Advice

Leading scientists recommend applying fertilisers in the Spring and in Autumn (for cool season grasses) and throughout the Summer (for warm season grasses), since this is when the grass plant is actively growing.

In a recent article in Horticulture Week, Sally Drury reviewed two new models of chainsaw models: Husqvarna's 560XP and the new MS241 C-M from Stihl.

Both models boast increased levels of technology to improve performance for forestry workers, tree-care professionals, landscapers and home-users.

Aeration is the most effective way of relieving soil compaction and reducing thatch, conditions which restrict the movement of air, water and nutrients in soil – all of which are essential elements for a healthy lawn.

Here, we provide a brief introduction to lawn aeration, the benefits, and tips for performing aeration.

In a bid to create cost savings in the provision of grounds maintenance services, many councils and contractors have reduced their number of cuts over the growing season. Some councils used to cut no less than 18 times a year using conventional triple cylinder mowers and leaving few grass clippings, or even with an out-front rotary mower, where clippings also are not a problem. But now, with increasing cost cutting requirements, cuts are being reduced to as little as 12 per year, leaving as much as 20 days between cuts.

Lawn top dressing is the process of adding material to the surface of the lawn. This would normally be loam or sandy loam mixes, sand or organic material. Top dressing has a number of benefits, which are outlined in this article, along with advice on types of top dressing and tips for application and follow up.

SGM’s monthly turf maintenance diaries offer a simple checklist of standard seasonal tasks that should be undertaken on any particular month for specific surfaces and sports. Our diaries include seasonal advice for golf course, bowling green and football pitch turf maintenance.

'Whether you are the manager of a large team maintaining a borough, a lone groundsman tending a school, the head of a small band of gardeners on an estate or working a garden round from a van and trailer, it is likely that you will be looking to make your budgets stretch that little bit further, get more for your money and more from your machinery when it comes to replacement.'

The following market report on ride-on mowers, published in Horticulture Week on 3rd February 2012, provides useful advice on getting the maximum benefit from your mower when budgets are tight.

Hand-arm vibration remains a significant health issue for local councils and public service providers. There remains a duty to look after the health of those employees using equipment which can have a detrimental effect on their health and this is especially relevant to those in services such as building, highways and grounds maintenance.

APSE has provided a copy of HAVs exposure monitoring guidance from HSE which addresses several key issues:

• Guidance on HAVs
• Complimentary duty holders practices for managing HAVs
• Vibration risk assessments recommended.

Stein Safety had a busy year in 2011 - recently into stock and already selling well are the new Stein X2 Climbers. SGM's, Arboriculture Business Manager gives a highly complementary review below.

SGM's Arboriculture provides a very positve evaluation of Stein's latest karabiner in the following review.