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Pot-seeding the greens


Marty Richardson

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Over the past week we have started the annual seeding process in conjunction with fall aerifying to get our greens in tip-top shape to prepare the course for the winter months to come. To do this, we have been pot seeding our greens for the past few days. The process of "pot seeding" involves needle tining, seeding, a drag mat, and a lot of sand.  

 

38e7f3a38a18094487aac55e400009ec-.jpgTo begin, this process starts with needle tining, producing precisely cut aeration holes for maintaining outstanding greens. Normally the tines on the ProCore aerator look like needles but in the pot seeding process we flip the tines over so they are flat headed when turned onto the greens surface. This creates a bigger hole, with an exact depth making it easier for the seed to actually get into the hole. 

 

...in the pot seeding process we flip the tines over so they are flat headed when turned onto the greens surface.

 

The next step is to use a walk-behind spreader to fold the Barenbrug fescue seed on the greens. 220kg (about 440 lbs) of seed was applied to 1.1 hectares (2.8 acres) of green surface. These seeds have the Yellow Jacket seed coating with a special wetting agent. It is like having a sponge around each and every seed that absorbs and holds moisture and other nutrients. This helps the seeds to germinate and establish. 

 

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The reversed needle-tine holes ready for seeding.

 

The next step is the use of an Astroturf mat on the back of a greens mower to gently drag the seeds into the holes.  After this, around 36 tons of sand go on top of the greens. Each green gets a heavy coating of sand to fill in the small holes and cover the seed. Then we wait until the sand is dry. Since it was a little wet the first day (after the that day we had 50 mm (~2 inches) of rain the sand took some time to dry. When it was time, we went back to the Astroturf mat to drag the sand into the holes again. 

 

After a few days, all 18 holes were finished. These little pot-spike holes are excellent growing pots and once the seed starts to germinate, we start the watering process. Coming up later this week we are going to do another light top dress on the greens and a top dress on the aprons and surrounds of the greens. 

 

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Sanding in-process.

 

By applying these basic techniques, the whole process of aeration-to-cleanup is quick and efficient. This allows us to get our course back to playing condition as soon as possible and the golfers can resume play. 

 

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Fescue seed germinating in the pot-seeding holes.

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