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.

Greens Aerification Recovery

The greens and collars are breathing a breath of fresh air and recovering very nicely after our annual core aerification two weeks ago! The weather has been absolutely fantastic, providing perfect conditions for the greens healing process. In the below pictures you can see outstanding healing progression in the first two weeks of their recovery. 

After Core Aerification 9-22-14

One Week After Core Aerification 9-29-14

Two Weeks After Core Aerification 10-6-14

Greens Rooting & Needle Tine Benifits

The greens have been in fantastic condition and very healthy this summer, despite the challenging environmental conditions Mother Nature has dealt us. Overall, this summer has been normal or below average temperature wise, and we have only recorded a few days over 90 degrees at the club so far this season. The main challenges for the turf this summer has been heavy rainfall events with hot and humid weather conditions following for a week at a time. The greens have battled through the stressful periods of this summer season in fine fashion so far, with the help of routine needle tine venting and our aggressive cultural practices. Opening up channels for roots to breath and allowing the rootzone to rid itself of harmful gasses, makes all the difference in the world. Getting oxygen to the root system through needle tine venting, allows us to keep the greens in championship form throughout the stressful summer season.

Members ask from time to time... "Why do we punch small holes into the greens periodically during the summer?" Routine needle tine venting greens throughout the summer months has some wonderful benefits and there is a perfect example pictured above. The beautiful, white, healthy roots headed south into the rootzone, thriving in an oxygen rich environment and loving life.

Step by Step Greens Needle Tine Aerification Process

For more information on the needle tine process. Click Here

Topdressing & Needle Tine Venting

Today we took advantage of the perfect Monday morning before the noon outing, to topdress and needle tine vent the greens. The greens roots received a healthy breath of fresh oxygen and a smooth topping of sand. With nice dry conditions, the machine vibrated/incorporated sand into the holes and turf canopy very nicely, making for excellent results.

Once the greens are punched with the Toro Pro Core 648, backpack blowers are used to blow the remainder of the topdressing sand into the open holes. The greens are then double rolled to smooth the putting surface and close the majority of the holes.

The finished product today looks perfect with most all holes completely closed and topped with a light dressing of sand. All holes will be completely closed tomorrow morning after a double cut and roll, providing a wonderful healthy, firm and fast putting surface.

For more information on needle tine venting Click Here

Greens Needle Tine Aeration

Today we needle tined the greens and gave the root zones a breath of fresh air. The main objectives with this form of cultivation are, gas exchange, relieving compaction, and providing a fresh environment for the turfgrass root systems to flourish in. Improving the ability for the root zone to breathe will not only encourage a deeper, more sustainable root system, but also enhance microbial activity to aid in the natural decomposition of organic matter and thatch.

 The Toro Pro Core 648 is outfitted with quad tine heads and two different sized tines (1/4" & 3/8" solid tines) placed in an every other pattern on the tine heads. By using two different sized tines, we are able to work more sand into the larger holes while keeping the disruption to the putting surface to a minimum. The larger holes seal off slower but also provide more positive pore space below the surface for oxygen and roots to reside.

Holes are opened up to a depth of 4+ inches on a tight 1.5" X 2" spacing. Topdressing sand is applied prior to punching holes, allowing the aerifier to work sand into the open holes during operation. The remaining sand is blown into the holes with backpack blowers to minimize traffic and bruising from a drag brush or coco mat.

The above picture shows the surface of the green after punching, before the sand has been blown into the open holes and the finished product after rolling. This monthly routine venting process provides excellent results and improves the health of the greens dramatically throughout the stressful summer months.

Short Video Showing the Machine In Action