Since the time the golf course was constructed, one of the most challenging maintenance aspects has been the management of the severe fairway mounding. These areas are definitely subject to more wind and Sun than a flat area, and can dry out very quickly. Additionally, if we receive a typical fast moving thunderstorm, most of that water doesn't have an opportunity to penetrate the soil, and just runs off the slopes.
Over the years, we have tried a number of things to keep these mounds alive throughout the dog days of summer, and ideally reduce the hand watering labor required to achieve this. Recently, John Paddock of DryJect brought over their latest amendment injection systems for us to check out.
So this was both another trial for injecting the super absorbent polymer (we're using in all of our divot mix), AquaPerk into the ground, as well as an opportunity to see the new "AquaJect" in action. With a smaller footprint than a conventional DryJect machine, the AquaJect can be used in a wide range of settings, including both residential and commercial.
As weather anomalies seem to become more common--and actually less anomalous--the prospect of injecting AquaPerk into your lawn to reduce water use may become quite appealing for homeowners. One of the unique things about the AquaJect machine is that it allows both granular and multiple liquid amendments to be injected into the plants' root zone simultaneously.
As we always try to do when evaluating a new product or practice on the course, untreated check plots are left. We will closely monitor moisture levels in these areas going forward to determine if there is value in continuing this process throughout the course. After all, the condition of the playing surface above the ground is primarily dependent on the conditions you may rarely see--those beneath the ground!
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