July featured testimony
Jun 30, 2010 by Landon
Thank you First Products for providing me with an exceptional product that I wish we had years ago. My family owns and operates a semi-private course in upper East Tennessee. I am also a co-founder and partner in a small lawn and sports field renovation company, Tennessee Turf and Chemical. Using the AERA-vator has brought remarkable results on our course, sports fields and residential lawns. The outcomes I have witnessed using your aera-vator are unrivaled in the turf industry.
The AERA-vator was demostrated to me in the fall of 2008, on our 419 Bermuda fairway. We were in the middle of an extreme drought (30-plus consecutive days of 90 degrees and above temperatures and NO RAIN). Our wells were dangerously low with only enough to water for the greens. Due to the drought, the fairways were stressed (resembled being dormant). The course received one-inch of rain the week following our demonstration which greened the fairways up. Within two-weeks following, our fairways were wilting away again. The only “green” in our fairways was the “aeravated” demonstration spot. (See attached picture for proof.) This part remained green throughout the fall with minimal rainfall and no irrigation.
In addition to alleviating soil compaction on the course, we have re-established Bermuda that had experienced winter-kill and aided in the prevention of winter-kill the following year. Another advantage is minimal reel and bed knife wear since there is no cores on the turf surface (huge savings in reel and bed knife sharpening or replacement).
The AERA-vator was crucial in our site conversion of Hancock County High’s football field to Bermuda grass. We ripped and tilled the field. Then we utilized the AERA-vator to level the soil and pinned the roller to firm the soil to plant the Bermuda. During the grow-in period, four to six inch tire tracks were leveled long after the Bermuda was established with no back-filling of dirt with this machine.
In the past residential business, we declined customers due to the hard and dry condition of their lawns. With the AE60, it’s not an issue. We have more than doubled our customer base and extended our fall over-seeding season.
After watching the impressive results and the repeat business, we now own three aera-vators. In today’s economy with shrinking budgets and smaller staffs, everyone is charged with being more versatile and efficient. The aera-vator is a bullet-proof, multi-tasker with low operational costs and is up for any challenge. It remains a necessity for anyone in the turf industry.
-Tommy Keck
Superintendent
Bean Station, TN
Tagged: aeravator