Tag Archive for: Aim

AIM for clean greens

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AIM for clean greens: A new Syngenta one-box fungicide programme is now available, providing a well-proven, cost effective and agronomically strong season-long disease control strategy.   

The AIM programme contains three leading Syngenta fungicides, specifically selected to provide an effective sequential strategy for summer through to winter, including Ascernity, Instrata Elite and Medallion TL.

AIM for clean greens

AIM for clean greens

Sean Loakes, Syngenta Turf Technical Manager for UK & Ireland, advocated the AIM approach optimises the potential to protect turf from immediate disease risks, while also providing longer term pathogen reductions that more effectively prevents disease outbreaks right through the season.

“Starting the programme with Ascernity, targeted at the increasing issues of summer anthracnose and dollar spot infections, followed by Instrata Elite in early autumn has proven to prevent the hugely damaging early outbreaks of microdochium patch.

“The AIM pack then gives a further follow up of Medallion TL for when conditions cool. That gives outstanding protection against damage through the critical time of limited turf recovery,” he advised. AIM is available for golf courses, sports turf and any turf surfaces covered by the products’ label recommendations.

The AIM strategy is fully supported by the Syngenta Turf Advisor App designed to guide optimum fungicide application timing. That includes local disease risk forecast models and disease pressure levels over recent days and weeks, along with a host of weather data to refine decision making.

“Turf Advisor also provides instant assessment of growth potential (GP) of turf, for appropriate product selection.” Sean advocates the multi-active benefits of systemic Ascernity are best utilised while turf is actively growing, with a GP above 20%, while Instrata Elite remains extremely effective as growth slows to 5%-25% GP.

When growth slows further, the contact activity of Medallion TL effectively protects the leaf from disease infection, while also targeting pathogen spores in the thatch and root crown to reduce the risk of infection.

The further advantage of the AIM strategy is that each application contains different fungicide modes of action. The rotation of fungicides and utilising multiple modes of action is the basis of a good fungicide resistance management plan, he added.

“Targeting disease earlier in the season prevents damage to the leaf, reduces stress on the plant and effectively breaks the disease cycle – enabling fungicide programmes to maintain playing surface quality and longer lasting results throughout the season.

“Early disease outbreaks act as infection source for further spread as the season progresses,” he warned. Even where scars have dried up, millions of spores would have been released that can be waiting in thatch or organic matter for the right conditions to develop and trigger new infections.

“Disease management in the autumn is essentially a numbers game. The potential for disease outbreaks is dependent on both the number of pathogens present, and the conditions for it to multiply rapidly.

“Reducing the initial turf disease pathogen population gives the opportunity for cultural Integrated Turf Management (ITM) controls to be more effective.”

STRI trials in Yorkshire showed how the AIM programme of Ascernity at the onset of microdochium patch pressure, followed by Instrata Elite and then Medallion TL, kept disease down below 3% of surface area affected throughout the season, when infection in the untreated area quickly hit 15% and reached over 25% of disease cover. In high pressure trials at ISTI in Ireland, the AIM strategy was the only fungicide treatment approach to keep disease in complete control.

“The actual timing of each application and number of treatments required will be site specific, according to risks and pressure,” pointed out Sean. “The sequence of using the three products is now very well proven, and more convenient and cost effective in the AIM one-box solution.”

Preventing disease outbreaks from mid-summer gives the best chance to go into winter clean, and come out green in the spring.

AIM is distributed in the UK and Ireland by ICL. The AIM one-box solution is also eligible for extra Turf Rewards points to qualify for turf management products and education resources: www.icl-growingsolutions.uk

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Ariens’ Arrow Takes Aim at the UK Stand-On Mower Market

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Ariens’ Arrow Takes Aim at the UK Stand-On Mower Market: The Ariens Arrow range of stand-on zero-turn mowers is now available to buy in the UK for the first time. Primarily designed for commercial users, the Arrow provides a perfect blend of power, performance and manoeuvrability, combining the comfort and speed of a zero-turn mower with compact size and agility.

Ergonomics have been prioritised in every aspect of the mower’s design. The standing driver position, with thighs leaning against the machine, is the most natural working stance and of particular benefit to users with back problems. The standing position enables the legs to absorb vibrations and unevenness efficiently, as well as allowing for easy, quick mounting and dismounting. An ergonomic control panel allows critical adjustments to be made on the move.

