LSA UK Study Tour

Last week, we had the LSA UK Study Tour, visiting England’s most iconic sporting facilities, including Wimbledon, Lords Cricket Ground and more. Here’s a little sneak peek of the tour with more detail to be provided through Turf Talk and other communications.

A special thanks to Simon Hutton from Tillers Turf Company Ltd in the UK for helping put together this incredible trip.

On Sunday evening we officially launched the tour with all delegates attending the Welcome Reception at the London Wimbledon Hotel Broadway.

WIMBLEDON

On Monday we began our tour by jumping on the bus and heading to the home of tennis, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) at Wimbledon. We were hosted by the Head of Courts and Horticulture Neil Stubley who gave us a presentation and tour of the facilities and lawn surfaces.

LORDS CRICKET GROUND

From Wimbledon, we headed to Lords Cricket Ground where we were hosted by Head Groundsman Karl McDermott. For fans of cricket this was a very exciting stop to see and we learned a lot about what goes into preparing the turf surface for big events like the Ashes.

TWICKENHAM RUGBY STADIUM

We started day 2 by heading straight to the home of English Rugby – Twickenham Stadium. Here we were hosted by Head of Grounds and Technical Operations Jim Buttar who gave us incredible access to all areas, sharing their full turf management program and allowing us to spend some time out on the turf.

SUDBROOK MOOR GOLF CLUB

From Twickenham we headed up North away from the London area to Sudbrook Moor Golf Club, owned by Simon Hutton of Fineturf and Tillers Turf.

Here we were met by delegates from the TGA UK (British Turfgrowers Association) where both LSA and the TGA presented to all in attendance, sharing an insight into each respective country’s industry. Finishing off the day with some golf on the driving range and putting greens, before drinks and dinner to finish off the day.

TILLERS TURF

We jumped on the bus for day 3 of the UK Study Tour, with the day spent at Simon Hutton’s Tillers Turf in Newark. During the day we learnt all about the production, machinery and varieties grown and supplied to the UKMarket and the sporting facilities we have been visiting during our time here. Simon graciously showed us his extensive turf production locations, with a large number of exhibitors and machinery demonstrations also on display.In the evening we met up with the British growers once again for a dinner in Lincoln.

JCB FACTORY

Earlier start for Day 4 with the tour heading to the JCB Factory in Rocester for a tour of their world headquarters. A massive facility rich in history with innovation and production of machinery leading the industry.

MANCHESTER UNITED – OLD TRAFFORD

Then we were off to the home of the Red Devils, Manchester United Football Club and Old Trafford.
Head Groundsman Tony Sinclair presented to us inside the stadium providing us an insight into of one of the world’s most famous and successful sporting organisations. The ground is currently being resurfaced by Simon Hutton’s team at Fineturf.

Fast train from Manchester back to London where we completed the tour and headed home or onwards. Thanks to all who have joined us on this insightful tour, we’re sure a great deal has been learned and international connections developed supporting the Australian turf industry into the future.

Lawn Solutions Australia – Exclusive turf supplier network for Selling Houses Australia

We’ve had a great time being the exclusive turf supplier network for this year’s season of Selling Houses Australia. By the looks of these photos, Dennis Scott and the team had a great time too. Throughout series 16, a range of premium turf varieties were utilised including Sir Walter DNA Certified, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda and Sir Grange Zoysia. Thanks to all LSA Members who supplied turf throughout the series to ensure quality turf was featured throughout each program.

If you missed the series it’s not too late to catch up on all the episodes through Foxtel Now on the LifeStyle Channel with watch on demand.

https://www.foxtel.com.au/watch/selling-houses-australia.html

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda installed by Landscape Guru Dennis Scott at this beautiful house in Ellalong, NSW.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, supplied by Lilydale Instant Lawn. Dennis Scott and the team did a fantastic job of transforming this beautiful outdoor space in Brunswick.

Sir Walter DNA Certified installed in Turramurra, NSW.

