We have now started our bi-monthly vertical mowing and lite topdressing program to the Lakes and Arroyo greens. Today we started with the practice putting green and 1 - 9 of the Lakes course. The process is to vertical mow the greens two directions which will produce better ball role than a single direction. The next step is to mow off any clippings left behind from the verticut unit. We do this with our walking mowers with the bristle brushes lowered down in front of the mowing unit. By brushing the turf, we get a better cut and it helps stimulate the Bermuda growth. The last two steps in the process involve sanding or topdressing the greens with lite layer of sand to help fill the vertical mower grooves. After the sand has been applied we then water it in with our irrigation to help the sand migrate further down into the canopy so we do not pick it up during the next mow. Our schedule throughout the spring and into the early summer will be to double verticut each set of greens 2 times per month and topdress one time per month. Being that the greens are new and less than a year old, this will be enough to control thatch build up and offer consistent putting quality.
Thank you
Damien
