Bentgrass is good, Poa annua is bad

Greens have continued to excel, despite high populations of nematodes along greens' edges. Nematodes are not moving into centers of greens where the percentage of bentgrass is higher. Because these turf root munchers are content to stay in the edges, we are back to managing the greens as before nematodes were discovered.

Growth regulator (Primo) has again been applied, and mowers have been lowered .010 (ten thousandths of an inch) and will remain at this height into September. Greens' speed and quality has already improved as of Friday morning.

The summer of 2010 will be remembered by turf managers. Many golf courses are struggling with a host of issues nationally because of hot, dry and humid weather. I have heard of numerous outbreaks of different diseases, insect and nematode damage and even bacteriological problems that are unsolvable with pesticides. Once again, we are shown that Mother Nature is truly in charge of our turfgrass. However, we tilt the balance toward success by proper spring and fall aeration, tree and shade management, intelligent use of irrigation including hand watering, natural organic fertilizer use and keeping pest populations controlled through chemical management.

Another important factor in maintaining success I discussed in my last blog posting, proper species. In the July 8th posting, I wrote about Poa annua being the grass mostly affected by nematodes. If our greens were 100% Poa annua, it is safe to say that greens would be in big trouble from nematode damage (or any of the above listed problems) this summer. For this reason, we discourage Poa annua from further proliferation into our greens, and we encourage bentgrass to spread twelve months a year. You could call these ideas the centerpieces of our maintenance programs.

Our extremely successful divot program on fairways is also in place to keep Poa annua away. (Thanks to you all for helping us here!!) The seed placed in the bottles is a combination 70% Chewings Fescue and 30% Colonial Bentgrass. Both these grasses are best adapted to golf fairways at our height of cut in our climate, and their combined performance is far superior to Poa annua, especially in resisting damage from disease. This seeding, in combination with using different growth regulators is helping bentgrasses thrive (and become more populated) on Potowomut fairways.

Go Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, Penn State and bentgrass!!