“Why are we aerifying green just when they are rolling
perfectly?” I hear this question every
time we start the process! I love to
play golf so I can relate to member about playing on aerified greens however as
a Superintendent its like have new greens after the process is completed! As many as you know the art to having good Bentgrass
greens is doing the agronomical sound things that help ensure that Bentgrass survive
the summer months. Aerification is one of those tools we use
because it reduces organic matter (thatch), reduces soil compaction, Increases
air exchange in the soil, water infiltration, and promotes deeper rooting.
On May 8th we started
our Big Spring Aerification this is a major labor intensive process the
following pictures below will better tell story about what we did this year.
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| Picture of cores after aerification |
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| 4th is pushing cores in rows because of our Severe undulations collecting with the wind row attachments dig in on the slopes, mounds and collars. |
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| 5th We shovel up all cores and haul them away |
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| 6th This photo was taken after the greens have been rolled twice and all hole opened up with water hoses from our wilt carts . it really does a great jop cleaning them up and opening the holes up for Amendment fertlizers and topdressing sand! |
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| We used almost 100 tons of topdressing sand when we were done brushing the sand into the holes ! |
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| Close up of the final job. verticut , aerified , fertilized , topdress all 162,000 sq ft of green in two half day span ! I'm glad were given three full closed days to complete the job right and along with all daily jobs on the course! |
