Aerification Today…..

Aerification Today…..
Methods and Styles to Improve Playing Conditions
Michael Hileman
Senior Field Specialist
JRM, Inc.
Today’s Agenda:
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Introduction
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Styles of Aeration Machines
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– Timeline of Aerification through the years.
– Classification of Metal
– Why we Aerify
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Deep Tine
Conventional
Vibratory
Deep Drill
Tine Options & Timing
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Coring Tines (Deep & Conventional)
Measuring Coring Tines
Carbide vs. Non Carbide
Solid Tines
Vent Tines
Aeration Tricks
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Venting on Traffic Areas
Tighten that Spacing
Brief Background
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I have been in the turf industry since 1996.
I Started with JRM in 2007.
JRM is a UNITED STATES based manufacturing outfit. All JRM parts are manufactured
in Clemmons, NC.
Interviewed in Superintendent Magazine and Golf Course Industry Magazine
Currently serve on the Board of Directors of TETAC (Turf Equipment Technicians
Association of the Carolinas) and the Blue Ridge Turfgrass Association.
Have worked with over 10 Major Championships and Major College and Professional
stadiums across the world.
Have worked with over 50% of the PGA events in the past 3 years .
Interest include Family, my Church, Golf, home brewing beer, and Fishing
JRM, Inc… all started with a frustrated superintendent who could not understand why anyone
could not make a coring tine last longer then 3 greens…He came up with the idea of putting a
carbide tip on the end of the tine to help prolong life…After brining his idea to the big 3 (Red,
Green, Orange) and being turned down three times he decided to take matters into his own
hands. The carbide tip was born……
Timeline
• In the late 90’s the Turfgrass Industry was moving towards
more Aerification and Topdressing.
• Until 1994 all conventional Aerification tines were made out
of inexpensive (and low quality) 1005 & 1010 steel.
• In 1994 the first alloy conventional Aerification tine made of
4130 & 4140 high-carbon alloy was produced.
• In 1997 with the improvement in alloy’s, carbide tips were
also born. Later that year the conventional tine walls
thickness were redesigned to have a 0.072” wall (as
compared to the standard 0.043” wall).
• In the Early 2000’s Bayonet and Crosstines were introduced
to the turf industry. This helped to evolve non disruptive
aeration or ways to improve playing conditions without
interrupting play.
• Machines from Toro, John Deere, Redexim, Wiedenmann,
and Soil Reliever start to get better in design and faster in
operation. Thus creating better parts and truly utilizing the
machines capicity…
Classification of Steels
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SAE 4140
Carbon Content. Must have 20 points to
start hardening
Major alloying element content. Contains 1%
Molybdenum
Indicates whether it is a carbon steel or alloy steel.
4 Indicates Molybdenum steels. Molybdenum is a
strong carbide former. It has a strong effect on its
hardening ability and high temperature hardness.
Molybdenum also increases the tensile strength of
low carbon steels.
The Evolution of the Carbide Tip…
-Over the years there have
been several improvements.
-One of the most visible
improvement that you will see
is the over all length of the
tip. From .125” in 1998 to
.325” in 2009
2009
.325”
.200”
Advantages of using Carbide include:
1. Consistent Core Depth
2. Less Down Time
3. Consistent cores
1998
.125
Disadvantages of Carbide:
1. Not good in rock or clay
2. Expensive
3. Not as large of a core.
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These changes in design over the years not only improved the life of the tine by
allowing it to cut the surface with more ease, but also improved the hole quality
specifically around the edges.
What is Aerification?
Aerification is a mechanical process in which a soil plug, also known as a core, is
removed from the ground or a solid hole is created. This is the most important
cultural practice other then mowing . Aerification achieves many objectives
including:
• Increase soil porous spaces.
• Relieves compaction.
• Increase water movement through soilinfiltration and percolation.
• Increased Oxygen saturation-enhanced gas
exchange.
• Removal of thatch and soil
• Prepares the area for topdressing with new
soil/microbes
Topdressing
What is topdressing?
◦ Top dressing is the uniform application of a thin layer of soil or
organic material over the turf surface. Usually a sand based mixture.
