Tag Archive for: Power

The Power of Botanical Balance

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The Power of Botanical Balance: The spring of 2025 was the hottest and driest on record. Four heatwaves, rainfall 40% below the average and soaring evapotranspiration have left reservoirs low and much of England officially in drought.

For turf managers, this isn’t a one-off challenge — it’s the new pattern. Fairways, in particular, have taken a hit with heavy traffic and hydrophobic ‘dry patch’ soils slowing recovery and reducing the overseeding window. Beneath the surface, next season’s outcomes are already being decided so what can you do create surfaces than not only survive, but thrive? Stuart Yarwood, Regional Technical Manager at DLF Seeds explores.

The Power of Botanical Balance

The Power of Botanical Balance

Resilience isn’t about one species — it’s about balance. Each grass brings unique strengths and, when blended intelligently, they create swards that can survive drought, recover faster and maintain presentation. The deep roots and rolled leaves of Fescues provide natural drought tolerance. Slender & Strong Creeping Red deliver rhizomatous recovery, Chewings provides fineness and root mass while Hard and Sheep’s add density on poorer soils. The creeping roots of Bents provide stability, boost drought recovery and wear tolerance, all with low inputs. Ultrafine Ryegrasses provide rapid establishment and resilience to traffic, ideal for situations where fast cover is critical.

Botanical diversity is an insurance policy: if one species falters, others fill the gap. This strategy forms the backbone of mixture formulation, with each Johnsons Sports Seed and Masterline mix from DLF a carefully tuned orchestra of grasses working in harmony to protect your surfaces from whatever the climate throws next.

Looking specifically at the Johnsons Sports Seed range, J Sustain Fairway is the ultimate ‘Climate Guardian’, with a five-fescue blend of Hard, Slender, Strong, Chewings and Sheep’s working together like a defensive line. J Fescue is a smooth, balanced and adaptable all-rounder for greens, tees, approached and fairways, while J Premier Fairway is a focused, premium fescue cocktail for fairways that provides consistency, density and top-class presentation. The new 2025 formulation of Johnson’s J Fairway is another gamechanger – featuring 5% Teetop Browntop Bent which equates to 10 million plants per bag! Its creeping roots stitch fairways together for outstanding resilience and accelerated recovery.

When traffic is high and recovery needs to be fast, the J Ultrafine Rye range is your emergency service – available with 25%, 50% or 100% ultrafine rye for superior play and presentation. For coastal conditions, you can consider the 100% Slender Creeping Red fescue blend of J Links – salt-tolerant, wind-tough and bred for true links authenticity.

The autumn brings warm soils, cool air and dews — perfect conditions for overseeding. Walk your fairways and study what’s survived to match seed choice to site conditions. Relieve compaction when soils soften, aerate to chase roots deeper and use wetting agents to re-wet profiles. Once overseeding is complete, protect seedlings from traffic and communicate realistic timelines with golfers.

2025 has been brutal, but intelligent overseeding is your defence. Combine botanical diversity, cultural best practice and DLF’s unrivalled seed purity to future-proof your fairways. Overseeding isn’t just repair — it’s an investment in resilience, playability and sustainability.

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Gristwood & Toms prioritise cleaner power

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Gristwood & Toms prioritise cleaner power: As one of the UK’s leading arboricultural businesses, Gristwood & Toms (G&T) rely on a vast and varied fleet of high-performance 2-stroke equipment to deliver consistent reliability on jobs around the country.

Powering that operation for the last seven years has been Aspen Fuel, enhancing the longevity of their equipment and improving the health and safety for operators of today and tomorrow – with the benefits of Aspen alkylate petrol forming an important part of training on the G&T apprenticeship programme.

Gristwood & Toms prioritise cleaner power

Gristwood & Toms prioritise cleaner power

Aspen 2 is used exclusively across the full range of 2-stroke machinery, with the longevity of the partnership testament to the transformative impact the fuel has had on Gristwood & Toms business. “Through using Aspen Fuel we have seen a huge reduction in machinery breakdowns and repairs” explains G&T Managing Director Andrew Brightman. “Without all of the nasties in traditional unleaded, we’re achieving better reliability on site and extending the lifespan of our equipment – both of which has positive financial implications.”

“Another major advantage is Aspen 2’s pre-mixed formulation, which eliminates the need for operatives to mix fuel on-site, removing the risk of incorrect fuel mixtures and ensuring consistency on every job” he adds.

For Andrew and their sizeable workforce, the benefits of Aspen extends way beyond equipment performance – it’s the healthier environment it creates for the operators and their customers. “It’s not just better for our machines; it gives off no smell making for a much better working environment for our people. In fact, it’s a popular choice at all levels of our business, with Aspen well received by our supply chain and end users alike. There’s no doubt that this simple commitment to sustainability and the welfare of our workforce has helped us secure numerous commercial contracts.”

