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

Sustainability at the forefront from DLF

/in , /by

Sustainability at the forefront from DLF: DLF Seeds pride themselves on consistently improving and setting the standard for grass seed excellence, and their mixtures for 2022 will be no different.

A stop by stand 270 in the Red Zone at BTME, will give visitors the first chance to hear about the new sustainable and environmental solutions that will change the way that professional turf managers will tackle some of today’s biggest challenges.

Sustainability at the forefront from DLF

Sustainability at the forefront from DLF

The shift in weather patterns combined with changing management models of maintenance and plant nutrition are largely believed to be the triggers for an increase in the occurrence of some turf diseases, particularly the rise in reported instances of Brown Patch. Over the last two years, and utilising their global research network, DLF have been leading the field with a screening programme for Brown Patch which has identified the tolerance of DLF’s 4Turf® varieties.

The results of the study have therefore formed the foundation of a number of new formulations across the Johnsons Sports Seed fine turf and sports turf ranges – including J Premier 4Turf – a brand new mixture for 2022 which will be the first of its kind to offer proven Brown Patch tolerance for winter sports pitches. For golf, a number of popular mixtures have been reformulated including J Fairway which features the new salt tolerant Esparina chewings fescue and J Rye Fairway which has been updated to include the new highly rated, perennial ryegrass Aniston.

All of the changes will be outlined in the brand-new Johnsons Sports Seed brochure, which can be found on the stand alongside two new brochures dedicated to the recently expanded DLF Wildflower collections. In order to meet with the increasing demand for sustainability and conservation areas, a number of mixtures have been added to both the ProFlora native wildflower and Colour Boost high impact wildflower ranges.

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.

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

/in , /by

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing: Over the last year AMS Robotics has worked hard to form a string of exceptional regional dealers across the country, introducing them to the commercial robotic mowing market.

The Belrobotics products are at the forefront of the large format robotic mowing industry with a groundbreaking mower that will manage up to 75,000m2 several times a week – making it the perfect solution for sports pitches, schools, and all private and business premises. AMS’s most recent partner TH White Groundcare has just come on board as a regional dealer.

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

TH White’s groundcare supplies market leading machinery brands for your grounds care and arboricultural business. They are specialists in the supply of groundcare and arboricultural machinery, and related equipment, to Local Authorities, Golf Courses, Private Estates, Grounds Care Contractors and more making them the perfect candidates to sell the Belrobotics products.

With three branches in England: Redditch, Stockbridge and Tetbury (Knockdown), THW are able to service the needs of customers in the Birmingham and West Midlands area, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey.

TH Whites and some of the other regional dealers have been busy training with AMS Robotics to bring each team up to speed with the installation process and everything that comes along with it.

Check out how TH White’s Groundcare has found working with AMS and the Belrobotics system:

These vast area mowers are perfect for Turf farms and large private estates. By having GPS and RTK, this increases mowing capacity making them faster and more accurate. Competitor offerings are targeting the domestic segment whereas AMS products suit our existing professional customer base and we are frontrunners in the dealer network being able to supply this unique product to customers who don’t have time to cut grass.

Salesman feedback – so far so good. Great to demo, the machine is fun and is easy to use once you are set up.

A recent customer quote from Jeremy Bulmer who purchased a Park mow, and says “they are the best things since sliced bread’. The next morning after the day the mower was installed he looked outside to find his garden looked like a cricket square… not a blade of grass out of place, it was perfect! This will now save him 8 hours a week sitting on a mower. Which for a busy businessman is a lot of time saved.

AMS Robotics is so pleased to be working with TH White Groundcare helping private homes and businesses manage their large turf areas smarter! For more information or a demo opportunity please call AMS on 01462 676 222 or interested@amsrobotics.co.uk and we will put you in touch with the appropriate contact

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.

COVERMASTER® wins innovation award

/in , /by

COVERMASTER® wins innovation award: The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) has named COVERMASTER® as one of only three recipients of their 2022 Innovation Awards Program.

The award was presented to COVERMASTER® for its revolutionary TARPMATE AIR ROLLER™. This unique Roller system reduces the manpower to roll sports field covers on and off the playing surface. Where normally 6 persons were required for traditional plastic or steel rollers, 2-3 people can now do the job with TARPMATE AIR™.

COVERMASTER® wins innovation award

COVERMASTER® wins innovation award

In addition, once the covers are rolled onto the TARPMATE AIR™, it can be deflated, rolled up, and stacked and stored on pallets, greatly reducing storage requirements. When ready to deploy for the next application, simply unroll the TARPMATE AIR™, inflate it and roll out the cover.

