TOP DRESSING
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Along with mechanical intervention in the form of scarification and verticutting , topdressing can effectively dilute thatch accumulations to improve the growing environment .
Topdressing is also proving an effective tool in the battle with worm casts , now that the majority of effective chemical controls have been removed . Sand irritates the worm ’ s skin thereby reducing worm populations , whilst making any casts that do appear drier and easier to disperse .
When ?
Topdressing can generally be conducted at any time during the season , where the plant is actively growing and is strong enough to recover from any associated mechanical intervention . A heavier dressing can be applied in the spring when the plant growth should be vigorous , allowing for swift recovery and repair from any damage sustained over the winter . Dressing can then carry on at regular intervals , getting lighter as the season progresses to ensure that , come the autumn , the grass plant is not smothered – leaving it vulnerable to fungal diseases such as Fusarium .
Disease can occur during warmer conditions , due to applications creating a microclimate in the upper profile . Pathogens can quite quickly germinate if the dressing isn ’ t effectively worked into the
surface so thought should be given to the amount of dressing applied and , for heavier applications , consider brushing after the topdressing is complete to speed up dispersal .
The quality , trueness and type of grass dominant in a green will dictate how frequently turf managers will need to topdress . For example , creeping bentgrass would benefit from light and frequent dressings where greens that are predominately fescue can successfully manage with fewer applications over the course of a season .
How ?
There are two main options available when it comes to the choice of dresser – disc dressers ( sometimes known as spinner spreaders ), or brush spreaders .
For those following the ‘ little and often ’ approach , the preference will tend to be disc dressing . Disc dressers such as the Rink DS800 offer a range of adjustable parameters to allow for optimum versatility as the season progresses . Spreading width and thickness can be easily adjusted , along with changing the speed of the spinner to suit the amount of dressing required . The Rink DS800 model for example , can accommodate spreading widths of between 2m and 12m and spreading thicknesses of 0.5 to 15mm , meaning the dressing of a green will be complete in just two or three passes .
Conversely , heavier applications and carpet dressings may be more suited to using a brush dresser . Units such as the Rink 1010 , work via a rotating brush on the rear of the unit which will distribute material in one even stripe . Because spread is limited to the width of the dresser , more passes will be required which is not ideal if the surface is already vulnerable .
To optimise efficiency from topdressing , bring the surfaces back into play quicker and to minimise those conditions favourable to disease pathogens , one should consider utilising a brush to work the dressing into the surface . For smaller areas such as greens , the 1.4m wide Redexim Speedbrush features two brushes that rotate against the direction of travel to quickly and effectively sweep the dressed material into the surface . Meanwhile , a wide-area brush such as the 6m Top Brush is well suited to the incorporation of dressing on denser grasses or larger areas such as fairways . www . redexim . com
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | November / December 2024 19