With the arrival of summer in the Southeast, the window for impactful cultural practices is wide open. As playing conditions tighten and golfer expectations continue to rise, the pressure is on to produce healthy, high-performing putting greens. Among the most impactful practices in the superintendent’s arsenal is verticutting, a proven method for managing thatch, improving surface smoothness and promoting healthier turf.
However, achieving the desired impact with traditional verticutting heads mounted on triplex mowers can be a challenge. The limitations in depth control, maneuverability and surface contact often prevent superintendents from removing enough organic material to make a meaningful difference. This is why many superintendents are turning to walk-behind verticutters – such as the Wiedenmann or Maredo STrac 700 series, the classic Graden GS04, and similar models – to elevate the quality and precision of this essential practice.
Four Reasons To Consider Walk-Behind Verticutters
1. Superior Depth Control and Consistency
Unlike triplex-mounted units, walk-behind verticutters are engineered with a focus on depth precision. This allows for uniform blade engagement across the entire putting surface, even on undulating greens and during tight turns. The result is cleaner, more-effective thatch removal without risking turf injury from inconsistent or overly aggressive contact.
2. Excellent Ground Following and Surface Safety
These machines often feature floating or articulated heads that adjust to the contours of the ground. This allows the blades to maintain optimal contact with the turf while protecting the canopy from scalping, tearing, or chatter issues that are commonly seen with triplex-mounted setups.
3. Reduced Compaction and Turf Stress
Walk-behind units are lightweight, balanced and easy to set at a wide range of depths, all of which minimizes turf stress and compaction during operation. This contrasts with triplexes, where the size and weight of the machine combined with the lack of maneuverability can cause undue stress on greens and collars, especially with repeated passes. Using walk-behind verticutters can lead to healthier roots, improved recovery and better overall plant response after verticutting.
4. Better Maneuverability
Walk-behind verticutters offer tight turning capabilities and more-refined handling, which is especially valuable around collars, bunker edges and other fine turf areas. Their design helps reduce cleanup pass damage and allows for more-precise verticutting in confined or irregular spaces.
One additional benefit of modern walk-behind verticutters is their interchangeable head systems, which allow for quick adaptation to other cultural practices such as fraise mowing, core aeration or spiking. This versatility makes them a practical and efficient investment.
Final Thoughts
While triplex-mounted verticutting heads remain a standard solution, walk-behind units offer superior control, performance and protection for putting greens. With increasing pressure to deliver prime putting conditions, superintendents need tools that minimize risk while maximizing results. For those looking to fine-tune their cultural practices this summer, a dedicated walk-behind verticutter could be the difference between maintaining and mastering putting green performance.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org