Why is my Bowling Green Running Slow?

We’re frequently asked by greenskeepers
“why is my green running slow”?

It’s a common question, and the simple answer is that it can be down to a number of different factors. To assist our customer the best we can and get to the bottom of the issue efficiently, we ask several key questions:

When last was your mower sharpened, back lapped and set on cut?

A sharp cylinder is extremely important to maintain a clean, precise cut. Blunt or incorrectly adjusted cylinders will not give a true cut of height and will not be taking enough grass off. Regular back lapping and cylinder adjustments is also necessary to maintain a neat, precise cut. It may sound simple, but it’s an issue we come across time and time again.

Do you verticut your green regularly?

A regular verticut, particularly during the growing season, is an essential element of maintenance. A verticut removes dead grasses as well as standing up any lateral lying grasses which tend to form a spongy matt which has a knock-on effect of slowing down the green. Lateral lying grasses are caused by continual rolling from the mower and are from annual meadow grasses.

What are your cutting heights?

It’s a common mistake to mow too short. This will in fact not speed the green up, but can cause stress to the grass plant, allowing disease and other problems to creep in.

Are you carrying out renovations?

This should be done annually, ideally at the end of the season as it can take a number of weeks for the green to be playable. Renovations should entail a deep scarify to remove any thatch and dying grasses. It’s important to scarify the green in three directions, then overseed with a good quality seed, feed and top dress if required.

Things you should consider when buying a cylinder mower

Choose a bowling green mower which has a minimum 9 blade cylinder with the capability to cut as low as 4mm.

Two types of mowers are available, one being a dedicated mower with the option of having a groomer attachment. The other being a cassette type mower where a number of different cassettes can be fitted such as a verticutter, slitter and brushes.

Different types of scarifiers that are available

When deep scarifying is required, a counter rotating reel will be most efficient. This enables the blades to dig upwards rather than push into the ground, removing considerably more material. While this type of Scarifier requires a greater initial outlay, it can be more economical in the long run.

A standard forward rotating Scarifier is also very effective, but tends to be lighter and push type rather than self-propelled. This type of Scarifyer is ideal for small bowling clubs as they are not costly and can also double up as a Verticutter.

Read more on the GGM Blog:

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