Husqvarna LC 551iV Lawnmower

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Husqvarna LC 551iV Lawnmower: A battery-powered lawnmower with high capacity cast aluminium cutting deck designed for full-time commercial use.

Based on the same platform as the petrol powered LC 551SP and VBP models, the Husqvarna LC 551iV offers the same performance levels with the added benefit of no direct emissions, much lower noise and vibration levels. All this is possible due to the high performance weatherproof, IPX4 rated battery power unit which replaces the traditional 4-stroke engine. The power unit provides the user with the option of both one or two integrated BLi batteries, or a BLi backpack battery with the adaptor accessory to power the mower.

Husqvarna LC 551iV Lawnmower

Husqvarna LC 551iV Lawnmower

The machine is self-propelled and features four speed options enabling operators to select the most suitable ground speed, the ergonomic mower handle is also height adjustable maximising operator comfort. High performance brushless blade and drive motors vastly reduce noise levels when compared to equivalent petrol machines. This allows use in noise sensitive areas and public spaces without disturbance, increasing productivity. The digital drive system also significantly reduces the vibration levels through the handle bar, and the machine has an ultra-low vibration level of 0.3m/s2.

The machine is Fleet ServicesTM capable allowing easy integration into the Husqvarna fleet management tool. Fleet ServicesTM allows fleet operators to track machine location, monitor machine use, service intervals and much more from a smart phone or desktop.

Assisting in a variety of working conditions, operators can choose between the machine’s normal or savE™ mode for optimum runtime based on the application. The machine features a PowerBoost mode where the lawnmower will automatically increase its blade speed when mowing in heavier conditions, which ensures extra power is guaranteed when needed. All this is controlled from the machine’s easy to operate intuitive keypad which also shows machine and battery status. To aid storage and transportation, the handlebar is fully folding.

The LC 551iV features a 65 litre canvas collector with dust blocker, the mower can also be used as rear eject and in mulch mode with the optional mulch kit accessory. The collector is easily lifted through the one piece handlebar allowing efficient removal and re-fitting. To improve durability the mower features cast aluminium deck with side protection bumpers to protect against bumps and scrapes as well as aluminium rims.

Key Information:

Cutting width: 51 cm

Price: £1,249.00 incl. VAT

Website link: https://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/lawn-mowers/lc-551iv/967977201/

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Off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages

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Off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages: Sports and amenity turfgrass specialist, Germinal GB, has announced the launch of a new range of off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages aimed at simplifying the process of selecting and purchasing sports pitch renovation products.

Containing everything needed to overseed and feed tired and worn sports pitches, the budget-friendly packages contain top quality grass seed and the necessary fertilisers required to ensure the new sward germinates as quickly as possible and continues to thrive once established.

Off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages

Off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages

Three sport pitch renovation packages have been announced, all of which are based around the use of Germinal’s A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus seed mixture and NovaTec Premium slow release fertiliser. The third ‘Pro-Pitch’ option also includes Germinal’s G13 ProteKt autumn/winter fertiliser.

The three packages are as follows:

Goal Mouth and Touchline Repairs: contains enough grass seed (three 20kg bags of A30) to renovate two goal mouths, both touchlines and centre spot, plus enough fertiliser (ten 25kg bags of NovaTec Premium) to feed the entire pitch during the grow-in period. Package price: £550

Full Pitch Renovation: contains enough grass seed (seven 20kg bags of A30) to overseed an entire pitch, plus enough fertiliser (ten 25kg bags of NovaTec Premium) to feed the entire pitch during the grow-in period. Package price: £800.

Pro-Pitch Renovation: contains enough grass seed (seven 20kg bags of A30) to overseed an entire pitch, plus enough fertiliser (ten 25kg bags of NovaTec Premium) to feed the entire pitch during the grow-in period. This option also contains ten bags of Germinal’s G13 ProteKt fertiliser to feed the sward during the autumn and winter. Package price: £1,150

A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus is the perfect seed mixture for sports pitch repairs and renovations thanks to its blend of two perennial ryegrasses (35% Calico and 35% Carnac) and a creeping perennial ryegrass (30% Zurich). A30 produces a hardwearing playing surface which, thanks to the creeping growth habit of Zurich, offers excellent recovery and persistence.

Novatec Premium (15-3-20, 2%MgO +TE) is a cost-effective slow release fertiliser with added trace elements and 2% MgO. It disperses rapidly into the sward where it releases its nutrients over a period of 12 to 16 weeks, thereby significantly reducing labour requirements throughout the pitch’s grow-in period by eliminating the need for subsequent applications. As well as helping new plants to establish, Novatec Premium is also beneficial to established swards, with its high potassium content helping to stiffen leaf blades and protect them from cold weather damage and disease.

