As we switch from a base of ryegrass to a solid stand of bermuda, our maintenance schedule will shift to accommodate the plant’s needs. Bermuda grows best in very warm conditions, the hotter the better. Practices like aerfication and verticutting need to be performed when the grass is growing at its best to recover from damage.
You may wonder why we do all this damage in the first place. After all, it looks fine before we tear it up so why not leave it alone? Bermudagrass is a serious thatch builder and can form a dense mat between the leaves and soil in a very short amount of time. This mat of thatch will restrict water movement to the point that a 1/4 inch of rain will force us into a cart-path-only situation. Nobody wants that. It will also restrict root growth, harbor disease-causing organisms, trap fertilizer, and cause unsightly scalping.
This photos of #8 fairway was taken after it was verticut and mowed. Today, the fairway is green, smooth, healthy, and free of scalp marks.
We are finished with verticutting for this season, but we’ll be back at it next summer. The process not only removes thatch, it also reduces grain and promotes new, healthy growth. The ugly brown lines only last for a week and there is very little change in playability.
Aerification is also being moved to the summer months to encourage rapid healing and promote root growth. We may do some work with solid tines during the off-season to encourage movement of rainwater which I hope comes down in biblical proportions. Until then, I will be enjoying the heat and the effects it has on our new stand of bermudagrass.
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