Greens Core Aerification

With the aeration season winding down for another year, it's a good time to discuss greens core aerification and the associated benefits. There have been misconceptions for years with "aerification" among golfers and the disruption to play outweighing the benefits of the coring process. Core Aerification is one of the dirty words of turfrass maintenance. Give a veteran superintendent a dollar for every time he has heard, ”why do you punch holes in our greens just when they start to look good?” and he would be a wealthy man. Unfortunately, today’s players are even less tolerant of core aerification. This has resulted in less frequent or smaller tine core aerification. 

An important purpose of core aeration is the physical removal of unwanted organic matter from the upper portion of the rootzone. When core aeration is neglected, the upper portion of the profile can be an inhospitable place for plant roots to grow. The pore space is a dense organic layer dominated by small, water-filled capillary pores, while the large air-filled macropores are lacking. Oxygen is necessary for the plant to carry out respiration, which is the conversion of stored food to energy. Respiration takes place in the roots and, therefore, good air exchange in the upper soil profile is vital to plant survival. Aerification of Turfgrass is a necessary evil (cultural practice) to maintain healthy plants. Benefits are Thatch control, Compaction relief, Beneficial air and gas exchange to the root zone, Improved water movement, Greater nutrient penetration, Increased shoot and root growth and improved soil structure... All vital to a healthy stand of grass mowed at less than .120 inches. 

A healthy stand of grass naturally recycles organic matter into the upper soil profile of greens when roots, shoots, stolons, and other plant parts are replaced throughout the season. This organic matter accumulation must be removed with core aeration! The medicine (Aerification) does not always taste good, but a healthy patient (grass) is worth the effort and inconvenience! 

Goal/Benefits-

The main focus with core aeration is thatch/organic matter removal and the introduction of fresh sand into the root zone. A healthy stand of grass naturally recycles organic matter into the upper soil profile of the green as Roots, Shoots, Solons and Plant Leaf material are replaced throughout the growing season. This organic matter accumulation must be removed with aggressive core aerification each Fall. The fresh sand channels introduced into the rootzone provide gas/oxygen exchange, improved drainage, firming playing surface, while creating a healthy environment for root growth.

Greens Coring Process-

1. The first step in the greens coring process is applying a generous layer of fresh topdressing sand to the surface of the green. By applying the sand topdressing ahead of the coring machine, this allows the fresh sand to be incorporated/vibrated into the fresh holes as the coring equipment moves across.

2. The greens are then cored with 1/2" hollow tines on 1.25" X 1" spacing, removing thatch and organic matter from the greens surface. The black "box" on the back of the Toro Pro Core 648 collects and drags the plugs (Thatch & Organic Matter) to the edge of the green for removal.

Fact: Appoximately 25 tons of debris (Thatch, Organic Material, Sand) are removed from 2.75 acres of greens and collars during this coring process. The plug piles are all shoveled up manually from around the greens one shovel full at a time by our amazing grounds staff! This is a monumental task for a crew of 6 guys and 3 haul vehicles, doing all 18 greens in one 13 hour work day!

3. The piles of debris (Thatch & Organic Matter) are then shoveled up from around the greens by staff members and moved to our storage location for composting. 

4. Greens are then blown off with backpack blowers, removing any excess fluffy organic material and moving the fresh sand on the surface into the open holes. The greens are then double rolled in two directions to smooth and firm the putting surface. 

5. The surface after it's been blown off and rolled in two directions, smoothing and sabalizing the surface for a second application of sand to completely fill the remaining holes and plant canopies.

6. Second application of fresh topdressing sand is applied to the greens, filling the remaining holes completely and "grouting the tile" on the greens surface. 

*Finished Product*

7. Upon completion of the greens coring process, approximately 25 tons of organic matter was removed from the greens and 45 tons of fresh sand was introduced back into the rootzones/surfaces.

2014 Putting Surface Recovery Timeline

This season the greens were completely healed in 2 weeks with outstanding recovery weather and a couple timely rains. We have been able to reduce disruption to play and improve healing time each year with new technologically sound coring equipment, improved plant fertilizers, and core cleanup techniques. The greens here at your club are in wonderful condition and hopefully this communication piece helps you better understand the coring process and benefits.

Short video showing the coring machine in action.