Cultivation Strategies

This week I would like to carry on with my explanation about certain things we do on the golf course. I am going to stick with things that we are currently busy with on the course so that when you are out for your next outing you will recognise and understand the certain cultivation strategies.

The next step in this process is called slicing and spiking. Slicing is the process by which a turf is penetrated to a depth of 3-4 inches by a series of V-shaped knives mounted on disks. Unlike coring, there is no removal of soil cores; therefore disruption of the turf is minimal. Slicing is typical practice on fairways and high trafficked areas during summer stress periods, when coring might be too injurious or disruptive.

Spiking is primarily used on greens with various types of tines. As with coring, slicing and spiking are used to improve infiltration, especially where compaction is severe. Because of the severing of stolons and rhizomes, these types of cultivation often result in stimulated root and shoot growth in the immediate vicinity of the perforations. Since they cause minimal disruption to the turf, they can be practiced as often as once a week during growing season to mitigate the soil compacting effects to the soils. Also, it opens up the soil and gives us a chance to apply compost and fertiliser to our sandy soils to improve the texture and condition of some of the fairways.