SPRAYERS & SPRAYING
Berthoud knapsacks deliver consistency in professional and domestic turfcare
he standards and precision of
T professional groundscare are being applied increasingly in the domestic setting .
Will Dunger , owner of Will ’ s Norfolk Lawns , has a foot in both camps , delivering high-end services to gardens and sports clubs across much of the county .
“ I ’ ve played cricket and football all my life ,” says Will , 27 , “ and worked in lawncare and grounds maintenance for several years .
“ Garden lawncare can be seen as the bottom of the food chain and I aimed to change that when I set up the business in 2018 by bringing the methods and machinery of the professional sector into the domestic setting .”
That includes the type of scarifiers , aerators and sprayers his dad employs at Fakenham Cricket Club , where he and fellow local residents help maintain the square and outfield .
“ The group of volunteers has been shrinking for some time ,” Will explains , “ so I help out preparing the ground for the new season , renovating the square in autumn and providing winter maintenance .”
The same is true at Horning Bowls Club . “ I lived there and helped maintain the green for them when they were short of volunteers . They liked what I did and they ’ ve grown into one of my sportsground customers .”
Common to both his domestic and professional service delivery are the Berthoud Vermorel 2000 knapsack sprayers Will and assistant Alex rely on to apply turf treatment liquids , whatever the surface .
“ The whole industry is moving to an environmentally more sensitive stance ,” states Will , “ and I fully support the change . We strive to avoid spraying chemicals such as herbicides and fungicides and now use more organic nutrients .
“ I ’ ve used the 16l Vermorel 2000s since I started the business and cannot remember having any issues with them at all . Straightforward to maintain , they are sturdy , convenient to calibrate and use , easy to fill and clean , and deliver a high level of consistency of spray .
“ When you can spend much of your time with a knapsack on your back , it ’ s important the kit is comfortable . The Vermorels ’ comfy , cushioned straps help minimise body stresses and strains so that you can spray in optimum safety .”
Newly qualified witn a distinction in the Grounds Management Association ’ s Level 2 Technical Certificate in Turf Surface Maintenance , Will is climbing the ladder of achievement in both professional and domestic turfcare . “ I ’ m keen to further develop my turfcare knowledge and plan to complete more courses to fulfil that aim ,” he states . One to watch .
Follow Will on : Twitter : @ willsnrfklawns Facebook : @ willsnorfolklawns Instagram : @ willsnorfolklawns
www . berthoud . fr / en /
30 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March / April 2023