Spring may seem a long way off, but with the dry conditions experienced in recent years, it is never too early to think about the use of surfactants (wetting agents).

“The last few springs have been remarkably dry,” comments Andy Russell, Sales and Marketing Director of Headland Amenity. “Dry soils are becoming an issue earlier than normal, which can cause stress to the turf as it enters the main growing season, leading to poor performance and increased risk of disease.”

The need to alleviate dry soils early is heightened by the fact that residual wetting agents work most effectively as part of a programme, building up over time to provide a preventative effect against dry patch.

“For best results, treatment should commence while there is still residual soil moisture present, so spring is the ideal time for this,” suggests Andy. “But keep an eye on conditions – traditionally greenkeepers will begin their programme in late March to April, although in some areas, the ground was already dry by March 2011.”

Applications should then continue on a monthly basis, and products such as Headland’s TriCure AD can be conveniently used with other useful spring applied treatments.

“They can work well with biostimulants or root stimulants, bearing in mind that wetting agents are best applied with soil treatments rather than foliar feeds, where the aim is to get product on the leaves,” says Andy.

By using some wetting agents such as TriCure AD, it may be possible to reduce irrigation frequency, points out Andy.

“Such wetting agents hold water in and allow it to move horizontally and vertically through the rootzone allowing it to adhere to the soil molecules where it can be utilised by the turf roots, which also means that less water is lost to leaching. Water usage is much more effective,” he explains.

Avoiding drought stress by combating dry patch has multiple benefits for turf, including reduced susceptibility to disease and improved surface performance. Increasing irrigation efficiency also offers potential cost and water savings.

“If you can keep the rootzone at optimum water levels, root development and structure will improve, boosting turf growth and quality,” says Andy.

While TriCure AD is a curative as well as preventative treatment, he suggests that getting in before problems arise is the most effective approach.

“Once dry patch takes hold, you will need to re-wet hydrophobic soils which is much harder. Start early with wetting agents and apply on a monthly basis and the turf will be in a much better condition as the season continues, whatever the British summer brings.”

Case Study

Kevan Glass, Head Greenkeeper at Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club in the New Forest changed his wetting agent to TriCure AD a year ago.

Kevan is in charge of an 18 hole course with traditional push-up greens, the whole of which is on clay. He comments that in the spring of 2011, the wind was as much of an issue as the temperatures. “The course is a tree-lined course and because of the wind direction, the turf has dried out more than if the temperature had been in the high 70s,” he explains. “They’ve forecast rain but it’s missed us.”

The extreme dry weather meant that Kevan and his team didn’t cut their fairways for the whole of May as they were lying dormant.

Kevan mixes TriCure AD with Turfcomplex biostimulant, applying the combination every three to four weeks and found that despite the ultra dry conditions he watered less than the previous spring. “I’m really happy with the results,” he says. “TriCure AD and Turfcomplex are part of my turf management programme and they’re as important as anything else. They’re very safe to use, I’ve never had any problems with scorch and I’ve no reason to use anything else.”