Monday, July 6, 2015

Greywalls Tee aerification

 Even above average amounts of rain and cooler temps this season can't eliminate LDS (localized dry spot) on the Greywalls tees.  A combination of pure sand tee construction and a very aggressive variety of bentgrass (southshore) causes these Dry areas.  
The grass is so aggressive it actually seals the surface eliminating potential water penetration through the thatch layer.  Combine that with sand soils and you have a recipe for LDS.  Internal soil fungal growth coats the sand with a hydrophobic layer further reducing its water holding ability.  

Here is a picture of LDS on the Tees
Core aerification is step one in the process of eliminating this issue.  

Most cores came up bone dry.  You can see the darker cores in the top of this picture (moist) and the light cores on the bottom (LDS area)

Thatch layer that eliminates water penetration 
Excessive thatch layer
Good rooting but we need to increase surface organic matter management.  

Even five days after coring the tees we are still having trouble getting water to penetrate and hold on these areas.  The Core above from my soil probe shows dust dry sand below the moist thatch layer.  
Our next step involves a wetting agent application and more core aerification with larger diameter tines.  
Years of increased management will have to take place on the Greywalls tees to get this problem under control.  Our current single aerification and three vertical mowings annually is not enough cultural management for this turfgrass.... We will increase our aerification in the upcoming years.  
I must also note that this LDS issue on the tees is only cosmetic, it in no way effects the game of golf.  

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