Hollow Coring & Lifting Cores

Any green over time, if managed incorrectly, can develop a build up of organic matter in the upper soil profile. This thatch layer is undesirable. Not only does it produce a softer playing surface but it will hold water like a sponge, which discourages deep root growth and leads to a higher risk of turf grass disease. Aeration can modify the profile, by promoting the exchange of material which can effectively dilute this accumulation of thatch.
Hollow coring is one such process which removes some organic material from the green and in turn allows soil exchange to take place through top dressing. The process of hollow coring removes a ‘core’ or ‘plug’ from the existing soil to aerate the soil without damaging the playing surface. Used mainly on golf courses and bowling greens, it enables deeper rooting for fine fescues and bent grasses which provides better playing surfaces. Cores removed from the ground are lifted using a core harvester.
This process has minimum disruption with the holes either filled with a free draining top dressing, or left open which enables the surrounding soil to breakdown, opening the soil structure. It can also revitalise greens suffering from a build up of salts using soil exchange. It is calculated that after 16 treatments using 25mm diameter tines at 100mm centres, approx 96% of the green will have been removed and changed.
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