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 Boston wildlife attractionSee how Boston West Golf Clubis using the creation of wildlife habitats as a positive attraction for players to visit the Lincolnshire course ….Over his 20 years at Boston West Golf Centre Course Manager, Richard Owens has created a diverse range of habitat for wildlife to thrive amongst the daily golfing activity. More recently he has become a keen advocate of Operation Pollinator, which has continued to develop within his array of ecological initiatives.Such has been his success that he won the accolade of Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year in the 2014 Golf Environment Awards and, more recently, the overall winner of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, presided over by his long-time ecological hero, David Bellamy (below, left). Richard reports on his experiences and achievements, along with his ongoing plans:An ecologist once described Boston West Golf Centre as "An Oasis within an Agricultural Desert", a saying that has stuck firmly with me during my time here…

 Accurate sprayer calibration is essential to know what volume of spray is being applied. Calibration is a straightforward process that, once established as a routine, takes just a few minutes and can make a significant difference to accuracy and results.Calibration is a three stage process:• Establish the accurate forward speed used when spraying• Identify the output per nozzle• Calculate the application rate per hectareCheck sprayer speed  Check nozzle outputCheck nozzle output at least twice a year, and ideally each month during busy spraying periods. Once nozzles start to wear, output rates can change very quickly and spread pattern will be affected. Firstly check for visible signs of damage.Refer to the manufacturers' nozzleoutput chart to establish expected flow rate,then measure output from each nozzle. ACCURACY CHECK - Some trace element and liquid fertilizer formulations used in turf applications are particularly abrasive and can lead to high rates of nozzle wear. Check nozzles…

Get ahead of the dry down curve this spring to make more effective decisions on irrigation scheduling, wetting agent strategies and turf stress disease risks. Turf Advisor gives you the data to decide.

        

Wetting Agent Technology The role of wetting agents has, until now, primarily been to prevent and cure dry patch or to move water through the soil surface and into the root zone. However, with water an increasingly important resource, wetting agents are taking on new roles to improve water conservation, turf health and overall turf quality that can enhance the playing experience. Wetting agents have traditionally had two very clear and distinct functions - to move water away from the surface or to retain water in the soil profile. Penetrants move water down from the surface through the soil profile; polymers hold water within the soil profile.The chemistry of wetting agent technology - and the clearly different purpose for each component - makes it physically impossible for any single penetrant or polymer to fulfil both roles.How do penetrants work?Penetrant wetting agents effectively work by making water wetter! It means each water droplet spreads more easily and can penetrate soils more readily…

 Greenkeepers and turf managers with Hardi sprayers can now buy replacement caps to allow the direct fitting of Syngenta Turf Foliar Nozzles. The caps are quick and easy to fit to all Hardi sprayers with the bayonet style fittings.  ** Please note this replacement cap design allows the standard Hardi filter to be fitted with the nozzle. Some other designs of replacement cap for Hardi sprayers do not allow the nozzle filter to be fitted, which can increase the risk of nozzle blockages and inaccurate application.The Hardi caps will also allow the use of other nozzles with international standard bayonet fixing design.Hardi replacement caps are available from Syngenta, along with the Syngenta Turf Foliar Nozzle and other Art of Application tools. Click here for more information and to order direct.Key features of the Syngenta Turf Foliar Nozzle include:Reduced risk of spray driftIncreased number of spraying opportunitiesOptimised spray pattern for leaf coverage and thatch…

Over fifty Greenkeepers gather at Burnham and Berrow in Somerset for an educational event, organised by ICL with Syngenta, involving golf clubs from seven different counties. The day was filled with insightful presentations, including Syngenta Technical Manager Sean Loakes, presenting results of dollar spot management trials and the new Syngenta AIM programme of Ascernity, Instrata Elite and Medallion applications.  Liam Rowlands, the ICL Technical Area Sales Manager, emphasised the event’s core objective: to educate greenkeepers, facilitate knowledge sharing, and promote professional growth within the turf industry. Sean addressed the challenges of controlling dollar spot, particularly prevalent in the southwest, and discussed disease management strategies and programmes. He highlighted the importance of understanding regional challenges of dollar spot and tailoring solutions through ongoing trials and development.Richard Ponsford, Course Manager at Clevedon Golf Club added, “I’ve…

Control of fairy ring demands a whole change in mindset to tackling almost any other disease in turf. However, its existence, altering the soil profile, can have a severe impact on surrounding turf plants and the playing surface.

The weather has such a huge implication for almost every turf-based action, especially making agronomic decisions of what to apply and, more importantly, precisely when to get the best results.

On the horizon with Glenn & Henry podcasts offer an in depth insight into the challenges for golf course management in to months to come - helping to make more proactive decisions ahead of issues

It’s only a few weeks before pre-season kicks off demand for sports pitches all over again. That puts immense pressure on the grounds’ teams to renovate and recover surfaces, ready to go again, advises Phil Collinson of ICL.

The new Syngenta herbicide, Overtake, now available for golf course and sports turf management in Ireland, gives the chance to clean out broad-leaved weeds in turf this season