It has been about 6 months since our last greens aeration, and our greens need it. On Monday, Tuesday, of this week we double punched the greens with 1/2 solid tines, and with a double verti cutting in two directions, and rolled to help smooth the surface. This is a change from past first aerations, becaused we didn't pull plugs and topdress. The solid tining still allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to move through the soil and reach roots. The small channels also are perfect areas for root growth to occur as with pulling plugs. The verti cutting helped to remove thatch, which in fact is the same as pulling plugs. Don't get me wrong, pulling a good plug and followup with topdressing is the best, but this time labor and finances played a big part. We are still scheduled to come back and aerify greens April 26, 27th by pulling plugs, topdressing with the proper sand, and last stop is to roll the greens to help work the sand down in the canopy.
