Tag Archive for: Lawn

Allett announces lawn stripes champion

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Allett announces lawn stripes champion: Now in its 10th year, the Allett Mowers annual Creative Lawn Stripes Competition once again attracted entries from all over the world. The prize is an Allett Liberty 43 mower with all cartridges and two cartridge stands.

The past few years have been tough for everyone, say Allett, but what they have noticed is a growth in lawn-care enthusiasts spending more time in their gardens. The aim of the competition is to encourage homeowners to use their lawns to design the most creative, eye-catching designs that truly show off the craftsmanship and dedication that goes into grass maintenance. The standard of this year’s entries has again been exceptional, and it gets better year on year. This year’s judge was 2021 Champion Dennis West of Provo, Utah, USA following an internal vote done by a specialist Allett panel with the top six entries forwarded to Dennis to choose the winner.

Allett announces lawn stripes champion

Allett announces lawn stripes champion

“It was an honour to be asked to judge this year’s competition,” he says, “the top six presented some very strong entries, all of which show a love for lawn creativity Picking one winner was a tough job, but after analysing the entries I found one that, for me, embodied not only lawn striping creativity, but also a representation of the beauty of the United Kingdom.”

The top six entries came from England, Wales, Australia and Canada and the 2022 Champion is Edward Aitken, Head Gardener at Cornbury House, Oxfordshire. Cornbury Park is a private estate in the town of Charlbury, fifteen miles from Oxford, England. The estate includes 1,700 acres of the most ancient forest in Britain and is host to events such as the award-winning Wilderness Festival and charity fundraisers. Ed has entered the Allett competition three times and been placed in the top six each time. The judges’ comments praised the standard achieved.

‘The combination of radiating, straight, and angled stripes in this expansive design brings to mind the sectional features of an aerial image of the English countryside with rolling hills divided by rock walls. The strong stripes that seamlessly blend from curved forms to straight demonstrate an expertise that ensured the final design met very particular standards of perfection’ Ed describes the process that led up to the winning design. “Our lawn is a very old lawn which we have been renovating to get it up to standard. It was cut with a ride-on originally, which didn’t pick up the grass clippings, so it was a bit of a mess. Now we cut with a Hayter 56 at various heights of cut. I changed the height depending on what part of the lawn I was cutting. The circle area has to be cut higher compared to the area closest to the house just because of the thickness of the lawn and how much thatch is left in the lawn. Each different pattern is cut at a different height, which helped to show off the pattern a bit more. The inspiration for the design comes from the centre circle part of the lawn where the chequerboard is, which is actually a helicopter landing area. The idea was that it looked amazing when the family and their guests were coming in in the helicopters, which I thought was quite effective. Once I’d cut the circles, it was a case of breaking the lawn up into a couple of different sections and making sure it looked nice as you’re looking out. The family I work for have an outdoor eating area just outside the house so it looks good when they’re looking over the garden. I’d say it’s taken about a year to get it looking good. I cut it once a week with certain areas cut twice a week, so the central checkerboard area is cut twice a week in a different direction. I’m delighted to win as I’ve entered three times now. I was third the first time, second the last time. I thought I’d stand a chance this year with the circles making it an interesting lawn, so I’m very pleased to have won. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the prize. I’ll probably use it in my own garden at home as I’ve got quite a large lawn. Maybe I will start doing some patterns!” Competition judge Dennis West’s final comment was to offer congratulations to all the finalists, saying, to make it this far is quite an accomplishment. “Most of the winners in recent years entered more than once before winning the prize, so keep entering and you may be next!”

2nd Place

Paul Wigman Nottingham

Head Gardener Clumber Lodge

3rd Place

Emile Hernandez gardener

Somerville College Oxford

4th Place

Simon Rice, South Australia

5th Place 

Dan Milne Canada

6th place

Tom Frampton, Wales

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Lawn Top Dressing applicator

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Lawn Top Dressing applicator: Would your business or sports club benefit by using a lawn top dresser to quickly and easily spread, top dressing, sand or compost onto fine turfed lawns, bowling greens, croquet lawns and cricket wickets?

Your company could increase profits by offering this service to existing customers or if you wish carry out this type of work on your sports surfaces, then an Eco 250s spreader, available in the UK from Geko Engineering Limited could make the job easier and faster.

Lawn Top Dressing applicator

Lawn Top Dressing applicator

Spreading top dressing is a time consuming but essential routine task which needs to be carried out at least annually to fill in minor hollows in the surface and also improve soil condition and drainage. The traditional method of using a wheelbarrow and shovel to deposit material on the low spots, then level out with a lute can be used but this is extremely hard work and slow going on anything larger than a small area.