Although top dressing doesn’t usually level major indentations in
turf, it is the preferred method of maintaining smooth firm playing
surfaces.
Neglected Root Zone aka…
“what we want to avoid”
Organic
Matter
Black Layer
This root zone profile
demonstrates a surface
that has developed a
organic matter problem
that has limited gas
exchange which led to
the development of black
layer beneath the organic
matter layer.
Excessive organic matter
induces high moisture and
lower oxygen content in the
root zone inhibiting microbial
decomposition of the organics.
Dr. Bob Carrow
Aerification Timetable- Roots will grow branch
into aeration holes. The deeper one aerate
the deeper ones root system will be.
“I cannot believe that after 35 years in this business people still don’t
understand that pores in the soil promote root growth and not
water…”
Questions…
Aerification Machines…
Deep Tine
Conventional Core
Deep Drill
Vibratory
Deep Tine:
– Allow for working depths up to 12.5” in coring or 16”solid applications.
– Has a heaving action that breaks up compacted soil between the Aerification
holes which introduces needed oxygen and will increase the total cat ion
exchange capacity. (Bryan Wood 2010)
– Improves drainage horizontally and vertically through the soil by displacing the
soil upward and raising the playing surface. (Bryan Wood 2010)
– Has a slicing and lifting action at the turf which allows minimizes the hardpan
layer (perched H2O table) caused by the traditional pounding action of the SUD
machines. (Bryan Wood 2010)
– Heave action designs are utilized by companies such as: Verti Drain,
Wiedenmann, and Soil Reliever (Toro)
Video of Deep Coring Tines
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Machine Used: Wiedenmann
Working Depth: 5”
Tine Diameter: .500” ID
Spacing: 2 x 2
Video of Deep Solid Tines
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Machine Used: Wiedenmann
Working Depth: 8”
Tine Diameter: 18mm or ¾”
Spacing: 4x4
Conventional Core
– Allow for working depths up to 4.5”
– Stroke is typically straight up and down.
– Compaction relief is minimal when compared with heave action
machines although still a great tool for any sports manager.
– Pro-Core 648 is most popular style machine today.
– Very versatile can handle 1/8” to ¾” Tines.
– Can be PTU driven or walk behind.
– Conventional Core Machines include John Deere, Toro,
Jacobsen/Ryan….
Conventional Core
While all aeration is good for turf too much consistency and
not varying working depth and stroke can cause increased
compaction….
Vary your practices.
Coring Width
Max Coring Depth
Hole Spacing
Wheel Drive
Engine
Tine Arms
Machine Width
Machine Length
Wheel Base (front to rear)
Hours for 18 Greens*
Sq. Ft./Hr. (2" spacing)
Toro ProCore
648
48"
4"
Variable
3WD Series/
Parallel
23 HP Kohler
6
50"
104.5"
44.5"
7.2
18,794
Deere Aercore
800
31.5"
3.5"
Variable
Jacobsen GA24
24"
3"
Fixed
2WD Mechanical
2WD Mechanical
25 HP Kohler
8 HP Briggs & Stratton
4
6
58"
48"
84"
46"
47"
32"
10.1
22.9
12,772
5,379
*Assumes average 6500 sq./ft. greens, 2"x2" linear hole spacing, 1000 feet between
greens at maximum transport speed and standard "tear-drop" style turnarounds.
The Toro Company
Conventional Core vs. Heaving Action
John Deere Aercore 2000 (SUD Type)
Wiedenmann XF 8 (Heaving Type)
Conventional Core (SUD) vs. Heaving Action
Bryan Wood, Commercial Turf, LLC.
Please remember that all aeration is good for your turf. However there are benefits to
each style. Budget allowing I recommend the Heaving Action for most sports field
applications over the SUD machines. This is due to a few different factors including:
• Breaking up the compacted soil between holes. Displacement will be noticed in
both front and back of tine holes.
• Introduces needed Oxygen.
• Increase cat ion exchange capacity.
• Improve drainage both vertically and horizontally through the profile.
