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EDITOR'S BLOG

SPRING INTO ACTION
Getting grass surfaces back on track
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

As the mowing season begins in earnest, now is the time to tackle moss, thatch and early growth, while setting the foundations for a consistent maintenance programme through the months ahead.

The recent spell of warm weather has initiated a flush of spring flowering bulbs with snow drops, crocus and daffodil coming into flower and providing a great display of colour in our parks and gardens.

We are also seeing a fabulous display of magnolias and camelias at this time of the year. This much needed warm weather has also encouraged the grass to start growing with many people wanting to start looking after their lawns and gardens.

Spring sees the beginning of the mowing season with people undertaking their first cut of the year.

March is also a good time to undertake lawn renovations with the aim of removing the thatch and moss that has accumulated during the winter months. This work usually involves the application of some lawn sand / iron sulphate that kills the moss, scarifying in several directions, top dressing with some sand and soil top dressing materials fertilising and overseeding.

With soil and air temperatures climbing into double figures, this will no doubt promote some growth, with the need to start your lawn mowing regimes. Hopefully you will have had your mowers serviced and sharpened for the new mowing season.

This nice weather will have also encouraged and initiated the need to go out into the garden and begin the process of tidying up.

As for the yearly maintenance of your lawn, it important you carry out the following practices.

Maintaining a decent lawn in the UK is mostly about consistency and working with the climate cool, wet, and sometimes very dry hot weather.

Mowing: frequency and height matter

Cut once a week in spring/summer, less in autumn, rarely in winter
Keep grass at between 3–6 cm (inch and half -two and half inches) for general use (shorter weakens it, longer gets patchy)
Follow the “one-third rule”: never remove more than ⅓ of the blade at once
Keep mower blades sharp—tearing grass invites disease

Feeding (fertilising)

Apply a spring/summer lawn feed (high nitrogen) around April–August
Switch to an autumn feed (higher potassium, lower nitrogen) around September–October

Watering

Usually rainfall is enough, but during dry spells:

Water deeply but infrequently (once or twice a week)
Early morning is best to reduce evaporation and disease

Weed and moss control

Moss is common due to damp/shade:

Use a moss killer in spring or autumn
Improve drainage and light (trim overhanging trees if possible)

For weeds:

Spot-treat with a selective lawn weedkiller or hand-remove
A thick, healthy lawn is your best defence

Aeration

Compacted, wet soil is common
Use a garden fork or aerator to punch holes:
Do this once a year (autumn ideally)
Helps drainage, root growth, and reduces moss

Scarifying (de-thatching)

Removes dead grass (thatch) that blocks water and nutrients
Do it once / twice a year in spring or autumn

Overseeding

After scarifying or if patches appear:

Spread grass seed and lightly rake in
Best done in April–May or September
Keep moist until established

Edging and general upkeep

Trim edges every few weeks—this alone makes a lawn look “well kept”
Remove leaves in autumn to prevent smothering

To greatly aid our turf professionals we are lucky to benefit from independent specialist outdoor powered machinery dealerships all across the UK that sell a wide range of tools – whilst also offering knowledgeable advice.

They will stock a plethora of battery powered mowers and hand tools to help us undertake the wide range of jobs to undertake at our facilities – and we are really spoilt for choice with vast range of manufacturers providing a staggering array of products for this market.

As discussed in my blog last week, the popularity of robotic mowers has snowballed in recent years, with most leading manufacturers now offering autonomous options - especially now they have progressed to being guided by GPS and not reliant on a perimeter wire. I have tried several myself and found them to be a game changer for the domestic market -and they are clearly gathering momentum as another tool in the arsenal of pro users.

Let’s hope this nice spring weather continues and encourages you to get out and do all the jobs that require attention at this time of the year.

And just a quick note to let you know that as next week it's Easter Monday, your next issue of TurfPro will be on April 13th.

NEWS

TGA ADVISING MEMBERS ON 'TEMPORARY COST ADJUSTMENT'
In response to 'external input cost pressures'

The TGA is recommending a 'temporary cost adjustment'

In our next WEB ONLY story the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) is advising its grower members to introduce a temporary “Energy & Production Cost Adjustment” in response to recent increases in key input costs.

PRO DEALER PARTNERS TO LIGHT UP BRIGHTON
LED light rigs at Premier League venue

Dealership has partnered with Dutch company Stogger Turf Care to install and maintain a state-of-the-art grow-light system.

Winchester-based Wildwood Machinery has partnered with Dutch company Stogger Turf Care to install and maintain a state-of-the-art grow-light system for Premier League football club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Managing director of Wildwood Machinery, James Bastian, said, “We’re delighted to be working with two major names in elite sport to install and maintain one of the biggest LED grow-light projects in the UK. A lot of Premiership and Championship football clubs, and other elite sports clubs will be watching this development with interest, especially with HPS lights likely to be outlawed from 2027 due to their inefficiency.”

James continued, “Wildwood Machinery worked closely with Stogger Turf Care on a lengthy pre-installation trial and due diligence. We’ll now provide a complete aftercare, backup and support service for the groundcare equipment, as per our exclusive UK partnership with Stogger Turf Care.”

The installation at Brighton & Hove Albion FC includes: 9 × Booster Carbon 460 units; 2 × Booster 60 units; 4 × Booster Carbon Compact units and 4 x turf fans covering 4,300 square metres of surface area, which makes this one of the three largest LED grow light projects in the UK.

