Turfculture terminology used in Grounds Management

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Any item of equipment that can be used to apply a material to a surface, for example, a fertiliser, pesticide or top-dressing material. Sprayers and spreaders are the two main types of applicators.

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A slightly broader term than Clippings, which also includes any material which has been extracted from a soil profile, such as soil, roots or thatch.

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The use of a mower with comb attachments, a tractor mounted brush, or similar, in combing or brushing a fairway from the green towards the tee; this being in the opposite direction of play. The aim is to off-set and counter the regular flattening of grass in a forward direction of movement from players and also to reduce grain formation from regular mowing patterns from striped or band mowing of fairways. This can be relatively time-consuming as the return trip to the green is carried out with the comb / brush implement raised to ensure 100% of the fairway is combed in one direction only. Wher

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This can either be the material used to fill in a previously dug hole or a drainage trench; or it can refer to the activity of filling in a hole or drainage trench with a suitable material.

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The sharpening of the bottom blade of a cylinder mower, to maintain blade and cylinder edge sharpness. Loosen the cylinder so it will revolve easily, but slightly touch the bottom blade. Apply grinding paste, typically with a paint brush, along the entire length of the blade cutting edge and along the cylinder itself. Reversing the direction of the cylinder so there is a slight grinding noise as the paste produces a sharp edge to the bottom blade in particular. Adjust the oncut so there is always a rasping noise indicating that the paste is doing its job. Once a sharp edge has been produced on

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Fertiliser applied, by being dropped through tubes or similar, in narrow bands (strips) and typically at 20-30cm spacings. This application method is used for some agricultural crops and is not relevant for turfgrass establishment or maintenance.

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An area of the turf surface that has lost grass cover. It can be caused by a range of different factors: Dying grass; Compaction; Disease; Excessive wear through overuse; Earthworm casts smothering turf; Mole hills smothering turf; Animal scrapings; Moss and weeds dying out, especially after the application of a moss or weed killer.

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The application and incorporation of a fertiliser to a soil before seeding or turfing.

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A term more frequently used in the USA to mean the bottom blade of a cylinder mower.

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The activity of planting flower beds to create bedding displays with plants and bulbs. Bedding out for a spring display will typically be around October, whilst for a summer display bedding out will typically be around early June.