Aeration, spring and fall, do a number of things that keep the greens alive and healthy. One is compaction alleviation. This allows the soil to be loosely arranged so that water, fertilizer, and herbicide can get where it needs to go.
Without aeration, the greens would become compacted causing roots to struggle to get any nutrition and water needed to live. Another reason was already mentioned; water movement. With the topdressing sand in the new holes, this allows water to percolate through to the roots more easily. Also, aerating provides gas exchange throughout the soil profile. Turf needs oxygen to thrive. Without a ready supply of oxygen it will thin out and suffocate. We also aim to remove organic matter. Organic matter will absorb it's weight in water many times over as well as fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides. Some organic matter is important however, it's less than 5% total mass of a green that is the magic number. In order to do that, we need to take away 15 to 20% of the surface of the green.
This years fall aeration will be on September 9th starting at 2:30 p.m. We will be done sometime Monday morning. We are also doing broad leaf eradication, fairway aerafication, and slit seeding throughout the next few weeks. The course will be looking in top shape by the end of the season/next season. We appreciate your cooperation and patience as this is necessary and beneficial.
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