New Tools for an age old process

Aerification is just around the corner and the turf is ready for a breath of fresh air.  In a previous post I discussed improving the environment through tree removal which increasing the amount of sunlight.  This is only half of the environment we must focus on to provide quality turf.  The other half is below our feet while we play.  A healthy profile(soil) is required to provide a medium for the turf to grow. 

Creeping Bentgrass and Poa annua, also known as annual bluegrass, have different environmental needs and desires. Bentgrass naturally grows deeper roots if given the opportunity and requires less inputs(fertilizer, water, fungicides) throughout the season.  In the continued effort to maintain bentgrass as our dominant species we must provide an environment that tips the scale in its favor.

Twice a year for the past 15 years aerification has been performed at a depth of 3 to 3.5 inches. Repeating this time and time again has resulted in a layer which slows water and oxygen infiltration into the profile.  This environment favors a shallow rooted plant like annual bluegrass.  The layer is a result of the fines(smallest sand particles) settling at the bottom of the holes.  Disrupting this layer results in increased oxygen exchange and water infiltration through the profile.  The further oxygen and water move into the profile the greater chance there is for bentgrass populations to thrive.

 

DryJect Machine

For aerification this Spring we will be using a process that has never been used before at Aldarra, known as DryJect. (This link shows a video of the machine in action) The machine works by using water to create voids in the profile.  Water at nearly 3200 psi is injected into the profile (think fracking) creating a void 6-8 inches in depth. As water vacates the void the machine injects sand into the space filling it completely.  On average 500 lbs of sand is injected into the profile per 1,000 square foot area. This is a specialized form of deep-tine aerification.

Dry-ject will take place April 20th and 21st during the scheduled week of aerification. The process was done this week at both Sahalee Country Club and Broadmoor Golf Club. Surface disruption is very minimal and should be ready for play Thursday. There will be no regular core aerification on greens this Spring. 

A view of the surface following DryJect

During this same week my staff and I will also aerify approaches, tees, and fairways. If Mother Nature cooperates everything should be completed by Monday April 27th.

If you have been out playing the past two weeks you might have seen a new machine punching holes in the fairways. The machine below is a deep-tine aerification implement that was recently purchased. 

The new machine in action on #5

It uses a tine nearly twice as long as a conventional aerification implement. 

Left : Deep Tine              Right: Regular Tine

The benefit of this practice is similar to dry-ject. The more water that moves through the profile, away from the surface the faster things can dry down and the firmer fairways will be.

Fairways will be deep-tined before conventional aerification and topdressing(sand). Deep tine aerification will be conducted both Spring and Fall and supplementally on certain fairways and other areas that drain poorly. The benefits of deep-tine aerification will take time to show through but it should result in a firmer golf course.