Moss Control - Update

Today the 10^th & 11^th greens were lightly scarified for the first time since being treated with moss-killer

10th Green being scarified

To avoid too much disturbance to the putting surfaces, the cutting knife blades were set at 6mm below the turf sward surface.

Cutting knife blades

Over the next three/four weeks we will continue to lightly scarify the playing surfaces, removing a little moss on each occasion.

Putting surface after scarifying 

By adopting this approach means that the turf sward remains healthy, as opposed to heavy scarifying, which tends to leave putting surfaces weak and recover slow.

Moss Management

We have this week applied a liquid moss killer to the 10^th & 11^th greens.

The mixture consisted of iron sulphate, seaweed extract and nitrogen.

The iron sulphate blackens and kills the moss, while the seaweed and nitrogen tonic stimulates grass re-growth and improves rooting.

Spraying Moss Killer

Moss turning black after only 2 hours

24 Hours after spraying

What we have noticed this season is that there is no moss on the wipe up/perimeter cut that the greens mower makes, after the green has been mown.

This is probably because of the extra friction caused by the cutting units as they complete the wipe up cut.

No moss present on wipe up cut 

Usually the cutting units travel in a straight line when mowing, but during the wipe up cut the mowers units are being driven in a circular direction, which causes light scuffing of the turf.

Because moss does not have roots and it is only lightly anchored to the ground by threadlike rhizoids, this scuffing or extra friction seems to be gently removing the moss from the turf sward. 

Next week both these greens will be power raked, over seeded and top-dressed.

Plant Growth Regulator

This week in addition to our normal daily cutting and maintenance programs, we have been spraying the greens, approaches and fairways with a plant growth regulator (PGR).

We have now been using PGR on the greens for about three years and have experienced some excellent results.

This year we purchased a tractor trailed 800lt outfield sprayer, fitted with a 12-meter bloom, so that the spraying program could be extended to include fairways.

The new 800lt Sprayer in action

 The PGR slows the grasses top growth and diverts plant growth to the root system, producing increased food reserves and promoting lateral growth development.

This type of growth development produces a denser, healthier turf sward.

With a slower growing cycle and less clippings we have been able to slightly reduced fairway-cutting frequencies and at the same time produce cleaner playing surfaces.

Spraying the 14th Fairway