Landscaping was always prevalent during the 70s and 80s when people had fewer work hours and could afford to take the time out to decorate the space around their homes. In the early 2000s, most of this work was abandoned or given to professionals. Many people even started DIY landscaping
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between
Wildlife Trust has launched a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre, following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects to reimagine the imposing grey urban jungle and replace the concrete with 100%
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), the leading trade association for UK landscaping professionals, has teamed up with BALI Registered Affiliate Vectorworks UK to offer garden designer members an exclusive membership benefit package worth over £2,500 per year, aptly named BALI Blueprint. BALI is delighted to be working closely
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has opened registrations for the 44th BALI National Landscape Awards 2020, to be held virtually for the first time on Friday 4th December 2020. Join from 12.30pm for a sponsor’s introduction with the ceremony commencing from 1pm. BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented, “While our
If you’re searching for simple landscaping ideas which will help you add curl appeal to your front yard, simply continue reading to discover a few inexpensive landscaping ideas which will help you transform your front yard on a budget. Small front yard landscaping ideas on a budget: Invest in purchasing
On Thursday 10th September 2020 the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) successfully staged its National Annual General Meeting (AGM) online for the first time in its 48-year history, with members agreeing to vote for all propositions. Members were invited to join some of BALI’s Landscape House team and Executive
The pernicious and invasive native weed commonly called Horsetail has been around since the Palaeozoic era, which lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago. That means it was thriving before dinosaurs, and it used to grow to 98 feet tall. So, I think it is fair to say that
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The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has launched its COVID-19 restart & rebuild strategy, incorporating three specific strands of support to help members out of lockdown. The strategy has been designed to provide guidance and support to members in three ways; firstly, helping those individuals working for BALI members
Landscaping was always prevalent during the 70s and 80s when people had fewer work hours and could afford to take the time out to decorate the space around their homes. In the early 2000s, most of this work was abandoned or given to professionals. Many people even started DIY landscaping projects with a level of enthusiasm, mostly propagated by the latest trends and innovative ideas available around them. According to experts like Sand4U, landscaping supplies have seen an increasing demand in the market since last year. If you are one of those looking to start their landscaping project but aren’t sure how to get the right materials, we’ve got you covered. Let’s look at some standard landscaping supplies and how you can make the right purchase. Soil If your plants don’t have good soil to rest, they will wither and die no matter how much care you give them. This is why it is essential to have the best quality soil you can find. Look for soil variants that have an even texture instead of clumps and stones. You can also smell the earth to check for any un-decomposed organic material or toxins. Rocks Rocks have a varied use in landscaping. They are mostly used for adding a more natural aesthetic to your garden. You can also use them to define certain limits and boundaries to your garden. For a completely natural look, go for rocks that are covered in moss and lichen. Smooth stones are appropriate for garden walls and fountains. Gravel Gravel can be used for making a pavement in your garden that blends with the natural surroundings. Gravel used for this purpose must have different particle sizes to provide a stable base when compacted. If you are using gravel for aesthetic reasons, you can go for coloured pebbles and make sure that the pebbles you buy are roughly the same size. Sand There are different types of sand when it comes to landscaping. If you are using sand for a child’s pit, then make sure that it is clean and free of sharp stones or pebbles. Bricklayers sand contains clay that helps it bind together more efficiently. If you like using sand as a base for paving, then coarse washed sand is the way to go. Mulches There are two types of mulches. Inorganic mulches contain pebbles and gravel, while organic mulches are made from plant materials and animal manure. If you are staying in a warm region, then sugar cane mulch is also an excellent option. Make sure you go for decomposed mulches to avoid nitrogen drawdown. This is a common problem with improperly composted organic mulches. Timber One of the main components of creating a boundary to your garden is a fence, and to make a strong fence, you need high-quality timber. Pine tends to be more resistant to termites, but this is only if the pine is well treated. The experts like Sand4U repeatedly stress that untreated pine is not very durable. Hardwood is another option for durability, but you must check for the drying period and the original material.