Wiedenmann’s Terra Float Air Combo Overseeder Makes Low Rates Achievable

/in /by

If you are working with very expensive seed and finite calibration is important, look no further than Wiedenmann’s Terra Float Air.

Recently launched the Terra Float Air is a productive combination of surface conditioner and overseeder. Combining three units in one, its precision and reliability assure maximum accuracy at extremely low rates, even quantities as little as 1g/m².

The base unit (the Terra Float) aerates and loosens soil to 30 mm using either spikes or fine slits at 1 500 holes/m² or 500 slits/m² respectively. The second unit is a brush and roller combination which incorporates top dressing materials to the ground before smoothing the surface. Finally a pneumatic air seeder unit sits atop assuring a receptive seed bed either pre or post top dressing.

The high performance air stream effortlessly directs precise amounts of seed to the prepared perforated holes. A series of steel deflector plates ensures uniform depositing of the seeds from a short distance while lifting the unit automatically triggers a shut off.

“The beauty of the Terra Float Air,” said a Wiedenmann spokesman. “is because its seed rollers are so fine you can achieve a very exact calibration which is normally impossible. The distribution of the seed is absolutely uniform via the air flow and deflector system. If the seed you are using is expensive or particularly precious then this delivers peace of mind. The memory function on the control panel stores input and calibration data for your follow up activity while the three-part rear roller helps take care of any undulations while firming the seed into the surface for soil seed contact.”

Dennis Mowers helps Leicester City Earn their stripes

/in /by

Last season, Leicester City FC shocked the sporting world by winning the Barclays Premier League and according to grounds manager John Ledwidge, Dennis Mowers helped his grounds team playing a key role in the club’s triumphant season.

It is safe to say that the 2015/16 Premier League campaign was one to remember for Leicester City FC. With a squad valued at a fraction of their rivals, the team exceeded all expectations and lifted the most sought after trophy in English football. However, it was not just the players who were grabbing all the headlines – the pitch designs at the King Power Stadium were also consistently praised by footballing fans and media around the world.

The grounds team’s artistry was exceptional and quite rightly, John and the team won many plaudits for his creativity and intricate, dazzling designs.

In revealing his mower of choice for preparing the pitch for Leicester City’s heroes, John said: “To get the results, the Dennis G860 was our predominant mower and we used them throughout the season. They’ve been a good part of my career for a long time and I’m sure they will continue to be. They are a great company that manufacture great machines.”

Last season John and his team had a fleet of seven G860 cylinder mowers – four at the club’s training ground and three at the stadium. This season, with the grounds team expanding, the club added to their fleet by purchasing a further three G860’s as well as a Dennis G34D cylinder mower. Designed and built following the same concept as the Dennis G860, the new dedicated G-Series mower incorporates a large-diameter eight-bladed cutting cylinder to cater for a wide range of uses.

Commenting on how the two machines are used harmoniously, John said: “We never really take the life out of the pitch but we do shift an awful lot of grass and sometimes, if for example, over the weekend it’s been left for a day on a Sunday when we’re not in, we will come in on the Monday and use the 6-blade cutting units in the G860. This is to really get through the thick of it and then as we move more towards the end of the week we’ll use the G34D’s to refine the cut closer to the game.”

“Don’t get me wrong, the quality of cut on the 6-blade cassettes for the G860’s is still incredibly good, but when you want to take it to the next level with the intricate finer details of getting the precision of cut, then the dedicated 8-blades on the G34D will do that for us. Following a game we will use the G860s for the post-match clean-up. We’ll pop the brush cassettes into the G860’s to ensure that we collect all the debris.”

“The two Dennis machines just offer us excellent versatility – the G34D is a dedicated unit for cutting so you’re not taking units in and out and then the G860 allows us to complete so many other key maintenance tasks.”

As John says, the G860 presents groundsmen with a multitude of options meaning that they can rely on just one machine for a number of maintenance tasks. Fitted with an interchangeable cassette system, and with a simple one minute changeover, users have the option of fitting eleven different types of heads including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters.

A big fan of the interchangeable cassettes, John and his team recently added to their collection.

“We’ve had an influx of new cassettes which included three more 6-blade cutting units, four brush units and more verti-cutter units – just to give us a bit more armoury to choose from. It’s been a bit of a busy one for Dennis, because we’ve had another influx of products but we like them and they’re tried and tested. We like the quality of finish that they give us and that’s why we’ve gone with them again.”

“They’re a long standing company that I’ve had a great relationship with for a number of years, and their machinery has always been exceptionally good. Alongside my team and the people that use them, Dennis have played a part in the club’s success just as much as everyone else.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

Premium Machinery For Premium Plans

/in /by

New John Deere course maintenance equipment bought from dealer F G Adamson & Son using a John Deere Financial package has enabled Waltham Windmill Golf Club to address the issue of an ageing machinery fleet and implement a plan to make MF Strawson Ltd’s 20 year old American-style parkland course a premium golfing venue in north-east Lincolnshire.

“Niel Strawson’s aim is to take the course to the next level and the greens in particular needed improving,” says the club’s head greenkeeper Robert Welford, who moved in 2015 from Cleethorpes Golf Club, where he had gained a reputation for creating some of the best putting surfaces in the county.

