For an average bowling club, this seasonal "renovation pack" can easily run to £2,000 or more. Fungicides, insecticides, sand, fertiliser, labour, equipment hire, it all adds up. Yet few stop to ask: Is this spend necessary, or is it just habitual?
Author: John
Master Greenkeeper John Quinn is the author of Performance Bowling Greens, and several other titles on Greenkeeping, Club and Business Management.
Fungi, the Bogeymen?
The highly sandy nature of many bowling greens and the historical routine use of fungicides of course means that the fungal community is at best compromised. However, we can encourage they're development by providing bio-stimulants. These are typically long-chain sugars such as—kelp, humic acid, and molasses derived bio-stimulant materials. In fact, trials have shown that spraying Trichoderma fungi (a natural Fusarium suppressor) with 20 litres of a biostimulant such as Molturf per hectare extended its protective activity for over five weeks. Even at lower rates, molasses is a highly effective and underutilised biostimulant.
Win a Bottle of BioActive Yucca Natural Wetting Agent in the July Prize Draw!
Your feedback helps fellow greenkeepers make informed choices — and it helps me continue to support the return to natural, chemical-free greenkeeping across the UK and beyond.
Here’s the bonus: every product review you leave enters you into my monthly prize draw to win a 1-litre bottle of BioActive Yucca — the top-selling natural wetting agent trusted by clubs nationwide.
🏆 How to leave a review (it takes less than a minute):
- Visit the product page of the item you purchased.
👉 Click here to browse your past orders - Scroll down to the ‘Reviews’ tab.
- Click “Write a Review”, rate the product, and leave a few words about your experience.
That’s it — you’re automatically entered!
Why BioActive Yucca?
✔️ Breaks down hydrophobic soils naturally
✔️ Helps your green make the most of rainfall
✔️ Supports soil microbes, no chemicals and Certified Organic
✔️ £74.22 value — yours for free if you win
Thanks as always for supporting Bowls Central — and for championing natural greenkeeping.
Best regards,
John Quinn
www.bowls-central.co.uk
Winner will be announced on 1st August 2025. Look out for the August Prize Draw towards the end of July
Hydrophobic Turf – leading to Localised Dry Patch
Localised Dry Patch is a common problem on greens in summer and it can take a while to conquer it. Could some of our traditional management practices be making it worse?
Cure Localised Dry Patch on Greens
Cure Localised Dry Patch on Greens with this step by step guide to dealing with hydrophobic soil in bowls greens.