Aerifying Greens

Monday and Tuesday we performed our first aerification of the year. Our second and final aerification is scheduled for August 5 & 6.

When we "aerify" we are actually performing three necessary cultural practices at the same time. First we aggressively Verti-cut the greens. This vertical mowing helps to control thatch build up and helps manage the grain. We then top-dress heavily with sand. This helps to smooth the surface but also the sand is incorporated into the soil allowing water and air more space to travel. Then we aerify. When we pull the cores we are not only relieving compaction but removing some more organic material and in turn mixing in the cleaner sand.

Below are pictures of all the steps in order of completion. 

Jose Veri-cuts the greens

Cande and Luis mowing after verticutter

Alfredo and Vern topdressing

Then Lorenzo, Taylor, and Chi-chi aerify

I break up the plugs with a drag mat

Everyone blows off the left over debris

Jose then brushes the sand into the holes

Clint then adds soil amendments

And then Alfredo fertilizes