Terrain Aeration have added a new Super Scamper Terralift machine to their fleet for deep penetration aeration.


The new Terralift Super Scamper's first outing at the National Trust’s Stourhead estate

Originally a German invention used to aerate around tree roots with a blast of compressed air, the Terralift concept has been in service with Terrain Aeration for over twenty-five years. During this time, Terrain Aeration have treated all kinds of turf surfaces for waterlogging, compaction and panning, from sports fields, golf courses and bowling greens to treating trees in London parks, green spaces and the gardens of new house builds.

Terrain Aeration say the new Terralift machine they've built, takes the concept to a 'new level of treatment' for waterlogging.

The machine hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil (with the help of a JCB road breaker gun). Once reaching this depth, a blast of compressed air is released to fracture and fissure the soil. On the tail end of the air blast, dried milled seaweed is incorporated and this, over a period of time, expands and contracts with the moisture content in the soil, similar to ‘breathing’ underground, which helps to keep the fractures open longer. The probe is removed and the process repeated using two-metre centre spacings on a staggered grid pattern. This grid ensures that each probe shot links with the previous ones. The probe hole is then backfilled with an aggregate to provide a long term aeration/ventilation shaft, allowing air and water to percolate into the fissures. The top 1" - 2" should have a cap of normal top dressing to encourage the grass to grow over the holes.

The company says the result is an improved healthier root system, a healthier sward as well as less disease damage to the turf. There is no mess, treatment can in fact be carried out mid season, should a green for example be too waterlogged to play, but otherwise pre or end of season is the best time.