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 Golf greens currently contain surface thatch levels on average 60% higher than is desirable for optimal turf health and playability, according to the STRI.Click here to download and save a PDF of this E-Tech Bulletin Some parkland courses were reported with more than 25% organic matter in the top 20mm, compared to a target of four to six percent. Even links courses were found to have up to 12% organic matter extending down to 40mm from the surface, with an average 7% in the top 20mm that is still 40% above the target level.STRI agronomists warn excess organic matter retains greater moisture that leads to: High levels of thatch in greens surfaces pose a serious risk of earlier and more severe disease outbreak this season: Targeting spores in the thatch with well-timed proactive Medallion TL applications can help to: The aim is to limit disease pressure as early as possible.Results have clearly shown that going into the winter with clean turf gives the greatest chance of coming out…

 When summer temperatures hot up, the root structures of cool season turf plants can suffer - with significant decline in overall root mass and the root system's efficiency to take up water and nutrients.Summer root mass decline can have serious impacts on plant health and, ultimately, playing surface quality.Root growth is a constantly ongoing cycle in healthy turf; new root material is created, as old root dies and degrades. The rate of decline and replacement is influenced by climatic and soil conditions. Summer root dieback occurs when a plant is still actively respiring, but its photosynthetic activity is restricted by the hotter temperatures. The plant's growth demands more carbohydrate than the leaves can physically produce, which leads to root mass reduction.  Agronomy measures to minimise root loss can help to maintain better summer surface quality - and year round turf health.Root Mass BenefitsRoots also require appropriate conditions to grow, including adequate moisture, oxygen…

 Download the latest version here: Let us know what you would like covered in one of our future E-Tech Bulletins by emailing karen.roberts@syngenta.com or by tweeting us at @GreenCastUK.

 Thick rough has been the bane of every golfers' game this season. The incredibly wet conditions have encouraged excessive coarse grass growth and prevented mowing, which has resulted in almost unplayable conditions on many golf courses.The Syngenta Golf Player Survey revealed that thick, coarse rough is the number one complaint among golfers. Over 50% of golfers were dissatisfied with the state of thick rough, with over 70% stating ease of ball location as a high priority. The drastic action, where coarse rough is causing slow rounds, lost balls and immense frustration has been to cut it all to the ground, leaving a prairie course of limited interest or challenge to golfers. Player benefits of Fescue rough:Ball location is easierWayward shots are penalised, but offer the golfer a recovery shotPlay is faster; fewer hold ups with players in front looking for ballsHole design and approach is better definedThe course is visually more attractive and challenging The good news is that the wet, warm…

 Syngenta Operation Pollinator Environmental Award Winner, Anthony Darker, hasn't been resting on his laurels at Elsham Golf Club in Lincolnshire. He has continued to develop a whole range of eco projects that has served to further enhance the environmental value of the golf course in the area.In addition to the wonderful wildflower areas that have been created for the benefit of players and pollinating insects, importantly Anthony has also been busy providing a vital winter refuge - or hibernacula - for the bees and bug life that has been attracted.But with only a limited budget he's been trying to come up with ways to create a range opf hibernaculum by recycling materials laying around the yard: bricks; roof tiles; old wood and logs; even old hole cups and more have been cleverly utilised.   Pipes burried in blocks Old bricks covered with tiles"Not only is it more cost effective, but reusing existing materials and supplies reduces waste and is a more ecological approach,"…

  Details of how to use the new fast acting, high performance glyphosate from Syngenta. Download the full article 

 Four golf clubs have been short-listed for the 2015 Operation Pollinator awards for their amazing work with bees.The selected finalists, handpicked by STRI lead ecologist, Bob Taylor and the independent STRI judges, are Elsham Golf Club in Lincolnshire, St Andrews in Scotland, Bowood Golf and Country Club in Wiltshire and Ely City Golf Club in Cambridgeshire. The award, sponsored by Syngenta, recognises golf clubs that do more for bumblebees and pollinating invertebrates including hover flies and hymenopteran and dipteran species (flies and beetles), often by attracting them via important habitat features such as deadwood, wild flowers and suitable overwintering refugia."Golf courses can and are helping to kerb the decline of our important pollinators through the creation of suitable habitat and when one realises the vast resource that is available within golf then with much more wider participation we could as an industry go a long way to reducing the declines that are taking place," said Bob…

 Understanding how fungicides work is paramount to getting the best value for your money from any application. The different modes of action of fungicides, or the way that they tackle disease within the plant, allow you to decide which product to use depending on the disease activity at the time of application, reports Dr Ruth Mann of STRI.The action of the fungicide and the disease target is also important in deciding the optimum application technique to deliver the treatment where it is required. Mode of action The 'topical' mode of action concerns where on the grass plant the fungicide will remain after application: CONTACTS, such as chlorothalonil (DACONIL WEATHER STIK) and fludioxonil (in INSTRATA), remain on the outside of the grass plant at the point of application, forming a shield to protect the leaf from pathogen attack. They will also help prevent the spread of disease, by preventing the pathogen moving to unaffected plants.  LOCALISED PENETRANTS, such as iprodione…

     How to select the optimum turf fungicide and use the golden rule for Rotation, Rotation, Rotation... Download the full article 

 Operation Pollinator AgreementTo get involved with the project and to gain full access to the technical support and marketing resources available to you and your club with Operation Pollinator, please download and complete the Operation Pollinator Agreement below and return to caroline.carroll@syngenta.com.Click here to download a Word document version of the agreementClick here to download a PDF version of the agreementClubs actively involved in Operation Pollinator and promoting the concepts of ecological habitat management in association with the project are permitted to use the Operation Pollinator logo for marketing purposes.

  Who Benefits?Players get to enjoy the visual and ecological interest.Clubs can save costs and generate positive publicity.Greenkeepers can make a real difference that generates a pride in their clubCreate vluable positive publibrcity for your club