Thanks to Marshall Pottery, we have new flower pots around the golf fire pit.

Before...

After...

New Azalea Bed on 17

The old mulch area behind 17 green has been transfromed into an azalea bed.

First, irrigation was added to the area.

Then soil ammendments were added, including compost, peat moss, and topsoil.

Then it was all tilled in.

Then azaleas were planted.  Formosa and red ruffles varieties were used.

Range Bridge Project is Complete!!!

Range Bridge Project has Started

The project to improve the aesthetics around the range bridge began last week.  Landvisions is installing an apron on the east side of the bridge to stop the erosion caused during heavy rains.  This will allow the area to be mowed and maintained during periods of low rainfall.

They are also installing a retaining wall on the cart barn/putting green side of the bridge.  This will improve the look of the area and deal with any erosion issues on that side.  It will also establish a defined area for planting a flower bed with azaleas, crepe myrtles, and was myrtles.

Planet Air

Last Monday we used a new aerification method on the greens.  This process is called Planet Air.  It is a very aggressive spiker that leaves very little surface disruption.  It helps improve water infiltration down into the soil profile and also helps exchange gases from the rootzone with oxygen in the atmosphere.  It can not replace a core aerification however because it does not remove any thatch, but it is a good process to do during tournament season when healing time is important.

Dryject-ing greens.

This past Monday Dryject of North Texas came out and injected 26 tons of sand and soil ammendment into the greens.  Dryject uses water at 3200psi to 'blow' holes in the greens, which then creates a vacuum that pulls dry material into the holes.

It is one of the least invasive procedures that can be done to a putting surface that puts a lot of material in to the root zone.  Once the process is complete, the maintenance staff drags the greens with a soft drag mat, rolls the greens, and then they are ready to be mowed and played on.

Greens Aerification

Greens are being aerified on Monday June 18th.  The aerification process removes organic matter, as well as, alleviates compaction.  It also makes room for sand to be placed into the aerification holes which acts as a 'mini-renovation' of the soil profile that slows the aging process of our greens.  The process starts by fertilizing with an organic soil ammendment and a polymer coated potassium fertilizer.  Both of these products improve the soil structure and allow for an environment conducive to better root growth.  After soil ammendments are applied, the greens are topdressed with sand.

Topdressing 14 green.

Aerifying behind topdressing with 1/2 inch coring tines spaced 1.5 inches apart.

Another view of the plugs from the aerifier.

Dragging the cores to separate the organic matter from the existing soil.

Organic matter on top of the green.

Organic matter removed from the green.

Blowing organic matter off of the green.

Once this process is complete, the greens are fertilized with 13-2-13 at .3# of nitrogen per 1000 square feet and watered in.  This nitrogen will help the holes to grow in and provide a soluble source of potassium until the polymer coated potassium fertilizer that was worked into the soil can start to release.  The greens are rolled the next morning and will be mowed the next afternoon when the sand on the surface is dry.  Mowing in the afternoon will help reduce the amount of mess the mower will create and keep the amount of wear and tear down on the blades due to mowing in sandy conditions.  

The holes on the greens usually fill in after about a week, but don't look fully healed until two weeks later.  This year we will be doing a Dryject the Monday after aerfication.  Dryject pushes holes in the greens with high pressure water and creates a vacuum that will pull dry sand and soil ammendments into these holes.  This process actually makes the greens firmer because you're adding material to the green without taking anything out.  Also, doing it after a traditional core aerification will help to 'squeeze' the old holes shut and since the soil is already loosened by aerification, the affect of the dryject is greater.

If you would like more information about the Dryject process go to www.dryject.com or look for future post about the process.