Deep penetration aeration –
The waterlogging solution that digs deeper
to the walls of the fractures and fissures,
swelling and contracting with the moisture
content in the soil.
The machine moves on two metres and
repeats the operation, completing two
metre spacings on a staggered grid
pattern and each shot connects with
the previous ones so the whole area is
aerated and treated. The Terralift can treat
approximately 2,000m² of turf in a day.
It’s recommended that the probe holes
are backfilled with aggregate to provide
a semi-permanent aeration/ventilation
shaft. The preference in the UK is to use
claybaked balls which are inert, porous
and allow air and water to penetrate into
the probe holes.
L
andscapers, groundsmen and
gardeners responsible for large
grassed open space areas such
as parkland, sports pitches, golf
courses, bowling greens and avenues
of trees, right through to domestic
gardens, all share a common problem.
Compaction of the soil and panning lead
to waterlogging which renders areas
unusable, in many cases for long periods
of time.
The usual focus will be on aeration to
relieve compaction and open up the soil
to allow air to get to the roots and improve
drainage. Essential work to keep playing
surfaces usable and maintain the grass but
if the ground is too hard the tines bounce
and the area remains untreated. Similarly,
where aeration is regularly carried out to a
depth of 300mm the effect over a period
of time will be to actually create a pan
layer at 300mm. What is needed to relieve
the resultant waterlogging is fracturing of
the soil below this depth and that calls for
a specialist approach to the problem.
Deep penetration aeration has proved
successful for many years and is well
known by golf courses for relieving
compaction panning on their greens,
tees and even around tree roots. In fact,
the technique was introduced with the
invention of the Terralift machine in
Germany in the early 1970’s. There is
many a Greenkeeper who will testify to
the success of the treatment. The first in
the UK was carried out at Sittingbourne
and Milton Regis Golf Club in 1985, with
a return visit for just one day’s top up
treatment on four greens being requested
some 15 years later! Since then different
chassis versions of the Terralift have
been designed to work in a wide range of
applications.
What is unique is the ability to
hydraulically hammer a probe one
metre into the soil and release a blast
of compressed air at a pressure of up
to 20Bar (280psi) which fractures the
compacted soil. At a depth of one metre
the probe has effectively passed though
pans created by other aeration machines,
opening up the soil and creating fissures.
On the tail end of the air blast dried milled
seaweed, a natural eco-friendly product,
is injected via the probe and this sticks
Typical applications for deep penetration
aeration have broadened from the original
golf course treatment into football and
rugby playing fields, bowling greens,
cemeteries, National Trust properties,
estates and private gardens. The long-
term solution causes little surface
disruption and allows immediate play on
sports pitches and greens after treatment.
In the case of public parks the deep
penetration treatment is often used
around trees which suffer from compacted
ground due to heavy foot traffic. Deep
aeration is carried out one metre inside
and one metre outside the canopy drip
line as this is where the growing roots lay.
By going to one metre depth excess water
is taken away from the root zone to stop
anaerobic conditions.
Well aerated soil around the root zone
allows a better uptake of oxygen for the
trees and a better access for rainwater, in
turn resulting in a stronger root growth
and canopy spread. Phytophthora can
also be stopped by using the Terralift
to aerate the soil, keeping the soil open
with the injection of the seaweed, with
fissures opened to allow liquid fungal
treatment product to be watered over the
top surface.
The Terralift deep penetration aeration
service is owned and operated by Terrain
Aeration 01449 673783
www.terrainaeration.com
Landscape & Urban Design
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