Manakin greens aeration complete, lets grow some grass
With all 3 aeration machines in action on Monday the guys ran through all 19 greens on Manakin before 3:00. The upper profiles of these Manakin greens continue to become healthier. The plugs contain much more sand than in the past, with plenty of new root growth already taking place.
The quarter inch sized plugs are relatively easy to blow off the surface, eliminating any abrasion during the clean up process.
Our zeolite clay along with some calcium, potassium, magnesium and humic acid were all applied to the open holes before close to 40 tons of sand was spread over the green. This is our one chance to get a significant amount of beneficial nutrients into the profile before they are sealed up in front of the bulk part of the season.
Grant got everything brushed in as the moon moved across the sun.
The Sabot greens are trying to fill in after two weeks from their aeration. With 80 degree temps next week we should see some significant changes across the whole property.
Steve Corwin and his facilities maintenance team have the ramps completed to get over to Platform Tennis now. The pickleball courts should see some action the week of the 22nd as the lights and fence will start to go up.
Back on the Manakin, Joe went after the busted culvert pipe on 16 where the cartpath crosses the stream. The concrete pipe was installed in 4 different pieces and each piece had separated and gone its own way resulting in the cartpath continuing to sink.
Everything was removed and new solid piece of plastic pipe was laid in and formed up.
7 yards of concrete was poured in to lock the new pipe in place and make sure water goes through the pipe and no where else.
A new French drain and collection box was installed to catch water off the cartpath so that the pine straw area has more of a chance of staying in tact.
Both sides of the pipe were rip rapped and the path was paved back in. We had taken 3 pine trees out of this area over the winter since the roots were degrading the stream bank here. The bank has been reshaped and sodded with tall fescue. The tee side of the bank will be sodded next week. When finished this area will be much more functional and more aesthetically pleasing!
The Sabot wasn't denied any improvements this week as we built a new nursery green to the left of 3. The old smaller nursery green by tennis is being retired so a new 2,000 square foot green was installed here. Soil was removed 12 inches down and then drainage was installed. A mixture of sand, peat and soil filled in the cavity. Next week the mixture will be raked smooth and then seeded with our Pure Eclipse bentgrass. We are probably three months out from being able to use turf from this area.
Enjoy the Masters this week! We can't compete with their ryegrass right now but our time will come as the weather warms up!