Verti-Drain gets to the root of the problem
Whether it’s golf, football or any other sport where feet relentlessly pound turf, compaction is a big issue that results in waterlogging in winter and hard baked surfaces in summer. In either state, the grass can’t properly take up the nutrients it needs and conditions for play quickly deteriorate.
At the Hartley Wintney Golf Club in North East Hampshire the challenge is all the greater because half the parkland and woodland course is in the flood plain of the River Hart, so it can get very wet in the sort of winters that have increasingly become the UK norm. For Course Manager Matt Rolls, a key element of his prevention strategy lies in the use of a Redexim Verti-Drain 7521, which he has sourced from David Gray, Area Sales Manager at Lister Wilder.
“We had previously hired a contractor to come and do the job but the tines only went down to six or seven inches and it wasn’t done at the best time of year for effectiveness,” says Matt. “We knew we wanted to get our own Verti-Drain to give us much great flexibility so we planned ahead by buying in a Kubota M4 tractor a while back that would work with it. I looked at another aeration machine but have always liked the sheer build quality of the Verti-Drain and the fact that it would allow us to go deeper.
“To date, we have only taken it out once and have taken it down to eight inches, but once we have the right conditions we will increase that to 10 or 11 inches. Nowadays, you can’t plan ahead but having our own Verti-Drain means that we can do it ourselves when the time is right and then repeat as necessary. I am confident that it will make a big difference on our fairways and the carries to the fairways. As soon as we get it out there in the right conditions we will keep it out there.”
The 7521 Verti-Drain has a range of hollow or solid tines. By breaking up the compaction, their action allows roots to penetrate more deeply into the soil and provides a route for surface water to drain away. The result is a better soil structure and a healthier grass sward that recovers more quickly.
Meanwhile, Matt has also taken delivery of a Kubota RTV500 from Lister Wilder as an addition to his utility vehicle fleet. “We wanted a general run-around that can be used for light duties,” says Matt. “We looked at an electric option but after doing a demo decided to go for the petrol option which we think will last us rather longer.”
With a history dating back to 1891, Hartley Wintney Golf Club had nine holes until 2000 when it became an 18-hole par 71 course measuring 6,277 yards.
