Spraying, topdressing and Irrigation!

This week the greenstaff concentrated on getting the course cut early in the week to allow us time to apply 'Primo' a growth retardant spray. This will help the plant to use its energy to thicken up the sward/ root systems and remain shorter for longer. We applied this product along with fertilisers to all fairways, tees, aprons, surrounds and around the trees and ditches (at higher rates). This should reduce the stress the plant is under during this dry period as well as regulating the growth allowing us more time to concentrate on other areas of the golf course.

We also Poa busted the greens on Wednesday. This acts like a groomer and helps remove some of the seed heads that are being produced by the Poa at the moment. This was then followed up with another top dressing we used around 6 tonnes of sand. This will help keep the surfaces smooth.

Above top dressing in action. Below a library picture of the Poa busters

The irrigation system has again been up and running at night due to the evaporation rates during the day. To help get the right amount of moisture we use several tools to help calculate the right amount is being applied. 

We use a moisture probe. This tells us how much moisture is in the soil. Anything below 25% means the plant will wilt, anything higher than 50% the plant is to wet and water is taking up air space in the soil particles. Our optimum level is around 30-35%.

We also look at evaporation rates. This is based on data from our weather station and weather apps but we will be adding evaporation readers soon. Below is a chart from May which shows evaporation rates. We use this plus our moisture probe to give a clear reading of how much moisture is being lost through evaporation.

We also then take into account the infiltration rates using an infiltration metre. This for example, this means I know applying an extra 4-5 mm on the sand based greens will be in soil at the right moisture content before the golfers play that green (hopefully). 

Above is an infiltration metre.

We are hoping by tweaking all the above data we can give more consistent greens but also give the plant what it requires.

Other works this week include, finishing the strimming around trees, edging and de-weeding bunkers. Spraying weeds in the hard to reach areas and tidying around the car park.

Below is picture of Lee spraying around the tree bases. This should keep the grasses and weed down. This should look better, it will speed up play as a golf will see his ball and mean the rough mower can move around with out getting to close to the tree.

The course was then fully cut at the end of the week along with all our normal jobs a head of a great weekend for the Presidents Prize.