Until now few alternatives were available to smaller companies and sporting clubs who understand the benefits of top dressing and wish to add this service in addition to aeration and scarification as part of an annual maintenance program but could not justify the initial expenditure or charge for the labour time and effort required.

The Ecolawn Eco250s top dresser can spread up to approximately 1 tonne per hour evenly and quickly and is within the finances of most companies especially if a financing option or sports grant is used.

Operation of the machine is simple,

  • fill the hopper, drive the machine to the spread zone,
  • adjust the door opening to select how much material to discharge
  • engage the conveyor and drive the machine forwards at a brisk walking pace.
  • Adding the EcoSeeder attachment allows overseeding to take place simultaneously saving even more time, and offers a further revenue stream.

All Ecolawn powered machines utilise the professional grade Honda GX160 engine ensuring easy starting and reliable running. Machine controls are connected by linkages adjustable from the operating position, making adjustments whilst on the move possible. Servicing and maintenance requirements are minimal and easy to carry out by most people with basic knowledge therefore keeping the machine in good condition at minimum cost. Other advantages of these compact machines are their small size and low weight providing access through most gateways and transport between jobs by medium size van or small trailer.

Geko Engineering Limited are the sole UK distributor for the Ecolawn range, why not contact us now and find out more about Ecolawn machines.

Note to Editors:  Geko Engineering Ltd, supply professional landscaping equipment domestically and internationally. Working with manufacturers and distributors to provide specialist equipment/

Our range includes but is not limited to; Top dressing / compost spreaders, Spray equipment, Tree stump grinder attachment suitable for mini excavators, air spade non contact excavation tool, mowers, debris vacuums, leaf loaders, aerators, powered brushes

We offer UK delivery with personal handover on some products to ensure our customers understand operation and maintenance

(contact details for further information).

Geko Engineering Ltd.

Unit 16 Sherdley Road

Lostock Hall

Preston, Lancashire

PR5 5JF

Tel +44 (0)1772 459049

Mob+44 (0)7770 683679

email sales@gekoengineering.co.uk

Web http://www.gekoengineering.co.uk/

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Lawn care in June? Don’t sweat it!

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Lawn care in June? Don’t sweat it!: …or should we be saying don’t water it?

With the cost of living at an all time high and our summers getting hotter and hotter, those who love their lawns could be in for a nail biting ride as they see their beautiful sea of green go a rusty looking brown!

Lawn care in June? Don't sweat it!

Lawn care in June? Don’t sweat it!

But is it really necessary to water our gardens? If so how much and when? The Lawn Association team aim to put your mind at rest and discuss once and for all the ins and outs of your grass and it’s watering needs.

A statement which is undoubtedly true is that grass is one of the most resilient plants on the planet, it has been designed by that toughest of mother’s, nature, to survive much more than our UK hot summers throw at us.

Watering
Prolonged periods of hot weather may not leave your lawn looking pretty, but it WILL survive in the long run. The counter the effects of watering in a really hot summer, are that it would be expensive and in actual fact it would be healthier for you and the planet if you just leave nature to do it’s work. Eventually the natural rains will come along and bring the soil levels back normal.
If you must water your lawn, apply the water, to ensure the plant gets the best use out of it, in the evening (after 8pm), then the grass has all night to use the water more efficiently.

All this being said, there are some tips to allow you to work WITH nature to get your lawn back to a healthy green fast… and your soil will need help!

Soil
The soil is the real issue here, not the grass. Soil shrinks under very hot conditions and the air is sucked out. This is why aeration is so important. Once the summer heat has passed and you are looking for autumn jobs to do, use a hollow-tine aerating fork or machine (NOT a garden fork) to give your lawn exactly what it needs. These aeration products remove cores of soil without further compressing what’s left, and this creates those essential small channels for improved root development, water percolation and nutrition longevity.

The principles of good, sustainable modern lawn care, are those working with, not against nature. By doing this you will achieve the lawn that is perfect for you

Our core mission at the Lawn Association is to make accurate lawn care information 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

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Action Lawn sets high ambitions with Etesia

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Action Lawn sets high ambitions with Etesia: Action Lawn and Leisure has been appointed as a new Etesia dealer in Stirlingshire and surrounding areas.

Action Lawn and Leisure was founded in 1998 by Bob Bruce. It is a family run business which prides itself on offering a personal service with good advice and excellent product knowledge. The company works with a variety of groundscare brands, but the time had come to set higher ambitions according to Ian Bruce, son of founder Bob.

