Tag Archive for: Turf

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

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Versatility when managing natural turf areas: Managing a property with a huge variety of habitats and landscapes, sports fields, a golf course, formal gardens, lakes, woodlands and heathland areas, is the responsibility of Mark Dodd, the grounds and Gardens Manager at Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshiire. He and his team require different management techniques when maintaining the divesre areas on the 410-acre site.

To assist with this complex management puzzle, he has purchased a package of equipment from his local dealer, RT Machinery Ltd, which includes a 4520 all-terrain compact tractor unit, with attachments that includes a 72-inch Finishing deck, a Tough Cut deck and a Stump Grinder.

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

“We initially hired-in a machine with a Tough Cut deck to work on the banks clearing scrub on our 9-hole golf course, but quickly appreciated the opportunity the versatility of the machine could provide across the estate,” he said.

“Unfortunately for our Golf team, the machine is used almost exclusively by the Grounds team and that’s simple down to its versatility. The Finishing deck was initially purchased for use on our formal lawns, as it leaves a very pleasing stripe and presentation is very important here at Wellington.

“We used to cut our pitches with a ride-on cylinder mower, but the quality of cut from the Finishing deck is excellent and now we use it extensively on our winter pitches. The light footprint of the machine is another factor and we can continue our maintenance regimes, even in inclement weather.

“We hosted the Women’s Rugby Under-18 Six Nations Festival in April, which included three back-to-back matches over 10 days. It’s a quick turnaround and we cut the main pitch with the Ventrac and finished with our Dennis hand mowers.

“The design of the Ventrac has been well thought through; maintenance is easy and the mounting system allows for a quick and easy exchange of attachments. Add to this the responsive support from our dealer, RT Machinery, and we have a package that we are delighted with.”

Mark Dodd heads a team of 16 across three departments: Grounds, Gardens and Golf. He has been in his current role for the past two years, having joined Wellington in 2015. Prior to this he spent seven years at Benenden School and three years at Epsom College as Head of Grounds & Gardens.

www.priceturfcare.com

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Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands

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Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands: Whether it’s through the delivery of expert construction and renovation services, or the supply of 26 different varieties of turf, the combination of Fineturf and Tillers Turf have proudly worked with a huge number of the UK’s leading sporting venues – and at the heart of nearly every operation is a Kubota.

Following the delivery of six more Kubota units to their fleet, Managing Director Simon Hutton explains how it’s the reliability of the brand that keeps them coming back for more, having not let them down on a job in over 28 years.

Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands

Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands

Working for high profile clients across the sporting sector comes with high expectations and means that for Simon and the team, reliability is key when it comes to specifying new equipment. “The oldest tractor we have is a Kubota L4630 which is 18 years old, with close to 11,500 hours on it and continues to give us what we need day in, day out” explains Simon. “The simplicity of operation, consistency in performance and value for money we get from the brand is unparalleled.”

Among the recent delivery were two L2522 tractors from Kubota’s popular L2 series of cabbed, compact tractors – taking Simon’s total tally of L-Series machines up to the mid-twenties! “These are the workhorses on our contracting division” he explains. “We’ll have at least one on most jobs, and they’ll remain on site for the duration of the contract whether that’s one day or six months. The operators love the durability of the L2’s, they work long hours and stand up to every task. Because they’re not ‘over-computerised’ we can also conduct all of the servicing and maintenance ourselves and, if something does go astray while we’re on a job, nine times out of ten the team can resolve it quickly and easily to get the work complete.”

Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands

Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expands

While the L2522’s are additions to meet with demand, the new Kubota M6111 and M4073 are replacing another brand and join an M6002 series already in use on the Tillers Turf operation. “We use these tractors at every stage of turf production on our 2200 acres – from getting the seed in the ground to getting the turf onto the pallets and out to the customers.”

“Where we are now and with the scale of the operation, I honestly believe that without the level of service we get from our equipment and the fabulous people at Kubota who provide outstanding ongoing support, we wouldn’t be in business.”

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Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

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Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day: Campey Turf Care Systems is excited to announce its upcoming Turf Growers Demo Day at Talbot Turf, scheduled for Wednesday, 10th May 2023. The event will provide an opportunity for turf growers to learn more about the latest advancements in turf care equipment and how they can improve the quality and efficiency of their operations.

At the Turf Growers Demo Day, attendees will have the opportunity to see some of the most innovative turf care equipment in action, including the Van Vuuren turf harvesters, Campey Turf Brush, Imants Spader and Vredo overseeders. The Van Vuuren turf harvester is a user-friendly piece of machinery that can harvest turf with optimal results in any circumstance.

Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

The Campey turf brush is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used for a variety of turf care applications, from removing debris to breaking up soil. In addition, the Vredo overseeder is an efficient and effective machine that can quickly and easily overseed large areas with unmatched germination results. Finally the Imants Spader offers an alternative one pass cultivation method, that completes the processes of primary and secondary cultivation and seed sowing in one machine.

As well as the equipment demonstrations, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with Campey Turf Care Systems representatives about their specific turf care needs and how Campey’s range of equipment and machinery can help them achieve their goals. The event will also provide an opportunity for turf growers to network with other professionals in the industry and exchange ideas and best practices.

“We are thrilled to host the Turf Growers Demo Day at Talbot Turf and showcase some of the latest advancements in turf care equipment,” said Lee Morgado, Director at Campey Turf Care Systems. “Our goal is to help turf growers maximise their work output in the most effective way, and we believe that our range of equipment and machinery can help them achieve this. We look forward to meeting with turf growers and discussing their daily operational turf challenges.”

