Golf Greens Scarification and Verticutting

Scarification and verticutting on a regular basis will help to prevent and control the development of thatch build-up and will also keep the surface layer open and free from decaying organic matter of cut and uncut leaves as well as plant sheaths.

Grass leaves having a relatively short life span, especially over the main growing season and these turn yellow and brown off when dying and need to be cleaned out from the sward if a uniform colour appearance is to be maintained throughout the year. These activities will help to maintain a surface which is healthier, has improved air-flow amongst the base of the sward, encourages tillering and reduces the potential for disease attack.

Regular scarification and verticutting can help to reduce the competitiveness of undesirable grasses, especially Yorkshire fog and annual meadow grass (particularly when this latter grass is producing seed heads), although care needs to be taken not to create an open sward in which these weed grasses or other weeds just recolonise into.

Weed activity starts to increase from April onwards until the early autumn, especially weeds like white clover, yarrow, procumbent pearlwort and parsley piert, whilst the main weed grasses of Yorkshire fog and annual meadow grass will be weakened by regular scarification and verticutting.
The depth and frequency of scarification will be varied according to the time of year, how active the grass is growing, the current conditions of the green, especially depth of thatch and available equipment: this can be either pedestrian operated, units (interchangeable cassettes) for triple mowers, or tractor mounted PTO driven.

A typical guide of monthly scarification as well as fortnightly verticutting would act as a baseline from which to vary to meet the needs of individual greens.