Proper Timing for Flushing and Aeration

Q: Is it better to flush salts out of my greens before aeration or after?

A: It is better to schedule a deep irrigation cycle about four or five days prior to aeration instead of waiting until after. This allows water to penetrate evenly into the soil profile and push salts below the rootzone, creating a more uniform result.

Although aeration will greatly accelerate water infiltration in the greens, the water penetrates faster above the aeration holes and is less effective in the spaces between the holes. This ends up creating a polka-dot pattern on the greens with green turf above the aeration holes and yellow turf in between. To avoid the polka dots, flush before aeration.