The uptick in renovations and other projects has been ongoing for the past several years. Although the type of work varies from course to course, what isn’t variable is that any playing surface grassed with sod needs aeration and topdressing afterward to prevent the sod layer from becoming a limiting factor for turf health and playability.
The sod layer is inevitable. It doesn’t matter if you harvest the sod from on-site or if you buy it from a farm and have it shipped in, anytime you introduce sod over a new rootzone mix, a layer forms between the two. Since water infiltration tends to slow at any textural difference within a soil profile, the simple act of sodding inherently slows water infiltration.
The key to maintaining a healthy sodded surface is regular aeration and topdressing to dilute organic matter in the sod layer and blend the two layers together. Eliminating the distinct sod layer and creating a homogenous mix will ease tension that builds at that interface and allow water to move freely through the rootzone.
On newly sodded tees, players can improve their lie by placing their ball on a peg, so aeration and topdressing has little to no impact on playability, assuming the surface is still stable. One of the easiest and most effective methods I’ve seen to manage a sod layer is to apply a layer of sand to the surface first then use solid-tine aeration to mechanically force sand into the profile. Hollow-tine aeration and topdressing are effective too. However, solid-tine aeration can be done more often with less labor and there is no cleanup afterward. When using solid tines, one or two people are all that is needed to apply sand topdressing and aerate.
This stretch of cool weather has limited grass growth and play. Taking advantage of the opportunity to get a jump-start on the sod layer will result in less long-term maintenance and a more reliable surface.
Northeast Region Agronomists
Darin Bevard, senior director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org
Elliott L. Dowling, regional director, East Region – edowling@usga.org
Brian Gietka, agronomist – bgietka@usga.org