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Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise: Within just a few weeks of renewing their partnership as official distributors for the INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ collections for Belgium, Cofabel had secured their first order – two 34” INFINICUT® FX machines to Belgian First Division A stalwarts Standard Liège. Complimenting an impressive list of franchises, Cofabel Sales Director Wilfried Onkelinx […]

What your lawn needs to eat

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by External Source

What your lawn needs to eat: The Lawn Association team know that you will be wishing for a lawn like the one pictured this summer! But to get this result, you need to plan now! Our latest guest blog is from a specialist who knows exactly what your lawn needs to eat to ensure it […]

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

What your lawn needs to eat

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by External Source

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Cofabel secures INFINICUT^® franchise: Within just a few weeks of renewing their partnership as official distributors for the INFINICUT^® and TMSystem™ collections for Belgium, Cofabel had secured their first order – two 34” INFINICUT^® FX machines to Belgian First Division A stalwarts Standard Liège.

Complimenting an impressive list of franchises, Cofabel Sales Director Wilfried Onkelinx predicts a bright and busy future for the INFINICUT^® range – with its reputation for leading cut quality and performance driving demand from sports venues around the country.

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

Operating from four outlets, Cofabel have been importing and distributing John Deere equipment for the agricultural, golf, park and garden markets for nearly 50 years and since, have grown their portfolio with a number of leading collections including Wiedenmann and GKB Machines. “We are always on the lookout for brands that can enhance our offering and deliver the results that turf managers are demanding” explains Wilfried. “Clubs recognise more than ever that success begins with an excellent pitch – this allows for attractive football and in many cases results will follow. Groundsmen won’t settle for anything less than the best, and that’s where the INFINICUT^® is now top of mind.”

The first club to come on board was Royal Standard de Liège, where a conversation with club consultant Frédéric Cahay and maintenance contractors Devillers led to the purchase of two 34” fixed head INFINICUT^® mowers in July 2020. “Devillers have been trusted with the maintenance of Stade Maurice Dufrasne for a number of years and they came to us specifying the INFINICUT^® mowers, having seen them become the mower of choice for a huge number of top-flight clubs in the UK. They are not disappointed! The mowers were put to use straight away, delivering an unparalleled quality of cut, stripe and finish which has delighted all at the club.”

“Despite the challenges we have all faced with COVID restrictions, we have already seen phenomenal interest and have conducted a number of demonstrations of both the cylinder and rotary mowers.” Wilfried concludes, “As the reputation and visibility of INFINICUT^® continues to grow across Belgium, we are expecting to see several football clubs, and other turf managers, become proud owners of an INFINICUT^® very soon.”

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What your lawn needs to eat

January 15, 2021/in News, Press Release/by External Source

What your lawn needs to eat: The Lawn Association team know that you will be wishing for a lawn like the one pictured this summer! But to get this result, you need to plan now!

Our latest guest blog is from a specialist who knows exactly what your lawn needs to eat to ensure it is happy, healthy and green.

What your lawn needs to eat

Rhys Norville, UK Sales Manager for Terralift UK, has offered his advice below.

We all need food but which is the correct food for your lawn?

Lawn fertilisers contain three main elements to aid grass growth: Nitrogen (N), Phosphate, (P) and Potassium (K). These elements will be listed on the fertiliser container in a way that describes the percentage of each element contained in the mix. For example 6-2-8 contains 6% Nitrogen 2% Phosphorous and 8% Potassium.

There are different mixes for different times of the year, and to understand why we need to consider what each of the three elements actually does.

What are the major nutrients for grass growth?

Nitrogen: the main role is to improve the grass’s growth, but nitrogen also enhances the green colour. More Nitrogen is needed when growth rates are high, so in Spring and Summer, you need a fertiliser with a higher nitrogen content than in Autumn & Winter.

There are different forms of Nitrogen which release at different rates. For example, the readily-available Nitrate form can be absorbed instantly by the plant to boost growth as soon as it is applied. Urea, by contrast, has to break down before the plants can absorb it, taking up to twelve weeks but providing a slower and steadier feed to the plant.

