The Landscaper Magazine | July/August 2022

AS TIMBER EXPERTS WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SINGLE SOURCE SOLUTION FOR ALL YOUR CLADDING NEEDS

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Maintaining green environments for residents, visitors or customers is crucial to any facility. Achieve the very best turf appearance and quality with Husqvarna CEORA™. Our cutting system with razor blades and a systematic cutting pattern delivers impressive turf quality, for exceptional first impressions. Visit husqvarna.com or scan the QR code to find out more.

SCAN ME

Sustainable soils,

British Standard Topsoil

Light in texture with good water holding capacity. Ideal for environmentally conscious landscaping and construction projects.

British Standard Subsoil

A high quality, clean and consistent soil with full traceability. Ideal for general infill, raising levels and creating landscape contours.

Roof Garden Substrate

Intensive and Extensive options ensuring healthy plant establishment for rooftop or containerised planting projects.

Amenity Tree Soil

Load bearing, fertile planting medium. Enables tree root infrastructure to develop under hard urban landscapes.

ArborRaft Soil

Works as a rootzone with the ArborRaft Tree Planting System.

Bespoke Mixes

Rootzones, low fertility soils, subsoil, sports soils and structural soils.

Turfs

A comprehensive range including Wildflower Turf, which provides an instant wildflower meadow.

Those working across the landscaping and turf

– as rainfall frequency increases in the UK, now is the time to find practical drainage solutions.

We also celebrate with Makita this issue in an interview with OPE Contracts Manager Mark Earles, as the power tool manufacturer embarks its 50th year of trading in the UK.

Finally, look out for our stories from turf and grounds teams on how they are maintaining the perfect pitch and turf with recommendations of their favourite tools and products.

maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk

Next issue copy deadline: August 17th 2022 landscaper@sheengate.co.uk

DEMAND QUALITY, WHY COMPROMISE.

“The SXG326+ did more than we hoped for, it cuts and collects our parks at a low height of cut, then tackles the road verges and clears the wildflower meadows leaving the same finish. They really do cut and collect even in the wet with no blockages. It is very reliable and we have had no issues with it, I would recommend ISEKI to anyone and have done to local businesses already.“

Paul Isom, Parks & Premises Manager, Chesham Town Council Contact your Local Dealer to book a demonstration on your site today!

www.iseki.co.uk

Editor Maggie Walsh | 07787 555 798 | maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk

Contributors

Paula Warman | Greg Rhodes

Sales agency

Mark Toland | 0204 539 3008 | mark@bourne-media.co.uk

Design and production

Lucas-studio.co.uk

Circulation and subscriptions

Maggie Walsh | maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk

The Landscaper is owned and published by Sheengate Publishing Ltd. The Landscaper is an entirely independent magazine. It is not a member of any trade association or society.

Sheengate Publishing Ltd

Unit A4, Kingsway Business Park Oldfield Road, Hampton TW12 2HD 0208 939 5600

www.sheengate.co.uk

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Managing director

Alex Whitney

Publisher Con Crowley

Nothing in this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. Readers intending to purchase goods or services from advertisers should make their own enquiries if in any doubt. Every endeavour has been made to ensure that all the information published in this magazine is as accurate as possible. Neither the publishers nor their agents can be held responsible for any errors or omissions; nor shall they be liable for any loss or damage to any person acting on the information contained in the magazine. Copyright © 2022

News

Meeting current challenges in hardscaping

Garden Design.......................................................

Landscaper's Circle

Rain Gardens

Meet Mark Earles, OPE and Contracts Manager, Makita UK

Seeds & Fertiliser...................................................

Mowers

Groundscare & Turf

Cover Story: SYMPHONY® Elements Corten replicates destroyed metals, offering the perfect industrial look to any domestic landscape. The porcelain paving range offers easeof-installation, a beautiful, finished aesthetic and a longlasting solution for customers. The Elements Corten range harnesses a rugged textured design and blends of lustrous colour, with lots of tonal variation within each colour option. Marshalls.co.uk

The AERA-Vator. Tackle more with your tractor.

This versatile and cost-effective UA60, a tractor-mounted aerator, delivers healthy turf all-year-round. With its unique universal frame system, shafts can be added to get more done, including a Multi-Tine, Multi-Slicer, Multi-Spike and a non-PTO Coring shaft. Simply add more and do more. reesinkturfcare.co.uk

New appointments for Headland Amenity

Headland Amenity has welcomed two new technical managers – Laurence McCrory and Jack Hawkes. Now part of Origin Amenity Solutions, Headland's latest appointments will help with the growth and development of the brand. Laurence and Jack will be responsible for delivering Headland’s scientific advice and guidance on product selection, Laurence to customers in the South of England and Jack to Sports Turf Managers in the South and Central regions.

Laurence has worked in turf care for 26 years, holding various positions at a number of golf courses including his most recent role as Course Manager at Castle Royle Golf Club in Reading. Having used Headland products throughout his career, Laurence relished the opportunity to combine his knowledge and passion for the industry with a change of direction in his career with this new role ¬– and is now on hand to offer additional support to customers from the Bedfordshire area and below.

“I had fantastic first-hand support from Headland throughout my career and it is a brilliant opportunity to now use this confidence and knowledge of their product range to advise and plan programmes for others working in greenkeeping,” he says.

Likewise Jack was also a user of Headland products during his time at Leamington and County Golf Club. He joins in the role of Regional Technical Manager for Sports

Turf and will support customers from football, rugby, cricket, educational facilities and private estates.

“In the short time I have been at Headland I have broadened my knowledge and have enjoyed working with customers to understand their unique needs and expectations, whether that’s a Premier League football club or local village sports facility!” says Jack. “With Headland now a member of Origin Amenity Solutions, it’s an exciting project to be a part of, with an industry-leading range of tools and opportunities at our disposal to help our customers in achieving their goals.”

Will Armitage joins HTA

Will Armitage, founder of Mulch, a boutique brand for garden gloves and tools, has been appointed as a nonexecutive director at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA).

He will join the HTA board to provide a strategic oversight and input to the HTA’s mission and vision of helping its members to flourish.

A well-respected figure in the horticulture industry, Will graduated from Sparsholt College in 1996 after studying game and wildlife habitat management. He started his career at The Barton Grange Group at Woodford Garden Centre before joining Armitage and Sons (Seeds) where he eventually became joint managing director, a role which included a fundamental

re-organisation of the business’s garden centres. Will has previously contributed to the leadership of industry associations, notably chairing the Garden Centre Association from 2014 to 2016

After selling Armitage’s in 2015, Will went on to advise investment companies in specialist retail acquisitions, opportunities, and disposal as well as helping and consulting with organisations to develop and improve their businesses.

“I am looking forward to bringing my experience from both the private sector and wider industry to support the HTA board and its members during a hugely exciting period for the sector. It’s an exciting time of change for the industry that holds many opportunities for the association and its members,” says Will.

Of the appointment President of the HTA Boyd Douglas-Davies says: “Wills valuable experience in both retail and the horticulture sector will provide an important perspective for the HTA Board, while also improving its offering for members during this important time for the industry.”

Jack Hawkes

Laurence McCrory

Isuzu ramps up its UK truck operation

With Isuzu Truck UK (ITUK) now in a strong position after celebrating its 25th consecutive year in the UK, the truck manufacturer is embarking on a planned programme of expansion based on developing a significant increase in sales levels for the Isuzu brand in the UK during 2022.

ITUK’s managing director, Pete Murphy explains: “Following the conclusion of Brexit at the end of 2020, the supply of our product has become a much more streamlined process with the added benefit of the removal of previous volume restrictions. Our vehicles now come fully assembled direct from Isuzu Motors in Japan which will enable us to quickly expand new truck sales within those sectors in which we have built a strong reputation over the last 25 years.”

Throughout 2022, Isuzu Truck UK is forecasting a doubling of the unit sales achieved during 2021, which was previously the best year ever achieved in the company’s UK history. Their UK dealer network is now prepared to handle the industry’s changing operational and legislative requirements.

“ITUK benefit greatly from being a part of a giant global parent company but, at the same time, we are allowed a significant amount of autonomy which enables us to control our own destiny. We are able to make decisions

which positively impact directly on the UK market, with the full support of our colleagues in Japan, and can quickly implement those plans and strategies to the benefit of our customers. As a business, we feel this this allows us to move more nimbly and efficiently than some other companies in our industry,” adds Pete.

