Germinal’s 100% Organic Fertiliser

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Germinal’s 100% Organic Fertiliser: Germinal has added a 100% organic slow release fertiliser, which promotes soil health and enables grass swards to withstand disease pressure, to its expanding range of specialist amenity grass care products.

G7 Bio Builder is a granulated 5-3-8 NPK fertiliser which also contains 8% CaO and 0.5% Mg.*  It can be used at any time during the growing season but is especially effective when used immediately after fine turf swards on golf greens, golf tees and sports pitches have been renovated or aerated.

Germinal's 100% Organic Fertiliser

The new fertiliser’s 100% organic composition enhances sand-based soil profiles by providing naturally occurring rhizobacteria with a viable and consistent supply of organic material on which to feed.  This in turn stimulates natural biological activity within the rhizosphere and enhances the cation and nutrient exchange capacity of the rootzone, thereby improving the sward’s natural ability to put down healthy new growth and to fight off infection and disease.  Its mini-granular (1-2mm) formulation ensures the fertiliser breaks down quickly and is rapidly dispersed throughout the rootzone for immediate uptake.

“G7 Bio Builder releases a steady and predictable supply of nutrients over a period of 12-16 weeks, during which time it encourages the growth of beneficial microbes within the soil profile.  This subsequently allows improved root development and increases the sward’s resistance to soil borne pathogens,” explains Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Sales Manager.

“Applying G7 Bio Builder regularly throughout the year, typically from April onwards, provides a controlled and sustainable supply of organic material which enables the soil’s naturally occurring and beneficial rhizobacteria to flourish.  This in turn ensures the sward is in prime condition, enabling it to withstand disease and infection pressures and also to tolerate heat stress.”

G7 Bio Builder is recommended for application at a spreading rate of 70g/m2.

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Prevention Success At Preston GC

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Prevention Success At Preston GC: Andrew Merry, Course Manager at Preston Golf Club, changed his mind-set regarding disease management after attending an ICL/Syngenta breakfast club meeting for Greenkeepers.

Andrew may well be unique in the fact that not only is he the Course Manager at Preston Golf Club but he is also the General Manager. It all started back in 2006 when he was appointed as the Deputy Course Manager but soon was promoted when the position of course manager became vacant.

Prevention Success At Preston GC

He admits that it was somewhat a baptism of fire but twelve years later Andrew has excelled in this dual role, and one look at the stunning course is certainly testament to this.

The superb 18 hole, 6,278 yard, par 71 course dates back to 1892 with the design influenced by such luminaries as James Braid, Harry Varden, Alistair Mackenzie and Sandy Herd. Preston also has a wonderful variety of holes and USGA constructed greens that offer a challenge to players of all abilities.

Andrew has to work hard at keeping the course in a consistently excellent condition and none more so than two years ago when the greens were unfortunately struck with disease.

“I went on my Christmas break, left on the Thursday and came back on a Monday to find disease on the greens and I was worried I wouldn’t get those back. But since then and since attending the breakfast clubs, my view on course management has changed. The ICL/Syngenta “Turf Science Lite” breakfast club has re-educated me and made me want to start looking at things more preventatively and so far that has worked for the second year running,” he said.

The breakfast clubs were arranged by ICL’s North West Technical Area Sales Manager Phil Collinson, who provided a little more background.

“The idea was to get Greenkeepers together, keep them up to date on legislation, and inform them about products or trial work and to provide a networking opportunity.

“The breakfast club which Andrew first attended was based around various hard-hitting fungicides leaving the market and educating them that successful turf management is going to have to be different in the future. It is not about waiting for disease and hitting it and reducing the damage it is doing – it is about understanding when the site is most at risk from a damaging disease outbreak and preventing that damage from occurring in the first place by being proactive with the management strategy.”

Andrew did exactly that and incorporated an early application of Medallion TL at a rate of 3L/ha prior to his annual renovation work.

“Our annual renovation period starts in the third week of September and so a preventative fungicide a week before is where we start with our preventative management. Following that first application, a preventative fungicide goes down around every four weeks as well as incorporating good cultural methods such as dew removal to lower the risk of an outbreak. It is difficult to get into the mind-set of applying a fungicide when your greens are clean but it is absolutely worth it.”

Prevention Success At Preston GC

To compliment Andrew’s preventative strategy and to assist in reducing disease pressure, he also embarked on a full H2Pro TriSmart programme. This unique wetting agent consists of a triple-active formulation which provides great control when it comes to moisture management.

“We apply TriSmart on the greens at 10 L/ha every 4 weeks from April through to September. 2018 was the year to find out which wetting agents really work and I can safely say that TriSmart has excelled.

“Since using the product I haven’t had any compromised greens even during the hottest and driest periods. It also worth bearing in mind that I have an irrigation system which perhaps isn’t the best and the greens dry out very quickly because they are sand based.

“However, I’ve managed my moisture levels incredibly well and TriSmart has done exactly what it says on the tin!”

Andrew claims that the research and trial work conducted by ICL and Syngenta was a big factor in him deciding to use the products.

