Conservation & Ecology
Windrow composting
is limited for some of you guys but, and as I mentioned earlier, compost is a four stage process, so by adding further organic matter to the top of a single pile is not really acceptable for efficient recycling. It is imperative that the pile/s have enough oxygen, therefore you need to turn them over occasionally. I am not talking about every week here; more of a monthly process will suffice. If space is not an issue, then you could try the windrow method. Windrow composting is ideal for the larger venue and one which requires a quick turnaround from organic matter to humus. There are no parameters for the length of lines used in windrowing, but the width needs to be at least two metres for maximum heat generation; any less will cause heat loss, resulting in a slow turnaround.
What do we do with the Compost?
Now the easy part! There’s so much you can do with your homemade compost, such as incorporating it into the clubhouse gardens, giving it to the members/public for use as a soil conditioner, mixing it with a growing medium for use under high stress areas, including walkways and the sides of bunkers, or even building winter tees with it. Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham, made a
Winter tee built with recycled sand and humus.
winter tee with compost and recycled sand and I have to say that it was a success, so much so that they went on and built seven more using the same principal. Their ratio was three parts recycled sand and one part compost, but I think their success was based on the actual recycled sand rather than any other growing mediums, such as soil and clay; sand is really not that good at retaining moisture and nutrients and I feel that adding the compost was key in producing such a fine and disease free playing surface. We must remember that sand is a finite
resource and one which will eventually become unavailable to the majority of golf courses - that statement was unheard of a few years ago, but I feel that it is fast becoming the reality. Other areas where a mix of sand/soil and
compost has been of use are the walkways to the side of bunkers or the heavily worn areas to the sides of tee banks. I have to point out, again, that a mix of sand/soil and compost are not particularly good for playing surfaces, such as greens and fairways, as it will be a little soft under foot. It is, however, suitable for a winter teeing areas as it offers a small amount of give when the golfers take their shots. If you fancy something a little different on your golf courses or sports grounds, then
why not incorporate a wildflower eco zone using your newly developed humus? That’s an article for another day, but I hope you now see that the list is almost limitless where recycling is concerned! So we have looked at the
compost/humus; what it is, how you make it and its uses within a fine turf environment. Who knew we had such a useable and valuable commodity at our disposal which we often just throw away?
Beginning in April 2008, we ran a series of articles on the Gingerbread Men, a group of head greenkeepers from Cheshire and North Wales who gathered together at regular intervals to support each other in their work.
DIAMOND GEEZERS
THE GINGERBREADS - SUSTAINING GOLF
Their remit, and ours, was to champion sustainable golf, so what better way to do so than by featuring their courses, and their working practices, in our magazine.
Cries of “Jim Arthur” and “it’s nothing new” were levelled at them, but one thing’s for sure, it brought sustainability to the table and, for that, the golf industry should be grateful.
Pitcured are l-r: Andy Ralphs (Delamere Forest), Brian Taylor (Sandiway), Steve Oultram (Wilmslow), Andy Peel (Bull Bay), Roger Kelly (Royal St David’s - now retired), Stuart Yarwood (Lymm), Paul Lowe (now on the ‘far side’ with Symbio) and John Kelly (Royal St David’s - retired). Carl Crocher (Caldy) is not shown. Thanks for the input Gents.
PC APRIL/MAY 2015 I 115
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