Quick needle tine aeration

Cultural practices have been happening at a blistering pace recently. Last Monday we discussed the work we have been doing with the Verti-quake which has been ongoing over the last couple of weeks. That discussion prevented a discussion on the quick aeration we fit in on the greens just this past Monday also. We used very small, solid tines to open some pore space one last time before the intense summer stretch of late June through July.

The tines we use are nicknamed “needle” or “pencil” tines because of their small diameter, though they are wider than a needle and skinnier than a pencil! Nevertheless, their diameter is 1/8” and the goal is to open up some channels for air to enter the soil and water to move through the profile, which ultimately encourages roots to grow deeper.

This is typical timing for us to do this practice. We are right at the last point that the turf on the greens will be able to truly grow new and deeper roots. From here through the rest of the summer, roots will slowly shrink because of high soil temperatures. After early June, we would only do this again if there was some sort of failure in an area of a green that had become sealed at the surface and was no longer accepting water into the profile. Otherwise, there is not much benefit from the aeration during the summer because roots cannot go deeper anyway. And an even bigger concern is that because the roots are short and weak, the aeration can actually lift the turfgrass, separating the soil down deep from the plant and roots. This heaving can be very detrimental during the heat of the season, so we try to avoid it at all costs.

We were able to accomplish our aeration without any collateral damage, getting most greens aerated on Monday, and finishing the last few greens on Tuesday morning. A quick roll behind the aerator and the holes virtually disappear immediately, and with mowing and rolling through the week, the holes are gone before the weekend. It is a minimally disruptive procedure but can be of great benefit.

Timing is everything for us, especially when balancing accomplishing our goals not only around golfers, but also Mother Nature. Squeezing in our last aeration prior to August worked great. We have set the greens up as best as we can to handle the upcoming summer.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Golf carts are capable of a very tight turning radius, but please don’t turn that sharply in the grass because it can tear the turf.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org