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New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

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New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK: One of the first Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6s, liveried in Wiedenmann’s new vibrant orange colour and silver logo, has gone to Hilton Park Golf Club, Milngavie, Glasgow.

Stuart Neil, Courses Manager of the 36-hole site, is in the enviable position of already owning a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD, so is in a perfect position to compare.

New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

“The new machine does look sharp and smart. It’s a stronger orange. The logo is more modern; I like it! Having two GXis for us is about efficiency; it lets us double up on aeration when we get necessary weather windows. It will be great to get our 36 greens done in virtually half the time.”

Choosing the 1.4 m wide Terra Spike was a relatively easy decision for Stuart, who has served the club for 39 years.

“The GXi 8 is a fabulous machine, always neat and precise; it leaves a very clean finish, even with our undulations. There is negligible disturbance. Across both our 18-hole courses there are a few tight spots that the GXi8 can reach but needs to manoeuvre to access. The GXi6 at 1.4 m wide is that bit smaller so can just nip in with fewer tractor movements.

“I am particularly looking forward to the solid three-part rear roller which is a real benefit. It’s got a good weight and helps leave a quality job.”

Aeration and coring at the James Braid-designed moorland courses will take place throughout the year as and when conditions allow.

“There are certain greens that seal up quicker than others which warrant a little more attention,” continued Stuart. “I’ve never had issues aerating during the playing season but obviously we would only ever use the finer tines, certainly nothing more than 12 mm.

“For various reasons we’ve had to shorten some of our planned maintenance periods; for instance, at the end of June we have only one week, instead of two, so there is pressure on the team to get tasks completed quicker. Having the new machine eases some of the burden.

“I believe in always having our GXi 8 ‘ready to go’. If it’s finished a task and the tines are worn, we are fortunate enough to be able to re-order spares at once, fit them on and be primed and ready for the next time. We will do the same with the GXi 6.”

Scottish Wiedenmann dealer, Fairways GM at Inchinnan, supplied the aerator with Area Manager, Stuart Cameron, himself an ex-greenkeeper at Hilton Park, providing sales support, alongside Wiedenmann UK’s lead demonstrator, Andy Kerr.

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A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

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A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature: A Trilo Multipurpose is proving to be exactly that, by name and by nature, for the team at Highfield and Brookham School.

Delivered in February 2025, the M3 was brought in to replace an existing Trilo S3 vacuum sweeper enabling Grounds Manager Jasper Marks and the team to not only conduct leaf clearance, but also scarification and cut and collect tasks around the 500 acres of school grounds and estate.

A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

Jasper took over the head role in 2022, having worked at the co-educational school as a groundsman since 2019, and is currently supported by a team of three grounds staff and a part-time gardener. On the border of West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, the site is densely tree-populated which meant that the Trilo machine had always been a firm favourite on the fleet. This opinion looks set to stay with their latest purchase, bringing new-found versatility and productivity to maintenance tasks around the calendar.

He explains, “The S3 was a fantastic machine, robust and efficient, which would be used for leaf collection, road sweeping and general clearance of clippings and debris over the autumn and winter months. I then discovered the Multipurpose M3, which was capable of doing everything the S3 could, with the addition of flail and scarifying shafts to cut or scarify and collect all with one unit. It’s transformed the Trilo into a machine that we can fully utilise all year round.”

While only a matter of months since the M3 was installed by dealers Lister Wilder and Trilo’s Jeremy Vincent, it is already demonstrating its key trait – versatility! “We have a 9-hole golf course on the estate where the Trilo has been used to assist with cut and collect of the roughs. The large 3m3 hopper means we can cut for longer without having to make as many trips to our green waste area to empty. It’s keeping us productive, for longer.” Jasper continues, “After that, we equipped it with the scarifier shaft for use on our sports pitches. We previously hired a machine for this which often meant we were scarifying in less than idea conditions. Now we can do it ourselves whenever the weather or play schedule allows which will bring huge improvements to pitch quality.”

“What also really impressed me was the service we received from Jeremy. While the machine, in principle, is not wildly different from the S3 we were using before, no corners were cut with the handover & installation to ensure the team were confident and would get the very best out of the machine.”

“We traded in one machine and gained three in return, but needed to find no extra space in the shed as the footprint is near enough identical” he added. “It’s going to become a pivotal part of the team as we continue to drive up standards for our students and wider community to enjoy.”

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is calling on golf clubs and golfers across the UK to support their members as we face our driest spring for decades.

Following some exceptionally wet recent winters, the spring of 2025 has brought a stark contrast. According to the Met Office, rainfall across many regions has been at historic lows. Wales recorded its driest March since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second-driest March on record. With May showing little improvement, greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

David Byron, Head Greenkeeper at Thorndon Park Golf Club in Essex, said: “It’s very, very dry. It’s the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years. We’ve had almost no rain, and what we have had has come in just one hit.

“In our fairways, we’re down to about 3–4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% for the grass species we have.”

