Master Greenkeeper John Quinn is the author of Performance Bowling Greens, and several other titles on Greenkeeping, Club and Business Management.
In many modern bowling green rootzones—especially those high in sand and low in organic matter—these vital organisms are either missing or severely suppressed. Without a thriving microbial community, thatch accumulates rapidly, leading to a lifeless, compacted surface that invites disease and drainage issues.
Beyond plant growth, seaweed feeds the microbial community that underpins a healthy green. Polysaccharides like laminarin and fucoidan stimulate beneficial soil microbes, improve aggregation, and enhance nutrient cycling.
When fungicides are used repeatedly, they don't just suppress disease temporarily; they erode the very microbial networks that would naturally keep disease in check. This explains why many greens find themselves caught in a cycle of recurring outbreaks and escalating chemical inputs.
Introduction:
Mechanical thatch control is costly, disruptive, and often short-lived. What if you could eliminate the problem biologically — and improve turf performance at the same time?
The BioActive Solution
By combining BioActive Thatch Reduce with BioActive Molturf, you unlock a powerful natural process:
The Result?
✔ Less thatch
✔ Healthier soil
✔ Stronger turf
✔ Better surface performance
Spray It, Don’t Scarify It
Both products are easily mixed and sprayed – no mechanical disruption, no follow-up repair, and no downtime.
And at just £40 per green per application (for Bowls Central Academy Members), this is the most cost-effective, long-term thatch control method available today.
📦 Try them now:
Mycorrhizal fungi and turf health go hand in hand. The symbiotic relationships that exist between our turf grass plants and soil fungi are critical to producing a high performance, perennial grass dominated sward. Here we look at the benefits of mycorrhizal relationships in turf and the techniques greenkeepers can employ to encourage them.
