{"id":32567,"date":"2020-06-18T16:00:54","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T23:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.staging.idgadvertising.com\/sgwflorida\/company\/ask-an-expert\/ask-jw\/moss-and-putting-greens\/"},"modified":"2024-05-28T11:02:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T18:02:09","slug":"moss-and-putting-greens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sgwflorida.com\/orlando\/company\/ask-an-expert\/ask-jw\/moss-and-putting-greens\/","title":{"rendered":"Moss and Putting Greens"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Over the decades, synthetic turf has been labeled \u201cmaintenance-free\u201d. Mowing, edge trimming, and performing irrigation adjustments are things of the past when you have synthetic turf. However, this does not mean the surface will always stay clean and free of contaminants, microbes, and bacteria, especially synthetic turf putting greens. Most putting green products are designed without drainage holes in the backing.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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This lack of drainage holes is imperative to putting green products. It allows the putting green to remain stable through its warranty. Excessive water intrusion into compacted soils may damage the sub-base causing settlement to reveal imperfections in the putting surface. Since moisture has no place to go, it resides within the fibers. When this happens, mold and moss may take over the putting green surface, causing irregular ball roll. Moss\u00a0has become more of a problem on putting greens in part due to the low pile heights. Once moss\u00a0becomes established, it may continually create new colonies of moss.<\/p>

This month ASK JW will talk about surface moss, why it occurs, and how to prevent it from destroying your synthetic grass putting greens.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

Shade and Moisture<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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There are two factors that cause moss in putting greens: shade and moisture. The majority of putting greens with moss that I have witnessed were all installed in shaded areas. Moss predominantly grows in climates where humidity and excessive moisture are present.\u00a0Moss is more predominant during the cooler temperatures of early to mid-spring and during the fall months.\u00a0\u00a0It does not take long for moss to start its destruction. Reducing moisture\u00a0has been shown to directly reduce moss growth and spread.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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If your synthetic turf is continuously wet, not only will hard water deposits bond and stain the fibers, but the occurrence of mold and moss will start to begin. I recommend keeping your putting green surface as dry as possible to avoid this.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

Moss Killers<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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A fact sheet published by the Washington Toxics Coalition listed a few of the least toxic commercial moss killers available on the market. They were:<\/p>

  1. Safer Moss & Algae Killer and Surface Cleaner II<\/li>
  2. Bayer Advanced 2-in-1 Moss & Algae Killer<\/li>
  3. Worry Free Moss & Algae Control<\/li>
  4. St. Gabriel Laboratories Moss Killer<\/li> <\/ol>

    Others that I personally know to have success in removing moss and mold are:<\/p>