Single Digging

This cultivates the soil to a depth of one spit: A spit is the depth of one spade, about 225 to 250mm. A trench is dug and the soil excavated in front of the dug trench. Working backwards, another trench is dug to a depth of one spit and the soil turned over and deposited into the first trench. This is carried out until the whole area has been dug over. Incorporate any amendment material, as required. If the base of the trench is hard and compacted it should be forked over to produce a loose base. If the soil is a light sandy soil, then a spade will easily disturb the base of a trench.

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  Site Clearance and Ground Preparation

The type of equipment and machinery required for clearing and then preparing ground for seeding or turfing can vary significantly depending on the size and type of land, whether an amenity turf area, brown field, a garden, golf course, green field, reclaimed land, or sports pitch or ground. Chainsaws will be used for cutting down trees and hedges, whilst brush-cutters will be used for and long grass and scrub. Garden work will be mostly hand tools and hand operated machinery (e.g. power barrows, rotovators), whilst brown field and large sites can involve heavy duty machinery including

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  Slicing

See Slitting.

  Sodding

An uncommon term for the laying of turf, although this was formerly a traditional way of referring to turfing during the early and mid-parts of the 20th Century.

  Soil Aeration

The action of improving air content within a soil. It also relates to the capability of a soil to exchange soil air with atmospheric air. There needs to be adequate air-filled porosity within a soil, typically at least 10%, for good oxygen exchange to take place, whilst under waterlogged conditions a soil can become anaerobic, with the oxygen being used up, in a short period of time. Denitrification occurs as oxygen is reduced, releasing N2O, and this can be followed by a build-up of high levels of some elements, in particular iron and manganese, which can be toxic to plant growth. The disorde

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  Soil Bed Preparation

To make sure a good finish is achieved the key is in a well-prepared and even surface to lay turf or sow grass seed on. Time spent at this stage will be well rewarded because the finished area will not sink and will stay fairly even and firm afterwards. Inadequate preparation will result in the area sinking unevenly and end up with undulations all over it ¯ this is a typical sign of poor preparation work and poor workmanship.

  Soil Conditioner

A material which improves the soil biological activity, the potential for root growth and overall health of a soil.

  Sole Plate

The bottom blade of a cylinder mower.

  Sowing

The application of grass seed to a surface, as in ‘sowing seed'.

  Spiked Roller

A heavy hand roller with many metal nail-like spikes, about 30 to 40mm in length, attached. Typical widths of a spiked roller are 300mm; 600mm and 900mm. These are ideal for regular aeration during the summer months on fine turf surfaces to help create hundreds of holes per square metre. This also helps aid water penetration and to maintain a good turf surface to atmosphere air exchange; all without any surface disturbance.