Part of the recent changes at ITUK’s head office has seen the recent appointment of Stuart Beeton as head of sales, product and marketing. He joined the company having spent all of his career in the commercial vehicle industry at manufacturer and dealer level. He will develop the sales operation at both fleet and dealer levels, together with the introduction of enhanced product development programmes, working with both Isuzu Motors and bodybuilder partners.

“I have joined the business at an exciting time, as the company looks to evolve and grow its UK operation, implementing incremental changes to add to the success of the company over the last 25 years,” says Stuart. “By expanding the sectors that we traditionally compete within successfully, whilst also targeting new markets, and continuing to perform with industry-leading levels of customer service, ITUK is certainly set for achieving its truck parc growth expectations for 2022 and beyond.”

Left to right: Pete Murphy and Stuart Beeton

REESINK rebrands irrigation division

Award-winning distributor Reesink UK has rebranded its established irrigation division to reflect increasing market diversity and provide water solutions for all locations.

Reesink Hydro-Scapes encapsulates the long established and industry-leading Toro irrigation systems, controllers, sprinklers and soil sensors. But better represents the growing Otterbine pond and lake aerator business; SRC wall-mounted controllers; Biral lightning detectors and quick-replace Franklin pump systems too.

The move represents the company’s support to its existing brands and growth strategy for the future says Robert Jackson who heads up the division: “In recent years the range and breadth of water solutions we offer our customers has expanded exponentially and there’s a focus to grow that even further.

“Our customers encompass golf courses to insect farms, football stadiums to living walls and urban landscapes to fishing lakes and fruit growers – any venue which would benefit from water control, delivery, management and expertise. We’ve built our team to six to encompass sales and

marketing, support and backup, technical training and customer relations – all with a specialism in supplying and installing effective and efficient water-based solutions.”

Reesink Hydro-Scapes joins the Reesink UK portfolio which includes Reesink Turfcare, Reesink Agriculture and Reesink e-Vehicles. Diversification into new markets with new divisions is a strategy that allows Reesink to positively respond to market developments. As in the case of electric power, sustainable water solutions are a hot topic, very much evident in Reesink’s 100 percent increase in Otterbine sales in 2021, witnessing far greater demand than had been expected, for example.

Robert continues: “Water is a fundamental part of the matrix in the business we’re all in – caring for the landscape – and as a commodity, its value and importance cannot be overlooked. We’re well aware of the future challenges in managing this precious resource in a sustainable way and providing options for our customers. That has been as much of a driver in launching this new division as anything else.”

Award-winning distributor Reesink UK has rebranded its established Irrigation division to reflect increasing market diversity and provide water solutions for all locations.

Garden fair in the Netherlands

The garden plant fair, Plantarium|Groen-Direkt in the Netherlands is set to open its gates on the 24 -24 August, 2022. Aimed at garden-centre representatives, retailers and those working in the landscaping industries the event it will take place at the International Trade Centre in Boskoop. Aiming to be the largest professional garden plant event in Europe it will feature than 200 plant suppliers.

The fair organisers urge visitors to pre-register as early as possible as it is already becoming apparent that the fair is going to be extremely busy.

More details at plantariumgroendirekt.nl

Exhibitors signing up for SALTEX 2022

Still riding high from the success of the 75th SALTEX show last year, which led the way for the industry back into live events, the organisers report that the number of exhibitors booked for 2022 has already surpassed that of 2021. Sarah Cunningham, director of commercial and events at the Grounds Management Association, SALTEX event organisers, says: “Visitors will be in for a treat at SALTEX this year. We have a bigger and better floorplan designed for the 2022 show.

“With 140 companies confirmed and with many active conversations with new companies ongoing, we can guarantee that number will only increase.”

Big brand names already on board from 2021 include Dennis, ISEKI, Origin Amenity, Redexim, Reesink UK with Toro and Sisis. And coming back to join them after a break away are Barrus, Gianni Ferrari, Ransomes, STIHL and STM.

Rob Edwards, marketing manager – tractor business unit at Kubota, another returning exhibitor, says: "It’s essential for Kubota to promote its products to customers and the turf management marketplace and we choose to use SALTEX, as the premier UK event for the turf sector, to do this. We feel that there is a distinct appetite from the marketplace to meet with industry professionals and suppliers and SALTEX is the best event for that. The combination of the exhibition, alongside the training,

learning and expert advice opportunities means that SALTEX is the ‘must do’ event for the turf professional and we look forward to attending it in November."

Sarah continues: “If companies are serious about reaching new and potential customers then SALTEX is a must for the calendar. The feedback from last year’s exhibitors covered how the show provided the platform for meeting high quality business leads from strong visitor numbers as well as giving the opportunity for networking and entertaining with existing customers.”

Taking place at Birmingham’s NEC over two days, 2-3 November, 2022, SALTEX is Europe’s largest free to attend sports amenities and landscaping trade exhibition, catering for all sectors of the grounds care industry. It showcases the sector’s latest innovations and technologies, features an education programme with CPDaccredited seminars, and hosts expert speakers providing insights and solutions to current sector-wide issues. It also provides a great opportunity to network with industry colleagues and build new business relationships.

To discuss the option of buying stand space at the 2022 show, email Sarah at scunningham@thegma.org.uk For visitors keen to register their interest, check online at gmasaltex.co.uk in mid-June.

EP Barrus MD to retire

The Board of E P Barrus Ltd has announced that in December 2023, Mr Robert Muir will retire after 32 years with the company – the past 11 as its managing director.

Robert joined Barrus in 1990 from Ransomes Consumer Ltd, where he was managing director. He has contributed enormously to the growth and success of Barrus during his time, firstly as finance director, then as sales director and managing director. As well as being a popular leader of the company, he is hugely respected by both Barrus’ suppliers and customers.

Robert was instrumental in taking Barrus into the garden tools market, first with Wolf-Garten, then Wilkinson

Sword and Town & Country. More recently he has been leading the drive on electrification within the markets that Barrus operates in, not least with the design and building of a hydrogen fuel cell powered inland waterways vessel.

Odgers Berndtson has been appointed to lead the search to identify Robert’s successor.

“It is hard to know where to start to thank Robert for his dedication to Barrus and his friendship to me and my family. There have been some interesting times over the last 32 years and Robert’s unwavering commitment has served us very well,” says Robert Glen, owner of Barrus.

“I have known and worked with Robert for over three decades. He is a tremendous leader and on a personal level, adviser, so I am thrilled that we will retain his wise counsel and expertise as he has agreed to remain on the board of the company as a non-executive director,”adds Tara Glen, Barrus chairman.

Scotland’s largest landscaping display launched by former Prime Minister

A Scottish building materials supplier celebrated its continuous success with the opening of one of the country’s largest hard landscaping display by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Cartmore Building Supply Co Ltd (Cartmore), a company in the Purvis Group – the largest local employer in Fife –opened the new 1,000 square-metre area in Lochgelly with the former Prime Minister’s help. The event showcased Cartmore’s latest expansion, which has been fuelled by the company’s Partner status within the National Buying Group (NBG) – a UK-wide buying group for independent builders’ merchants.

Gordon Banks, director and co-founder of Cartmore, explains: “Having a display like this is fundamental for any landscaping business, and after we moved to new premises in May 2021, we wanted to ensure ours was state-of-the-art. We are very proud to now own one of the biggest such displays in Scotland and were very honoured that Gordon was able to officially declare it open for business.

“Our continued upwards trajectory would not have been possible without our involvement with NBG. Being an NBG Partner is a crucial part of our business model, as it allows us to compete at the top table with nationals when it comes to pricing. This is why we are the group’s longest continually serving member in Scotland and we look forward to our future in collaboration with NBG.”

“Landscaping is highly visual by its very nature, so being able to demonstrate how a project will look when it is

finished is extremely important,” says Gordon Banks. “As such, we anticipate the fact contractors now have a highly effective and accessible tool here at Lochgelly that will lead to more work in the area. We are proud to be able to drive local business in this way, and this would not have been possible without our total commitment to NBG.”

