Tag Archive for: Lawn

Engineered to protect the lawn

/in , /by

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.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’

/in , /by

Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’: The Lawn Association is proud to introduce a new and exclusive, sustainable product range which will be available via their online shop from the end of May.

The ‘True Garden Range’ is a specifically designed fertiliser and soil conditioner range for domestic use. Formulated using composted food waste, this product will not only keep your plants happy and healthy but also your soils. The composted food waste, creates a stable humus, which is naturally high in organic matter, as well as rich in amino, humic, and fulvic acids and contains all the essential minerals, vitamins and N, P & K required to aid and increase the plant’s healthy growth, root development, disease resistance and overall function whilst also providing a food source for the beneficial microbes within your soils.

Lawn Association - the brand new 'True Range'

Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’

Within the range are three tailored products, for specifically targeting certain areas of the garden:

• True Grass for your lawns
• True Bloom for flower beds, pots, and hanging baskets
• True Yield for the vegetable plots, fruit trees and bushes

The ‘True Garden Range’ offers a completely revolutionary and sustainable way to enhance and support all areas of your garden, including your vegetables and flowers as well as offering a truly unique lawn fertiliser for all year long care and all can be used as often as is necessary.

This exciting new sustainable product range comes in a compostable tube with a recyclable applicator and costs £16.99 per tube. See the whole True Garden Range on the Lawn Association link here: https://www.lawnassociation.org.uk/true-garden-range/ 

For more information or images please contact Francijn Suermondt at rabbitattackpr@gmail.com or on 07895184395.

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why

/in /by

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why: John Ryan, Founder of Lawn Care Legends, gives Turf Matters an insight to the thinking behind one of the fastest growing groups in the industry.

I’m John Ryan and I am a self-employed lawn care contractor based in Bangor, Northern Ireland and the founder of Lawn Care Legends, who grew from an idea formed back in July, 2017.

Lawn Care Legends - Who, What and Why

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why

My thinking was that the lawn care community has expanded on social media across the world from YouTube to Facebook and Instagram particularly.

However, an unfortunate aspect of social media in this day and age, is that it creates a platform often with little accountability and, depending on an individual’s position, perhaps anonymity. This makes it easy for those who would choose to belittle or criticise anyone wanting to learn more about their trade, craft or industry to do so without any consequences.

This can typically be seen in Facebook groups across a range of industries. Where someone will ask a question, in the hope that someone with experience and knowledge would be willing to share their knowledge to help a peer achieve better results either in their current project or self-development, but be met with mocking and abuse. (Sometimes as banter, but mostly in criticism).

These prevalent negative attitudes see people holding back from asking questions, or not feeling comfortable to share their views perspectives or to ask questions for fear of being ridiculed.

Lawn Care Legends - Who, What and Why

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why

This prompted me to create Lawn Care Legends, the Facebook group.

Our aims are simple. To create a Facebook group where we try to operate on the basis of respect, encouragement and passion for what we do in a professional environment on social media. An international collective.

One aspect of the lawn care community online is the difference that can be seen across the globe with varying styles and approaches to our respective trades.

Although each country has its own standards for operation in our industry, I felt Lawn Care Legends could benefit from the various perspectives that people from different countries could add as valuable content. In an industry that has a lot of service providers, it can be difficult to stand out and so with the ability to access information shared by people from other countries as well as our own we can gain inspiration and drive for our businesses.

So, Lawn Care Legends allowed the development of a new addition to the community we are all a part of in one way or another. We enjoy members contributions mainly from the UK, Ireland but we have members who contribute from the USA, Norway, France, Australia, Canada, Serbia and more which makes for a lot of variety.

To run a Facebook group is not an easy task and the people behind the scenes that make this possible are the admin team of LCL. A friendly bunch with a wide variety of skills, qualifications and knowledge in all aspects of the lawn care industry.

From the basics of grass cutting, shrub/tree cutting, to treatments, landscaping, pond installations and maintenance, and also insight from the dealers side of the industry.

