Over 7" of rain has fallen in the past two weeks and the soggy conditions have made it necessary to open up the putting surfaces. There are many names for this process; Venting, Pencil Tining, Needle Tining, etc. Whatever you call it, there's no denying it's role in maintaining healthy turf. The process starts by using 1/4" diameter solid tines on our greens aerifier. The tines have a fixed lateral spacing of 1 1/2", but the forward spacing is adjustable from 1 1/2" to 3". A tighter spacing may offer better results, but you can easily damage sensitive turf because you are disrupting a larger percentage of surface area. The depth the tines penetrate is also adjustable, and we set our machine to aerify as deep as possible without damaging the putting surface. The purpose of venting the greens is to create pathways (holes) for toxic gas to escape, while also allowing oxygen, water, and nutrients to easily enter the rootzone. Another benefit during prolonged wet periods is water can evaporate easier from the rootzone by way of the holes. Immediately after the green is aerified, the surface is rolled smooth and is ready for play. In a couple of days the holes on the surface will disappear, but the holes below ground will remain open for several weeks providing long-term benefits to the turfgrass and soil.
No comments:
Post a Comment