Managing Bermuda Grass Golf Greens

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Managing Bermuda Grass Golf Greens
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Why Bermuda?

• Location
• C4 grass verses C3 grass

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Problems with Bermuda

• Dormancy
• Over seeding
• Spring Transition
• Winter kill
• Shade issues (8 hours of full sun)

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Bermuda Cultivars

• Tiff 328
• Tiff Dwarf
• Champion
• Tiff Eagle
• Mini Verdi

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Green Construction for Bermuda

• USGA construction best
• Not as critical for bermuda as it is for bent

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Cultural Practices for Bermuda Greens
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Mowing

• .125-.250 inches
• Remove clippings
• Vary mowing pattern

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Irrigation and Water Management

• Deep and infrequent
• Not as sensitive to water stress as bent grass
• Water quality is important

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Fertilization

• Fertilizer should be applied in amounts to
  accomplish adequate growth and turf quality
• Timing is important turf needs to be actively
  growing (based on minimum and optimum
  temperatures)
• Excessive amounts will affect ball roll
• High traffic greens fertilize for recovery

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Nitrogen Rates

• 8-24 lbs of N per year
• Establishment 25 percent more N
• Low rates for areas with less intensive play,
  lower budget, shorter growing season
• High rates for areas with a longer growing
  season, lots of play or damage from pest

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Frequency

• Very high 1 lb N every 7-14 days
• High 0.5 lb N every 7-14 days
• Low 0.5 lb N every 14-21 days
• Beware of excessive thatch and slower ball roll

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Frequency for non over seeded Bermuda

• Fall 10-15
• Winter 0
• Spring 35
• Summer 50-55

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Over seeded Bermuda Greens

• 0.5 lbs of N every 2 to 3 weeks
• Fertilize for good color and growth
• Use Iron and Manganese to obtain good color
  instead of N

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Frequency for over seeded Bermuda

• Fall 15
• Winter 15
• Spring 25
• Summer 45

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Other elements

• Potassium one half to equal that of Nitrogen
• Phosphorus 0-4lbs per year

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Fertilizer Sources

• Granular
• Liquid
• Or combination of both
• Spoon feeding

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Auxiliary Cultural Practices
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Aerification

• Min of 3-4 core aerifications per year
• More frequent for newer cultivars
• Every 4- 8 weeks

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Spiking and Slicing

• Spiking 1 inch deep slicing 2- 4 inches deep
• Less surface disruption
• Relieves surface compaction
• Promotes better water infiltration
• Breaks up soil surface crusting and algae layers
• Every 7-14 days

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Vertical Mowing

• 0.5-1 inch spacing
• Depth different objectives can be met by
  adjusting the depth
• Shallow grain reduction and break up of cores
• Deep stimulate new growth, reduce thatch
  accumulation, and seed bed preperation

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Vertical Mowing

• If dethatching is the objective set to depth of
  thatch blade spacing 1-2 inches
• For new growth set to depth of stolons and now
  deeper

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Frequency of Vertical Mowing

• Depends on thatch accumulation
• Begin when thatch levels reach 0.25 to 0.5 inches
• Deep vertical mowing should be followed by
  topdressing to prevent roots and rhizomes from
  drying out
• Vertical mow after the dew has dried, remove
  debris, and irrigate
• Fertilize 5-7 days afterward with 1 lb of N

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Topdressing

• Light and frequent
• Heavy after aerification or vertical mowing
• Smoothes surface
• Encourages thatch break down
• Use same soil that the turf is growing in

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PGRS

• Improved putting speed
• Help with over seeding
• Last 3-4 weeks