One of the challenges for modern grounds maintenance solutions is standing the grass up before mowing it in order to obtain a clean true cut. Turf grooming is the practice which does this, using a variety of equipment to suit the different turf characteristics required by different sports. It is a simple process that encourages the healthy growth of the turf in a proactive way.
What are turf groomers and how do they work?
For football and rugby pitches where the turf is kept at a longer length, grooming is done by a spring tine rake mounted on the back of a lightweight compact tractor. On fine turf such as golf greens, which are mown much shorter, groomers with vertical rotating blades are used for both grooming and vertical mowing. The difference is in the rotational speed and the depth of penetration. The narrow vertical blades used in grooming help to clip the advancing growing point of turfgrass. It is the easiest way to promote vertical growth, which is important in golf course turf management for consistent play across the multiple lengths of grass. Golf course green maintenance includes the use of a range of groomers to suit the different areas of the course, including the greens.
Utilising turf groomers in modern grounds maintenance solutions ensures that surfaces do not suffer from grain and all irregularities are smoothed over. It ensures that individual blades of grass stand tall and straight, which encourages better play. By grooming turf regularly, a golf course will benefit from thicker plants and in turn, a healthier turf that is more robust to regular play.
The difference with verticutters
On the other hand, verticutters penetrate deep into the crown area of the plant, severing stems and stolons, which makes it an effective method to remove thatch or reduce the severity of thatch. A groomer is essentially a lightweight version of verticutters. They are designed to ensure a much cleaner mowing cut, through the rotating blades lifting the turf before it is mown.
Grooming for healthier turf
Turf grooming is a lighter finer version of verticutting, with one-half-inch or even one-quarter-inch spacing between vertical blades. Over time, the use of groomers repeatedly helps to bring the entire turf into a rejuvenated state, as new growth comes from the crown of the plant. Grooming changes not only the way in which the plant grows but also helps to change the position of the growing point, producing straight and tall individual blades of grass that produce a pleasing aesthetic, but also play better.
With clever management of turf, groomers can be used to help reduce the stress felt on the greens and fairways by reducing the number of times that verticutters are required. It takes time and dedication to manage golf courses and other modern sports turf. Although many different pieces of equipment are required to cover the different phases of growth and maintain pristine play at all times, groomers play an essential part in creating a healthy and robust turf. Turf grooming and management is a daily process, as any slip up in time can lead to an unhealthy turf and course.