Turf News is the perfect place for professionals working within the UK’s vibrant turf industry – keeping you up-to-date with topical news, latest market developments and much more across all areas of the industry.
NEWS ARTICLES

Soil Scout launches Happi100

/in , /by

Soil Scout launches Happi100: Soil Scout, a global leader in underground wireless soil monitoring, has announced the launch of its newest product, the Happi100 oxygen sensor. Commercially available for the first time anywhere, this wireless, real-time monitoring solution allows turf professionals to see the true impact of soil oxygen levels on plant root health.

Bernhard and Company is the industry-leader in fine turf management solutions, with expertise across multiple disciplines including engineering, agronomy and product design. Bernhard and Company is already synonymous with the Soil Scout brand, having installed the solution worldwide on numerous occasions, leading subsurface and moisture management solution, SubAir Systems. Bernhard and Company remains the official, exclusive distributor of Soil Scout products throughout the United Kingdom, which will prove influential in the launch of the Happi100 sensor.

Soil Scout launches Happi100

Soil Scout launches Happi100

“Healthy plant roots are not achievable without the presence of sufficient oxygen,” said Jalmari Talola, CEO of Soil Scout. “They can tolerate drought, they can cope in nutrient-poor soils, but oxygen uptake by roots is vital for plant respiration. Until now, we had no way to see if this process was under attack. Happi100 ends this today.”

Pairing soil moisture balance with oxygen readings enables precise irrigation adjustments, helping to maintain root health in environments where aeration is limited.

“When soil oxygen levels dip below 10% for just four hours, plant root hair death occurs,” said Soil Scout Head of Agronomy Johannes Tiusanen. “Happi100 gives early warning of this happening, making it easier to prepare for, monitor, and mitigate impact from events like adverse weather and over irrigation.”

Happi100 reads soil oxygen, moisture, and temperature from the same measurement point and seamlessly integrates with Soil Scout’s existing platform for a complete suite of underground trend data. This comprehensive approach allows professionals in sports turf management to make more prescriptive interventions.

“Initial readings have shown that parts of my green quickly rebound to optimal oxygen levels within hours of heavy rain, whereas other parts can take up to a week to recover,” said Winston Golf Head Greenkeeper Erwan LeCocq.

“I can now be more prescriptive in my aeration approach, significantly cutting down on the work needed to keep all my surfaces optimal.”

As part of Soil Scout’s larger vision to make previously unforeseen data available to everyone who works with soil, the company plans to continue developing innovative solutions that help professionals better understand and manage the soil beneath their feet.

To find out more, visit www.soilscout.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Joe Simpson wins BIGGA photography competition

/in , , /by

Joe Simpson wins BIGGA photography competition: An ethereal image of life at Ipswich Golf Club has seen talented amateur photographer and greenkeeper Joe Simpson announced as the winner of the annual BIGGA Photographic Competition for the third time.

Joe’s image was chosen by the judging panel as the overall winner with the results of social media voting also taken into account. The stunning shot shows greenkeeper Pete Dunnett mowing the 5th fairway of the Purdis Heath Course as the autumn sun breaks through the morning fog.

Joe Simpson wins BIGGA photography competition

Joe Simpson wins BIGGA photography competition

Joe, who took up photography 10 years ago and also won the competition in 2020 and 2022, said: “I honestly can’t believe that I’ve won the competition three times. The standard of the photo entries grow year-on-year, so it’s become incredibly competitive, which makes winning for a third time even more special.

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt when it comes to photography is that you don’t always need the perfect weather conditions to get your best shot. For this reason, I take photos throughout all four seasons at various times of the day, so I have a diverse selection to choose from for the competition.”

Sponsored by Syngenta, BIGGA’s annual photographic competition is a celebration of the wonderful golfing landscape and the role greenkeepers play in shaping it for golfers and the wider public to enjoy. Twelve images have been selected for the annual BIGGA calendar and winners also chosen in the categories of Greenkeeping, Landscape and Wildlife.

  • Landscape: Kevin Irving, greenkeeper, Carlisle Golf Club
  • Greenkeeping: David Ball, greenkeeper, Thetford Golf Club
  • Wildlife: Craig Sinclair, greenkeeper, Camberley Heath Golf Club

You can view all 12 images selected to form the BIGGA Calendar 2025 on the BIGGA website.

As overall competition winner, Joe has won a DJI Mini 2 SE Drone and a framed print of his image, to be presented at the BIGGA Celebration on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2025.

Each of the category winners receives a £150 Love2Shop voucher.

Karl Hansell, BIGGA Head of Communications and Content, said: “As the days darken and the year draws to a close, our annual photographic competition is a stunning reminder of the beautiful environment that greenkeepers are privileged to work in every day. Joe Simpson is an exceptional photographer and his winning image sparks the imagination with its rays of sunlight coming down from the heavens onto a greenkeeper who is hard at work, preparing the course for another morning’s play.

“Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who voted on social media. Thanks also to our valued sponsors at Syngenta.”

Sarah Hughes, Syngenta Business Manager, said: “The BIGGA Photographic Competition entries have once again captured the incredible hard work that greenkeeping teams put into producing immaculate playing conditions, as well as the amazing biodiversity and wildlife that thrives around well-managed golf course environments.

“It’s rewarding to see the amazing pictures published in the calendar, along with associated seasonal tips and agronomy advice. Congratulations to all who entered and the category winners.”

BIGGA’s Annual Photographic Competition will return next year and the competition is already open for entries. Head to the BIGGA website to find out more and get involved.

Registration for BTME 2025 including the Continue to Learn education programme is open. The event takes place from 19 to 23 January 2025 and you can find out more by heading to the BTME website, www.btme.org.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

South Staffs build ‘fleet for the future’

/in , , /by

South Staffs build ‘fleet for the future’: South Staffordshire Golf Club are busy equipping themselves with a machinery fleet that’s fit for the challenges of the future – and for that, they’ve chosen Redexim.

Whether it’s managing increased rainfall, or disease and pest control in an era with fewer chemical treatments, the greenkeeping team are well placed to tackle the issues head on with a range of machines from across Redexim’s aeration, overseeding, scarification and brushing portfolio.

South Staffs build ‘fleet for the future'

South Staffs build ‘fleet for the future’

While Paul Law has been at the club for the last eight years, and Course Manager for the last four, the club’s history with Redexim dates back much further! “We’ve got Verti-Drains in the shed which are close to 30 years old, that are still playing an active role in our annual maintenance” Paul says. No strangers to the Redexim build quality and in-field performance, he says they’ve been the first port of call now that maintenance requirements are changing.

“This year has been incredibly wet, so drainage works have been top of the priority list.” Complementing the Verti-Drains, Pauls most recent purchase is a linear aerator in the form of the Redexim Verti-Quake® 2516. “We tried one of these on demonstration last year, on a particularly compacted area where we had no drainage whatsoever. It was incredible! It’s no exaggeration to say that this machine is set to transform our drainage.”

“At the opposite end of the spectrum, when we’ve had periods of drought, it’s again been Redexim that has come to the rescue. We’ve been employing the services of our Overseeder 1275 to incorporate more tolerant species into our surfaces, and maintaining presentation during those really high-pressure periods with the Redexim Top-Brush.”

Paul continues, “The 6m Top-Brush has become one of our most important pieces of equipment. We’ve had it since 2022 and it’s blown us away with how many applications we’ve found for it. We’ve been removing organic matter from the fairways, delivering incredible presentation through the winter with it, as well as clearing dew and dispersing worm casts to improve plant health and playability.”

Further work to remove organic matter has been conducted using the Redexim Verti-Cut, which was delivered in early 2024. “We’ve worked hard to reduce OM over the last four years, and with the Verti-Cut bringing new speed and efficiency to the task, we’ll be able to continue this on the greens and other areas of the course.”

The loyalty to Redexim and belief in the product, is equalled by the trust and quality of partnership established with local dealers Charlies Ag & Turf. “I’ve known Matt Lewis from Charlies for a long time and he and the whole team have always gone above and beyond to support us over the years.” He adds, “It’s great to know we have both the equipment and the advice to help us face whatever challenges lay ahead!”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

It’s time to winterise your lawn!

/in , /by

It’s time to winterise your lawn!: The weather is getting colder and it reminds us that it must be time to turn our thoughts to preparing our lawns for the winter.

The Lawn Association team know that for the healthiest lawns, there are always jobs that can be carried out no matter what the season.  David Hedges Gower, the chairman of the Lawn Association, offers suggestions below on how to look after your lawn at this time of year.

It’s time to winterise your lawn!

It’s time to winterise your lawn!

Preparing for Winter – If It Ever Arrives!

Barmy degrees at the end of November—who’d have thought? I’ve seen many a gardener in short sleeves, hard at work well into December. Our autumns and winters are clearly changing, and with them, our gardening habits. But there’s a challenge in this shift.

TV shows and magazines often suggest our gardens shut down over winter. So what are we supposed to do with a warm spell in November—get out the deck chairs? And grass? It’s often overlooked, yet it never really stops growing. In fact, winter preparation and a bit of care during the coldest months can make all the difference for your lawn.

Many plants and shrubs go dormant for winter, so we cut them back and protect the vulnerable ones from frost, calling it a day. But grass is different. Your lawn consists of millions of individual plants, each with a delicate root system. If you think about it, you’d want to throw a thermal blanket over it at the first sign of frost!

