Tag Archive for: Spring

Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

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Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring: The global robot lawnmower market is experiencing rapid growth, projected to increase from roughly £2.3 billion in 2025 to about £2.7 billion in 2026. According to George Ren, CEO at Segway Navimow, the growth of the market is driven by a demand for affordable, timesaving, quiet, and eco-friendly autonomous yard maintenance.

Increasingly popular with UK gardeners tackling their gardens in time for summer, robotic lawn mowers offer a hands-free alternative to traditional manually operated petrol and electric mowers. The current market features a wide range of brands and models operating with the highest levels of efficiency and precision. The most advanced mowers now present use smart features like GPS tracking and obstacle navigation to tackle the challenges offered by lawns of all shapes and sizes.

Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

“AI powered technology is firmly leaving our screens and entering our homes,” explains Ren. “The 2026 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas was awash with household robotics of all kinds, assisting with all kinds of daily tasks and there was no shortage of robotic lawnmowers. More broadly, the household robotics market is expected to reach approximately £18.53 billion by 2031, up from £9.27 billion in 2026.

“Rather than simply piling on features for the sake of more functionality, the best household robots truly meet consumer needs and do so with true autonomy. Technology should serve people, enabling them to live, create, and do what they truly want to do more freely.

“Robotic lawnmowers are not a new invention but continue to be adapted and refined to deliver true ‘senseless intelligence’ – that is, whether the robot can be like an invisible gardener. Today’s iterations handle and adapt perfectly to complex environments without any user intervention or worry.”

“Whether for commercial or household use, the essence is always ‘liberating time’, that is enabling the professional gardener or landscaper to tackle greater areas at scale and on the other hand, allowing household users to relax while their household tasks are taken care of.”

The core challenge Navimow faces is not a single technological breakthrough, but rather how to deeply integrate hardcore robotics technology with real user life scenarios.

“The most significant technological upgrades in the 2026 range are the ELFS™ LiDAR+ and Xero-Turn™ Zero-Turn Technology which will bring substantial improvements to the user experience,” Ren explains. “These upgrades are backed by massive algorithmic engineering with one sole objective: ensuring that users, over long-term use, hardly ever need to think about ‘localisation’.”

In March, save up to £200 on the Segway Navimow AWD and LiDAR Series. Prices start from £699 for the AWD series and from £999 for the LiDAR Series.[AH1]

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Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme

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Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme: Bernhard Academy has announced the launch of its Spring 2026 online leadership and management programme, giving industry professionals around the world the opportunity to develop essential skills from anywhere.

Following the strong success of its education seminars and packed trade show sessions earlier this year at BTME and the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, the Academy’s latest programme continues its commitment to delivering accessible, high-impact learning to the sector.

Bernhard Academy's Spring online management programme

Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme

The Spring 2026 series features two development pathways – Aspiring Manager and Confident Manager – while also offering the flexibility to attend individual courses or mix and match topics to suit personal development goals.

The Aspiring Manager pathway is designed for future leaders preparing to take the next step in their careers, focusing on self-awareness, communication, stakeholder understanding and personal leadership development.

The Confident Manager pathway supports those stepping into or operating within supervisory roles, covering key areas such as budgeting, risk assessment, project management, handling difficult conversations, managing stress and delivering impactful presentations.

Courses begin on 9 March 2026, with sessions running through to 18 May 2026, all delivered online and accessible globally.

Sami Strutt, Education Director at Bernhard Academy, said: “The response to our education sessions at this year’s trade shows demonstrated just how strong the appetite is for high-quality, accessible learning across our industry.

“Our Spring 2026 online programme has been designed to give professionals, wherever they are in the world, the confidence and practical skills to progress in their careers. Whether they’re aspiring to step into management or looking to strengthen their impact as established leaders” she added.

