Bowls Green Maintenance for November, now we have entered November the daylight hours are shorter, cooler air which means the moisture on the surfaces are more frequent. With the mild and damper conditions, disease pressures are currently higher.
Tasks for November
· Continue to remove the morning dew from the green
· Cutting
· Slitting/ Spiking
· Fertiliser/ moss control
· Disease control
· Worm Cast
· General Maintenance
Dew
Throughout November, continue with brushing off the morning dew at your earliest convenience to reduce disease risk. If you have a sprayer then applying a dew disperser can help with keeping the dew at bay if you’re unable to get to the club daily to remove the dew.
Cutting
Cutting height can now be raised to (8-10mm) to protect the grass going through autumn/winter. You can also reduce the frequency to 1-2 times a week depending on the rate of growth. Currently you may be experiencing unusual amounts of growth due to the warm and wet weather we are currently having.
Slitting/ Spiking
If you have a slitter or spiker continue with this to relive compaction and encourage water and air movement.
Fertiliser/ Moss control
During the winter months we want to reduce the nitrogen inputs and increase the P (phosphorus) and K (Potassium). These will help with stronger root development and improve disease resistance. Adding iron to the mix will also help harden the plant and help to keep the leaf drier which will help prevent disease. This will also help to keep moss from encroaching into the green. Apply these monthly throughout the winter to help with overall plant health.
Disease Control
Continue to monitor for any signs of disease. It’s still warm and wet so we need to be on guard and keep an eye out for Fusarium (Microdochium Patch) which is common in damp conditions. Applying a preventative fungicide or having a fungicide on the shelf is a good idea for this time of year. This way if you do have an outbreak then you’re ready to act fast.
Worm Cast
It’s that time of year again, with the damper conditions we are going to start to see more and more worm cast. If possible allow them to dry and the use a cane switch to break the worm cast up. If you try to clear them with a brush in the morning when there wet then they are going to smear and leave a mess.
General Maintenance
· Remove leaves and debris that may have fallen onto the green.
· Maintain any hedges/ trees.
· Check ditches and edges, ensure there kept clean and carry out any repair works if necessary.
· Ensure any machinery that is being put away for the winter is clean and dry before being left for months.
To see more Bowling Green Blogs
I hope you found my Bowls Green Maintenance For May of some help by MWTurfcare
