IOG SALTEX HAS THE ANSWERS TO MOLES, MAN-MANAGEMENT AND GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Les Shrubb is not the only greenkeeper who has nightmares about moles. But after visiting last year’s IOG SALTEX show, where he gained an all-important update on the safe handling and use of Talunex tablets, he now sleeps a lot easier!
“Moles – and rabbits – are a constant problem here, particularly during the winter months,” says the Sussex-based Head Greenkeeper of the privately-owned Wellshurst Golf & Country Club.
“But after visiting the Windsor show, the team can now control the pests in-house without the expense of specialist contractors. We have managed to reduce the mole population, for example, but it is an ongoing problem.
“I try to go IOG SALTEX at least every other year – last year we all went, and it was my greenkeepers’ first ever visit - because in addition to timely updates on things like pest control, it’s a great place to keep on top of developments across the industry. For example, I like to keep abreast of the latest machinery and its capabilities – though equipment funding is always a problem - and IOG SALTEX is the ideal venue for that.”
Having been involved in grass and sports surfaces since he left school, 48-year-old Les is responsible for the maintenance and management of a driving range, and various soft and hard landscaping in addition to the 18-hole course which, being built on Wealden clay and former farmland, creates its own problems in terms of drainage.
“In the early years – Les has been at the club since1992 – this was a major headache,” he says, “but we are on top of it now after lots of spiking and the installation of open ditches and paths, for instance. The course is a ‘grass factory’ and whenever we have a wet Spring, we have trouble getting the mowers out.”
With four greenkepeepers (reduced to two during the winter months), inter-personal/management skills is a key attribute complementing Les’ raft of training and education accreditations that include NVQ Level 3 supervisory and management, and a range of health and safety courses as well as IOG golf course and turf management training.
In addition to regular communication with his club members and committee concerning course maintenance routines, he also obviously handles any man-management issues with his team of greenkeepers.
“This is another very good reason for attending events like IOG SALTEX,” he says. “There’s so much advice on offer there concerning every aspect of the job that anyone involved in grounds care can’t fail to learn something on every visit.”
Obviously, many greenkeepers and groundmen and -women can but benefit from a visit to IOG SALTEX and to have a closer look at, say, mole control, for which golf course, park, and such does not suffer from moles, and heavily.
Rabbits are another such issue but the latter can, if necessary and feasible, dealt with by hunting, even with air guns, and netting, as they also can be a source on income being sold as meat.
Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 272 8782 for FREE tickets, but hurry, the show is in less that 2 weeks.
IOG SALTEX 2009 is being held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Organized by The Institute of Groundsmanship, the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s IOG SALTEX Sports, Amenity & Landscape Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, IOG SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organization representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org
© 2009
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Gardening Direct launch over 40 new varieties in their Autumn 2009 Collection
At a time when many plant suppliers are reducing their autumn ranges, Gardening Direct has launched an outstanding 2009 collection including many varieties that are new, rare or exclusive to the company.
Highlights from the extensive range of annuals on offer include the rare Pansy Padparadja (with its large orange petals), the scented, blue-shaded Pansy Moonlight Mix and the long-lasting, brightly coloured Pansy Sunburst, exclusive to Gardening Direct by mail order and breathtaking when mass-planted in borders. Another Pansy of note is Spring Dawn, a plant with delicate flowers in white, pale blue and soft pink that is new and exclusive to Gardening Direct.
Other annuals include a wide selection of new varieties of Viola with the rare and unusual Viola Fuji Dawn providing a mass of pink tinged foliage and dark purple flowers next spring, the unusual Viola Callisto Denim whose blue flowers changecolourover timeand Viola Valentino, a profusion of ‘hot’ red flowers standing high above dark foliage – the perfect compact variety for containers and small borders.
Notable other annuals comprise the exclusive Primrose Alaska Fire Glow Mix (deep red and bright yellow flowers), the new scented Wallflower Pastel Patchwork (different coloured flowers on the same stem!) and Polyanthus Prince Regent Mix (eye-catching blooms and beautifully shaped leaves).
