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EDITOR'S BLOG

DRYING TIMES
Turf professionals under pressure
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

The recent bout of warm, dry weather is now starting to impact on working practices and the performance of sports playing surfaces.

The recent bout of warm, dry weather is now starting to impact on working practices and the performance of sports playing surfaces, especially if you have no means of applying water to keep the grass plant alive. In some parts of the country, we have had less than 80mm of rain since February, resulting in playing surfaces turning brown and often becoming unplayable.

This dry weather will have a huge impact on the success of any end of season renovations to winter sports pitches, especially those that have no watering facilities.

With the ground conditions becoming so dry and hard, very little renovation work in terms of Verti-draining, spiking, top dressing and seeding can be carried out until the weather changes.

I vividly remember the last major drought conditions we had back in 1976. I was working as a greenkeeper at Cocks Moors GC in Birmingham, one of the city’s ,unicipal golf courses. I spent each day watering the greens by hand to keep them alive. Our watering system at the time was an old diesel pump, housed in a shed near the brook that ran through the course. We used to dam the brook to collect enough water to irrigate the green by hosepipe. The day consisted of moving hoses to various greens and tapping into a supply box near the greens.

It would seem we are entering a similar period of dry sunny weather – illustrated by the news from BIGGA today and a recent article on their website that features the thoughts of David Byron, head greenkeeper at Essex’s Thorndon Park. He says in the piece, that’s well worth a read, “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, so it’s not consistent. I was out measuring moisture in our fairways and we’re down to about 3-4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% moisture content for the grass species we have.”

I believe that if this dry weather continues for much longer, it will be that likely we will see some hosepipe bans and restrictions on using water coming into force in some parts of the country. That could have an impact on recreational sports facilities such as club bowls, cricket, football and rugby.

So, what can sports clubs do to reduce the impact of drought conditions? First port of call is to get advice from their local water board and check on the exact restrictions that are in place.

Also, go onto several government websites. Ones such as DEFRA and the Environment Agency will offer additional information on drought restrictions.

There are turf management steps to help reduce drought stress, such as changing cutting heights, use of organics, wetting agents, spiking regimes and effective use of water whilst it is available. Early, preventative action is critical as there are limited things you can do once the drought is underway.

Try to keep as much grass cover as possible and raise the height of cut by a few millimetres. Control warm up and training activates by rotating them around different areas of the pitch to reduce wear.

Ensure you cut the grass with sharp mowers, leaving a clean cut. The use of plant growth regulators (PGR) can be a useful tool to help the plant combat drought conditions. PGRs will slow the plant’s growth thus reducing the need to cut so often. However, a programme of growth regulators is not cheap.

Also, there may be opportunities to find alternative water supplies. Alternative sources include private boreholes, lakes or tertiary treated effluent water. In all cases, transport is via tankers which can be sought from waste water/ liquid waste companies, private individuals or bought from vehicle dealers on a buy-back agreement (you will need a driver with a HGV licence).

Depending on the soil type, some pitches will dry out at different rates; sandy soils will be very quick to dry out, whereas clay soils retain moisture and are more likely to help sustain plant growth over a longer period. There may be a need to cancel games if the pitches become too hard. However, grass is a resilient plant and will recover quite quickly once it receives adequate moisture.

Some clubs may have to review their renovation programmes in May, if they are not able to water. Grass seed will not germinate if the ground conditions are too dry. You would be wasting money if grass seed was applied in drought conditions.

Also, just for the record, if you happen to be in a non-drought area and you are able to water, please ensure you conserve and do not waste it. Do not irrigate during the hottest part of the day, you will lose most of the water you are trying to put on by evaportranspiration; irrigate in the evenings and also ensure you water to depth.

NEWS

GOLFERS URGED TO SUPPORT GREENKEEPERS
During driest spring for 70 years

In our first WEB ONLY story greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.

INAUGRAL SPFL PITCH AWARD PRESENTED
Grounds staff recognised

In our next WEB ONLY story the winning Scottish club say the recognition is testament to the outstanding dedication and professionalism of the team, who have faced a season marked by unique challenges.

