Sprigging is a new word and method to me. It looks like you are laying sod.There's a lot going on in this pic, but we getting started with planting.
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I have a Thatchmaster Verticutter that I use on some fields.Do you use a finish flail mower with dethatching knives?
I go over the savings with my customers often. Seems a lot of people want an instant lawn or field. Where it is left to me I much prefer seeding grass areas and planting very small trees. I think it increases the chance for more uniform root structures leading to less weeds too.There is no need to cut holes for the sprinklers in this case, because the sod is being shredded as it goes through the sprigging machine.
When we are laying solid sod and not sprigging it, yes, we cut holes for the sprinklers to pop up.
In this case, we used 43 rolls of sod to sprig this field. Last time we installed solid sod, we used about 400 rolls of sod.
The difference is about $50,000, but the solid sod field would be ready for use in about 15-30 days, whereas the sprigging takes about 70-90 days.
Sorry, but I don't know of any walk behind models. That's not something that I would use.Maybe a bit of an aside, but got any recommendation on a walk-behind slit seeder, @Complete Turf Care ? I'd been thinking about getting one of the 3-point, but after seeing prices mostly near or above $10k, I decided I don't love my lawn quite that much. I had imagined spending closer to $3k.