Sir Walter DNA Certified at Mermaid Waters, Queensland.

SMART APPROVED WATERMARK

The Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) by the Water Conservancy is the first water efficiency accreditation scheme in the world to recognise drought-tolerant turf.

The Smart Approved Watermark was established by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Irrigation Australia, The Nursery and Garden Industry Association and the Australian Water Association, to provide an identifiable label for consumers so that they can make informed choices when choosing products, services and organisations that use water efficiently, reducing per capita water consumption and helping in the end goal of preserving such a precious resource.

In 2017, Lawn Solutions Australia applied for TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda to the Water Conservancy for Smart WaterMark Approval. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has led the way with independent testing through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) with significant trial data provided in its application demonstrating its superior drought tolerance characteristics. As a result, TifTuf was awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark, but with an exemption for Western Australia and the Northern Territory with data yet to be finalised for performance in these states and territories at the time.

Additional testing data was submitted to SAWM on the 23rd of February 2024 and was presented to the SAWM Expert Panel for deliberation.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Grass has now been approved by Smart Watermark’s Independent Expert Panel Nationally within Australia. The restriction has been lifted in Western Australia as well as in the Northern Territory from further testing results received.

TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the first and only turf grass to receive this for drought tolerance in Australia or anywhere in the world.

About Smart Approved WaterMark

Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) is the one-stop shop for water efficiency in Australia. Through its Smart Water Advice program, SAWM delivers a range of educational, interactive water-saving resources for councils and water utilities to take to communities about saving water around the home, garden, and business. SAWM certifies water-efficient products and services in Australia. With Smart Water Solutions, SAWM helps businesses reduce their water use and save money by delivering water audits and recommendations. SAWM has also published the ‘Water Efficient Australia’ 2019 report and ‘Water Efficiency 2017’ in partnership with Water Services Association Australia (WSAA). Smart Approved WaterMark works towards a blue future that celebrates the many amazing qualities of water, its strength, and its vulnerability.

Smart Approved WaterMark is now Smart Drop Certified

After careful consideration, The Water Conservancy’s Advisory Panel has made a decision to rebrand the Smart Approved WaterMark in order to build consumer awareness. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has now adopted the new Smart Drop Certified Logo.

In the US, TifTuf has now also been certified under the program which means TifTuf is the first turf grass not just in Australia, but throughout the world, to receive recognition to this level of water saving efficiency.

Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) featured prominently at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show held recently promoting the LSA network of turf suppliers and their range of premium lawn varieties.

Staged at the world heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from the 20th to the 24th of March, this year’s event was an incredible experience. Over 107,000 people came through the gates across the five days, with a huge number of people converging on Melbourne for both the Show and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The Show features the best talent in landscaping, gardening, and floral design from right around Australia each year. With a large range of exhibitors showcasing their garden products and innovations.

The LSA range of turf grasses featured heavily across the world-class display gardens, showcasing their versatility to be used across a variety of spaces and designs. LSA members and staff, including ambassadors Charlie Albone and Jason Hodges, experienced an incredible number of enquiries and interactions throughout the week, handing out thousands of turf information guides and answering a range of lawn-related questions.

Lawns are such an integral part of the environment and gardens, and it was great to see how interested the public is in using the different turfgrass options available in a range of spaces and functions. The incredible artistry on show throughout the display garden entries exemplified the versatility of grass and how it can be used as a feature component within the landscape.

The Lawn Solutions Australia Lawn Display

Lawn Solutions Australia has enjoyed being an exhibitor and presenting partner at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show for many years.
This year’s lawn display was simple yet striking with Charlie Albone and the team at Venus Landscaping designing and building the display over the week leading into the start of the event.

The display featured Lawn Solutions Australia’s premium turf varieties Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Grange Zoysia and the newly introduced Zoysia Australis.

Thank you to everyone involved and special mention to the team at Venus Landscaping for their efforts on the build.

