Year-round golf course overseeding at Northenden GC
For greenkeeper Lee Purvis, golf course overseeding is a year-round strategy that helps him maintain the best-possible playing surface at Northenden Golf Club in Greater Manchester.
Cold-seeding
Faced with winter, hibernation is the last thing on Lee’s mind. “I like to seed in the winter months, maybe once or twice, to build a seedbed.” And, with soil temperatures no longer as cold, he has witnessed early results. “I have seen creeping bent pop in January.”
With less mowing needed in winter, “this gives the seed a chance if we do get some warm weather.” When overseeding golf course greens in winter, the seeds that do establish are better at resisting diseases.
Golf course overseeding in spring
When it comes to golf course overseeding, Lee finds that drilling in early spring can also form a good seedbed. Once Lee has finished his spring overseed, the greens are rested from any heavy mowing for a month.
“When temperatures are warming up, the seed has time to pop without heavy mowing and without low heights of cut.” Lee likes to complete this step in March. “Leaving it later, I haven’t seen as good results, as you’re trying to get a good playing surface with low cutting and verti-cutting.”
Preferred Application method
“I apply with a dimple seeder,” Lee reveals. “After the seeding takes place, you can easily apply light topdressing and get into the holes.”
The dimple seeder yields better germination, Lee explains. “The dimple is generally easier to manoeuvre as it’s more compact than a disc seeder. I can seed at multiple angles across the green instead of seeding the same way all the time.”
Lee also revealed the happy accident that delivered his best result so far: “I made a mistake setting up the seeder and one tub of creeping bent went on two greens. The result was brilliant, so my thinking is changing to heavy seeding in September and a couple through the winter.”
Grass seed for overseeding golf greens
Lee was also asked to share his preferred grass seed species for overseeding a golf course. “I chose Germinal 007 – it’s the best surface to putt on bar none.”
And there’s more than meets the eye for creeping bent: “With water being a hot topic now and going forward, creeping bent is the go-to as it’s very drought tolerant.”
Lee also highlighted the sustainability potential. “Looking to the future, creeping bent is the go-to plant if you look at the R&A Golf Course 2030 initiative.
“Greenkeeping is going to have to be more sustainable. So, this is where creeping bent falls into place for me – less nitrogen than Poa annua and less water. Let’s get learning about this species now and start seeding it. So, when we get to 2030, we are all in the place we need to be in to be more sustainable.”
In 2022, Germinal Amenity’s grass experts are helping UK greenkeepers to start proactive seeding from season to season – click here to get started.