Two weeks ago we performed a solid tine aerification on all the greens. We did this to vent the surface, going down 3 inches, and allowing for oxygen, nutrients, and water to move into the soil profile. Another benefit of this process is the initiation of new roots. In the picture below, the grass is split in half along where the hole was punched. Notice all the new, healthy, white roots growing in the void in the soil left by the tine.
Next Monday we will aerifying again. This time it will be a slightly different process. Instead of going down 3 inches, we will be punching a hole 8-10 inches deep. We will be going this deep in an effort to break up a hard pan layer. The picture shows where the roots stop growing when they reach that layer. The aerification will punch through and fracture this layer along with providing the same benefits of the shallow venting.
Just for comparison sake, I took a sample of the new chipping green in the short game area. For reference, the profiler blade is 8 inches long. Notice the roots dangling out of the bottom of the sample. This is the beauty of new construction and one of the biggest benefits of sand based greens versus soil push up greens.
