Sand Injection

Firm up your greens for spring.

Quicker recovery - less disruption for play. These are some of the main benefits of sand injection, the new alternative to aeration. Players and superintendents alike will also enjoy the firmer, faster greens as a result.

Sand Injection is fundamentally similar to regular aeration, with the key difference being that Sand Injection uses a pressurized water system to inject the aeration holes with compact sand in real time, as the holes are being punched.

This in turn offers two main benefits: 1. A much quicker and more efficient process 2. A flatter surface that heals more quickly

Traditional Core Aerification and vertical mowing are common methods to cultivate root-zones and prevent organic matter buildup. The downside however, is that this can temporarily affect the revenue and playability of the turf for golf courses and sports fields. As an alternative, sand injection is gaining popularity because of the reduced disruption on playing conditions. Sand injection has been shown to increase soil infiltration, drainage, and reduce soil compaction while causing minimal disruption.

Sand injection's main advantage is its ability to fill the grooves accurately before any traffic, such as footprints and wheels, can.

A major problem with pulling cores with traditional aeration is that it is difficult to fill the holes tightly. Once the cores are pulled, the greens are top dressed and the material is dragged into the holes, but it is not compact or firm. Over the course of a day or two following the process, rainfall, foot traffic and other factors cause the sand to settle leading to an uneven surface. With sand injection, the greens are compact, firm, fast, and ready to go the moment they are finished. While the surface may not be perfect, as it will take some time for the roots to grow into the new material, Sand injection leaves behind a much more playable putting green for players with much less hassle for the superintendent.

Sand injection is receiving excellent feedback. One user commented, "What can I say about it? It is exactly what everyone needs!"

Although the sand injection isn't a miracle cure, it can be a key part of a club's management program. It can be used in conjunction with other practices, such as deep tine aeration or USGA rootzone to ensure that they work together efficiently.