ICL publishes comprehensive Invasive Plants Guide

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ICL publishes comprehensive Invasive Plants Guide: ICL has announced the launch of the Invasive Plants Guide – a detailed and comprehensive resource for understanding and managing key invasive plants in the United Kingdom.

Encompassing over 150 pages, the Invasive Plants Guide provides crucial information about identifying, understanding, and sustainably managing 14 different types of invasive plants prevalent in the UK. The varieties covered in the guide range from annuals such as Himalayan balsam and Smooth sowthistle to short-lived perennials like Giant hogweed and Common ragwort, as well as long-lived perennials including Japanese knotweed and Bracken. Woody weeds and trees, such as Buddleja and Rhododendron, are also included.

ICL publishes comprehensive Invasive Plants Guide

ICL publishes comprehensive Invasive Plants Guide

The guide offers a thorough understanding of what constitutes an invasive plant and the problems they can pose. It delves into their growth and lifecycle, with a focus on how this knowledge can be applied for their sustainable control and management.

“The Invasives Plant Guide is a comprehensive resource that brings together information to aid in the identification, understanding, and sustainable management of invasive plants,” said Barry Browne, Landscape & Industrial Sales Manager from ICL.

“We believe that this guide will be an invaluable tool for all who are dealing with invasive species, from landscapers and gardeners to local authorities and land managers.”

Register your interest in receiving your free copy of the guide at https://bit.ly/ICLInvasivePlantsGuide

For more information about the guide, please visit the new ICL website www.icl-growingsolutions.uk

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Safe Weed Control by name and nature

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Safe Weed Control by name and nature: As awareness of the hazards associated with glyphosate continues to grow across the globe, it is unsurprising that the number of commercial organisations switching to non-herbicidal weed control is on the rise.

Safe Weed Control, based on the outskirts of Auckland in New Zealand, was established to service vegetation clearance for a range of clients including those in environmentally sensitive areas, which they tackle with ease thanks to Foamstream.

Safe Weed Control by name and nature

Safe Weed Control by name and nature

Owner of Safe Weed Control Matt Kirby was first introduced to Foamstream through his father, who was an early adopter of the technology, available from Weedingtech. “I established Safe Weed Control four years ago after spotting a gap in the New Zealand market for clients who don’t want to be using chemical herbicides but aren’t necessarily sizeable enough to invest in their own Foamstream equipment” he explains. “It was the simplicity and effectiveness of the system really appealed to me.”

Foamstream kills unwanted vegetation including weeds, moss and algae using the precise application of hot water insulated by a biodegradable, organic, plant-based foam. Delivered via a range of patented machinery, the retained heat from the water penetrates the plant through the leaves and travels down the root, killing the weeds quickly and safely.

“We have an L12 and M1200 unit which we use on all of our jobs – everything from roads and verges, to boat ramps and retirement villages! The vast majority of our workload is in playgrounds and Foamstream is absolutely ideal for this purpose, preserving the aesthetic of the area with no harmful chemicals which children can potentially ingest.”

As well as killing the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores, reducing future regrowth which results in fewer treatment cycles per year compared to other non-herbicidal methods of weed control such as burning or steam. “We get fantastic results with this system, in all environments – including sensitive areas – and in all weathers, which is another major plus on the Foamstream system.”

Matt continues, “In addition, the technical team at Weedingtech have always gone above and beyond. Despite the time difference, someone will tend to make themselves available and provide patient, knowledgeable and methodical advice when we’ve needed it.”

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Less thatch at Linlithgow GC

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Less thatch at Linlithgow GC: Linlithgow Golf Club has taken delivery of a 2.3 m width Wiedenmann Terra Rake, from Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish dealer, Fairways GM at Kinross.

Course Manager, Phil Montgomery said “I’d been eyeing one up for a while. The rake pulls up a terrific amount of thatch. Take the day it arrived; the difference it made to the practice ground in one session was amazing: just so much. Over the next few years, it will enhance the entire site.”

Less thatch as Linlithgow GC

Less thatch as Linlithgow GC

The West Lothian club is located on a hill side, high above the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow. Its elevation and undulations give Phil some additional challenges.

“A handful of fairways can be affected by moss,” he said. “A few are rocky, and sitting slope-side, they can really dry out in summer, and turn brown.

“If growth doesn’t come back, and rain returns, moss starts to creep in…. all compounded by the same fairways sitting ‘wet’ through the winter…

“We plan to attack the moss there head-on with the Terra Rake on a regular basis. Even though we rota-knife and spike them, until now the surface tension is just too much. The rake will help alleviate that problem and sort them out.”

Beyond the fairways, Phil has an ever-growing list of duties lined up for his new kit addition which means it will be in use all year-round.

“I like the versatility of the rake; it’s great value. I’ve seen it take on many different jobs on YouTube and Twitter. It will be good for standing the grass up prior to cutting, we will use it for presentation and once our new tractor- mounted blower arrives, we will use it for rough management, thinning out and tidying up.

“However, leaf management will be a big part of its work. We are surrounded by trees. With the rake, the blower, and the collector, together the way we clear the leaves this autumn will be far more successful. If you don’t get a chance to clear the leaves they can get trampled into the rough. Again, the rake will help us if that occurs, too.”

This is Phil’s second spell at Linlithgow. His first spell began as a 16-year-old apprentice, staying until he was 22. He returned in 2016 and was promoted quickly through the ranks to Course Manager. Working alongside him are greenkeepers, Colin and Connor, and all three are joined by a small group of volunteers who help for two hours on a Tuesday and Thursday morning.

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