Drought versus TURF
More news of the impact of the drought on the country’s turf growers.
Report by MATTHEW BAKER
A CLEAR picture of the effect that the prolonged shortage of water is having on the turf industry is still to emerge, suppliers are reporting, as the South-east continues to bear the brunt of restrictions on usage.
“Businesses in hosepipe ban
regions are being affected to various degrees when it comes to buying and selling turf,” comments Cedric McMillan, Sales and Marketing Director of Rolawn. “Attributing any specific
figures to the hosepipe ban however is very difficult as so many other factors influence the market,” McMillan adds. He goes on to say that total sales of their turf have been “buoyant” for the year to date. Some domestic and commercial customers have delayed projects until the autumn, McMillan goes on, due to the current difficulty of ‘watering in’ newly laid turf. However, McMillan believes
that “resourceful customers” are continuing landscaping works at significant levels in some areas. The company remains confident that when the weather finally breaks, they are well prepared to meet the increased demand as customers catch up with the backlog of work. Turf performance during periods of drought is a major consideration for Rolawn, who say they are trialling new cultivars continuously to examine any benefit they may offer customers. Their Medallion Turf, for
example, combines drought tolerance with other properties vital to offering a high quality product that will perform well under typical year-round growing conditions. “A lawn or grassed area will last a lifetime with the correct care, in which time it will experience many different conditions; wet, hot, dry and cold,” McMillan says. “When purchasing turf, this should be borne in mind and a balanced overall view should be taken.” Since late spring 2006, the company has been harvesting a new enhanced seven cultivar mix, which Senior Product Manager Jonathan Hill says is proving to be very successful. A high percentage of the seed mix is creeping red fescue,
recognised as possibly the best performing cultivar in times of low rainfall in the UK. “Creeping red fescue is happy to go dormant during hot dry months returning to a green healthy condition as temperatures drop and rain returns. Five of the cultivars are rhizomatous, a quality that gives excellent strength, regeneration and sward density.” says Hill.
“Other cultivars contribute to
wear resistance, year round colour and fineness of appearance. The result is a very high quality turf that is suitable and adaptable to a range of conditions,” Hill states. For those in the industry feeling tempted to turn their backs on turf in favour of more manageable surfaces, McMillan has some timely reminders of its many qualities and benefits. “One factor that cannot be
ignored is the enormous environmental benefit that turf can offer, and the role it plays within our society,” he comments. “For children, turf makes an ideal play area surface - kicking a ball around on a hard surface is not the same for obvious reasons. Turf also absorbs large quantities of CO² from the atmosphere; it filters and helps rainwater enter the underground aquifers, unlike concrete or asphalt.” “On a hot summer’s day, turf will be significantly cooler than asphalt, concrete or bare soil; contributing to a reduction in the effects of heat. On top of this, sits one of the most evocative smells - freshly mown grass.” “As an industry we need to
ensure we are effective in promoting the benefits of turf to all market sectors and customer segments,” he concludes.
IN Lincolnshire, Fineturf are “carrying on as usual”, says director Simon Hutton, who has been irrigating his 90 acres, near Grantham, “22 hours a day”.
Although he is not suffering any water restrictions at the moment some sides of his business have slowed, he reports. “The phone is far quieter than normal. People are frightened of investing in turf at the moment, certainly for
“On a hot summer’s day one of the most evocative smells is
freshly mown grass” CEDRIC MCMILLAN
Sales & Marketing Director Rolawn
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