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between £100k-£250k category, sponsored by Registered Affiliate Van den Berk Nurseries. PWP Landscape Design’s Grand Award project saw the installation team tackle an extensive formal garden with a strong axis and layout, providing an enviable outlook from the house with colour and year-round interest. Aggregates, soil, turf, porcelain paving, steels and plant stock had to be craned over the house whilst it was still under construction. The garden includes an extensive lawn, hedges and borders, steel pergola, formal beds and a central sunken walled patio. BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented on their achievement, “PWP Landscape Design has entered our prestigious hall of fame, which includes 44 highly regarded Grand Award winning schemes from the last four decades. Our members, led by PWP Landscape Design, have once again demonstrated they are some of the most talented professionals in the UK, and we rightly celebrate them at the largest landscaping ceremony of its kind in Europe. I am delighted for Adrian, Ian and their team on such a magnificent scheme and I extend my personal congratulations to you, and to all our winners this year. COVID-19 may have placed restrictions on us in 2020, but it has done nothing to stop the quality, dedication and spirit of our members.” On the Grand Award, Chair of the Adjudication Panel John Melmoe said, “Despite unbelievably challenging logistics and having to build this garden whilst the new-build house was under construction, PWP Landscape Design demonstrated superb workmanship across every aspect of the scheme. Precision cutting of the hard elements and expert selection and planting of quality stock has resulted in faultless landscaping perfection and an ecstatic client.” Based in Leeds, PWP Landscape Design specialise in creating distinctive, functional and sustainable outdoor spaces, with a reputation for immaculate attention to detail and innovative design resolution. The team comprises of landscape architects, garden designers and horticulturalists. Due to COVID-19 this year’s ceremony was held virtually, with hundreds of members, guests and VIPs tuning in to watch the special stream as it aired on Friday 4 December. Supported by Headline Sponsor and Registered Affiliate Green-tech, the annual event is a highlight for many in the landscaping calendar and provided the perfect end of year celebration which recognised the skills, hard work, quality, commitment and successes of Registered members. In total 124 entries were judged by BALI adjudicators over the summer with 70. National Landscape Awards bestowed on 49 members in September. Of these 18 Principal and 4 Special Awards were announced during the virtual broadcast, including Specials for Best Design & Build for PWP Landscape Design, Best Newcomer to BALI for Registered Contractor Smart Landscape Design, who also won a Principal for a Private Residence in Bristol, and Best First Time Entrant for Registered Designer Jilayne Rickards MBALI. Jilayne was also presented with Best Use of Recycled & Reclaimed Materials alongside Registered Contractor Landscaping Solutions for their joint work on Principal Award winning scheme The Urban Retreat – London. Registered Contractors idverde, Maylim, Frosts Landscape Construction, Bowles & Wyer, Tivoli Group, Landscape Associates, BlueFish Landscaping Contractors, John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance), Landform Consultants, Green Acorn Landscape Design and Construction and Talbot Farm Landscapes were also awarded Principals in their respective categories. Registered Designer Lynne Marcus MBALI MSGD achieved a Principal for her Private Residence in Pentworth, West Sussex whilst International member DDON Planning & Design Inc. took home a Principal for their spectacular The Taicang Wave Fountain Yard. This year’s Affiliate Exceptional Service Award went to Registered Affiliate CED Stone Group. 2020 was the third year the Awards were successfully delivered by the team at BALI’s Landscape House. Events Project Manager Emily Feeney, who was promoted into the role in August, said, “I am incredibly proud of the achievements of the team in 2020. Once again, the hard work and determination of everyone involved resulted in us hosting a successful virtual ceremony which entertained hundreds of our landscaping colleagues, industry organisations and VIPs. I would like to congratulate PWP Landscape Design and our winners this year, well done to you all. Finally, on behalf of my colleague Diane McCulloch, I would like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors. Without you there would be no ceremony and we truly value your ongoing support.” Although the event was held virtually, members took to social media to share photos of their teams watching the ceremony remotely in a concerted effort not to miss out on the celebrations. BALI’s best dressed competition, which launched several weeks ahead of the ceremony, proved popular with teams sharing snaps of their outfits in the hope of winning a £100 gift voucher. The result will be published on the BALI Awards Twitter and Instagram accounts on Monday 7 December 2020. A full list of award-winners and a description of the winning schemes is available on the BALI Awards website here.
