Fertiliser application

This morning Sam and alistair applied a little fertiliser to the greens, surrounds and approaches. September is a danger month for anthracnose. Anthracnose is a disease which comes in two forms foliar and basal rot, effecting the root systems of plants. It mainly infects poa but can take out bents as well. The last couple of years we have had it, last year the most severe. Once the plants are infected they will not recover. Only new growth will fill in areas. It therefore is vital to keep the plants strong, healthy and try and prevent surface wetness. The recent aeration can stimulate anthracnose disease as the surface get severe abrasion allowing plants to be more easily infected. We did apply preventative fungicides plus the nutrition, this should help reduce the likelyhood of outbreaks. We will keep an eye on the health of turf on the indicator areas. 

Elsewhere we have started to cut the long rough areas. These need to be cut down before the weather gets too wet so when the leaves start to fall we can collect them easily. This is a long process as a lot of areas need to be hand cut and then the excess grass hand collected. Over the month of September we hope to finish this job.

After the recent rain worm casts are getting worse on greens, tees and fairways. The greens and tees will be treated if needed. Should the weather improve next week then they should diminish however if it continues an application of iron and carbendazim will be applied.