Also at the bottom of each stroke the heaving tine is moving horizontally as it is
moving vertically, thus having a slicing plus a lifting action to the turf. This type of
action minimizes the hardpan layer caused by the traditional pounding action of the
SUD aerifier. Rather then compressing the soil and actually adding to the compaction
problem, the process of heaving displaces the soil upward, raising the playing surface.
Vibratory Aerators (AERA-Vator)
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Aeravator’s are mainly used to solid
tine or spike at very shallow depths in
your soil.
Vibratory actions allow you to
overseed or primary seed with one
machine.
Vibrating tines loosens the soil all
around and underneath each tine
fracturing the soil with 9 holes per
square foot..
Better subsurface Aerification due to
total fracturing of the soil – no holes
are “punched” into the surface.
No cores or plugs mean less postaerification cleanup.
Aerating dry soil reduces the expense
of pre-irrigating; in fact, the harder
the soil, the better the AERA-Vator
performs.
Bryan Wood, Commercial Turf,
LLC.
Video of Vibratory Aeration
• Machine: First Products Aeravator
Deep Drill Aeration
AKA Drill and Fill
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Hit the market in the early 1980’s
Very useful in amending poor soil
in turf.
Can go up 12” deep depending
on application
Process is very slow and time
consuming
Process is labor intensive and
expensive.
Deep Drill tine compared with a Standard Soil Probe….
1 . The drills are set on a continuous plate
which holds 50 drill bits
2. 5/8" tines which penetrated the greens to
a depth of 10 inches
4.Depth of soil probe when place in drill hole
5. Showing Green that had been double
drilled. Green had been problematic in the
past and induced high OM content.
Harrison Bay Golf Club
Paul Carter CGCS
3. Standard 16" 1/2" soil probe placed
in a drill hole.
6.All the material which was brought to
the surface from the drilling process was
picked up and removed from the green.
The green was then topdressed, allowed
to dry for a while, then drug in with a
carpet drag and the green was then rolled
several times
Tine Options & Timing
Coring Tines
• Core Aeration: Spring all the way through to the
Fall— is traditionally one of the times to use
hollow-tine aeration (pulling cores). This is
needed during the heavy growing season. One of
the most common reasons for hollow-tine
aeration during this season is conducting a soilexchange program; that is, altering the soil profile
by removing soil cores and replacing them with a
suitable topdressing usually a sand based mixture.
– This approach permits pulling plugs ranging from 3
inches (for routine maintenance and thatch control)
down to 14 inches (soil-replacement purposes).
Measuring Coring Tines….
How to Measure a Tine
• There are two critical
measurements necessary to
selecting the correct tine.
– Total Length
» A tine that is too long
for a specific machine
will cause plowing and
throw off the time of
that machine.
– Mounting Diameter
» If the mounting
Diameter is incorrect
then the tine will
simply not fit in the
machines mounting
bracket. Conventional
machines carry ¾ or
3/8” mounts while
Deep Tine units carry
12mm and 18mm
mounts.
Measuring Outside Diameter and Inside
Diameter
» The outside diameter (OD) on a conventional tine is the
measurement at the tapered end.
» The outside diameter (OD) on a deep tine the
measurement of the original production stock.
» The Inside Diameter (ID) is the cutting measurement that
will result in the diameter of each core. This is measured
at the inside tip of the tine at the initial point of entry into
the soil.
Five Factors to Selecting a Tine
1. Mounting Diameter
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Measure an old tine
Measure the block
2. Total Length
3. Core Length / Diameter
4. Wall thickness.
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Thicker the wall the stronger the tine
5. Application
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Greens / Fairways / stress / soil replacement
Environment - type grass, weather ..
 Please let me know if anyone has any questions on measuring tines….
 Remember each machine is different and you must take total length and turf guards
into account. If your tines are too long for your machine it will cause plowing and
severely throw off the timing and hole spacing of the machines. If you hit the turf
guards it will cause the side to wear and carbide tips to pop off.
What happens when we choose the
wrong tine for the wrong application……
Bayonet Tine Gone
Wrong…..
Decapitated Quad
Tines….
Aerification what qualities do we look for
in manufacturing a tine?
1. Percent % of Harvest
(How much surface area
was removed relative to
the coring dimensions)
Cedarwood Country Club
August 2011
Charlotte, NC
2.Hole Quality (How clean
was the hole left on the
surface.)