Wildlife Trust has launched a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre, following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects to reimagine the imposing grey urban jungle and replace the concrete with 100% natural greenspace – the start of a big idea to reconnect the city to Sherwood Forest and invoke the spirit of Robin Hood – bringing wildlife to nature-poor city dwellers and the millions of visitors it attracts every year. “Transforming the Broadmarsh into a natural greenspace would bring people together and start putting the city’s nature into recovery at a time when natural greenspace has never been more valued or needed. It could also act as a springboard to securing investment in green growth and green infrastructure and deliver the long term aspiration of reconnect our city to the ancient Sherwood Forest landscape and we’re calling on people to back our vision,” said Paul Wilkinson, CEO of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Since the site was handed back to the Council in the summer, there has been much talk locally over the site’s future. A change.org petition calling for the area to be transformed into public greenspace secured almost 11,000 signatures and other polls have also supported calls for a new greenspace. As Nottingham seeks to recover from the human and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a healthy, wildlife rich natural world, and that we all depend on contact with nature for our wellbeing. The charity has worked with Influence Landscape Architects to reimagine the space transformed with wildlife habitats reflecting the site’s history as a wetland alongside the ancient course of the River Leen and long lost gardens. The inspiring vision for the site includes accessible walkways based on a centuries-old city street plan to reconnect key parts of the city. Despite the City’s stated ambition to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city it was recently ranked at number 18 in a list of the UK’s green cities following an assessment taking into account measures including emission, transport, waste and nature. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that a statement natural greenspace in the heart of the city would build climate change resilience, improve connectivity for people and provide an attractive backdrop for existing businesses as well as drawing in new investors – and is calling on people living and working in the City to back its vision As new development has replaced old, fragments of remaining greenspace and areas of ephemeral habitat, close to the former Broadmarsh Centre have disappeared and opportunities to recreate vital new green areas have been lost. The Trust believes the location of Broadmarsh is the ideal site for the City to demonstrate its commitment to its flagship Wellbeing Design Guide published by the Council in January – taking a truly ‘nature first’ approach which would be viewed as a statement of intent that it wishes to take a lead on the environment and build a greener future.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), the leading trade association for UK landscaping professionals, has teamed up with BALI Registered Affiliate Vectorworks UK to offer garden designer members an exclusive membership benefit package worth over £2,500 per year, aptly named BALI Blueprint. BALI is delighted to be working closely with one of the world’s leading Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) software providers, Vectorworks UK. The partnership sees BALI Associate Designer and Registered Designer members gain access to an exclusive range of dedicated services, sophisticated learning & development tools and training opportunities. If fully utilised, the BALI Blueprint package can save thousands off the bottom line for businesses and individuals who are looking for support from their trade association. BALI’s Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented: “Improving the membership benefit provision for designer members was one of our priorities. Many of our designers commented in this year’s membership survey that they wanted more design-specific support from BALI. By partnering with Vectorworks UK, our members now have access to a complete range of support services, from free training sessions with a landscape specialist to 5% off the price of a perpetual licence* to their leading Landmark software. Garden designers are an integral part of the landscaping industry and play a vital part in supporting our association. I am delighted to be able to provide them with an exclusive membership benefit that also provides a flexible learning environment, and I look forward to strengthening our relationship with Vectorworks UK in the months and years ahead.” The new membership benefit package is available in two stages. For Associate Designer members, BALI Blueprint offers an introduction to the world of Vectorworks UK. The perfect entry-point for any garden designer looking for an all-in-one program designed specifically for landscape professionals. This unique package is tailored towards assisting learning and development of key design skills and knowledge of sketching, modelling, and documenting any size project using their world-class and award-winning Landmark software. For Registered Designer members, there is BALI Blueprint+, a significantly upgraded package providing the perfect solution for any garden designer looking to hone their skillsets with this complete Vectorworks UK experience. The BALI Blueprint package for Associate Designer members, in full: 30-day free trial of Vectorworks software. This includes any of its software packages, including its popular Landmark, developed specifically for garden designers looking for a simple all-in-one CAD, BIM, sketch, draw and illustrate solution Free watermarked version of Vectorworks software for students for the duration of their studies, worth £2,445 per year if choosing the Landmark perpetual licence 40% off a perpetual licence of Landmark for graduates, if purchased within 12 months of their graduation date. That’s a saving of £978 off the annual fee *Exclusive 5% discount off the price