The Turf Growers Demo Day will take place at Talbot Turf, Save Penny Lane, off Makeney Road, Milford, Duffield, Derbyshire DE56 0RS. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Interested parties can register online at Campey Turf Care Systems’ website or by contacting the company directly.

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New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

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New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds: The new herbicide, Overtake, from Syngenta gives the chance to clean out broad-leaved weeds in turf this spring.

Now available for golf course, sports turf management and amenity areas in the UK, the unique combination of two herbicide actives gives consistently reliable results in more variable spring conditions, against a wide spectrum of problematic weeds.

New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

Furthermore, Syngenta application trials have shown optimum results with treatment at a water volume of just 200 l/ha, giving significant savings in time and reduced interruption in play, compared to herbicide treatments typically applied at 400 l/ha or more.

Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes, reported Overtake has shown outstanding turf safety in more than 70 trials across nine countries. Trials at STRI recorded no adverse phytotoxic effects across 19 cultivars of all key cool-season turf grass species, even at more than double recommended application rate.

“Weeds compete with turf plants for light, moisture and nutrients. Removing weed competition early in the season ensures more of the inputs you put on are better utilised for turf growth – creating stronger more resilient turf and better playing conditions,” advocated Sean.

Overtake targets most of the problematic broad-leaved weeds in turf grass. Early treatment in the spring enables vigorous turf recovery to fill gaps and minimise risk of weed reinvasion.

“In addition to greater reliability in a wider range of temperatures and conditions, the two different modes of action in Overtake reduces the risk of weed resistance developing,” he added. Overtake is a Syngenta optimised formulation to target broad-leaved weeds.

To get the best from Overtake, Sean advised application in spring when weeds are actively growing and the leaves are dry. Treatment should be made at a rate of 2.0 l/ha, applied in 200 l/ha water volume, using XC025 or XC04 nozzles to better target the leaf area and minimise risk of drift. Turf should ideally be left for three days after application before mowing.

Overtake is approved for use in the UK on amenity grassland, managed amenity turf and lawns.

Syngenta Turf Business Manager, Daniel Lightfoot, added: “Overtake is the first of several exciting new turf products from Syngenta that are planned to launch this year, including new fungicide, insecticide and biocontrol options.

“The commitment to R&D investment in turf is crucial to give us a full range of options for a truly Integrated Turf Management approach and support for greenkeepers and sports turf managers.

“Customers will be pleased that Overtake also qualifies for Turf Rewards, where purchases gain points that can be redeemed for turf management tools and services.”

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Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics

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Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics: This year’s list highlights the businesses at the forefront of their respective industries, paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow. These companies are setting the standard with some of the greatest accomplishments of the modern world.

In addition to the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, 540 organizations are recognized across 54 sectors and regions.

Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics

Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics

“It’s an honor for us to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023,” said Mikkel Jacobsen, CEO of Turf Tank. “Since Turf Tank launched in 2015, our robot has revolutionized the sports field-painting industry. We help turf managers around the world create professional fields, efficiently and cost effectively. Every day, we strive to push the boundaries of our technology. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to innovation and the dedication of our team around the world. We will continue to lead the charge in autonomous line marking technology. We are excited for the future.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/90849021/most-innovative-companies-robotics-2023

Turf Tank is the inventor of the world’s first autonomous, GPS-guided line-marking robot designed for painting athletic fields. To date, the company has more than 1,200 robots painting fields across the UK and the rest of the world with more than 1,600 globally, from schools and local authorities, to independent colleges and universities, Premier League, MLS teams, as well as NFL stadiums. The robot is controlled with a tablet, completely transforming the way turf managers paint their fields. One robot can paint a soccer field all by itself in less than 25 minutes, compared to traditional manual methods which require a team of two people up to two hours to paint the same field. With the time saved, the grounds crew is now free to focus on other important tasks around the fields which helps improve the overall quality of the facility.

Turf Tank continues to innovate with its next-generation line-marking software which enhances the robot’s usability and boosts the efficiency of the line marking process. The development of the new system was a result of years of communication with turf managers and aims to improve the overall user experience, enabling them to complete their tasks with greater speed and ease. By simply tapping a few buttons, the user can produce a professionally marked field that adheres to the regulations of different governing bodies. Additionally, the updated software provides turf managers with greater flexibility and complete control over every aspect of the line marking process, allowing them to customize the fields to suit the specific requirements of their organization, a feature never seen in the industry before.

Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics

Turf Tank in top ten of Innovative Robotics

The company achieved another significant breakthrough with the implementation of the text and logo functionality, which enables sports organizations to enhance their fields by incorporating robot-generated texts, messages, and logos. Previously, only large colleges and professional teams could afford this feature, but now, thanks to Turf Tank’s technology, even small sports clubs and local high schools can provide their fans with an exceptional sports experience. Players can now feel like they’re playing on professional fields, no matter the level of their play. The technology also allows organizations to promote local charities, raise awareness about community issues, and attract sponsorships

Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the companies making the biggest strides around the globe. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides a firsthand look at the inspiring and innovative efforts of companies across all sectors of the economy.

“What a strange and thrilling year it has been to honor this year’s Most Innovative Companies. This year’s list compiles some of the most cutting-edge groundbreakers who are changing our world every single day, from legacy organizations like McDonald’s to upstarts like MrBeast and institutions such as NASA. Everyone on this list does something completely, uniquely different, yet, they all have one thing in common: innovation,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan.

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