The admin team is currently made up of: Alan Adams from (NI); Paul McGill (Scot); Ryan Powala Higgins (Eng); Richard Jones (Eng); Kaz Dunsmore (Scot); Robert Ross (Scot); Tom Duchesne (Eng); Jay Chillingworth (Eng); Danny Clegg (Eng); Ben Morrison (Scot), and Di Dodds (Aus).

Lawn Care Legends - Who, What and Why

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why

There have been many people who have contributed to the success of LCL during their time on the admin team before moving onto other projects or priorities. One key individual who really helped LCL become more connected with manufacturers and reps, is Ashley Bevan, from Weston Garden Machinery. His amazing support really played a huge role in get the industry to support the LCL Awards.

As we encountered more and more people on-line, I think we’ll agree that we still enjoy a good meet up with people in the real world. It is hard to replace the benefits of shaking someone’s hand and getting to know others better without giving your thumbs or fingers an ache from typing.

So, one thing that we have tried to do is organise LCL meet ups where possible. We started doing this in early 2018, with our first meet up at Rochford’s Garden Machinery, in Wincanton, and we have gone on to host meet ups in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with the intention to organise and host more events in the future.

We hope to organise an LCL business training event in 2021 as well as an LCL demo day, then we will combine those events into one event in 2022 for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If it proves successful we will look to more locations, with the aim of helping more people.

The purpose is simple really. Everyone loves a good meet up and it is a great way to network, training and education. It allows people, who otherwise wouldn’t get the chance, to demo machinery and get a feel for different brands and their equipment.

Back in January of 2020 we had organised a factory tour and LCL meet up at the Ariens factory, in Oxford, where we were greeted with amazing hospitality and open arms by another manufacturer that wanted to support our community and the desire to connect people better. We had demos of Ariens zero turns as these are now made at the facility.

We also took part in a zero turn challenge with prizes awarded, while Ariens collaborated with Kawasaki Engines Europe to conduct a workshop class on engine maintenance on xero turns. We even had our own pizza van on the day and topped off with a swag bag with gifts and discount vouchers to buy some products.

It took around five months from the time Lawn Care Legends was created, to start gaining traction and membership started to increase. From that point it has grown to over 5,000 members representing.

To make the group stand out and to try and bring value to the members, the idea of LCL awards was floated, with the aim of creating our own event within the industry to celebrate the small business owner.

And so the Lawn Care Legends Awards were created. Of course, they would be operated online, in the spirit that this new digital age that has benefited so many in different ways. However, there is still a lot to be said for face-to-face contact and discussions with people.

I then set out to see if it was possible to collaborate with an industry event that would allow us to host our Awards’ presentation.

An obvious choice was to reach out to the IOG, so named at the time, and Saltex. I pitched the idea of a little Awards’ event, that would celebrate the average business owner in our trade. I believe if you don’t ask, you are guaranteed the answer is “No”.

Lawn Care Legends - Who, What and Why

Lawn Care Legends – Who, What and Why

Well, I got an amazing reply that displayed a real desire to work with us.

From originally asking if it was possible to use a little corner of the show, we were being allocated the use of a large private room. Fusion Media also produced a press release about our awards, which got our name out to industry magazines and online media platforms.

In addition, we were featured in the opening letter by the IOG CEO Geoff Webb. So, in 2018, we held our first LCL Saltex Awards. We had an amazing turn out of over 100 members. We had started with a little vision and pitched the idea to just a few companies to gain support on which we could build.

The first company to see the potential of a positive contribution to our community, came from Weibang Ireland. They were so excited about the idea and wanted to be a part of it and offered a lawn mower as the first prize.

Those first Awards began with just three sponsors: The IOG, Weibang Ireland and Blinc NI. By the time we came back a year later we had grown our sponsors to 12: Weibang Ireland and Weibang UK, ECHO, EGO, Hendon Ladders, Kawasaki Engines Europe, Ferris Mowers UK, Wright Mowers UK, Cub Cadet, Jobber, Green Touch Industries and the IOG.

Despite so many things having been disrupted in 2020, we already have over 20 sponsors lined up for the LCL Saltex Awards 2021, with around £10,000 worth of prizes.