DEMO & NETWORKING EVENT SERIES KICKS OFF
Designed to connect local turf professionals

The first in a new series kicked off last week

Organisers say the new series offers a platform to discover products and network with peers from across the sector.

The GMA launched its new regional event series, GMA Connect, at Ashton Gate Stadium last week (13th May 2025), featuring a day that included live demonstrations and access to figures and technologies in grounds management.

Designed to connect local professionals, the Association says GMA Connect offers a platform to discover products and network with peers from across the sector.

The inaugural event attracted attendees from a diverse range of organisations, with representation from professional rugby clubs including Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby, and educational institutions such as King Edward's School Bath, Clifton College, University of Bath, Millfield School and Cheltenham College.

Key figures from the cricket world were also present, including representatives from Cricket Wales, Hampshire Cricket Board and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. The reach of the event also extended overseas, with ground staff from Dublin’s Croke Park making the trip.

Sean Smith, groundsman at Croke Park in Dublin, said, “I work over in Dublin at Croke Park, and I've come here for the day to see the pitch at Ashton Gate and how its maintained compared to what we do. Seeing their sheds was very interesting and chatting to fellow groundspeople was really enjoyable."

Attendees had the chance to see the latest machinery and tools in action through live demonstrations from brands, including Cramer, Fleet, The Pitchmark Group, GKB, ISEKI, Campey Turf Care, Abundigro, Aquatrols, Redexim and Trimax.

Sarah Hunter, head of events at the GMA, said, “The response to our first GMA Connect event has been overwhelmingly positive. We created this series to make it easier and more accessible for grounds staff to engage directly with suppliers and see kit in action, whilst having the opportunity to network with their fellow professionals, right on their doorsteps. Ashton Gate set the tone for what GMA Connect is all about.”

The series continues in Durham at Durham County Cricket Club on Wednesday 18 June.

PRO DEALERSHIP EXPANDS OPERATING AREA
Following closure of local business

L-R: Paul Walton, Chris Ollerton, Oliver Knowles, Andre Dobson and Will Berry

The company has retained the employment of the former dealership's staff members, who have knowledge of the local area and market.

RVW Pugh Ltd, who offer a range of groundscare brands and are the Massey Ferguson franchise owner for Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Mid-Wales has expanded its operating area to the North of the UK.

L-R; Paul Walton, parts manager; Chris Ollerton, aftersales; Oliver Knowles, area sales manager; Andre Dobson and Will Berry, ag engineer

Due to the closure of Malpas Tractors, RVW Pugh Ltd has expanded into the Lancashire area for Merlo, Sumo, Hi-Spec, Vaderstad and AVR customers. The dealership has a dedicated area sales manager for this area, as well as a depot for parts sales, warranty enquires and repairs and maintenance work in Lathom.

The company has retained the employment of former Malpas Tractors staff members, who have knowledge of the local area and market. RVW Pugh Ltd will also be taking on the warranty commitments for the Merlo, Sumo, Hi-Spec and Vaderstad branded machinery.

The depot is open for AGCO parts, along with a range of tools, wearing parts and other merchandise for day-to-day jobs.

Robert Pugh, managing director of RVW Pugh Ltd said, "We are delighted to be able to take on the Lancashire area for the Merlo, Sumo, Hi-Spec, Vaderstad and AVR brands, as well as welcoming our new team members to the company."

Emma Pugh, business manager for the dealership added, "We have a new depot for the Lancashire area, and would encourage any former customers of Malpas Tractors with outstanding warranties with the Merlo, Sumo, Hi-Spec and Vaderstad brands to contact us with any queries they have."

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
For this year's show

Organisers say this year's edition of the trade event promises to be bigger, better, and bolder than ever before.

Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2025 is now officially open, with organisers saying that this year promises to be "bigger, better, and bolder than ever before."

Returning to Stoneleigh Park from 9-10 September 2025, organisers claim that the show will bring together one of the most diverse ranges of exhibitors the industry has ever seen. From major machinery manufacturers and cutting-edge tech providers to landscaping tools, turf care solutions, commercial vehicles, and more.

Visitors will once again be able to try out the latest machinery and technology in real working conditions. Whilst Machinery Nation Live will again be putting kit through its paces in their own unique style.

