Most rugby and football clubs have either finished or are now nearing the end of their playing season and hopefully should have planned quotes for their end of season renovations. The success of these renovations will dictate the future performance of the pitches.  

Any major resurfacing or drainage works are usually programmed to coincide with the planned end of season renovations. In most cases clubs are reliant on getting the work done by competent sports turf contractors, who have the correct equipment for these operations.

So, it is imperative that you have secured or are seeking quotes for this work from well-known, approved contractors. 

The extent and nature of the works undertaken will be dependent on a number of factors:

• Type of pitch profile system, natural soil, rootzone, fibre re-inforced sand constructed pitch
• Level of wear
• Budgets available
• Time for completion and establishment

For most clubs a basic renovation of the playing surface ideally should consist of the following works: 

• Cleaning out the surface by verticutting / scarifying in two or three directions.
• Aerating the pitch (de-compacting) the pitch with a vertical punch or linear aerator.
• Top dressing with an approved sand/rootzone material usually applying anything between 50-100 tonnes of material.
• Overseeding with a decent rye grass seed mixture at a rate between 30-50g/m2 depending on the condition of the pitch
• Finally. fertilising with pre-seeding or spring/summer, applying at a rate of 25-35g/m2

Costs breakdown

The cost of these operations will be dependent on factors including the number of pitches to be completed, types of materials used, scope of works and haulage costs for delivery of machinery and materials. Budget around £7,000 for a basic renovation based on industry contractors’ rates for a single pitch area (7000m2).

Due to the economic issues the country is facing, along with the war in Ukraine, we have seen a substantial rise in the costs of raw materials and fuel / transportation costs. We are now seeing in excess of £50 per tonne for top dressing and sand depending on how much you are buying.

It’s going to cost in the region of £4000 to buy 80 tonnes of material plus the cost of spreading. Seed prices have also risen to close on £90 per 20 kilo bag of seed. Twelve bags of seed to seed a full-sized pitch will now cost in the region of £1000. On top of that you’ve got fertiliser costing around £25-30 per bag depending what NPK ration you choose, meaning it will now cost in the region of £300. Coupled with the hiring a contractor to undertake the aeration and scarifying, this will cost another £1000 per pitch.

That is a considerable investment for any club - however the benefits will be well worth the investment once you have successfully completed the works.

Once the seed has germinated it is important to keep it watered. Irrigation is essential, many grounds are beginning to show signs of stress resulting from the lack of rain we have had recently. However, with hosepipe bans in force in some parts of the country, you can only do what you can do.

Top tips

Try not to waste your water resources. Keep an eye out for leaks and check the sprinklers are working properly. It is best to water during the evening to prevent excessive water loss from evaporation.

For me the most important issue is the ongoing maintenance work you undertake during the rest of the year. Why would you invest in a proper renovation and then refrain from implementing a decent maintenance regime?

It is generally the lack of appropriate maintenance that leads to the deterioration of the pitch in the first place. 

Many clubs seem to have a notion that once the season has finished, they do not need to cut the grass until the new season starts. I see far too many grounds managed in this way. Not cutting the grass leads to a poor sward density and winter playability problems. The summer is the prime time to retain the cutting height and increase the frequency of mowing.

Mowing should be continued throughout the summer period, maintaining a cutting height of around 30-40mm to encourage the grass to tiller. Grooming and verticutting are operations that remove unwanted side growth and reduce the level of debris in the sward. These operations are carried out on a regular basis, often weekly or fortnightly. They are completed in conjunction with your mowing regimes.

Fertiliser treatment and turf tonic can be continued in accordance with your annual programme. If you haven't got a fertiliser programme, have your soil tested. Try an independent soil analysis company for an impartial set of results.

Most turf professionals will be applying a summer N P K fertiliser, perhaps something with higher nitrogen that will help maintain grass colour and vigour. A slow-release fertiliser could be applied to see you through June, July and August. The choice of materials and how well they work will depend on factors such as soil type and weather, with moisture and air temperature being the catalyst for growth.

Seeding of sparse or bare areas can be carried out. This rise in temperatures will speed up germination. Use germination sheets to aid this process but remove the sheets regularly to check for diseases. Remember that without good seed to soil contact the operation is useless. Ensure you use new seed as old material may not give you the required germination rates.

Keep an eye on fungal disease attack and use approved fungicides to treat infected areas.

Don't neglect the other facilities once the playing season has finished. Remember to check posts and sockets to ensure they are safe and secure as well has giving them a well-earned coat of paint to keep them presentable.

It is important clubs keep themselves informed of any financial funding schemes that may be available for them to improve pitch facilities. The RFU and FA websites should be your first port of call followed by Sport England. Also, keep an eye out for information being posted by your local authority websites, they may also have some funding initiatives going on.

AriensCo has announced the purchase of Thomas Equipment from A-L Parts Inc.

The company says this development allows them to offer a new four-season product line under the Gravely brand to serve the rental and construction markets.

Thomas Equipment has been a manufacturer of outdoor equipment for 79 years based in Beechwood, New Brunswick, Canada. Started in 1943 by the Thomas Brothers as an agricultural repair business, they expanded into manufacturing equipment for agricultural purposes, namely potato harvesting and handling. In 1969, the company introduced the world’s first hydrostatic drive skid-loader. Thomas Equipment was purchased by A-L Parts Inc. in 2013.  

AriensCo say they are partnering with Al Downy and Leon Butterfield, owners of A-L Parts Inc. to launch the production of the Gravely branded Mini Skid Steer line in their Canadian facility. 

“We think this is a perfect extension of our Gravely product line,” said Dan Ariens, chairman and CEO of AriensCo. “This multi-tool piece of equipment is great for hardscape work with accessories like a tree auger, stump grinder, pallet forks, etc. It’s a big tool but is small and compact so it can fit through a gate and can be hauled on a trailer with other mowers. We think it will be a great offering for commercial landscapers.”   

AriensCo is providing management support for the increase in production. They say five Gravely branded Mini-Skid Loaders (3 diesel and 2 petrol powered models) are planned for the autumn.

The GMA is inviting nominations to recognise the contribution of volunteers and professionals working across the grounds care industry.

Winners will be announced at the association’s annual awards dinner at the Birmingham Vox Conference Centre on 2 November. 

Marking a return following the outbreak of the pandemic, this year’s awards ceremony will recognise the outstanding performance of individuals and teams across the grounds care sector. 

Nomination categories have been expanded this year to include:

1. Origin Amenity Solutions Young Grounds Person of the Year
2. Newcomer of the Year
3. Kubota UK & Redexim Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year
4. Community Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year
5. Bowls / Croquet Grounds Team/Individual of the Year
6. Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year
7. Best Environmental and Sustainability Impact
8. Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year
9. Infinicut Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year
10. Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year
11. Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year
12. Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team of the Year
13. AMS Robotics Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (A)
14. SGL Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (B)
15. University/College Grounds Team of the Year
16. Independent School Grounds Team of the Year
17. International Impact Award

The GMA say nominations must be submitted via an online form before 17.00 on Friday 29 July 2022.

GMA CEO, Geoff Webb said, “The association’s Industry Awards has long been a prestigious stage to recognise the achievements of those working in the grounds care sector at all levels. This year’s ceremony feels particularly special after an incredibly challenging few years.

"The event gives us the opportunity to come together, reflect on what has been achieved, and celebrate those who work tirelessly to make sport possible.”

ICL has appointed Liam Rowlands as a technical area sales manager, covering South West England and South Wales. 

Liam Rowlands

Liam arrives following working as a greenkeeper for twelve years. Upon leaving school he started his career at Abergele Golf Club, North Wales, under the stewardship of Darren Anderson. He then went onto work at several distinguished clubs including Chester Golf Club, The Grove, and Golfpark de Turfvaert, in the Netherlands. Before joining ICL he progressed to the position of a deputy head greenkeeper.

“During my twelve years in greenkeeping, I have been fortunate to experience golf courses of many shapes and sizes all with varying levels of expectation,” said Liam. “I feel this gives me a good ability to understand the customers varying needs.

"I’m sure that my experience paired with my education in technical areas will enable me to provide excellent service for both turf managers and distributor partners alike.”

Liam also studied a BSc in Sports Turf Science and Management at Myerscough College where he achieved a 2.1. As part of his degree, Liam conducted a dissertation which focussed on the effects of ICL’s Vitalnova SMX on root growth and development on perennial ryegrasses.

“I feel honoured to be representing ICL,” he said. “The company gave me the opportunity to study its SMX product for my thesis when I was at Myerscough College and Andy Owen (International Technical Manager at ICL) was extremely influential throughout the process. It now feels as though my career has come full circle. I am incredibly passionate about ICL products and have seen first-hand how they perform. I hope to take this passion into my role and the regions in which I am operating.” 

Turf grower and supplier of topsoil and landscaping products, Rolawn, has donated £2,500 to the charity Greenfingers, as part of the annual Garden Re-Leaf event.

Jonathan Hill, sales director for Rolawn and Linda Petrons, director of fundraising and communications for Greenfingers Charity

The money was generated through an online initiative whereby Rolawn pledged to donate 5% of the value of all sales made through their website, from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th March.

