Syringing: does it really work on the golf green? |
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The hottest days are now behind us, but this new American study is worth sharing. Lightly misting grass against discoloration and wilting, better known as syringing. The idea is simple: a thin layer of water on the grass blade should lower the temperature and prevent wilting. But does it really help?
Research shows that the effects of syringing are limited. When a thin film of water lies on the leaf, it can provide short cooling. The water absorbs heat and evaporates, cooling the leaves slightly. It also briefly slows down the evaporation of water from the plant. However, these effects are small and short-lived. Within half an hour to at most two hours, the cooling effect has disappeared.
Root density suffers
Over the past decades, several studies have been conducted, particularly in the United States. They consistently show the same picture: syringing alone provides hardly any lasting benefit. In fact, sometimes the grass even develops lower root density as a result. The use of fans proves to be much more effective. Fans create airflow above the green, cooling both the above-ground parts and the soil more effectively. This is a common phenomenon on American golf courses, but in the Netherlands you hardly see it. And the combination of fans and leaf misting, according to research, works best.
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The use of fans proves to be much more effective
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For practical use?
What does this mean in practice? Syringing can still be useful as an emergency measure on hot days, especially when wilting threatens. But it is not a sustainable solution. Greenkeepers are better off preventing heat and moisture stress in the first place. This can be done, for example, by smart use of soil moisture sensors, by improving airflow around the green, and by carefully choosing grass species that are more resistant to heat. The conclusion is clear: syringing is at best a temporary measure. To keep greens healthy during warm summers, good irrigation planning, thoughtful golf course design, and the right grass choice are far more effective. This way, the need for syringing can be minimized in the first place.
This article was previously published on 20 August 2025 on the website
of Greenkeeper.
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