“In my opinion ICL has that research and development which is proven and it is something that will always stand up in my opinion. The support I receive from Phil is also invaluable.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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

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Greenkeeper Death An Accident

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Greenkeeper Death An Accident: A 35-year-old greenkeeper died last January after a poplar tree he was cutting fell on his head and fractured his skull, an inquest has heard.

His girlfriend and her father later found his body.

Father-of-one Martin Davenport, probably died instantly when the tree hit him in Christleton, Cheshire.

A jury inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court has been told that Davenport suffered a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage.

A jury inquest is required by law if a death occurs following an accident at work.

Davenport worked as a greenkeeper at Eaton Golf Club but was acting as a self-employed contractor when he was hired to cut down poplar trees.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Bland said the tree involved was leaning, causing it to act like a ‘spring’ with compression on one side and tension on the side nearest Davenport.

The trunk then split and kicked out.

Bland said: “Unfortunately Martin was in the vicinity of where that tree kicked out at the base so he received a blow to the head.”

Bland said he was happy with the tree felling training Davenport had received through his golf club job and the equipment he was using.

Eaton Golf Club head greenkeeper Gavin Clarke described him as “a great worker” with “a really good skill set”.

The jury found Davenport suffered a fatal blow to the head because the tree fell and split in ‘an uncontrolled manner’.

With the direction of Cheshire area coroner Claire Welch, they concluded Davenport died from an accident.

Welch told the family: “I offer you my heartfelt condolences. It’s clear to me from the evidence that I heard during the course of the inquest today how loved and liked Martin was, seemingly by all those who knew him.”

Davenport is survived by his parents Kathy and Shane, sister Sian and his nine-year-old daughter Isabelle.

He had remained friends with her mother Laura, from whom he was separated.

Kathy Davenport, who gave evidence, said: “He was a busy, hard-working young man who adored his little girl and was always trying to support her as best he could.”

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John Deere’s Milestone Machine

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John Deere’s Milestone Machine: John Deere recently hit a manufacturing milestone with the completion of the five millionth unit of riding lawn equipment built at the company’s Power Products factory in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Originally founded as a small, satellite factory, Power Products is now the highest volume facility for John Deere and is responsible for manufacturing many of the iconic green lawnmowers sold by the brand. The facility was established in 1988 and celebrated its 30th anniversary last July.

John Deere's Milestone Machine

“The production of the five millionth machine is a significant milestone for the Power Products team, John Deere and our loyal customers,” said factory manager Jeff Hollett. “We take immense pride in the legacy we have built here in Greeneville, and to know we have built five million machines is something we are really proud of.”

The Power Products facility currently manufactures the John Deere 100 Series small ride-on models, some of which are equipped with the award-winning Easy Change 30-second oil change system, as well as the S240 lawn tractor and the Z300 and Z500 Series ZTrak zero-turn mowers. As with all John Deere products, the models built by the employees at Power Products have a greater reach and purpose than just the equipment.

“The production of five million units really puts into perspective what we do here on a daily basis,” said Hollett. “It’s more than just manufacturing machines to help people look after their lawn. It’s about our unwavering commitment to quality and integrity. This is the only way we were able to reach this milestone, which is a testament to the long-term success of John Deere Power Products.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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Amenity Forum’s Recent Updating Events

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Amenity Forum’s Recent Updating Events: The management of amenity areas is a vital and important task creating safe and healthy public spaces fit for purpose. It is vital that such tasks are undertaken to the highest professional standards but, as it stands, although there are a number of recognised assurance schemes, there is no overall standard which can easily be recognised as demonstrating those undertaking amenity management operations are professionally competent and using methods at the highest standards of best practice.

Given that, the Amenity Forum is developing a standard for the sector. This will inform the public, and those who place tenders or employ operators that the processes implemented are safe and healthy and fit for purpose. The standard will be akin to the Red Tractor logo which is widely recognised in the food sector. It will be instantly recognisable and will verify that the various assurance schemes in the sector are maintained at the overall standard.

Amenity Forum’s Recent Updating Events

In the current climate, cost will always be a key factor when considering amenity management plans but it is vital that quality and standards are an essential element in the final decision. The new standard and accompanying logo will give confidence to all involved.

Those attending London and Belfast recently as part of the popular series of free Amenity Forum Updating events organised welcomed the proposals. It was recognised that many do currently look to employ contractors and the like with assured credentials such as Amenity Assured, there remains others who operate outside such standards. The new Amenity Standard seeks to address this and ensure it is as widely recognised in the amenity sector as the Red Tractor is in food.

Professor John Moverley, Chairman of the Forum, said ‘’I would like to see this standard as an essential requirement when employing anyone involved in amenity management. If employing a gas fitter, I seek to ensure he or she is CORGI registered, a similar requirement should be essential in amenity management. There are a number of well recognised assurance schemes in our sector, this new standard seeks to embrace these and in a simple way, provide everyone of an assured standard and best practice. I would like to see the logo associated the standard to be proudly displayed across the UK in our parks, golf courses, sports grounds and indeed all our public spaces’’

The new standard is due to be launched later this year and in the meantime, everyone is urged to seek evidence of a recognised assurance scheme when employing those charged with amenity management in all its forms.

The Amenity Forum is continuing its free Updating Event series and for details please contact Admin@amenityforum.co.uk 

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