Deep verticutting dormant bentgrass greens Cancel The title field is required!

1. Taylor J Benjamin

   
   2/10/2012 7:02 AM

   The mild winter has me contemplating the option of performing a double verticut (Performed with a vc-60, pto driven verticut unit made by First Products (awesome machine by the way!)) to a 1"-1.5" depth, followed by a topdressing, on dormant L-93 greens in northern Ohio. The machine was purchased primarily to aggressively attack thatch accumulations in our fairways, but was quickly experimented with on our putting green last fall- I loved the potential of what it might do for the greens on the whole course and recovery was really no longer than typical core aeration.
   Greens have accumulated a serious amount of thatch over the last 12 years due to infrequent core aerations prior to my arrival. Thus, most, if not all, greens are compromised by at least an inch of thatch, some with a little more than 1.25". Disruption of play is not an issue at the moment, but my biggest concern is going to be recovery time. Typically we can count on some marginal play in March and steady play (obviously weather dependent) in April. Our outing schedule hits full swing the first week of May and that would be my first real concern for greens being 'back to normal'.
   So I guess my question is this- "If I deep-verticut dormant greens now, what unforeseen issues might I consider?" Delayed green-up? Increased risk of snow mold? Die-hard golfers griping about 'the cold' and 'unplayable greens' in March and April when they're paying about half price?..................
   
   Anxiously awaiting comments!
   
   By the way- I just heard from a very unreliable source that the 'Supra la Nina' weather pattern we're in is going to provide the most magical weather we've ever experienced during the summer of '12- from Boston to Birmingham to Bismark....we're all set to receive 'San Diego weather' from April 1st- September 1st!!!
   COUNT ON IT!!!

   
   
   
   
2. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   2/10/2012 8:02 AM

   In northern Ohio what are the chances, after you perform this task, that the weather turns cold, dry and windy?

   
   
   
   
3. Taylor J Benjamin

   
   2/10/2012 8:02 AM

   Ron,
   In Ohio..........anything is possible! [u">"Cold, dry, and windy"[/u"> Likely, yes- but no more likely than it turning 55 degrees and being extremely wet (especially coming off our record breaking 2011 for wetness).
   
   That is my one true concern- the risk of increasing chances for dessication. As a lifetime Ohio boy, I only plan on legitimate chances for real, lasting winter, for about another month- by Mid-March the 'fear' of winter is gone...the potential is still there, although March snows/serious weather usually don't stick around for too long.
   
   I'm trying to justify in my mind however, the benefits of removing a significant portion of thatch with little to no disruption of play, zero cost- as I'm the only employee for the next month, and considering that the turf will be protected and benefited from having an early topdressing applied immediately after.

   
   
   
   
4. Border Ricky H

   
   2/10/2012 9:02 AM

   Sounds like a good tool to remove organic matter. I say pull the trigger if you are okay with a possible poa population increase. Also you may not be completely healed til mid-late April when the bent wakes up unless you plan on really pushing things. I currently have "A" series greens and we are forced to core in first or second week of April. They usually are not healed nicely till first week of May. This is a business decision not agronomic one. Kicking the idea of forgoing spring coreing and going with a May topdress solid tine this season.
   
   Ricky Border GCS
   Oglebay Resort
   Wheeling, WV

   
   
   
   
5. Taylor J Benjamin

   
   2/10/2012 11:02 AM

   Ricky,
   
   Thanks for the response. Completely understand the business v. agronomic battle.
   Poa invasion was one that I hadn't considered as we are usually core aerating the third week of April as well (considering vcut as a substitution this season), so I don't know that I would encounter any additional poa pressure from verticutting v. coring. Unless weather turns to @$*& we are typically fully healed the first week of May.

   
   
   
   
6. Benjamin Getman

   

   0 posts
   
   2/10/2012 12:02 PM

   Core aerification is irreplacable when trying to allivate a thatch issue. Do you have access to turf blankets? if so you could cover your greens to prevent dissication, and promote spring green up. If you have poa(who doesn't) it will be very aggressive to fill in the areas you have verticut. Maybe you could overseed with bent when you topdress to increase the seed bank for when the bent does start to kick. If you cover the greens, be aware that you may need to remove them during the day if you get an extended streak of good weather days.
   
   Good luck