Technical
A
eration is a mechanical operation that creates air space in the soil. It is an essential part of turf maintenance to ensure a healthier plant and results in a
better quality playing surface thanks to the increase in oxygen, which is critical for root growth and ultimately grass growth, improving the rate water moves into the soil, improving drainage and relieving turf compaction and thatch build-up. Aeration is far from being a new
technique; farmers have been turning the soil to relieve compaction and redistribute the nutrients for centuries, whilst turf professionals core, tine, slit and deep tine. Which ever way, getting oxygen into the soil
is a disruptive process and often the wrong operation is carried out, which can negate the positives and leave a mess behind. It is therefore important to let the turf dictate the course of aeration action and not just employ practices because that’s what has been done in previous years. For example, if thatch is the issue, hollow tining is the way to go. Hollow tining or coring is the most versatile cultivation method, meeting several conditions at once. It is the best way to control the build- up of undecomposed organic matter in the rootzone in sand-based soils through the removal of some of the accumulated fibre in the grass’s rootzone. Soil ‘plugs’ roughly 5mm in diameter and 100mm deep from
the surface of the turf are pulled out at intervals, allowing the compacted turf to expand and air and moisture to be more easily absorbed. It also allows new rootzone material to be inserted into the thatch layer through topdressing, which increases microbial action and keeps rootzone organic matter within healthy limits. Solid tining provides enhanced gas
movement between the rootzone and the atmosphere. It consists of driving a hole into the ground, compacting the soil temporarily and fills in again over time. Solid tines cause less injury to the turf, which is perfect for periods of high usage but, on the other hand, doesn’t go as deep as hollow tining and, whilst it is useful for
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