G13 ProteKt (3-0-22, +3% Fe) is a micro-granulated fertiliser which contains 22% potash and 3% iron to help harden turf, heighten sward colour, and protect grass plants from disease. Applying G13 to the established sward in the autumn and winter improves wear tolerance and enables the pitch to recover more quickly in the subsequent spring.

All three packages retail at a discounted price compared to purchasing their individual components at full retail value – a fact club managers and groundsmen, especially at those clubs financially affected by the Covid-19 crisis, will appreciate.

“We recognise that, at the time of year when the majority of sports pitches should be being renovated after the long wet winter, many groundsmen find their hands tied either by a shortage of funds as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, or because they and their teams have been furloughed during the ongoing crisis,”  explains Richard Brown, Amenity Sales Manager for Germinal GB.

“As these grass roots facilities move out of lockdown and the Football Foundation’s Pitch Preparation Fund starts to be implemented, groundsmen are bound to be under significant time and resource pressures, so we’ve taken steps to make their subsequent pitch renovation projects as simple and easy to implement as possible.

“By formulating three ready-to-use packages – all of which are available to buy online at www.germinalamenity.com – groundsmen can quickly and easily order all the seed and fertiliser they need without having to spend too much desk-based time researching which products to buy or where to find the best deal.”

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Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

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Johnsons deliver a premier wicket: Delivering the strongest coverage, density and recovery Head Groundsman Andy Ellett has seen in his 13 seasons at the club, J Nitro Premier Wicket is taking the quality of Exeter’s County Ground to new levels.

Having switched to the Johnsons Sports Seed mixture two seasons ago, Andy says the improvements in surface quality have delivered a wicket that now resembles a bowling green!

Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

Cricket has been played at the County Ground for over 130 years, with the club investing in a brand-new pavilion, opened in 2016. “The developments in other areas of the Ground made me review elements of our maintenance programme and it was our local distributor who recommended the J Premier Wicket seed mix. From our very first pass, the improvements in sward quality were evident and when Ian Barnett from DLF Seeds came in to look at the results, he suggested the next step would be to give the ProNitro® coated option a try.”

The ProNitro® coating on J Premier Wicket ensures the germinating and developing seedling receives the full benefit of the additional nutrients. Combining both fast acting and slow release sources of nitrogen, ProNitro® encourages faster, more uniform establishment and rapid, strong growth. “We applied the J Nitro Premier Wicket at the end of the 2019 season, and then used it for repairs on the bowling and batting ends. In the past it would have taken us two months to get these high-wear areas back but with the coated seed, we saw germination in a week, and we achieved full coverage in under a month.”

“Sward density and appearance have all improved, as has root growth meaning the wicket is now looking, playing and wearing much better.” After closing the gates during the pandemic, the club is gradually re-opening and Andy looks forward to hosting play once again over the coming weeks and months. He concludes, “I can confidently say that as it stands, the wicket has never been better.”

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‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse

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‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse: The Wildernesse Golf Club has purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and selection of attachments to assist in the maintenance of the magnificent wooded 18-hole course, located in the village of Seal near Sevenoaks in Kent.

Mark Todd is the Course Manager and heads a team of eight including a full-time mechanic. He began his career in 1988 at nearby Lingfield Park Golf Club, where he spent 10 years learning his trade before joining The Club Company at Nizels Golf and Country Club as Deputy Course Manager. Within six months he was promoted to Course Manager and in 2007 took up his current position at The Wildernesse.

'Gamechanger' Ventrac at Wildernesse

‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse

“It might be a cliché, but this incongruous looking machine is a gamechanger,” he said. “We purchased the tractor unit and three attachments; the Contour deck, Tough Cut deck and Turbine Blower. We are a heavily wooded course and we spend too many hours using backpack blowers removing leaves and other debris, not just in the autumn, but all year round. We hand cut all our greens and the team take a backpack blower with them every time, to clear the surface before mowing. This is so time-intensive, but the Turbine blower is brilliant; we also use it to remove the debris after scarifying tees and even blow cores from the greens after aeration.

“The Tough Cut deck is great for maintaining the woodland margins. We used to use a compact tractor and flail to mow these areas, but it was a heavy and cumbersome combination. The out-front position of the Tough Cut deck combined with the low profile and agility of the tractor unit, means we can get in and under the trees. Without doubt, it has lifted the presentation of the course.