3. Longevity/Strength
Solid Tines
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Solid Tining: Aerators equipped with “solid tines”
(ranging in size from 3/16” 1”) can make millions of tiny
aeration channels in the soil profile to help reduce or
relieve long-term compaction problems. These slimprofile tines permit grounds professionals to continue
their aeration regimen while keeping the turf ready for
immediate play. Total lengths range from 2” to 18”.
– What's more, since regular aeration treatments help
provide passageways through which water can move, both
drainage and irrigation are aided tremendously, eliminating
the added time and costs associated with irrigation.
– Another benefit is that increased root growth means that
turf plants require less surface fertilization as the longer
root structures can draw on water and nutrients located
deeper within the soil.
– Solid Tines can actually increase compaction with too much
use and too little coring.
– Solids Tines can also be used in heavy periods of stress and
high traffic areas….
Venting/Slicing
• Venting: The slicing aeration technique
(using knife/star shaped tines to create lots of
short, narrow, close slits) is particularly useful in
the summer and areas of stress when
Aerification would be problematic. Though it has
shortcomings in its ability to solve compaction
problems, it makes up for that in its ability to
sever the roots releasing growth hormones thus
creating a fuller and deeper root system. Venting
can be used during periods of heavy rainfall in
spring and fall when other methods of
Aerification are not possible.
When do we use solid or venting tines?
Solid Tines
¼” Solid Needle Tine
Non-Disruptive Cultivation (i.e. Venting)
• Cultivation operations that create at least ¼” in diameter holes can dramatically
and immediately enhance SHC (Saturated hydraulic conductivity)
• Non-Disruptive Cultivation should be initiated within five to eight weeks after a
hollow-tine cultivation operation and repeated on a three-week schedule to
maintain high root zone SHC.
• A Non-Disruptive cultivation should also be initiated in late winter/early spring
before the temperatures are favorable for hollow-tine core aeration.
• Low soil Oxygen levels in the winter to early spring is a primary reason for the
long-term decline in rooting in high sand greens where summer heat stress is
problematic.
Dr. Robert Carrow
University of Georgia
Use of Vent tines is highly recommended in high traffic areas such as
soccer goal mouths, football sidelines, middle of fields between hash
marks….etc.. Those areas also require a higher amount of thatch
retention. This will help to protect the crowns of the plants and
prevent players from making a muddy mess of the area during wet
conditions.
Venting Tines
• See video on North Ridge Country Club venting from winter
2011.
• 11.5” Bayonets on Bentgrass Greens
• Please notice cleanliness and playability.
• Also the surface area covered by the ¾” ribbed Bayonet….
11.5” Bayonet Tine
North Ridge Country Club
Raleigh, NC
11.5” Bayonet Tines
Aerification Tricks….
• Spacing…..
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All blocks have spacing. Some Turfgrass is
very tolerant to frequent and aggressive
aeration…
Tighten up the spacing on those machines.
Use the smallest mount sizes possible and
the largest tines. This will allow you to pull
more material and have a quicker heal
time…
Deep Tine Mount Sizes
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Mount Sizes on deep tine units typically carry either a 12mm or 18mm mount options.
Most customer refer to these as ½” and ¾” however the mount sizes are metric.
½”  12mm
¾”  18mm
Experiment with Tightened Spacing 2013 on 419 Bermuda Grass Recreation Field
East Carolina University 2013
CSTM Tommy Walston
Soil Reliever SR 72
Tine: 13/16” Coring Tines( 12mm & 18mm Mounts)
Depth 8”
Scale
Distance from stroke to stroke 4-6”
Hole Spacing 1”
Vent, Vent, Vent,
Vent…..
• When coring is impossible
or problematic make use of
your solid/Vent tines.
• Most are very playable and
allow you to open up your
surfaces without sacrificing
playability.
• Most useful on high traffic
areas such as football
sidelines, batters boxes,
soccer goal mouths, ect….
• Get that Auxin released
from the roots and branch!
Thank you!
• Please let me know if you have any questions
and thank you for attending!
• Have a wonderful rest of the week!