First we used our core pulling aerator to pull 1/2” plugs from fairways 1-5, 7-8, 10-13, and 15. Normally we would get a plug averaging 2-3”. With the drier soil, we were barely able to pull a little over an inch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8syQtsNWGA
Second, we used our leaf vacuum which has vertical blades that cut down into the soil and create a vertical mowing pattern into our zoysia fairways assisting in removing thatch. This process also broke up the plugs, removed some of the excess blades and soil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD6nbTLaulU
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| Thatch brought up by the vertical mowing blades. |
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Couple of loads of soil, thatch and grass blades from thé vertical mowing. |
Third we used a couple of drag mats to break up the remaining cores and disperse the excess material accumulated.
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| Dragging fairways with metal drag mats |
We then took our blower and blew the excess material into the rough.
We aerated, vertical mowed fwys 1-8. We had to stop on 8 with an equipment breakdown. We continued aerating and dragging through hole 15. We have mowed fwys 1-7 and will mow the remaining fairways when they dry in the morning. Not sure when our vertical mowing will continue with the breakdown but will pick up where we left off.
We also applied some organic fertilizer to the fairways through #8 and then watered it in. Science has shown with the use of organic fertilizer and removing excess thatch through verticutting reduces the amount of fairy ring and large patch in zoysia fairways. We also plan to use our slicing blades with our pull behind aerator over the next month or two to improve water and gas penetration.
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