Not content with improving the working conditions for the team of today, G&T are looking to steer the next generation of arboricultural specialists into more environmentally conscious decision making via the Gristwood & Toms apprenticeship programme. Andrew continues, “Understanding the options and importance of clean, consistent fuel forms a key part of our training for new arborists. We show the students the benefits of Aspen and what can go wrong if you don’t use it. It’s part of setting future professionals up for success.”

Virtually free from ethanol, benzene and many of the other aromatic hydrocarbons found in traditional petrol, Aspen Fuel presents a drastic reduction in pollutants and cleaner option for operators and equipment. To discover the benefits Aspen could bring to your business, contact Roy Narbey – Commercial Business Manager for Aspen Fuel – on roy@aaoil.co.uk

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Power the future of grounds management

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Power the future of grounds management: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to reaffirm what truly sets SALTEX apart: every penny generated by the show is reinvested directly into the grounds management industry, supporting the people that keep sport and community spaces thriving across the nation.

For nearly nine decades, SALTEX has existed with a singular purpose: to elevate and advance the profession of grounds management. As a not-for-profit, mission-led event, SALTEX reinvests every pound it generates back into the industry – supporting everyone from grassroots volunteers maintaining local pitches to elite professionals delivering world-class playing surfaces around the globe.

Power the future of grounds management

Power the future of grounds management

Revenue from SALTEX 2024 has enabled the GMA to subsidise approximately 63% of its membership base, delivering essential support to both professional and volunteer grounds staff. Community and the brand-new free student memberships have benefited most, strengthening the GMA’s promise to nurture new talent and ensuring the highest standards of grounds care are applied across the country.

SALTEX profits also support the funding of the industry’s gold-standard training. In the last financial year, income from the show subsidised over 2,000 GMA training courses and qualifications, helping more groundspeople to upskill and grow. The subsidised fees have attracted an extra 7% of learners this year, widening access and upskilling even more people across the sector. The GMA remains the only sector body accredited under the Department for Education’s matrix Standard – a testament to the quality of the association’s training and support.

The GMA’s work to champion the sector wouldn’t be possible without SALTEX. The exhibition enables key initiatives like the annual Industry Awards, recognising excellence at all levels, and #GroundsWeek, the GMA’s national campaign shining a spotlight on the vital work of grounds teams. This year’s #GroundsWeek reached more than 20 million people, the biggest audience to date, inspiring future recruits and building recognition for the profession.

For over ten years, SALTEX has served as a vital meeting ground for the UK’s leading sports governing bodies (NGBs) including The FA, Football Foundation, ECB, RFU and RFL, who consistently choose the show as a trusted platform to engage with the industry. Their presence enables a shared focus on improving facilities at every level. By aligning with the GMA and SALTEX, the NGBs are investing in the long-term sustainability and success of the spaces where sport happens.

Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial, Membership and Events at the GMA, said: “SALTEX is the engine room of our industry. Every exhibitor and every visitor helps us reinvest in the people who make sport possible, from the volunteers who keep local pitches playable to the professionals preparing world-class surfaces and green spaces.

“And the impact is far-reaching in helping fund the training, resources, initiatives and recognition our sector needs to thrive. When people choose to be part of SALTEX either as an exhibitor or a visitor, they’re directly supporting the future of grounds management, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

As the only event of its kind that gives back to the industry, SALTEX remains the professional choice for those committed to the future of grounds management.

SALTEX takes place at Birmingham NEC on 12-13 November 2025. Exhibitors wishing to secure their place at Europe’s cutting-edge grounds management show should contact saltexsales@thegma.org.uk.

For more information and to register for your FREE ticket, visit www.saltex.org.uk.

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Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

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Aspen delivers a decade of clean power: From the very first demonstration, Graham Kenward of South East Forestry and Tree Services was sold on the health and safety benefits of Aspen Fuel.

More than a decade on, the firm still swears by Aspen Alkylate fuel for their suite of two-stroke equipment, delivering clean and convenient power to projects in confined spaces.

Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

Founded by Graham in 1997, South East Forestry and Tree Services undertake the full breadth of tree surgery services for domestic and commercial customers across Surrey and Sussex. Powering much of that operation for the last 10 years has been Aspen Fuel. Graham takes up the story, “I learned about the product through a friend and arranged to have a demonstration of it. All I could say at the time was WOW!”

“It’s certainly not right, but as an arborist you almost just get used to getting home at the end of the day with bloodshot eyes and the smell of petrol over your clothes – particularly if you’ve been working in confined spaces. As soon as we started to use Aspen in our 2-stroke equipment, that all stopped immediately.” He continues, “Not only that but the shelf life of it is incredible. Depending on workload we might have equipment that’ll sit in the shed for two or three years untouched. If it’s got Aspen in the tank, it’ll start up at the first time of asking.”