Why Sir Grange Zoysia is the Perfect ‘Contaminant Free’ Ground Covering

In light of increasing reports of Asbestos being found in contaminated woodchips and bark material across various public space areas, we must identify superior contaminant-free, safe solutions and alternatives for these areas.

Woodchips, mulch and other mediums like sand are often used in playgrounds and swing areas as a low-maintenance ground covering, but they rarely stay clean and user-friendly for very long and have been found to suffer from asbestos contamination. This is highly concerning when there is a much better ground covering that could be used, a green and low-maintenance solution that is free of contaminants and safe for our families and environments.

This turf variety is Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Grange is a Zoysia Matrella grass that offers a level of versatility in turfgrass that has been unseen until recent years. It has a stunning fine blade and a beautiful dark green colour. But most importantly, it can be left completely unmown and still look fantastic.

This makes Sir Grange Zoysia the perfect solution to the current asbestos issue. Woodchips can be removed and replaced with an incredible grass that requires next to no mowing at all, is soft and safe for playgrounds, is much more aesthetically pleasing and provides the assurance that the new ground covering will be asbestos free.

Often when we think about grass, it’s in the context of a lawn, sporting field or expansive park areas, and Sir Grange Zoysia can certainly be used in these applications. But its areas that we wouldn’t traditionally adopt grass where Sir Grange is truly providing an alternative floor covering and solution for troublesome landscaping areas. Garden beds, playgrounds, median strips, alongside bike paths and pedestrian footpaths – all of these areas are high maintenance areas for councils to maintain and are commonly filled with woodchips and other materials that requires regular replacement and upkeep. Sir Grange Zoysia can be used in all of these areas providing a much better outcome for councils and for the public.

Sir Grange is great in areas that are difficult to get to for maintenance purposes and can tolerate high wear once established. The reason this turf requires less mowing is due to it having a very slow growth pattern and limited height of growth. Sir Grange will grow until it reaches a certain height (about 15 to 20cm). After that, it virtually stops growing vertically and looks fantastic.

This makes Sir Grange the ideal solution for public parks and playgrounds, council verges, roadsides, sloping areas, sporting applications like golf courses and in the home lawn and play areas just like this one.

Available Australia wide

When purchasing your Sir Grange Zoysia lawn, make sure you are dealing with a genuine Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier.

 You can find the contact details of these suppliers near you here.

Lawn Solutions Australia’s Monumental Conference

Celebrating Excellence, Innovation, and Camaraderie in the Turf Industry

Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) proudly hosted its highly anticipated Global Turf Conference and Awards Dinner in the beautiful Tweed Heads, New South Wales. This year’s conference was truly global, with esteemed guests and speakers from the UK, USA, and Southeast Asia converging to share insights and expertise. As the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the conference offered an incredible opportunity for LSA’s national network of accredited turf Members to learn, network, and be inspired by an impressive array of speakers.

The conference kicked off with a warm welcome on Monday, 31st July, with a canapes and drinks welcome function. The event was graced by industry partners, whose support played a pivotal role in making the conference a resounding success. Among LSA’s long-standing Platinum partners, Husqvarna Australia stood tall, renowned for their pioneering gardening and lawn equipment that has been taming the wild since 1689. Similarly, Trimax Mowing Systems left attendees amazed with their innovation in producing industry-leading commercial mowing equipment.

Industry Partners at the Forefront

LSA’s collaboration with a range of industry partners has been vital in advancing the turf sector. Partners such as Greenway Turf Solutions, Finlease, Nuturf, Firefly Automatix, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, Turf Biosolutions, Syngenta, Living Turf, Equipment Solutions, Envu, STRI, AusGAP, and Lawn Lovers contributed significantly to the conference’s success.

Event Overview

The two-day conference, held on 31st July and 1st August, was packed with a blend of entertainment, insightful business content, and thought-provoking sessions from both local and international guests.

Keynote Speakers

Andrew Daddo was our MC for the event, the celebrated Australian television personality, delivered an engaging opening keynote, sharing his genuine interest in the turf industry and captivating the audience with his own lawn experiences.