Ariens’ Arrow Takes Aim at the UK Stand-On Mower Market

Ariens’ Arrow Takes Aim at the UK Stand-On Mower Market

The Arrow’s mowing performance is enhanced by its compact design and very low centre of gravity. At a length of only 160cm, with a cutting width of either 81cm or 91cm, the mower can be driven closely and quickly around bushes and trees. With a full view from above of the entire mowing deck and clear visibility of the machine’s width, the driver can approach and drive around obstacles efficiently, navigating intricate shapes, flowerbeds and hillside terrain safely and easily. Where variable height is needed, the deck can be adjusted quickly to maintain high-quality cutting performance.

The Ariens Arrow’s space-saving dimensions and low weight (approximately 345g) also make a noticeable difference to daily handling. The mower’s narrow width allows good accessibility through small gateways and backyards, making it ideal for mowing small to medium and winding lawns. However, the Arrow also achieves high performance on larger lawns, allowing for the full driving speed of up to 13km/h.

When it comes to durability, the Ariens Arrow has all the features of a professional machine. Commercially designed Hydro-Gear ZT 3100 wheel motors provide maintenance intervals of 400 hours (after the first oil change). Highly stable blade carriers made of forged aluminium are combined with a fully-welded professional mower deck made of 4.5mm thick sheet steel and an extra-large tank for long range. The Arrow is backed by a warranty of five years or 1,000 hours (in line with the Ariens EMEAA warranty conditions).

“We displayed the Arrow series for the first time at Saltex in November 2022 and were overwhelmed by the reception,” says Brad Stiles, Vice President of Sales, EMEAA. “It’s clear that the launch of the Arrow in the UK offers an exciting new option for professional users seeking the ability to mow large areas of grass while manoeuvring around obstacles with ease.”

The ARROW stand-on zero-turn mower is now available to buy in the UK with either a 32” or 36” deck. Visit www.ariens.eu to find out more.

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Linnets Aim For Perfect Pitch

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Linnets Aim For Perfect Pitch: The Walks might be a far cry from the old Wembley Stadium and Portman Road, but Steven Curtis is relishing the change in role after becoming groundsman at King’s Lynn Town Football Club.

Mr Curtis, who has worked at a number of iconic venues during the last 40 years, is enjoying the challenge of trying to make the surface at Lynn pitch-perfect.

So much so that he has even put his property at Beck Row on the market so he can be closer to Lynn.

As if the task in hand wasn’t big enough when he took the job on, the lack of rain during one of the hottest summers for many years has hindered his hard work even further.

“The weather has been horrible for a groundsman,” said Mr Curtis.

“Water has been a problem, as it has been for everyone, and trying to get the pitch green has been a nightmare.

“Richard (Simper) has been an angel, coming in and moving the hose pipes which we’ve had on the go constantly.

“We’ve literally had two hose pipes on the go 24/7 so I think that Mr Cleeve might have a very sorry water bill, but what do you do?

While several players were dusting down their flip-flops for the summer holidays at the end of last season, Lynn’s groundsman was plotting a pristine playing playing surface for the new campaign.

Mr Curtis, 63, was left with the unenviable task of transforming the surface – which came in for much criticism from the club’s previous manager – into tip-top condition after leaving his position at Mildenhall after two-and-a-half years.

Lynn’s pitch had four thousand metres (two-and-a-half miles) of new drainage installed before it was eventually verti-drained, overseeded and fertilised.

“I’ve certainly done my 10,000 steps a day,” quipped Mr Curtis.

“We’ve had to constantly back fill the trenches to keep them topped up. We’ve shifted about 20 tonnes of sand to help us keep it topped up.”

As previous Linnets turf-tenders will concur, sustaining the pitch’s quality throughout a nine-month campaign is a mammoth task considering its heavy-duty usage.

But it isn’t such an issue for Mr Curtis who worked at the old Wembley between 1986 and 1994, along with clubs such as Ipswich, Norwich City, Leyton Orient and Cambridge United during 40 years as a contractor.

“The club approached me and I was happy to come here,” he admitted.

“It was a step up, bigger facilities, better players and better everything really.

“The players have been great and appreciate what has been done, everyone has been great which is why we’ve put our house on the market and our thinking of moving this way.”

And the chances of Lynn having a surface to be proud of come kick-off on August 11?

“At the moment it’s a seven out of ten for me,” said Mr Curtis.

“Come another three weeks and given a bit of moisture, I think we will be there or thereabouts.”

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