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-
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.
*Finished Product*
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.