Phosphate: Phosphate helps to maximise the development of new shoots after mowing. Similarly, it is important for helping new seedlings to establish good roots, and so is a useful application after any overseeding.

Potassium: This toughens up the plant’s cell-wall structure and increases its resistance to wear. It does this by keeping the grass blades ridged and upright. As with Nitrogen, Potassium can also boost the colour of the plant. Potassium applications are most common in Spring and Autumn.

What else is in your fertiliser?

It might contain Magnesium for colour hold, and to help the leaves convert nitrate into protein.

You might also find Iron as this helps the grass to develop a dark green. Iron is also used to reduce the impact of moss in grassland areas. However, iron is a trace element and the plant only requires small amounts to grow. Be careful not to over-apply iron as it can cause stress to the plant and reduce the soil’s pH which, in turn, can encourage disease and weed infestation.

Microbial activity

Microbes play a vital role in maintaining healthy soil for your grass. When the microbes within the soil are working well, they help with chelation of nutrients, natural disease suppression and regulating growth rates, so we should aim to support them as much as we possibly can. You need an organic granular fertiliser (more on this below) which contains carbon and humus.

Different types of granular fertiliser

Granular lawn fertiliser is sold as three main types:

1. Mineral-Based;
2. Organic;
3. Coated Mineral Fertiliser.

Mineral-based: This is the most common fertiliser in which different percentages of NPK are bound to an ‘inherit’ carrier such as clay or zeolite. This material helps to distribute the nutrients evenly across the lawn when spread.

Organic fertiliser: This will contain a composted organic material which may be manure or food waste, to which mineral fertiliser is mixed and bound. This creates a two-in-one application as the mineral fertiliser is being applied to support plant growth whilst the organic portion will serve as a soil conditioner to boost root development and to support healthy microbes within the soil.

Coated fertilisers: These are mineral fertilisers which are coated in a polymer to slow down the release of the fertiliser. The advantage is that you don’t have to apply fertiliser quite as often, some lasting up to six months. But of course, that makes it harder to tailor your fertiliser mix to each seasonal requirement – and the polymer may be plastic and pollute the land too.

Liquid fertiliser

There are forms of liquid fertilisers which are applied by spraying, using a knapsack or boom sprayer. The benefit of a liquid fertiliser is that it is absorbed almost immediately by the plant and so can increase growth rates within a few hours. This makes it an instant pick-me-up but of course, the benefit does not last as long as granular fertilisers which go into the soil. Every time you cut your lawn you will be removing some of the liquid fertiliser that was applied, whereas a granular will stay in the soil pool for the plant to absorb it.

Longevity of fertilisers

Typically the effects of a mineral granular fertiliser will last for around 6 weeks whereas an organic can last up to 12 weeks and as mentioned above some coated fertilisers will last up to 6 months. Liquid fertiliser will need to be reapplied after 3-4 weeks for consistent growth patterns.

However, longevity will also depend on factors such as rainfall, temperature, soil type and frequency of cutting. If you live in an area with lots of rainfall, this rain will leach the soil of nutrients, so you may need to apply fertiliser more frequently. And the warmer the soil, the quicker the fertilisers will be broken down (hence summer applications will not last as long as winter applications). Sandy soil will leach nutrients quicker than clay soil.

So these factors also need to be considered when selecting which fertiliser to use.

What does the Terralift expert use?

Rhys tell us that he only applies Organic Granular Fertilisers, and he uses:

6.2.8+Mg in Spring Time
10.2.4 in Summer
6.2.8+Mg in the autumn usually after scarification and overseeding
3.0.6 as an over-wintering fertiliser.

Our core mission is to make accurate lawn care information freely and readily available via our website and through our Free Membership Scheme for gardening enthusiasts. Go to the @LawnAssociation Facebook page to join the Lawn Enthusiasts Group, and get free association membership via the website, www.lawnassociation.org.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)

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

What your lawn needs to eat

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

What your lawn needs to eat

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

What your lawn needs to eat

What your lawn needs to eat: The Lawn Association team know that you will be wishing for a lawn like the one pictured this summer! But to get this result, you need to plan now!

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