MAKING THE MOST OF WATER

Water is everywhere but there is not a drop in sight!

Despite the Earth consisting of 71 percent water, it is becoming an increasingly valuable resource. Public spaces such as parks, sports fields and golf courses are in high demand by the growing population and require large amounts of water to keep green and aesthetically appealing.

To ensure these spaces can be used throughout every season, sand has been used to provide water and improve turf feel and safety. However, in periods of drought, keeping a turf area alive and healthy can be a challenge, and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing and healthy-looking lawn is very costly.

Over the years, small amounts of peat were trialled and introduced into the sand profile at the design stage. Results for improved turf vigour and improved efficiency of water use can sometimes be offset by the inherent hydrophobicity of peat once it reaches a minimum moisture content.

In more recent times, coir pith (coconut peat) has replaced peat from 5 percent to 15 percent by volume into the upper sand/soil profile. Coir has several advantages over mined peat: it is 100 percent renewable, can easily absorb and retain moisture, even in periods of drought, and is a cheaper solution for sand when comparing the cost benefits of water saving.

Coir is available from many companies around Australia as it is also used in many vegetable, flower and ornamental plant producing operations. Located just Northwest 50km outside Sydney, NSW, Grange Growing Solutions imports a large amount of coir per year from India and Sri Lanka. The company is traditionally a growing media (potting mix) manufacturer who source premium quality expanded coir to improve the water efficiency in amenity turf.

Contact the team today via the links below for more information.