I often wonder why we love this job of being a turf professional, especially knowing that we are tasked with working in all weathers and often having to work weekends, evenings and bank holidays - and quite often Christmas Day, getting the pitches ready for Boxing Day matches.  

Spare a thought for the groundsmen, greenkeepers and gardeners who no doubt will be on call during this year’s festive season. While most of us are enjoying the delights of Christmas, many our colleagues will be working.

It goes without saying UK groundstaff are dedicated professionals who often put their job before family and friends, especially when tasked to get a game on during the festive period.  See the thoughts of one groundsman seen in this video. 

This time of the year brings with it many challenges, especially coping with the weather. Even with all the latest weather forecasting predictions we often do not know what we may be facing in terms of snow, frost and icy conditions.

Mark Hunt’s weather blog is well worth a read. He talks about the recent storms and gives the latest weather for forecasting leading up to Christmas.

 
Getting the game on is a skilled operation. Preparation and planning are essential to ensure we can legislate for a window of poor weather. For many of the top-flight or premiership sporting venues, they are now fully prepared with an array of tools and systems to ensure the game goes on.

Depending on the time of the fixture, a Premiership club would require staff to come in the day before the match (Christmas Day) to prep the stadium pitch and any specific training grounds pitches required by the club. Then on the day of the match (Boxing day) five or six staff would be required to prepare the pitch and be on match day duty and after the match stay on to clean the pitch up and then be back working the following day to get pitches ready for any additional training requirements. Truly a busy time for all professional football ground staff. 

Most topflight professional clubs now have a plethora of systems available such as under soil heating, grow lights, fans, irrigation systems, frost protection covers, sub air systems, inflatable tents and covers, to name but a few. These systems make the life of a turf professional much easier than in days gone by.

Having said that, there are several issues and time restraints on what can be used to get the game on. The availability of labour and resources will have significant part to play. Also, spare a thought for the clubs who may not have access to, or the money for, these systems. Perhaps having to rely on other means of getting the game on.
 
For the prevention of frost - until we had the more sophisticated systems such as grow lights, undersoil heating and tents - many groundsmen had to solely rely on the trusted frost sheets to help protect the pitch. Often quite a laborious task in the old days, now we have a number of companies who sell and provide frost sheets that are easier to handle and store. Stuart Canvas are an example of a company that have been supplying frost sheet covers for many years and have now developed a range of products that suit a range of needs.
 

However, despite products such as these being available, we still see some games being played on frozen and waterlogged pitches. In my opinion this does not help either the players or the pitch.
 

Whatever the sport, we need to be vigilant during these winter months as to whether the facility is fit for play. This even applies with the advent of the all-weather artificial pitches. They also need inspecting prior to use. Often sold as all-weather pitches, they themselves can be prone to damage from frost, snow and floods.

The recent bout of poor weather will have left many grounds saturated and in need of some attention.

Most pitch problems are caused when soils are saturated and compacted. When saturated, a soil is said to be at its maximum retentive capacity; that is, all soil pores are filled with water. Saturation usually occurs for short periods of time, either during heavy rainfall events or when soil is being irrigated.

However, the main contributing factor that reduces and damages pore spaces in soil is compaction caused by compression forces, normally associated with play and use of machinery, particularly during wet weather periods. Over time, these compression forces reduce the pore spaces so that air, water and nutrient flow through the soil profile is restricted, and leads to many problems associated with compaction.

The heavier the soil the longer it will take for the pitch to dry out; sandy soils are more free draining than heavy loam or clay soils and, therefore, will dry out more quickly.

Playing on saturated pitches will bring disastrous results. It is often better to postpone a fixture rather than ruin the playing surface for the rest of the season. Scrummage and line out play are the main causes of damage on rugby pitches during wet weather periods. The severity of the damage will be dependent upon the soil type and the ability of the top 100mm to drain quickly.

It is important that, once the game has finished, remedial work is carried out to repair divots and stand the grass back up. Care should be taken not to further damage the pitch by trying to get machinery on when it is wet and saturated. 

The GMA also give guidelines on dealing with saturated pitches here. 

To help grass roots sports clubs with potential funding to improve their facilities or buy essential machinery the GMA launched The Pitch Advisory Service, formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme, 

The aim of the Pitch Advisory Service is to raise the standards of sports surfaces as well as the understanding of sports turf management practices among grassroots sports clubs across England.

TurfPro have announced who was the lucky winner of our sign-up prize draw that we ran this autumn, including on our stand at SALTEX.

The winner is Eli Rothwell, gardener at M & M Garden Maintenance.

Eli said, "Thank you so much for your call! With Christmas just around the corner, and getting married in January, this is perfect timing. Thank you so very much!"

TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, added, "We are delighted to present Eli with his prize - and we were so pleased with the number of turf professonals who all chose to join our TurfPro community of regular readers."

You can sign-up to receive TurfPro every Monday for free, here.
 

In the fantastic new video below that encapsulates the highlights of our sister title's recent Service Dealer Conference & Awards, owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, explains how all the positivity that surrounded the day was amazing.

He says, "We've had some great feedback. Thank you so much to all our sponsors.

"We really hope to see you all here next year. It's an event not to be missed."

Watch the video below or via Service Dealer's YouTube channel.

James Bastian, managing director of Winchester-based groundcare company Wildwood Machinery, says that the appointment of new sales manager, Rob Hogarth signals the company’s ambition to expand in geographic coverage and client sectors in 2025.

James Bastian (right) pictured with new sales manager Rob Hogarth

James said, “Our deal with Infinicut, our new, purpose-built headquarters, and the appointment of Rob Hogarth give us the platform to build further business with professional sports clubs, local authorities, schools and heritage properties."

Rob Hogarth brings 25 years of experience working for golf clubs across the UK, including the prestigious Remedy Oak Golf Club in Dorset where he was responsible for the ‘grow-in’ of the new course.

Rob says his priorities at Wildwood will be to drive sales of groundcare equipment and after-sales service, and to build relationships with other suitable equipment manufacturers and clients.

“I’m very excited to be joining James and the team at Wildwood, and I’m looking forward to getting out to meet a lot of old faces and hopefully making a lot of new friendships,” says Rob. 

“Wildwood Machinery has rapidly established a positive reputation since launching in 2022, and there is so much potential to build the business further with the foundations that James and his team have put in place.”

SPARE A THOUGHT . . .

OUR INDUSTRY IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE

THE BEST YET

ALWAYS A JOY TO VISIT

FROST & SNOW MANAGEMENT

TIME TO COME TOGETHER

A GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY

ATTENDING TRADE SHOWS IS IMPORTANT

AUTUMN COLOUR ON SHOW

AUTUMN DISEASE PRESSURES

THE TRUE VALUE OF PARKS

PITCH SATURATION

INVEST TO SURVIVE

A POSITIVE GROUNDSFEST

AUTUMN LAWN RENOVATION TIPS

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?

BATTLE OF THE ROBOTS

HEDGE FUND

CONTROLLING WEEDS

LETTING THE GRASS GROW . . .

ENHANCING THE CAREERS OF TURF PROFESSIONALS

RISE OF THE ROBOTS

WE ALL KNOW IT'S SUMMER . .

DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS

FACILITIES MUST RECOGNISE & REWARD TURF PROFESSIONALS

AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR PROFESSION

IN-DEPTH WORK REQUIRED

A SAD DECLINE

WHAT MAKES A PERFECT LAWN?

WE MUST NOT BE THE CREATORS OF OUR OWN DOWNFALL

RENOVATIONS ON TOUR

A WORRYING TIME FOR PARKS

CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONDITIONS

STILL DELIVERING QUALITY GREEN SPACES

WATCH OUT!

THE VALUE OF SPRING RENOVATIONS

FULLY LOADED ARMOURY

THE VALUE OF TREES

WE MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

COUNCIL SERVICES IN DECLINE

INVESTING IN NATURAL GRASS PITCHES

WORRY OF WEATHER CLOSURES

BUSY & BUZZY BTME

A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS

COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGES

View all of 2023's blogs here

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View all of 2018's blogs here

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Examples from across the year

VINTAGE PUSH MOWER USE
Enthusiast maintains lawn the old fashioned way

SUSTAINABLE AMENITY MANAGEMENT
Principles and practises

PLACING URBAN GREEN SPACES AT THE HEART OF INFRASTRUCTURE
Midlands Parks Forum's annual conference

RAISING THE VOICE
At the Amenity Forum's annual conference

SUSTAINABLE PARKS
Parks For London case study

WHY GRASSROOTS RUGBY IS IN DECLINE
A steady drop off in participation.

SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Focus on a major supplier of grass seed and related products to the amenity sector

ON TEST
STIHL BGA 300 cordless leaf backpack blower

ON TEST
EGO Multi-tool

PUT THEM ON THE TOOLS!
Time for an attitude change

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRAINING SECTOR
Grasping the challenge of encouraging more sustainable practice

SUSTAINABILITY IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lessons learnt and experiences

SKILL SETS NEED RECOGNITION
Turf professionals are underappreciated

GREATER RESPECT FOR GROUNDS STAFF MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
To the recruitment crisis

A COMPETITIVE SALARY
Why employers should advertise the salary when recruiting new staff

ON TEST
Makita XGT UV001G lawn scarifier

AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN MACHINERY SUPPLY
Focus on Kubota

MY PERSONAL GREENKEEPING PHILOSOPHY HAS NEVER CHANGED
I don't follow any set program

SUSTAINABILITY IN LANDSCAPING
A substantial element of amenity activity

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO TO 'NO MOW MAY'?
Any real benefits?

SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR PARKS & PUBLIC GREEN SPACES
Meeting the challenge

THE PATH TO WIMBLEDON
For groundstaff member, Conrad Cavil

ON TEST
EGO LBP8000E backpack blower

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LAWN CARE SECTOR
A key consideration

BEEKEEPING IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
The current situation

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE AMENITY SUPPLY SECTOR
Optimising land use through integrated solutions

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GOLF SECTOR
Focus on BIGGA

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Bringing together key points

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GOLF
R&A are supporting clubs

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY POUND OF BUDGET
A course manager's view

A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
Who look after grassroots pitches

SUSTAINABILITY & THE UK ACTION PLAN
For weed, pest and disease management

CONCERN FOR PARKS FOLLOWING COUNCIL BANKRUPTCIES
What does the future hold?

TAKING A GLOBAL LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY
Is the rest of the world also driving towards sustainable practice?

RENOVATIONS, PLAY AND THANKS
On my mind this week

SUSTAINABILITY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION
Set to play a crucial role going forward

TULIP TREE
Liriodendron tulipifera

LYDIA BROOM
Genista lydia

THE LAWN AND ITS VALUE
Changing attitudes

GIANT HOGWEED
Invasive and potentially harmful

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS & SUSTAINABILITY
Considering every stage of the journey

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY
The most important nutrient

BERBERIS THUNBERGII
A shrub that has stood the test of time

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

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?