99% cleaner than ordinary pump petrol in regards to levels of hazardous hydrocarbons, Aspen Fuel is virtually free from Ethanol, Aromatics and Benzene, bringing enhanced performance and a longer service life for all types of modern 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Together with extending engine life and reliability, the significantly fewer harmful and toxic hydrocarbons reduce the impact your equipment has on your health and the environment.

“You can’t put a price on your health and, when I factor in the further efficiencies and convenience brought about by having the Aspen delivered in 200L drums to site, we more than offset the additional cost of using Aspen in our chainsaws and other petrol-powered hand tools.”

For more information about Aspen 2 or Aspen 4, and to find your local stockist, visit www.aspenfuel.co.uk 

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Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark

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Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark: Briggs & Stratton, a global leader in innovative power solutions, will present its latest product range at demopark 2025 at stand B236.

Covering an area of approximately 345 square metres near the East Entrance, the company will showcase powerful engines and advanced lithium-ion battery systems from its Vanguard brand. These solutions are specially designed for commercial use and tailored to the needs of the landscaping and green sector.

Briggs & Stratton's innovative power solutions at demopark

Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark

The focus is primarily on Vanguard petrol engines equipped with advanced Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). Especially in the strong 40 HP class, these engines offer a fuel-efficient, low-emission, and reliable alternative to commonly used diesel engines. They are ideally suited for powering professional landscaping equipment as well as for agricultural and forestry applications.

Briggs & Stratton will also present Vanguard engines featuring innovative technologies such as Oil Guard, Oil Xtend, and TransportGuard. These systems are designed to extend engine life, optimise maintenance intervals, and minimise user error, all while aiming to reduce operational costs, increase reliability, and maximise uptime.

These technologies are utilised, among others, in Vanguard single-cylinder engines with horizontal shafts, built for heavy-duty continuous operation. Models ranging from Vanguard 100 to Vanguard 400 are equipped with TransportGuard technology, which automatically shuts off fuel flow, prevents fuel and oil mixing, and thereby reduces unnecessary maintenance costs due to transport-related damage—especially significant in rental applications.

The largest of the smaller single-cylinder engines comes equipped with EFI and ETC technologies. EFI ensures easy starting, smooth operation, and low fuel consumption, while ETC guarantees rapid load response, consistent performance, and stable speed. These two innovative technologies are included in Vanguard engines with outputs ranging from 14 to 40 horsepower, ensuring dependable performance on any terrain.

This also applies to the CXi engine on display, which features both EFI and ETC as well as the Oil Xtend system. Oil Xtend enables up to 250 operating hours between oil changes—compared to the usual 100—and allows for fast and straightforward servicing.

The Oil Guard system from Vanguard enables up to five times longer maintenance intervals between oil changes, as demonstrated by the 28 HP Vanguard engine with a vertical shaft. This can reduce oil maintenance costs per unit and season by up to 60%, compared to the standard 100-hour interval. Particularly useful for unmanned, remote-controlled machinery: in combination with EFI, Vanguard engines featuring Oil Guard can operate continuously on slopes of up to 45°.

The demopark showcase will also include a comprehensive portfolio of Vanguard lithium-ion battery systems for commercial use. These will be displayed both as individual components and integrated into example applications of Vanguard partners. A highlight is the tool-free swappable 48V 1.5 kWh battery pack (Si1.5), which is interchangeable and suitable for various applications, offering maximum flexibility and minimal downtime. The only requirement is that the respective device must be equipped with the appropriate interface. Also on display are fixed battery packs ranging from 1.5 to 7 kWh, capable of operating in parallel with up to 10 units to deliver up to 70 kWh of energy. With the matching chargers, the Si1.5 can be fully recharged in just 75 minutes, and the larger 7.0 kWh fixed unit in only 3 hours.

In the outdoor area, well-known manufacturers such as Eliet, Jo Beau, Swardman, and Briggs & Stratton’s own subsidiary Ferris will demonstrate application examples from landscaping, agriculture, and forestry sectors using Vanguard power solutions. Visitors will gain practical insight into how Vanguard’s “Passion for Power” is realised in real-world applications.

“With our modern engines and battery systems, we are setting new standards in terms of performance, efficiency, and sustainability,” says Pia Weimer, Marketing Director EMEA at Briggs & Stratton. “We’re excited to present innovative solutions at demopark 2025 that meet the green industry’s high demands while helping to reduce operating costs and support environmental standards.”

Visit Briggs & Stratton at demopark 2025, Stand 236 (East Entrance, Aisle B), and experience the future of power technology in the green sector first-hand.

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