SEA ISLE MANAGEMENT section

GOLF MANAGEMENT - Mowing

SUMMARY Proper mowing practices are essential to the maintenance of a healthy lawn. SeaIsle Paspalum used in home lawns should be mowed at 3/4 to 1.5 inches in height. Do not scalp SeaIsle Paspalum. Higher mowing heights will reduce Turfgrass density and increase weed problems. Mower blades should be kept sharp to avoid tearing leaf tissue. When mowing, never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time. Do not mow when the grass is wet or the soil is soggy. If the lawn is under stress from drought, shade, nutrient deficiencies, insects or diseases, it is best to maintain a higher cutting height until the stress pressure is relieved.

ESTABLISHMENT During establishment when vertical growth starts, maintain the height at 13 - 25 mm (0.5 - 1.0 inch), continuing into early grow-in to promote horizontal growth. Reel or rotary mowers can be used.

GROW-IN Cutting heights should be no higher than 25 mm (1 inch), and preferably 13 - 20mm (0.50 - 0.75 inch) to promote shorter internodes and to thicken up the canopy.

TEES Optimum mowing heights should range from 13 - 20 mm (0.50 - 0.75 inch).

FAIRWAYS Optimum mowing heights should range from 13 - 20 mm (0.50 - 0.75 inch). Sea Isle 1 grows well in the 13 - 16 mm range (0.50 -0.64 inch). This cultivar can maintain good density at 7mm (0.28 inch). Raise the mowing height to 20 - 25 mm (0.75 - 1.0 inch) going into the winter months to improve carbohydrate load in the crown region and rhizomes, to enhance winter hardiness, and to provide more shoot surface for winter rounds of golf.

ROUGHS Short roughs can be maintained at 25 - 50 mm (1 - 2 inches). Be aware that as mowing height increases above 1 inch, the canopy will open up and competition from weeds could become a problem. Mowing heights >50 mm (2 inches) when left unmowed will be true penalty roughs, with extreme difficulty in getting golf club faces through the thick grass.