The choice of Perennials is also very broad with new varieties such as Iberis Tahoe (pure white flowers and narrow, evergreen leaves) and Aubrietia Deep Purple Audelpur (low-growing purpleflowers in abundance) as well as the wonderfully-named Eryngium Planum Blue Hobbit with its conical blue flowers and dramatic spiky bracts or the sweet-smelling Lavender Ellagance Purple, the perfect variety for container, border or pathway.
Bulbs are not overlooked in the autumn collection with a wide range of varieties, mixes and collections, many of which are new for 2009. From the dramatic Oriental Lily Pastel Mix (large, pale blooms) to the heirloom variety Daffodil Double Campernelle (scented, double-petaled flowers) and from the rare Tulip Ice Cream (raspberry and white coned-shaped flowers) to the classic Hyacinth City of Haarlem (highly-scented primrose flowers), there is a selection here for every gardener, regardless of expertise or knowledge.
A selection of well-chosen accessories completes the Autumn Collection, including a handy Growhouse in different heights, the ingenious Easi Plant Hanging Baskets and a range of Gardening Direct branded, specialist Fertilisers.
Prices are highly competitive, with 120 plug plants costing from only £7.99. Full growing details are supplied to customers to ensure peak growth.
Gardening Direct is one of the UK’s leading mail order suppliers and on-line retailers of live plants and bulbs, with a comprehensive collection of plants to suit all gardens and conditions. They supply plug plants in three sizes: small (up to 2in/5cm), medium (up to 3in/7cm) and large (up to 4 in/10cm).
The company grows over 130 million plants per year in glasshouses at their two Jersey nurseries and, unlike most mail order plant suppliers, grows the majority of plants themselves from seed or cutting. This ensures that all the plants are of the highest quality. All the company’s plants, seeds, bulbs and accessories are covered by a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. For more information see website at www.gardeningdirect.co.uk
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Easy-fill Safety Spout – Product Review
Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)Easy-fill doesn't spill
The Easy-fill safety spout prevents dangerous and expensive spillages when pouring from a can into a tank, container or other receptacle as this spout automatically shuts off the flow when you reach the level you want.
Easy-fill doesn't spill
The liquid that you are putting is also filtered as you pour and the unique design ensures smooth surge-free flow.
Easy-fill safety spout can be used with:
- Petrol
- Diesel
- Water
- Screen wash
- Cleaning chemicals
- Turpentine
Easy-Fill was invented and developed by two brothers, Richard and Jim George. They own the company and the safety spout one of their patented inventions.
As brothers they have been inventing things since we were at school, primarily for use in industry and manufacturing.
The British tradition of innovative ideas, made famous by inventors like Trevor Bayliss and James Dyson, is a real inspiration to them.
Such inventors challenge conventional design and create products that are simple and effective and the safety spout is part of this tradition.
The Easy-fill safety spout is designed, manufactured and produced in Britain, and this makes it 100% British. Which makes a change from so many other products that, even if they may have been invented and designed in Britain are them made abroad, primarily China, for reasons of cost.
The Easy-fill safety spout can be ordered via the Easy-fill website using PayPal or bought from a number of different stockists nationwide.
The price on the website is GBP5.49 plus GBP1 for postage and packing making the costs GBP6.49 for UK. Interested customers from overseas please contact the company for shipping rates abroad.
I have been using previously the expensive fuel/oil combination cans with the spring-loaded cut-off spout the mechanism of which tends to break down after about a year or so and have now changed over to this spout and find it very good indeed and the spout even fits on fuel mixing bottles, by reversing the collar to the smaller thread.
It works equally well on lawnmowers as it does for strimmers and chainsaws, and other such power tools and can be very highly recommended for professional users in parks and grounds management and -maintenance, as well as for many other users and uses.
© 2009
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