Last year at our sister title Service Dealer’s Conference, I was able to catch up with Chris Gibson, md of GGM / PSD and during our conversation I asked him if he would be interested in allowing me to trial some machinery, in particular an Eliet Scarifier to try out on some lawns I maintain.
So come this spring, around late March, PSD duly delivered both the Eliet 450 ZR Scarifier and DZC450 Pedestrian Overseeder to try. Both machines were delivered by Michael Groves, their business development manager, who is based in the Midlands.
Michael Groves delivering machines
Michael soon unloaded the machines and gave myself and my friend John, an ex-England bowler and current practicing professional greenkeeper, a demo, running through their operational modes – plus he offered us a few tips on using them.
Eliet are based in Belgium and manufacture a range of groundscare equipment including Green waste shredders and Turf care equipment including pedestrian scarifiers and overseeders. We wanted to trial a self-propelled scarifier to see how it differed from our own, very old, hand push Eliet Scarifier.
The E450 ZR Scarifier is a self-propelled unit which features blades that rotate in the opposite direction of the drive roller, therefore supposedly giving a better performance whilst a constant travel speed is maintained.
Over the course of the next six weeks both John Breeze and I extensively gave the scarifier a good testing, using it on a plethora of natural turf. With spring being an optimum time to carry out this work, we duly tested the machine on several different sites.
The removal of dead grass, thatch and weeds from a lawn is an essential part of lawn maintenance. This dethatching process is achieved with a scarifier as it creates the space within the lawn surface for healthy grass plants to grow.
The range of Eliet Scarifiers come with working widths of 40 to 75cm and are available with fixed, loose or double cut blades enabling you to select the right machine for the results you wish to achieve. All units except the entry level E401 Eco are equipped as standard with Permanently Sharp Blades that retain their sharp cutting edge during their entire working life.
The Eliet 450 ZR Scarifier is powered by a 5.5hp Honda GX160 engine with overall dimensions being L1230 x W630 x H1050mm, with a working width of 450mm and weighing 85KG.
Fitted with a Honda petrol engine
Over the course of six weeks, we were able to test the machine on a number of different sites. We began our testing on Bayston Hill Bowling Green with the machine set at around 7mm we were aiming to clean out some surface debris.
Basically, there is very little to worry about when using this machine. It has a simple operating procedure. Apart from ensuring the machine is topped up with oil and fuel, it is a case of setting the depth of the blades - in this case 7mm - using the easy adjusters on both sides of the blades, starting up, engaging the drive and away you go. The machine has a forward travelling speed which is set at a fairly slow walking pace.
Me using the Eliet scarifier on a bowling green
It took us just under four hours to undertake a single pass and clean up on a full-size bowling green (40x40). The results were amazing. It comfortably removed the debris in one pass. With no collecting box on this model, it was a case of clearing the debris by hand. I simply followed John with a rotary mower and we then blew any remaining debris off with our Stihl blowers. We then overseeded and fertilised the green.
Scarifying a domestic lawn
We also trialled the Scarifier on a number of domestic lawns of different sizes and shapes. The machine was manoeuvrable and easy to navigate around tight corners. The scarifier was also easy to load and unload off our small trailer.
Depth setting of machine
John setting depth of blades
I would certainly describe it as well-built and there is not a lot to go wrong with the way it is designed. Setting the depth of the blades is straight forward, with just two quick adjustments setting on either side of the machine with a gauge bar that gives you a range of depth settings.
All in all, we both enjoyed using this particular model, the E450ZR, as it is suited for doing domestic lawns. It is easy to get in and out of 4ft wide rear access passageways and doors.
If we had any criticism of this machine, it was the fact that we could not change its working speed. It could make a big difference if you had the ability to run a tad quicker across the ground, especially when using it on a large area like a bowling green. However, for all of the domestic lawns we trailed it on, its set forward speed was not a problem.
Testing DZC450 Eliet Overseeder
As for the Overseeder, we only briefly tried it out to see how it worked on a section of the cricket outfield. Again a simple machine to use, with a set of controls on the handlebars to control forward speed and to release the seed from the hopper. Once more a fairly bomb-proof design and build quality, although a tad noisier than the E450ZR scarifyer. The machine’s rotating blades create a groove for the seed to drop into, thus ensuring there is good soil seed contact, ensuring you get better germination rates than when you broadcast seed just on the surface.
Conclusions
Both machines are well constructed, built to last, simple to use and powered by a reliable Honda engine that is always easy to start and gives you a good running time before having to refill with fuel.
Altering the depth of the blades is simple and allows you to set up the machine to achieve different outcomes depending on the state of the lawn and what you want to achieve.
For us we felt that the E450ZR is a great choice of machine for a contractor or bowling club. It is easy to use, manoeuvrable and simple to operate. More importantly, it removes unwanted debris efficiently and quickly. Eliet do a collecting box on some models.
