Five years ago, Andrew Kidd, was actively seeking a turf management company that could respond to the turf needs of his newly acquired, small recreational property in the Huntsville area. Through word of mouth, Kidd had heard about Earth Elements, and, specifically, the work done by owner, William (Bill) Kilpatrick, and so, he reached out to Kilpatrick to revitalize and manage the three-hole golf course.
The Challenge:
The property required an extensive facelift to bring back the health to the turf and create an attractive, recreational space. The golf-course was surrounded by dense forest that restricted the amount of air flow to the property.
On further investigation, Earth Elements discovered that there were also several low-lying areas where water pooled, and the turf was ridden with thatch and undernourished. For the property, Kidd was looking for a management group that could do a quick clean up and maintain the health of the turf. However; Kilpatrick did much more than that.
“Bill became an incredible resource during the upgrade of the property,” said Kidd. “He was involved in all of the major decisions including providing suggestions to help amend an existing irrigation solution and ideas on how to enhance the overall property.”
The Initial Year:
Immediately, Kilpatrick saw the potential of this property and leaped in to conduct a massive clean up. The first task that they tackled was increasing the amount of airflow both within the lawn itself and in the surrounding area. This began with the Earth Elements team clearing the forest undergrowth and pruning the bordering trees to 30 feet. By doing so, they increased the amount of airflow in the property while also giving it an extremely interesting shadow effect.
With the forest cleaned up, it was time to take on the daunting task of the turf. This required a complete overhaul. Earth Elements customized approach ensured that each section of the property received exactly the type of care that it needed.
The process began with evaluating the specific challenges in each portion of the 5-acre property and putting the plan in place to resolve it. For some areas, this included triple aerating and dethatching certain areas to create open-air pockets and encourage root growth, while other sections required, heavy seeding and top dressing to fill in the bare patches.
For the low-lying areas, Earth Elements added in extensive surface drainage which helped to reduce the water pools.
Innovative Irrigation System Helps Bring the Pond System Back to Life
The sole source for irrigation for the 5-acre property was the on-site pond. Kilpatrick immediately saw an opportunity to increase the efficiencies of the system and put an improvement plan into action. To increase aeration in the pond, Earth Elements added in a large fountain, while pond dye and bacteria balls were added to help manage the algae levels.
Taking the Property to the Next Level-Maintenance and Aesthetics
With the initial groundwork done, it was time to create a maintenance plan that would encourage healthy turf growth. A soil test of the property revealed that Bill was working with slightly acidic soil, and so Earth Elements customized the fertilizer program to respond to these needs, including adding in dolomitic lime to reduce the overall acidity.
The Final Touch
Since the property was a recreational golf course, Kilpatrick wanted to create a space that the owners could enjoy. And so, he invested the time to add in details that converted it to a usable golf course including adding in cups, pins and flags to each green, and cleaning the bunkers to ensure that they drained properly.
Maintaining the Beauty of the Property
Each year, Earth Elements does a full seasonal maintenance package on the property for both the turf and irrigation. This includes aerating, de-thatching, seeding, topdressing, fertilizing, cleanups, dead tree removal and irrigation maintenance including any needed additions or repairs.
“Any time that there is an issue-grubs, turf maintenance, wear and tear, Bill is fully aware and puts the actions into place to resolve it,” says Kidd.
When it comes to properties, Earth Elements looks at both the short-term necessities and long-term solutions to enhance the value and its overall beauty. This proactive approach helps minimize costs and puts the client's concerns at ease. Last season, Earth Elements fully renovated the bunkers including adding in new drainage, geosynthetic liner, and sand. This strategy is particularly useful in larger-scale projects, allowing Earth Elements’ clients to focus on the most pressing issues, while, knowing in advance the plan for future upgrades and enhancements.
One of the benefits of working with Bill shared Kidd, is that he is someone that truly understands the industry and the best techniques to respond to the challenges within a property.
“He sees things, that an owner, most likely would miss,” says Kidd. “He is extremely attentive and proactive.”
Perhaps one of the things that Kidd has been most impressed by is the fact that his property is not just another job for Earth Elements.
“Bill is always thinking ahead and is extremely solution-focused, “says Kidd. “It has been an extremely positive experience- he always finds a way to put a smile on my face.”
