PH of course water

[Maninblack4612]

Our water for the course comes from a borehole in the limestone on which the course is built. The Greenkeeper, in his monthly report, refers to the fact that the water is too alkeline & that there are H & S concerns about adding acid. Last year, in the spring, when the greens were being watered they were OK, but not particularly good, nothing you could really put your finger on. Later on we had some heavy rain, which meant no artificial watering was required for a while. Almost overnight the greens were 100% better & stayed like that until artificial watering resumed.

Another recurring complaint is the Fusarium on the greens & the fact that virtually every chemical treatment has now been banned by the EEC because it gets into the food chain when farmers us it.

Anyone else have these problems.?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We have the F problem at our place, it started last year. It is going to get treated mid April, it has been delayed due to the cold weather. I'll let you know how we get on as it has left a few greens very patchy.

 

[Imurg]

We have an issue on some our greens that's a mystery.
Specialists have come in and inspected but can't work out what the problem is.
It looks like a very fine divot has been taken - about 6-8 inches long and the width of an iron head but they're not divots.
Apparently the experts are baffled.

 

[jim8flog]

Fusarium has become a major problem on our 9 hole course, luckily less significant on the 18 but it is obvious.

There are chemicals but the Head green keeper reckons they are too expensive to consider and reading up on them they kill everything, all the good bugs as well as the bad ones.

The ban on the chemicals that kill chafer grubs has given us quite a headache with the badgers.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

We have the alkaline/acid problem from our borehole, but Dave is adding whatever to balance it out.

 

[upsidedown]

We

Our water for the course comes from a borehole in the limestone on which the course is built. The Greenkeeper, in his monthly report, refers to the fact that the water is too alkeline & that there are H & S concerns about adding acid. Last year, in the spring, when the greens were being watered they were OK, but not particularly good, nothing you could really put your finger on. Later on we had some heavy rain, which meant no artificial watering was required for a while. Almost overnight the greens were 100% better & stayed like that until artificial watering resumed.

Another recurring complaint is the Fusa rium on the greens & the fact that virtually every chemical treatment has now been banned by the EEC because it gets into the food chain when farmers us it. Not exactly

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Anyone else have these problems.?

We had exact same problems but the disease was "Take all " We have since fitted a Quadrop Balance water system to counteract the alkalinity

 

[Tashyboy]

Fusarium has become a major problem on our 9 hole course, luckily less significant on the 18 but it is obvious.

There are chemicals but the Head green keeper reckons they are too expensive to consider and reading up on them they kill everything, all the good bugs as well as the bad ones.

The ban on the chemicals that kill chafer grubs has given us quite a headache with the badgers.

Chafer beetles. They stress me out as much as Moles. Anyway the chemical that Tashyboy used to use was called Provado. It was fantastic on my lawns. Trouble is the neighbors never used it and everyyear the same problem. Feel for the courses that chafer beetles on them.

 

[jim8flog]

We


We had exact same problems but the disease was "Take all " We have since fitted a Quadrop Balance water system to counteract the alkalinity

"Take all" is the common name for fusarium. It is a virus.

 

[upsidedown]

"Take all" is the common name for fusarium. It is a virus.

My understanding from the agronomist was that "Take all patch disease" was different from Fusarium as it was very hard to control in the short term and we will need to adopt a more physical approach rather than chemical. Also thought it was a Fungus ?https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=249 https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=563
The other problem we had/have is Thatch fall

 

[jim8flog]

My understanding from the agronomist was that "Take all patch disease" was different from Fusarium as it was very hard to control in the short term and we will need to adopt a more physical approach rather than chemical. Also thought it was a Fungus ?https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=249 https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=563
The other problem we had/have is Thatch fall

Thanks for the links.

We are also going with a different approach to agronomy but my belief is it all started from leach from a piece of ground that we do not own, on a hill above one green and was then walked around the course.

 

[backwoodsman]

"Take all" is the common name for fusarium. It is a virus.

Fusarium is a fungus.

Chemical treatment is getting harder, but biological & cultural control still has good effect. (ie grass mixes, aeration, drainage, ph levels etc). So even more reason for us golfers to tolerate the tining, spiking & topdressing of greens.