Aerification in action

A demonstration of a walk behind aerification machine on a putting green.

Soil Sampling

Today I took a number of soil samples on greens 5, 12 and 17. On these greens we are experimenting with a different fertilizer and the soil test will be able to prove if this fertilizer is doing a better job than what we currently use. To take the soil sample i used a 3/4 inch probe, took a sample of around 6 inches because that is where the roots are located. I then shook the soil off the core and placed the turf back in the hole and repaired to minimize damage.

Greens Aerification

Monday the 14th we aerified, topdressed, broomed and blew the sand into the holes. This is very important for the health of the greens. Aerification helps with water infiltration, getting oxygen to the roots and removing thatch. Topdressing helps smooth the putting surface and fill the holes to provide the best putting surface possible. Additional topdressing will be needed to touch up areas and fill in holes that were missed. The course was closed the entire day making this process extremely easy and helping us complete it all in one day. 

Fairy Ring

Throughout the golf course there is alot of fairy rings on the fairways. There are 3 types of fairy rings, Type 1 causes the soil to be hydrophobic, Type 2 causes the turf to grow quicker and is dark green in appearance, Type 3 causes mushrooms to appear and all are in arcs or circles. Fairy Rings occur from decaying organic matter from a number of sources such as old stumps or decaying tree roots. First we aerified the whole surface in 2 directions than applied a fungicide and wetting agent in a drench application

Spot Spray Fairways

Over the last couple days we have been spot spraying the fairways with speedzone, a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds. Spot spraying may take a little more time but you are putting down chemicals only where you need it and not wasting any where it is not needed

Seeding

The 10 day weather forecast calls for rain everyday so the last 2 days we have been seeding approaches and green surrounds with 50 percent Ryegrass and 50 percent Fescue mix. We also seeded some shaded tee box's with straight Ryegrass. Ryegrass is quick to germinate and the Fescue is slower to germinate so we are hoping the Ryegrass grows quick and fills in bare spots and when the Fescue germinates it will take over. The sun is starting to get higher and stronger, some of our tee box's are fairly shaded and didn't do so well through the winter. With this Ryegrass seeding those areas will fill in and be ready for the upcoming season.