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Tennis A Priority In London Transformation

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Tennis A Priority In London Transformation: A long term masterplan is set to take place in a London borough, and the redevelopment of Tennis courts is the top priority.

The London Borough of Hounslow’s planning committee approved Gunnersbury 2026 in January 2016 to unlock the potential of sports facilities at Gunnersbury Park – with tennis courts the first priority and a new indoor community sports hub.

Tennis A Priority In London Transformation

Essex-based ETC Sports Surfaces has completed the eight outdoor tennis courts with floodlights, while the sports hub is scheduled to open in summer 2019.

ETC worked alongside Zaun Ltd, who manufactured and supplied 414m of 3m high Duo6 Advantage tennis sports fencing with six single leaf gates and two divider fences with a central 3.5 m wide walkway between courts.

Zaun’s Advantage tennis court fencing system can withstand heavy use with a 42.85mm x 200mm twin wire mesh pattern that won’t let balls through yet allows a great view of on-court action.

It offers better whole-life value than chain-link fencing, which is easily cut with pliers for unauthorised use, and deforms quickly when people lean against it.

Ten grass football and rugby pitches, four cricket pitches and two full-size 3G artificial grass pitches with floodlights are also planned.

Gunnersbury Park, jointly owned by Hounslow and Ealing councils, features one Grade I listed and one Grade II listed Georgian mansions, as well as many historical buildings all set within the stunning community park.

The site is undergoing major transformation since the councils secured two grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014 to overhaul the museum and make major improvements to the park landscape.

The aim of the project is to transform Gunnersbury Park into a sustainable, high quality public space that serves the local community.  The plans include the creation of a diverse mix of culture, heritage, events, sports and recreational activity to add to a rich history that the councils want to preserve.

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Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

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Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials: It has been proven in recent STRI research trials that preventative disease control programmes outperform curative options when analysed for turf quality, colour and presence of Microdochium Patch.

STRI research manager, Mark Ferguson, explains these results and stresses the importance of preventative programmes in light of the recent loss of curative active ingredient iprodione.

Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

“When measuring disease presence, the STRI team looked specifically at the level of Microdochium Patch cover on the plots. As expected, the preventative treatments performed significantly better than the curative ones.

“The trials ran over the course of eight months, comparing nine preventative and three curative programmes, as well as one untreated plot.

“The first three programmes used purely preventative fungicides from Bayer. The rest of the preventative plots used a combination from Rigby Taylor and Headland Amenity teamed with plant health products to reflect a more realistic approach,” says Mark.

In general, preventative programmes five to seven showed the most consistent results across turf colour, quality and Microdochium Patch presence by using an integrated approach with both fungicides and plant health products.

Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

“The fungicides within the curative programmes (11 -13) were applied as and when disease developed to an unacceptable level, mimicking traditional control strategies.

“It’s important to note that none of the trial plots had any cultural controls or biological practices applied prior to or during the trial, other than mowing and switching, which was carried out when necessary,” adds Mark.

Bayer technical manager, Dr Colin Mumford, says the trial results show that even the most ‘bullet-proof’ curative programme was significantly outperformed by the preventative options.

“The disease control landscape has changed and it’s more important than ever before that greenkeepers don’t wait for disease to appear as they may have done in the past,” he says.

For further information please visit www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk or contact the Turf Solutions Team on 00800 1214 9451, at turfsolutions@bayer.com.

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Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products

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Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products: BASF is the UK’s largest producer of beneficial nematodes, and it goes to great lengths to ensure that its product is of the highest quality available on the market. It’s vital that the quality is as high as possible because low quality nematodes will either die before use or will be ineffective in hunting down prey.

Nematodes are micro-organisms that occur naturally in the soil, where they hunt down and attack pests. Each nematode species has its own specific prey, meaning that they will harm their prey, and only their prey. They are already present within the soil, but more often than not, this is at such low levels that they are ineffective at controlling major pest infestations. In order to see the benefit, you must boost the numbers of live nematodes present in the soil; this is where BASF comes in!

Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products

BASF ensures a consistently high quality by growing them through an extremely high-tech and specialised procedure. The facilities designed by BASF are reminiscent of a cutting edge distillery or brewery, filled with stainless steel stills and white lab coats. There are endless factors considered with each stage of the process being carefully monitored by experts in the field, and the most advanced equipment specifically designed for the job is used; but whilst the growing process is technical and scientific, the application process for the gardener could not be easier!

