Why Seed Innovation is the New Frontier for Turf Professionals

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Why Seed Innovation is the New Frontier for Turf Professionals: In the world of professional turf management, the ground beneath our feet is shifting. What once seemed like a predictable seasonal cycle has been replaced by a volatile cocktail of environmental and operational pressures. From the scorching droughts of record-breaking summers to the relentless intensity of equally record-breaking rainfall, the demands placed on a sward have never been higher.

At DSV Eurograss, they recognise that the “business as usual” approach to seed selection is no longer an option. As we navigate 2026, the research into seed and turf development has transcended simple aesthetics; it is now the critical foundation for the industry’s survival and sustainability.

Why Seed Innovation is the New Frontier for Turf Professionals

Why Seed Innovation is the New Frontier for Turf Professionals

The Climate Challenge: Breeding for the “New Normal”

Climate change is no longer a distant threat – it is an everyday operational hurdle. For turf managers, this manifests as extreme temperature fluctuations and increasingly restrictive water usage regulations. The traditional “cool-season” grasses that have long been the backbone of UK and European sports turf are being pushed to their physiological limits.

The research at DSV focuses on genotypic variation – the genetic “blueprint” that allows certain cultivars to thrive where others fail. Their breeding programs are specifically targeting drought tolerance, not just through surface-level survival, but through deep-rooting characteristics. By selecting for “smart roots”, plants that can strategically adjust their water uptake from deeper soil profiles during dry spells, they are helping groundstaff maintain high-quality surfaces with significantly fewer irrigation inputs.

Resilience Against Emerging Diseases

Warmer, more humid autumns and winters have invited a new guest list of pathogens to our pitches and fairways. Diseases like Dollar Spot and Gray Leaf Spot, once considered “continental” problems, are now common in more temperate climates.

The traditional reliance on chemical interventions is under pressure from both a regulatory and environmental standpoint. The DSV development pipeline prioritises genetic disease resistance.

Varieties like the newly ranked Flanell and Euromagic aren’t just chosen for their wear tolerance; they are bred to be naturally robust against the fungi that thrive in these changing weather patterns. By building resistance directly into the seed’s DNA, DSV provide the first line of defence, reducing the need for costly and carbon-heavy fungicide applications.

Performance Under Pressure: The Usage Factor

While the climate changes, the expectations of players and spectators remain at an all-time high. Modern multi-use stadia and academic facilities require turf that can withstand “increased usage” from the relentless pounding of feet and equipment, often under low-light conditions or beneath retractable roofs.

DSV’s PRO range is a testament to this research. It features diploid perennial ryegrasses that offer:

  • Rapid Germination: Vital for the tight windows of summer renovations.
  • Exceptional Sward Density: Providing the stability required for high-speed play.
  • Genetic Colour: Cultivars like Flanell and Eurogala provide a naturally deep green hue that looks exceptional on camera without the need for excessive nitrogen fertilization.

A Data-Driven Future

The importance of independent testing has never been greater. DSV are proud that their varieties now occupy top positions on the BSPB Turfgrass Seed rankings. However, their work doesn’t stop at the trial plots. The company is moving toward a more predictive framework in breeding, using genomic selection to identify the next generation of resilient varieties years faster than traditional methods.

“The rankings table is the one everyone wants to top. Our recent results prove that our breeding material is now the best in these trials, but the real victory is seeing these grasses perform in the face of a changing environment,” commented Sam Horner, DSV Seeds.

Conclusion: The Seed is the Solution

As water becomes more precious and the weather more unpredictable, the turfcare industry must look to the science of the seed. At DSV Eurograss, they are committed to providing the professional community with the tools to stay ahead of the curve. Investing in advanced seed technology is not just about a better-looking pitch today; it’s about ensuring we have a surface to play on tomorrow.

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk/products/amenity for more information and follow on social media @EuroGrassUKSeed.

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DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

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DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour: Lees Hall Golf Club are celebrating the success of their growing wildflower initiative, developed in conjunction with DLF Seeds.

Led by Head Greenkeeper Ian Whitehead and Assistant Greenkeeper Danny Tozzi, the club is now entering its third year of using mixtures from the Colour Boost range which has added areas of high visual impact and a real ‘boost’ to biodiversity around the course.

DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

Established in 1907 as a nine-hole course before expanding to 18 holes in 1921, the picturesque parkland course at Lees Hall is set atop rolling hills with panoramic views across the city of Sheffield. Adding to the visual merit for the past two years are bursts of colour delivered by the club’s newly created wildflower areas. “I first met with DLF’s Stuart Yarwood at BTME 2024 who suggested we start with a small-scale trial to see how we got on” explains Ian.

“We opted for Floral Carpet from the Colour Boost range which provided a bold, but low-growing display which all the members enjoyed on their way to the first tee.” Along with something that would not interrupt lines of sight or play, Ian’s other request was slightly more out of the ordinary! “My allegiance to Sheffield Wednesday meant I couldn’t bear the thought of a red floral display on the course – DLF were more than happy to oblige, tweaking the mixture to incorporate more blues and whites.”

Under the careful management of assistant Danny Tozzi, the success of the trial plot saw the expansion of the programme into new areas in year two. Danny takes up the story, “We continued with Floral Carpet and then, with the guidance of DLF’s Ben Morgan, introduced the Honey Bee & Butterfly mixture into some new areas. Despite some slightly challenging weather conditions, we were impressed with not only the way the new sowing performed, but also how much re-growth and self-seeding we saw in the plots from year one.”