“Changing between the different attachments is quick and easy. There’s no three-point linkage to worry about or adjustments to make, you simply drive out of the current implement and drive into the next one. The mounting system is ingenious; it’s so quick that it encourages you to use it to its full potential. We recently loaned the stump grinder attachment and I was extremely sceptical that a belt-driven implement on a sub-25 hp tractor would be robust enough to do the job. However, it was outstanding and seemed defy the laws of mechanics; it will certainly be our next purchase.

“Initially I thought buying the Ventrac would be just about maintaining the banks and removing leaves, but we’re finding more and more uses for it. When we were looking to purchase the equipment, I had great support from the club. I made what I hoped was a sound business case and also invited the Greens Chairman to the demonstration. Everyone was impressed with its slope climbing ability and its potential labour-saving attributes, which have since become a reality. You know you’re on a winner, when there’s a lot of interest and positive comments from the members!

“I’ve been very fortunate during my time here as the club has been very supportive. They have invested in a new irrigation system, new machinery and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic have been superb. We had numerous meetings and discussions on how we would approach and handle the situation and I must say, that my greenkeeping team have gone above and beyond expectations.

“We split into two teams; one headed by Lee Austin, my deputy, and the other by myself. We worked 10-hour days, one on, one off and it worked very well. We’ve followed the rules on social distancing, we’ve done a lot more cleaning and sanitising and the lads have been really flexible.

“The course was in very good condition when we reopened. We normally have a two-tee start, but that’s now down to a single tee and two-ball groups only, although this will be relaxed shortly. We’ve been booked solid and have a starter on the tee all day. Golfers must arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tee time and change in the car park. The only facility that’s open is the toilets.

“There was a lot of talk about golf being allowed back earlier than it was, but I think it would have been seen as elitist if this happened. Now that it is back it might help encourage more participants, as it is one of few sports that can adapt in these strange times. Only time will tell.”

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Toro’s internet of turf

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Toro’s internet of turf: Leading the way with technological innovation in the golf and groundscare industry, Toro’s Internet of Turf represents the future of turfcare.

Toro’s Internet of Turf brings together five of Toro’s key technological products and services which when connected online help reduce operating costs, enhance safety and produce the best quality playing surfaces possible.

Toro's internet of turf

Toro’s internet of turf

Combining Lynx central control system, Turf Guard wireless soil management system, GeoLink precision spray system, myTurf Pro asset management system and NSN technical support, the Internet of Turf brings together for the first time accurate information on all aspects of turfcare management from one access point.

Robert Jackson, water division sales manager from Reesink Turfcare, sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment and irrigation products, says: “Technology is helping turfcare businesses to better manage resources and helping workers to complete tasks faster. Using technology and connecting certain elements of turfcare management online can help turfcare professionals maintain the perfect playing conditions every day by providing actionable data to help optimise turf management decisions.”

Irrigation application with the Lynx central control system allows access in real time from any mobile device to accurate irrigation information. The touch of a button is all it takes to change your irrigation plan, and with additional extras such as the weather station, you can adapt in response to changes in the weather, from wherever you are.

Turf and soil monitoring are made easy with Toro’s Turf Guard wireless soil monitoring system. Accurately monitoring soil condition including moisture, temperature and salinity levels, turf managers can access the essential soil information they need, when they need it, to maintain optimum soil and plant health.

Accurate application of fertilisers and pesticides is another key factor for soil health. Whether to deliver essential nutrients or to protect turf from diseases, ensuring uniform coverage and the correct volume of application is vital, and Toro’s GeoLink precision spray system helps you to achieve this by utilising pinpoint GPS technology to help guide operators.

The Internet of Turf enables turf managers to bring together irrigation and machinery to gain a comprehensive overview of all the elements of their role. And when it comes to the core elements of turfcare management, having cutting-edge technology will help improve profitability and playability, something that is certainly true when it comes to the management of turfcare machinery.

Toro’s web-based asset management system, myTurf Pro gives turf managers the capability to monitor fleet health, order parts and schedule service activities, helping to improve staff efficiency, lengthen the life of equipment and reduce overall maintenance costs.

And wrapping up the five technologies is NSN technical support. Toro’s web-based customer portal provides a knowledge-sharing database, online chat and remote central connectivity and monitoring, meaning support is there whenever you need it.

Robert concludes: “By delivering connected information on one platform, Toro’s Internet of Turf brings easy access to all aspects of turfcare. Showing how it all comes together and enabling decisions to be made that maximise the performance of the crew, the equipment and the turf. Toro’s Internet of Turf gets rid of the need to manually wade through data and instead brings turf management into the future, giving you more time to get the tough jobs done.”

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