of a perpetual licence of the Landmark software for any garden designer who hires an apprentice. This is a saving of £122.75 Exclusive opportunity to attend Vectorworks UK user groups. User groups are VIP sessions that are not available to all Vectorworks customers. The groups provide specialist insider knowledge of the software which you can pass on to your client Introducing BALI Blueprint+, exclusively for Registered Designer members Access to all of the above, plus; Four exclusive complimentary training sessions, held quarterly, with a landscape industry specialist, worth £495 per session with members voting on topics they want to cover Exclusive complimentary BALI Blueprint+ Bitesize lunchtime sessions, held on the last Friday of every month, with an industry specialist lasting 30 minutes. This is the equivalent of £450 in support time Commenting on the partnership, Vectorworks UK’s Landscape Specialist Katarina Ollikainen said, “We are very excited about this opportunity to work together with BALI – the emphasis on further education is something we strongly believe in and want to support. To create the framework for a continuous dialogue with members will set the base for a deeper understanding on how to manage projects of all sizes. It will also help with the promotion of sustainable design and push the value of Biodiversity Net Gain and wildlife friendly decisions to the forefront of the design process. We will concentrate on best practices and workflows, as well as dive deeper into the understanding of how to produce precise drawings and 3D models, both for clients and for use on site.” BALI designer members can now access BALI Blueprint or BALI Blueprint+ in their member’s area on the BALI website by logging in at bali.org.uk. This will include details of how to access the perpetual licence discount or how to book onto the free training where this is available. Garden designers are encouraged to speak to the BALI team during FutureScape Virtual 2020 on the 17th-19th November, where BALI will be exhibiting and Vectorworks UK are headline sponsors.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has opened registrations for the 44th BALI National Landscape Awards 2020, to be held virtually for the first time on Friday 4th December 2020. Join from 12.30pm for a sponsor’s introduction with the ceremony commencing from 1pm. BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented, “While our Awards event may have lost its physicality, I can assure you it won’t lose its quality, integrity, professionalism and grandeur.” This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the outstanding work carried out by BALI members and we invite you to join us in celebration by registering to attend the virtual ceremony where this year’s Principals, Specials and Grand Award will be announced. Unsure how you will celebrate on the day? Here are some ideas sent in by BALI members to help you get the most from our online event… Host a socially distanced watch party using Microsoft Teams or similar (John O’Connor Grounds Maintenance) Our management team, along with our office-based staff, will be celebrating this year’s virtual ceremony together, here at our head office (Landscape Associates) Restrictions permitting…we’re considering meeting up in a hotel bar with a laptop and table service! (PWP Landscape Design) For further information on this year’s virtual ceremony contact Events Project Manager Emily Feeney or visit baliawards.co.uk.
If you’re searching for simple landscaping ideas which will help you add curl appeal to your front yard, simply continue reading to discover a few inexpensive landscaping ideas which will help you transform your front yard on a budget. Small front yard landscaping ideas on a budget: Invest in purchasing nutrients to help your plants grow: To ensure that your front yard boasts healthy vibrant plants it’s well worth browsing the wide selection of nutrients at Eden Horticultural. As you’ll find it a lot easier to grow healthy, strong plants if you place nutrients in your plant beds’ soil. Especially if plants fail to thrive in your garden’s soil. Create an attractive stone pathway to your front door: Lay a simple stone pathway through your lawn to your front door. You may want to use large, mismatched sized stepping stones to create your path or you may want to use your stones to create a mosaic inspired path to your front door. Add a stone edge to your flower beds: In order to ensure that your flower beds stand out opt to create an eye catching stone edge to your flower beds. Adding a stone edge to your flower beds will also help your garden look polished and put together. Place solar lights at the base of any trees or shrubs in your front yard. Not only are solar lights inexpensively priced but if you place solar lights at the base of prominent trees or shrubs in your front yard, they’ll illuminate your trees or shrubs at night. You can also use solar motion activated lights to illuminate any pathways in your front yard at night. Repurpose an old wheelbarrow as a planter box: If you’re able to find an old wheelbarrow, give it a fresh coat of paint and repurpose it as a planter box which you’ll be able to use to grow your favorite flowers. As an example you may want to grow poppies or pansies in your repurposed planter box. You can even grow a variety of flowers in your planter box to create the illusion that wildflowers are growing in your planter box. Use mulch to create an island inspired flower bed: Why not create a flower bed island out of mulch? This is a particularly great idea if your front yard features a lot of grass which you’d like to visually break up. Hang decorative planter boxes outside your front windows: Use recycled wood to build decorative planter boxes which you’ll be able to hang in-front of your front windows in order to increase your home and garden’s curb appeal. You can even swap out the plants which you display from season to season. So if you’d love to give your front yard a makeover on a budget, it’s well worth using all of the handy landscaping tips listed above in order to give your front yard a brand new lease on life.