“The NBG is proud to have counted Cartmore as a Partner for so many years, and to have witnessed its continued success,” adds Nick Oates, Managing Director at National Buying Group. “They stand as a great testament to what is possible for businesses working within the buying group model, and we look forward to seeing the further growth they will experience having opened this new and impressive landscaping display.”

GMA announce judges for 2022 industry awards

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has announced the names of this year’s judging panel for the 2022 GMA industry awards.

The judges represent a variety of sectors operating in the grounds care industry, and together, will collectively select a winner for each of the 19 award categories. The panel includes: Adrian Kay, Head Groundsman at York Racecourse; Anthony Facey, Area Sales Manager at Tuckwell Group; Cheryl Hill, Groundswoman at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club; David Roberts, Director at Training Unlimited; Derek Walder, Operations Manager at Saltex; Jackie Evans, Head of Grounds at Wellington College; John Wright, Head of Grounds at Southampton Football Club; Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager at Eton College; Lee Metcalfe, Senior Grounds Manager at Manchester City Football Club; Nasa Hussain, Head Groundsman and Facilities Manager at Bradford Park Avenue; Neil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club; stuart Kerrison, Head Groundsman at Essex County Cricket Club

Grounds Management Association CEO, Geoff Webb says: “We are grateful to all of our judges for giving their time to help us recognise the achievements of individuals and teams who are making a real difference in communities, clubs and educational settings across the regions. The GMA Awards are uniquely determined by fellow grounds staff and people who have wide and diverse experience, making the GMA Industry Awards a truly authentic and peer-to-peer-led event.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors, Origin Amenity

Solutions, Kubota UK, Redexim, Infinicut, AMS Robotics and SGL, whose support is what makes events like this possible.

“We’re really looking forward to the GMA Awards making its post-pandemic return after two challenging years and we’re delighted to see the nomination entries continuing to flow in.”

Full details of the award categories and how to nominate is listed on the GMA website. Nominations must be submitted before 17.00 on Friday 29 July 2022.

The GMA Industry Awards dinner is taking place at The Vox, NEC Birmingham, on the Wednesday 2 November in the evening of the first day of SALTEX.

To purchase tickets email vnewton@thegma.org.uk To discuss sponsorship packages email scunningham@thegma.org.uk.

Gearing up for LANDSCAPE Show 2022

LANDSCAPE - the UK’s premier landscaping exhibition, looks to showcase the industry more than ever before by bringing more exhibitors, more visitors and even more features to Hall 3 at the NEC - National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 28th and 29th September 2022.

Welcoming over 250 exhibitors with a vast collection of industry-leading products, services and innovations for the design, build and management of exterior and interior landscaping projects,

The exhibitor list continues to go from strength to strength, year on year, and research has suggested that 86% of visitors are likely to recommend and use an exhibitor for a future

project. really do mean it!

This year alongside the highly anticipated CPD accredited seminar programme, LANDSCAPE will be introducing some brand-new features including a Student Showcase by London College of Garden Design, and an additional programme of ‘How to’ seminars for anyone in the industry to learn, be inspired and expand their skills.

Back again at the central bar area will be the popular PechaKucha 20x20 and Meet the Designer programme. LANDSCAPE’s Women in the Industry Day was so well received in 2021 that it’s back with an additional networking morning running in conjunction with #Yes She Can. Also back this year is the highly anticipated design competition, which will be focused on wildlife friendly designs and supported by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.

Both the exhibition and all seminar sessions are free to attend. For more information or to register to attend the show, simply visit the registration page online at www.LandscapeShow.co.uk.

THE LARGEST LANDSCAPING AWARDS IN EUROPE

These prestigious Awards are held annually in December, with over 1,000 guests in attendance.

Celebrating the hard work, quality and success of Accredited members.

Visit baliawards.co.uk to review the categories open for entry, ticket availability and sponsorship opportunities.

For general enquiries, contact Emily Feeney via telephone at +44(0)24 7518 5613 or via email at emily.feeney@bali.org.uk

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane McCulloch via telephone at +44(0)24 7518 5614 or via email at diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk

Green tree

Weedingtech launch Foamstream rental service

Weedingtech, developers of the world-leading herbicidefree weed control product Foamstream, have announced the launch of a brand-new rental service – available to customers across the UK. The introduction of the new hire programme provides the opportunity for people to quickly and easily discover the environmentally-friendly Foamstream solution for complete weed and moss control, eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process.

Since its launch in 2011, Foamstream has redefined nonherbicidal vegetation control. Its patented low-pressure process combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, which acts as an ‘insulation blanket’ to retain the heat and keep the water in the ‘kill zone’ for longer. In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that haven’t yet germinated, providing a longlasting solution that is safe to use around people, animals and sensitive environments including water courses.

Effective and easy to apply, Foamstream is delivered through one of Weedingtech’s industry-leading machines. The range is mountable on an array of vehicles and UTV’s and encapsulates different power options to deliver the perfect combination to meet the requirements of clients in all areas of grounds and green space management.

The new rental package includes 100L of the organicallycertified foam, the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support. Discounts are available for long-term hire of more than six months, with an additional option to purchase the equipment if desired, where 80% of the rental value is returned.

In addition to weed control, the Foamstream machines can deliver additional value when used for other outdoor cleaning tasks such as gum removal, power washing and sanitisation.

No stone unturned

Landscapers have plenty to think about currently - what with ever more demanding clients searching out sustainable products and the run on materials supply.

The Landscaper wanted to discover how a major materials manufacturer and supplier was responding to sector challenges amid a perfect storm of rampant inflation, product shortfalls and longer lead-in times.

“We have invested heavily in increasing our capacity to meet demand over the past 18 months,” reports Nick Sharpe, managing director of Marshalls Domestic Landscape Products, “and are responding to the challenges of the sector and raw materials issues.”

Marshalls is further future-proofing the business by bringing on stream a dual block plant in Cambridgeshire –the first in the UK – that will add capacity and new product technology in the hard landscaping industry from the end of this year.

Materials sourcing is not all sweetness and light however, Nick concedes. “Cement, aggregates and sand currently present the biggest challenge for the industry,” he says, “primarily due to rising energy prices but also restricted by haulage capacity.

“Our strategy is to work with all the major suppliers to ensure supply resilience for any short-term volume issues.”

On aggregates specifically, HS2 and other major infrastructure projects are absorbing significant volumes suggests Nick and adds, “we’re benefitting from having multiple qualified sources for every material we purchase for every site to mitigate any issues.”

Returning to the challenges of the delivery of materials Nick says: “Whilst haulage capacity has improved significantly in the last three months, we’ve made permanent changes to how we manage this both internally and with external suppliers to ensure availability.”

Nick Sharpe of Marshalls, suppliers of garden paving and driveway solutions, speaks to Greg Rhodes on how the company has been busy responding to customer demand while future-proofing itself to meet turbulent times

Nick Sharpe

Scoutmoor Yorkstone

Those moves include growing its own fleet. “The majority of our landscape product deliveries are now carried out using our own vehicles,” Nick confirms.

Supply shortages and longer lead-in times can impact landscapers large and small. Covid was a kick in the teeth for many businesses and its impact is proving painfully slow to dissipate for some as other global factors come into play.

“Clearly the last few years have been a challenge,” says Nick, “particularly the earlier months of the pandemic when demand soared and supply issues first occurred.

“We understand that supply shortages and longer lead times do put pressure on landscapers and we’ve refined our processes and made many changes within the business to help with this. I think on the whole the sector understands the wider issues and the reasons behind shortages.”

Amid supply uncertainties however, fresh trends are emerging, Nick explains. “Porcelain paving has been growing in popularity over the last few years and is showing no signs of stopping.

"That rise is being driven in part by the demand for low maintenance gardens as it is a much easier material to keep clean.” And more than ever before, indoor trends are reflecting on outdoor spaces.

“We’re seeing more demand for grey paving to complement grey interiors, and people are choosing porcelain as it is available in a range of trend-led finishes too.

“People seeking modern, stylish spaces are choosing to use products such as patterned porcelain as accents, step rises and edging, to give their gardens a unique and Mediterranean feel.”

