Mowing Height and Vertical Mowing Frequency Effects on Putting Green Quality

Abstract

Lowering mowing heights to increase creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) putting green speed (i.e., ball roll distance) is a common practice. This practice can increase turfgrass susceptibility to heat and drought stress. Other cultural practices might be used to improve putting green quality and speed without additional stress. In this study, vertical mowing was used as a grooming technique to potentially improve putting green quality and speed. A ‘Penncross’ creeping bentgrass turf, established in 1986, was mowed daily at 3.2, 4.0, and 4.8 mm in combination with vertical mowing frequency treatments of 1 and 2 times per month, and a check of no vertical mowing. Mowing height and vertical mowing frequency effects on ball roll distance, turfgrass color and quality, and root production were evaluated in this study during 1989 and 1990. Vertical mowing treatments did not affect ball roll distance, turfgrass color and quality, or root production. Ball roll distance decreased by 0.2 m in 1989 and 0.4 m in 1990 as mowing height increased from 3.2 to 4.8 mm. Relative putting green speeds were rated as fast (i.e., > 2.6 m) across mowing height in 1989, and medium‐fast to fast (i.e. 2.3–2.6 m) in 1990. Turfgrass color, quality, and root production increased with mowing height in 1989 and 1.0 unit in 1990. Turfgrass quality increased by 0.4 rating unit per mm increase in mowing height in 1989 and 1.0 unit in 1990. Root production at two soil depths of 75 to 150 mm and 150 to 225 mm increased with mowing height in 1990.

Interaction Effects of Salinity and Mowing on Performance and Physiology of Bermudagrass Cultivars

“…In agreement with previous studies (Krans and Beard, 1975;Salaiz et al, 1995;Fu et al, 2005), mowing height signifi cantly aff ects total root mass of bermudagrass cultivars (Fig. Cultivars responded diff erently with salinity increase, and signifi cant diff erences among them were detected within the same mowing heights.…”

Potassium Rate and Mowing Height for Kentucky Bluegrass Growth

“…For all of the sampling dates, the 100 mm mowing height had higher turfgrass color rating than the 40 mm mowing height on 8 of 11 rating dates. Similar result was reported from the previous research (Salaiz et al, 1995) who found that the color of creeping bentgrass was improved when the mowing height was increased from 3.2 to 4.8 mm. The 40 mm mowing height had lower turfgrass color rating than an acceptable color rating of six on 4 of 11 rating dates.…”

Minimizing Thatch and Mat Development in a Newly Seeded Creeping Bentgrass Golf Green

“…Ball roll distance is commonly accepted as an important aspect of putting green playability (Salaiz et al, 1995). Ball roll distance was determined each year 7, 14, and 21 d after treatment (DAT) for four of the treatments (topdressing alone, core cultivation four times annually, and vertical mowing two and four times per year) with a modified United States Golf Association (USGA) stimpmeter (Gaussoin et al, 1995).…”

“…C reeping bentgrass is the most widely used cool season turfgrass on golf greens because of its dense, smooth, uniform surface (Salaiz et al, 1995). Newer cultivars of creeping bentgrass have improved turf quality, putting characteristics, color, and density compared with the previous industry standard ‘Penncross’.…”