Aggressive organic matter dilution programs are intended to manage aeration porosity and subsequent infiltration rates, thereby allowing superintendents to more easily manage their putting greens and lessen the effects of summer environmental stresses.
How can I reduce organic matter in my greens?
Suppose you have greens that are testing out to be 4.57% organic matter (OM) within the top 3 inches of your greens. Your goal may be to reduce it close to 3.25% as quickly as possible and maintain it somewhere at or below that threshold in the future. You set the time period that you would like to achieve this at 1.5 growing seasons.
What is the organic matter build up on my lawn?
Percent organic matter build up over a given amount of time could span a broad range. It is dependent on the type of turf you are maintaining, fertility inputs, climate, etc. Regular testing will help to determine if you are on target with your maintenance regime.
How to calculate average organic matter content across the Green?
Following core extraction and refilling with sand, the average organic matter content across the green is calculated by using a soil mixing equation adapted from Taylor and Blake (1984).
What is organic matter in turf?
This is the total organic matter, which includes the humus plus the grass and roots and rhizomes and thatch and mat, all the living, dead, dying, and humified organic matter.
Why do golf greens need to be aerated?
Putting greens receive more traffic than any other playing surface. The aeration process helps relieve the compaction caused by all that traffic. It also helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots.
What three factors affect the role of a golf ball on the green?
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.
How can I improve my golf green?
The addition of sand, both firms and smooths the green surface allowing for consistent roll and speed. Every spring we apply pre-emergent herbicides in combination with fertilizer to ensure high quality weed-free roughs and green surrounds.
When Should golf greens be aerated?
The most common time to aerify is late summer, and that's also widely thought to be the best time to aerate, agronomically speaking, because holes heal quickly, and greens have typically recovered before any late-summer or autumn golf tournaments.
Can you play on aerated greens?
Sometimes, the greens are surprisingly playable following an aggressive aerating, especially if you wait a few days after the procedure when the maintenance crews have had a chance to "whip" the sand off the greens and run the mowers and rollers.
What causes grain on golf greens?
Grain is the tendency of turf leaves and stems to grow horizontally in one or more directions rather than vertically (Beard, 1973). It is associated with grasses that have a strong lateral growth habit such as bentgrass, bermudagrass and seashore paspalum.
How can I make my golf greens softer?
To make greens softer The specific things to do are to make the grass grow more, which can be done by increasing the nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate, and adding more water. I think 20% increments of increase are reasonable as a starting point, and one can evaluate the turfgrass response and make further adjustments.
Does rain make golf greens faster or slower?
Rain makes greens slower than normal as the moisture on the ground and the ball slows it down. In instances of rain over a number of days greenkeepers will likely not be able to mow greens as normal meaning the grass will be longer and even slower. Putts on wet greens also take less break.
How do you maintain green?
How to Keep Your Lawn Green in the SummerBe More Mindful of Your Watering Habits. Proper watering is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy. ... Keep Your Grass Longer. ... Feed Your Lawn. ... Take Care of Weeds. ... Aerate Your Lawn. ... Watch for Wear and Tear. ... Try a New Variety of Grass.
How do you take care of greens?
Greens with poor drainage must be watered slowly, or at frequent intervals, to wet the soil 4 to 6 inches deep. On poorly drained greens, if water is applied at rates above 0.5 inch per hour, water runs off the green faster than it moves into the soil.
What problems are associated with heavy vegetation around greens?
The large trees shade the grasses, and the tree roots compete with the surrounding grasses for water and nutrients. Large tree roots often become exposed in areas along fairways and around tees and greens. The roots damage the mowers and can cause difficult shots for golfers.
What is the mat layer of a putting green?
It’s all about putting green surface performance. Each superintendent must determine the desired surface performance of his or her greens by focusing on the characteristics of the mat layer. The mat layer is that zone just below the green — living turf that is composed of a mixture of organic matter and sand.
How is organic matter determined?
Soil organic matter is most commonly determined using a laboratory procedure called “weight loss on ignition.”. The results from this procedure are expressed as a percent by weight. Based on many measurements, an 80-percent sand and 20-percent peat root-zone mixture by volume has an organic matter content of 0.5 percent to 1 percent by weight.
Is low organic matter good for golf?
And this is a good thing. A green with low organic matter often is not functioning as well as it should. Excessive inputs of nitrogen and irrigation and a lack of golfer traffic often are associated with greens that have a higher-than-desired organic matter content.
Is there a magic number for organic matter percentage?
There is no magic number for organic matter percentage to use as a guide. The desired amount of organic matter in the mat layer is golf-course specific, and superintendents know what works best at their golf courses. Organic matter functions as a sponge. Too much organic matter at the surface holds excessive water, ...
Who is Dr. Gaussoin?
Gaussoin is a turfgrass scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has conducted a wide range of research projects on organic matter accumulation in putting greens. You may reach Gaussoin at [email protected] for more information. Clark Throssell.
Is there a standard sampling procedure for determining organic matter in a putting green?
Unfortunately, there are no accepted standardized sampling procedures for determin ing organic matter in a putting green. That said, in whatever sampling procedures you use, be consistent in all aspects.
What is Greg Holden's compost tea?
That plan has developed into a holistic program for the entire golf course. Compost tea is a central part of Greg Holden’s sustainable turf management program. Clear Lake Golf Course makes its own compost tea, using organic matter from the clubhouse, pro shop and the team’s lunches, plus grass clippings to produce over 5,000 lbs of finished compost every year, which in turn is used to make the compost tea. The compost tea is then used to replenishing the soil biology, which promotes the growth of healthy, vibrant turf.
What are the expectations of a golf course superintendent?
Expectations for golf course superintendents are high. Greens and fairways are expected to be pristine and experimentation is often avoided, because anything less than perfect often results in a superintendent losing their position. Traditional golf course superintendents expect immediate results, something they have grown accustomed to using chemical and synthetic products. But with two creeks running through the golf course, Clear Lake Golf Course has chosen to reduce its use of chemicals as much as possible, using products that are the least toxic to reduce its impact on the surrounding ecosystems.
Where is Clear Lake Golf Course?
Located in the heart of the Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Clear Lake Golf Course boasts beautiful grounds and stunning views, sitting on the east end of Clear Lake and surrounded by boreal forest of the national park. But this impressive 6, 309 yards golf course offers golfers more than rolling landscape, excellent greens and breathtaking views. It is one of the most environmentally sustainable golf courses in Canada.