“He was therefore prepared to make a serious investment in new machinery to help achieve this objective and improve the course in general. We considered buying individual machines on a five-year rolling replacement policy, but decided it was better to replace the entire fleet in one go. We looked at other manufacturers, but elected to stay with John Deere.

“The greenkeeping staff’s familiarity with the machines was a key factor in the decision, and through Niel Strawson’s longstanding close relationship with Adamsons, we know the high level of service and after-sales support the dealership provides. In addition, financially it was the best package – with this new deal we have interest free finance over two years, after which we will own the equipment outright.”

There was also no need for a full service package, due to the machines being under warranty for the length of the agreement and the skill sets within Robert’s group of four full-time greens staff, who have attended John Deere’s tailor-made product training courses.

The deal, brokered by F G Adamson & Son’s Tony Jenkins, saw Waltham Windmill take delivery of a John Deere 2500B PrecisionCut triplex greens mower, an 8000AE hybrid electric mower for tees and approaches, an 8700 PrecisionCut fairway mower, a 220SL walk-behind greens mower and a Z997R zero-turn rotary machine.

The package also included a TE electric Gator utility vehicle and a Pro Gator fitted with an HD200 low-profile amenity turf sprayer. These machines joined four more retained from the old fleet, including a compact utility tractor, another greens mower, a bunker rake and an F1145 out-front rotary mower fitted with a flail deck.

“We kept the old greens mower as a back-up and the F1145 is an old stalwart,” says Robert. “The new TE Gator enables the staff to move materials around the course without disturbing the golfers. The Z997R is the first zero-turn we’ve had, and its manoeuvrability has allowed us to halve the time it takes to cut around the trees on the course, and get a better finish.

“We’re also looking to refine the quality of cut, and the 8000AE and 8700 have definitely made a difference – they are wider than the old mowers, so they are more productive. The fairway tender conditioners and rear roller brushes on the 8700 give a good quality finish. They also increase productivity, as we can get on the fairways when there is dew on the ground without leaving clippings.”

The Pro Gator plus HD200 sprayer replaced a tractor-mounted sprayer. “This is an integral part of pushing the course forward,” adds Robert. “The new sprayer’s auto-rate controller allows fingertip control and provides precise application rates. It has enabled us to become more environmentally friendly by moving to a totally liquid regime for fertilisers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides and feeds.”

As to the impact the new equipment has had on the course, Robert says: “All areas have improved measurably. Members have been commenting on the quality of cut on the fairways and greens, and since buying the new equipment we have hosted the Lincolnshire Union of Golf Clubs’ Lincolnshire versus Yorkshire competition, the largest county event in the club’s history. It’s down to the skill of the team and their use of modern equipment, which will enable us to fulfil Niel Strawson’s long-term plans for the club.”

Limagrain Colour Splash trial site brightens the horizon

/in /by

In the south of Lincoln lies a sight to behold – a plot of land covered in an array of magnificent colourful flower species. From a distance it may look like a Van Gough masterpiece on the horizon but for those that are in the know, they will be well aware that it is in fact the Limagrain Colour Splash trial site.

Over the past few years, Limagrain UK’s range of Colour Splash flower mixtures have been used in a broad range of landscape and amenity areas throughout the UK. The much loved brand was first established over ten years ago where the development of the mixtures were created in the beautiful county of Loir-et-Cher, in the centre of France.

To ensure that these stunning flower mixtures continue to live up to their high expectations, the company, each year, establishes a trial site in which every seed mixture in the range is sown.

“The trials in which we evaluate the Colour Splash mixtures have been running for a number of years,” says Richard Camplin, Product Development Manager for Limagrain UK. They provide information on establishment, flowering period and mixture dynamics in the differing climatic conditions each year brings.

“Customers often visit the site to view the mixtures. It is a great way to fully appreciate them instead of just looking at pictures in the brochure.”

Those who have seen the brochure will know that the Colour Splash range has a floral arrangement for every requirement – whether it be a golf course, a local authority green space or any other establishment that has an area which needs brightening up. With eight mixtures in the Colour Splash range there are collaborations such as the Festival mixture which can easily be seen from a distance; the New Wave mixture which is perfect for locations needing an abundance of flowers; the Celebration mixture which has a wonderful pastoral effect; and even a Poppy Mixture which offers a fabulous show of vivid red flowers, providing a fitting and poignant display to our fallen heroes.

The Colour Splash range of mixtures are extremely easy to sow and the resulting vigorous plants are more than capable of competing with weeds. Their vigour is equally matched by robustness; resisting long periods of drought. They are also fast flowering and cost effective.

“The range is quite extensive and it’s a low cost option for those wanting an abundance of colour in fairly quick time,” says Richard. “Another advantage is that these mixtures require minimal input – the ground is made free of weeds, worked to a fine seedbed and the seed planted. In warm conditions, with adequate moisture they grow rapidly to give an abundance of colour throughout the year. “At the height of the season the site looks very colourful. It always catches the attention of passers-by who will stop to ask about it. Apart from the floral spectacle the plots are always alive with insects, particularly bees because the flowers provide a great nectar source for them. So not only do the Colour Splash mixtures look fantastic but they also have environmental benefits.”

For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.limagrain.co.uk.