Bermuda height of cut question Cancel The title field is required!

1. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   3/25/2016 9:03 AM

   We are constantly hearing the complaints about our quickstand fairways being thin (and cut too short). I always felt the biggest issue is fertilization (1.5 to 2 lbs. N/1000), coupled with cart traffic, especially when dormant. But when it was brought up that one of the other courses in our systems supposedly has thicker fairways then us, the two biggest factors that might be different is HOC and watering practices. I know we mow at .750 to .625, I believe our other course is at .5 maybe below. Would mowing at a lower HOC create density in Bermuda?
   
   Last year was a throwaway year for me, splitting time at two courses and going through some health issues, our fairways only had a 1 lb. of N, no Primo. 2 seasons ago we had about 2.3 lbs. of N and sprayed Primo and they were probably the best they had been, (still have some guy complaining we cut them too short, which is why I asked the density question with a lower HOC)
   
   Our tees are quickstand as well and they will get 3 lbs. of N, some of our bigger tees with less traffic actually are starting to get puffy. We mow those at .560, so is it the fertilizer? The HOC? Less Traffic? All 3? Same water as fairways, so I don't think it is a water issue, although I do tend to keep them a little on the dry side, I water about .25" every three days, give or take weather conditions, possible rain in the forecast ect.
   
   I just had a thought about the HOC and wondered if was playing a part in this.
   
   Thanks!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   3/25/2016 4:03 PM

   1lb of N?
   Bermudagrass?
   Ummm......that's a real problem.
   I have mowed fairways at .75 but I'm surprised that grass is growing at all

   
   
   
   
3. Jeffrey Whitmire

   

   0 posts
   
   3/25/2016 10:03 PM

   We noticed increased density when we went down to .350" on our 419 fairways. This does not work with common or other course bladed varieties (they just get thin). We fertilize between 3 - 4 lbs. of N / 1000ft2 / year. We are in zone 7B and Primo every 3 weeks. More N = better quality for us (never been over 4 lbs.) I think your main problem would be the low N rate.

   
   
   
   
4. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   3/26/2016 12:03 PM

   This is an answer related to bent fairways, but lower hoc = better density, at least on ours. Same on Bermuda?
   
   In my first season at this course, 15 years ago, I sent the mowers out on fairways for the first cut of the season. The tech set the mowers at the same bench setting as the season prior. While I thought the fairways were hairy, they cut almost nothing. When asked the tech said the bench setting was 11/16". I asked the pro and owner what they would think about lowering the hoc as the fairways were long, grainy, and thin. They didn't want to as they thought the ball sat up better.
   
   Without telling anyone, we dropped the bench setting slowly over a few weeks until we were at 7/16".
   
   The fairways became cleaner looking, less grainy, and more dense, and the ball sat up better.
   
   Around Labor Day a member stopped me to say he appreciated that we were growing the fairways longer as the ball sat up better and they played better.
   
   I eventually told the pro and owner what we did and they approved.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
5. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   3/28/2016 9:03 AM

   More N. 3-4# would probably even be considered on the low end.

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   3/28/2016 1:03 PM

   I'm usually around 2 lbs N or hair more per year. Our growing season is fairly short and we do limit cart traffic during dormancy. As you said, its rarely one thing, but several variables and all those stated most likely are contributing to conditions you describe. Look at it holistically, small gains in a couple areas could make a big difference. I'm not familiar with Quickstand, and its hard to compare HOC between the different brand mowers. Safe to say most grasses perform best within a particular range...too low and they thin out, too high, and they get loose and open. Why not try changing things up a bit?

   
   
   
   
7. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   3/28/2016 4:03 PM

   Thanks all!
   
   I have always suspected the N levels to be the biggest culprit, when I see tees with same turf with more N doing just fine. But tees are mowed a little lower, but with no cart traffic. Our other course with Quickstand I was updated, was mowing at same height as us, but they are planning on going lower, so I will watch that along with their Nitrogen, they have applied 1 lb. so far, we have a different fertilizer load and will get 1.5 out of our first application.
   
   We plan to get back on a similar program of N as a couple of years ago and back on the Primo, so we will be up over 2 lbs. Like Keith our growing season isn't that long, May - Aug with green up in April, and Sept, it starts to slow down until that first frost in October.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO