Servest Turf

Servest Turf Technical Services Department: Our Driven and Enthusiastic Team

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

One of the Servest values is that we value our people.. We enjoy providing opportunities and experiences to enable our staff to develop, learn new skills and grow professionally. At the Servest Turf Technical Services Department we have the pleasure of working with three particularly driven and enthusiastic individuals, and would like to share their stories with you. The Turf Technical Services Department ensures all of Servest’s specialised Turf equipment is properly maintained and in optimum working order.

Thabang Phiri started his Servest career in the car wash bay and is moving onwards and upwards in the company. Thabang showed such promise that he was recently taken under the wing of Ettorie Crivellari, who is one of Servest Turf’s highly specialised electricians. Criv is currently mentoring Thabang on the electronic components of our equipment and is training him to achieve an all-round electrical qualification, which can be used anywhere. This kind of informal training is a great opportunity, but it is not necessarily for everyone. The individuals who are keen to learn, have a good work ethic and attitude, and use the opportunities available to them will usually go very far; and Thabang is definitely one of them.

Tshepo McDonald is a Servest Turf employee who was previously an informal vendor. . He approached Servest Turf because he wanted to learn and grow as an individual. He showed such interest and passion for working in the workshop that he was trained on how to service the Turf equipment.

Along with fellow Servestian Tshepo McDonald, Thabang was recently flown to Cape Town to assist our Western Cape team in their workshop for two weeks. This was a wonderful experience for all involved; the Cape Town workshop received two extra pairs of very capable hands and it gave Thabang and Tshepo the opportunity to work without supervision, experience a new city and the ocean, and meet the Cape Town team.

Our third rising star is Frans Mothoa, who also started his employment with Servest Turf in the car wash bay. Through hard work and dedication Frans has shown incredible progress. He recently obtained his code 10 PDP truck license. He also operates a precision sharpening machine for which there are only a few people in the country qualified enough to operate it. Due to his knowledge and experience with the sharpening machinery, Frans has been training fellow technicians on its use.

At Servest Turf we are serious about up-skilling our teams. We believe this empowerment and encouragement to learn is an important factor behind our staff’s passion for turf and the wonderful camaraderie we experience at Servest Turf.

The impact of music events on sports turfs

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

South Africans are known for their festive spirits and this extends to their appreciation of big music events. When international acts schedule a stop on our fair shores, concerts are usually booked out within hours of tickets being on sale. While we value a fully packed stadium, concerts do require extensive pre and post event turf maintenance.

When Irish rockers U2 played at Soccer City earlier this year, Servest Turf had to implement an intensive turf management plan to be able to hold the concert and have the turf back in top condition for a Soweto Derby match a week and a half later.

Any professional turf maintenance service knows that there is no room for compromise in these kinds of situations, and as such the entire pitch had to be removed and replanted on B-Field outside the stadium. This was primarily necessary because of the scale and time frame of the U2 show, which meant that the grass would be under a heavy duty plastic cover for 17 days. Typically grass can only survive under cover for a period of 10 days, so a period of nearly double this would have severely damaged the turf.

Additionally, the massive stage and huge quantities of equipment weighed in at a whopping 50 Tons! This meant that removing the turf and laying down a pitch cover provided a much more stable surface for staging and pedestrian traffic. The other very important thing which had to be dealt with was the expensive pitch irrigation system. The weight of the stage would have damaged the irrigation system if it had been left in place, so removing the entire system was imperative to avoid hefty repair or replacement costs.

After the dust had settled and with Bono and the boys safely on their way to Cape Town, Servest Turf managed the laying of the new pitch. This involved overseeing the transportation of an enormous roll of super sod to the stadium and its installation. The entire roll weighed 1.2 Tons, and by virtue of its own weight ensured a stable surface. Laying grass sod-by-sod requires much more time to perfect leveling, hence this was the most efficient and reliable option given the time constraints.

