Friday 24th January 2014.

We have been busy this week working on the verti-cutting of our green surrounds.

We have been lent a demo verti-mower unit to trial and have taken the opportunity to verti-cut our surrounds to remove excessive grass density and thatch. This was not a planned exercise but when the opportunity arose it was too good to pass.

The verti-mower heads retro-fit onto our fairway mower and as they are narrower than other verti-cutting heads they work well on undulating ground as we have on green surrounds. The total width of the unit is approx 3 metres, so large areas can be renovated very quickly.

Once verti-cut, the surround is broomed to remove grass clippings, mown and finally blown down to disperse finer grass material.

Removal of the excess grass and thatch will firm up surround and reduce the occurrence of mower ridging that can be seen from time to time on the sloped sections of the surrounds.

Recovery from this practice will be very quick.

Fairway mower with the fitted verti-cutting heads.

Verti-cutting removing excess grass and thatch.

Surround before clipping removal.

Clippings are removed by power broom.

The cleaned up surround is then mown.

Excess clippings are blown off with power blower after mowing.

The finished result is a firmer, smoother surface for play.