Profitable Soil Preparation with the Turf Teq Power Rake
W hen preparing soil for turf , grass seed or wild flowers , what ’ s the best piece of equipment to use ?
A rotavator will churn up the ground , bringing stones and debris to the top , leaving four of five inches of lumpy , soft soil that will need to be re-consolidated and top-raked in order to achieve a firm , stone-free surface . No matter what compaction method is used , the job will be time-consuming and the sub-soil will rarely be as firm as it was previously . Consequently , it is liable to slump when the first serious fall of rain comes along , and the client will expect the contractor to return to site to rectify the problem . speed . The machine tills only the top layer , so doesn ’ t disturb the sub-soil . First , angle the rake box left or right to work the stones into windrows for easy collection and disposal . Whilst doing this , the Rake is already starting to grade the site and produce a fine tilth . Next , pivot the head straight and drive it across the area in two or three directions in order to complete the job . Because the machine tills only the top layer ( max 25mm ), the soil is immediately ready for use . You don ’ t have to re-consolidate it as you would if you used a rotavator .
You now have a level , rough-raked site ready to accept turf . If you are seeding , you just need to touch in the wheel marks with a hand rake .
The Turf Teq Power Rake will also :
• facilitate repair of an existing lawn without lifting the turf
• spread topsoil evenly
• break up compacted gravel areas or paths , golf buggy paths and similar surfaces prior to re- levelling .
Manufactured in USA , the Turf Teq machine has hydrostatic drive ; hardened steel rotor teeth with tungsten tips ; diff lock ; simple controls and a Honda GXV390 petrol engine .
The profitable alternative is to use the Turf Teq Power Rake . It has twice the working width of a rotavator and is capable of a much faster working
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | September / October 2023 75