Regrassing bentgrass Cancel The title field is required!

1. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   8/28/2018 4:08 PM

   I have a bentgrass green that has been taken over by weeds. It also has a lot of black layer. I know the best way to fix it would be methyl bromide and replacing the top four inches of sand - but that is not financially possible right now. Has anyone had success with using aerating, then using Round Up, then stripping the dead sod and re-seeding? Similar to a no-till bermudagrass renovation.

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Wagner

   

   0 posts
   
   8/29/2018 6:08 AM

   If it's weeds you're worried about why not spray a selective weed killer?

   
   
   
   
3. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   8/29/2018 6:08 AM

   Michael,
   Not going to work on bentgrass greens. Also concerned with amount of black layer. Understand selective spray and organic removal, but this green is too far gone. Had major flooding across it this summer and just trying to recover it the most economical way possible. I know reconstruction is what should be done, but can't afford it right now.

   
   
   
   
4. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   8/29/2018 7:08 AM

   Not criticizing..Just talking turf.
   
   
   Is this a course green or a practice?
   
   1. Why spray roundup if you're going to strip anyways?
   2. Has black layer been an issue in the past? Maybe there is an underlying problem that needs to be corrected. You'd hate to re-grass the green and develop black layer again.
   
   Could the stripped green then topped with 1-2" sand, tilled 8-10" and re-floated?
   
   If not, How about deep-tine with 1" spikes - BIG deep holes for oxygen exchange, back fill with sand. Then Core as tight of spacing as surface will allow and back fill with sand. Roundup and then seed via slit seeder or following aggressive verticut. Final topdress, fert and water.
   
   Just an idea..

   
   
   
   
5. Stephen Okula

   

   3 posts
   
   8/29/2018 8:08 AM

   How about strip the sod, rototill in Basamid to the top 6" or so to break up the black layer and oxygenate and fumigate the soil at the same time, then replant.

   
   
   
   
6. Michael Wagner

   

   0 posts
   
   8/29/2018 10:08 AM

   Stephen,
   Fair enough. I think it is possible to eliminate the weeds with a selective even on a bentgrass green but you're right, it would do nothing for the black layer issue. There is a company near me that does (although never been used on greens as far as I know) a 1" diameter deeptine core aeration that could allow enough oxygen down into the profile to nearly eliminate the black layer. I believe I was told they could go up to 8" deep and pull a 1" core. It would look like a bomb went off but I'm just tossing in my 2 cents...

   
   
   
   
7. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   8/29/2018 10:08 AM

   Thanks, everyone. Dustin, the reason I was going to use Round Up was because I want to get the roots and I don't want to take off any soil, just the sod. I was thinking about doing what Stephen Okula says, only using roundup instead of Basamid. I realize Basamid would work but think I can accomplish the same thing with two sprays of Round Up. I think the big thing is oxygenating and I think the rototill is the best way. I don't think it will be any more disruptive than 1 inch deep tining. The real challenge is not losing the contours when re-floating. I'm hoping to get the green back in service by the end of October.