By Ken
Quandt, Regional Sales Manager
For every
procedure or process there is right way to do it and a wrong way to do it.
Using Nature Safe properly when core cultivating is a little different because
there is really no wrong way to do it. No matter how you do it, you will get
some good results when you use Nature Safe following core cultivation. However,
you will get better results with some methods than with others.
The process
I personally like and have seen the greatest amount of success with involves
first core cultivating and then removing the cores from the turf surface. Next,
apply either Nature Safe 8-3-5 or 5-6-6, depending upon soil type, at the rate
of 1 lb. N per 1000 sq. ft. of turf area. Immediately apply the topdressing mix
of choice on top
of the fertilizer. As soon as it has had a few minutes of lying in the sun to
dry, start the process of dragging the topdressing into the holes. Make sure
that the dragging is done in circular patterns so that the majority of the
topdressing material and fertilizer remains on the green and does not get
dragged off into the surrounding areas.
After the
topdressing has been properly worked into the holes and into the surface of the
green, it should receive a light watering, followed by a drying period for the
remainder of the day. The water will begin the breakdown of the fertilizer
particles. They will first swell up slightly after they are irrigated and then
crumble as they dry in the sun. That evening, the green should be well
irrigated to finish the process. If possible, for the next two or three
mowings, mow without baskets, when the turf is dry, to avoid picking up any of
the topdressing material.
Some people
like to apply the topdressing material first and then apply the Nature Safe on
top of the topdressing. The problem with this method is a disproportionate
amount of fertilizer gets dragged into the holes and not enough remains on the
green surface area between the holes. This can result in differential greening and
excessive growth in the immediate proximity of the holes. When the fertilizer
is on top of the topdressing it is almost totally dragged into the holes,
leaving very little to fertilize the areas between the holes. Of course, you
want a good portion of the fertilizer to go into the holes, but not all of it.
When the fertilizer is under the topdressing, a large portion of it does get
into the holes, but there is enough remaining on the green surface to avoid any
differential greening. Some superintendents are overly fastidious about working
the topdressing into the green or tee surface. The use of some of the new
topdressing power brooms can do the same thing. They are so efficient that they
leave very little on the surface. Bear in mind, some material needs to remain
on the surface when you are finished, and some of this material needs to be
fertilizer.
You will
benefit from the first process explained above because greens and tees will
recover much more rapidly than normal and turf quality and rooting will be
improved for months to come. The turf will go into the winter much healthier
than otherwise possible and will green up earlier in the spring.