Free training sessions and seminars will also be on offer and once the day's activities are over the GroundsFest festival begins. Live music, street food, bumper cars and great company are all promised.

Free on-site parking is provided for everyone and there is also a dedicated camping area, which requires pre-booking in advance. Registration for the show is also free.

RECOVERY & RENOVATION
Major programme underway

Widespread flooding over the New Year period at golf club means a major recovery programme is now underway on the fairways.

Stockport’s Reddish Vale Golf Club experienced widespread flooding over the New Year period meaning a major recovery programme is now underway on the fairways with the help of Johnsons Sports Seed.

Reddish Vale before and after treatment

Head Greenkeeper Aaron Watkinson said the club is now embarking on a large-scale flood-recovery project.

“We came back in January 2025," explained Aaron, "to find five of our holes under six to eight foot of floodwater from the River Tame. Once it receded, we were left with hundreds of tonnes of silt and sewerage contamination - all removed by the three of us, by hand!”

Alongside their hard work, it’s been the resilience and performance of Johnsons J Fairway that Aaron says has underpinned their recovery. “Thanks to the incredible team effort some areas have already bounced back incredibly well, and those that need a bit of a helping hand will get an overseed with J Fairway which will help to complete the restoration in the coming weeks.”

The new seed mix has been selected to help restore Reddish Vale’s traditional heathland character and deliver cost-effective, intelligent turf management. “The blend combines high-quality chewings and slender creeping red fescues for density, visual merit, salt tolerance and drought resilience, alongside two strong creeping red fescues chosen for shoot density and disease resistance. A final 5% of browntop bentgrass gives this mixture a real edge in terms of longevity and visual quality,” said Stuart Yarwood of DLF Seeds, who advised Aaron during the post-flood planning.

Aaron concluded, “We’re keeping positive and using this recovery as an opportunity to replicate the high standards we’ve delivered with Johnsons on the tees across our flood-hit fairways. We’ll get there!”

Sponsored Content

STIHL LAUNCHES POWERFUL AND VERSATILE BATTERY BRUSHCUTTER
FSA 110 R

FSA 110 R offers professional users a powerful yet lightweight solution for maintaining green spaces, all with the added benefit of quiet, low-vibration performance.

STIHL has unveiled its latest addition to the AP System range, the FSA 110 R battery-powered brushcutter, offering professional users a powerful yet lightweight solution for maintaining green spaces, all with the added benefit of quiet, low-vibration performance.

Engineered with landscapers, groundskeepers and facilities maintenance teams in mind, the FSA 110 R combines exceptional cutting performance with impressive ease of use and ergonomic design, making it ideal for tackling everything from grass trimming to tougher clearing tasks, even in noise-sensitive areas.

At the heart of the tool is a high-efficiency EC motor that delivers consistent power across two speed settings. ECO mode is designed for lighter work such as edging and clean-up tasks, helping to extend battery run time, while the higher speed setting delivers maximum cutting performance for tougher tasks. Users can also fine-tune the speed within each mode for maximum control and energy efficiency.

Supplied with the STIHL AutoCut C 12-2 mowing head, the FSA 110 R makes line changes quicker and more intuitive thanks to the Advanced EasySpool system. The new mowing line can be inserted from one side and wound with a simple twist of the wear-free rotary knob with no need to dismantle the head.

Additionally, STIHL’s Rapid Click quick-change system allows operators to swap between mowing heads, such as the optional PolyCut 12-2 blade head, at the push of a button, making it faster to adapt to changing conditions on site.
Weighing just 3.6 kg (without battery), the brushcutter features a soft-grip, tool-free adjustable loop handle for a secure hold and easy customisation to suit different user heights. An integrated anti-vibration system further reduces strain on the arms and hands during extended use, ideal for professional applications where productivity and comfort are key.

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Thanks to IPX4-rated splash protection, the FSA 110 R is suitable for use in wet conditions, while its low operating noise makes it compliant for work in residential, urban or public spaces where noise restrictions apply.

For more information on the STIHL FSA 110, visit www.stihl.co.uk

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