Introduction
This standard is divided into four sections and a lot of tables and figures.
The first section is a general introduction to the document and includes a fairly comprehensive definitions part.
This Part 3 of the standard is the most useful of the five Parts from a turf practitioner's perspective. It can help on a significant way
"(a) to assist users in determining categories of amenity and functional turf when compiling maintenance programmes;
(b) wherever possible, to set maintenance objectives for each turf category and ti provide a means of assessing, with some form of measurement, that such standards of maintenance are being achieved;
(c) to describe suitable maintenance programmes for each turf category."
Section 2
Turf categories and maintenance objectives:
Comprehensive standards for the nine (A-J) categories of turf are provided and are an excellent starting place for anyone wishing to set standards for their particular turf area.
[The IOG have enhanced these to produce Performance Quality Standards for amenity turf areas]
The main emphasis of this section is on mowing requirements and this is explained through the use of tables showing:
- heights of cut;
- mowing frequency;
- grass seed mixtures;
- types of mowers to use in the different categories of turf, and
- what a category of turf could be used for.
A map of the UK showing the average length of the growing season is also included and is the same one as that which appears in Part 1 of this standard.
Section 3
This is essentially a general turf operations guide and also includes the materials that may be used on turf.
[Check the IOG's index of maintenance operations]
The concise nature of the descriptions and explanations makes this section particularly useful for tutors' lecture notes, or as a revision aid for students.
Some of the pesticides quoted, however, may not be currently approved for use.
Section 4
Writing a maintenance or renovation specification can be quite a daunting task, especially if it is meant to be a comprehensive one. This section provides a good starting place for such a specification as programmes for each of the nine turf categories are detailed.
[Check the IOG's useful guide to writing maintenance specifications]
The maintenance of drainage systems along with grass reinforcement materials are also appropriately covered.
Appendices
These provide the test methods for measuring the standards and are well described and illustrated to allow them to be easily implemented.