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Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

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Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest: Toro U.K. Limited marked a significant milestone at GroundsFest 2024, held from September 10th to 11th, by hosting its own independent stand (OSA640) for the first time. The event was an outstanding success, offering Toro the opportunity to connect with new and existing customers and dealers from the groundscare industry.

Positive Engagement at Our First Independent Stand

GroundsFest 2024 proved to be a landmark event for Toro U.K. Limited, drawing substantial interest from industry professionals eager to see the latest in grounds maintenance technology. Matthew Coleman, Sales Manager Professional Landscape Contractor & Site Works Equipment for the UK Direct Market, shared his thoughts on the show: “GroundsFest 2024 was an incredible opportunity for Toro to present our latest innovations directly to our audience. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and it was fantastic to engage with so many professionals who are passionate about enhancing their work with the latest technology. We’re thrilled with the connections we made and the conversations that took place, reaffirming Toro’s position as a leader in the groundcare industry.”

Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

Successful Partnership with Machinery Nation

A standout feature of Toro’s presence at the event was our successful partnership with Machinery Nation, who showcased the Toro Dingo® compact utility loaders, including the TX1000 Turbo and TX1300. Machinery Nation put these versatile machines to the test with their own obstacle course, demonstrating the Dingo’s powerful performance, agility, and versatility in real-world conditions. Attendees were impressed by the machines’ ability to handle challenging tasks with ease, further highlighting Toro’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for the industry.

Showcasing Innovation and Sustainability

Visitors to the Toro stand were introduced to a range of cutting-edge products, including the Toro ProLine H600 and the Toro eProStripe. The ProLine H600 is known for its compact width and small turning circle, high capacity cutting deck, and huge 700L hopper, making it ideal for professional groundskeepers who need reliable, high-quality results on a range of turf conditions. The Toro eProStripe, with its precision striping capability and quiet, battery-powered operation, is perfect for maintaining sport pitches and training grounds, offering a combination of performance and precise cut and finish.

Revolutionary Machines and Hand Tools

Toro also highlighted its Revolution™ Series range, featuring industry-leading products like the Toro Z Master Revolution zero-turn mower and the Toro GroundStand Revolution stand-on mower. These mowers are built with powerful HyperCell™ battery technology that matches the performance of traditional petrol engines, offering 7+ hours of operation time and no engine exhaust emissions, which cater to environmentally conscious grounds maintenance professionals.

The Revolution Handhelds professional range was also on display, including a battery-powered Leaf Blower, String Trimmer, and Hedge Cutter that provide excellent power, reduced vibration, and low noise levels, ideal for grounds maintenance tasks in noise-sensitive environments.

Connecting with Industry Professionals

GroundsFest 2024 served as a valuable platform for Toro U.K. Limited to engage directly with industry professionals, receive feedback, and build relationships with new dealers and customers. The show reinforced our commitment to supporting the groundcare industry with state-of-the-art solutions that enrich the beauty, productivity, and sustainability of the land.

Stay Connected with Toro

For those who missed GroundsFest, it’s not too late to learn about Toro’s innovative products. Visit our website or reach out to our team to discover how Toro can help elevate your ground maintenance projects.

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Martin Lishman’s new Shrouded Boom for Nano-Spray

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Martin Lishman’s new Shrouded Boom for Nano-Spray: Responding to a clear market need for a breakthrough solution in small-scale spraying, leading compact sprayer manufacturer Martin Lishman introduced the Nano-Spray: an ultra-compact, 36-litre, fully electric self-propelled sprayer designed to deliver a high-precision spray application without impacting fine turf.

Since its launch in November 2023, the Nano-Spray quickly gained popularity among sports turf professionals and small contract businesses.

Continuing Martin Lishman’s commitment to customer feedback and product development, the company is now proud to introduce a new shrouded boom option for the Nano-Spray.

