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Thomas Dai

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Chemical bans
« on: October 29, 2017, 05:58:52 AM »
On the thread about 2030 Adrian mentions chemical bans.
I understand that in Europe/UK bans will soon (if not already) effect treatment for worm(casts), fusarium, leather jackets, grubs and the like.
Not sure Brexit will have any effect!
Presumably inland courses will be more effected than links/sand based courses?
Thoughts and consequences?
Atb

Adrian_Stiff

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Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2017, 06:44:55 AM »
Thomas - I don't think Brexit will have any change.


I think we will have to go back to older styles of management. Higher heights of cut being one. When I was a head greenkeeper we went 3 years without spraying for Fusarium. I think the reason was we fed in those days with quick release materials, we judged the weather, with slow release you have the nutrient being released often at the wrong time. We never fed past August 31st, that was the rule or at least never applied Nitrogen. Almost everything involved methods to lower the acidity.


We took some advice one year and the advice with the modern greens and higher winter play was to apply very small applications (1/4 rate) of a product called Floranid. It was circa 1985 and 31%N slow release tiny pellets. That winter I was popping alternate applications of Chlorathanol and Iproidione, cost a fortune and from then on we were always spraying.


Slightly seperately we recently regrassed a green (a putting green), just stripped the turf, power harrowed to a few inches, rake, levelled and seeded....it was pretty Poa polluted for the first year and alike a newly seeded green at Year 4, perhaps 10% Poa. We had a bout of Anthrax and the disease took the Poa out and left the mixture of grasses far more in line with what was sown.


I don't know a nice answer to worm control, but it might result in more trolley bans as the wide wheels smear. Painswick was never a wet course, that was because they were not allowed to control worms. There might be something in applying weak acid to the fairways on a monthly basis involving Lemons and Tea maybe even with Sulphate of Iron.


We try to remove the dew on the fairways from October (two buggys each side of the fairway and 25mm hosepipe) that allows the limited sun to work immediately on drying the fairway rather than use 2-3 hours of its energy to burn the dew off.
A combination of whats good for golf and good for turf.
The Players Club, Cumberwell Park, The Kendleshire, Oake Manor, Dainton Park, Forest Hills, Erlestoke, St Cleres.
www.theplayersgolfclub.com

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2017, 06:54:00 AM »
Thomas,


Take a look at Denmark where they have been chemical free for a few years now and are doing well. Adrian sums it up well.

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2017, 07:05:22 AM »
Thanks Adrian and Jon.
Insight from those within the business is always useful.
atb

Jeff_Brauer

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Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2017, 12:23:28 PM »
As I recall, "Pesticide Ban" was the worst selling deodorant idea ever. :o
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

John Kirk

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« Last Edit: October 29, 2017, 01:03:22 PM by John Kirk »

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2017, 11:37:09 PM »
From my couple of trips to Europe in recent years, it seemed that the most difficult maintenance problem posed by chemical bans was grub control -- and as a result, many fairways were being picked apart by birds.  I don't know if they have found a reliable, organic alternative treatment yet.

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Chemical bans
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2017, 03:48:14 AM »
From my couple of trips to Europe in recent years, it seemed that the most difficult maintenance problem posed by chemical bans was grub control -- and as a result, many fairways were being picked apart by birds.  I don't know if they have found a reliable, organic alternative treatment yet.


The damage caused by grubs and their predictors tends to be localised, short lived and recovers quickly. I think the attitude of the authorities will be to expect people to live with it and get on with life which most will.




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