August was a very wet month with a rainfall figure of 127mm.
You will of realised in reading these blogs that the weather plays such an important part in how we prepare the course, the weather pattern is so unpredictable and we don't seem to get a balanced period of conditions. However most of the summer has enabled us to produce good surfaces.
Aeration work on the greens is carried out on a regular programme, in August we used the Soil reliever to create depth and fracturing of the soil profile to relieve compaction and create air movement in developing a stronger root system and plant.
The greens have really benefited this year from a full programme of Farmura's (Porthcawl ) and Aquatrols wetting agent( Revolution) sprayed on a monthly cycle, disease and dry patch have been controlled with the addition of these products. Farmura is a turf conditioner that supplies beneficial nutrients to the soils and Revolution enables the rootzone and soil structure to retain moisture levels in dry conditions allowing the plant to remain healthy.
Our top dressing programme is close to being completed with the team delivering in excess of ninety tonnes. In September we will reach our target of one hundred tonnes. We have recently procored top dressed, over seeded, and brushed the dressing in to the shallow tine holes on the greens.The regular practice of over seeding will allow the desirable grasses to develop enabling us to achieve play throughout the year on the greens.
The benefits of reaching these top dressing target's are, that the soil profiles beneath the greens allow good drainage properties,reduce and break down any fibre from the plant,and the greens remaining firm in wet conditions. The dressing also creates smooth ball roll over the sward.
The September blog will cover maintenance work on the fairways.
Terry Wharton Head Greenkeeper.
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