We just want to be able to give the average guy in our industry the opportunity to have his picture taken, be praised for his high standard of work, be presented with a trophy and win awesome equipment which will contribute to his business and service for the better.

It is all part of our dream, and with the support and recognition from industry manufacturers, to spur our community on to do better and take pride, we can come together in a positive manner… and that includes everyone from the end user; landscapers; greenkeepers; groundsmen; gardeners; business owners/operators; dealers; distributors and manufacturers.

Some might think that we are just a little Facebook group, but we are determined to be so much more, and have already come a long way.

Perhaps we might see you guys around some day, either in our group or at one of our events – something positive for us all to look forward to.

What your lawn needs to eat

/in , /by

What your lawn needs to eat: The Lawn Association team know that you will be wishing for a lawn like the one pictured this summer!  But to get this result, you need to plan now!

Our latest guest blog is from a specialist who knows exactly what your lawn needs to eat to ensure it is happy, healthy and green.

What your lawn needs to eat

What your lawn needs to eat

Rhys Norville, UK Sales Manager for Terralift UK, has offered his advice below.

We all need food but which is the correct food for your lawn?

Lawn fertilisers contain three main elements to aid grass growth: Nitrogen (N), Phosphate, (P) and Potassium (K). These elements will be listed on the fertiliser container in a way that describes the percentage of each element contained in the mix. For example 6-2-8 contains 6% Nitrogen 2% Phosphorous and 8% Potassium.

There are different mixes for different times of the year, and to understand why we need to consider what each of the three elements actually does.

What are the major nutrients for grass growth?

Nitrogen: the main role is to improve the grass’s growth, but nitrogen also enhances the green colour. More Nitrogen is needed when growth rates are high, so in Spring and Summer, you need a fertiliser with a higher nitrogen content than in Autumn & Winter.

There are different forms of Nitrogen which release at different rates. For example, the readily-available Nitrate form can be absorbed instantly by the plant to boost growth as soon as it is applied. Urea, by contrast, has to break down before the plants can absorb it, taking up to twelve weeks but providing a slower and steadier feed to the plant.

Phosphate: Phosphate helps to maximise the development of new shoots after mowing. Similarly, it is important for helping new seedlings to establish good roots, and so is a useful application after any overseeding.

Potassium: This toughens up the plant’s cell-wall structure and increases its resistance to wear. It does this by keeping the grass blades ridged and upright. As with Nitrogen, Potassium can also boost the colour of the plant. Potassium applications are most common in Spring and Autumn.

What else is in your fertiliser?

It might contain Magnesium for colour hold, and to help the leaves convert nitrate into protein.

You might also find Iron as this helps the grass to develop a dark green. Iron is also used to reduce the impact of moss in grassland areas. However, iron is a trace element and the plant only requires small amounts to grow. Be careful not to over-apply iron as it can cause stress to the plant and reduce the soil’s pH which, in turn, can encourage disease and weed infestation.

Microbial activity

Microbes play a vital role in maintaining healthy soil for your grass. When the microbes within the soil are working well, they help with chelation of nutrients, natural disease suppression and regulating growth rates, so we should aim to support them as much as we possibly can. You need an organic granular fertiliser (more on this below) which contains carbon and humus.

Different types of granular fertiliser

Granular lawn fertiliser is sold as three main types:

1. Mineral-Based;
2. Organic;
3. Coated Mineral Fertiliser.

Mineral-based: This is the most common fertiliser in which different percentages of NPK are bound to an ‘inherit’ carrier such as clay or zeolite. This material helps to distribute the nutrients evenly across the lawn when spread.

Organic fertiliser: This will contain a composted organic material which may be manure or food waste, to which mineral fertiliser is mixed and bound. This creates a two-in-one application as the mineral fertiliser is being applied to support plant growth whilst the organic portion will serve as a soil conditioner to boost root development and to support healthy microbes within the soil.

Coated fertilisers: These are mineral fertilisers which are coated in a polymer to slow down the release of the fertiliser. The advantage is that you don’t have to apply fertiliser quite as often, some lasting up to six months. But of course, that makes it harder to tailor your fertiliser mix to each seasonal requirement – and the polymer may be plastic and pollute the land too.

