Bent grass is the most commonly found grass on the golf courses. It has beautiful fine textured blades, deep green color, thick density, and low growing habits. These grasses are always considered as the luxury golf grasses of the cool season. Bent grass is cool season grass and is perfect for the cold north. This grass grows strong and deep enough to survive with the hot summers and cold winters. Bent grass grows very fast during the spring and fall seasons. This grass can do well along the coastal areas where the temperature rarely goes above 90 F.
Colonial bent grass is a pale green color grass with fine leaves. This grass thrives well in normal to slightly acidic soils and demands proper sunlight. A precious choice for golf courses is Colonial bent grass. Colonial bent grass becomes weak due to winter injury, snow molds and other diseases.
Why bent grass?
Here are some reasons which will clarify that why bet grass is considered a better option to other grasses of the golf greens.
- Bent grass can be mowed very short with little or no damage.
- Bent grass is very durable and can handle a lot of traffic.
- Bent grasses have alluring deep green color.
- Bent grass has shallow root system which allows it to be seeded and grow easily
Maintenance of Bent Grass on Golf course:
There are a number of cultural practices involved in the process of maintaining bent grass for the turf. Some of them are given below:
· Mowing of Bent grass on Golf course
When the grass blades reach a height of ¼ to 3/8 inch high, the grass should be mowed with a lawn mower. A lawn mower having a roller in the front of it and do not collect the grass clipping is considered best. The grass clippings can be left on the ground.
· Water for Bent grass
Watering should be done after every four to ten days. Irrigating the grass depends on the temperature, prevailing climate and time of the year. Each watering process should be of at least 30 to 40 minutes until the ground is thoroughly saturated.
· Aeration of bent grass
In the first year, the newly planted grass should be aerated two to three times with an aeration tool. Aeration pokes small holes in the ground, which helps water, air, and fertilizer move to roots of the grass. It also produces thicker expanses of grass. The aeration should be done at least once in every three months.
· Fertilizers for bent grass
In case of new grass, fertilizer should be added after every fifteen days for first few months. Fertigation cycle should be repeated after every 15 days. The established lawns require fertigation twice a year, during the spring and fall. The yearly fertilizer requirement for the established bent grass is near about 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen, 2 to 3 pounds of phosphorus and 6 to 10 pounds of potassium.
Thus, maintenance of bent grass is very important. It helps to keep the grass in good health and improves the playing conditions of the bent grass golf course.
