Getting Your DIY Putting Green Ready for Fall

Fall officially started on September 22 this year. Is your DIY putting green ready for the change of seasons? As a DIYer, you want to do things yourself. Installing that putting green was a start. Now you need to get it ready for the autumn season.

You don’t need to mow or fertilize, but depending on where you live, you’ll need to do a little work to get your putting green ready for Fall. Here’s the DIY steps to getting your DIY putting green ready for the cooler months.

Keep Debris off Synthetic Putting Green Turf

You need to keep your synthetic turf clear of leaves and debris by regularly blowing or sweeping it. This becomes even more important in autumn.  Why? Leaves, pine needles, and other organic matter trap moisture, which can lead to mold and clog the turf’s drainage system. Now that’s a big problem easily prevented.

Just use a leaf blower or rake to remove debris frequently. This becomes even more important when trees are dropping leaves. If you use a leaf blower, take care to avoid blowing away your infill.  That’s something you want to keep.

Brush the Artificial Turf

The quality of your putting practice starts with the condition of the turf. As temperatures moderate in the Fall, you’ll probably spend more time out on that DIY putting green. All the extra practice knocks blades down. Crushed turf blades interfere with the speed and roll of the ball during those practice sessions. Regularly brushing the turf keeps the blades standing upright and restores any crushed blades to the correct position.

Grab a stiff-bristle broom and brush vigorously in all directions. The brushing action of the broom revives crushed blades and gets embedded particles missed by the leaf blower.

Wonder Edge leaves no gaps between the edge and the turf

Banish Weeds and Moss

If you failed to create a clean, defined barrier between your turf and the surrounding landscape, weeds often take root around the edges of your green.  This is easily prevented by extending the subbase slightly and edging with Wonder Edge synthetic turf edging. Wonder Edge nails in place before the turf goes down.  The turf tucks into the Wonder Edge before being nailed in place. This leaves no place for weeds to grow. The exterior of the edging leaves a clean line, making it easy to join your green to the surrounding landscape without giving weeds a spot to grow.

If you failed to use Wonder Edge during installation, pull weeds along the edge manually. If your turf fails to drain properly, you may get moss, especially in shady areas. As temperatures moderate and daylight increases, moss grows more quickly. Spray moss-infested areas with a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water. Let the solution sit for a few minutes and then rinse.  Baking soda and water will also kill moss.

Freshen Infill

The synthetic turf infill on your putting green provides stability to the turf and helps keep the blades standing up. Over time, infill washes away or settles into the subbase.  Freshening the infill each Fall helps you keep your putting green level and firm underfoot. Spread the infill of your choice (silica sand makes a great choice for putting greens) and sweep it into the turf.