The use of velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) on putting greens is limited by sparse knowledge on optimal maintenance. Our objective was to determine the effects of N (75 or 150 kg N ha−1 yr−1), topdressing (0.5 or 1.0 mm biweekly), and mechanical‐biological treatment (grooming, vertical cutting, spiking, and Thatch‐less) on turfgrass visual quality, playability, winter survival, and thatch formation. The study was conducted at a coastal location in Norway (Landvik, 58°N) from August 2007 to May 2010 on sand‐based root zone (United States Golf Association specifications) seeded in late spring 2007 with velvet bentgrass ‘Legendary’. Only the higher N rate gave acceptable quality during the first 2 yr after sowing. The higher N rate reduced moss and winter injuries from disease compared with the lower N but decreased surface hardness by 21% and reduced ball roll distance by 6 to 14%. Significant interactions reflected an increase in mat organic matter with increasing N rate under light but not under heavy topdressing. Compared with grooming only, grooming plus vertical cutting significantly reduced mat organic matter from 64 to 53 g kg−1. Grooming plus spiking improved water infiltration rate by 51% compared with grooming alone. Thatch‐less increased hardness of the otherwise soft plots receiving grooming plus spiking but had no effect on mat depth or organic matter content.

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