This involves heavily topdressing greens with sand in late fall before the onset of winter. Generally, this practice is recommended for golf courses that choose not to cover greens. Sand topdressing with depths between 1/8th and 3/8th inches provides a buffer on the turf surface, protecting crowns from freeze and moisture damage.
Why is sand applied to putting greens?
Why Is Sand Applied To Putting Greens? March 17, 2017 By USGA Green Section Light and frequent sand topdressing creates smooth, firm putting surfaces. For most, there are three primary characteristics that constitute a quality putting surface: (1) a smooth surface, (2) a firm surface and (3) healthy turf.
Why do I have footprints on my putting green?
Walking across a soft, saturated putting green can leave footprints that impact surface smoothness, and golf balls landing on soft putting greens will create deep ball marks. Unless it is addressed, this sponge effect will continue to worsen over time. The solution to these problems is regular applications of topdressing sand.
How to prepare your putting greens for winter?
Plant growth regulators, wetting agents and other specialty turf products all have their place when preparing putting greens for winter. Generally speaking, products that promote healthy turf throughout the growing season will also be beneficial for the plants during the cold acclimation process.
What causes winter injuries on putting greens?
Crown hydration and damage from ice cover are two of the most devastating causes of winter injury on putting greens every year. Crown hydration occurs when temperatures increase, causing plants to absorb water, and results in winter injury if followed by subfreezing temperatures.
Why do they put sand on the greens of a golf course?
Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae. Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper rootzone that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.
Why do you Topdress greens?
Topdressing improves putting greens smoothness, increases firmness and dilutes thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead and living plant material just below the turf surface.
Why do you Verticut greens?
Vertical mowing is a maintenance practice periodically performed on greens to accomplish the following objectives: Remove excessive leaf growth that contributes to puffy, spongy surface conditions. Improve mowing quality and surface smoothness. Cut laterally growing stolons and promote an upright growth habit.
Why do golf courses put fans on the greens?
Turfbreeze fans promote a healthier turf environment through improved air circulation and the alleviation of heat stress. They were developed to blow air on the surface of golf course greens to improve the health and overall look of the green.
How often should you top dress greens?
For many years the standard practt ce has been to aerate and topdress twice a year, 'although many may aerate six time per year. Light frequent topdressing as a major component of the putting green management program has been practiced . on few courses.
How often should greens be sanded?
At most golf courses, topdressing sand is applied every seven to 28 days. Ultimately, the appropriate application rate and interval of sand topdressing depends on the rate of turf growth and the overall putting green management program.
How often should golf greens be Verticut?
“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.”
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.
How often should you Verticut?
You can use the cartridge every two to four weeks or so from April to September to keep on top of thatch and lateral lying grasses. Start with the cartridge on setting four and gradually lower- the cartridge should not be penetrating the soil as it will damage your blades.
Is golf course grass painted?
Golf courses have long used grass paints, known as "turf colorants" by those who produce them, to spruce up faded fairways and greens. But in recent years such products, typically made from vegetable dyes or latex paint, have infiltrated the consumer market.
Why do putting greens get iced in winter?
Crown hydration and damage from ice cover are two of the most devastating causes of winter injury on putting greens every year. Crown hydration occurs when temperatures increase, causing plants to absorb water, and results in winter injury if followed by subfreezing temperatures. As a consequence, cells rupture due to the formation of ice crystals and this is lethal for the plant. Damage may also be associated with ice formation outside of cells, causing water to move out of the cells and can cause severe dehydration and/or death of the turfgrass.
How does winter hardiness work?
Winter hardiness of turfgrasses is achieved through the process of cold acclimation, which is induced by decreases in temperature and light during the fall. During this period of time, turfgrass plants undergo physiological and metabolic changes that allow them to become more tolerant to winter stresses. The process of cold acclimation is influenced by plant genetics (such as the species or cultivar) in combination with environmental conditions (such as temperature and moisture).
Shade
Winterkill preys on weak turf. In many instances, winterkill patterns mirror shade patterns on greens. Turfgrass growing in the shade is simply not as healthy as turfgrass growing in full sunlight. To compound the problem, trying to reestablish damaged greens in the shade results in longer recovery time than greens recovering in full sunlight.
Covers
Covers can be used for winter protection and reestablishment. Photo by Kevin Frank, MSU
Snow mold and covers
It is important to remember that greens covers act similar to snow cover when it comes to snow mold activity. The covers provide the same environmental conditions for the development of snow mold as the snow does.
Surface drainage
Help the melt by stripping sod to hasten surface drainage. Photo by Adam Garr
Cultural practices – let it grow!
Fall is prime time for cultural practices to improve turfgrass health. In addition to core aeration and fall fertilization, consideration should be given to raise mowing heights as fall progresses.
Why are greens so susceptible to high temperatures?
Greens are the most susceptible to high temperatures because of the low mowing height. With so little biomass the plant cannot sustain the heavy injury that turf at higher mowing heights can withstand. Syringing implies a light application of water to the green surface in its entirety.
Why do golfers use aeration holes?
Aeration holes allow excess moisture to evaporate and promote gas exchange in the soil, result ing in stronger root systems and turf that is better able to tolerate golfer traffic. The addition of sand, both firms and smooths the green surface allowing for consistent roll and speed.
Why feed your lawn in the fall?
In the fall, your lawn is looking for the nutrients it needs to recover from summer damage while getting ready for its winter nap. Feeding now will strengthen roots and increase nitrogen storage for a healthy, green lawn next spring. Water is becoming an ever more precious resource and should be used responsibly.
When to aerate turf?
SPRING. “The first thing that comes to mind as far as seasonal maintenance is aeration. Aeration is performed in late spring and early fall. Core aeration involves physically removing small soil cores from the turf.
