How to Deal with Wormcasts on Golf Courses and Sports Turf

Wormcasts can turn a straightforward mowing job into a frustrating cycle of muddy rollers, deteriorating cut quality and repeated cleaning. The most useful approach is to tackle them before the mower reaches them: shatter and disperse the casts on larger areas, or collect them where a cleaner finish is needed.

For golf courses, this means matching the equipment to the ground—from broad fairways to smaller tees, approaches, surrounds and greens.

Why wormcasts cause more than a presentation problem

Since carbendazim was withdrawn from use in 2017, managing wormcasts has become a greater challenge for greenkeepers and grounds teams. Earthworms remain valuable for soil structure and the breakdown of organic matter, but their surface casts create particular difficulties on closely maintained turf.

Fresh casts are sticky. Once flattened by wheels, feet or mower rollers, they can smear across the surface, smothering grass and creating opportunities for weeds to establish. Their soil content is also abrasive, contributing to blade wear.

As casts accumulate on mower rollers, the effective roller diameter increases, changing the height of cut. The result can be an inconsistent finish, even though the cutting units were correctly set before work began. Removing casts beforehand helps protect both the playing surface and the quality of the mowing operation.

Dispersing wormcasts on fairways and larger areas

On large, relatively flat areas, collecting every cast would involve considerable handling and emptying. Breaking them up and dispersing them through the turf is a more practical approach.

However, brushing technique matters. Conventional brushing can spread damp casts into muddy streaks. Drier casts generally disperse more cleanly, but waiting for them to dry is not always convenient during busy mowing schedules.

The GreenTek Flicker-Brush addresses this through its bristle action. Supported on castor wheels, the brush is adjusted so its long, tough bristles just skim the turf. Forward movement flexes the bristles backwards before they spring forwards, shattering and dispersing casts rather than smearing them across the grass.

The 5.3m Flicker-Brush provides the coverage needed for fairways, while the 2.2m version suits sports pitches and smaller working areas. Both also disperse dew and topdressing, extending their usefulness beyond the wormcasting season.

Collecting wormcasts from smaller and contoured areas

On tees, approaches and surrounds, removing the cast material can be preferable to redistributing it. Smaller areas and embankments also call for a different working approach from an open fairway.

GreenTek Dyna-Brush units, fitted to a compatible greens triplex, sweep casts up into collection boxes. Their contra-rotating action works against the direction of travel, brushing between the grass blades to lift casts out of the sward.

This provides a useful option where casts are lodged within the turf and a particularly clean surface is required. The units also collect loose clippings, dead grass and other debris, making them useful for general presentation work as well as seasonal wormcast removal.

Making brushing part of the mowing routine

Whichever method you choose, aim to deal with casts before they are flattened into the surface. Start on a representative patch and check the result: casts should be breaking up or being collected, with the grass left clean rather than smeared.

Regular brushing keeps the wormcasts at bay.  A quick Flicker-Brushing of the fairways on the afternoon before you intend to mow will disperse the casts and stand the grass up ready for a fine nap-free cut the following morning. 

What do they cost?

As a budgeting guide, a new 5.3m Flicker-Brush will cost you around £11,000 in 2026. and the smaller 2.2m Flicker-Brush around £4,000.  A set of Dyna-Brush units costs around £7,000. Weigh the investment against time spent cleaning rollers, sharpening blades and dealing with cast-covered turf and unhappy members.

Want to see which approach suits your course? Arrange a GreenTek demonstration of the Flicker-Brush or Dyna-Brush on your own turf, and assess the finish before investing.

Frequently asked questions about wormcasts on sports turf

Should I remove wormcasts before mowing?

Where practical, yes. Dealing with casts first reduces the amount of soil passing through the mower and building up on its rollers. It also helps prevent damp casts being flattened and smeared across the grass during mowing.

Can you brush wormcasts when they are wet?

Drier casts are generally easier to disperse. Conventional brushing can smear wet casts, particularly on clay soils. The Flicker-Brush’s flexing bristles are designed to shatter and disperse damp casts while minimising smearing. Check the finish on a small area first, and only work when the ground can support the machinery.

What is the difference between the Flicker-Brush and Dyna-Brush?

The Flicker-Brush breaks up and disperses wormcasts on the turf, making it particularly useful over large, relatively flat areas. Dyna-Brush units lift casts into collection boxes, allowing the material to be removed. The choice depends on the area, its contours and whether dispersal or collection is preferable.

Will brushing stop worms producing casts?

No. Brushing manages the casts already on the surface; it does not prevent further casting. Earthworms continue their useful work within the soil, so brushing should form part of a regular maintenance routine during periods of active casting.

How often should wormcasts be brushed?

Let casting activity and the mowing schedule determine the frequency. Inspect affected areas regularly and deal with casts before mowing or traffic presses them into the surface. A weekly interval is generally sufficient to keep on top of the problem.

Can I use my existing greens triplex with Dyna-Brush units?

Dyna-Brush units fit compatible greens triplex machines. Ask your GreenTek dealer to confirm the fitting requirements for your particular make and model before ordering.

Are these brushes useful outside the wormcasting season?

Yes. Flicker-Brush models also disperse dew and work in topdressing. Dyna-Brush units collect loose clippings, dead grass, pine needles and mini-cores, giving them a wider role in keeping turf clean and well presented.