8/1/2011 1:08 PM
In my many years managing bentgrass greens in the mid-Atlantic hell of summer, watering always occurred in the 3-5 am period last items to run before shut down. Idea being to have the surface be wet the shortest amount of time prior to mowing possible. Definitely not to be wet overnight when under stress from heat. It is one thing to cool them off with a syringe and another to do a deep irrigation cycle. Everyone's greens are different and even those within the course have different likes and dislikes. Sand vs soil construction, shade/sun, am vs pm sun all kinds of factors, one must map each green individually and its irrigation cycle. I have even had parts of greens that had different cycles, thank the irrigation manufacturer's for technology and computers. Its tough to do all that with a hose or quick couplers.....One must tailor your irrigation to your greens individual micro climate needs, but the basic agronomic principles never change...I would bet everyone who reads this would offer their own valid and personal input as to what is correct or incorrect, heck even variety of bentgrass would influence ones decisions. I would always defere to the old fashion way, use your senses and soil probe to determine how and when. If you are not looking at you greens daily when under stress you are missing the information needed to make the decision. JMO for what it is worth