Grass Clippings

How to Renovate a Lawn this Autumn

Now is the time to renovate your lawn, just ahead of the mass of leaves from the trees falling and the night time frosts occurring.

The summer soils are warm and moist, ideal opportunity for getting some new grasses into the lawns.

The process is very easy and flows like one of those flow charts at school - if you are going to blanket over seed your lawn then it does not matter how hard you scalp the lawn or scarify the lawn, if you are not over seeding, do not go too mad otherwise you may not get the recovery from the grasses that are left.

Gardeners' World Presenter Toby Buckland Shuns Lawns

Gardeners' World new presenter Toby Buckland has revealed his dream TV project is to show how groundsmen look after football pitches.

This is quite a surprising statement as the programme producers rarely cover the subject of lawns and their care so if Toby is so keen on grass, why not lawns?

Buckland said: "I remember going to Southampton FC's ground, the Old Dell, when they won the Premier League Groundsman of the year title and had the honour of going there and kicking a football.

'Tottering around on the Lawn'

The Team at Grass Clippings are pleased to announce the launch of their new banner image for the home page of the Lawn Blog. We have teamed up with cartoon artist Annie Tempest who has granted us permision to show the image taken from her famous print entitled 'Mars and Venus mow the Lawn'.

Footprints in the Early Morning Dew on The Lawn

We have reached the time of the year now when it is impossible to wander across your lawn without getting your feet soaked from the dew on the grass. Professional Turf Managers know all about dew and the impact it's presence has on their playing surface and work. Dew on the grass will delay the start of their day and it is the dew water droplets that freeze during night time frosts.

Gordon Brown and his Team Hate Lawns

An army of town hall snoopers could soon be telling people what they can and cannot grow in their gardens. Fast-growing plants and even lawns could be banned, under Labour’s latest environmental blitz.

People would be forced to get planning permission to make changes in their gardens in order to help the Government hit its targets for reducing waste according to The Daily Express this week.

'Wembley Pitch' Up for Auction

There is no doubt that the British public are keen lawn owners, mad on their sport and that if you have an endless amount of money then you can buy a real piece of football history - Wembley Football Pitch.

A 'Walk Over' in Chemical Application

At the recent SALTEX Exhibition, I was pleased to see an old favourite of mine, rising from the ashes of the liquidation and ultimate failure of a large turf machinery supplier.

The origins of Allen Power Equipment can be traced back to 1868, since which time the company has had a reputation as a pioneer in the industry being among the first to bring ride-on mowers, nylon trimmers and garden sweepers to the UK market but sadly no more....

Insurance Cover for Lawn Treatment Companies & Turf Professionals

Getting the right Insurance Cover for your business activities is so important these days, especially where the application of pesticides is concerned. Why is it that some Insurance Companies always see the application of Pesticides as a potential hazardous occupation when those that apply turf care products are professionals who really do know what they are doing? One Insurance Company has had an industry specific scheme running for a couple of years now with the interests of those employed in The Sports Turf Industry - read on...

Saltex Review by The Grass Clippings Team

SALTEX - Sports and Leisure Trade Exhibition held last week at Windsor Racecourse started on a very wet day and they broke camp on a very wet day too. Oh how glad we were not to be exhibiting this year as we have since 1994. It seems to have rained ever since too!

Philip Voice from Landscape Juice Network accompanied me to the show having made a special trip over from France to attend. Expectations were running high....

Training in the Safe use of Pesticides

The National Proficiency Tests Council - NPTC is the largest nationally recognised awarding body within the landbased sector with a history going back to the Young Farmer's Club Movement in the 1930s when the achievement of skill was encouraged through competitions at club, region and county level.

The aim of The NPTC is to promote competence and professionalism in the workforce of the land-based and related industries by the encouragement of continuous learning and the recognition of skill.

Remote Aeration Treats The Parts That Others Cannot Reach

Terrain Aeration launch their new Remote Terralift machine, the lightest, smallest most manoeuvrable member of the Airforce fleet to date. Pedestrian operated, 60 cms wide and weighing in at just 80 kilos, the Remote Terralift can be carried up steps, turned around tight corners and taken through the narrowest entrances with ease.

Grass Clippings Team head to SALTEX

The Team of Grass Clippings are putting on their wellies and rain macs to visit this major industry exhibition to be held at Windsor Race Course on the 02 - 04 September 2008.

SALTEX - Sports and Leisure Trade Exhibition is the main event in the Calendar of Groundsmen and Turf Managers where they can update themselves on the latest technologies and products and equipment that have been launched in the Turf Care Industry over the past and coming 12 months.