These conditions are presenting major challenges for turf recovery and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while teams attempt to preserve greens and tees with limited water resources.

Royal Aberdeen’s Course Manager, Richard Johnstone, said he had recorded just 11mm of rainfall between April and early May: “We’re experiencing extreme weather patterns. There’s no longer a balance. Instead, we’re seeing one extreme or the other – either constant pouring rain or complete drought.

“There doesn’t seem to be much consistency anymore, and that presents some big challenges.”

Paul Woodham, The R&A’s Agronomy Lead for Europe and the UK, noted that warm days combined with cold nights have disrupted seasonal growth, resulting in stressed grass and delayed recovery from winter damage.

Clubs are encouraged to communicate openly with their members, sharing insight into current conditions and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools to foster support.

“Our advice to clubs is to engage in professional dialogue with your Course Manager, set agreed objectives and show open support for your team of greenkeepers,” said BIGGA’s CEO Jim Croxton.

“They will be much more motivated and determined to overcome these challenges with strong support from their members.”

“As course managers, it’s our responsibility to communicate and educate,” said Johnstone. “We need to use various channels like social media, blogs, and other platforms to help people understand the current conditions and our management approach.”

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

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DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings: DSV UK has made a major breakthrough in the turfgrass sector, with three of its perennial ryegrass varieties now ranking among the top ten in the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) Turfgrass Seed Booklet.

Notably, two of these varieties have taken the top two positions in the highly regarded sports table (S1) for perennial ryes—marking a significant achievement for the company.

DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

The new rankings place Euromagic at number one, followed closely by Flannel at number two. Additionally, Reybann has secured a spot in the top ten, reinforcing the strength of DSV’s breeding programme. While Eurogala, another standout variety, ranks just outside the top ten at number 12, its versatility across multiple tables—including lawns, greens, cricket, golf, and bowls—makes it an exciting commercial prospect.

Sam Horner of DSV UK emphasised the significance of these results: “When people look at this booklet, the sports table is the one everyone wants to top. We’ve always had good breeding, and this proves that our material is now the best in these trials.”

The BSPB Turfgrass Seed Booklet is widely regarded as a key reference for industry professionals selecting the best-performing grass seed varieties. The sports table, in particular, carries significant prestige within the turfgrass sector, making DSV’s achievement even more impactful.

“This kind of result doesn’t happen often,” Sam continued. “We’ve been at the top of the table before, but to come straight in at number one and number two—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It speaks volumes about the quality of our breeding programme and the strength of the DSV portfolio.”

The introduction of DSV’s EuroGrass range of grass seed has also elevated DSV’s profile. The products in the EuroGrass portfolio have quickly gained recognition, becoming a preferred choice for sports turf and amenity managers who seek reliability and superior results.

One standout feature of DSV’s varieties is their strong genetic colour, which is becoming increasingly important in modern turfgrass selection. High-end facilities and stadium environments now prefer a darker green aesthetic, as it enhances the visual appeal of playing surfaces under natural and artificial lighting.

Flannel, in particular, boasts excellent dark summer greenness, making it especially desirable for stadiums and televised events. “As good as certain other cultivars are, some tend to be on the paler side, which can be a turnoff for top-tier venues,” Sam explained. “We believe we can offer something genetically darker, delivering both performance and a more camera-friendly appearance.”

The results are based on independent data from the BSPB Turfgrass Seed 2025 booklet and highlight the advancements in DSV’s diploid material. This success further cements DSV’s reputation as a leader in sports turf breeding and innovation.

DSV has been supplying industry-leading cultivars into the UK seed trade for the past 40 years, but to many, it remains a relatively new name in the turfgrass sector. However, these latest rankings demonstrate that DSV is not only competing with the best but also setting new benchmarks in performance.

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk/products/amenity for more information.

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Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

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Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX: The Aquatrols Company is pleased to announce the launch of VerdeLNX, their groundbreaking nutrition line; designed to enhance plant health while minimising environmental impact, and at the same time honoring the legacy of their NPK range. These innovative products offer environmentally and economically smarter solutions for turf managers everywhere, through two proprietary technologies exclusive to the VerdeLNX range.

VerdeLNX is…

  • Designed to significantly enhance nutrient absorption, optimising both foliar and root uptake of macro and micronutrients.
  • Able to minimise nutrient losses by retaining nutrients higher in the soil profile for longer. This maximises nutrient uptake by grass plants and reduces the risk of environmental issues caused by leaching.
  • Highly eco-friendly, fully renewable, and completely biodegradable. These technologies leave no trace or residue in the soil or water.
Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

The Aquatrols Company is dedicated to maximising water efficiency, improving turf surface performance, and optimising the effectiveness of other input applications. For the risk averse turf professional who deals with the shifting challenges of nature, budgets, expectations and regulations, The Aquatrols Company helps them manage their properties more successfully.

Learn more about VerdeLNX here > 

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