Spring Aerification 2013 follow-up

We decided to aerify the greens this year about 2 weeks earlier than we have in the past.  By doing this we realized that the heal in may take a little longer if the weather did not cooperate.  However, even with a little longer heal in period we could be completely ready when the warmer weather arrived and have very little affect on the beginning of the golf season.  Everything has gone well for the heal in process, but the cold has not been great for trying to grow back in the holes.  The warm days forecast ahead should go ahead and complete the process though.  I looked back on the weather from the last two years to compare the temperatures and sunny days.

As you can see below our heal in has taken about two weeks longer than last year to this point.  Looking back at those 80 degree days in 2012 compared to all of the 40 & 50 degree days this year though easy explains that to us.  This year, due to the cold temps we really didn't benefit from going so early, so we will evaluate everything again for next year.  The photos below show the difference between last year and this year.

10 days after aerification LAST year

 

10 days after aerification LAST year



24 days after aerification THIS year

24 days after aerification THIS year