Proper moisture management is everything. It can spell the difference between a healthy course and a damaged one, especially in the summer.

For overall moisture management on your course, I recommend HydroPak Percolate, which is a great product from the team at Aquatrols. In terms of rate, what I’ve seen as the most consistent and effective, especially on greens, is 2.5 fluid ounces per 1,000 square feet on a biweekly basis. That’s my go-to recommendation because the weather is constantly changing in my area. If you can stick to that two-week interval, you’ll see much more consistent performance. If biweekly applications aren’t realistic, whether it be due to labor constraints or course schedules, then I’d go with five fluid ounces per 1,000 square feet monthly. That’s a standard rate that’s been used with great success for a long time.

Percolate has two pushers and two pullers that work together to move moisture into the soil and retain it effectively through the profile. If you put it down on a Monday, by the next Monday, it will have worked its way through the root zone, helping maintain consistent hydration below the surface. What’s great is that Perolate maintains surface firmness. You get water infiltration and retention without softening the playing surface. We also carry Vivax 10G, which is essentially the granular version of Percolate. It works well on humps and known areas that needs a little extra attention, such as spots that frequently dry out. You can use a spreader, or chicken-feed it with your hands before a rain or irrigation event.

Outside of Percolate and Vivax 10G, I really like combining Matador and Command from our HydroPak line. They’re not traditionally used in tandem, but using them together has been amazing. I recommend starting with Percolate, but if you’re not getting the results you need, I’d shift to Matador and Command. This is a great option for greens and tees—your high-dollar, high-impact areas—along with surrounds. You can go out on fairways, too, but it’s a pricey application, so it’s not very common.

For standing water issues, especially in low-lying areas or divots, I lean on Aqueous. Percolate can help a little, but since it also retains moisture, you’ve got to be cautious. Aqueous, on the other hand, is built primarily for infiltration. It’s a great tool that helps alleviate excess moisture in those trouble spots and gets water moving more effectively through the profile.

Besides soil surfactants, the other thing I recommend is a moisture meter. The TDR 350 has been an absolute game-changer for me personally. The biggest thing for me is the time savings. I used to hand-water for three hours, and I was able to cut that down to one.

You don’t have to bend down to use it, and the readings are instant and reliable. Before, we’d blanket-water an entire area because we thought it was dry or because we knew it had been a problem area in the past. With the TDR 350, we were able to find and target dry spots fast and with precision. It makes a drastic difference and eliminates the guesswork. Instead of watering 100 square feet, you might only need to water ten. It’s absolutely worth the investment, and I take care of mine like it’s gold because of the time it saves and the accuracy it provides.

Another example: If you’re watering greens overnight with overheads and a head fails to rotate or pop up, you may not notice stress immediately with a visual inspection. But the next morning, when you scout with the TDR 350, you’ll catch those low readings in that exact area. That allows you to troubleshoot and fix the issue before damage shows up. It gives you confidence that you’re hitting your numbers and the insight to spot potential irrigation problems early.

Having a quality hand pump to handle standing water in low-lying areas and bunkers is also a good idea. A great option that we carry is the Underhill POWERGulp, which pumps up to 11 gallons per minute, even in the dirtiest of water.

For more moisture management tips, your ATS rep is your go-to resource. Plus, they’re in tune with your course and its needs, so give them a call to develop a personalized plan. If you don’t have a rep, find one near you and get connected (and keep your course protected).