Late fall greens topdressing Cancel The title field is required!

1. Samuel Wood

   

   1 posts
   
   10/14/2015 2:10 PM

   Little background. Low/No Budget course in central NC. Bur-bent/Ben-muda greens overseeded with Poa trivialis. Finally switched to poa triv a few years back after convincing management that perennial rye is not the norm anymore. Greens are in great shape just want to speed them up a little. I topdressed after seeding and let germinate, now cutting at .187" after a solid week of rain. Question is would it be ok to lightly topdress these greens biweekly until growth rate slows or would it cause any damage. I'm always looking to improve and change just would like others opinions and experiences. Thanks in advance.
   
   Sam Wood
   Zebulon Country Club

   
   
   
   
2. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   10/16/2015 7:10 AM

   Topdressing always helps. But the more topdressing equals more backlapping/grinding which equates to spent money. Look into rolling more.
   Another option is lowering your height of cut. I am guessing you are mowing at .187 to help alleviate stress and prevent disease. Every study I have ever seen recommends 5/32" which is .157. I bet you would see a big difference in speed with lowering and I doubt you would see a huge increase in stress or disease at that new height.

   
   
   
   
3. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   10/16/2015 7:10 AM

   I would always increase my HOC about 25% after seeding, then begin to lower down at about the 3 week mark until I hit my desired HOC around Thanksgiving. So, if we were at .125" at seeding, I would do first mow at .156-.160".
   
   That being said, some guys around here don't ever raise HOC up. Some of these guys get resort play and can't alter the course for seeding. They go at a lightly higher rate of Triv, around the 12-14#/m mark. However, we are a little bit warmer than you and can continue to grow 'Muda all winter.