Vertical Cutting of Greens

Today we have been out verti cutting the greens , over the last week we have seen increased levels of Poa Annua seed heads and lots of lumpy lateral growth of Highland Bent . This operation helps to lift and remove both the seed heads and Highland Bent giving us smoother surfaces . This time of year is always the most challenging when managing a traditional mix of grasses on an old links course .

 

 

Demonstration of Spider Mower

Cruden Bay has to be one of the most undulating golf courses on the planet ! This throws up a lot of health and safety risks for mowing bankings around our course . With this in mind we have had a demonstration of a remote controlled Spider Mower which can can safely operate on severe gradients, the machine on the day performed even better than I had hoped !!!!

 

 

Screening Divot Mix

It's a lovely dry day for screening divot mix .

 

May Day Overseeding & Topdresssing

It's been a lovely dry morning for overseeding more fescue into our greens . Wiedermann Terra Float puts lots plant pot holes into the sward , then seed is bradcast and astro dragmatted in . The turf iron is run over the greens then a dressing of sand to Finnish.

 We ideally like to do a couple of overseeding applications throughout spring to keep the Seedbank high moving into early summer, this helps to compete against Poa Annua which naturally seeds in May /June.

 

 

 

Weedkilling on the St Olaf Greens

Today we have applied weedkiller to the St Olaf greens the target weed is Pearlwort , which will require a follow up spray and overseeding to fill in the gaps. The greens won't look great for a while when the chemical starts work but intensive overseeding will help fill and close in the gaps .It is very hard to see the weed in pictures as it's green and blends in with the sward to the untrained eye !!!   

Weedkilling at Daisy Bay !

No frost today ! It's perfect conditions for spraying. No wind ,dull/cloudy and no rain forecast.  

Weedkilling is a constant battle and as with many courses it's the daisy which is the most prominent.

 

Scottish Spring Time

The last few days we have had early morning frosts ,this keeps soil temperatures low and knocks back any early season growth on our greens . The secret is for both Golfers and Greenkeepers to be patient through this period until Mother Nature is ready.