Cultural Practies – What does this really include?

*  Aerification will occur May 31st  *

Cultural practices include, mechanical procedures preformed on turf to reduce stresses and promote proper health. Such practices include aerification and topdressing to name a few. Aerification is an extremely important cultural practice. Although it results in a temporary disruption of the green, aerification improves water penetration into the soil, reduces soil compaction, stimulates turfgrass root growth for a healthier plant, helps control thatch build-up, and improves overall growing conditions.

  • Core aerification is necessary to maintain appropriate organic matter content, which over time decreases the lifespan of a green
  • Not aerifing will cause organic matter to build and increase disease pressure and reduced gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen

Approximate Recovery Times after Aerifications:              (depending on weather)

  • Spring Aerifications (March) have an expected recovery time of 3-4 weeks to heal 100%
  • Early Summer Aerifications (May) have an expected recovery time of 2-3 weeks to heal 100%
  • Summer Aerifications/Venting(June, July, August) have an expected recovery time of 1-2 weeks to heal 100%
  • Fall Aerifications (September) have an expected recovery time of 2-3 weeks to heal 100%

Brief description of each aerification:

  • Spring aerifications open the green’s surface to allow more heat into the soil profile and increase growth due to warmer soil temperatures. Spring aerifications also remove organic material generated from the previous fall and winter months.
  • Early summer aerifications remove orgainc material when the plants are at their hgihest peak of growing and generating orgainic material.
  • Summer aerifications provide open water and air channels to allow thundershowers to past through the green and allow CO2 to escape from the green’s soil profile and allow O2 in.
  • Fall aerifications remove organic material from the stressful summer months when turf plants are performing their life cycle of growing and dying.
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