Aerification is the process of loosening soil to allow more air to reach the turf's roots. Typically, there are dedicated machines that can aerate the soil, but purchasing single-role turf equipment can be seen as wasteful spending. By using turf mowers and buying the right attachments, crews can aerate without having to spend the cash on an extra piece of equipment. Adding hitched equipment to a used Toro turf mower allows any tractor to perform double duty.
Why is aerification important for turf, grass, and greens? How can a crew get the job done without a dedicated piece of equipment? Can we aerate a course without having to spend too much money? Let us look deeper into how we can answer all of those questions.
What Is Aerification And Why Is It Important
Take a golf course as an example. Over time, as golfers, carts, and tractors ride over the green, the soil becomes tightly packed and compressed. The grass needs oxygen in order to stay healthy and green, but soil compression and thatch buildup will inhibit the turf's ability to get the air it needs. Therefore, aerification is used to reduce soil compaction, improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green's roots, and to reduce and prevent the thatch buildup.
Soil is enriched with air by a process known as coring. By taking out small, half inch pieces of soil every so many square feet, air and water are able to re-enter the soil. The gaps are filled in by topdressing with sand that helps to retain the air and provide room for root growth. This process is especially important on turf that grows in silt or clay as well as accumulated layers of thatch.
Utilizing Existing Equipment To Get The Job Done
Normally, this process would require the purchase of specialized equipment, but by adding hitches and accessories to a used Toro turf mower, for example, the job gets done without the additional expense. The entire process can be accomplished this way.
The initial hole drilling can be done with a hitched model, such as an AeroThatch or Thatchmaster, that runs off of the power take off shaft. A core harvester can be run to pick up the cores to clean the turf. Finally, a topdresser can be towed to disperse sand to complete the aerification process.
Many crews could start an aerification routine today, without having to order more equipment or spend more money. Even if a top dresser and aerator are not on site, it is quicker and cheaper to purchase the trailer versions that run off of a turf mower's PTO.
Aerification will lead to healthy greens and turf, while the addition of soil will help preserve top soil to ensure a long life. Overall, an entire course could be aerated with only a turf mower and a few pieces of hitched equipment. The ability to get more work done with less equipment is paramount for turf crews who want to stay competitive.
Author Resource:
Author is a freelance writer. For more information on used toro please visit http://www.statewideturf.com/.
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