usual - irrigating 22 hours a day”
“
...carrying on as SIMON HUTTON, Fineturf
happy to go dormant
“Creeping fescue is
dry months” JONATHAN HILL, Rolawn
during hot,
use in lawns,” he believes. The sportsturf contracting side of his business is keeping up well though. “Seeding and renovation are in big demand and there’s a big increase in the number of pitches we are working on. Last year, we renovated 63 football pitches - this year we are up to 77 already.”
The domestic market down south has been hit particularly hard, says Hutton, who predicts the possibility of turf shortages and a compromise on turf quality among growers. “We don’t know the full extent of the shortfall yet because of the growing cycle of turf. During this prolonged period of below-average rainfall and water restrictions, growers may have to make tough decisions, watering 50% of their turf sufficiently, while watering another 25% just enough to keep it alive. The rest may have to be left to its
own devices. If it recovers when rain returns, all well and good, if not . . . Because no turf is sold younger than 14-16 months, before long, shortages may start to be felt.”
When asked if growers should increase prices in a bid to screen buyers, Hutton stands firm. “Yes, there should be a price rise at this time of year, but the only way such a move would work would be if every grower agreed to increase prices and stuck to their guns.” At such times as these, specialist sportsturf is always watered preferentially, Hutton maintains, although nationally, the acreage is minimal compared with that devoted to domestic supply. Fineturf ’s usual growing
regimes are still in place, Hutton continues. “Because we only have 90 acres, we can focus on ensuring the turf is in prime condition. Although
we have not looked into trials of more drought resistant seed mixes, we will certainly do so if the demand is there.” Lincolnshire is blessed with
large quantities of water stored underground, Hutton says. However, he believes the Government should get tougher on the water companies. “They should be forced to build more reservoirs for storage - and legislation is needed to address leakages by the independent water companies, restrict their profits and plough more into repairs and maintenance of water pipes.”
d
on the 12th, 13th and 14th fairways with
AFT100
AFT45
MULTI-USE T
BANDER
Machines for all of your needs DRAINAGE - AS YOU WANT IT, WHEN YOU NEED IT 8
www.pitchcare.com/re 17
Install main drains on football fields
with AFT WizzWheel
Fill bunkers on 6th & 8th using
e Lay
irrigation pipes to
outbuildings with AFT45
nstall andslits on rugby tches with AFT45
WizzWheel
Remove surface
water from 3rd tee with AFT
Sandbander
AFT Trenchers Ltd. T: (01787) 311811 F: (01787) 310888
info@trenchers.co.uk www.trenchers.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99