Aerification with solid tines is an antiquated practice.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Never

Answer: (B)

Solid-tine aerification is not an antiquated practice; it remains a valid tool in turf management. The goal of aerification is to relieve soil compaction and improve air, water, and nutrient movement in the root zone. Solid-tine tools create openings without removing soil cores, which means less surface disruption and a quicker return to play or mowing. This makes them useful for shallow aeration to loosen surface compaction, or in situations where you want to avoid the cleanup of plugs and when the primary concern isn’t heavy thatch removal. In contrast, hollow-tine (core) aeration removes cores and is often preferred for deeper penetration and more thorough thatch incorporation. Because both approaches have appropriate uses depending on the site and goals, the statement is not universally true. You might employ solid-tine aeration in certain circumstances, while hollow-tine remains the go-to for deeper relief.