Bowling Green FAQ 9: Why has a lot of the grass which surrounds hollow holes turned a straw brown colour?

The hollow-tining was carried out in October and it is now March.

This is most likely due to the hollow-tine holes not being filled in fully, leaving a slight depression at the top which has exposed the roots and base of the plant where the crown is located. The crown is the place where the leaves arise, so think of this location as a combination of ‘brain and creator of the grass leaves’.

Cold weather, especially with wintry winds, will also typically cause die-back of a grass, starting from the tip downwards. With more of the grass plant exposed around the hollow-tine hole this will make those parts more susceptible to chill and drying out, turning the leaves a straw-brown colour.

A slight possibility, but unlikely, is that chafer grubs or leatherjackets are present and have had a contributory effect. However, if grubs were present to any extent then damage would be more widely spread in irregular patterns and wouldn’t be confined to just around the holes. In addition, there would most likely be quite a bit of bird activity pecking for the grubs.

Towards the end of March to early April give a light top-dressing of a loamy sand and make sure it is thoroughly worked into the tine holes to create a smooth even surface. Clearly this cannot be done if the weather is wet, so it is important necessary to wait for a short dry spell in which to carry it out. Make sure the sward is not smothered otherwise this will increase the chance of disease and weaken the sward. A further light top-dressing might also be needed just prior to the start of the season to ensure the green does not provide a bobbly surface. The usual spring maintenance activities should also be carried out, so this additional top-dressing will be complementary to whatever else was planned.