Understanding your greens soil analysis report isn't always at the forefront of thought of those who instigate the soil test. Too often it is merely a fertiliser sales tool with the advice given taking very little notice of the results received.
Greens soil analysis results are often confusing and use terms that are not easily understood in relation to greenkeeping practice. In this article, John sets out to change that by taking apart a typical greens soil analysis report and explaining it in terms we can all understand. More importantly it relates the results to maintenance.
Tag: cec
How do you boost CEC in bowls green soil?
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is a measure of a soil’s ability to retain essential plant nutrients in the form of chemical ions and therefore its ability to provide sufficient nutrition to grass plants.
A while back I wrote a more in-depth article on this subject which included suggestions for increasing or boosting CEC. You can read it here.
Autumn and winter bowls green maintenance
We are getting an increasing number of enquiries about the correct process for Autumn bowling green maintenance at the moment.
Here are my top 10 tips for autumn maintenance:
- DO NOT TOPDRESS
- Remove as much thatch as possible.
- Create air space in the top 100mm of the green
- Relieve Compaction
- Treat LDP by applying wetting agent
- Renovate heads to ensure recovery for next year
- Improve CEC on overly sandy soils by introducing zeolite
- Boost potassium levels
- If over-seeding, also give some Phosphorous
- Draw up a program of work to carry on right through the winter months. Don’t “put your green to bed”