The gp Air

During my time at Redditch Golf Club, I have learned different techniques of aerification (from scarification to verti-draining). Each of these methods have their unique way to allow the root system to breathe.
However, I recently took aeration to the next level. Instead of spiking the ground, or creating a vertical slit, I blew air into the ground to relieve the compaction... the results were mind blowing.

​The GP Air combines clever design with robust engineering, giving a cost effective solution for poor soil structure. 
Using an exclusive air delivery system, the GP Air is perfect for initiating and maintaining a healthy soil environment.

Compaction, water logging, bad drainage and anaerobic conditions are all factors associated with poor soil structure. These are every day battles for those tending them.
This unique machine can penetrate deep into the soil, and aerate with little or no disruption to the surface level. Releasing a controlled blast of compressed air, the GP Air lifts and shatters the compacted layers of soil. This allows saturated soils to drain. It also allows water to infiltrate parched and dry soils.
Soil structure determines the ability of a soil to hold and conduct water, nutrients and air necessary for plant root activity. It is the balance of soil matter, water and pore space that determines the health of the soil.
Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together reducing pore space. Heavily compacted soils contain few pores and have a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage.
Soil aeration affects compaction by breaking up the soil profile. The process of opening up the soil profile initiates a healthier soil environment, oxygenating the root zone, promoting the growth of beneficial soil organisms and enhancing the availability of nutrients.

A simple diagram below of what we are trying to achieve on the tees.

​The GP Air is effective, yet time consuming, so it's not a machine we could use on the fairways. The ideal sports turf area for the machine would be the greens or tees, as we're going to be de-compacting the worst areas we can certainly cross the greens off the list as they are USGA spec....Tee's it is then.

Step 1

Navigate the GP Air up and down the tee, punching each hole with a metre spacing, staggering each line to ensure we get a consistent even spread.

Step 2
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Like most areation work we create holes in the ground... sometimes, we then just leave the holes open, however most of the time we replace the nutrients we've taken out of the ground with either root zone or sand. On this occasion we'll be using a root zone amendment called Eco-Lite.

With a funnel we pour the Eco-lite into the holes (further explanation below)

Eco-lite is a natural Zeolite root-zone amendment that offers major, long term benefits for turfgrass.

The Benefits:

• Holds water and nutrients in the root zone until grass plants are ready to use them.
• Reduces leaching of fertilisers, preventing pollution of ground water .
• Reduces irrigation and fertilisers cost
• Promotes denser and deeper feeder root systems
• Help to prevent compaction and increase infiltration 
• Helps prevent anaerobic conditions (blacklayer)
• Increases firmness of playing surfaces
• Completely natural and non-toxic to plants and animals.

Below is a home made video of us demonstrating how to use the GP Air.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Kim Blake course manager at Fulford Heath Golf Club for supplying us the machine for a couple of weeks. This is one of many connections through Karl Williams our course manager, who worked under Kim once upon a time. This machine will work wonders for specific areas.
It is nice to have a helping hand off our local golf clubs!! Thanks again Blakey  :)