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Deep tine aerator answers council's needs
Thursday, October 15 2009
Grounds staff at Port Stephens Council in NSW were delighted with the results after hiring a deep tine aerator from Kennards Groundcare to renovate 16 multi-purpose paying fields.
This tractor-drawn attachment creates 19mm (3/4in) holes and has an adjustable hydraulic top linkage which keeps the implement level at all times.
Ray Ambrose, sports fields team leader for Port Stephens Council, said the playing fields were laid between three and 45 years ago and have a sand base with a heavier surface profile.
"Due to long term cultural practices, budgets, construction management and user compaction we have over the years developed a soil profile barrier," he said. "This consists of a heavier soil barrier in the surface layer to a depth of about 100mm.
"Traditionally, we have used 3\4in hollow tines to a depth of about 50-75mm at renovation time in spring.
"While this achieves most of our short term goals for growth, long term it has gradually created more compaction and less water percolation (downward movement of water in soil).
"As the cores are left to break down on the surface, creating a light top dress, it has stimulated turf growth but at the same time continued our poor soil profile.
"Last spring, staff looked at ways to improve our renovation procedures with special attention to drainage and our compaction problems, yet maintain turf growth.
"We decided to use Kennards' deep coring machine with 3\4in solid tines and to a minimum depth of 150mm. The theory was to push the heavy soil cores into the vast sand area of the subsoil and base.
"We achieved an excellent result with establishment of turf to an optimum cover in six weeks, compared to the previous 12 weeks.
"This was mainly due to greater water movement and extra breakdown of compaction. Most important was the great result of percolation of the surface water during winter.
"This enabled us to not close any fields during the rainy periods of winter and still provide a safe surface for our users.
"We have developed a reputation for very good wet weather fields and regularly allow 'out of area clubs' to use our facilities for 'catch up' games during the week and on Sundays."
Kennards Groundcare offers a wide range of aerating options.
As well as the deep-tine aerator, there is the ride-on aerator, Aera-Vator with vibrating spikes, PTO driven corer and walk-behind corer.
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