In an effort to improve playing conditions in the fairways this summer we recently applied a herbicide to control broad-leaf weeds, clover for the most part, in the fairways along with our normal application of crabgrass control product.
Clover can be a concern in golf course turfgrass for at least three reasons. First, during the flowering period bees are attracted to the clover blooms and people playing golf on the turfgrass may be stung. Second, clovers reduce the uniformity of the turfgrass because its texture, color, and growth rate are different from that of grasses. Third, when white clover blooms it can become difficult to locate white golf balls among the flowers.
At left is a photo taken on March 23, 2012 of clover treated with herbicide eight days prior in the twelfth fairway. Below is a picture of Pineapple weed taken the same day.
By reducing competition for water and nutrients, from weeds such as clover and pineapple weed, the bermuda grass will become more dense and healthy. These growing conditions will increase turf coverage and produce a higher quality turf for you to play those iron shots into the greens.
Above, in the photo taken today April 16, 2012 you can see that the clover is almost entirely dead and the bermuda grass is beginning to fill in the void. We should see complete turf coverage in the next few weeks.
