Tag Archive for: Keeps

Attraxor® keeps Poa at bay at Kirkhill

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Attraxor® keeps Poa at bay at Kirkhill: Scott McKittrick, Course Manager at Kirkhill Golf Club, has revealed how Attraxor® has helped him to suppress Poa annua and has resulted in the greens playing firm, true and fast.

Kirkhill Golf Club is a parkland course, founded in 1910 and designed by the renowned course architect and five times Open winner James Braid. The course is located on the outskirts of the city of Glasgow in the South Lanarkshire area.

Attraxor® keeps Poa at bay at Kirkhill

Attraxor® keeps Poa at bay at Kirkhill

Scott originally joined Kirkhill Golf Club as an apprentice back in 1995 and was rewarded with the Course Manager position just seven years later. He now oversees a team of six members of staff and explained the importance of keeping standards consistently high.

“We are in a very competitive area and are surrounded by many golf clubs,” he said. “I’m pleased to say that we always get great feedback, and we hold our own. We must be different and entice people to join and that involves always being at the top of our game.”

Therefore, when he was recommended a potential solution to tackling a large percentage of Poa annua on the greens, he was keen to trial it.

“Our greens consist of approximately 60%-70% annual meadow-grass and because of this we would have to be aggressive with the turf. We would double cut and roll, and it took a lot of time and labour.

“I spoke to Ramsay MacGregor (Amenity Specialist for Agrovista Amenity) and he told me a lot about a product which he believed to be brilliant at supressing annual meadow-grass seed heads. After talking at length, I thought it would be great for us if it did exactly what it said on the tin.”

The product Ramsay introduced to Scott was Attraxor® – a BASF product which has been shown to effectively regulate growth of managed amenity turf. The active substance, Prohexadione, inhibits the gibberellic acid pathway, which results in a reduction of turf height and turf biomass. Furthermore, as well reducing clippings it also suppresses the seed heads of Poa annua.

Key advantages include:

  • Attraxor® is formulated for rapid foliar uptake – as quick as 4 hours from application.
  • Superior performance against Poa annua pioneering.
  • Attraxor® can be used earlier or later in the season at cooler temperatures compared to other growth regulators.
  • Consistent growth regulation of turf grass species.
  • Root formation is also promoted through the use of Attraxor® whilst turf colour and quality are enhanced.

Scott initially applied Attraxor® at the recommended minimum rate of 375 g/ha and was instantly impressed.

“The first time we tried it last year, the Poa was going crazy. We applied Attraxor®, came in the next day and we couldn’t believe it. It looked as though it had literally wiped the whole Poa out. When you got close you could see that it was still there, but it was severely dishevelled. From that moment, we knew it was a game-changer.

“In that first year we mainly used the product to firefight the Poa seedheads, so as soon as we saw it was coming back, we hit it with Attraxor® again. However, this year we have taken a more regimented approach; applying it at a higher rate of 500 g/ha. This has reduced the seed head production and has worked really well. The ball roll is no longer affected by the Poa, and the greens play brilliantly – they are exactly where we want them to be.”

By attending an Agrovista Amenity education day, Scott found that he wasn’t the only one reporting good results from Attraxor®.

“The education days from Agrovista Amenity are important because they provide an opportunity to see how products and technology are developing,” he said. “There have been a couple of seminars that have focussed on Attraxor® and it brought together lots of greenkeepers who have all been using the product. It was great speaking to them and finding out what rates they use, what they might be mixing it with and what results they are seeing.

“The general consensus was that it is a brilliant product and is great for supressing Poa annua seed head production.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Keeping it genuine keeps costs down

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Keeping it genuine keeps costs down: Since Toro started filling its machines with its new PX Extended Life Hydraulic Fluid, customers have been enjoying a reduction in downtime, increased time between services and an improvement in the total cost of ownership of their machines.

To provide customers with value added improvements, Toro changed its standard fill hydraulic fluid to an extended life hydraulic fluid called Toro PX Extended Life Hydraulic Fluid.

Keeping it genuine keeps costs down

Keeping it genuine keeps costs down

Since 2019 every machine out of production has been factory-filled with this new PX fluid, and customers and distributor Reesink Turfcare have noticed that by sticking with this genuine hydraulic fluid brings big benefits.

Michael Hampton, purchasing and sales process manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “Just as buying genuine applies to all Toro parts so does it ring true when it comes to hydraulic fluid. By sticking with Toro PX Extended Life Hydraulic Fluid customers are guaranteeing a reduction in servicing intervals for hydraulic fluid and filters to up to 2,000 hours compared to using the standard Hydraulic Fluid which requires a change every 800 hours.”

Sticking with the new PX fluid allows for increased hydraulic fluid and filter change intervals, eliminates the initial low hour hydraulic fluid change, allows for common change intervals across product offerings reducing confusion during maintenance servicing, as well as reducing the overall cost of ownership.

