How Turf Contractor George Stillwell Keeps Turf Performing in Georgia
In the challenging conditions of Atlanta, Georgia, turf performance depends on the right approach and the right equipment. For contractor George Stillwell, Redexim machines play a key role in how he works, helping him stay efficient and deliver consistent results.
In Atlanta, Georgia, turf management comes with constant pressure. Heat, humidity and heavy native soils create conditions that can quickly break down even well-maintained surfaces.
For contractor George Stillwell of Sports Turf Services, success depends on using the right equipment to deliver consistent results, protect turf and stay efficient in demanding conditions.
George has decades of industry experience, developed on golf courses in the UK. He now applies that knowledge across the Atlanta area, helping to elevate local sports fields. Redexim machines support him and his team. Here’s how he uses them to maximise value for his business.
Building the Business
George started with the Verti-Drain® 7316, a machine that shaped his early work. He says: It doesn’t cause any damage. It doesn’t pull plugs on the greens and it’s light. Meaning it treats turf right and leaves a decent finish that supports recovery and playability.
Its lightweight design, combined with the right tractor setup, allows him to work safely on sensitive areas like greens without risking damage associated with other deep-tine aerators.
Just as importantly, it gave him flexibility. With one machine, he could move from greens to fairways and onto smaller sports surfaces such as football pitches and parks. That meant he could take on a wider range of work from the start, without needing additional equipment.
That consistency paid off. After his first year in business, every client returned. The 7316 did not just help him complete jobs, it gave him the flexibility to build a client base and grow his business.
Deep-Tine Aeration Makes Southern Turf Breathe
In Georgia’s climate, deep-tine aeration is not just beneficial but essential.
High heat and humidity can seal the soil profile, preventing water movement and restricting root growth, essentially boiling the turf. Without intervention, surfaces flood quickly and turf health declines. George says the only thing that helps is deep-tine aeration.
If you’re watering your greens and after five minutes it’s starting to flood, you need to Verti-Drain. It’s in the name. It drains. When you use the Verti-Drain, greens aren’t puddling after five minutes, the water is flowing.
For George, the real impact is below the surface. Strong roots define turf performance in the South.
As shown in this video, George points out the result of deep-tine aeration:
What’s coming through at the bottom? A white, new root that’s chasing that open air.
He understands the long-term value of deeper, more effective aeration, particularly in heavy soils, where new rooting can help tie the turf together to survive environments like those in the US South East.
Productivity Without Compromise
According to George, every superintendent remembers older aerators that could damage greens. That risk still shapes how this work is approached today. By using machines that protect the turf rather than damage it, George differentiates himself and wins more business.
In his eyes, the Verti-Drain® 1517 treats the turf properly and helps him efficiently get through work, job site after job site.
It’s a great unit that does no damage to the greens. I can do three and a half acres in eight hours, that includes picking up cores and with turns, and I can do it seven days a week because you are cool in the crew cab, not walking in the heat. And it does everything: tees, greens, even fairways if you want to try it.
The shift away from pedestrian machines is essential. Georgia’s heat and cost of labour mean it’s more efficient and more comfortable to use a precision, lightweight aerator with a good tractor.
Everyone has less staff.
Especially when combined with his quality lightweight tractors, it allows him to do more work with fewer people.
The 1517 is wider than my tractor… so I never have to run over the holes with turns, saving time and money.
George Stillwell discusses the Verti-Drain® 1517.
Built for Difficult Ground
Georgia’s heavy native soils can be rocky and full of clay. Golf courses near residential areas can also have construction debris underneath the surface. To handle these conditions, George uses the Verti-Quake®.
Its wave-like motion allows it to move through dense soil while climbing over obstacles, making it well suited to local ground conditions.
George sees the most demand for it during the summer months, especially June, July and August. He also values its durability and ease of use.
Everyone likes the Verti-Quake… it has never come back broken. Anyone can run it.
Unlike other machines, it does not require specialist operators. That gives him the confidence to rent it out and use it more widely, increasing its value across his business.
Precision Seeding Across the Seasons
Maintaining turf quality throughout the year requires constant attention, particularly when dealing with seasonal transitions and heat stress.
In spring, warm-season grasses need to be established. In summer, damaged areas need repair. By autumn, sports fields require overseeding to stay playable.
George uses the Redexim Multi-Seeder in these key windows:
• Spring for Bermuda and Zoysia in places that need emergency patch filling
• Summer to repair heat-damaged bent grass on golf courses
• Autumn for rye on sports fields (baseball, soccer)
The Multi-Seeder’s delivery system is second to none.
Its adjustable system allows precise control over seed flow, helping him manage input costs while maintaining efficiency. With some seeders, you have to be very careful to get the flow right, like a shower that only has one sweet spot. The Multi-Seeder gives you that control, so less product is wasted, making it ideal for filling patches from seasonal wear and preparing sports fields.
Finishing Strong
Creating a level, consistent surface is essential for both playability and presentation, particularly on sports fields and tee boxes. When large amounts of material need to be moved and shaped accurately, efficiency becomes just as important as precision.
With the Laser-Grader 1500 TPP, George can create a perfectly level surface for clients. The self-powered hydraulic system allows precise levelling, even when working with significant volumes of material.
Go big or go home. You can move some serious material with it, but it’s light. You can run it on just a 40 HP tractor.
It is particularly effective on:
• Baseball and softball diamonds
• Stone bases
• Tee boxes
The results often exceed expectations, both in finish quality and efficiency, while the manoeuvrability allows him to work quickly and precisely in tight areas.
Conclusion
For George, the right equipment is not just about performance, but about running a successful business. By working efficiently, protecting turf and taking on a wide range of jobs, he continues to build long-term relationships with his clients. Redexim equipment supports him in delivering this across a variety of work in the Atlanta area. We thank George and Sports Turf Services for sharing their experience with Redexim machinery.
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