Furthermore, interest is mounting in clients checking the sustainability credentials of landscape products. “This has

potential to move choices to those more locally produced and from manufacturers that can demonstrate their ‘green credentials’,” says Nick.

Responding to supply difficulties, Nick points out that Marshalls has made significant strategic changes over the last year to maintain supply and manage expectation.

“For our manufactured products we’ve increased capacity in a number of sites. The dual block plant will have a huge impact on capacity for key product lines. For imported stock, we’ve been able to leverage our strong supplier relationships, but without compromising on quality or our sourcing ethics.”

Behind the scenes improvements have brought the advances, Nick adds, “from communications with customers on lead times and availability, to increasing resource in customer services teams, to ensure customers can speak to the right person easily.

“To further help customers, we also introduced a new system, which we call ATP, that gives a reliable lead time or delivery time so they can accurately plan work, as well as a delivery tracker to help on the day of delivery."

Will supply difficulties force permanent change in the landscaping marketplace and if so how will that change be manifested? Nick has positive news here too. “In the landscaping sector, demand is now more in the lines of ‘normal’ levels which, along with extra capacity, has helped to significantly improve availability.

“We have seen customers use our improved systems to check stock and deliveries and we expect this to continue; we all benefit from working together to forecast better.

“Recognising how the market and demand has changed, customers are increasingly planning further ahead for their projects to ensure that materials are on site when they need them to avoid any downtime.”

All images credit: Marshalls

Lazaro Marble coping stones

Garden inspiration

Architecturally varied foliage, a meditation space and a bubbling Jacuzzi® Swim Spa, Kate Gould’s Gold Medal ‘Out of the Shadows’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 multi-layered garden packed a powerful punch when it came to demonstrating what small gardens can deliver.

Here are some ideas to take from the medal winner

1. Planning a garden

Kate’s finished garden at Chelsea Flower Show mirrored her original CAD design; it was as if she had painted her carefully thought-out layout using plants. Kate is a stickler for meticulous planning and sticking to that plan.

“Everything must work extra hard as there is often nowhere to hide,” she says. “Think about what the ‘mood’ is you are trying to achieve –contemporary, contemplative, traditional, whatever. Perhaps you are happy with a mixture of all, but stick to the discipline of your ideas, rather than throwing all and sundry at it.”

A mood board of plants and materials will help you to decide what sort of thing you are looking for and create an overall coherence, adds Kate. If you are going for a

contemporary feel, when it comes to plant varieties, “less can very much be more: less maintenance; more impact and drama.”

Before planting, consider how to make the most of the space. If it's for entertaining outside, incorporate seating into the hard landscaping – a low wall can double as a bench. Large containers can create raised beds if in a courtyard or basement setting that might not have access to the soil. This also allows the planting to be raised, so that when walking past, it feels like one is within the garden, rather than just looking out over it.

Think about what parts of a garden need to be screened out and what to highlight – while an essential part of her sanctuary garden, Kate chose to place the swim spa in an

area surrounded by abundant planting. Not only does it make a calming space to be, it ensures that the structure does not dominate the garden.

And if there is an ugly view to hide, don’t necessarily resort to a solid screen. Often layers of soft foliage and branches, as in the narrow leaves of the Schinus molle and bamboo in Kate’s garden, will filter out an eyesore. If money is spent on big dramatic feature plants make sure they are placed somewhere to which the eye is drawn, so they can perform with aplomb. Don’t be daunted by what might seem a tight spot but think big: “You will be amazed by how much you can fit into a small space with careful planning,” says Kate.

2. Go for green

Kate’s ‘Out of the Shadows’ garden was primarily evergreen, referencing how people want to use and enjoy their gardens 365 days a year. Among the evergreens chosen were palms, trochodendron, cycads and raphiolepis and pittosporum, which created a wonderfully lush environment. “These plants not only look majestic,” says Kate, “but also look wonderful when lit at night, giving the garden a whole new feel as the light levels drop to dusk.”

Evergreen schemes can provide form, structure and vitality and as they don’t drop their leaves in autumn,

they have a great advantage, points out Kate. “Generally evergreen plants are less messy than deciduous ones –with the exception of bamboo.”

At Chelsea, Kate chose plants with strong architectural outlines, such as silvery cardoons, angelica and the dissected leaves of Acer palmatum (which will also provide fiery autumn colour). Research has shown that not only does the greenery act as a natural screen, but will offer a home to wildlife and help soak up noise and pollution.

3. Think multilevel

Don’t forget that the space above the ground is there to be filled, whether with tall trees such as birch, which cast a dappled shade without too much bulk, or structures such as a pergola which can be as attractive as they are useful, in contemporary materials such as powder-coated metal that can be sprayed in various colours. And walls and fences can be a feature in themselves, as part of the overall scheme, as well as providing a dramatic backdrop to the planting.

If after privacy, beware not to increase the height of the walls too much, suggests Kate, especially if creating a garden in a basement. “Standing in the garden will make you feel like you are in the bottom of a bunker,” says Kate.

Filter things out with foliage instead, or by using tricks such as a latticed wall: light will still get through but it would be hard for nosy neighbours to peep through from a distance.

A small garden can be made to appear much lusher and larger by not only using plants of different shapes and sizes, but by building in different zones at many levels. Kate has used terracing and large corten containers to create several plains of planting. On a less ambitious scale, an arrangement of pots in the same material but in different sizes, with an array of foliage and flowers, can create a dramatic screen against the neighbours.

4. Lights and furniture

Garden lights can be as attractive as they are utilitarian. At Kate’s Chelsea garden, delicate spiked globe lights, which are widely available, acted like glow-worms among the foliage, even in daylight. The larger spheres, hand-shaped by Catellani and Smith, served as sculpture highlights in the day, coming into their own at night when they lit up the garden with their soft, romantic light and highlighted the dramatic foliage of the trees above them.

White plants also help keep a garden alight as the day begins to fade. This is neatly demonstrated by Kate’s pristine arum lilies and towering spires of Eremurus himalaicus that were planted in her sanctuary garden, glowing like wands in the dusky light. Scent that linger on the night air is also key, such as the Lilium ‘Snowy Morning’ also included in Kate’s garden.

For furniture choose with care. It can be bring its own beauty to a garden, whether in weathered hardwood or, as in Kate’s garden, seats and a fire pit in a coppery finish, made by Torc Pots to entice the user out in the evenings,

however chilly. Although simple and contemporary, their soft organic curves reflected the informally shaped and placed pavers along the gravel paths that wound around the garden. Kate advises: “Taking your time to select pots, furniture and art will allow you to really evaluate what you want, need and like. It may also allow you to make your purchases at the most economical time of year.”

5. Seamlessly integrate water features

One of the most dramatic and talked about features in Kate’s Chelsea garden was a swim spa but she demonstrated that such large inclusions need not dominate the space – it was discreetly hidden beneath decking and clad in coloured metallic discs. This all

married in with the Corten steel planters, the brick walls and the coppery tones of the seating and fire pit. Meanwhile, grey gravel and Schellevis concrete paving picked up on the elegant steel of the pergola above, while a restrained planting palette of white, silver, pale blue and rusty orange reflected these materials. All have sustainability in mind, so, for example, the decking by the pool and the gravel surfaces are permeable, so rainwater soaks through to the soil.

“There should always be a harmonious balance between hard and soft landscaping in a garden,” says Kate. So think about how each element of a garden will sit in its surroundings: the colours and materials around them, whether it be paths, plants, walls and fences, or structures.

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Managing workloads

Don’t panic it's summer and while most people head for the sun during the summer months it is the busiest time of year for landscapers says Paula Warman. She tells us how can we be better prepared for this time of year

1. Keep marketing Don’t stop your marketing efforts or strategy just because you are too busy or don’t have the time or capacity for an influx of enquiries. During these busy periods (particularly summer) we often think that ceasing any marketing activity is a good idea as it will stop the enquiries and reduce workload. However, if enquiries begin to dry up as you are head into the quiet season, you may find yourself spending more of your budget on marketing than intended, to get your name out there again. It is not a quick fix, so I would recommend to keep marketing regardless of workload but review what is working best on a regular basis.

