Golf greens are very important as they affect the game and make a huge difference in the ultimate performance of the game. The golf grass decides the spin and direction of the golf ball. The grass texture and density is very important in the game of golf.
Choose the right type of golf grass for the situation. There are various types of golf grasses like cool weather grasses and warm weather grasses. Select the one according to your type of climate and your requirement. Study the various characteristics of the different golf greens as per their growth habits, density, seed head formation, etc.
Selection of golf grass for sowing
Golf requires dense growing grasses. The most popular golf grasses are Bermuda grass, Bent grass, Kentucky grass, blue grass, etc.
- Grass should have good turf density
- Good growth and spread rapidly
- Resist traffic injury
- Disease resistant
- Pest resistant
- Have good color both in summers and winters
- Medium to fine textured
Characteristics of grass seeds for golf
The seeds should be viable and have good germination percentage. They should be easy to germinate and spread.
There are a number of different species of species of turf grass. Each variety is bread or selected for different characters. Usually the toughest, greenest, bug resistant and disease resistant grasses are selected for turf or athletic fields.
Picking the right golf grass seed
There is a lot of choice to select the right golf grass seed. the first step is to figure out which species or blend of species makes the most sense. The seeds of warm season grasses like Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass can be commonly used as they hold best in hot humid summers and warm winters. The cool season grass seeds may compose of perennial rye grass, Kentucky blue grass, fine fescue and tall fescue.
Many seed companies usually blend two or three types of seeds together in one mix to take advantage of the best of all these grass seeds. This is listed on the back of grass seed bag along with the percentage and germination rates and the percentage of weed seed mix.
Planting the golf grass seed
Now that you have quality grass seeds in your hands, it needs to be sown. Spring season is usually best for planting the grass seed. the germination percentage of seed is good at this time of the year. It is fine if you just scatter the grass seeds on the soil and then rake it. You can use a slit seeder which is powered by gas and cuts vertical slits in the lawn. The seeds are then deposited into each slit through a hopper. The grass seeds need to remain moist till they germinate. Light application of water at regular intervals will be very helpful.
Care of germinated golf grass seeds
Light watering is to be done after the seeds germinate. Frequent irrigations for ten minutes thrice a day are recommended so that the baby roots of the newly germinated grass do not dry. A starter fertilizer may also be used so that the young plants get a good start. Light mulching can be done to retain moisture in the soil. Straw is the safest and most reliable option for mulching. Recycled paper and polymers are also a good option.
The grass texture and density is very important in the game of golf. So, better take care while the seeding of your lawn is being done to enjoy a pleasurable game ahead.
