It’s not the grass species that’s important, it’s the environment that it is grown in!
A green maintained at 2mm. Is it a sparse surface?
soils and fine grasses have, in the past, produced quicker greens. However, with modern technologies, this is changing. Techniques such as straight sand dressing has improved the drainage and firmness of the parkland greens. Modern aerators have allowed spiking to be completed with efficiency and minimal disruption to the surfaces. Most importantly, certain turf managers (me included) have embraced the parkland meadow grass instead of spending thousands of pounds trying in vain to eradicate it. In the past, meadow grass was regarded by some as a coarse weed and, when cut at 4 or 5mm, you can see why. But, reduce this height down to 2mm for long periods and this grass evolves into a fine leafed plant, bearing no resemblance to the seed headed grass described above.
Meadow grass will produce a thatchy, disease ridden surface
Accu-gauge in action
I agree, but only when it is poorly maintained. When spiking, topdressing and cutting are done properly these problems are avoided. It’s not the grass species that’s important, it’s the environment that it is grown in!
Ah, but you must be saving the plant by throwing the fertiliser and water to rescue it!
When a green is heavily watered and fed, the result is a soft, spongy surface, and cutting this surface at 2mm often leaves scalp marks behind. A low cut requires a firm surface, so just ‘throwing on the feed and water’ is not an option. A good, balanced fertility and water programme is required. All grass plants have their daily requirements during all seasons. But, throwing on these two energy sources is probably a throwback to the sixties and seventies; a time when (old timers tell me) lots of greens were over fed and watered, leaving them soft, spongy and disease ridden. Under these circumstances, greenkeepers had no alternative but to cut at around 5mm. At Ealing, we now use less fertiliser and less water than previously.
Debate
Since my earlier articles advocating “the short cut” there have been many calls of support as well as debate within the industry. Almost everyone agrees that the debate has been useful. But, the top
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