Gavin Rogers, Lawn Solutions Australia Director and CEO, reflected on LSA’s achievements, future goals, and the collective impact they aim to achieve in the years to come.

The conference featured an esteemed lineup of speakers from around the world.

Jonathan MacDonald, a strategic changemaker, award-winning author, and keynote speaker, shared valuable insights into change, digital transformation, and mindset. Jonathon provided some big-picture assessments of what it takes to create success in our businesses but also provided some really direct and tangible advice that could be taken on board and actioned.

Brandon Eubanks from Patten Seed Co./Super-Sod (USA) highlighted their journey of growing the business to 10 turf production facilities and over 20 retail stores, providing the supply of turfgrasses across several US states. Super-Sod is arguably the largest turf production company in the US, with production and harvesting capacities unmatched in the US, but quite possibly the entire world.

Dr Ambika Chandra, a leading researcher from Texas A&M University (USA), showcased her role in breeding warm-season turfgrass species for various applications, particularly the ones brought to Australia through LSA’s collaborations. We were so pleased to have Dr Chandra with us here in Australia, with a range of newly developed buffalo grass species from Dr Chandra’s program currently being under assessment here in Australia.

Dr Christian Spring, the lead scientist at STRI (UK), revealed the institute’s extensive services, including stadium designs, sports turf R&D, and consultancy, emphasising the quality of sports turf engineering. Dr Spring has an impressive resume as a self-professed ‘turf geek’, where he gets to be involved in the scientific aspects of preparing and maintaining world-class sports turf surfaces like those featured at facilities like Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium in the UK.

Scott Rowe, the Open Spaces Manager at Shellharbour City Council, shared his passion for creating quality open spaces within budget constraints, with turf playing a pivotal role. New and improved varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia and TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda have provided solutions in his council region that save their teams time and ultimately allow them to allocate their resources more efficiently.

Brad Burgess, the founder of Sports Turf Solutions (STS), presented his journey of setting up successful turf farms and sports field construction businesses in Southeast Asia. Brad has supplied new and improved zoysia varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia, to some of the world’s best golf courses in the region and continues to adopt best practices for creating highly sustainable and low-input golf courses.

Simon Hutton, a leading figure in the Sports Turf Industry from Tillers Turf (UK), showcased his vast experience in turf farming, supplying turf and maintenance services to most of the top stadiums and sports across the UK. Referred to as the ‘UK Turf Master’, Simon started his career at a very young age and continues to grow his impressive resume of projects and innovations within his sector of the UK turf industry.

Tommy Dean, the renowned American comedian, provided a light-hearted yet insightful take on the cultural differences between Americans and Australians, bringing laughter to the audience. Tommy has featured at three Lawn Solutions conferences now, with his comprehension and assessment of our industry providing plenty of laughs to everyone in the crowd.

Lawn Solutions Australia invites a range of turf industry guests each year to the conference and this year we invited the very best of those who represent lawns in Australia on social media. In a testament to the growing influence of these lawn enthusiasts, LSA invited top representatives from Australian Lawn Fanatics AUSLF, Lawn Tips, The Aussie Lawn, and Lawn Care Australia. These “Lawnfluencers” (a term I’m sure many of them are still becoming comfortable with) have significantly contributed to online lawn communities, offering valuable insights and expertise.

The conference culminated with the LSA Awards night, recognising outstanding achievements and dedication of LSA Members and their teams. The awards celebrated excellence in various aspects, setting high standards for the industry across the country.

The Lawn Solutions Australia Global Turf Conference 2023 was an unforgettable event that brought together the global turf community in a spirit of camaraderie, excellence, and innovation. The conference’s impact will undoubtedly resonate within the industry for years to come, as LSA and its Members continue to adopt and seek out innovation, foster collaboration as a network, and continue to set the standard for the turf industry and the future of Australian lawns.