As well as visual appeal, boosting ecology has been a major driver for the project. “There’s no doubt that since we established these wildflower areas we’ve seen an increase in pollinators, birds and wildlife in general enjoying these spaces” Danny adds.

Buoyed by the success, five additional wildflower areas are earmarked for sowing in 2026. “We’ll certainly be continuing with Floral Carpet and the Honey Bee & Butterfly mixtures, along with Carnival which have all delivered exactly what we’ve hoped to date.” Danny concludes, “Everyone is excited to see even more colour on the course.”

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Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

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Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager: Redexim UK has strengthened its team with the appointment of Greg Cain as Business Development Manager – a newly created role that reflects the company’s continued growth and forward-thinking strategy.

Greg brings with him more than two decades of hands-on industry experience. Prior to moving into machinery sales, he spent 18 years working directly in grounds maintenance and landscaping, finishing his operational career as a senior manager for a housing association in the North West, where he led a large grounds maintenance team based around Manchester.

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

In 2018, Greg joined Cheshire Turf Machinery in Stockport, a Redexim dealer, where he first developed a close working knowledge of the brand and its product portfolio. After five and a half years there, he moved on to Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager for the North of the UK, before officially starting his new position at Redexim UK this month.

Reflecting on his move, Greg said: “It feels like a great fit for me. I’ve worked with the products before, I know the industry, and I’ve built up strong contacts across golf clubs, sports clubs and commercial sports settings.”

The Business Development Manager position has been introduced to sit alongside Redexim’s existing regional sales structure, with a clear focus on generating new opportunities and raising further awareness of the company’s extensive range.

“My role is going to be good old-fashioned knocking on doors,” Greg explained. “It’s about introducing myself, speaking to people who may have used Redexim in the past or are considering it, and getting the brand name out there. Once we’ve developed and qualified a lead, it will be passed into the dealer network to see the sales process through.”

With robotic mowing continuing to gain traction across golf and sports facilities, Greg believes this evolution presents further opportunity for Redexim’s specialist equipment.

“With the introduction of robotic mowing, greenkeepers potentially have more time to focus on key cultural practices,” he said. “That’s where Redexim’s range really comes into its own – whether it’s aeration, verti-draining, scarifying, brushing or sweeping. For me, the Redexim Verti-Drain has stood the test of time, and remains hugely important for maintaining high-quality playing surfaces.”

For Greg, the appeal of the new role lies in giving dedicated focus to the breadth of Redexim’s offering.

“I’m looking forward to speaking to customers specifically about the Redexim range in its own right,” he said. “Looking at the full portfolio of equipment available and highlighting how it can support their maintenance programmes.”

Away from work, Greg is a busy family man with four children and is actively involved with his local cricket club, where he also helps maintain the grounds. When time allows, he enjoys hiking and playing golf, a passion that keeps him closely connected to many of the customers he will now be supporting in his new role.

His appointment marks another positive step for Redexim UK, underlining the company’s commitment to investing in its people and positioning the business for continued expansion.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/ 

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STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

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STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter: STIHL has launched the new FSA 250 battery-operated brush cutter, offering professionals an excellent cutting performance for both mowing and clearing work. 

Whilst fitted as standard with a metal cutting blade, for versatility, the new addition can also accommodate an extensive range of cutting attachments, including mowing heads with traditional line and a wide 480mm mowing diameter, polymer blades for tougher trimming tasks, as well as metal tools such as shredder and circular saw blades for clearing tough areas of scrub and even small trees, respectively.  This makes the machine ideal for a range of professional landscaping maintenance tasks with the simple change of cutting attachment.

STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

Offering a comparable alternative to petrol machines such as the FS 240 C-E, the powerful tool offers emission-free operation and provides the benefit of quiet operation, perfect for use in noise-sensitive areas and to provide a more pleasant working experience for the operator.

For energy efficiency and an optimum cutting performance, the machine’s powerful EC motor can be adjusted to 3 levels depending on the task, with its LED display indicating which mode is in use.

Combined with its optimum balance and low weight characteristics, the FSA 250’s ergonomic bike handle and grip system contributes to prolonged user comfort and effortless guidance.

Engineered with professional use in mind, its easy-to-clean air filter guarantees efficiency and effective motor cooling, contributing to a long-service life. In addition, the tool can be used in all weather conditions thanks to its IPX 4-certification.

For more information on the STIHL FSA 250, visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Obituary: Mick Hunt

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Obituary: Mick Hunt: The cricketing world is mourning a true titan of the turf industry following the passing of Mick Hunt, the legendary former Head Groundsman at Lord’s. For nearly half a century, Mick wasn’t just a staff member; he was the heartbeat of the Home of Cricket.

Joining the groundstaff in 1969, Mick dedicated 49 years of his life to the hallowed sward of NW8. By the time he retired in 2018, he had become as much a fixture of the ground as the Pavilion itself. Known for his technical mastery of the pitch and his trademark “permanent smile,” Mick was a beloved figure among MCC Members, colleagues, and the international players who relied on his expertise.

An obituary to Mick Hunt

An obituary to Mick Hunt

Few individuals can claim such an indelible connection to the history of Lord’s. From the changing face of the game to decades of historic Test matches, Mick saw it all from the best seat in the house. His passion for the craft and his warmth as a person left a mark that time will not erase.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Lord’s feels a little quieter today, but Mick’s legacy lives on in every blade of grass.

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