AggieTurf.tamu.edu Cultivation HOT Link Go to Layering in Sand Based Putting Greens and Athletic Fields Cultivation practices are a common practice in most athletic field maintenance operations. Primarily thatch accumulation and soil compaction are the problems trying to be remedied. Thatch Management Thatch is the intermingled layer of living and dead stems, roots, rhizomes, and stolons that develops between the live green vegetation of your turf and the soil surface. The thatch layer is composed of plant parts at various stages of decay by soil microorganisms.
Thatch decay is also beneficial as it releases nutrients to the turf environment.
Having an excessive thatch layer of greater than inch, though, can lead to serious problems. Grass species vary in their rate of thatch production and some new grass varieties have especially vigorous growth characteristics that lead to quick thatch accumulation. There is a balance between thatch production and decomposition that can be achieved through proper field maintenance techniques. Thatch production is greatly affected by maintenance practices such as fertilization and mowing. Follow the fertility and mowing recommendations of this site for proper management.