What’s in that sprayer?

This month I want to discuss our frequency of spraying putting greens. In particular, what is in the sprayer and why the products require such frequent application?

In general, there are four types of products applied to putting greens.  Listed in order of most the frequently applied would be liquid nutrients, fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides.  In agriculture, there are 16 essential nutrients a plant needs to perform at maximum potential.  Some nutrients are needed in much higher levels than others but all 16 nutrients contribute to the performance of a plant.  I believe there should be balance between granular nutrients (applied by spreader) and liquid nutrients (applied by sprayer).  Comparatively speaking, granular nutrients are applied in bulk to condition the soil where liquid nutrients are applied in concentrated amounts to directly feed the plant.  Turf managers refer to this practice as “spoon feeding.”  Spoon feeding nutrients to our putting greens is done at least twice a month.  We also apply a wetting agent or moisture manager to putting greens twice a month to maintain perfect soil moisture content.

The application of fungicides is typically discussed as curative or preventative.  Curative meaning making fungicide applications after a disease occurs.  Preventative meaning making fungicide applications before a disease occurs.  Preventative fungicide applicationsare typically based on disease pressure history and changing weather conditions.  I hope the answer is obvious.  I believe in preventative programs and I believe fungicides should be applied on average of once a month.  The application of insecticides and herbicides are done as needed and solely based on sight inspection.  Insecticide applications are preformed to control worms and mole crickets.  Application frequency for insecticides has the most variance, making it hard to predict.  Herbicides are rarely applied to putting greens.  In fact, in a typical year  herbicides are applied to putting greens only twice.  Once in the summer for control of nutsedge and once in the fall to control Poa annua.  Here are the key points I wanted to make with this information.  Obviously, we dedicate many hours spraying putting greens.  On average, we may spray putting greens twice in one week.  I am, also, aware of the visual interpretation a player may have when witnessing a spraying application.  I want to assure members that, in most cases, we are simply applying nutrients or products to maintain a healthy plant.  I often refer to putting greens as a well conditioned athlete.  During  the Olympics it was reveled that Michael Phelps ate and drank constantly to take in 10,000 calories a day.  In a way that is exactly what we are doing to keep our putting greens at peak performance.