In addition, the Bernhard Academy has confirmed dates for its specialist Technical and Equipment Management training:

  • 9 April 2026: Cutting Unit Set Up and Sharpening Techniques @ Loch Lomond Golf Club
  • 13-15 April 2026: Fundamentals of Turf Care Mechanics – Level 1 @ Moortown Golf Club

With demand expected to remain high following recent industry engagement, early booking is encouraged. For more information or to register, visit: https://bernhardacademy.co.uk/

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Redexim Showcases Spring Renovation Essentials at BTME

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Redexim Showcases Spring Renovation Essentials at BTME: 2025’s prolonged heat put turf surfaces under extraordinary pressure, leaving many venues facing compaction, thinning coverage, and stressed rootzones. As spring approaches, turf professionals are looking to revitalise their surfaces with reliable, efficient renovation equipment – and BTME 2026 offers the perfect opportunity to explore the tools that can help.

On stand 532, Redexim will showcase a range of machines designed to tackle the key tasks of spring: aeration, overseeding, de-compaction, and debris removal. Whether you’re working on golf courses, sports pitches, estates or smaller green spaces, visitors can get hands-on with proven solutions that support healthier, stronger turf going into the new season.

Redexim Showcases Spring Renovation Essentials at BTME

Redexim Showcases Spring Renovation Essentials at BTME

Turf Tidy 1100

The Turf-Tidy 1100 is a compact, versatile solution for keeping turf clean and healthy. Combining mowing, scarifying, and sweeping in a single tractor-mounted machine, it reduces the need for multiple passes and multiple pieces of equipment.

Highly manoeuvrable, it’s ideal for sites where access is tight, while the clamshell hopper makes collecting and emptying debris simple and efficient during busy renovation periods.

Overseeder 3D 1575

Freshly redesigned, the Overseeder 3D 1575 now features a new seed delivery system with single-point adjustment, improving ease of use and accuracy.

Tough cutting discs slice clean grooves into the soil, placing seed at the optimal depth before the rear roller closes the groove for excellent soil-to-seed contact.

  • Excellent germination rates
  • Adjustable seed aperture for various seed types
  • Digital meter for precision

A durable, reliable choice for surfaces in need of recovery after last summer’s heat stress.

Verti-Drain® 2519

Aeration remains one of the most effective ways to relieve compaction and improve water movement through the profile. The Verti-Drain 2519 delivers high-speed performance with a maximum working depth of 10” / 250 mm, making it ideal for venues where productivity and agility matter.

  • Fast, efficient operation
  • Suitable across a wide range of turf types
  • Compatible with hollow or solid tines

Speed-Seed Walk-Behind

Perfect for smaller turf areas or hard-to-reach spots, the Speed-Seed WB brings Redexim overseeding technology to a pedestrian format. The self-propelled unit uses a spiked roller to create holes before dropping seed, and a rear brush ensures thorough distribution and a tidy finish.

  • Ideal for compact or awkward areas
  • Easy to transport
  • Reliable sowing and finish

Easy-Core

The Easy-Core is a pedestrian punch-action aerator built for quick, manoeuvrable coring in restricted spaces. The unit rapidly removes cores for effective de-compaction, with optional solid tines available for different soil conditions. Folding handles make transport straightforward.

  • Excellent in confined areas
  • Fast ground coverage
  • Highly manoeuvrable

Verti-Quake®

For deeper, consistent de-compaction with minimal surface disruption, the Verti-Quake uses powered offset blades to create a wave action through the soil profile. This lateral movement breaks up compaction from the surface to full working depth – even in poorer or heavily compacted soils.

  • Suitable for various soil types
  • Fast, effective aeration
  • Minimal impact on the playing surface

With spring renovations fast approaching, BTME provides an ideal chance to explore the machines that can help you restore turf health after a challenging year. The Redexim team will be on hand to talk through the full line-up and discuss which solutions best suit your site’s needs.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is calling on golf clubs and golfers across the UK to support their members as we face our driest spring for decades.

