Roots: Does size matter?

I have been a head greenkeeper for nearly 11 seasons, and I used to have a mad obsession with roots.

I longed for dense, gloriously white entrails that delved to the inner core of the Earth to supply my precious plants with the available nutrients needed to survive.

Traditional practices such as core aerating, as well as feeding with the classics — nitrogen, potassium, and of course, phosphorus — became the absolute norm. I also used alternative products like humic acids, chicken turds, sea-plant extracts, shark fins (yeah, I got a guy), a lock of hair from the mane of a unicorn, or any product that is stated to enhance the density of a root zone. I even considered trying a Wiccan spell, but that just seemed way too far out, even for a hippie like me.

It wasn’t until I arrived at my current gig and started to manage a certain putting surface that I began to seriously question my obsession with root mass. This green is straight up different. For one, it’s sand based as opposed to the others, which are modified push-ups. The turf on this putting surface pretty much mimics the others throughout the course, and to the untrained eye (I mean “golfer”), not a single one could identify the minute difference in performance. However, I am a trained professional (questionable), and the thing that drove me crazy about this green were the roots.

They’re 1-inch long. On a good day. In spring, summer, fall and winter. One inch. I kid you not.

My first attempt to remedy this rootless wonder was to test its soil. I was pretty sure the results were going to come back totally jacked, but astonishingly, the only nutrient in the “non-optimal” range was boron. So, I made a logical decision and began adding B. After several applications, I grabbed the trusty cup cutter to have a look-see. I was giddy with anticipation and swelled with feelings of self gratification knowing that when I drove that cup cutter into this troublesome green and pushed out that plug, I was going to witness the most awesome roots I had ever seen because of my diligence and smarts as an extremely awesome greenkeeper.

Those self-assured feelings of confidence and pride quickly vanished as I pushed that plug out. The roots looked no better (or worse) than they did prior to the gazillion applications of boron I applied. They remained 1 inch. Bummed, I cruised off to my butt hutt (a tree where I’m out of sight of everyone) and fired up a heater, took a long drag off that piece and contemplated the situation.

As I sat underneath that glorious poplar tree, dejected that the boron applications had done nothing, I started to second guess my approach. Perhaps I was overvaluing the importance of root density? Is the game played along a bed of roots? Do we Stimp root surfaces? Am I compensating for my Irish curse?

As these questions raced through my head, I realized something. Roots, although important to the overall health of the plant, aren’t required to be as girthy as John Daly. Size didn’t matter because the 1-inchers I was managing on this green were doing their job. The grass was healthy and performing, and I heard nary a complaint from the peanut gallery (golfers) concerning the playability of this green. It was quite the epiphany, and from that day forward I stopped obsessing over root size.

It’s been quite the load off, but what’s really cool about not fretting over root mass is not having to meet that sketchy dude to score shark fins anymore. He was pretty creepy.