SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/560546
W e recently asked turf managers four questions about their aerification practices: Do you incorporate hollow-tine, solid-tine, or both? When do you conduct these practices? What are the biggest benefits you observe in turf health with these practices? Are there any problems or challenges associated with these practices? We also asked aerator machine manufacturers two questions: For what turf conditions do you recommend using hollow tines and when for solid tines? How can sports turf managers avoid problems or challenges when aerating? The response was so good that we were forced to divide it into two parts; the first installment appeared in our August issue. KEVIN TAYLOR CSFM, CGCS, SMG-NRG Park, Houston We have cored aerified our trays 8 times (to adjust the weight and height of trays). We routinely solid tine bi-weekly. Each tray is 4,000 lbs. and we have to manage the height of soil profile to inter- face with warning track. We started our aerification process in January due to the fact we have to move all 2,700 trays 10 miles down the road. They are stationed there for 2 months due to accommodating the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. Maintenance is a bit of a challenge when your field is off site. Considering our unique situation, we have to do lots of prep to facilitate sound management practices on a soil profile of 8 inches grown in a parking lot. We use controlled release granular greens grade due to density of turf and supplement with foliar "spoon feeding." I was not here last year during the process but I under- stand the trays are as healthy as they have been. Problems and headaches? The list long but as they say, "No guts no glory." GREG MOORE, Saturated Solutions Hollow tines should be used during the less stressful time of the year here in the Northeast. This is due to several reasons. Poa annua does not like to be disturbed during stress weather conditions. The second is due to its disruptive nature during a very short growing season compared to south or bermudagrass regions. Hollow tine perforation (not aeration) is performed when other cultural prac- tices are unable to keep the thatch diluted from cultural baseline standards such as spiking, grooming, topdressing and verticutting. By simply infusing a steady diet of oxygen, in a non-disruptive manner will resolve many turf managers' problems. Needle tines are used during stressful times of the season when hollow aeration cannot be performed. This assumption of puncturing the surface with solid tines will allow oxygen to get 30 SportsTurf | September 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com AERATION: HOLLOW-TINE, SOLID-TINE, OR BOTH? WHEN AND WHERE? PART 2 FIELD SCIENCE