Equestrian
A Wright Rain hose and raingun irrigator allows the going to be eased in the run up to the event, if it needs it, and helps stimulate grass growth
country course, apart from getting extra fertiliser and more frequent cuts. “The dressage arena actually gets more hammer than anywhere else, with the hooves of eighty horses following the same track, and I can almost see where last year’s horses went,” says Phil. When the crowds have gone home, the elite event horses have been loaded back into their luxurious horseboxes and the marquees and portaloos have gone, Phil’s work begins again in earnest. He fills any divots and then cuts back
2013 winner Jonathan Paget at the Lake
the sward, scarifies and topdresses in preparation for overseeding. A second fertiliser application may also be made. “A feed at this time helps to improve the root structure,” he comments. Aeration is also an important task as it helps nutrients and topdressings get into the soil, as well as encouraging root growth, and is carried out in the autumn as well as the spring. “I’ve always used a Verti-Drain, but this autumn I'm going to try a Shockwave aerator, which is more aggressive and has
a linear effect. The two machines have been shown to work well in combination and it will be interesting to see the results here.” With numerous trees in the parkland setting, leaf clearing is necessary to prevent the dead leaves damaging the sward. Like many groundsmen, Phil found the job even more arduous in the wet autumn of 2012. Tree surgery is another ongoing task, principally to avoid the risk of spectators being hit by falling branches.
JUNE/JULY 2013 PC 113
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