2. Outsource and delegate

What tasks are you currently doing that you could pay someone else to do or delegate to someone else in your team? As business owners we often fulfil many roles, especially when we first start out in business. You are trying to do all the things – marketing, sales, admin, accounting, landscaper, designer, debt collection, customer service and more! The problem is then exacerbated when we hit the busy summer months. So, consider hiring a bookkeeper or virtual assistant. Could you outsource some of the marketing or could any of your digital saavy team take more responsibility? Always look at these options as you begin to grow your business but keep in mind cashflow and breakeven point as you make decisions.

3. Reset client expectations

To ensure customer satisfaction, setting their expectations is very important, particularly at this time of year. We are all busy and quotes and designs are taking longer than normal, so ensure you communicate this to potential clients when they book a site visit. When can they realistically expect a quote and/or design from you following the site visit? At the time of booking also let them

know your next available start date – this will not only manage their expectations, but sort the time wasters from the real deal. I would also put everything in writing in a follow up email so there can be no disputing timeframes further down the line.

4. Block out time for admin

Easier said than done I know, however, if you start getting into the habit of blocking out sections of time for tasks such as admin and scheduling quotes, then your time becomes more manageable. This is especially important when you are feeling the pressure of the busy period. Getting better at managing your time, setting clear boundaries, and focussing on one clear action at a time is the best way to get through busy periods.

5. Systems and automations

Setting up systems and automations within your design and landscaping business can really take the pressure off and help manage workloads. They buy you time, they help reiterate the expectations for clients and they are simple to set up. I love automated email sequences that can respond to clients at the first point of contact as well as emails to follow up later in their customer journey. Looking at what you can automate or delegate once you have a documented process or system can really ease workload.

6. Be realistic with your time, workload and calendar Many of us overestimate what we can get done in a day, let alone how long a landscaping project or full design will take. Try and factor in contingency days where possible and plan in the inevitable staff holidays. Encourage staff to give you as much advance notice for holiday requests as possible so you can look at teams and gaps that may need to be filled.

Many landscapers are in fact busy all year round , not just summer, so these tips are there to help suggest tweaks to help your business run more efficiently. As landscaper’s we can get caught up in the design and creation of a project sometimes to the detriment of the actual business itself. So, even in busy periods we need to look at ways in which we can continue to develop the business for it to evolve as we want it to.

The Landscaper’s Circle is the only online platform exclusively for business owners in the landscaping industry to learn how to market and run their business better. Become part of the #TLCTribe today for training and support. If you need our help please email at info@thelandscaperscircle.co.uk | www.thelandscaperscircle.co.uk

I have six top tips to help get business-ready for busy periods.

Rain Gardens

With climate change creating increasingly volatile weather conditions, garden and landscaping experts are compelled to be more inventive in the way they manage the effects. German drainage company, ACO offer five considerations for creating a sustainable drainage systems to cope with our changing weather patterns

As climate reports indicate that the UK is becoming wetter, it is understandable that rain gardens are one such method growing in popularity. According to the Met Office, rainfall events exceeding 50 mm have consistently increased over the past decade – pointing to a rise in both rainfall intensity and frequency.

With this in mind, the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh (RBGE) has implemented a rain garden at the southside of its site. The feature will serve to manage heavy rain fall events, as the location had historically suffered from waterlogged lawns and flooded paths.

Also known as bioretention facilities, rain gardens are shallow, landscaped depressions that reduce stormwater runoff to mitigate pollution and prevent local sewers being overwhelmed. As well as offering an environmentally-friendly way to manage stormwater runoff, a rain garden can at the same time add both beauty and biodiversity to outside space. It is for these reasons that the feature can function as a major component of a sustainable drainage system (SuDS).

While bioretention facilities present an increasingly pertinent drainage solution, it must be kept in mind that such features require careful planning, planting and landscaping. There are five key considerations gardening and landscaping professionals should keep in mind to design a rain garden that aligns with SuDS principles of quantity, quality, amenity and biodiversity.

1. Soil percolation

Soil suitability is an essential element to factor into rain garden design, as water must be able to drain away at a sufficient rate to manage quantity. Water is unlikely to drain away quickly enough if the water table is very close to the surface, or if the soil consists of heavy clay.

RBGE carefully considered soil type for the creation of its rain garden. The composition was specially developed with a mixture of compost, sand and fine gravel to allow for sufficient water infiltration, while at the same time providing nutrients to support the plants.

To determine whether conditions are adequate for the feature, a percolation test should be carried out. The test is conducted by firstly digging a 250mmdeep hole and filling it with water. Once drained, the pit should be filled with water again and the drainage speed timed. If the rate exceeds 50 mm per hour, soil conditions may be unsuitable.

2. Spatial proportions

If soil drainage meets the required parameters, the next course of action is to consider the size of the area to accommodate water runoff. If the source is a roof for instance, the surface area of the roof that is providing rainwater must be measured to gauge anticipated quantities. As a rule of thumb, a rain garden should be 20% of this area in order to intercept sufficient volume of surface runoff.

Suitable measurements must also be kept in mind when excavating the site for a bioretention facility. The feature will typically need to be between 150 mm and 450 mm below original ground level. When digging, removed soil may then be compacted around the lip to create a berm. Acting as an aid for containing rainwater, a berm should be around six inches high and a foot wide. At the same time, a gravel-filled channel will need to be implemented for excess water to flow out into an overflow system. In this instance, the channel should be approximately 150 mm wide.

Image credit: Kirsty Wilson

3. Drainage ancillaries

As mentioned, a rain garden is the main component in a SuDS. With this in mind, it’s important to also consider auxiliary elements for optimum performance. If the water source for the feature is ground surface runoff (such as a driveway, patio or similar impermeable surface), its best to implement a sump unit between the channel and the rain garden. This component will help to mitigate pollutants and improve water quality in line with SuDS principles.

A gulley is also recommended as an ancillary in rain garden design. This will ensure any overflow is captured, which is particularly important if the feature is going to be sited in close proximity to a boundary.

4. Plant diversity

Chosen plants should consist of both non-indigenous and indigenous species for a densely vegetated bed that will attract native birds and insects. As such, RBGE planted a selection of Scottish native and non-native plants to form a shrub and perennial mix. Flora of this variety is suitable for accommodating diverse wildlife, as the flowers will encourage insects while perennials provide a home for numerous invertebrates.

When planting, height is a factor that must not be overlooked. Taller species should be positioned in deeper soil around centre of the rain garden in order for the roots to be fully embedded. At the same time, planting shorter plants around the edges allows for a clear view of all flora.

Typically, bio-retention facilities will be comprised of about 10 species planted two or three clumps per square metre. Including a variety of species ensures that the feature will succeed even if one or two do not prosper.

dry and wet soil, as rain gardens are unlikely to be damp all year round. That being said, the feature will be subject to occasional flooding. It is for this reason that dry Mediterranean style gardens should be avoided.

5. Ongoing maintenance

While rain gardens are simple to maintain, it is still important to do so. During the first couple years of life, occasional weeding may be required to ensure the plants will thrive. Once established, the beds will fill any gaps and suppress weed growth.

Seasonal occurrences should also be kept in mind. During hot spells, the rain garden may need topping up from a water butt to maintain sufficient moisture. In the winter, dead plants will need removing and any signs of erosion should be counteracted through additional compacting of the berm.

Final thoughts

With erratic patterns continuing to characterise the UK climate, it is more vital than ever that a landscaped garden can withstand such conditions. Bio-retention facilities hereby offer a practical drainage method that is both sustainable and beneficial to the environment.

For more information on rain gardens, please visit www.aco.com

Image credit: Kirsty Wilson

Right: MultiDrain MD SuDS Infiltration Outlet SuDS distribution system for rain gardens and bioretention

Recharging at 50

Makita UK is celebrating 50 years of trading in the UK this year. Today, the company offers more than 270 LXT and 50 XGT cordless models in its portfolio.

For 27 of those years, Mark Earles, Outdoor Power Equipment and Contracts Manager at Makita UK, has worked for the Japanese manufactures and takes time out to chat with Maggie Walsh about his time with the company

so going into the garden machinery side at the time was seen to be a natural progression.

What do you feel is Makita’s unique selling point?  Quality, service, staff, and having the largest battery platform are all major selling points - so it is difficult to choose just one!

More power tools are battery operated than before. Do you think the next 25 years will see all tools move that way?

Mark Earles, Outdoor Power Equipment and Contracts Manager at Makita UK

How long have you worked at Makita UK and what’s been your best achievement to date?

I have been with the company for 27 years and over that time I’ve played a part in many company achievements, for which I’m really proud. Currently, I am spending time working with different industry associations and new product committees. I am representing Makita at the EGMF (European Garden Machinery Federation) and Chairing the AEA’s (Agricultural Engineers Association) marketing committee.

There are many manufacturers vying for top position in the power tool market. What keeps Makita ahead of the game?

Having a constant programme of new product introductions is key. We achieve this by organising regular engineer visits. The staff, both internal and external, are highly trained to go out there and talk to end users and dealers so that we understand what the market wants. And, of course, our battery platform, which is I believe the best, certainly plays a critical role in keeping Makita at the top.

Makita is traditionally associated with providing tools for construction. When did Makita start supplying the landscaping market and what prompted the move?  In 1991, Makita purchased Dolmar which was the start of outdoor power equipment (OPE) in a major way. We did have electric hedge trimmers and chainsaws before that,

Over the next 25 years, most OPE will be driven by batteries, except for some of the very high-power hungry machines, such as tractors, which might still be hydrogen powered. The motor, controller and battery technology are constantly developing, so it’s hard not to see it all being battery-powered.

With sustainability and climate change affecting the buying habits of end users how will Makita keep pace with changing demands?

First and foremost, our engineers from around the world come to each market and listen to customer demands. Then, our sales force put in new product requests, which leads to a constant supply of machines that the market has requested.

Switching from petrol to battery power is one of the simplest ways for those using OPE to adopt more sustainable practices, as it reduces reliance on fossil fuels – plus is removes the need to transport and handle petrol and eliminates fumes omitted during operation. We will therefore continue to concentrate on extending and improving our XGT range, which offers a true alternative to petrol powered tools

How is Makita UK coping with Brexit and the current global unrest?

There are no major barriers at the moment. We have just opened a new warehouse in Wigan, and we made sure to prepare for its opening by ordering the stock well in advance. This has put us in good stead during these demanding times.

What tool did Makita first launch to the UK market 50 years ago?

In 1958, Makita launched its first power tool: the hand-

The chainsaw has been a mainstay of the Makita brand

operated electric planer, followed by the electric handoperated circular saw and drill machine in 1962. In 1972, Makita launched in the UK bringing these innovations

with them - and six years later, the first 7.2V ‘replaceable battery’ drill entered the UK market.

What is your personal favourite Makita tool and why?

Every product launch there is always something new that becomes my favourite product. But I joined Makita because I use chainsaws, so if I had to choose a product, it would be one of the new XGT UC015G chainsaws – which are both cordless and rear handle, powered by 40Vmax XGT Li-Ion batteries.

This year is a big year for Makita in the UK, celebrating 50 years. What new products will be released to celebrate?

There has already been a steady supply as always. The exciting development in recent years has been XGT, which is a new cordless tool and battery platform that produces greater power for high demand applications, increased durability, and a wider range of products to offer a performance that is comparable to petrol engine or mains powered machines.

Two notable examples are the (Twin 40V Max) Power Cutter XGT CE001GZ, and the Twin 40V Max) Brush Cutter BL XGT UR012GZ04, both of which are powered by two 40Vmax XGT Li-Ion batteries in series.

Large or small, doesn’t matter. A compact that gets more jobs done. The T395 compact with manual or hydrostatic transmission and high capacity hydraulics gives you the ultimate workhorse, making easy work of most landscaping and parks maintenance tasks. And, with lots of attachments, you get a tractor that does more.

reesinkturfcare.co.uk

This season has seen head groundsman of Kingston Grammar School, Matt Perry, focus his attention on the outfields and four cricket squares of the independent co-educational school just outside London.

Managing the school's 22-acres using seed from the DLF portfolio, it is a combination of ProMaster 79, ProMaster 80 and ProMaster 36 from the Masterline range that Matt has used to deliver a first-class finish for the young cricketers who play here.

DLF seed has been used at the school for the past five years, creating the perfect playing surfaces for winter sports, tennis as well as the cricket.

“Over time, we’ve sown mixtures from both the Johnsons Sports Seed and Masterline ranges, with an unwavering confidence that whatever we use is going to perform,” explains Matt, who heads up a team of three.

“We conduct a full renovation on the football surfaces in spring to prepare for the cricket season, with overseeding roughly every six weeks throughout the season where it’s needed. For this we selected ProMaster 80 Renovator, purchased from Core Amenity, which gives us strong, equal establishment and a resistant and hard-wearing sward to cope with the pressures of a high wear season,” he continues. As

Perfect pitch Greener greens

For the past six years, the greens at Rushmore Golf Club near Salisbury have been chemical free. Alongside cultural practices and an overseeding programme, much of the success to achieve this says Course Manager Jamie Acton is due to products from the Suståne range of organic fertilisers which have delivered outstanding plant health, strength and resilience.

“When I took over almost 10 years ago, I inherited quite a heavy feeding regime, largely based on synthetic fertilisers,” explains Jaime.

“I had used formulations from Suståne in previous roles, and knowing what they could do, began ‘weening’ the greens away from the synthetic feeds and the additional chemicals this programme required, and onto a primarily organic

the name suggests, PM80 Renovator is ideal for the renovation of worn playing surfaces – featuring 25% Tetragame 4turf tetraploid and 75% diploid perennial ryegrass for a disease resistant, drought tolerant and nitrogen efficient mix.

As the temperatures cool, Matt switches to ProMaster 79 as a 50% tetraploid mixture for more effective autumn/ winter overseeding. “It's proven to deliver great colour and great recovery on our outfields through the colder months.” Completing the programme is ProMaster 36 Wicket which establishes quickly and gives a dense, resistant sward on the cricket squares.

regime.” Working closely alongside technical representatives from local distributor AGS, the Suståne programme has been refined over the years depending on the soil’s requirements – now consisting of 6-2-4 Turf Revival in the summer and 5-24+Fe for feeds throughout the cooler months.

Suståne 6-2-4 is specifically formulated to provide the right nutrients to assist with post-maintenance recovery and plant stress. In addition to water-soluble and organic sources of Nitrogen, 6-2-4 features Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae which has been enhancing the germination of Jaime’s bent overseeding programme. “We apply 6-2-4 every six to eight weeks at 25g/m2 which tends to correlate with our overseeding work meaning the seed is sown straight into that nutrition. The plant is strong and resilient enough to cope with the pressures of that period, including disease, and specifically Anthracnose.”

Jaime continues, “In the autumn and winter we continue the dormant feeding with Suståne 5-2-4 which keeps microbial levels up, allowing us to protect against disease rather than having to react to it. The small amount of Iron in this formulation also helps to give us good winter colour.”

“With our Suståne programme, we are feeding the soil rather than the plant, getting the nutritional needs right from the ground up and allowing the plant to take everything it needs to remain strong and healthy.”

Building the Future

MEDITE® SMARTPLY® showcased its sustainable and innovative product range in the ‘Building the Future’ garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Partnering with acclaimed garden designer Sarah Eberle, the garden won two prestigious awards: Gold and Best Construction Award (Show Garden). The garden was themed around sustainability and the multiple applications and versatility of MEDITE® SMARTPLY® products. MEDITE® SMARTPLY® is committed to manufacturing products that contribute to sustainable building.

The revolutionary MEDITE® TRICOYA® EXTREME (MTX) was the centrepiece of the garden structure. MTX is an innovative panel that has taken the construction, landscaping and design world by storm. Guaranteed for up to 50 years in the face of the elements and 25 years below ground, this high performance wood-based panel is incredibly versatile and can be used for planters, garden rooms, sculptures, playgrounds, building façades, furniture; your imagination is the only limit!

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IKON XD range increases

Ariens is adding to its IKON XD range of zero-turn mowers with two new models; the IKON XD 42 and IKON 52. Both feature the new 764cc twin cylinder Ariens engine. This new engine has an enhanced combustion chamber that burns fuel mixture quicker, resulting in greater combustion efficiency. Couple this with its carburettor and the finely tuned fuel spray it produces, it is a very fuel-efficient yet still powerful engine.

The IKON XD 42 Ariens engine is rated at 15.5kW of power @2800RPM while the IKON 52 Ariens engine is rated at 16.6kW of power @3000RPM. Both models with the Ariens engine also have over 50Nm of torque for optimum cutting performance. The engine is also easy to maintain thanks to toolless access to the air filter and well positioned oil drain. It is also long lasting and durable thanks to its design and anti-wear components.

The IKON XD’s innovative zero-turn capability means it can turn in its own footprint. This is achieved through its ability to drive and steer from the back wheels via two independent transmissions. This in turn produces excellent finishes and can reduce mowing time by up to

50 percent compared to a garden tractor. Additionally, its fully fabricated commercial style deck with advanced airflow and range of cutting sizes ensures exceptional cutting performance every time. Furthermore, the high back seat with padded arm rests and large tyres makes it a comfortable ride.

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver

Swansea City FC groundstaff are thankful for their fleet of PRO 34R rotary mowers according to head groundsman, Evan Davies.

Working at the club for nearly a decade, and as head of grounds since April 2021, Evan oversees the maintenance of all three club sites – the Swansea.com Stadium, the first team Fairwood Training Ground and the Swans Academy which is situated at Landore. With a vast number of games and training sessions across all three sites, the grounds staff work around the clock to maintain the pitches.

When the club was in the Premier League, the club demanded excellence from everyone says Evan, saying “I like to think it has brought the best out in me.”

Now prepared for the challenges ahead Evan is keen to stamp his own mark and implement some of his own ideas, and has quickly identified that a change in his fleet of rotary mowers could offer a significant benefit.

“It is essential that the cleaning of pitches is completed as quick as possible,” he explains. “The only way to achieve this was with a rotary mower with a bigger cutting deck which had the ability to increase the speed. I quickly found that it was only the Dennis PRO 34R that would work in this respect. Therefore, one of my first purchases when I

started the role was ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.”

Designed to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface the Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R’s allow us to manage the working day so much better,” continues Evan. “At the training ground, for example, three members of staff can clean three pitches in two hours with the Dennis PRO 34R’s. With our previous rotary mowers that would have been a full 8-hour day carried out by 6 members of staff. This has allowed us to focus more on other tasks such as divoting and repairing the pitches, all things which we wouldn’t have had time to do before.

“The presentation it offers is also first-class. Leading up to a matchday we like to give the pitch a rotary cut on the Friday or the Saturday because it helps to make the pattern stand out. The leaf itself seems a bit happier after

being cut with a PRO 34. They are so easy to set with just a little pin drop. With other rotary mowers you just can’t get that precise height of cut.

“For cleaning, you’ve got the brush on it which you can use aggressively or use it lightly on the surface to pick the debris up – it is just a win-win for us. There are not many mowers that give you an outstanding clean, cut and finish.”

Evan is also of the opinion that the Dennis customer service equals the standard of the product.

“The back-up I receive from Jason Briggs at Dennis is quality. He keeps in touch and has been to visit all three sites. He is very comfortable around all the staff, and he provides us with a lot of knowledge on the machines, which is beneficial for the younger members of the team.

Robotics revolutionise turf care

Husqvarna, the pioneer in smart commercial grounds care and robotic mowing, has announced the arrival of the highly anticipated CEORA™, offering a brand-new solution for commercial turf care management in the UK.

Expected to revolutionise an industry dominated by conventional fuel-driven machinery that require manual operation, Husqvarna CEORA™ can independently mow an area of up to 75,000m² (the equivalent of up to eight football pitches) day or night, significantly reducing overall costs by approximately 30%, improving the quality of the turf and allowing staff to focus on other tasks.

Operating through Husqvarna’s satellite navigation system, EPOS (Exact Positioning Operating System), CEORA™ uses GPS coordinates to map out its work areas and navigates with a precision of 2-3 cm. The satellite-based technology enables CEORA™ to work within virtual boundaries, making it an easy and flexible solution for sports pitches, golf courses – and all other large green areas. Customers are able to map out different zones within the work area and set different cutting schedules and heights. All of this is controlled via their smartphones, meaning maintenance during the cutting season is limited to changing blades and cleaning.

Husqvarna has launched two autonomous models into the UK market – Husqvarna CEORA™ 544 EPOS (RRP £14,199.00) and Husqvarna CEORA™ 546 EPOS (RRP £18,199.00), which are used in combination with the Husqvarna Razor 43M Cutting Deck (RRP £7,499.00).

In the future CEORA™ will expand with more attachments designed with turf care professionals in mind, with ideas including to help with fertilising, lawn striping or even collecting golf balls from playing areas.

Following the UK roll-out, The Ridge Golf Club in Kent was the first to have CEORA™ arrive on its course, with an installation carried out in partnership with Ernest Doe, an authorised Husqvarna CEORA™ dealer.

Hannah Cooper, professional segment manager, at Husqvarna UK says: “Since announcing CEORA™ last year, we have had an overwhelming response from all corners of the industry who are desperate to get their hands on the new models. We are excited to finally see this revolutionary new product with customers and to have stock available through our approved CEORA™ network of dealers. CEORA™ is set to change the game in turf care, and we are confident it will be a much-appreciated addition to any fleet.”

CEORA™ is available to order now from selected authorised dealerships across the UK. CEORA™ is also available in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Poland.

The Dennis PRO34R rotary mowers save time at Swansea City FC

Durham cricket club applauds Infinicut

Patience has paid off for the maintanance team at Durham County Cricket Club who have waited almost five years for their very own INFINICUT® and UltraGroomer™ set-up. The combination has been on the mind of Head Groundsman Vic Demain since 2017, so when funding became available, these essential items were top of the shopping list.

Following delivery in March, the INFINICUT® has been living up to expectations – swiftly tackling the invasion of annual meadow grass on the club’s practice facilities.

In charge of preparing surfaces for T20, County and International Cricket, Vic keeps his eyes and ears close to the ground when it comes to new solutions to the key maintenance tasks. “We had the opportunity to use the INFINICUT® complete with UltraGroomer™ for a couple of weeks back in 2017 and were hugely impressed by it, but unfortunately until this year the funding hasn’t been available,” Vic explains. Over the COVID period, four units were hired by the ECB to help with preparations for those fixtures taking place behind closed doors, with one of these now finding a new home with Vic and his team of five.

“Having been sold on the UltraGroomer™ from all those years ago, we jumped at the chance to purchase one, together with a 22” INFINICUT® FL. It was delivered

just as we began to see the grass thicken up and the annual meadow grass coming through which is where this machine comes into its own,” explains Vic. Featuring over 80 tungsten carbide tipped blades, the UltraGroomer™ from the TMSystem™ range improves the plants immediate environment by removing Poa ingress, lateral growth and organic matter to enhance the movement of oxygen, moisture and nutrients.

“While the Poa keeps growing and seed heads are showing we’ve been conducting fortnightly runs with the UltraGroomer™ and it’s done a fantastic job. We will also be looking to use it for thinning out the sward as part of our main pitch preparations.”

The INFINICUT® also becomes Vic’s first battery powered machine, something that will be in use even more frequently when he receives his new SMARTCut™ cutting reel. “We’re excited for the INFINICUT® to become a dual-purpose machine, with it lining up to be used to cut the main square and practice areas,” Vic adds. “Through the summer we are often hosting meetings and weddings and the last thing they want in the background is noisy mowers! Where we would previously be told to turn them off, with the INFINICUT® we’ll be able to cut the grass without disturbing the guests.”

Robotics in the garden

Toro is bringing new innovation to the residential garden care category with the launch of a robotic mower that offers cutting-edge, easy to deploy technology and new features.

“Our commitment to alternative power, smart connected, and autonomous technologies will enable people to create an amazing space for their families and do more of what they love for generations to come,” says Peter Moeller, vice president and general manager, International Division at The Toro Company.

The new robotic mower, available to consumers in selected European markets in the first half of next year, is a culmination of years of research and development. Featuring industry-leading capabilities, such as the industry’s first vision-based localisation system and wire-free navigation, the setup is easy and tailored to each garden without a pricey and failureprone underground boundary wire installation. This proprietary vision system uses multiple cameras to map and localise in the garden enabling the mower to navigate tight spaces and move around structures such as trees and landscaping. It is also capable of crossing surfaces, such as driveways and sidewalks, to maintain all areas of the property.

