Mowing process following aeration Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   5/7/2013 12:05 PM

   Good morning,
   
   
   
   Spring in WI is several weeks behind the norm. 1 week ago, I deep-tined greens. Topdressed heavy and brushed in. Since then, our weather has been pretty nice. A few 70-degree days and 1.5" of rain has really kicked in our spring flush. My greens are growing and should be healed in another 2-3 days. But the sand is not settling down into the canopy like I'm used to. I know it's only been a week, but we shouldn't be collecting this much sand in the bucket, on the rollers etc. Mowers are being trashed and re-ground for the 3rd time already.
   
   
   
   In the past, following aeration I'll alternate mowing and rolling until there's minimal sand being picked up. This has worked fairly well, but I wondering if there are other approaches to handling mowing following aeration. 0.2#N/1000 of Ammon Sulfate & Potassium Nitrate was applied 4 days prior to aeration and has kicked in.
   
   
   
   I looking to learn a new trick...Hope you're willing to share.
   
   
   
   What is your mowing/healing program following aeration? Dry mow, roll, further brushing?
   
   
   
   Thanks in advance..
   
   
   
   Dustin

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   5/7/2013 4:05 PM

   Dustin,
   
   A few things that help, smooth rollers and remove the comes /brushes from the mowers.
   You might spray a penetrate to remove dew and morning wetness and the sand will lie down faster.
   
   Keith
   
   Zama Japan

   
   
   
   
3. Matt Plosila

   

   0 posts
   
   5/8/2013 2:05 PM

   Give the heads a spin right before mowing. Sounds strange but it works.

   
   
   
   
4. Craig Moore

   

   0 posts
   
   5/8/2013 2:05 PM

   Water-in heavy at night, knock dew off leaf in morning with a 2-3minute cycle.
   
   Most important get a set of brush reels and sand reels to use during these times

   
   
   
   
5. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   5/8/2013 9:05 PM

   We have had great success with spinning the sprinkler heads just before we mow or roll the greens. It almost sounds like there may be too much sand left on the greens. We used to use fly mowers to beat the sand down into the holes, and then use metal mat to top off the holes. We still had a few greens that it seemed like we were still getting a lot of sand. We got a Sweep N Fill III this past spring and used it instead of the fly mowers and metal mat, and filled 95% of the holes and worked the sand down into the crown area of the plants. It also worked any excess sand to the edge of the green, where we had blowers get rid of the rest.
   http://sweepnfill.com/video.html
   
   Paul L Double
   GC Superintendent
   Sugar Valley Golf Club
   Bellbrook, Ohio

   
   
   
   
6. Dustin Riley

   

   8 posts
   
   5/9/2013 7:05 AM

   Thanks for sharing guys.
   
   I do use smooth rollers, we've received some nicely timed rains w/heavy down pours, and use the TB200 and Buffalo blowers to work in the sand and clean the surface. I too will also spin the heads right before the mower.
   
   I think I came up with a new progam.
   1. Spin heads in morning
   2. Remove canopy moisture and stand up turf with Standard Magnum Monster Broom. (1 staff for 2 hrs)
   3. Allow canopy to dry (~1-1.5 hours)
   4. Mow.
   
   Performed well yesterday. Doing again today and tomorrow. Expect to be good for weekend.

   
   
   
   
7. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   5/10/2013 6:05 AM

   Something I've done the past few years is to roll only in the morning following a little water like the others said. Gotta send a dude with a dew whip or he never keeps up. The only time I mow for the 1st week is late in the day when the sand is dry. Way less pickup of material, and we're still using vibe rollers each morning to continue pounding sand down.

   
   
   
   
8. McDaniel Gregory B

   
   5/14/2013 5:05 PM

   Watering heavily and walk mowing works best. I have done this in the past and picked up no sand at all and it did not stick to drums and rollers either.

   
   
   
   
9. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   5/15/2013 8:05 AM

   A lot of guys have had success applying a silicon product after aeration to keep the sand from sticking.
   
   Personally, I avoid mowing until about the 5th day. And even then, it's probably in the afternoon while still dry.
   
   If you are having to apply a ton of sand to smooth the surface, consider topdressing first to avoid rutting, then brush in using the most less disruptive process as possible. We've created a great program that has allowed us to remain completely smooth after aerification since NO machine with tires goes on the greens for at least 5 days.
   
   1: V-cut or mow or whatever other practice we like to do.
   2: Bury them in sand. As heavy as possible.
   3: Aerify using Turf Pride core collector boxes on the aerifiers.
   4: Brush/roll using Salsco rollers with brushes, 2 directions.
   5: Water in and repeat the brushing / rolling the next day.
   6: Open for play and enjoy the compliments.
   
   This program has worked tremendously well for us the past few years. Just completed one course this week using 5/8" x 4" tines on a 2" x 2" spacing. We are 72 hours in and the greens look great. By Friday you won't even notice we touched them.

   
   
   
   
10. Corey Eastwood

    

    80 posts
    
    5/15/2013 12:05 PM

    Agree with Andy. Do not mow for at least five days. Drag and roll daily till mowing.

    
    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
    
    
11. Ashton Alan W

    
    5/16/2013 9:05 AM

    Andy Jorgensen said:
    
    1: V-cut or mow or whatever other practice we like to do.
    2: Bury them in sand. As heavy as possible.
    3: Aerify using Turf Pride core collector boxes on the aerifiers.
    4: Brush/roll using Salsco rollers with brushes, 2 directions.
    5: Water in and repeat the brushing / rolling the next day.
    6: Open for play and enjoy the compliments.
    
    This program has worked tremendously well for us the past few years. Just completed one course this week using 5/8" x 4" tines on a 2" x 2" spacing. We are 72 hours in and the greens look great. By Friday you won't even notice we touched them.

    
    
    Same as Andy, with the exception of:
    
    We don't bury, just what we need... don't have a roller... coco mat additional days as needed (pulled by the Sandpro)... we use 1/2" side-ejects on 1" x 1-1/4" spacing (mini tine holders), so I'm a huge fan of topdressing first! Love not having ruts to smooth out!