Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Spring Aeration

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Aeration is never a fun process.  It is the definition of a necessary evil. We all know the negatives associated with aeration.  Here is a quick reminder of the benefits:

1.  Thatch Removal: Removal of organic matter buildup just below the turf
2.  Relieve Compaction
3.  Allow for water and oxygen to easily enter the soil
4.  Deeper rooting and healthier plants


For more information on aeration and thatch management, please check out these articles from the USGA.

USGA: Darin Brevard: Putting Green Aeration, It is more important than you think
USGA: Moeller and Lowe: Managing Organic Matter in Greens
USGA: Hartwiger and O'Brien: Core Aeration by the Numbers

We began the aeration process on Monday with a deep tine aeration followed by a shallow solid tine.  The greens received sand topdressing and were brushed to move the sand into the holes.  While we didn’t actually remove anything, the incorporation of sand will help dilute the thatch and create channels to promote water and oxygen infiltration.  This was the first step in an aggressive aeration program designed to address multiple depths of the greens profile with a primary focus on the thatch layer.  
On Monday, March 20, Greens were topdressed and aerated with deep solid tines and shallow solid tines.  The sand was brushed into the holes.
The greens were blown off and rolled and this is the finished product.  We do this a week early to allow the greens to recover before the more aggressive core aeration and Graden.
Next week we continue to focus on thatch removal with a core aeration and Graden linear aeration.  The tools next week not only incorporate sand but remove thatch.  Our goal is to disrupt over 20% of the greens surface to manage the thatch that is always naturally occuring.  On April 10, we will DryJect the greens to incorporate even more sand into the profile.  The DryJect has a minimal disruption to the surface.  

 REMINDER: The golf course is closed next week, Monday May 27- Friday May 31.

 I want to thank our team for the hard work on Monday.  Our staff was working diligently from 6:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. to topdress, deep tine, solid tine, brush, blow, and roll the greens.  Long days will be the norm next week as well.  Outside of aeration, we plan to finish any remaining tree work.  You may have noticed the large, damaged tree is gone on #18.  We finally had a few cold mornings last week and took the opportunity to drop it.  Our team is knee deep in drainage as well and beginning to staff up for the season.  I hate to see these next two cold days but the forecast is favorable starting on Saturday.  
Drainage being installed in #10 fairway before the left fairway bunker.   The entire fairway slopes towards this bunker and during heavy rains, water enters the bunker and washes out the sand.   
Channel drains are being utilized to capture surface runoff into the bunker.  Most of the bunkers on the course do not have this issue.  Water should never drain into a bunker.  

Our team started the process of draining #17 approach.  Firm approaches offer more shot options.  We plan to drain #16 approach as well.  Preparation is very important with drainage work to prevent damage to underground irrigation, drainage, and electrical lines.  Even if we 'know' where lines are, we expose them before trenching.  This project encountered a lot of irrigation which led to a lot of digging.  'Measure twice, Cut once.'  In this case, we don't want to cut anything once.


 Have a great weekend,

 Jordan Booth, CGCS    


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