On Thursday 10th September 2020 the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) successfully staged its National Annual General Meeting (AGM) online for the first time in its 48-year history, with members agreeing to vote for all propositions. Members were invited to join some of BALI’s Landscape House team and Executive Board Directors, including, at the time, National Chairman Matt O’Conner and Vice Chairman Richard Kay, alongside Honorary Treasurer Richard Stone and Chief Executive Wayne Grills, for a 150-minute webinar which included over 60 minutes of presentations that followed the formal meeting. The event ran smoothly, with just under 40 members attending live on the day utilising sound technology that BALI invested in well before COVID-19 which allowed members to virtually cast their all-important votes on crucial Association matters. Some members who had sent apologies were still able to vote by proxy and their votes were received before the meeting and therefore included in the total counts. These included the adoption of the financial accounts for the year ending 31st March 2020 and the election of existing board directors who had offered to stand for re-election, including Design Director & Sustainability Director Rosemary Coldstream MBALI, a Registered Designer member of BALI, Governance Director Paul Downer of Registered Contractor Oak View Landscapes and Commercial Contracts Director Stuart Simpson of Registered Contractor Ashlea, who were all successfully re-elected. Long-serving Director Robert Field of Registered Contractor Robert Field Landscapes, who had previously held the position of National Chairman, decided to stand down from his duties on the board and did not seek re-election. BALI’s board of directors and the team at Landscape House extend their gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to Robert for his support and guidance over the numerous years he has served. Next on the agenda was the acceptance of the director’s recommendations to appoint a National Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Treasurer and Immediate Past Chairman. Richard Kay of Registered Affiliate Green-tech was successfully made National Chairman of the Association, replacing Matt O’Conner of Registered Contractor John O‘Conner Grounds Maintenance who was officially made Immediate Past Chairman. Nigel Bowcock of Registered Contractor Acre Landscapes was made Vice Chairman and Richard Stone of Registered Contractor Bawden Managed Landscapes will resume his role as Honorary Treasurer. The AGM culminated with the appointment of Adrian Wickham of Registered Affiliate Oracle Solicitors who has now joined BALI’s board of directors. Commenting on his appointment to the board, Adrian said: “I’m really proud to have been elected to join the BALI board. I can’t wait to get involved and to support the industry. Thank you to everyone who supported me.” On Twitter, Pete Jones of Registered Contractor Land Design Partnerships said: “Congratulations Adrian, a fantastic addition to the BALI board of directors, good luck in your new role.” Commenting on this year’s event, Wayne Grills said: “On behalf of the board of directors we are incredibly proud of the team at Landscape House for successfully hosting our first live AGM in this format. Members were impressed by the way in which the event was presented and took little time to comment on social media on how well it had gone. Although I missed the interaction with members in the room, I felt we managed to retain the essence of what an AGM is all about, giving our members a voice and a vote on their Association; how it’s run, who it’s run by and what our future direction should be. I would also like to thank Matt for his support and guidance over the last two years and congratulate Richard and Nigel for becoming Chair and Vice Chair respectfully. Finally, I would like to congratulate Adrian for his appointment to the board, a welcome addition of which we all approve.” Following the formal AGM, three speakers were invited to present, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Director of Gardens and Shows Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Registered Affiliate Ecosulis Cain Blythe and Jason Pollock, Plant Health Regulation Lead and Trade Adviser from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Helena provided an update on the RHS’s plans for 2021. Cain focused on the subject of rewilding, which saw Registered Designer Jilayne Rickards MBALI say: “This is inspirational. Such a great speaker. I would like more information on how garden designers can help introduce rewilding in small urban garden settings” whilst Rachael Booth from Registered Affiliate Water Gems (Alba) added: “Great presentation, looking forward to having a chat with Cain after the AGM as we’re also working on a project called ‘Rewilding Roborough Fields’ in Devon so this couldn’t be better timed.” The final presentation was carried out by Jason whose comprehensive and detailed overview of the plant passporting regulations were well received.
The pernicious and invasive native weed commonly called Horsetail has been around since the Palaeozoic era, which lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago. That means it was thriving before dinosaurs, and it used to grow to 98 feet tall. So, I think it is fair to say that there is no quick fix if you want to control it. But it can be done. Deep-rooted, spore-spreading Equisetum arvense is the bane of many a gardener’s life, spreading quickly to form a dense carpet of foliage up to 20 inches high and crowding out many less vigorous plants in beds and borders. However, if it is discovered on a construction site, it can cause a major headache for developers, who then have to prove to the satisfaction of planning, building control and certification bodies that it has been properly dealt with. Sometimes called a living fossil, Horsetail is related to ferns. It is easily recognised by its upright, fir tree-like shoots. The problem is that its creeping rhizomes can reach down to seven feet under the surface and, even if it is laboriously dug out, small remnants can quickly re-establish the invasion. It is not notifiable, but it is classed as problematic and can grow up through tarmac. It is not anything like as scary as Japanese Knotweed but its presence on a building site creates real problems which can be time-consuming and costly to resolve. The most common response is to dig the intruder out and remove it – this is the tack most usually taken by council inspectors – but this course of action can create its own issues. The spoil containing the weed can only go to landfill and, as every builder knows, landfill taxes are increasingly onerous. There are also the costs of transporting it in a safe and compliant manner. These costs can sometimes be enough to make a site commercially unviable. But the reality is that dig-and-remove should be the last, rather than the first, option. There are much more economical and environmentally sensitive ways to reduce the infestation and keep it under control. The key is to have a sustainable Horsetail management plan and to engage closely with the relevant local authority personnel in order to persuade them of its efficiency and to demonstrate that the plan will stand both the test of time and the plant’s determined nature. The next element of the plan may seem counterintuitive, but it involves retaining the Horsetail-contaminated material on site. This has the immediate benefit of stripping out the major costs in dig-and-remove. The obvious question is: what do you do with it on-site? The answer is two-fold. Firstly, the material can be stock-piled and used for landscaping, protected by a suitable geo-textile membrane barrier to prevent spread or obtrusion. Secondly, knowing that the weed will spread where it can, the strategy is to direct it towards grassed areas where it can be mown regularly. Frequent cutting exhausts the spore-bearing first shoots and allows it to be kept in check and even wholly eradicated over a number of years. Infestations can also be weakened with proprietary herbicides, though the waxy cuticles which prevent penetration must be compromised first. This can be done by bruising the plant before application or by use of appropriate adjuvents to enhance the efficacy of the herbicides. In the end it is all about management on site and developing a dialogue with local authority officials to convince them that the plan is viable and sustainable. To achieve this expert advice is indispensable – Horsetail is a cunning and resourceful enemy and it needs to be taken on by professionals who not only know how to beat it but also how to save their clients from the most expensive and unnecessarily complex options. Keith Gallacher is Director of Complete Weed Control Scotland.
Mаrаthоn Sod іѕ knоwn thrоughоut Southern California in tеrmѕ of іtѕ durаbіlіtу аnd ѕресtасulаr арреаrаnсе. Thе ѕресіеѕ аrе tall fеѕсuе blеnd оf the Bаjа аnd Hubbаrd 87 varieties. Selective brееdіng hаѕ bееn іmрlеmеntеd іn the production оf mаrаthоn sod, ѕо you can еxресt оutѕtаndіng ԛuаlіtу compared tо average sod. Fоr іnѕtаnсе, when іt comes tо turf ԛuаlіtу, Hubbard 87 is thе tор 1, bаѕеd оn thе Nаtіоnаl Turfgrass Evаluаtіоn Prоgrаm, which is sponsored bу thе USDA. Bаѕісаllу, Marathon sod or ѕоd refers tо lіvіng grаѕѕ, аnd іt hаѕ dеvеlореd rооtѕ аnd fіttеd іn a ріесе оf ѕоіl, ѕо you саn ѕіmрlу place it іn уоur уаrd. In fact, you саn еffоrtlеѕѕlу рlасе ѕоd any time you wаnt, wіth the еxсluѕіоn оf wіntеr ѕіnсе the frоzеn ground саn lead to ѕеvеrаl problems. Hоwеvеr, wіth рrореr рlасеmеnt, уоu will have nо worries