Countrywide Turf Solutions turf management expertise
Countrywide Turf Solutions Pty Ltd acknowledge the critical importance of developing and maintaining venue playing surfaces that are sound, durable and safe.
Directors Rob D’Orria and Travis Blackwell are qualified turf practitioners with over 40 years combined experience in turf maintenance, renovation and consultation, applying the most up–to–date industry practices for maintaining everything from elite through to general purpose sporting surfaces.
Countrywide Turf Solutions apply current methodologies to ensure premium surface structure is maintained in the most cost–effective manner. Applying scientific turf management principles helps avoid unacceptable loss of grass cover and costly remedial works.
Clients
Countrywide Turf Solutions have provided turf management and consultancy services to the Melbourne City Soccer Club (La Trobe University, Bundoora) and previously to the Richmond Football Club (Punt Road Oval).
In addition, Countrywide Turf Solutions has had significant involvement with other major events, including:
- maintaining portable tennis courts at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne and Homebush, Sydney for Tennis Australia
- preparing a portable cricket pitch that was installed at Etihad Stadium
- participating in cricket wicket installations at the MCG.
Countrywide Turf Solutions have also maintained sports fields within the Mitchell and Strathbogie Shires; we currently maintain the showcase surface at King’s Park, Seymour.
Our philosophy
Turf maintenance is about good management, not good luck. Scientific turf management is integral to the Countrywide Turf Solutions service. Our view is that the same scientific approach should be taken for the management of sporting surfaces, regardless of location or level of competition.
We apply best practice principles to all our contracts and will bring the same level of expertise and commitment to excellence to Shire of Mitchell playing surface management as we use when managing elite playing surfaces.
An insight into Countrywide Turf Solutions management practices
Mowing
In preparing elite and premier sporting surfaces (including King’s Park Main Oval, acknowledged as one of the premier playing surfaces in the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League), Countrywide Turf Solutions follows the industry practice of removing not more than one third of leaf in any one mow. Mowing heights are determined by density required, growth rates, resistance to damage and the grass species. Countrywide Turf Solutions anticipate that regular consultation with, and reporting to, Shire of Mitchell grounds maintenance staff will contribute to sound, cost–effective venue surface management.
Growth control – peak growing periods
Spraying certain growth retardants during the peak growing periods not only inhibits vertical growth, but actually diverts plant growth downward into the root system to produce increased food reserves and lateral stem development.
This in turn produces a thicker, healthier sward that better equips turf to withstand temperature extremes, moisture loss, traffic and general wear and tear.
Sporting surfaces managed with growth control have been found to deliver up to a 50% reduction of clippings over a 6 week period. Cutting frequency can be halved, which in turn brings significant cost savings for surface maintenance.
Watering
Watering technique and the correct application of the right amount of water at the right time is a critical determinant of good turf health. Effective watering requires application of a mathematical formula, not guess work or ‘gut feeling’.
A correctly calculated watering regime plays a major part in developing a strong root system and maintaining deep roots. For playing surfaces built on heavy soils, avoidance of runoff is critical.
It is therefore important to be familiar with precipitation rates of sprinkler systems and what depth the applications will wet to. When irrigating, Countrywide Turf Solutions recognise the financial benefits of maximising irrigation efficiency and not wasting water.
Countrywide Turf Solutions has access to a patented mathematical formula (developed by mentor and close associate Peter Semos of Global Turf Solutions) to determine an individualised watering schedule for sports fields. This formula calculates the optimum gap between watering before grass begins to show signs of stress and requires more water.
Countrywide Turf Solutions use a Theta probe to measure daily soil moisture levels in the sports fields we maintain.
Other management and renovation practices
Dethatching, scarifying
Excessive thatch levels decrease water infiltration rates and can encourage algae formation during frequent rainfall. As a result, thatch can hold more water than the underlying sand and this causes shallow root formation.
Countrywide Turf Solutions monitor thatch levels by profiling and measuring the depth of the thatch. If thatch levels are below 5mm in depth, heavy dethatching or scarifying is unnecessary. A light groom will promote lateral growth and be far more cost effective.
Preventative vs curative pest, disease and weed control measures
Preventative as opposed to curative measures are essential to cost–effective, good practice turf management.
The cost of a preventative maintenance program is far less than remedial, curative work required after a problem has been detected. Moreover, there are also significant public health benefits, since preventative chemicals generally fall under the S5 poisons schedule with low oral toxicity compared with high toxicity S6 curative chemicals.
Countrywide Turf Solutions use only high quality chemicals that are fit for purpose. Rob D’Orria has extensive knowledge of chemicals and experience in chemical use across a range of applications.
Subsurface aerating using vert drain coring and spiking
Aeration helps maintain infiltration rates into the profile. The Countrywide Turf Solutions’ preferred method is hollow or solid tine coring conducted at least monthly during the growing season.
Fertilising
Countrywide Turf Solutions advocate regular soil and leaf tissue testing to maintain nutrients at optimum levels to maximise plant growth and minimise cost outputs.
Countrywide Turf Solutions fertilising programs:
build nutrients to their correct levels
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frequently result in growth responses such as:
- root growth
- root concentration and health
- vigour of grass and how quickly it can recover from damage
- consistency of colour of leaves
- reduced incidents of disease and yellowing of leaves within sward. use of tissue and/or soil analysis to maintain levels for guidance for the ongoing fertiliser program. Analysis is correlated with observed growth responses, particularly healthy, deep roots.
The aim of a Countrywide Turf Solutions’ fertiliser program is to achieve constant, consistent health and vigour of the roots and shoots with the ideal amount of fertiliser applied.
Our philosophy
Guesswork fertiliser application is a complete waste of time and money.
Amendment of soil conditions
Amendments are critical to best practice turf management and an important adjunct to fertilising. Soil analysis is used to establish cation exchange capacity (CEC) levels and determine if amendments to raise CEC levels are required.
Fertilisers are expensive; Countrywide Turf Solutions recognise that clients want nutrients to stay in the soil profile for as long as possible and not for these nutrients flush away with the first irrigation or rainfall event.