Aeration techniques and dry patch Cancel The title field is required!

1. Bill Warnick

   

   0 posts
   
   8/18/2013 4:08 AM

   What effect do different aeration techniques have on the development of hydrophobic patch? Hollow core, solid tine, hydroject, microtines, vertidrain. Any observations?
   
   This year has been a bad year for hydrophobic dry patch in our area. It isn't been helped by the lack of proven wetting agents. (They are considered pesticides here.) We also have no fungicides for fairy ring control. Thanks

   
   
   
   
2. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   8/19/2013 11:08 AM

   Iv'e been solid tining with a 3/4" tine and filling the holes with a 50-50 profile-sand mix. Use dry sand and push brooms to fill holes. Works great and will last the season ( 4 to 6 months)where I have lds issues. It is a little labour intensive but we get it back in labour from no or less hand watering.
   
   Tony Feheregyhazi
   Bridges Golf Course
   Winipeg, Canada

   
   
   
   
3. Bill Warnick

   

   0 posts
   
   8/20/2013 12:08 AM

   Tony, Are you doing that in May? How long does it take to recover?

   
   
   
   
4. Michael Rogers

   

   2 posts
   
   8/21/2013 12:08 PM

   Hi Bill,
   
   I have been a super in south of Spain for last 20 months. Last year we had problems with 11 greens, this year just three. We changed positions a little and nozzles and I split the cycle with two repeats.
   
   Earlier this summer I extra solid tined the first problem green in the dry areas and have been hand watering with the Precision pellet holder but no wetting agent. The other two greens I just hand water and they came back to perfect very quickly, again no wetting agent.
   
   I think a fine mist with nothing extra ( wetting agent ) and no extra tining has worked the best. The pellets last year did not work well. I lost about one square metter on the solid tined green this year and the other two have greened up with just a fine mist of water.
   
   Best regards Michael

   
   
   
   
5. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   8/22/2013 3:08 PM

   Hey Bill, we mainly do it in June to early July. Would do it early if I had more staff in. Try to pick an overcast day to minimize stress to turf. Very similar as a regular aeration for recovery if not quicker. As it is not the entire green golfers seem to mind less.
   
   Tony Feheregyhazi
   Bridges Golf Course

   
   
   
   
6. Nowakowski Michael J

   
   8/24/2013 7:08 AM

   Tony,
   Have been thinking of doing the same thing you have been doing out here but am wondering one thing. You mention it is good for 4-6 months or for the season. What happens the second year, you have to redo those same areas or new areas show up with dry spots? Thanks.

   
   
   
   
7. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   8/25/2013 11:08 AM

   Mike we have had to do the same spots from year to year. In saying that I would gather that most of these spots are not true hydrophobic LDS spots but rather irrigation issues like spacing, nozzle size or wind. Alot of them are mounds so the water requirement is greater than the rest of the green as well. And the sprinklers are susceptible to our prairie winds in an open setting.
   
   Tony Feheregyhazi
   Bridges Golf Course
   Winnipeg, Canada