This video from the United States Golf Association describes the process of irrigating golf greens. Many of the points made apply to tennis courts. The main difference between the two is that a tennis court needs to be 100% dry for play. This provides safe conditions and protects the court from excessive wear. So when the video states that watering is done multiple times during hot days it does not apply to tennis courts where there is constant play throughout the day and the turfgrass needs to be dry.
During dry weather at Longwood we depend on automatic irrigation and hand watering to keep the courts playing well and healthy. Each day the time the sprinklers will run that night (usually at 10:00pm) are set. The time settings vary based on many factors including weather, amount of play and the health of the grass. The goal is to put down just enough water to keep the plants healthy, but not too much so that the courts are firm and safe. This minimal amount of water is then supplemented each morning by hand watering. Again the goal is to put down a precise amount of water so that the court can open dry and be healthy throughout the day.
The grass is on the edge (a tipping point) each day. A little less water and it will wilt and may die, a little more water and the court will not play as well.
1 comment:
Guys,
I thought that I read somewhere that night watering might promote fungus and that watering should occur early in the am. Does this direction refer to home lawns and not grass courts.
Respectfully
Your servant
Post a Comment