For golf course superintendents, aeration is a necessity. It ensures healthy turf and optimal playing conditions, but recovery takes time—a commodity that is always in short supply. There are several things you can do and products you can use to speed things up, though.
1. Time Your Aeration Properly
Timing can significantly affect how quickly your greens recover. While many superintendents have to plan their aeration schedules around course activities, it’s important to act while the turf is still actively growing. Greens aerated in mid-August often fully recover in seven to ten days, while waiting until October can push back aeration recovery times into the next growing season.
After you’ve aerated, fill the holes with a sand-based topdressing to help create water and air pathways. Keep your greens well-watered after aerating, too, since they tend to dry out faster during recovery.
Your exact timing will be dependent on your geographic location and conditions, but there are three telltale problems that signal that it’s time to aerate:
- Compacted soil, which inhibits water, air, and nutrient penetration.
- Thinning turf, which is a sign of stress.
- Poor drainage, which is often tied to soil compaction issues.
2. Use Plant Growth Regulators
Some superintendents are wary of using plant growth regulators (PGRs) around the time they aerate since they can slow down recovery. But, since PGRs slow the growth of different grasses at different rates, they can actually help you fill in aeration holes with desired grasses.
For example, Cutless MEC, by SePRO, offers a competitive growth advantage to bentgrass over Poa annua. Applying Cutless five to seven days before aerating can nearly halt Poa annua growth, allowing bentgrass to grow laterally and quickly fill in the holes.
Using PGRs can not only shorten the time it takes for holes to fill in but can also improve root production. So, instead of stopping your PGR program when you’re aerating, simply adjust your rates.
3. Improve Aeration Recovery With Foliar-Pak Products
When it comes to aeration recovery, nutritional inputs are arguably the most important aspect to consider, and Foliar-Pak offers a comprehensive solution that speeds up the turf healing process. The Foliar-Pak Aeration Recovery Cool Season Program incorporates natural plant extracts and active L-amino acids to help enhance turf resilience and recovery to get golfers back on the course as quickly as possible.
The program consists of four products:
- Foliar-Pak Foundation Forty: Apply 1.5 fluid ounces per thousand square feet.
- Foliar-Pak Grow-In: Apply six fluid ounces per thousand square feet.
- Foliar-Pak Micros Plus: Apply 0.5 fluid ounces per thousand square feet.
- Foliar-Pak Colonise Bio: Apply 1.5 to three fluid ounces per thousand square feet.
These products should be applied three days before and then seven days after aeration for the best results. The program reduces the need for nitrogen inputs while promoting stronger, healthier turf that recovers quickly—all of which make your course easier to maintain post-aeration. You can download the program here.
A fertility and soil amendment like The Andersons’ Genesis Rx 5-7-5 can also benefit aeration recovery. It can be applied before or after aerating.
Remember that choosing the right time to aerate and the right products to help your greens recover will help you keep your course healthy and playable for the rest of the season. For more aeration tips and product recommendations, reach out to your ATS rep. Need a rep? Find one here.
