One of the projects I've been helping with since my arrival a little over a year ago, is trying to control the moss that was encroaching on the greens. For anyone who has ever tried this already knows it is not an easy task. Moss is an issue because it interrupts surface aesthetics and smoothness. First we figured out what was causing the moss outbreak. After watching the irrigation run around our most problematic holes we concluded that excess moisture was a big contributor to our moss population . Some of the rough heads, and even fairway heads were hitting the greens surface on holes such as #6, and #11 for example. We also noticed that the formation of the moss followed the pattern of the heads hitting the greens. So are first plan of attack was to redesign the irrigation around the greens, which was done by Erik Dunster. For a curative plan we decided to try applications of quicksilver, after researching different strategies and contacting various sources.
Listed below is the applications of quicksilver we made followed by photo's to show progression. We found that we got better results by making our applications with cooler temperatures.
Quicksilver 2010 Applications-
- 10/22/2010
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 11/5/2010
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 11/19/2010
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 12/3/2010
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
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Quicksilver 2011 Applications-
- 4/29/2011
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 5/13/2011
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 5/27/2011
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
- 6/10/2011
o Can –Hance Surfactant- 24 oz./A
o Quicksilver T&O- 6.7 oz./A
o Lesco 12-0-0- 2 oz./m
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| This photo on the right side of #6 green was taken after the second application on 11/5/10. This is when the moss starting turning a copper color and stopped spreading. |
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| This photo was taken after the third application on 11/19/10. After the third application the moss was really starting to hurt, which is evident by the sunken appearance |
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| This photo was on Monday 6/27/11. In this photo you can see that we have almost eliminated the moss on the greens. |
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| This photo shows our current moss population, which has been greatly reduced by 90-95%. |
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| This is a close up view of the moss on #6 green after the second application on 11/5/11. |
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| This is a current view taken 6/27/11. |
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| This is one of the few dead spots of moss on the right side of #6 green. |
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| In this photo you can see the bentgrass rooting through the moss. I would like to personally thank Brian Mcdonald at the Oregon State Turf Farm, he provided me with information he gathered from doing trials with quicksilver and moss on bentgrass greens. |
