WEED CONTROL
“ Our CP 1l hand sprayers have been here even longer than I can remember ,” he reveals .
“ The late-February maintenance doesn ’ t usually need much . We apply silicon grease to lubricate parts and replace seals and O-rings if they have perished or dried out . I know the aftersales care and dealer support are good , so we can always get hold of replacement parts and accessories .”
Most of the team are PA1 / PA6 qualified so spray duties can be shared out .
The man-made three-acre lake and two ponds – fed from the ditch system lining the course - are kept free of unwanted aquatic growth . Aerators keep the water healthily oxygenated , encouraging an array of wildlife in and around the features , including newts , lizards , slow worms and adders . A local man scuba dives to dredge the lake of reeds and to keep banks free .
“ We wait until high summer when the ditches dry out before applying Roundup along the bases to remove tree growth ,” David says .
Ecology and environment are high priorities . “ We don ’ t spray many chemicals – mainly feeds and wetting agents and some selective herbicide in the long rough .
“ Boom spraying comes into play for the larger stretches of the course – we apply natural fungi and microbes on to the soil , using our Toro 5800 .”
Knapsacks come into their own again for spot spraying weedkiller such as Depitox and HolsterXL on tees , tee banks , and in the rough “ to encourage the grasses to flourish , rather than weeds , and to control ragwort ”.
“ August is the perfect time to spray the bracken , just as stalks start to bend and droop . It takes us a couple of weeks to complete , ideally when we ’ ve had fine , dry weather beforehand .”
Newly acquired Berthoud Vermorel Pro Comfort knapsacks , with 3.6m
telescopic lances , will prove “ a gamechanger ” for penetrating deeper into the undergrowth , David adds .
Leatherjackets have proved troublesome . “ Two years ago , we lost all our fairways but managed to gain emergency clearance to apply Acelepryn . You only have a narrow window to buy and apply it and sales are strictly recorded and controlled .”
Fungicide is applied sparingly and David prefers preventive organic options such as Chitosan spray to resist disease , pest damage and drought . “ It ’ s a probiotic for greens ,” he smiles , “ helping seed germination and toughening up the plant .”
Much of the estate is left wild to foster butterflies , insects and birds – “ Three pairs of buzzards nest nearby ,” David notes with pride .
He believes that with sprayers , as with most other things , you get what you pay for . “ You can buy cheaper ones of course , but then you ’ ll discover there are no replacement parts , so you have to bin the sprayer and buy another one .”
www . berthoud . fr / en / www . cooper-pegler . com
28 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March 2022