With over 2,700 members, the SFMA’s Innovative Awards Task Group selects commercial company members who have developed a product, service, or technology that makes playing fields safer and more playable for athletes. Winners not only fill a need but are creative in the way they save time and resources while improving productivity, enhancing environmental protection, and improving overall efficiency.

Learn more about the award-winning COVERMASTER® Tarpmate Air Roller at https://www.covermaster.com/TarpMate-Air

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

COVERMASTER®

CANADA  100 Westmore Dr., 11-D Rexdale, ON M9V 5C3  North America Toll Free: 800-387-5808

U.S.A.   3909 Witmer Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14305  North America Toll Free: 800-387-5808

EUROPE   Oedelestraat 1A B-8580 Avelgem Belgium   Europe: +44 (0) 2038 685082

Email: info@covermaster.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.

COMPO EXPERT appoints Neil Pullen

/in , /by

COMPO EXPERT appoints Neil Pullen: German fertiliser manufacturer COMPO EXPERT has announced the appointment of former Agrovista Amenity Product Development Manager, Neil Pullen, as its new Product Manager.

Neil brings his valuable insight of the sport turf sector to his new role, as well as a sound understanding of how COMPO EXPERT products meet the sector’s specific needs. In fact, he says he built his sales career through his extensive understanding of the unique Floranid range of twin slow-release fertilisers, during his time at Kings Horticulture in the 1980s.

COMPO EXPERT appoints Neil Pullen

COMPO EXPERT appoints Neil Pullen

Within his new role, Neil will launch a wider range of COMPO EXPERT products into the sports turf industry in Scandinavia, the UK & Ireland.

“COMPO EXPERT products have been close to my heart throughout my career,” Neil says, “and I’m looking forward to sharing this knowledge with all sports turf industry professionals.

“My role will also involve customer research and working with COMPO EXPERT chemists in Germany to help produce new and exciting technologies that will help to improve and maintain quality sports surfaces.

Commenting on Neil’s appointment, COMPO EXPERT Managing Director Gerald Bonner says: “Neil will ensure that the most up to date chemistry is being manufactured to create a product fit for our distributors and end users in the sports turf arena. His knowledge of the COMPO EXPERT product  and his previous work experience with national distributor Agrovista Amenity will provide a valuable insight, into the sports turf market 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.

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

/in , /by

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds: The great outdoors brings together disabled and non-disabled children and adults to develop life skills and fulfil their potential at Thomley, a special place in rural Oxfordshire.

Founded in 1997 by parents of children with autism and other complex needs and registered as charity in 2001, Thomley’s eight-acre site near Thame delivers a programme of activities throughout the year from sports and outdoor play to creative pursuits and life skills.

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

In the grounds there’s a football pitch, playground equipment designed for the needs of disabled users, and one kilometre cycle track suitable for bicycles, tricycles and go karts. A new sensory garden has been created, and there are plans for a woodland area.

Kubota has a long term partnership with Thomley, and has recently installed its latest G261 ride-on rotary mower to help the three-man maintenance team keep this green and pleasant space pristine.

“Grounds maintenance is just one of our tasks, so having the Kubota mower makes a big difference,” explains David Francis, who heads up the team. “It takes about 10 hours to cut the whole grassed area, and there are different requirements according to its use.”

The football pitch, mini football and golf course fairways require the high level of presentation offered by the three-blade rotary deck, he points out.

“I tend to cut those areas first and then it’s a quick job to raise the deck and top some of the longer areas. We also like to cut paths through long grass for the children to enjoy exploring, or produce a tidy area for camping, so the choice of cut heights is very useful.”

David adds that the compact size of the G261 is handy to work in restricted areas around play equipment and other obstacles in the grounds. It also makes for easy secure storage in a container.

Revised and updated for improved transmission of power and smoother grass flow, the mower replaces the previous G series used at Thomley, and he comments:

“We can see that the mower has been improved with features such as the single joystick to control the cutting deck and collector and new pto clutch and we’re looking forward to getting to know it this spring. Our Kubota mowers have always been really reliable, and it’s so straightforward to do the daily checks. You can’t fault it.”

“We have supported the Thomley Hall Centre for several years now,” says Kubota Tractor Business Unit marketing manager Rob Edwards. “Thomley was identified though the employee forum several years ago as a deserving community organisation to support, and

continues to be a key partner in the programme of Kubota community support activities undertaken in the surrounding area to our Thame head office. We are very pleased to continue our association with the loan of the very latest G261 ride on mower.”

Operations manager Joe Kitchen, who co-ordinates the activities, running of the site and the work of staff and volunteers adds:

“We’re so happy to have our new Kubota mower. It’s a great resource and we take a lot of pleasure from how lovely the grounds look when they have been cut.”

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.