Bowling Green FAQ 12: Is it really necessary to have to top-dress our green?

A smooth even surface can only really be maintained over time by applications of top-dressing. Over the season the sward is being trod on many thousands of times, the surface is disturbed by aeration, scarification and verticutting, the grasses themselves grow at different rates and some are more upright than others whilst some have more of a lateral growth, disease and pest attack affects surface evenness, as does the presence and elimination of weeds. Overtime these minor disturbances, if not corrected, will start to affect the smoothness and overall evenness of the surface.

Depending on the type and amount of usage, the desired firmness and speed of a green, and the overall quality of the sward, the extent of top-dressing might range from minimal to quite a lot. One or two very light applications might be suitable for one green, yet for another, because conditions are totally different the green might need both a spring and autumn top-dressing following renovation work, and also light monthly applications during the playing season.

A useful starting guide is to expect to give a light application during the spring and then a ‘normal’ renovation application towards or at the end of the playing season. So, the answer to the question is yes, it is necessary to top-dress a bowling green, but consider the qualifying statements given above.