You're responsible for your golf course's tees. How can you ensure they stay lush and green?

1 Choose the right grass

The first step is to select the best grass species for your tees, depending on your climate, soil, and budget. Some common choices are bermudagrass, bentgrass, zoysiagrass, and ryegrass. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, color retention, and mowing frequency. You should also consider the level of maintenance and inputs required for each grass type, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and water.

2 Fertilize regularly

Fertilizing your tees is essential to provide them with the nutrients they need to grow and recover from stress. However, you should not overdo it, as too much fertilizer can cause problems such as excessive growth, thatch accumulation, weed invasion, and nutrient leaching. You should follow a balanced and timely fertilization program, based on soil tests, grass type, and seasonal needs. Generally, you should apply more nitrogen in the spring and summer, and more potassium in the fall and winter.

3 Mow carefully

Mowing your tees is another important practice to keep them healthy and attractive. However, you should avoid mowing them too low or too often, as this can weaken the grass and expose it to diseases, pests, and drought. You should also use sharp blades and alternate the direction of mowing to prevent scalping and rutting. The optimal mowing height and frequency depend on the grass type, the weather, and the desired playing speed.

4 Repair divots

Divots are inevitable on tees, as golfers strike the ball and take a chunk of turf with them. Divots can impair the appearance and quality of your tees, as well as affect the performance and satisfaction of your customers. You should repair divots as soon as possible, either by replacing the turf or by filling the hole with sand or a seed mixture. You should also encourage your customers to repair their own divots or use a tee mat if available.

5 Control weeds

Weeds are unwanted plants that compete with your grass for space, light, water, and nutrients. They can also detract from the beauty and uniformity of your tees, and interfere with the ball roll and flight. You should control weeds by using a combination of cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods. Cultural methods include proper fertilization, irrigation, mowing, and aeration. Mechanical methods include hand-pulling, hoeing, and edging. Chemical methods include pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides.

6 Irrigate wisely

Irrigating your tees is necessary to keep them hydrated and resilient, especially during dry and hot periods. However, you should not overwater or underwater them, as both can cause problems such as fungal diseases, root rot, algae, and salt accumulation. You should irrigate your tees according to the evapotranspiration rate, the soil moisture, and the weather forecast. You should also check and adjust your irrigation system regularly to ensure uniform and efficient water distribution.