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Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

May 6, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress The 2025 drought left many turf managers seeking solutions to a problem when it was inevitably too late. Months without rain led to a common sight of dry, scorched and yellow playing fields and golf courses throughout the UK. Kate Finlayson, research and development agronomist at Orion Future Technologies, […]

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

May 5, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future Following acquisition in 2024 that prevented Newark Golf Club from entering administration, its new owners, Stellar Asset Management, have invested millions of pounds into the club. With immediate improvements to the course, renovation of the clubhouse, shop and changing areas, plus the installation of a full trackman grass […]

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

May 6, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

May 5, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

May 6, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

The 2025 drought left many turf managers seeking solutions to a problem when it was inevitably too late. Months without rain led to a common sight of dry, scorched and yellow playing fields and golf courses throughout the UK. Kate Finlayson, research and development agronomist at Orion Future Technologies, suggests that prevention is better than cure when it comes to mitigating drought stress.

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

“Conditions can change quickly, but a trend for prolonged dry spells is being seen ever more frequently. Concentrating on plant resilience is an approach that has seen some turf managers withstand such conditions better than others, especially when the focus has been on grass health,” she says.

The use of silicon based biostimulants is not new. However, further research has shown that silicon can help grass to prepare for, and withstand, abiotic stress more successfully.

“Taking measures to deal with the difficulties of drought has often been reactive and unfortunately for some, too little too late. The principle of using silicon biostimulants is that turf grasses are being made ready for the stress that drought brings. With irrigation supplies being challenged in the worst droughts and fertilisers only able to provide a modicum of soft growth, the use of silicon can help bolster turf health during dry spells,” she adds.

Opting for a biological solution is more sustainable than a reliance on purely chemical solutions and can also offer cost savings. However, it is most likely to be effective in instances where it forms part of an integrated turf management system.

Silicon helps to stimulate turf grasses to grow deeper seeking roots. This enables the plant to find moisture deeper in the soil structure where it is both more available and easier to obtain.

“Minimising unnecessary disturbance, encouraging microbial activity, and gradually building organic matter all contribute to a more functional rootzone. The objective is not simply to hold water, but to create a system where water can be stored and accessed effectively,” says Kate.

Combining silicon with phosphite is one method that has seen the biostimulant Fossil become a go to for many seeking to strengthen turf and make it more resilient to drought stress. The combination supports plant structure and root function by reinforcing cell walls, improving turgor retention and sustaining root activity when moisture is hard to find.

“Efficiency of water use has become more important than simply considering volume. This is why preparing plants to deal with abiotic stresses is potentially more important than trying to find ways to keep up water application. Encouraging deeper rooting, avoiding shallow irrigation patterns, and making more informed decisions based on monitored soil moisture all contribute to better outcomes,” she adds.

Kate concludes that inevitably conditions are forcing a change of culture and that turf management will come with environmental stresses that can adversely affect the visual appearance of grass, but that there needs to be a change in mindset to overcome this.

“The opportunity now is to build systems that are designed to cope with stress, rather than look at ways to recover. Healthier soils, deeper rooting, and stronger plant physiology all play a role in that transition. There is no single solution, and no input that replaces good agronomy. But, there is a clear rationale for futureproofing and using new tools to endure perpetual problems.”

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Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

May 5, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

Following acquisition in 2024 that prevented Newark Golf Club from entering administration, its new owners, Stellar Asset Management, have invested millions of pounds into the club. With immediate improvements to the course, renovation of the clubhouse, shop and changing areas, plus the installation of a full trackman grass driving range and simulator room, the long term health of the club has never looked better.

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

And it is with that eye on the long-term that Newark is working with sustainable bunker experts EcoBunker to ensure that the course’s hazards meet the standards of the rest of the venue.

“For golf, food or private events Newark is unrecognisable from 2 years ago,” commented Group General Manager, Molly Pavey. “Members and visitors love the course and the facilities, but the bunkers are the last thing that needed an upgrade to deliver the overall experience that we want to provide. As with every investment, we wanted to be sure that the owners got great value, golfers got a fantastic playing experience and that we’re securing the best possible solution for many years to come, so we spoke to EcoBunker.”

Based in South Wales, EcoBunker are the innovators of synthetic bunker edge technology. Using layered synthetic turf tiles Ecobunker technology creates a long term, sustainable bunker edge that reduces the need for bunker maintenance and protects the bunkers from sand contamination and erosion. By investing in EcoBunker, golf clubs lock in course design and save significant maintenance costs over the 20+ year guaranteed lifespan.

“Across the group we look for the best way to deliver a fantastic experience for customers on and off the course, but we obviously have to make sure that we are getting the best from every pound invested,” continued Pavey. “EcoBunker is simple to install, so after brief training the on-site team is in the process of renovating all of the bunkers on the front nine. We plan to complete the program over the next 12 months meaning that very soon we will see cost savings and course improvements that will last for years.”

With further improvements to the changing areas due to be unveiled this spring, and the full bunker renovation program due for completion in the Autumn the investment program at Newark Golf Club continues to add value to the member and guest experience. From a club on the verge of administration, the turnaround at Newark in just 2 years has been remarkable. And with improvements like EcoBunker bringing long-term benefits, Newark is set to go from strength to strength.

For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

For more information on Newark Golf Club please visit www.newarkgolfclub.co.uk

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

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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

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

Integrating biostimulants to mitigate drought stress

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

Newark Golf Club Invests for the Future

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