Fun in the Fescue

As we did on # 7 and #13 last year, we are renovating an area of Fescue this fall.  We had re-sodded a small area on #16 two years ago, with good results.  This year we have continued up the right side of the hole.

The first step in the process was to eliminate any existing undesirable plants.  The area was mowed down low, then three  separate applications of a non-selective herbicide were applied over the course of two months.  In the picture below, the only green you can see is from the spray tracker dye.

Next we mowed the area again, raked it, and removed the excess organic matter.  After this we were close to bare dirt, so the next step was to till the area and give it a final raking in preparation for sodding.

Having a sandier soil is helpful for maintaining playability in the Fine Fescue.  However, in the cut throughs where cart traffic will be permitted, we added an amendment to the soil to improve moisture and nutrient holding capacity, and installed wear-tolerant Tall Fescue.

While this sod is typically pretty dense the first year, we have a couple of tricks in mind to promote a thin and clumpy stand of grass next spring.  Stay tuned...