Glossary of Terms

A - C

Process of aerifying soils with hollow tines, solid tines, water, or air injection: used synonymously with aerify.

Air movement across a fine turf area is important to reduce surface temperatures, dry the surface, and minimize disease activity. It usually is accomplished by pruning nearby trees and understory shrubs.

Algae

A dense growth of minute, single-celled plants containing chlorophyll that develops on thin or bare areas of turf in hot, humid weather when soils are saturated with moisture.

Approach/Apron

The fairway areas in close proximity to and in front of the putting green, adjoining the putting green collar. This area is normally mowed at fairway height, but sometimes is mowed slightly closer with smaller equipment designed to preserve or improve turf quality and density.

Ball Mark

A depression and/or a tear in the putting green surface made by the impact of a golf ball.

Bench Setting

The height at which the bedknife is set above a firm, level surface. This is generally the accepted measure for determining cutting height.

Brushing

In putting green maintenance, the practice of lifting excessive leaf and stem growth of grasses prior to mowing. Usually accomplished with brushes affixed ahead of the cutting reel. Topdressing brushes are often used to work sand into a putting surface.

Calibrate

To determine and control the amount of material delivered by a sprayer or spreader on a given area or in a given time.

Collar

An area of turf adjoining the putting surface which is mowed at a height of cut intermediate between the fairway and the putting surface. This cut is normally between 0.312 (5/16) and 0.50 (1/2) inch. The typical collar width is approximately 36 inches but varies depending on the total green area and available mowing equipment.

Compaction

State of being pressed closely together, as soil particles. Soil compaction prevents adequate water and air penetration and reduces turfgrass growth.

Contour Mowing

To shape the borderline between the fairway and rough to add interest, direction, or strategy to the golf hole, as in fairway contouring.

Coring

A term frequently used interchangeably with aeration; the removal of a soil core from a turfgrass area as with a soil probe or hollow metal tines.

Crown Hydration

A term used to describe a form of winter injury in which intracellular water within the plant freezes and causes physical injury to the cell membrane and wall, resulting in dehydration.

Cutting Height

The distance above the soil line that grasses are clipped.

D - F

Desiccation

Drying. A type of winter injury sustained on exposed turf areas when subjected to high winds.

Drainage

The rapid removal of water by surface contouring (swales or ditches), or subsurface tile drainage. There are three main types of drainage. Surface drainage refers to water moved across the surface because of a descending grade. Internal drainage refers to the movement of water through the pores of a soil or zone. Subsurface drainage usually refers to the movement of water through underlying drainage pipe or buried gravel layer such as in a USGA green.

Erosion

The wearing away of the soil or land surface by running water, wind, or other geological agents.

Evapotranspiration

The combination of soil evaporation and transpiration from the plant. Total water loss in vapor form from plant and soil.

Fertilizer

A nutrient material applied to plants to assist growth.

Foliar Fertilizers

Soluble plant nutrient materials applied to the leaf surface and capable of being absorbed through leaves.

Footprinting

Frost - Discolored areas of dead leaf tissue shaped in the form of foot impressions that are left after walking on live, frosted turfgrass leaves.

Fungicide

A chemical that kills or inhibits fungi.

G - L

Grain

As applied to putting greens, the tendency for grass leaves and runners to make horizontal growth in one direction, which interferes with the true natural roll of the ball. With today's low mowing heights and improved maintenance practices, the effect of grain is rarely observed on highly maintained putting greens.

Grooming

In putting green maintenance, the practice of lifting leaf and stem growth of grasses prior to mowing with a specialized grooming attachment affixed ahead of the cutting reel.

Herbicide

A chemical used to kill weeds or herbaceous growth.

Hydroseeding

A high pressure spray technique for applying seed, mulch, and fertilizer in a water slurry over a seedbed.

Insecticide

A chemical used to control insects.

Leaching

Downward movement in soil of soluble nutrients or other ions past the zone. Removal of accumulated soil salts resulting from irrigation with a saline water source.

Liquid Fertilizer

Plant nutrients applied in solution.

Localized Dry Spot

A dry area of sod and soil which repels water. Caused by various factors such as excessive thatch or fungal organisms.

M - O

Matting

Working topdressing or other materials into a turfgrass area with drag mats, usually made of fiber, rubber, or metal.

Microclimate

The climate of a small, distinct area such as a golf hole, green site, etc.

Micronutrient

Essential elements required in small amounts for turfgrass growth (e.g., iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, boron, and chlorine).

Native Grasses

Grasses that are indigenous, or which occur naturally in a particular region.

Nematode

Small, round worms, usually microscopic and colorless, that live in moist soil, water, or in decaying or living organic matter. Plant parasitic forms puncture plant tissues by means of a stylet and live by sucking the juice of the plant.

Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizers containing carbon and hydrogen.

Organic, natural

Fertilizers derived from naturally occurring, complex organic compounds not readily soluble in water.

Overseed

To sow seed over an area that is sparsely covered with some kind of vegetation or to plant a winter turf of a cool season species within a dormant warm season turf.

P - R

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease.

Perennial Grasses

Lasting or continuing from year to year in areas where adapted.

Pesticide

An agent used to control pests such as weeds, insects, or diseases.

Plugging

The vegetative propagation of turfgrass by means of plugs or small sod pieces. A method of establishing vegetatively propagated turfgrasses, as well as repairing damaged area.

Pre-emergence

Term used in reference to treatments, e.g., treatment made before weed seedlings emerge from the soil.

Renovation

Turf improvement involving replanting into existing live and/or dead vegetation.

S - Z

Scalping

The term for removing an excessive amount of the green leaf surface, leaving a stubbly brown turf. Continued scalping will weaken or kill the turf.

Sod

Plugs, blocks, squares, or strips of turfgrass with adhering soil used for vegetative planting.

Spiking

The act of perforating turf and soil crust by use of solid tines, spikes, or blades.

Surfactant

A surface active agent that reduces surface tension on plant materials and/or soil particles. Wetting agents are common examples.

Syringing

Light sprinkling of water on turf usually done during the hot part of the day to prevent wilting. The goal is to apply enough water to wet the leaves and cool the turf, not the soil.

Temporary grasses

Grasses considered to be nurse grasses, which are short-lived in duration, but valuable to soil stability until the permanent grasses form a turfgrass cover. Also, overseeding grasses used in southern climates to provide winter color while permanent grasses are dormant.

Thatch

A tightly intermingled layer of dead and living parts (stolons, shoots, stems, etc.) that develops between the green vegetation and soil surface. One-half inch or less is deemed desirable on turfgrass surfaces.

Topdressing

A prepared mixture of soil usually containing sand and organic matter to a desired specification. It also may contain physical conditioning materials, nutrients, and pesticides which are spread over turfgrass areas for the purpose of improving the surface, adding to the nutrient-supplying ability of the soil, or applying pesticides. Used for leveling, smoothing, covering stolons or sprigs in vegetative planting, as an aid in controlling thatch, and in maintaining biological balance.

Vertical Mowing (verticutting)

The thinning of turfgrasses by blades or wire tines which cut perpendicular to the soil surface. Specifically designed to remove mat, thatch, and grain from putting greens, to thin dense turf.

Water Dispersible Granules (WDG)

A dry, dust-free, granulated formulation of pesticide that dissolves completely into solution when mixed with water.