GREENKEEPER BLOG

Driving Progress: How the GreenKeeper Team is Advancing Turf Management

Just as turf managers worked tirelessly through another challenging summer, our team at GreenKeeper has also been busy. With the arrival of meteorological fall, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve made together—on the course, on the research plots,...

“Models are Wrong,” Yet Some are Incredibly Useful for Turf Management

All models are wrong, but some are useful. — British Statistician George E. P. BoxThis classic quote largely credited to statistician George Box perfectly sums up the challenge of decision-making in turfgrass management. It captures every superintendent’s daily...

Stop Guessing. Confidently Schedule Irrigation

Each day, turf managers face the critical task of scheduling irrigation to prevent wilt tomorrow—without over-watering tonight. But this decision depends on estimating how much soil moisture will be lost today, how much irrigation will replenish it, and how tomorrow’s...

Wetting Agents For Native Soils? Yes, Especially for Bentgrass

Most turf managers use soil surfactants - frequently called wetting agents - to improve soil water uniformity and increase irrigation efficiency on sand-based root zones. These types of soils can quickly develop issues of hydrophobicity where organic coatings of...

10 Ways GreenKeeper App Helps to Save Time, Save Money, and Make Smarter Turf Decisions

At GreenKeeper, our mission is to empower turf managers with smarter decision-making tools through cutting-edge research, online education at GreenKeeper University, and continuous enhancements to the GreenKeeper App. Whether you're a longtime user or it’s been a...

New Weather Tile Now Integrated with GreenKeeper wX Station

Turf managers work in the weather. From deciding what to wear to determining job assignments, weather conditions influence nearly every aspect of daily operations. Accurate weather data is also essential for safely timing chemical applications and managing play or...

Optimizing Putting Green Performance with the New Surface Organic Matter Test

Organic matter management on putting greens is vital for maintaining playability, firmness, and overall turfgrass health. Until recently, measuring and managing organic matter relied largely on assumptions and outdated methods. But that's changing with the...

Predict wilt hours before it strikes: Proof of Concept

The turf industry has embraced various technologies to improve irrigation efficiency. Hand-held moisture meters have replaced pocketknives. Mower-mounted sensors help turf managers detect soil moisture variability, while in-ground sensors relentlessly monitor changes...

Smart Irrigation Strategies to Save Water

Water conservation is a top priority in the golf industry, as superintendents seek innovative ways to maintain high-quality turf while reducing overall irrigation. It is an active area of research and development at GreenKeeper, too. Advances in technology now allow...

Understanding Clipping Volume: How to and Why Explained

Measuring clipping volume is one of the simplest yet most impactful practices in turfgrass management. This straightforward process provides valuable insights into plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall turf health. There is no more actionable piece of data for...
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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Moving Beyond PGR GDD Intervals

Moving Beyond PGR GDD Intervals

For nearly 15 years, Dr. Doug Soldat and I have been creating growing degree day (GDD) models for plant growth regulators (PGRs) and now DMI fungicides. These sinewave shaped models predict how these routinely applied products affect the relative growth rate of...

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Be Careful with Fall Growth Regulation

Be Careful with Fall Growth Regulation

Fall weather is coming, and that should bring changes to your plant growth regulator applications. For over a decade, we've known that PGRs - and even DMI fungicides - produce longer growth suppression during cooler weather. This is why we use growing degree day (GDD)...

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Application Summary Aids EOP Planning

Application Summary Aids EOP Planning

Early fall can be a stressful time of year for golf course superintendents and field managers. Staffing levels start to decline as students head back to school, the summer stress doesn't seem to end, and Early Order Programs for pest control products, wetting agents...

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Mixing PGRs can transform your putting greens

Mixing PGRs can transform your putting greens

Doug Soldat and I have been developing PGR growing degree day (GDD) models since 2008. These models have helped turfgrass managers understand how clipping yield - a.k.a. ClipVol - is affected by a single PGR application. They also provide golf course superintendents,...

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