Due to the fact out BASF’s nematodes are delivered straight to the customer’s door, as a fresh, live product, it is able to guarantee product consistency, concentration (of 90-95% pure nematodes) and the unique formulations which provide the most optimum stability and product performance for which it has established a market leading reputation. BASF is the only nematode grower to offer this type of service.

Nemasys and Nemaslug are the most effective biological product ranges that meet all environmental standards, and this continues to drive growth year on year, with the products being compatible with organic gardening and creating no resistance issues.

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Makita’s Hole-In-One

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Makita’s Hole-In-One: The greenkeepers at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club in Bristol have praised Makita’s fast, powerful and brilliantly handy grass shears.

The club has recently had several new revetted bunkers installed on The Beaufort Course.  These are a common feature on a vast number of courses across the British Isles where the embankment of the bunker is faced with masonry, or other material such as sods, placed on top of each other to create a layered effect that helps to fortify the bunker.  It was advised that a traditional line trimmer could not be used to maintain the edge of the bunkers as in doing so would risk damaging the face of the bunkers.  An alternative needed to be sought and following a demonstration of the Makita 18v LXT Grass Shears, Head Greenkeeper John Keenaghan purchased two of the units to help keep the revetted bunkers in tip-top condition to remain in-keeping with the rest of the beautifully manicured parkland course.

Makita's Hole-In-One

John Keenaghan says:  “These Makita grass shears do a fantastic job and are exactly what we were looking for.  We will be recommending them to fellow greenkeepers that have revetted bunkers.”  The Makita cordless grass shears can be seen in action at the golf club in this video https://youtu.be/arP1DsAa2Jc

The Beaufort Course, designed by Fred Hawtree, was opened in 1971 and subsequent maturing, development and care has achieved a superb course which presents a challenge to all levels of golfer.  Chipping Sodbury Golf Club is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the foot of the Cotswold Hills and adjacent to the historic, characterful 17th century market town of Chipping Sodbury.

Makita’s latest offering of the 18v grass shears is the DUM604Z.  The shear has a double blade action, a cutting width of 160mm, and a 3-stage cutting height adjustment from 15 – 25mm for really fine work.  With an ergonomically designed soft grip handle and light in weight at just 1.8kg, including the battery, user comfort is guaranteed while low noise emissions will ensure Sunday morning peace and quiet.  This model is available as a body only machine and a compatible hedge trimmer attachment is also available that has a tool-less blade change.

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Scarify In Autumn For Benefits Next Year

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Scarify In Autumn For Benefits Next Year: Scarification is a vital part of lawn maintenance that involves the removal of thatch or moss from the lawn, helping with air flow and keeping it health. If you do not scarify, debris will build up and lead to other problems. For example, thatchy and mossy lawns will not be very wear or drought tolerant. 

It is important to scarify at the right time of year, otherwise you will either risk having an unsightly lawn just when you want to be enjoying it, or you will open it up to more problems and damage. A light de-thatching or scarifying is recommended in spring, just as the weather is heating up, and there is an increase in the growth and recovery of the grass.

Scarify In Autumn For Benefits Next Year

In the autumn, however, is when a more intense, heavier scarification can take place. At this time of year there are a number of jobs to do around the garden to ensure that you leave in the best possible state over winter, and this is one of them. Whilst intense scarification sounds like very hard work, there are machines available to take the strain out of your lawn maintenance. The XC1 B40 from Cub Cadet, for example, steps up to the challenge with a powerful 35 H OHV Cub Cadet engine and a 1.7 litre fuel tank. The 34 verticutter blades, each with a width of 163mm, scratch out the dead grass and moss with ease, allowing in light and rain all the way down to the roots.

The machine also has the added benefit being able to aerate the lawn if necessary. To do this, simply use the higher position with a gentle touch of the blades and springs on the surface of the soil. When scarifying use a deeper blade and spring setting to allow for a more aggressive action on the lawn surface. A central height adjuster knob enables infinite working depth adjustment.

Featuring a wide 35cm working width, the machine has folding handles for easy storage or transport and an optional collection bag for collecting the debris can be purchased if desired, although due to the volume that is raked out of the lawn, most people will find it more effective to go over with their mower to collect the debris.

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