GREENKEEPER BLOG

How Much Can Surface Organic Matter Change in a Year?

Scheduling cultivation and topdressing is always a tricky and sometimes controversal task. These practices are disruptive to players, costly, and tough on turf equipment. How much cultivation is really required? What's the right amount of sand topdressing for a...

A Thermometer Is a Better Clock Than a Calendar

In the first article of the GreenKeeper Growth Series, we used nearly 500,000 clipping-volume measurements to examine how much putting greens actually grow. One of the clearest environmental signals associated with that growth was temperature. This week, we are taking...

A Very Strong El Niño Is Building. What Should Turf Managers Expect?

El Niño is strengthening quickly, and the months ahead could bring unusual weather patterns around the world. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association now gives greater than a 90% chance that the 2026–27 El Niño becomes very strong during the Northern...

How Much Does a Putting Green Actually Grow?

This launches the GreenKeeper Growth Series: an ongoing look at what we’ve learned from 500,000 clipping volume observations. Over the coming weeks, we’ll use this dataset to explore how putting greens grow, how factors like weather, fertility and PGRs influence...

When 60% Regulation Still isn’t Enough

Summer Created a Misleading Growth Surge It has been a hot, humid summer across much of the U.S., and one of the most common questions we’ve received is some version of: “Why is my PGR program not working anymore?” The evidence is usually sitting in the mower baskets....

Hi-Res Surface Organic Matter Analysis in GreenKeeper

Surface organic matter has always been one of the most important—and frustrating—variables to manage on putting greens. We know it influences firmness, infiltration, water holding capacity, and pest pressure. We also know that topdressing and cultivation are our...

Why Your Rainfall Data May Be Wrong: The Challenges of Estimated Precipitation

GreenKeeper, like the weather apps on your phone, uses extremely high-resolution weather models to estimate current conditions and forecast future weather. These systems combine observations from airports, weather balloons, satellites, and weather radar with...

A Completely New WhiteBoard Experience for Turf Managers

GreenKeeper WhiteBoard has been rebuilt from the ground up with a modern user experience, intelligent planning tools, and unmatched flexibility for daily turf operations.Daily labor planning in turf management is complicated. Every day, turf managers balance changing...

Your Spray Program Shouldn’t Keep You Up at Night

​Building a spray program can be stressful. You're thinking about pest control, fertility, PGRs, wetting agents, and plant health products. Are products from the last application still doing the job? Then comes the mixing math. A misplaced decimal or a wrong unit can...

Moving Beyond Pretty Maps

Today's weather forecast shows a 10% chance of rain in the late morning. Do you throw your rain gear in the cart? What if the forecast shows a 30% chance at 7:00 a.m.? Even without formal training in statistics, we use probabilities like these to make practical...
PGR Resistance During Summer Heat?

PGR Resistance During Summer Heat?

It's been hot and humid, and many golf course putting greens are growing rapidly. Plant growth regulator programs that were dialed-in during May and June appear to be non-existent during July. Growth rate is surging, green speeds are declining, and puffy conditions...

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Cold Spring Weather Wreak Havoc on Spray Programs

Cold Spring Weather Wreak Havoc on Spray Programs

Spring can be a frustrating season for many in the golf industry. Golfers, Club Professionals, GMs, and owners want to escape the winter doldrums and return to their predestine golf courses with firm and fast conditions. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't always...

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Winterkill Recovery Techniques

Winterkill Recovery Techniques

There are more reports of turfgrass winterkill from around the US. At first, we thought most of the damage was limited to winter desiccation in the Central Great Plains. Unfortunately, we've received reports from coast to coast. Zac Reicher, PhD from Bayer...

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P is for Purple

P is for Purple

Last spring, a handful of the research putting green plots at OJ Noer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were showing some pretty impressive signs of phosphorus deficiency. The OJ Noer research facility gives us the opportunity to push grass to its limits. About...

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Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog

Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog

Many factors influence turfgrass growth rate. Some are beyond the manager's control while others are frequently manipulated through normal management. Environmental factors including the recent weather and soil conditions, turfgrass genetics, traffic levels and even...

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Invest in Yourself & Your Staff this Off-Season

Invest in Yourself & Your Staff this Off-Season

Labor shortages continue to be a major threat to the turf management industry. Field managers, golf course superintendents, and LCOs from around the country have struggled to find and retain qualified turfgrass professionals at all levels. Many managers have to...

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