retrieving targets from nice lawns.....

[steevo]

I am worried about damaging nice grassed areas such as parks and playing fields so can someone please direct me to a thread or some relavent info on how to do it properly without causing damage. I have heard of the probing screwdriver technique but am not sure how to execute it..

Regards
Steevo

[Don]

I have tried the 'popping the coin out technigue', without much prevail. I too worry about screwing up a nice lawns. I have noticed the more I dig the better I get. One technique is to cut a V and flap the grass over, and then when you're done fill the hole in and flap the grass back in place. Something that I'm going to try is a tulip bulb digger. That makes a nice round hole, and when your done, the plug can be put right back. They also have measuring lines on them, so you can dig only as deep as you need to. Since I'm fairly new that's about all I can help, but I am sure you'll get some better responces from some of the other more experienced people on this site.

[geodawn]

There is some excellent tips on Pineapple's site. Scroll down till you get to the visual descriptions...

http://koloheboy.freehosting.net/custom2.html

I can't for the life of me use a probe either. Maybe I should try more often. If there is an experienced person that can recover with a probe I'd love to see a video of it.

[z118]

I am an avid coin popper. I mostly hunt schools where I find all modern coins. So I am worried about the turf and I am not so worried about scratching coins. There is a good thread about coin popping here:

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=7126

Of course, if I am hunting where there is any reasonable expectation of an old coin, then I pull plugs.

good luck!

[Steeler1]

I also cut a U or horseshoe plug around the target. I flop it over and place all dirt on a towel. Then when done, I empty my towel back in and flop my plug back in place.

Violla, no trace left.


This guy cuts a rather huge plug but it will give you a general idea..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqRyBlS8220

[steevo]

Thanks for the useful info guys....

steevo

[CyberSage]

I have had good luck with the "U" or horseshoe cut. A larger and thicker flap of grass has a better chance of not sending the grass into a "shocked" or dormant state. Leaving the the flap attached on one side is important. Make your cuts straight up and down. Angeling your cut will cause a yellow smiley face in the grass. Use a cloth or plastic sheet to stack dirt on if you dig deep. Reserve some of the moister soil from the bottom of the hole to dress the edges with as you press the flap back into place. Do not stomp it with your foot! Gently push down with the bottom of your shoe or tap with the back side of your digger. The loose dirt you set aside should be worked into the cut so there is no open cracks. Timing is everything. Rainy cool weather is very forgiving on any kind of hole you dig. Schedule hunts in nice grassy areas the day before a storm is for-casted in your area. Take notice of regular watering schedules at schools and parks. Once again hunt the day before or right after watering. Go back in a few weeks and look at where you previously dug. I have never had a negative experience with city park or school employees. Many have approached and simply asked if I am finding good stuff. Hope this helps. Don't be afraid to dig, just take the time to do it right.

[z118]

Another nice thing about coin popping, if you opt to use that method, is that people are less alarmed to see you carrying around a screw driver than they might be if they see you with a trowel, Lesche, or some other digging tool.

[DougF]

I find in the many (most?) of the places I hunt, it's hard to use the flap method, because the grass is in such poor shape. It's not a carpet of grass but grass clumps with weeds (henbit, chickweed, dandelions, etc.) in between, and bare spots. I usually end up just removing a plug and hoping it holds together until I fill the hole back up. In really thick turf, I do cut a flap. We've had a dry spring, too, which makes it worse. I guess the good thing is it's hard to kill the weeds when you cut a plug.

[Steeler1]

This might sound a bit overboard, but here is something else I do.

When I think the ground is too dry, I carry a small spray bottle of water/plant food mixture and spray the grass roots and hole before I place the plug back in. Because I dont always want to wait till after/before a rain before I hunt.

It does help prevent killing the grass.

I usually take my pet gopher along in such situations, hes trained to home straight in on coins without hardly leaving a trace.
Not everyone is as lucky as me to have such a fantastic [imaginary] pet ... So I would suggest you use a 5 in 1 paint tool to cut small, precise plugs.
Cut the front fiest, 2 sides leaving the back as a flap.
As pointed out, it is important to have something to put the dirt on, so as not to leave dark patches on the nice green lawn [frisbees work good for this].

Perhaps the most important thing you can do [besides practicing your plug digging on less important areas] is to hone your pinpointing skills, which itself will greatly reduce the amount of digging you will do.

[CyberSage]

Originally Posted by Steeler1

This might sound a bit overboard, but here is something else I do.

When I think the ground is too dry, I carry a small spray bottle of water/plant food mixture and spray the grass roots and hole before I place the plug back in. Because I dont always want to wait till after/before a rain before I hunt.

It does help prevent killing the grass.

Hey! Thats a good idea. This would work out well for hunting a private residence. I suppose you could borrow their garden hose also.

I forgot to mention I use a brass coin probe also. Works great for finding quarters. A good pin-pointer will help you pop out the shallow finds without digging. I guess my biggest fear with using a screwdriver is scratching a keeper.

I had a trained gopher once but, he took off with a gold Double Eagle coin I found. I never saw him again.

Keep swing'in
Jack