses during the summer. Warm-season grasses flourish when temperatures are hot, while cool-season grasses can suffer heat stress when temperatures reach the high 80s.
What is stress in turf?
By the book, stress is the "strain or pressure causing a departure from the normal equilibrium.". For the turf manager in the field, stress is what causes the grass to wilt and die right before his eyes, just like it did during the summer of 1987, the East's summer of despair. The turf on greens is exposed to many elements that can cause stress.
What are some examples of turf diseases?
Control diseases. Many turf diseases become active when the weather is hot and humid and the turf is under stress. A good example is Summer Patch (Magnaporthe poae), a disease of Poa annua and one where disease severity is directly related to the degree of stress experienced by the Poa annua.
How can air circulation be improved?
Air circulation can be improved by thinning out the extraneous trees and underbrush near the green and pruning up the lower branches of the remaining specimens. Without a doubt, good air circulation is critical in allowing the turf to transpire and cool itself by releasing moisture through its stomata.
What are some examples of environmental stress?
The other category of stress the turf manager must deal with is given the name environmental stress. Temperature or humidity that is either too high or too low, rainfall that is too much or too little, and the presence of frost, are examples of environmental stress.
Aeration Golf Course Maintenance
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Some Additional Information about Iain. . .
Who the hell are you? I am Iain Sturge, golf course superintendent, Hidden Valley Golf (Now at Bear Creek Golf Club, Murrieta- CA)