meadow grass out and then overseeding to take the open ground. You know you have reached the end of this stage when you are more concerned about preventing annual meadow grass invasion than forcing it out.
Phase 4: Prevent invasion
When we achieve a dominance of the finer grasses (or indeed have started with a newly established one) the objective is to prevent deterioration in the form of annual meadow grass invasion. Its reproductive strategy is second to none and produces seemingly magical seeds that can find, and take advantage of, any sward openings and at any time of the year. Knowing this, we must work to minimise the formation of gaps within the sward and also make the turf base unattractive for the germination and establishment of seedlings. In this phase we maintain the development of a dense and healthy sward with the appropriate use of fertiliser and irrigation inputs and with the use of plant growth regulators. We must try to prevent direct damage to the sward by managing wear properly and by being vigilant with our pest, disease and dry patch control strategies. We should not contribute to any form of thinning by keeping unduly aggressive treatments to a minimum. We continue to overseed to fill any gaps that do appear. Regular topdressing, using an
appropriate sandy material, will have served to create a dry and sandy turf
base that is not favourable to the successful germination and establishment of annual meadow grass seedlings. The use of sulphate of ammonia based feeds will have acidified the seedbed to help in the same way.
Of course, we must continue to manage the soil profile. Continue to spike or prick as necessary to keep the surface receptive to water infiltration, to aerate the soil profile and to allow the integration of topdressing as needed. Take care by using the most effective and least harmful method.
Annual meadow grass will invade at times so we need to revert back to the methods learned in Phase 3 to push it back out again. Use appropriate stress without it becoming too damaging. You are now managing the natural ebb and flow of sward species composition. You are successfully handling the tricky environmental balance that favours the development of the bents and fescues over the annual meadow grass. You have reached the high ground and you have got here by taking nothing for granted. You have stayed focused on achieving your goal. When does it end?
Fra-dumph tshhhhh
So, this is where the The Disturbance Theory ended up. How did we do? Are you thinking about your greenkeeping in a different way or left cold by it all? It doesn’t matter now. Just know that
sward species development is about creating a favourable environmental
Richard and Henry may be contacted by email at
disturbance.theory@
stri.co.uk (Subject: I think your mistakes are….).
Megan is contactable via
nzsti.org.nz (Subject: Maybe you could shed some light on this for me…)
balance and understand that you can influence proceedings. The different species will respond to your environment, so manage the one that you need. Above all, do it in a way that continues to make the surfaces better and better no matter what. In the end, we just hope that the greens become your pride and the golfers’ joy. Forgive us for the mistakes and the gaps but we think that enough is enough. Thanks to Megan Hood (NZSTI) for joining in and helping.
Top 5 Tru-Turf Advantages 1. Increased Green Speed. 2. Improved Surface Smoothness. 3. Improved Consistency Between Greens. 4. Enhanced Surface Uniformity after Coring.
5. Increased Mow Height While Maintaining Green Speed.
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