Fall aerification is just around the corner. With the dry conditions this year, this agronomic tool is more important than ever. It is time to dig out those last soil test reports and evaluate both how things were then, but also the watering practices, rainfall, and amendments that have been applied since the last aerification.

Remember, aerification is a great time to incorporate those amendments that were called for on the last soil test. These may include Organic Matter (Humates), Calcium (Hi-Cal, Calcite Calcium), magnesium (Hy-Mag, Dolomitic Lime), and Potash (poly coated Potash, Super K). Your soils may also be in need of phosphorous (mono-ammonium phosphate). With the high temperatures and stress the plant has been under this season, don’t forget the same holds true for the microbial activity in the soil. This is especially important for soils with low organic matter levels. Aerification is a great time to reinnoculate the soil with micorhizal fungi (endoROOTS). See the article by Dr. Mike Amaranthus for more details. These different types of soil amendments can be added easily and incorporated throughout the soil profile maximizing their effectiveness.

What about the watering practices over the last several months? Have you been forced to cut back on watering times, resulting in light, frequent irrigations? This type of watering may well have resulted in a buildup of salts in the top soil layers. Needless to say, it has not rained enough to flush salts.

Remember, water evaporates, salts stay. Aerification to open up the soil along with the application of gypsum in combination with heavy irrigation cycles can go a long way to flushing these salts down and out of the root zone. Aerification is a great time to lower the salt stress on your turf.

The ideal fertilizer program for the quickest recovery includes a 1/2#N/m application 10-14 days prior to punching holes. Follow that up with an application of 1/2#n/m immediately after completing aerification or better yet, apply 1#N/m of Nature Safe Fine 8-3-5 Natural Organic Fertilizer. This program has been used successfully time & again.

For more details on the ideal aerification program for your situation, please feel free to contact me personally or your GES Representative.

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