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Daniel Ratling’s team keep the school’s pitches in top condition despite intensive wear
NEW GROWTH AT WHITGIFT SCHOOL Head groundsman Daniel Ratling shares his simple secret to success
S By Phil Garrod UK sports turf manager, Advance Grass Solutions
ince 2015, Whitgift School head groundsman, Daniel Ratling has made steady improvements on the sports turf surfaces on site at Hailing Park, South Croydon. Whitgift School is not the biggest school in the country area wise and the pitches can be subject to intensive wear and stresses throughout a calendar year so keeping them in excellent condition can be a challenge. The grounds team, under direction from Dan, uses a simplistic but effective maintenance regime through concentrating on precise and well-timed cultural methods in order to keep improving the pitches. Dan has a Sports Turf Management degree and a Level 6 IOG Professional Certification in Turf Science Consulting, so it is fair to say he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to effective turf care. In order to enhance the cultural work that goes on at Whitgift School, Dan uses some carefully selected
“Nitro 30 has helped to improve the playability of the surfaces and gives me exactly what I need from a fertiliser” 30 THE GROUNDSMAN September 2019
products from the Growth Products’ range. Growth Products has one of the most extensively researched and long-standing product portfolios in the turf and amenity market and pioneered the use of slow-release liquids which are extremely effective on cool season grasses. One product, Nitro 30, is a liquid slow-release outfield fertiliser that has been a key addition to the management regime at Whitgift School. This product has really helped Dan and his team to control not only the aesthetic qualities of the surfaces but also help reduce excessive clipping yields which has been integral to improving the quality of the surfaces.
REAL-WORLD SUCCESS
According to Dan: “The Growth Products’ range is a very comprehensive turf and amenity range which has solutions for an array of circumstances. In my situation Nitro 30 has helped to improve the aesthetics and playability of the surfaces and continues to give me exactly what I need from a fertiliser.”
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For more information visit www.advancegrass.com