With the new pitch installed, it was Servest Turf’s responsibility to nurture the grass into a playable condition. Sodium grow lights were used to help establish the new grass, as they promote artificial conditions for photosynthesis. This being the way that plants process light to grow, sodium grow lights allow plants to keep developing even after natural lights drops away at night. This technique is also used in stadiums that do not receive adequate natural light during the day, all year round.

Servest Turf realise that whilst stadiums are used primarily for sport, part of what makes them financially viable is their versatility to be used in event settings such as the U2 concert. Being able to manage stadium pitches with excellent planning and implementation strategies is part of what makes Servest Turf a unique and highly reliable turf management service provider.

Post-event Rejuvenation

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

In South Africa, a good ball game is marked with the speed, impact, force and strength of roughly 15 big men. Whether it’s soccer, rugby or any other sport involving studded boots and hefty thighs; turf that gets trampled by sturdy athletes for 80 minutes tends to show signs of wear and tear.

After the stadium falls quiet and the smell of wors rolls and fried onions fades away, turf rejuvenation is the top priority for professional turf managers. The quality of the next game is dependent on the grass being consistent, healthy and green; thus as the match ends so the work begins to prepare for the next fixture.

The first operation is to bring in the rotary mower that ‘vacuums’ up all the loose grass that has been turned up by the players. Obviously with rugby in particular, actions like scrumming, line-outs and heavy tackling result in players studs ripping up the grass.

To remove any further loose grass that has been driven deeply into the grass mat, a Verti-Rake is dragged over the pitch. A Verti-Rake is drawn by a tractor and consists of hundreds of fine teeth that act as an enormous comb, and once this process is complete the turf manager’s attention turns to the actual soil.

Soil mass is made up of many particles which lie against each other, and by virtue of their different sizes create air pockets. This facilitates aeration, and water is then able to penetrate deeply via these channels reaching plant roots. A sports field experiences high traffic by virtue of the thousands of athletes, which destroy soil structure and cause problems with water drainage. A Verti-Drain machine is used to remedy this,by driving narrow spikes into the ground at 2-3cm intervals. Each spike sits at a 15 degree angle, which lifts and loosens soil.

Some pitches undergo considerably more use than others, and these may require sodium grow lights to assist with speeding up turf regeneration . Portable grow lights are wheeled onto the field to provide light when the sun goes down, or in stadiums where there is not much natural light such as Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. They provide light spectrums that mimic the sun and cause photosynthesis, which helps plants to regenerate quickly. This can be particularly useful with pitch areas that see a lot of action, like a penalty spot.

There are several elements to post-event rejuvenation, many of which require expensive machinery and professional staff expertise. Rejuvenation tactics change with the seasons, and experienced turf managers know how to adjust their post-event plans accordingly. Using a company like Servest Turf ensures your sports turf stays in perfect condition year round; working behind the scenes long after the game is finished.

Proper Mowing Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The essential aim of any turf management operation is to create and maintain an excellent looking lawn. Healthy green grass is as suggestive of an institutions corporate identity as a slick logo or an impressive office building. As such there is no room for error when it comes to one of the most vital elements of lawn maintenance; the art of professional mowing.

While a shortly trimmed neat lawn is imperative for a handsome appearance and for sports suitability, mowing is in fact a destructive process. If you think about it, chopping grass disrupts its natural pattern of growth and disturbs its bid to grow wild and free. With that in mind, mowing in a way that balances human and turf needs is critical in professional turf maintenance.

There are a few key points to consider for effective mowing, starting with lawn height. Trimming grass too near to the ground presents real danger with unfortunate long-lasting effects. When cropping too closely, shallow root systems develop which lead to bald patches. Not only are brown dirt patches unsightly, they allow space for weeds to sink roots which will then require elimination through further time and resources.

On the flipside, leaving grass too long results in low density turf (it lacks spring underfoot) which is unattractive and completely inappropriate for sporting purposes. The general rule of thumb is to remove 1/3 of the blade with each mowing, but a professional turf management service will monitor these requirements and adjust mower heights according to grass health and seasonality.