whеn іt соmеѕ to еnѕurіng thе lush appearance оf уоur lаwn over time. Thіѕ professionally grоwn ѕоd іѕ rather health and сараblе оf dеvеlоріng ѕtrоng rооtѕ with рrореr fеrtіlіzіng аnd watering. HОW TO HAVE AN HЕАLTHУ MARATHON SOD LАWN? If уоu wаnt tо have nice Marathon sod with luѕh green lаwn, to help you in mаіntаіnіng your grаѕѕ through рrореr mоwіng іѕ the kеу tо уоur success. Hеrе аrе ѕоmе tірѕ to help уоu оut: First and fоrеmоѕt, it’s іmроrtаnt tо understand how to mow уоur lаwn рrореrlу. Mаkе sure you аlwауѕ uѕе a hіghеr ѕеttіng, еѕресіаllу durіng thе hоt ѕummеr mоnthѕ. Nеvеr mоw tоо lоw because thіѕ саn саuѕе scalping, whісh іѕ thе numbеr one rеаѕоn whу lаwnѕ grоw unevenly. Nеvеr tаkе tоо muсh grass оff whеn сuttіng – thіѕ іѕ another bіg mіѕtаkе mаnу people mаkе. Never mow mоrе thаn a third оf thе length оf thе grаѕѕ blades. Hоwеvеr, іf you thіnk уоur lawn іѕ grоwіng ԛuісklу аnd сuttіng 1/3 оf the blаdе doesn’t ѕееm to hаvе the dеѕіrеd effect, уоu саn wаіt a fеw days аnd thеn mow аgаіn. Sоmеtіmеѕ іt’ѕ nесеѕѕаrу tо mow twо tіmеѕ a wееk tо keep your lаwn looking bеаutіful. It’s аlѕо important tо keep your mоwіng blаdеѕ vеrу ѕhаrр. If уоu mow уоur lawn wіth a dull blаdе, іt wіll tear thе еndѕ оf thе grаѕѕ instead оf cut thеm. Thіѕ сrеаtеѕ rаggеdу edges that have a tеndеnсу tо turn brоwn аnd make your lаwn lооk drіеd оut. You mау also саuѕе рrоblеmѕ with funguѕ and lawn diseases іf уоu сut wіth a dull blade. Always mоw in different dіrесtіоnѕ. Fоr іnѕtаnсе, оnе wееk mоw diagonally, the nеxt wееk mоw horizontally, аnd thе wееk after that mоw іn a vertical раttеrn. Chаngіng thе dіrесtіоn іn whісh you mоw іѕ аn еffесtіvе method оf mowing bесаuѕе іt рrеvеntѕ thе lеаnіng of grаѕѕ blаdеѕ оn уоur lawn. Nеvеr make sharp turnѕ when mоwіng уоur lawn. If уоu аvоіd turnіng уоur mоwеr sharply, уоu’ll achieve bеttеr results. Thе easiest way tо mаkе a ѕmооth turn is to use a wаlkwау, раtіо, оr drіvеwау tо turn the mоwеr. Another орtіоn іѕ tо mаkе hеаdеr ѕtrірѕ thаt turn thе mоwеr at the еnd оf еасh rоw аѕ уоu rеасh thе header. If уоu dо thіѕ уоu wіll get a nice еvеn сut – faster turns always еnd uр сrеаtіng an unеvеn appearance. USES OF MARATHON SОD Mаrаthоn sod іѕ uѕеful in a numbеr of settings. It саn be used tо beautify hоmеѕ such аѕ араrtmеnt соmрlеxеѕ аnd and tуреѕ of residential аrеаѕ. Yоu wіll аlѕо love having ѕоd in the раrkѕ аnd рlауgrоundѕ, аѕ thіѕ gіvеѕ these areas a lush and vіbrаnt арреаl. Aѕ for thе features of a marathon ѕоd, іt comes wіth a ѕtunnіng dark grееn color – аll year round. It grоwѕ аbоut 1 tо 1.5 іnсhеѕ a wееk durіng the ѕummеr, аnd a bіt ѕlоwеr grоwth rаtе іn the wіntеr with a wееklу growth оf 0.5 іnсh. Whеn it comes to the tеxturе, the width of thе lеаvеѕ is аt 1/8 tо 1/4 inch. Leaves will аlѕо арреаr narrower іn winter mоnthѕ аnd ѕоmеwhаt wіdеr in thе wаrmеr ѕummеr ѕеаѕоn.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has launched its COVID-19 restart & rebuild strategy, incorporating three specific strands of support to help members out of lockdown. The strategy has been designed to provide guidance and support to members in three ways; firstly, helping those individuals working for BALI members whose mental health may have suffered due to the virus, secondly, supporting member businesses with financial, HR and legal support, as well as professional advice for working safely whilst on site, and thirdly promoting members to clients via the BALI website to generate new leads. BALI’s Chief Executive, Wayne Grills, commented on the latest strategy, “The resilience and determination of our members to get back to work, safely and responsibly, continues to impress me. Throughout COVID-19 I have seen countless examples of ways in which members have supported each other, their local communities and frontline workers, and we owe it to them to ensure their businesses and employees are protected with professional guidance and support. That is why, today, we are announcing our latest strategy to do just that; support, promote and inspire.” The UK’s leading trade association for landscaping professionals, whose membership totals around 2,000 members across all four nations of the UK, over 900 of whom are Registered, has confirmed the strategy will be delivered under three distinct headings; people, prepare and promotion. People – Providing assistance to those individuals employed by BALI members who need help and support with issues related to COVID-19. BALI’s team at Landscape House are ready to listen and provide advice to support mental wellbeing, as well as working with industry partners who can provide expert support. Prepare – Provide guidance to help business owners, managers and supervisors prepare for a return to work scenario with free COVID-19 specific documents, templates and webinars. From HR and legal to business support; BALI will further increase the availability of free resources to help with business acumen, recruitment, marketing and advertising. Promotion – Rebuild client confidence in using an accredited landscape professional by advertising BALI on search engines and social media, centred around the key message the industry is open and trading safely. Raise awareness of BALI’s membership benefits and how they can be utilised to support businesses looking to secure new work. In May, BALI surveyed members to help identify how wide an impact the virus has had on members and their businesses and to find out how it could continue to help with guidance and support post lockdown. Highlights from the responses received include: Over half of members (53%) have partially furloughed their workforce 3% more staff working from home (51%) than those in on-site positions (48%) who are already back to work and adhering to strict social distancing measures 40% of members have seen contracts postponed and 13% cancelled Almost 40% of members reported that their company turnover will be affected for more than 12 months, with 20% reporting the hit will be more than 50% Almost 60% of members applied for funds from the Job Retention Scheme 63% of members want BALI to seek further clarity from government on ‘permitted works that are currently defined as outdoor working’ 72% of members want BALI to provide more guidance and support on ‘return to worksite-based guidance (safety measures for operatives and supervisors)’ and almost half want more help with ‘business development (marketing consideration)’. To deliver the strategy, BALI is planning to support members through COVID-19 to 31 March 2021 and beyond if required. Although the team hopes things will return to normal soon, in the meantime, they will continue to support members longer term with a continual development plan that follows government advice pertaining to COVID-19 as well as any feedback attained from members. Some of the ways BALI will deliver the new strategy: Update its COVID-19 support webpage to make it even easier for members to find those helpful documents, templates and links Update relevant COVID-19 documentation and supporting templates in line with the latest guidance for both England and Scotland Develop a Code of Principles for members and their clients Host a 60-minute HR-focused webinar with legal representation on Tuesday 16 June 2020, in conjunction with Oracle Solicitors, with more free webinars planned throughout the year BALI and Perennial will host a mental health training and awareness webinar on Friday 19 June, designed to support individuals who may be struggling to cope with COVID-19 BALI will be kicking off four informal drop-in sessions for members, online every Thursday throughout June, starting on Thursday 11 June 2020. Members can join from across the UK to share stories and catch up with team members from BALI Landscape House Launch a Google and Facebook advertising campaign in July to boost the number of client referrals to the BALI website in order to provide more leads for members listed online BALI is planning a new series of digital marketing webinars for July and August, designed to support members looking to advertise their business post COVID-19 BALI’s Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) Health, Safety & Environmental Awareness Course is now online for Operative level, so Training Providers can sign up now to continue providing ROLO-related services. ROLO Supervisor and Manager are both anticipated to launch later in 2020 Continue publishing physical and digital copies of both Landscape News and the Who’s Who Landscape Directory to keep the membership network connected, informed and to promote members Continue lobbying on behalf of the landscape industry on critical COVID-19 related topics, as well as plant health and biosecurity issues If you are a BALI member and would like more information on the new strategy, including how you can get involved, contact the team at Landscape House on +44 (0)24 7669 0333 or email contact@bali.org.uk. For the latest information and support material for COVID-19 visit bali.org.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-coronavirus. The portal includes helpful documents and templates that can be downloaded free of charge. Some documents may be available for BALI members only and a login will be required.