Following some exceptionally wet recent winters, the spring of 2025 has brought a stark contrast. According to the Met Office, rainfall across many regions has been at historic lows. Wales recorded its driest March since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second-driest March on record. With May showing little improvement, greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

David Byron, Head Greenkeeper at Thorndon Park Golf Club in Essex, said: “It’s very, very dry. It’s the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years. We’ve had almost no rain, and what we have had has come in just one hit.

“In our fairways, we’re down to about 3–4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% for the grass species we have.”

These conditions are presenting major challenges for turf recovery and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while teams attempt to preserve greens and tees with limited water resources.

Royal Aberdeen’s Course Manager, Richard Johnstone, said he had recorded just 11mm of rainfall between April and early May: “We’re experiencing extreme weather patterns. There’s no longer a balance. Instead, we’re seeing one extreme or the other – either constant pouring rain or complete drought.

“There doesn’t seem to be much consistency anymore, and that presents some big challenges.”

Paul Woodham, The R&A’s Agronomy Lead for Europe and the UK, noted that warm days combined with cold nights have disrupted seasonal growth, resulting in stressed grass and delayed recovery from winter damage.

Clubs are encouraged to communicate openly with their members, sharing insight into current conditions and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools to foster support.

“Our advice to clubs is to engage in professional dialogue with your Course Manager, set agreed objectives and show open support for your team of greenkeepers,” said BIGGA’s CEO Jim Croxton.

“They will be much more motivated and determined to overcome these challenges with strong support from their members.”

“As course managers, it’s our responsibility to communicate and educate,” said Johnstone. “We need to use various channels like social media, blogs, and other platforms to help people understand the current conditions and our management approach.”

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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Scissor-like perfection this spring

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Scissor-like perfection this spring: Bring a precise and perfect finish to greens this spring with Toro’s genuine bedknives and cylinders.

As warmer temperatures create the ideal conditions for fast turf growth, increasing the frequency of cuts while maintaining a clean, consistent finish becomes essential.

Scissor-like perfection this spring

Scissor-like perfection this spring

But increased use doesn’t mean anything other than the perfect finish with Toro genuine bedknives and cylinders. They are engineered to be perfectly balanced, delivering a scissor-like result for the greatest precision and healthiest turf.

As the UK’s sole distributor of Toro parts, Reesink Turfcare is reminding customers that genuine is best for a flawless cut on every pass. Reesink’s support ensures golf clubs are equipped with the durable and reliable performance parts they need to keep their machines – and their courses – in peak condition.

Michael Hampton, Purchasing and Sales Process Manager at Reesink Turfcare, explains: “At this time of year, bedknives and cylinders are in near-constant use. These are high-wear parts that directly affect the quality of cut, so using genuine Toro replacements is key: they’re manufactured to fit the original machine perfectly and ensure top performance from the first cut to the last.”

Toro genuine parts are built with the same engineering expertise that goes into every machine on the production line. With rigorous testing and high-quality materials, they’re designed for long-lasting performance and reduced downtime – something no aftermarket ‘will-fit’ alternative can match.

“If the bedknife isn’t perfectly flat, it won’t touch the entire length of the cylinder to deliver a precision cut. And that’s an essential part of how a cylinder mower is built,” says Michael. “Fitting anything less than the real thing risks causing inconsistent results, uneven finishes and avoidable wear on your machines.”

Reesink Turfcare is committed to supporting greenkeeping professionals with the parts and advice they need to keep their equipment in top condition, improving overall performance and longevity.

“We know budgets are under pressure,” Michael adds. “But cutting corners with critical components like these might lead to higher costs over time due to increased downtime or premature machine wear caused by non-genuine parts. That’s why we’re proud to support our dealers in providing customers with the highest-quality Toro parts. Making the right investment now will pay dividends throughout the season.”

The full range of Toro bedknives and cylinders is available through all Toro dealers and Reesink branches across the UK. To find your nearest Toro dealer or Reesink branch, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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