Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Spring is upon us!

March 22, 2018/in Press Release, Technical/by Michael Fance

With winter turning to spring, sportsturf managers can look forward to the benefits this change of season brings to their playing surfaces. We have experienced milder winters in recent years and the timing of spring has become less predictable but the concept of longer daylight hours, warmer rainfall, combined with rising air and soil temperatures […]

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

March 22, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park: Terrain Aeration has provided services to relieve compaction of soil at Hyde Park. The company used its Airforce Terralift and SuperScamper machines. The latter works in conjunction with a towed compressor and is therefore a lighter machine producing less weight on the turf surface. The primary areas to be treated were […]

Spring is upon us!

March 22, 2018/in Press Release, Technical/by Michael Fance

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

March 22, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Spring is upon us!

March 22, 2018/in Press Release, Technical/by Michael Fance

With winter turning to spring, sportsturf managers can look forward to the benefits this change of season brings to their playing surfaces.

We have experienced milder winters in recent years and the timing of spring has become less predictable but the concept of longer daylight hours, warmer rainfall, combined with rising air and soil temperatures benefitting cool season grasses remains the same. By definition, cool season grasses are grass types that thrive in areas with cold winters and relatively hot summers. These grasses grow best when temperatures are between 18 and 27°C, which is why they grow most in the spring and autumn. As you look to enhance and maximise the natural benefits of spring culturally, mechanically and biologically, we believe we have a number of products that can assist you at this key time of year.

As spring approaches you want to have the tools available to help your turf out of the winter doldrums and into spring vibrancy. Uniform soil moisture and balanced air to water ratios are critical in making sure your turf is healthy and has the greatest chance of a strong start coming out of winter dormancy.Whether you need to “wake up” the rootzone to get your turf off to a good start or to seed or turf to repair winter damage, don’t let water movement issues get in the way of great turf. Be in control of water movement in the soil profile, even early in the season. We offer a selection of soil surfactants to help ready turf for play as quickly as possible and can help you design an early spring programme so turf can rebound from winter and be healthy before the stress of summer heat. Start early for better turf throughout the year.

The symptoms associated with hydrophobic soil may not be expressed early in the year but the conditions that cause them may still be present in the soil profile. We know that hydrophobic soils are re-wettable and often this occurs naturally over the wetter wintermonths. The taking of cores, drying them out and carrying out a simple water drop penetration test (WDPT Letey, 1969) can indicate whether the hydrophobic-causing conditions have persisted through the winter. Using a soil probe, collect soil samples and air-dry them at room temperature for two weeks. Cores must be completely dry to determine degree of soil water repellency. Place water drops at 1cm intervals along the soil core as exhibited in Figure 1, time how long they take to move into the soil core.

Severity of soil water repellency may be determined using the below table. The more severe the soil hydrophobicity, the more difficult soils are to re-wet which precedes poor turf quality.

If the cores exhibit a level of repellency Aqueduct can be used as a pre-treatment tool to address the problem before starting a regular preventative programme. An application made at 25L/Ha in 500L of water can address these issues very effectively and significantly decrease the likelihood of hydrophobic problems such as localised dry patch during a regular preventative programme in the hotter/drier months by creating a “clean” profile so that everything performs uniformly.

Whether your winter has been wet or dry, starting a Revolution programme early will help optimize air-to-water ratios in the rootzone for a better growing environment and healthier turf. If it has been wet, Revolution will move excess water off of the surface and through the soil profile. If it has been dry, Revolution ensures rain and irrigation will get into the root zone so your turf gets the uniform moisture it needs. Revolution should be applied monthly at 19L/Ha in 800L of water. By starting with Revolution in the spring you can ensure your turf is healthy and ready for play in wet or dry conditions.

In summary, spring is a key time for turf managers, the natural change in the weather is obviously the dominant factor closely followed by sound integrated turf management practices. At Aquatrols we believe we have a number of products that enhance and maximise the benefits of the onset of spring and can assist managers of sports turf at this key time of year.

To find out more, visit www.uk.aquatrols.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

March 22, 2018/in Machinery, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Before work started it was necessary to radar scan for underground services and mark out the areas to be treated. The Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil, releasing a blast of compressed air to fracture the compaction and injecting dried seaweed which will expand and contract with the moisture content in the ground. The probe is inserted in spacings of two metres on a grid pattern, to ensure the underground fracturing overlaps. The resulting holes are top-filled with Lytag, lightweight aggregate to provide a long-term aeration and ventilation shaft which will encourage air and water into the root zone. The result is a healthier soil structure, the compaction is relieved and a stronger root growth is promoted.

This particularly applied in Hyde Park in the areas around the trees.Terrain Aeration have also treated the area around the Horse Chestnut group in Kensington Gardens to the east of Broadwalk and in Regents Park, the area beneath the canopies of the first and second line of trees between Chester Road and Ready Money Fountain. An area of two thousand five hundred square metres beneath canopies of Norway maples at the southern end of Marylebone Green has also had the Terralift treatment. “We have used Terrain Aeration’s services for a number of years now,” says Ian Roger, Royal Parks’ Arboricultural Manager, “and their programme of decompaction of the soil beneath some of our most stressed trees will have long-term benefits, extending their viable lifespan, and ensuring their continued contribution to the amenity of the park and the environment.”

For more information, visit: www.terrainaeration.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Spring is upon us!

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

Spring is upon us!

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Spring is upon us!

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT