The key objective of any fertiliser programme should be to apply the minimum of nutrients to achieve optimum sward health and desirable playing quality. This means applying just enough to produce a quality playing surface and to compensate for the effects of golfer and maintenance traffic. Adopting such an approach will reflect positively in the annual budget, through direct savings and by avoiding the need for costly and disruptive management practices to control excessive growth and organic matter accumulation.
Important steps to take to ensure that you are employing the right fertiliser programme include:
Specialist advice is available to help develop an effective fertiliser programme. Consultants you employ should base their advice on your sustainability objectives. Keeping records of your fertiliser programme will demonstrate your ability to develop and maintain high levels of playing performance through a minimalist approach.
It is essential to ensure that you are applying an appropriate type of fertiliser for the grass species you are managing.
Care needs to be taken when applying fertiliser to ensure an even growth response.
Feriliser application should only be at a level to support healthy growing conditions, never to develop overly lush surfaces for aesthetic reasons.
You can learn from nature when it comes to assessing your nutrient requirements.
Setting up small scale trials to test new products will help you identify the best fertiliser for your needs.
Excessive feeding produces more clippings than is necessary; a waste of material, energy and time and also an additional waste product that will need to be managed.