Aerification

Looking back in time to last fall's aerification, I wasn't pleased with how the weather was so uncooperative with my plans. After starting the process on the 14th of September, the last greens we punched were on the West Golf Course............the first week of October!! With consistent rain storms slowing the process down, we were then hit a series of abnormally low temperatures and our first snow storm not even a week later. I've spoken about the importance of soil temperatures in an earlier post, and this is a perfect example of its value on the development and recuperative properties of turfgrass, especially after receiving beating from aerification. Plainly said, without optimal weather, the turfgrass wasn't able to recover properly, leaving our greens not fully healed going into winter. Because the majority of our rounds fall between Memorial and Labor Day, moving this process into August is not a reality, although it was on my list of things to mention. Now that the false front of spring has arrived, and my window to aerify draws closer, the decision has been made to be less abrasive to the golf course to regain optimal conditions as quickly as possible. While the golf course could benefit from every opportunity to punch a hole in the ground, greens aerification will be done a little differently this spring. I'll update you as we go.