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Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?: Mansfield Sand has revealed that an increasing number of sports turf mangers are relying on a sand dressing as a solution to earthworm casting. “After over three decades of greenkeeping and a few years of winter sports turf management, I am fully aware of the frustration […]

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Nigel Chell

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines: Britain’s biggest equipment rental company is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65 million – the biggest ever order from a UK customer in the company’s 75-year history. Sunbelt Rentals UK is expanding and renewing its fleet as the construction industry rebounds strongly from the […]

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Nigel Chell

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?: Mansfield Sand has revealed that an increasing number of sports turf mangers are relying on a sand dressing as a solution to earthworm casting.

“After over three decades of greenkeeping and a few years of winter sports turf management, I am fully aware of the frustration caused by worm casts,” said Gary Cunningham, Football & Golf Sales Representative for Mansfield Sand.

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

“Whilst most earthworm activity goes unnoticed and has a role to play in soil management, its activity can have a detrimental impact on managed amenity grass surfaces. Besides being unsightly, it can lead to the deterioration in playing surfaces – allowing weed infestation, less resistance to turf disease and damage to mowing equipment. All of these inevitably also lead to increased management costs.”

Historically, surface casting was controlled by various chemical solutions. However, over recent years these options have been withdrawn from the market due to environmental protection concerns. This has left turf managers looking for alternative solutions to an age-old inconvenience.

There are several great articles and studies which have been published, and in each situation, sand dressing is shown to supress casting worm activity to some extent on managed areas.

Whilst this is not a quick fix and does depend on several factors such as local climate, soil temperature and time of year, what is apparent is that a sustained programme of sand dressing problem areas does reduce casting worm activity. In turn, casts become a sandier loam which can be easily dispersed without any smearing. This will also lessen the material build-up and not cause any issues with mowing equipment.

Mansfield Sand provides two well-known grades of silica sand to the sports market, MM35 and MM40 – which are sourced directly from the company’s Two Oaks quarry in Mansfield.

“Regular topdressing with MM35 or MM40 can help to manage casting worm activity,” continued Gary. “It can certainly help to make it easier once you build up the level of sand in the rootzone.

“Furthermore, using the right grade of high-quality sand is vital to the overall health and performance of a managed sports surface. Therefore, sports facilities that regularly apply sand dressings as part of their management programme, benefit from improved rootzones leading to better drainage and plant health.

“We may never be able to supress casting earthworm activity completely, but more and more turf managers are significantly reducing them by topdressing with sand.”

From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all, and the products have long been relied upon at stadium and training ground facilities; championship golf courses and world class show jumping arenas.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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

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Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

March 29, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Nigel Chell

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines: Britain’s biggest equipment rental company is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65 million – the biggest ever order from a UK customer in the company’s 75-year history.

Sunbelt Rentals UK is expanding and renewing its fleet as the construction industry rebounds strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic. The flagship rental company is investing in JCB Loadall telescopic handlers, mini and midi excavators, site dumpers, tracked excavators and rough terrain fork lifts – all manufactured at JCB’s Staffordshire factories. Sunbelt Rentals is also investing in 350 JCB access platforms – JCB’s biggest-ever UK deal for this equipment following its entry into the $8 billion powered access market in 2017.

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

The massive order comes as JCB recruits hundreds of new shop floor employees as a result of soaring demand. The machines – supplied by JCB dealer Greenshields JCB – are already rolling off JCB’s production lines and being delivered to Sunbelt’s 200-strong UK depot network.

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “Sunbelt Rentals is one of JCB’s largest global customers and this huge investement in new and innovative equipment demonstrates its desire to offer the the most advanced machines, featuring the latest ultra-efficient, low emissions engines. It’s the biggest ever order from a JCB customer in the UK and we are delighted to secure this buisness. It’s also fantastic to win a large deal for our access platforms from such a well-respected fleet customer.”

Warrington-based Sunbelt Rentals is the UK’s biggest equipment rental company and covers the whole of Great Britain through 200 hire depots with a fleet of over 250,000 itemised machines. Sunbelt Rentals rebranded its business in 2020 from A-Plant to mirror the name of its sister company in North America.

Sunbelt’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Wright said: “Sunbelt is committed to owning the youngest and most innovative equipment in the industry and the JCB range offers fantastic quality and solutions for our customers throughout the UK. We have performed strongly throughout the pandemic and this significant order supports our determiniation to maintain and expand our market leadership position within the UK.”

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.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?

Can sand dressing provide a solution to worm casts?: Mansfield Sand has revealed that an increasing number of sports turf mangers are relying on a sand dressing as a solution to earthworm casting.

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines: Britain’s biggest equipment rental company is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65 million – the biggest ever order from a UK customer in the company’s 75-year history.

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