Cultural Management of Selected Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Cultivars

Abstract

Ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars are widely used for putting greens due to their high shoot density, low mowing heights, and high‐quality putting surface. However, successful management may require cultivar‐specific annual N application rates and thatch control measures as compared to those used for the cultivar ‘Tifdwarf.’ This study evaluated the effects of N fertility, topdressing and vertical mowing on thatch development, shoot density and turf quality of five dwarf bermudagrass cultivars: Tifdwarf, ‘Champion,’ ‘Floradwarf,’ ‘Miniverde,’ and ‘Tifeagle.’ The study was conducted using a strip‐split plot design and extended over a 63‐month period. All treatments were replicated three times. Suggested optimum N fertilization rates for all five grasses in the study are 10 lbs of N per 1,000 ft2/year. This N rate should provide good‐quality turf ‐‐ a high shoot density without excessive thatch accumulation. Floradwarf was most susceptible to high soil pH, followed by Champion. Careful soil pH management is needed when growing these cultivars. Frequent light vertical mowing was advantageous during the first year, but was detrimental to mature stands of ultradwarf cultivars when bermudagrass decline was active. Topdressing treatments used in this study were not sufficient to control thatch accumulation. When averaged across all treatments, thatch depth equal to or greater than 0.5 inch occurred by 42, 30, 42, 38, and 38 months after planting for Tifdwarf, Champion, Floradwarf, Miniverde, and Tifeagle, respectively.

Brushing Plus Vibratory Rolling Enhances Topdressing Incorporation on Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens

“…Previous research on ultradwarf bermudagrass thatch management has focused on the effects of nitrogen source and cultivation techniques (15,29), but has not addressed the difficulty of incorporating sand topdressing into the turf canopy. The objective of this study was to compare three methods of incorporating sand topdressing following identical topdressing treatments into an ultradwarf bermudagrass putting green.…”

Seasonal Cultural Management Practices for Aging Subtropic Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Greens: II. Mechanical Practices of Topdressing and Verticut Frequency

“…Hollingsworth et al (2005) also reported that a high-maintenance schedule that included intensive vertical mowing during summer months resulted in unacceptable quality for four ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars. White et al (2004) reported that while biweekly vertical mowing promoted healthy ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars when the green was young, it adversely influenced the bermudagrass as it aged. Note that the verticuting method used in this study was considered to be at a shallow depth implemented frequently as opposed to other investigations of deep and infrequent verticuting (White et al, 2004).…”

“…White et al (2004) reported that while biweekly vertical mowing promoted healthy ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars when the green was young, it adversely influenced the bermudagrass as it aged. Note that the verticuting method used in this study was considered to be at a shallow depth implemented frequently as opposed to other investigations of deep and infrequent verticuting (White et al, 2004).…”

“…Establishment and maintaining aesthetics and functional values of bermudagrass greens and tees includes identifying ideal application rates and seasonal applications of fertilizers, topdressing, and frequency of horizontal and vertical mowing and aerification (Bunnell et. al., 2005; Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Guertal and Evans, 2006; Rodriguez et al, 2001; White et al, 2004). After evaluation of vertical mowing and topdressing, management strategies for establishing and established ‘Tifdwarf’, Champion, FloraDwarf, ‘Miniverde’, and TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars in temperate Texas (White et al, 2004) suggested that cultural management will need to change as the cultivars mature.…”

“…al., 2005; Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Guertal and Evans, 2006; Rodriguez et al, 2001; White et al, 2004). After evaluation of vertical mowing and topdressing, management strategies for establishing and established ‘Tifdwarf’, Champion, FloraDwarf, ‘Miniverde’, and TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass cultivars in temperate Texas (White et al, 2004) suggested that cultural management will need to change as the cultivars mature. For example, biweekly, noninvasive vertical mowing promoted healthy stands of the grasses when they were young but promoted more severe cases of bermudagrass decline as the grasses matured.…”