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1. James Bluck

   

   1 posts
   
   2/6/2015 6:02 AM

   Good morning,
   
   We are building a new 18 hole course at my facility with seeding starting this spring. We are seeding with a fine fescue mix and I am looking for a recommendation for a large area seeder. I understand the best option for seeding fescue is to hydro mulch but that is not in the budget. I am mainly concerned about avoiding rows and getting an accurate and even seeding process.
   
   Thank you,

   
   
   
   
2. Craig Moore

   

   0 posts
   
   2/6/2015 8:02 AM

   Jim,
   We used a Brillion when we seeded Kingsley and Greywalls. The seed to soil contact is perfect but of course you get the rows esp. with the fine fescue. It took about 4-5 seasons (at our fertility levels) for the rows to fill in where they could no longer be seen anywhere. While looking at these rows for many young years at both courses I often thought about ways to reduce the appearance. A couple things to try...
   1.)Attach and Drag a small piece of berber carpet (the width of the brillion) behind the seeder to mix up the seed rows a bit.
   2.)The larger fescue seed allows you to seed with a vicon or Lely Fert spreader then track it into the soil using a custom fabricated roller made with enough knobby sand pro tires side by side to fill a 6-8 foot axle.
   This method would of course only work well on days that are not very windy.
   
   Have Fun
   
   
   (When we seeded Mistwood we also used a brillion but those as you know are bentgrass fairways and the rows disappeared within a season - still not a good reason to ever choose high maintenance bent for fwys in our great State or anywhere as far as I'm concerned)

   
   
   
   
3. Cerminara Jamie L

   
   2/6/2015 12:02 PM

   I have also used a Brillion to seed fairways...we split the application and went at different directions.
   
   Have also heard of leasing or renting a Triwave...really depends on your budget I guess.

   
   
   
   
4. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   2/6/2015 1:02 PM

   Jim, check out Gandy spreaders. We have a 1012t-tbn that is a very large drop spreader, much wider than a brillion. We've used it here for over-seeding. The only issue I see for you would be needing to dimple it in, or if possible a light topdressing over the top to keep the seed down. Here we just verticut lightly and drop it, water and get a good take. A little different situation from what you're in, but you wont have any rows. Maybe you could fab up a large roller with bunker rake style tires, make it wide enough so you can drive up and down your fairways after seeding to dimple the seed in. Build a rack on top to add some weight and you should be fine. Should be something that can be made easily, doesn't have to look pretty just do the job. Make the axle a two-part, that way you'll be able to make turns with little disruption. Good luck with your new project.
   
   Regards,

   
   
   
   
5. John Borcher

   

   0 posts
   
   2/6/2015 10:02 PM

   We just seeded 9 holes this fall using a Gill Seeder. Its only 6ft wide but did a great job with no rows, mostly comes up in clumps where the spikes pressed it in. The first fairways we seeded have already filled in to where you dont see clumps but this was with blue/rye mix.
   
   Best pics I could find:
   http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3940073

   
   
   
   
6. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   2/9/2015 10:02 AM

   We used a 10 foot and a 6 foot Brillion to seed almost 140 acres. Very simple machines and are easy to find/rent or borrow. Seeding in two directions is critical as well as a heavy rolling afterwards. Once in a panic we went full rate one direction (driving range) and took two years and a lot of N to fill in. I never liked how much seed was left on top of soil by Brillion but somehow germination was excellent. After we seeded I was able to get to the GIS show and saw all sorts and sizes of seeders but all came with a hefty price tag. The Brillions we used were free to use ( called in a couple of favors ) and did a good job.
   
   Tony Feheregyhazi
   Superintendent
   Bridges Golf Course.