Michael continues: “Hydraulic fluid is an essential part to the machine. Its main function is to provide energy transmission through the system, which enables motion. Hydraulic fluids are also responsible for lubrication, heat transfer and contamination control. So, when it comes to quality control and safeguarding the performance of the machine, sticking to genuine hydraulic fluid surely rates highly.”

Toro PX Extended Life Hydraulic Fluid is suitable for all Toro machines apart from the GP1260, Groundsmaster 7210, Groundsmaster 360 and Outcross. It is available through Reesink Turfcare online at via reesinkturfcare.co.uk, by phone on 01480 226800 or by email at info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Kubota keeps Mount Kelly in tip-top condition

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Kubota keeps Mount Kelly in tip-top condition: A fleet of machinery from Kubota has been described as ‘critical’ to the maintenance programme at Mount Kelly College and Prep School, replacing an array of equipment lost in a major blaze in November 2021.

Grounds Manager Mat Stevens has praised a pair of cabbed compact tractors and the two GR2120 ride on mowers for their roles in keeping the 140-acre site presentable, while their new RTV X1110 has vastly improved both accessibility and productivity.

Kubota keeps Mount Kelly in tip-top condition

Kubota keeps Mount Kelly in tip-top condition

The grounds and gardens that make up the Mount Kelly complex are a hive of activity, not just providing sports and recreational facilities for students, but open to community and club use – including Chelsea FC who have used the winter sports pitches for Girls and Junior fixtures. A team of ten assist Mat in the maintenance who, for the last year, has been tasked with replacing their equipment bank following a shed fire at the site.

“We have had Kubota equipment here for 15 years or so, and while we have used other tractors in that time, we came back to Kubota as it has always been the best suited to our requirements and is a brand we all know and trust” explains Mat. “We opted for a L2452 and ST40 tractor, both cabbed, which means we can keep the team safe and healthy in all weathers. They are equipped with everything you’d want for a comfortable operator experience and the illuminated dash display is great for easily keeping an eye on fuel usage, PTO revs and hours etc.” He adds, “Both of these compact tractors have plenty of pulling power and their 4×4 drive makes light work of the heavier tasks where trailers are required.”

Alongside the L2452 and ST40, local dealer Vincent Tractors also delivered a pair of GR2120 ride-on mowers which Mat says are perfect for cutting around the lawns, particularly in areas where tractor access is limited. “It couldn’t be easier to adjust the height of cut and raise and lower the cutting deck on these which makes changing the set-up between different areas super simple. The 450-litre grass collector holds plenty of clippings, reducing the amount of time spent emptying and, again, an easy lever system makes the task quick and simple.”

“These machines, along with our new RTV X1110, have had a massive impact on how we get tasks done – in better time and with improved accessibility all round.” The X1110 from Kubota’s RTV Series brings a smoother ride, more comfort and even better drivability, ergonomically designed for optimum driver comfort and control. “This is an amazing bit of kit! We’ve not had one for the site before so previously would have to walk or share the tractor to get equipment around. The open back has plenty of space for tools and the hydraulic tip function means we can easily remove any soil or debris. Its ability to seat two people comfortably and its great off-road capability gives the team access to any part of the estate in any weather or ground conditions for improved productivity.”

“Another bonus is the fantastic support we get on Kubota products from the team at Vincent Tractors. Getting parts is super easy and communication and servicing is never a problem.” Mat concludes, “We couldn’t be happier with these additions to our equipment bank and each of them are making a real difference to our maintenance programme and keeping the site presentable throughout the year.”

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Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

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Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC: For the first time in four years, the players at Warrenpoint Golf Club are going into the winter on main greens, thanks to an extensive aeration programme introduced by Head Greenkeeper Matt Purcell.

It’s also no coincidence that this year, Matt purchased a Redexim Carrier and Verti-Drain® 1513 allowing the team to effectively aerate all 18 greens in as little as a day – keeping them bone dry and proving themselves as fit for year-round play.

Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

Warrenpoint is ranked as one of the top parkland courses in Northern Ireland, situated in the heart of County Down and surrounded by the Mourne Mountains on one side and Carlingford Lough on the other. Matt heads-up a maintenance team of five and, on joining the club in late 2021, took some soil samples on the greens which highlighted the need for some ‘TLC’. “Like a lot of golf clubs in Ireland, we were previously relying on contractors to come in and aerate, but my experience from working in clubs in England means I appreciate the multiple benefits that can be brought about with regular aeration every five to six weeks.”

“After speaking to the board, we invited Ian Lauder from Redexim and local dealer Cyril Johnston in with the Redexim Carrier and Verti-Drain®, which I had trialled at a previous club. I was no-less impressed seeing it the second time around! The great thing is that the implement can be used with the Carrier or swapped onto a tractor giving you complete flexibility, and a power unit that can then conduct other operations on the greens and tees” Matt explains.

Since the combination was purchased and delivered in March this year, Matt and the team have aerated all greens once a month, along with the tees twice and specific problem areas on some of the fairways. “This set-up is just brilliant. It is faster and wider than other comparable models meaning we can complete most of our greens in four or five passes, and all 18 greens in a day. The tyres are much better as well being slick, which means we can go anywhere with it and not have to plot a specific route around the course.”