In an industry where precision is paramount, concentrating the applied liquid to a specific area and eliminating spray drift are crucial benefits. The shrouded boom not only ensures accurate application but also allows for spraying near sensitive boundaries and in challenging weather conditions, whilst also minimising the risk of exposure to the operator or bystander.

“When a customer approached us with the idea of adding a shrouded boom to the Nano-Spray, we didn’t hesitate to begin the project,” explains Joel Capper, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “Instead of just attaching long buckets to the existing boom, our engineering team were able to seamlessly integrate an entirely new lightweight folding boom into the Nano’s frame. True to our modular design philosophy, this ensures that future upgrades will be straightforward and efficient.”

Designed for use in smaller amenity areas and as an invaluable tool for contractors, the Nano-Spray’s new shrouded boom features a unique folding design with quick-release indexing pins. This innovative design allows the boom to fold compactly, making it small enough to fit in small vehicles and through most gateways and passageways.

Despite its small size, it is fully equipped with an array of features typically reserved for larger, professional-grade sprayers. These include a two-section valve block with agitate, independent shut-off nozzle bodies, stainless steel hardware, lithium battery pack and fingertip spray on/off control.

Joel Capper concluded, “At Martin Lishman, we are dedicated to continuous product development and listening to our customers’ needs. The new shrouded boom for the Nano-Spray is a prime example of this commitment. We are excited to see the positive impact this enhancement will have on our customers’ operations.”

For further information on the Nano-Spray, visit www.martinlishman.com.

Sales enquiries can be made directly to sales@martinlishman.com.

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Green-tech share 30th anniversary celebrations

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Green-tech share 30th anniversary celebrations: Green-tech opened its doors for an Open Day on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, to a mix of customers, suppliers, industry colleagues, and company friends.

The invite-only event took place at Rabbit Hill Business Park where Green-tech’s office, production, warehousing, and distribution facility is based.

Green-tech share 30th anniversary celebrations

Green-tech share 30th anniversary celebrations

Visitors were given the opportunity to join a site tour around the offices, the extensive warehouse facilities, and the soil production facilities.

Technical seminars were available to all visitors to watch and took place on a range of topics including urban tree planting, wildflower sowing, SuDS integrated into green roofs and green urbanisation and Woodland Grow, an innovative fungi-based fertiliser.

Several of Green-tech’s key suppliers attended the day showcasing their products and networking with visitors and customers. They were a great asset and the company thanks Anchor Systems, Belchim, Melcourt, Makita, Mobilane, NexGen, Rainbow, Rainbird, Scotbark, Soluform, TreeParker, Tubex, and Woodland Grow, for their support.

In addition to seminars and site tours, entertainment was laid on for everyone to enjoy. This included laser clay shooting, basketball, and Danger Light, a fun test of speed and hand-eye coordination. A BBQ Lunch was provided, and drinks were supplied throughout the day by the Yorkshire Box Bar.

In the evening Green-tech hosted a gala dinner at the Double Tree Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. The fundraising raffle helped Green-tech get closer to its ambitious charity goal. To commemorate the company’s 30th anniversary, the team has pledged to try and raise £30,000 for five great charities. £1000 for each year the company has been trading. The nominated charities are the BALI Chalk Fund, Candlelighters Trust, Perennial Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, Macmillan Cancer Support and Shelter. Green-tech has currently reached almost 80% of its target. If you can help nudge them close to a 100% donate here – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/30kfor30yrs

Kris Nellist, Managing Director of Green-tech, comments, “We are thrilled to have welcomed so many of our valued customers, suppliers, and industry partners to our Open Day. This event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our facilities, products, and innovations, as well as to celebrate our 30th anniversary with those who have supported us over the years. We are especially proud of the funds raised for our chosen charities and grateful for the continued support of our community. Together, we are making strides towards a greener future, and we look forward to what the next chapter holds for Green-tech.”

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STIGA becomes sponsor of Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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STIGA becomes sponsor of Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Leading garden tool manufacturer STIGA is now the official groundskeeping partner of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The garden care company and the top European football club have signed a one-year contract. The sponsorship will run until the end of June 2025.

