Putting greens mowed daily at a height of 0.15 inch can possess up to how many shoots per square inch?

• A. 1000
• B. 2000
• C. 2500
• D. 3000

Answer: (C)

Putting greens reach their highest shoot density when they’re kept extremely short and mowed almost daily. Mowing to a height as low as 0.15 inch continually clips the turf, so the grass responds by producing many more tillers and new shoots to fill the canopy. That rapid tillering creates a very crowded surface, and the maximum density under these conditions is about 2500 shoots per square inch. This high density contributes to a smooth, fast playing surface, but it also requires careful management of nutrients, water, and air to keep the turf healthy. If mowing were less frequent or the height higher, you wouldn’t achieve this same extreme density.