Action Lawn sets high ambitions with Etesia

Action Lawn sets high ambitions with Etesia

“Currently we are operating at about 70% domestic and 30% commercial,” he said. “We are looking to venture more into the professional market and want to be able to offer machinery of the highest quality. That is why Etesia kept coming into my head.

“We have dealt with a few Etesia machines over the years and have always been very impressed with what we’ve seen,” continued Ian. “Our local council has an Etesia fleet it was the only machine that came in for a service this year that didn’t need major repairs. This tells me it is of a decent quality because the council are quite boisterous with their machinery!”

Specialists in manufacturing high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and domestic market, Etesia’s extensive range of products have been in consistent high demand for a number of years. It is for this reason that the company’s vast dealer network continues to grow. From the UK to Ireland, Etesia dealers are providing their customers with innovative solutions for their green space requirements.

Etesia’s complete product range includes ride-on mowers, scarifiers, brush cutters, green technology and pedestrian mowers, and Ian believes the machinery will be the perfect addition.

“I believe the Etesia products will help us attract larger contractors, landscapers with a few vans on the road and potentially some national trust sites – to name but a few,” he said.

“One of the biggest problems we’ve got in Scotland is wet grass and this is always choking up our customers’ machines. The Etesia machines are designed to cope with this very easily.

“This feature combined with their performance and build quality, makes the Etesia range of products highly appealing.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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Engineered to protect the lawn

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Engineered to protect the lawn: STIGA’s new robotic lawnmower, designed and manufactured in Italy, helps produce a healthy lawn whilst allowing time for owners to enjoy their outdoor space in peace and quiet.

Stig is the first robot that can properly care for a lawn in just two mowing sessions a day, with an 80-minute charge and five hours between cuts. It allows the grass to recover and stay healthy, and leaves plenty of time for users to enjoy their outdoor space in peace and quiet.

Engineered to protect the lawn

Engineered to protect the lawn

It is the first of a new breed of robot lawnmowers and combines 90 years of STIGA’s engineering innovation and expertise with a deep understanding of the science of grass. Stig has been designed and developed in Italy, at the STIGA Group headquarters and production facility in Castelfranco (TV). This high-tech hub of innovation is home to a talented multicultural R&D department with a range of backgrounds and skills – mechanical and electronic engineers, technicians, software experts, prototype and test engineers and an agronomist.

Maximum lawn health and more time to enjoy the garden

A healthy lawn requires a robot mower to work with fewer cutting phases, and more time between cuts. Stig covers a maximum working area of 1200sqm, is suitable for all lawn terrain – even slopes up to 45% (24°) – and with twice the run time of any other robot mower. Because Stig completes mowing in daylight hours there is no night mowing to disturb nocturnal wildlife or neighbours and this also allows the lawn to fully recover.

Long-lasting clean energy and high-performance cutting

Stig runs on STIGA-owned E-Power lithium-ion batteries. These ensure reliable, long-lasting performance from a clean energy-saving power source with no emissions. E-Power batteries are designed for long-life: even after 1500 charging cycles they continue to operate at over 80% capacity.

Customers have the option to select two different sized batteries at purchase, to suit the size of the lawn they need to cut. Compact and lightweight (less than 8kg), Stig intelligently navigates gardens of all shapes and sizes, tackling narrow spaces and manoeuvring around trees and bushes.

It’s exceptional cutting performance is delivered via four pivoting carbon steel blades, spinning at up to 2850rpm. An easily adjustable height of cut ensures a precise grass length from 20 to 60mm. The cutting performance is matched by built-in safety features, pivoting retractable blades, two stabilising front wheels and multiple obstacle detection. If Stig is lifted or tips over the blades automatically switch off in under 2 seconds. It is also very quiet thanks to a bottom cover constructed from noise-insulating materials.

Intelligent navigation, user-friendly connectivity

With just five buttons for selecting primary functions, Stig’s on-board control panel allows users to get started quickly and easily. An intuitive interface and Bluetooth connection allows control directly from a smartphone, using very simple functions. A battery light indicates charge level, and a warning light signals the presence of hazards. Stig is supplied with the dedicated STIGA.GO App, available for iOS and Android. This provides advanced control including a full scheduling function allowing users to plan cutting sessions to suit their needs, the weather forecast and seasonal changes. Complete coverage of the lawns is guaranteed with two front coil sensors and a static algorithm. Using “Go-To-Cut” via the App, the user can instruct Stig where to begin mowing. Bump sensors detect objects, and the soft-shell body absorbs any impacts without damaging the mower. A rain sensor automatically sends Stig back to its charging dock.

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