Aerification Today

Methods & Styles to Improve Playing Conditions

Introduction• Why we Aerify

Aeration Methods• Conventional core• Vibratory• Deep tine• Drill and fill

Tine Selection• Classification of metals• Types of tines

Aeration Tricks• Venting on high traffic areas• spacing

According to Michael Hileman, a Senior Field Specialist with JRM…

Aerfication is a mechanical process in which a soil plug (also known as a core), is removed from the ground, or a solid hole is created.

This is the most important practice other than mowing.

Aerification achieves many objectives including:

• Increased soil porous spaces• Relieves compaction• Increases water movement through soil- infiltration

and percolation • Increased Oxygen Saturation-enhanced gas

exchange• Removal of thatch and soil• Prepares the area for topdressing with new

soil/microbes

Topdressing is a process often completed in

conjunction with aerification.

But what is topdressing and what does it do?

Topdressing • Topdressing is the uniform application of a thin

layer or soil or organic material over the turf surface.

• It is usually a sand based mixture.

• Although topdressing doesn’t usually level major indentations in turf, it is the preferred method or maintaining smooth firm playing surfaces.

Conventional Core

Vibratory

Deep Tine

Drill and Fill

Good for root growth and soil fracturing

Varying sizes and types of plugs

Machines usually use an up and down action to pull cores

Be cautious with the spacing of blocks

4.5 inches or less in depth

While all aeration is good for turf, too much consistency, in both the same pattern and depth can lead to increased compaction.

It is key to change up your practices

Machines often referred to as AERA-Vatorsand are used to solid tine or spike a shallow depths.

Overseeding is a common practice done with AERA-Vators because of the vibration associated with the machine.

Works best in very dry soil.

There is often little clean up after this process

Works well because it punches a core as the vibration action fractures the soil as well

Improves drainage horizontally and vertically through soil by displacing the soil upward and raising the playing surface

Minimizes hard pan layers

Heaving action to pull cores

Deeper cores lead to deeper roots

Up to 12.5 inch cores and Up to 16 inches in depth for solid tine applications

Very useful in amending soil

Good practice to use every 3-5 years

Labor intensive and expensive

Process is slow and time consuming

Good for renovations and overhaul of fields

Recommend liquid fert application before and after

14 inches or more in depth

SAE 4140

• Focus on the last two digits of the steel rating, this is where we find the carbon content.

• The steel rating must have at least 20 points for the steel to start hardening.

The higher the number the higher the steel rating.

Advantages Disadvantages

• Consistent core depth

• Less down time

• Consistent cores

• Not good in Rock or Clay

• Expensive

• Not as large of a core

Coring Tines

Bayonet Tines

Solid Tines

Venting/Slicing Tines

Core - pulls a solid “core” of material from the soil

Solid - punches a cylindrical hole into the soil profile

Venting/Slicing - cuts a narrow slit into the solid profile. (has the added benefit of cutting root rhizomes which helps to promote growth)

Typically used from spring through fall

Needed during the heavy growing season

This method best used to remove soil cores to promote soil exchange by replacing the cores with a top dressed sand based mixture

At shallow depths (as low as 3 Inches) helps with thatch layers and routine maintenance and at deeper depths (up to 14 inches) helps with soil profile exchange

Spacing◦ All aerators have block spacing.

◦ Some turf grass is very tolerant to frequent and aggressive aerfication.

◦ Tighten up the spacing on your machine, select the smallest mount size and the largest tine.

◦ This will allow you to pull more material and have a quicker heal time

Venting High Use Areas◦ Goal mouths, sidelines, foul line, batters boxes

1/3 rd rule◦ You want to disrupt about 1/3rd of the playing

surface in any one aeration event.