11/29/2012 8:11 AM
Similarily to David in Wisconsin, we've dropped core aerification to once a year. Unlike him, we aren't able to do it in mid to late summer as would be very nice for those exact reasons of healing time. Rather, the approach has been to get them done pre-memorial day as golfers are coming out of there hibernation as it seems. I get the feeling people are happy to be out golfing rather than cooped up inside, and they are tuning their games still at this point in the north. Less conflict.
I used to wait till late September, early October as well, and without covers and consistant snow cover either, we had a lot of desication as the plants were not filling in lateraly. Rather in the fall, I've gone to using a bayonet tine to create some openings, but no voids in the turf if possible.
Just talking with a friend of mine the other day, its a crappy conondrum this aerification. Whether your cause is relieving compaction, dealing with high organics, or pushups, etc., there isn't a more beneficial practice in my mind you can do than create air exchange and improve drainage, so on and so on. You all know the benefits, and why you need the process. THe problem will always be this misconception of the other half of the business feeling your revenue is in jeapordy for 10 days that will never be caught up. But, like others have said, what are you doing to your property long term by skipping the most basic of agrinomical practices. We know that the low heights of cut, and high amounts of inputs causes this buildup of organic tissue, so on and so on. Over time, this won't be a good scenario, and you'll loose more revenue for a spongy, uneven putting surface reputation than you will a few days of slower than normal greens.
My opinions and practices of course. What works for me may not for you.