Fortunately, no need for such drastic measures. Grass may be small and delicate, but it can survive even tough winters with a bit of support.  In fact, I believe a lawn’s appearance mid-winter is a true measure of good lawn care. It’s easy to make grass look lush in summer with a little fertilizer, sunshine, and regular mowing. Real lawn care, though, is year-round. This season, here are a few simple steps to get your lawn ready for winter—if it ever comes:

  • Aerate if conditions are good. Hollow-tine aeration is ideal, and don’t forget to clear up those cores. You don’t need to fill the holes—they’ll help moisture move through the soil.
  • Apply ferrous sulphate sometime over the next few months. It will lock in valuable nutrients, strengthen the turf, and deter moss.
  • Keep mowingif the grass is growing. Just make sure the blades are sharp, and don’t cut too short; your lawn will actually benefit.
  • Continue edging, shaping, and tidying. Use turf rather than seeds for repairs for faster results.
  • Remove fallen leaves. Leaves create a warm, damp environment that can encourage diseases and dead patches. While you’re at it, inspect any overhanging trees and shrubs, and prune them back to help those struggling shady areas.

And finally, when sub-zero temperatures do arrive, avoid walking on a frosty lawn. You’ll only bruise the grass. Instead, make a cup of tea, sit by the fire, and review last year’s lawn care, planning any tweaks for next season.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Green-tech Exceeds £30,000 Charity Target

/in , /by

Green-tech Exceeds £30,000 Charity Target: To celebrate three decades in business, Green-tech, a leading supplier in the landscaping industry, launched its ambitious ‘£30k for 30 Years’ charity campaign at the start of 2024.

The company has proudly exceeded its goal, raising a total of £31,000. The Green-tech team was delighted to present cheques for £6,200 each to five deserving charities at a ceremony on Friday, 8th November, at its North Yorkshire headquarters.

Green-tech Exceeds £30,000 Charity Target

Green-tech Exceeds £30,000 Charity Target

Green-tech’s milestone campaign supports five charities making a real difference in communities across the UK: the BALI Chalk Fund, Candlelighters Trust, Perennial Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Shelter. These charities address issues ranging from educational support and training to critical cancer care and housing assistance.

Over the course of 2024, the Green-tech team completed six major challenges to raise funds. The year of activities kicked off with a ‘Big Sleep Out’ at Green-tech’s site in March, despite the cold and rain, and concluded with a trek across the Yorkshire Three Peaks in August. Other events included the Roundhay Half Marathon, the physically demanding Total Warrior event, the Knaresborough Bed Race, and a virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End bike ride, where more than 60 team members cycled over 2,000 miles in just five days, far surpassing their initial goal of 874 miles.

Kris Nellist, Managing Director of Green-tech, expressed his pride and gratitude: “Our team’s dedication to supporting these charities has been incredible. This year, we wanted to mark our 30th anniversary not only by celebrating our achievements but also by giving back to the communities we care about. I couldn’t be prouder that we exceeded our target. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting these fantastic charities and their vital work.”

The charities have also voiced their appreciation for Green-tech’s donations:

  • Phil Swainston, Corporate Partnership Manager at Perennial, noted, “This donation from Green-tech will allow us to continue offering critical support to the horticultural community, from financial and wellbeing advice to career training. Their support means a lot to us.”
  • Iain Blackwood Hobbs, Partnerships Executive at Candlelighters, said, “We’ve enjoyed following Green-tech’s journey throughout this campaign. Their donation will make a big impact for families across Yorkshire dealing with childhood cancer, helping us provide the practical, emotional, and financial support they need.”
  • Richard Kay, Trustee of the BALI Chalk Fund, added, “Green-tech’s support helps us further our mission of providing training and certification for students entering the horticulture industry. On behalf of the trustees, a huge thanks to Green-tech for this generous contribution.”
  • Laura Holohan-Keith, Relationship Fundraising Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said, “Green-tech’s support will allow us to continue helping people affected by cancer in North Yorkshire. We’re so grateful for their efforts and commitment.”
  • Ellie Tomlin, Regional Community Fundraiser at Shelter, remarked, “We are delighted by the amazing fundraising efforts from Green-tech. There are currently 2,680 children in Yorkshire living in temporary accommodation who need our help. Thanks to this incredible donation, we can continue to support all those without a safe and stable home. Thank you so much to everyone that’s contributed!”

Supporting charitable initiatives and community projects is integral to Green-tech’s ethos. Their ‘£30k for 30 Years’ campaign represents this commitment, combining a major anniversary with meaningful contributions to organisations that touch lives across the UK.

As Green-tech prepares to enter its fourth decade of business, it remains focused on driving innovation and sustainability within the landscaping and environmental sectors. With a commitment to excellence and forward-thinking solutions, Green-tech aims to lead the industry in delivering high-quality products that meet the market’s evolving needs.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.