aerifying sand base greens Cancel The title field is required!

1. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   9/17/2012 6:09 PM

   Going to aerify some greens tomorrow. There sand base and I was just wondering what everyone uses to break up the plugs with. Do you use a pulverizer . Do you chop them up by using verticutting reels. After there chopped up do you blow the tuffs off or do you use sand reels and mow them up? Thank you Dave

   
   
   
   
2. Brian Heydinger

   

   0 posts
   
   9/17/2012 7:09 PM

   verticut, metal drag mat, blow off, topdress, brush. should be good to go.

   
   
   
   
3. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   9/17/2012 8:09 PM

   David,
   
   I have all but 4 sand based greens but I find a lot of organic matter in the upper 3 inches, so I remove the plugs, then blow off debris, then put fresh sand (straight) then drag. But I do that due to the amount of organic matter, it probably depends on what you want to achieve. (these greens were installed in 93 and I believe there were a few years they didn't get the core aerification they needed, or aerification at all)
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
4. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   9/17/2012 9:09 PM

   Mel , I have Tee 1 bent grass greens. Very aggressive. I'm trying to get rid of the thatch. That's my goal. I work by myself and I'm trying to figure out the fastest way to get these greens aerified and top dressed.

   
   
   
   
5. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   9/20/2012 2:09 PM

   if its just for speed, lay down some sand 1st, then core and drag the cores and sand in together, I'd think the thatch would roll around under your mat or broom and then you could blow off the debris, and mow up any excess sand. But I do agree with Mel on removing the core that has the organic of thatch and roots away first. I've always prefered to use straight sand without incorporating anything that was there back in. Easier to figure how much topdressing you'd need as well.

   
   
   
   
6. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   9/20/2012 4:09 PM

   I have 20 sand based greens with a lot of fines in the construction mix...so I core aerate(.500" tines) to 3.5", remove cores (thatch)...then roll before the topdressor sees the putting surface...drag in with greensgroomer brush...then topdress again to finish filling the holes.
   
   I pull the cores due to fact the fines and my great water source has caused some black layer to show up.
   
   Then I don't mow them for at least 3 days.
   
   This has worked for me the last 4 years since I got a Procore 648 with the core collector. 20 Greens, 3.5 acres punched and topdressed in 11 hours...one day.
   
   Good Luck.