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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.