Liquid fertiliser

There are forms of liquid fertilisers which are applied by spraying, using a knapsack or boom sprayer. The benefit of a liquid fertiliser is that it is absorbed almost immediately by the plant and so can increase growth rates within a few hours. This makes it an instant pick-me-up but of course, the benefit does not last as long as granular fertilisers which go into the soil. Every time you cut your lawn you will be removing some of the liquid fertiliser that was applied, whereas a granular will stay in the soil pool for the plant to absorb it.

Longevity of fertilisers

Typically the effects of a mineral granular fertiliser will last for around 6 weeks whereas an organic can last up to 12 weeks and as mentioned above some coated fertilisers will last up to 6 months. Liquid fertiliser will need to be reapplied after 3-4 weeks for consistent growth patterns.

However, longevity will also depend on factors such as rainfall, temperature, soil type and frequency of cutting. If you live in an area with lots of rainfall, this rain will leach the soil of nutrients, so you may need to apply fertiliser more frequently. And the warmer the soil, the quicker the fertilisers will be broken down (hence summer applications will not last as long as winter applications). Sandy soil will leach nutrients quicker than clay soil.

So these factors also need to be considered when selecting which fertiliser to use.

What does the Terralift expert use? 

Rhys tell us that he only applies Organic Granular Fertilisers, and he uses:

6.2.8+Mg in Spring Time
10.2.4 in Summer
6.2.8+Mg in the autumn usually after scarification and overseeding
3.0.6 as an over-wintering fertiliser.

Our core mission is to make accurate lawn care information freely and 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 

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

AriensCo meet Lawn Care Legends

/in , /by

AriensCo meet Lawn Care Legends: AriensCo collaborated with Kawasaki Engines Europe on 30th January 2020 to host a dedicated day for lawncare professionals from the online community Lawn Care Legends.

Members of the Facebook group visited the company’s UK Headquarters in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire. The day consisted of an introduction to AriensCo, its history and the brands it manufactures and distributes. This was followed by product demos of the Ariens zero-turns, ECHO outdoor power equipment, and Countax and Westwood garden tractors, complemented by workshops on machinery maintenance from Kawasaki Engines Europe and ECHO Tools UK.

AriensCo meet Lawn Care Legends

AriensCo meet Lawn Care Legends

The attendees were given a factory tour of the new zero-turn production line – the first in Europe – giving them the chance to see precisely how Ariens zero-turns are manufactured and assembled. A series of demonstrations followed, with the opportunity to try products from the existing range of Ariens zero-turns, including IKON X, APEX, and ZENITH as well as two prototype machines.  A range of petrol and battery-powered tools were displayed in the ECHO mobile demo unit, including the new CS-2511WES chainsaw and the PB-8010  power blower as well as a selection of professional brushcutters and hedgetrimmers. These were all available for demonstration. A zero-turn challenge, with prizes for the three lowest scores, was run and saw many eager participants battling it out, manoeuvring zero-turns around a series of cones, to take the three top spots.

“The day offered the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to attendees from Lawn Care Legends that Ariens and ECHO offer a wide range of products in the outdoor power equipment and arborist marketplace for commercial operators,” said Darren Spencer, Vice President EMEA and Asia.

The day ended with a Q and A session and industry updates, with discussions amongst attendees including new products and future industry considerations for 2020.

“Events like this show the value and importance of relationships between manufacturers and end-users,” said John Ryan, founder of Lawn Care Legends, “everyone came away feeling uplifted by the experience.”

The members’ positive outlook on the Ariens zero-turns was accentuated by the demos and seeing first-hand the craftsmanship of the manufacturing at the UK factory. The same can be said for the ECHO product offering and the quality of the tools manufactured in Japan and distributed by AriensCo. There was excellent feedback from everyone who attended the day and they are excited to come back next year! If you would like further information on Ariens zero-turns visit https://www.ariens.com/en-gb/lawn-products, ECHO products visit https://www.echo-tools.co.uk/ or call 01844 278800.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.