Greens and Close Mown Trials

Series G / Greens, Close Mown Trials (Mown at 4-7mm)

Bowling balls

Cultivars of bentgrass species are listed in order of their suitability for use in very close mown turf, such as golf and bowling greens, mown at 4mm, in Table G1. Currently there are no cultivars of velvet bentgrass listed for Turfgrass Seed.

For very fine turf, such as golf greens and bowling greens, the finer and denser cultivars of A. capillaris appear to perform best under traditional UK management and growing conditions. Higher management inputs are required to maintain creeping bentgrasses.

Velvet bentgrass (A. canina) produces exceptionally dense turf and generally has better drought tolerance than the other bentgrass species. However, it also produces more thatch than other bents and this would need to be controlled to maintain the very good surface, which this grass can produce.

Cultivars of Chewings fescue and slender creeping red fescue are shown in order of their suitability for use in very close mown turf, such as golf and bowling greens, mown at (5 mm), in Tables G2 and G3. As for the bentgrasses, the order was determined from the mean of each cultivars visual merit and shoot density scores. These grasses can produce acceptable greens under restricted watering and fertility regimes that would limit the performance of some bentgrasses.

Table G4 describes the performance of perennial ryegrass cultivars that have been evaluated under close mowing (5 mm summer and 7 mm winter). These grasses should be used in situations where the need for quick establishment and wear tolerance is combined with a degree of close mowing. They should not be seen as a replacement for bentgrasses or fine fescues in golf or bowling greens.

The cutting heights described above may be relaxed if required by turf management or climatic conditions.

Turfgrass Resources

Turfgrass UK Agents

The seed merchants listed below are primary agents for grasses listed in this booklet. Short codes have been given so that the grasses listed in the different tables can be cross-referenced with their suppliers.

Names and addresses of other breeders and suppliers, with only a restricted number of varieties in the booklet, are available from the BSPB.

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