The Redexim Carrier is powered by a 31hp engine and hydrostatic transmission which lends itself to high output and ease of operation. It can work with a variety of implements such as seeders, verti-cutters and in this instance the Verti-Drain® 1513 – a lightweight 1.3m model, working with 15o of heave and to a maximum depth of 6” making it ideal for use on sensitive turf areas.

Matt adds, “Time is of the essence with everything we do on the course. Not only do we need to be aerating when the conditions suit, but when we do the operation, we want to be round as quickly as possible so that the members can play golf. With this combination, we can now do both – delivering huge improvements to playability and course condition that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players and the club.”

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Deere keeps park in great shape

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Deere keeps park in great shape: Multi award-winning Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) attracts half a million visitors annually to its 500-acre estate near Wakefield.

Fashioned around 18th century Bretton Hall, the Grade II listed historic park and garden features 100 sculptures and installations scattered across the valley destination, with north and south sides sloping down to two ornamental lakes.

Deere keeps park in great shape

Deere keeps park in great shape

This year YSP celebrates its 45th anniversary. The Park opens every day except 24 and 25 December, so the eight-strong grounds team knows the work to keep presentation pristine rolls on relentlessly.

Diverse demand across the Park stretches from amenity grass and close-mown turf to formal gardens, arb work, water management and even a living roof on The Underground Galley, notes Mark Chesman, Head of Estates and Projects, who started life here as a landscape co-ordinator.

“Exhibitions and events run year-round,” he says, “and visitors expect everything to look clean, tidy and well-maintained to set the sculptures off in their best light.”

Handling the scale of the park’s upkeep depends on minimal machinery downtime and helping the team in that capacity is a full, flexible service agreement with local John Deere dealer Balmers GM.

A longstanding Deere customer, YSP had no hesitation moving across to Balmers when it opened a branch locally in 2015 after the previous dealer closed.

“All the Deere kit is exceptionally reliable,” Mark says. “Balmers are just a phone call away if we have any snags and they respond swiftly with fast turnaround on machine replacements.”

The cost of the annual service, undertaken in autumn/winter when summer’s heavy footfall lightens, is spread over 12 months, “which helps improve cashflow and gives us added peace of mind in knowing what the outlay will be”, Mark adds. “We replace older machinery as and when we need to, with new Deere units, such as our wide area and front deck mowers, covered by JD Powergard protection.”

The fleet of five diesel Gator TH 6x4s does the donkey work of transporting equipment, tools, material and green waste around the park. “The tipping facility is particularly useful, while the Gator’s six tyres ensure lower ground impact in the more sensitive areas of the site,” Mark says.

Under his mission to switch over to electric tools and machinery, Mark has started the process by adding a Gator TE to the fleet. “Our environmental policy and action plan is designed to reduce fossil fuel use and minimise our impact on the climate,” he explains.

“The Gator TE delivers zero emissions, has less vibration and is cheaper to run because it is a far simpler vehicle – just a battery and motor. It’s charged up overnight using a three-pin plug and we get a full day’s work on that – particularly important because of the size of the Park.”

Covering the 30 hectares of grassed open space around the hall is the JD 1600 turbo mower, with front and two side decks, supported by a 1580 ride-on collector mower, which Mark says is “a fantastic machine that comes into its own at the start and end of the season and to ensure the Park is tip-top for exhibitions”. Summer and other peak periods see the Deere mowers on duty trimming the overflow car park, meanwhile.

Under Balmers’ aftercare service, the park team attend an on-site induction programme when new machinery is delivered, followed by an in-house equivalent that includes a rundown on tyre checks and grease points, ensuring everyone’s fully competent.

John Deere’s 997 zero-turn ride-on handles the critical cutting in confined spaces, Mark says. “We want to be able to operate in ever tighter areas, as the complexity of maintaining the park rises. The 997 is coming up for replacement so we’ll be discussing options with Balmers soon.”

For some work, machinery and tools cannot replace the age-old traditional methods, Mark explains. “The team has to keep a safe distance from the sculptures when using ride-ons.

“Close cutting is completed with hand shears as we cannot risk even the slightest chip on any of the artworks.”

YSP includes works by British and international artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore (one of the largest open-air displays of his bronzes in Europe).

The Park manages a stand of historic woodland of high conservation value that numbers native species such as oak, ash, beech and hornbeam, with some veteran specimens estimated to be more than 300 years old.

“All trees on the estate are surveyed regularly. We have 2,000 parkland individuals, excluding the woodland,” says Mark. “Our longstanding arborists, Earnshaws, manage the large mature trees, while everyone is qualified to complete ground level work up to 380mm.”

With a board of trustees whose members include the present Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, YSP has every opportunity to wax lyrical about its many qualities but Mark does a pretty good job himself.

“This is a wonderful place to work and members of staff tend to stay here a long time [Mark himself has clocked up 17 years] to face the everyday challenges of what is a complex though beautiful place.”

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