Watch those tines!

Last updated 9/16/03

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9/16/03

Watch those tines!

For most golf course managers, late-summer and fall means that most people probably have some form of aerification practice marked on their scheduling calendars. Of all the supplementary cultural practices you can conduct on golf greens core cultivation can be the most beneficial and also potentially the most damaging to putting conditions. We all recognize that hollow tine core cultivation if practiced properly, relieves compaction, removes thatch, and improves air and water exchange in the soil. In a perfect situation where the turf is healthy and vigorously growing, the holes remaining after the operation will heal in 7-10 days. If however, there is an equipment malfunction such as an aerifier arm that is out of adjustment/sequence or a broken tine is present, these holes may take much longer to heal (see photo). Not only do these oblong holes not heal well, they also offer an opportunity for the ingress of Poa annua which is germinating quite rapidly during September. Therefore, it is extremely important to have responsible and conscientious operators conducting greens aerification and constantly monitoring the aerifier patterns. Aerification and the associated clean-up is a tremendous labor investment. A little extra time and attention now during the actual coring process will result in much faster healing and better putting conditions later.

Cale Bigelow, Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science