Bowling Green Maintenance: 21. Wetting Agents

The use of wetting agents where dry patch conditions exist can help to ensure adequate soil moisture is available to a plant.

Applications vary depending upon the product, but if monthly applications are considered from March onwards over the summer period then this would equate to 7 applications. If a product required about 3 litres per application for a bowling green, then this would equate to 2 x 10l bottles.

The use of wetting agents, where required, should be considered a short to medium term practice, with the aim being to adjust maintenance practices to encourage a situation where they are no longer needed. Where limited use of wetting agent is desirable, then two applications possibly in May and then July might be a consideration.

To reduce the likelihood of over or under applications of water it is therefore important to manage irrigation practices correctly, understanding the limitations and effectiveness of the system being used, and to ensure the entire system is properly maintained and serviced, which includes decommissioning over the winter and then recommissioning in the spring.