One of the most important things you can do to improve your playing surface is to add turf grooming to your regime. Unfortunately, turf grooming is not well understood and it is often confused with verticutting.
Grooming and verticutting serve different needs for the professional turf manager – both are necessary and important.
Grooming is normally carried out during growing season. In order to ensure that the grooming has been carried out successfully, an inspection of the bin should be made to ensure that the following mix of green growth and dead grass (thatch) is present:
- Peak growing season 70% thatch – 30% green
- When growing season slows 60% thatch – 40% green
- Start of Winter 50% thatch – 50% green
Once an equal mix of thatch and green has been reached, the grooming regime can be stopped.
What happens if I don’t groom?
If the dead grass is not removed an organic layer of thatch is likely to form. As a consequence, grass growth will occur at the top of the canopy rather than at the true plant crown.
This will result in the following conditions occurring, which left unattended to will compromise both the health and growth of the plant:
- Root growth will diminish due to poor soil and gas exchange.
- Organic material will not properly decompose because of reduced microbial activity.
- The thatch layer will trap moisture, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides, preventing them from reaching the soil and roots.
- Verticutting will be required more frequently to reduce and remove excessive plant materials if grooming practices are not in place.
Verticutting
Verticutters are cutters used to cut the grass in a vertical position, and assist with the removal of thatch build-up which ensures deeper penetration of water, air, sunlight and nutrients to the root system.
There are different types in use as listed
Offset reel type is used for total removal of all turf on sandy or softer conditions.
- Pin type is used for removal on hard surfaces.
- Grooming reel type is used for removal of thatch and to achieve faster green speed without reducing the height of cut.
- Verti-cut reel not only removes thatch, but by means of its deep slicing penetration relieves compaction and improves surface drainage.
- A brush fitted to a mower or groomer acts as a teaser to the turf and removes thatch.