Phil Fifield, head of sports turf stadia at Brighton FC, said, “We are committed to excellence in all of our operations, and of course the playing surface is a key part of that. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can achieve with Stogger Turf Care and Wildwood Machinery on our side.”

BOBCAT APPOINTS NEW NATIONAL IMPORTER
For ground maintenance equipment range in the UK

Bobcat have appointed a new national importer

Manufacturer says they are delighted to be working with such a well connected and respected company in the UK.

Bobcat has appointed E P Barrus Ltd, based in Bicester in Oxfordshire, as the new national importer for the company’s ground maintenance equipment (GME) range in the UK.

Ewen Gilchrist, channel development manager UK & Nordics at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said, “We are delighted to be working with such a well connected and respected company like Barrus as National Importer for the GME range in the UK. Barrus will take over as the UK National Importer on 1st July 2026. As well as developing the UK market, Barrus will support Bobcat in achieving our aim of being within the top-three GME manufacturers in Europe.”

Will Timmis, head of outdoor at Barrus, who has been leading the project behind the Bobcat GME appointment, said, “We are very proud to be representing such a successful quality brand like Bobcat. This is a key development for Barrus, allowing us to continue to expand our product range beyond the domestic market where most of our products are, to targeting the commercial sector with the Bobcat range. The GME products are an excellent complement for our recently relaunched UTV and ATV products.

“We will be opening a new channel of dealers for the Bobcat GME range, specialising in commercial groundscare and agriculture."

Will continued, "This increased breadth of our offering will serve to expand the Barrus business. In the first year, we would be aiming to appoint 8-12 new dealers across the UK and recent moves in the market will help us with this. Over a three year period, I would expect us to engage 35-45 new dealers for the Bobcat GME range.”

DRIVING THE FUTURE OF GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
Three emerging leaders

The GMA NextGen group has welcomed three new members

Three new members have joined the GMA NextGen group to act as ambassadors for the industry.

The Grounds Management Association's (GMA) NextGen group has welcomed three new members: James Williamson, Sonny Keywood and Calum Clarkson.

The group brings together young professionals who act as ambassadors for the industry. Their mission is to inspire and support more young people into careers in grounds management, helping to secure a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future.

James Williamson, club development partner at Cricket Wales, has been a passionate sports person from a young age. Growing up in Cornwall, he supported sports development through a variety of coaching roles before moving to Cardiff in 2019 to study Sport and Exercise Science (BSc). After graduating, he chose to stay in Wales and turn his passion for sport into a full-time career. James now helps Cricket Wales create welcoming, sustainable cricket facilities across the country. James is particularly motivated to help young people discover the wide range of opportunities within the sector.

Sonny Keywood, groundsperson at Brighton & Hove Albion FC, has always loved sport and spending time outdoors, making grounds management a perfect career. Sonny first learned about the industry through his dad, realising early on that it offered far more variety and opportunity than he had imagined. He enjoys the fast pace of his role and the day-to-day challenges that come with maintaining elite playing surfaces. He sees NextGen as a platform to raise the profile of the profession and help young people see grounds management as a respected and rewarding career choice.

Calum Clarkson, groundsperson at George Heriot’s School, takes great pride in preparing top-quality cricket pitches and sports surfaces. Alongside his work maintaining the grounds at George Heriot’s School, he is head groundsman at Royal High Corstorphine Cricket Club. Growing up in sport, he understands how much high-quality surfaces matter for safety, performance and player experience. Having once been unaware of the career routes available in turf care, he is now committed to championing the profession and inspiring future talent.

Jack Langley, Co Chair of the GMA NextGen group, said: "James, Sonny and Calum bring real energy and industry insight to the existing group. Each of them has a brilliant story about how they found their way into grounds management, and they share a willingness to supporting young people entering the profession. We’re excited to have them on board and to see the impact they’ll make."

AFC BOURNEMOUTH PICK FLEET
For newly opened training complex

The machinery choices by head of grounds Ian Lucas have been made on how to cut more efficiently according to European regulations and meet Premier League standards.

As the first team moves into AFC Bournemouth’s new training complex at Canford Magna, a new fleet of Toro machinery has also arrived to look after the first four pitches to be built.

Ian Lucas, head of grounds at AFC Bournemouth, right, with Reesink’s Mark Winder

Head of grounds, Ian Lucas, says the machinery choices have been strategically regarding how to cut more efficiently according to European regulations and meet the Premier League standards in place for all pitches.

Ian explains, “The products we chose come with adjustments to match the width of cut to the pitches exactly. The Toro Reelmaster 3100 with SideWinder, which is usually a mower favoured by golf clubs for cutting around bunkers and obstacles, allows us to mow as efficiently as possible with no overlap.”

Also assisting Ian and his team of 11 looking after the 57-acre training grounds are the manufacturer's Workman HDX utility vehicles with cabs and a Reelmaster 3550 for its light footprint and turf-friendly tyres.

This will be followed up with another machinery order in the new year as the next four pitches for the £36 million Performance Centre open. Ian comments: “We’re ready for that. I’ve already chosen the Toro machines I want and submitted the lists. I’ve been using Toro for around 15 years, so I know how good it is, especially with the back-up and support of Reesink, our local dealer D J Scott and our mobile mechanic Lee Read.”

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