The Vegetation Manager
Turf improvement programs
7 June 2010
When developing a turf improvement program it is critical to identify the causes that have resulted in the decline in turf quality. A turf surface may decline for many reasons including:
- Inappropriate cultural practices, such as:
- improper mowing height or frequency;
- excessive or insufficient fertilisation;
- excessive or insufficient irrigation; and
- improper pest control regimes.
- Excessive thatch accumulation;
- Use of turf species or cultivars that are not appropriate for the site;
- Chemical soil conditions such as acidity, alkalinity, or salinity;
- Undesirable physical soil conditions like compaction, soil layering, or poor drainage;
- Drought, heat, or cold stresses;
- Severe damage by diseases, insects, nematodes;
- General neglect; or
- Overuse.
Often, a number of these factors may be impacting on the turf surface. Therefore, a Surface Audit using a range of analytical and diagnostic tools becomes essential in understanding the appropriate remedial action required. These tools may include chemical soil analysis, irrigation water testing and pest and disease identification.
Once the cause(s) of turf decline have been identified, a turf management program can be established that will best improve the turf surface whilst taking into consideration the existing conditions, budgetary constraints and the desired turf quality.
Many turf surfaces can be brought to acceptable quality levels by simply altering turf management practices. For a program of this type to work effectively, the composition of the existing turf area must have adequate desirable species present, acceptable soil conditions, and a moderate thatch level. Undesirables, such as troublesome perennial grass weeds, must also be limited to manageable quantities.
When undertaking a program of this type, the following process should be implemented:
- Analytical tests are conducted to evaluate amendment and nutrition requirements;
- A tailored amendment and nutrition plan is developed that suits the turf being managed;
- Amendments are applied to balance the soil for optimum fertiliser performance;
- Current management practices are evaluated and modified to promote healthy, vigorous turf; integrating mowing, irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control practices with existing environmental conditions and turf species to bring turf up to its desired condition;
- Prioritised renovation activities are completed within budgetary constraints; and
- Annual assessments are completed to evaluate progress and realign management strategies.
Programs of this type are best carried out in spring and summer to maintain a healthy turf surface environment. However, the disruption and inconvenience caused to asset users, such as sports clubs undertaking summer sports, has often forced this practice to the extreme ends of the season where it is least likely to cause interference. Such decisions are detrimental to the health of the turf surface and may lead to increased pest pressure, in particular, due to a lack of turf vigour and the restricted recovery period.
Therefore, renovation timing should be more closely tied to the patterns of plant growth. The optimum growth and development of every turf species is restricted to a specific temperature range. As temperatures move outside of the optimum range, the amount of growth activity is limited to an increasing extent and the recovery time after renovations increases. Soil temperatures, in particular, govern the rate of growth.
In such situations, where the turf asset is only available for a short period of time, aeration and soil amendment practises can be moved to the autumn period, allowing for activities where the surface is affected to be carried out in the warmer months. This strategy ensures the turf receives all the required remedial actions without the risk of time preventing critical activities from being completed.
Steve Hampton is the Managing Director of Grow Solutions - a specialist provider of consultancy, training and project management services. Steve is a qualified horticulturalist with 21 years industry experience across vegetation management, landscape construction & maintenance, and public spaces & facilities management. Steve is also the Project Manager for the Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) - www.ivmp.com.au.
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