STIGA will take care of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s training pitches, providing superior lawn care by using the innovative STIGA autonomous robots. By optimising all aspects of mowing operations and providing wireless, intelligent and organized lawn care, STIGA will guarantee the best possible pitch conditions for Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s players.

Felix Duden, CEO of TecArena-Plus GmbH: “With STIGA as a new partner in the Sponsors Club, we are extending our commitment to innovative solutions in ground maintenance. Through this partnership, we are backing innovative and environmentally friendly technology in maintaining our playing surfaces with modern grassmowers. We are looking forward to working together.”

“As a forward-thinking company we are always looking for exciting collaborations that benefit both sides – also in sponsorship,” said Marc Gerster, CEO of STIGA Germany and Switzerland. “With their innovative style of play, Bayer 04 Leverkusen under coach Xabi Alonso have made their mark on football in Germany and shown how successful you can be with courage, enthusiasm and passion. These are values we live and breathe at STIGA every day. So we are looking forward to getting up to speed on the pitch together from now.”

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Celebrating ‘Organic September’ With Sustainable Lawn Care

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Celebrating ‘Organic September’ With Sustainable Lawn Care: With Sustainable Lawn Care: ‘Organic September’ is here and the Lawn Association team firmly believes that aligning with nature, rather than battling it, is always the pivotal factor in achieving successful, sensible, and sustainable lawn care!

Sustainable and organic gardening go hand in hand, representing more than just passing trends, they are responsible practices that cultivate plants while preserving our environment. By embracing eco-conscious methods such as composting, natural pest control, and rejecting harmful products like synthetic polymer-coated fertilizers, we can actively reduce our negative impact on the ecosystem. So what should we think about lawn care wise this Organic September?

Celebrating ‘Organic September’ With Sustainable Lawn Care

Celebrating ‘Organic September’ With Sustainable Lawn Care

Keep your eye on thatch!

Are you concerned about excess thatch in your lawn? The solution lies in scarification, and there’s no better time to tackle it than September. Scarifying your lawn will give you better control over thatch levels. Furthermore, as we approach autumn and winter, we should also consider the potential issue of moss. Don’t underestimate its ability to thrive in saturated soils with reduced air space. This leads to slower water movement through the soil, keeping the surface wet for longer periods.

Thatch, a spongy material consisting of clippings, shoots, and organic matter, can exacerbate the problem by creating a moist environment for moss spores to germinate. Regular scarification provides an effective solution, promoting better water drainage and reducing the chances of moss spores taking hold. Additionally, extra aeration will be essential this autumn to maintain a healthy lawn.

Feed your lawn well and naturally, it will thank you for it!

If you are scarifying your lawn this month to control thatch, then a good balanced feed afterwards is a must!  True Grass fertilizer is crafted from recycled food waste, breaking down into essential minerals and vitamins. Packed with humic, fulvic, and amino acids, along with seaweed, mycorrhiza, and an organic wetter, it’s the sustainable, organic solution that provides all the vital elements for luscious grass and healthy soil, making it the savvy choice for conscientious lawn care!

If it keeps growing, keep mowing!

Growth should be starting to slowdown so you can begin to reduce the regularity of mowing, whilst at the same time gradually increasing the cutting height.  You can aim for 2 to 5 cuts in September.  It is most important that you check that your mower blade is sharp…the job will only be as good as the tools you use!

Sustainable lawn care promotes responsible land stewardship, educating us on the importance of long-term harmony between human cultivation and the natural world. Let’s make a positive impact on our environment, one garden at a time.

Our core mission at the Lawn Association is to make accurate lawn care information readily available via our website and through our Free Membership Scheme for gardening enthusiasts.

Go to the @LawnAssociation Facebook page to join the Lawn Enthusiasts Group, and get free association membership via the website, www.lawnassociation.org.uk

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