Another exciting feature is the dedicated smartphone app which allows users to customise their mowing schedule — whether it’s around work, sleep or travel. The app can also recommend an ideal mowing schedule based on weather forecasts and patterns. In addition, the mower has third-party safety certification, theft-proof features, slope-friendly cutting abilities, and quiet functionality.

To give homeowners a lawn care system that works as effectively as possible, the robotic mower offers unmatched efficiency through its patented Smart ZonesTM pattern mowing system that can be controlled through custom settings in the app. Through this system, the mower will automatically keep the lawn at a consistent, owner-selected height by cutting the smallest amount of grass each day for optimal lawn health.

Addressing the growing demand for easy-to-use autonomous mowers that offer flexibility and can handle complex gardens, the category is expected to grow significantly in the next 10 years in Europe as the technology develops to deliver accuracy and efficiency.

The new autonomous mower, available in red or charcoal gray, will be available for purchase in selected European markets from the first half of next year. Learn more at smartyard.toro.com

Wetting agent works wonders on links

The course manager at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire claims that the advanced technology behind ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart wetting agent, has worked wonders on the dry, sand dominated course.

For 19 years Joe Barnes has been progressing through the greenkeeping industry, becoming course manager at Fairhaven in 2021. He has now set to take the links course to the next level.

“In my first year I wanted products that I could trust completely,” he says of his plans. “I felt that ICL were leading the way in terms of products, innovation, and research. I have always found that no other brand gives the end user as much information about their products. That is what really drew me towards them.

“When I first started, I sent Phil Collinson (North West Key Account Manager for ICL), my ideas behind what I wanted to achieve, what I wanted to use and where I wanted to use them. Phil then started working behind the scenes and sent me back a full planner including products he felt would deliver what I set out.”

Fairhaven Golf Course has all the characteristics of a traditional links course and being a sand dominated course can make moisture management particularly challenging. Therefore, one such product which Joe reported excellent results from using was H2Pro TriSmart which is a high-quality wetter and water conservation agent. It is formulated with three water management surfactant technologies to provide great

water penetration, even water spread through the rootzone and to improve the water holding capacity of sandy rootzones.

Joe had previous experience of using the product as he explained. “At my last course, we were using a wetting agent from another brand, and I felt that the technology was slightly showing its age. We had a particularly bad season where it didn’t perform – so we switched to ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart. I saw first-hand the improvements it made and so it was a no-brainer for me to use it here.”

Joe and his team apply TriSmart monthly on the greens and tees through the growing season but must work with Mother Nature when it comes to applying it on the fairways.

“It is a very strong product in terms of helping me maintain consistent moisture levels across the surfaces and we don’t see greens showing localised dry spot,” he says. “I also like the varying application rates that we can use. Generally, we start with a low application rate of 10 L/ha, but if I feel like I need to put a bit more on then I’ve got no qualms in going up to 20 litres.

“On fairways we rely on rainfall,” he continues. “We are not blessed with fairway irrigation, so we must wait on a weather window that allows us to apply TriSmart when the rain is coming.

“The technology behind the product is excellent – it really is a premium wetting agent, but you have come to expect that from ICL.

TriSmart technology takes Fairhaven Golf Club to another level.

Stowe school lost without Iseki

ISEKI TG6490 compact tractor

Grounds Manager Steve Curley has revealed why Stowe School has purchased four different ISEKI machines in just three years.

Steve has been working at Stowe, a leading public school in Buckinghamshire for an incredible 29 years. Overseeing a team of 15 members of staff, he is responsible for three-hundred acres of sports fields and gardens including a nine-hole golf course.

In maintaining such a vast area of land, Steve inevitably has a wide range of equipment, but he claims his ISEKI fleet covers most bases. It all started with the ISEKI TG6675 compact tractor, as he explains.

“We needed something with a bit more horsepower to enable us to do heavier work,” says Steve. “and something that has allowed us to use some implements and attachments that we were not previously able to. It’s been fantastic for us.”

The ISEKI TG6675 is available with ROPS, or a factory fitted, fully air-conditioned category 2 cabin. All instruments and gauges are easy to read and indicate driving information like engine speed, travelling speed, and PTO speed can be viewed at a glance. All levers are

ergonomically located around the driving seat and there is ample space for the driver’s comfort

Based on the success of the TG6675, he then purchased an ISEKI TLE3400. “This mainly does all of our trailer work and helps us pick up the rubbish,” explains Steve. The TLE3400 is ISEKI’s new premium economy tractor with 38 horse-power, three-speed hydrostatic transmission and a lift capacity of 1000 kg. It is supplied with agricultural or turf tyres as standard. An optional front loader is also available.

Then came the ISEKI TG6490 IQ compact tractor for top dressing and slitting. “This has been very successful for us and one of the main reasons for buying it was because of the IQ gearbox which enables us to go up and down the gears very easily,” says Steve giving a nod to its dual clutch transmission which offers the control of a manual with the convenience of an automatic.

Steve purchased his fourth ISEKI machine when he felt the time had come to upgrade the school’s ride-on mower. The ISEKI SXG323 + is a cut and collection mowerw with a high torque 1123cc diesel engine that performs exceptionally even in the wet conditions.

Top dresser proves key for London school

Efficiency is key for grounds manager Richard Ayling who oversees the 250 acre estate of Merchant Taylors’ School, in north west London.

With approximately 80 acres of sports turf making up the vast estate, delivering that efficiency for Richard when it comes to topdressing is a Rink 2020 dropdresser from Redexim – purchased originally for the purpose of applying loam to the schools' 11 cricket squares, but now demonstrating versatility for yearround applications around the site.

Richard and his team of nine are responsible for the upkeep of the surfaces, which alternate between summer and winter sports for use by both the pupils and a number of teams from the community. “It’s a high usage site and the equipment we use needs to be able to keep up with the tight turnarounds and renovation windows we have to work to,” explains Richard, who has been at the independent day school for 26 years.

“Every cricket renovation season, we’re applying around 32 tonnes of loam dressing and our previous machine would only hold a quarter of a tonne at a time so we needed something bigger to make the job

quicker and less labour intensive.” After researching the options available, it was a Rink 2020 that fitted the bill – accurately and evenly distributing dressings and offering a 2.0m3 hopper capacity, equating to two tonnes of cricket loam per load.

“What we didn’t want with a bigger machine is something that would result in increased compaction. The design of the Rink, with its large rear tyres, effectively spreads the weight so we pass over the squares and leave no marks. It’s incredibly easy to use and adjust meaning we can simply load it up and go –getting the operation done, quicker and with improved quality of distribution.”

Thanks to its ability to accurately adjust the spreading thickness, once cricket renovation season is complete in early autumn, the Rink will then switch to hold sand and/or topdressing soil for in-season dressing and repairs to the football pitches and lawned areas. “What was initially purchased as a solution to one specific problem, has become a versatile machine which we use in different ways throughout the maintenance calendar. It’s been a fantastic addition to our fleet.”

Ariens joins Made in Britain community

Ariens, a leader in outdoor power equipment, is delighted to announce that it’s joined Made in Britain and will now proudly adorn all petrol zero-turn mowers for the EMEAA market with the iconic Made in Britain mark.

Ariens has an illustrious history of manufacturing machinery in the United States, but, to better meet the needs of its European customers, opened its first zero-turn production line at its UK plant over three years ago. This huge milestone means Ariens is able to manufacture its complete petrol zero-turn line-up of EDGE, IKON XD, APEX and ZENITH mowers - for the EMEAA market in Oxfordshire.

Made in Britain brings together the best of British manufacturing and only accredited organisations that meet its high standards can use its mark. There is also a growing awareness among consumers of the importance of buying local as recent Covid-19 and Brexit issues have caused supply chain concerns and impacted the quality of imported goods.

Darren Spencer, VP of EMEAA is proud to be part of Made in Britain, "Although we find ourselves in uncertain times,

both here and abroad, investing in manufacturing in the UK is critical to ensuring our EMEAA customers continue to receive the quality machinery they expect from Ariens. Being able to brand all of our petrol zero-turn mowers with the Made in Britain mark shows them just that."