22 May 2024

Window of opportunity narrowing to repair sports and amenity turfs.

Golf courses and sports pitches face an unparalleled challenge as months of extreme rainfall and soggy grounds continue to render many courses and sports pitches unplayable due to waterlogging, surface damage and safety concerns, prompting cancellations and rescheduling of sporting events.

Groundskeepers and maintenance crews have been working tirelessly to overcome the challenges and get surfaces back into play, but the window of getting grass re-established is narrowing, with the long-term forecast still being “changeable” yet the very real threat of the next dramatic swing into extreme heat and summer droughts potentially just around the corner in our crazy climate.

"Kim Blake, Course Manager at Fulford Heath Golf Club confirms the challenges faced around the country. “We’ve measured over 860mm rain in past 6 months, that’s getting on for 3ft! Some months got more than double our average. It started in October and hasn’t really stopped since. The River Cole runs through the course and broke its banks earlier in the year - it is still running strongly. We have a saying on the course, that it’s not summer until our big ash tree says so – and it still hasn’t got a leaf on it. Players are looking forward to getting out there and as soon as some warm dry weather arrives footfall is going to be very heavy.”

 

Although mother nature has been working against us this year, some of the impacts can be mitigated through soil biology and getting some help from our microbial friends. Of course, biostimulants and conventional chemicals have their use, but they’re like taking paracetamol for a broken leg - treating the symptom does not fix the cause of pain.

By harnessing the power of natural soil borne microbes and enzymes, one can more permanently enhance drainage, revitalise soil health, and promote vigorous grass growth even in the most challenging conditions.

Hillery Murphy from Soil Biology Ltd has visited dozens of courses this spring “Many greenkeepers are making the same slip-up – they are trying to push cover by applying generous quantities of biostimulants and nutrient treatments but that is not touching the underlying problem and little respect is being given to the ongoing biological needs of the plant.

“Some courses are even making matters worse by applying high amounts of synthetic inputs. An undesirable result is thatch is also encouraged, which can’t be degraded by the soil microbes because the salt levels in some fertilisers are very high. The microbes can’t work with that, and so the surface becomes suffocated and compacted, the whole ecosystem breaks down, and the organic matter further restricts water percolation through the soil structure – and you’re back to square one.”

 

Biological products work in harmony with nature, supporting the ecosystem of the soil and promoting long-term resilience. By introducing beneficial microorganisms and organic compounds into the soil, these products improve soil structure and crucially enhance water infiltration, resulting in healthier and more resilient turf.

Hillery added “Using OxyTurf really helps to breathe life back into the soil structure. It provides the soil with slow-release oxygen and activated aerobic microbes. Containing extracts from a blend of naturally occurring plants, OxyTurf stimulates microbial digestive activity, resulting in the reduction of organic build-up and thatch beneath the surface layer. This kick-starts de-compaction of the soil, unblocking pores and improving percolation. Dead zones and black layer dissipate and are replaced with a revitalised, positive aerobic ecosystem. You see the percolation effect within a day or two. After a couple of applications, the product really starts to work with the biology in the soil to give lasting performance."

Ombersley Golf Club in Worcestershire have been integrating sustainable solutions from Soil Biology Ltd into their maintenance programme for a full season and have been surprised by their effectiveness. “We’ve never had roots like we do now” says Luke Blount, Deputy Course Manager and Spray Technican. 

 

Using Nutrisorb and OxyTurf we went from having one of the wettest greens, to one of the driest. We also found that without the use of additional treatments, the healthy grass naturally out competes disease better. With over 44,000 rounds being played per year on our greens, that’s a lot of feet and a lot of pressure on the turf, and we want to take care of it as sustainably as possible.”

 

The benefits of using biological products for waterlogged grass growth are manifold. Not only do they accelerate the recovery process and restore playing surfaces to optimal condition by resolving the underlying problems of soil structure, but they also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

 

About Soil Biology Ltd

Soil Biology Ltd’s range of biological formulations are designed to work together synergistically to boost turf health from soil to sward tip. Products can be used as a standalone solution to target a specific problem or work together as a system for a complete seasonal programme, reducing the reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

For more information about how biological products can transform waterlogged grass growth, please contact: Roy@soilbiology.uk

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