The company advertised the pledge on their website, newsletters and social media, to encourage people who may have been considering a future purchase of their turf and landscaping products to bring forward their order, to bolster the value of the donation.

Jonathan Hill, sales director for Rolawn, said, “Over the years that we have worked with Greenfingers, we have come to understand how important their work is, creating safe, stimulating outdoor spaces for children spending time in hospices. We have seen the difference that each donation makes to the lives of these children and to their families."

Linda Petrons, director of fundraising and communications for Greenfingers Charity, commented, “Thank you to the team at Rolawn. Your support of the Greenfingers Charity Garden ReLeaf day is so very much appreciated.”

As well as fundraising for Greenfingers, Rolawn has provided products to support the creation and renovation of hospice gardens. 

STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM headset offers forestry and landscaping professionals clear and high-quality communication in noisy environments, while offering a high level of ear protection. Using intercom mesh technology, up to 16 headsets can link automatically, allowing users to listen and communicate effectively as a team. 

Designed with user safety in mind, STIHL’s new innovative headset has a high attenuation value of 31 for extremely high noise protection, and is available as a headset or as an accessory for the ADVANCE X-CLIMB helmet. ADVANCE ProCOM may also be fitted to other 3M compatible helmets.

ADVANCE ProCOM has a range of up to 600m depending on the terrain, however, each headset acts as an amplifier to extend the range even further if more than two headsets are in use. Multiple channels are available for teams working in close proximity, and users may choose the open mic setting for frequent communication, or alternatively, the push-to-talk button can be used instead to minimise background noise.

The intelligent ambient mode feature allows the user to clearly hear their surroundings and react quickly to potential dangers such as traffic or passers-by. Ambient mode de-activates automatically when a loud noise is detected, maintaining a high level of protection when it’s most needed.

Additional features such as smartphone voice assistance, an integrated FM radio and app customisation are also included in the ADVANCE ProCOM system. Thanks to an IP 64 protection rating users can also be assured that sweat, dirt and rain will not harm the headset's electronics, offering complete flexibility. The headsets also feature large, ergonomic buttons for easy use and handling when wearing gloves. 

For more information on STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM headset, please visit www.stihl.co.uk. 

PARK AND RIDE

IT'S NOT THE LENGTH THAT MATTERS . . .

NO EXCUSES FOR POOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT

SPRING INTO ACTION

SUN SHINES ON BTME

BRIGHT START

INDUSTRY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

TESTING TIME

TIME TO PAY UP

DON'T PANIC!

ALL APSE-PECTS DISCUSSED

WINTER WARMING

THE BANE OF BUNKERS

POOR PERFORMANCE? BLAME THE PITCH!

PREPARING FOR 2022's GROWING SEASON

THREE AREAS OF CONTENTION

AREAS OF CONCERN

View all of 2021's blogs here

View all of 2020's blogs here

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

A headline in The Guardian caught my eye last week. It read, “Parks near new homes shrink 40% as developers say they cannot afford them.”

Headlines such as these confirm something that I have been worried about for several years - the increasing lack of Section 106 planning gain monies being paid to local authorities for investment in green infrastructures.

The initial concept of this funding stream was most laudable. However, in recent years we have seen a trend where developers are finding ways to pay fewer 106 contributions.

Under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen because of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known as 'Section 106'.

Over the years from speaking to a number of parks officers, I believe that developers are finding new ways to reduce their 106 commitments for their planned development sites. In the article it states that “New homes have a dwindling amount of green space because property developers claim they cannot afford to build parks.”

Having a read of the whole article would be well worth your while today. It quotes Dr Alex Chapman, a senior researcher at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), who says property developers have the upper hand in negotiations with councils over green space provision.

He tells the paper: “The broader planning arrangements around new developments mean developers can cite financial viability as a factor. If the council says it needs to build a huge park alongside the development the developer will say that it’s not financially viable.

“Sometimes the council can challenge this, but because of the pressure to build new houses from central government, the appeal will fail. The council won’t want to take part in a drawn out legal pursuit because they know they are on the back foot.”

This is a theme I constantly hear from parks professionals, that developers are getting away with paying less 106 monies. 

It would seem that planning committees have lost their teeth and are not in a position to demand the real value for these development sites. 

I believe the true losers will be the local people who live in these newly developed areas. We have clearly seen how valuable public open spaces have been during the pandemic and how they have been instrumental to the health and wellbeing of our nation.

It is now time that local authorities put greater emphasis on raising appropriate funds to pay for the provision and maintenance of these valuable public open space assets. They also must make the developer pay a significant rate for the size, scale and value of the proposed housing development.