Frequency of mowing is also very important. Regularity is of course essential in any maintenance program, but with grass there is necessity for a somewhat tender touch. In the peak of growing season once a week is usually enough, but to really perfect the look of a lawn year round the maintenance plan has to be continually adjusted with the needs of the grass. The motto of ‘mow less more often’ is usually the safest bet, meaning that taking off small amounts more frequently is the wisest way to go.

Equipment maintenance and use of different mowing technology is a vital technique that comes with experience in the industry. It is crucial to keep all equipment sharp and functioning perfectly, as this directly influences grass health and staff safety. Operating machinery can be extremely dangerous if equipment malfunctions and turf staff are not suitably dressed in protective clothing.

Additionally, combining the use of rotary and reel mowers is fundamental in creating mowed effects such as stripes, checker-boards and diamonds; which are of course a distinguishing feature of corporate lawns and sports turfs. Using a good turf maintenance service means your lawn benefits from the application of this very expensive machinery, and guarantees a very slick appearance.

At Servest Turf, we specialise in establishing and maintaining corporate lawns and professional sports turfs. We pride ourselves on offering an expert service, one that is based on the fundamental tenets of lawn health like proper mowing techniques.

Managing Frost Damage on Lawns and Turf

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:26:00 +0000

One of the prettiest sights on a cold winter’s morning is a lawn covered in an icy shimmer of frost. However, as lovely as this may look to a passersby, turf managers know just how dangerous this frozen moisture can really be.

Most people typically think of frost as something that is dangerous to plants, but they do not really extend this thought to lawns. In fact children tend to love the idea of skidding across frozen lawns at high speed (and perhaps free-spirited adults too, when no-one is looking); and on any sports surface athletes will simply ignore frost knowing that it will melt away, especially after a team of feet have stamped all over it.

Unfortunately grass, especially short mowed and manicured turf grass, is highly susceptible to damage from frost and from people tramping all over it’s frozen blades. A grass blade, like most cellulose based organic matter, is composed primarily of water. When temperatures drop not only does moisture freeze on the blades, its internal cell structures freeze too.

When heavy humans walk over grass it is damaged in two ways. Firstly frozen blades can easily snap; and secondly, the cells within the blade are ruptured which means they can’t function normally when the grass thaws out. Frost damage isn’t always noticeable immediately, and it can take anywhere between two and three days for the grass to die and turn brown.

Essentially this means that golfers can obliviously swing their clubs all day and not comprehend the punishment that they are laying on the turf. This is especially poignant when one considers the traffic that a popular club will see on any given morning, and the great expense and time required to maintain it during the rest of the year. Hence it is the turf manager’s responsibility to enforce tee-off waiting periods in the winter, and this logic extends to sports fields of any kind. By making sure the grass thaws out before use, this prevents bald patches and weed invasions later in the season.

When it comes to office lawns exactly the same frost damage prevention is applicable. Employees need to be warned about taking short-cuts across lawns, no-one should be allowed to park on the lawn and regular visitors like the postman need to know to stick to paved footpaths. Saving your lawn or sports turf during frosty months is really about informing people of the damage that is caused by stepping on grass when it is frozen. No-one wants to hurt the grass on purpose, they simply do not know any better.

At Servest Turf we are well versed on the natural phenomena of frost, and with our experienced turf managers are able to successfully protect lawns and sports turfs all through the winter. You can be sure that come spring your lawn will be back to a brilliant green as soon as Mother Nature allows.

Lawn Care Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:56:00 +0000

A lush green lawn is often regarded as a status symbol, and is enough to make any owner proud. However keeping turf in tip-top condition requires a substantial amount of time and effort; and there are many tricks of the trade that are worth taking note of.

One of the most common problems with growing thick, even lawns is the occurrence of multiple bald patches. An effective way to remedy this is by aerating and seeding the entire area. However, this is a task that requires specific equipment and has to be done at the right time of year, so using a professional turf care company can save time, money and stress.

Fast-forwarding to a lawn that is now growing evenly, there are three turf maintenance fundamentals to focus on. These are fertiliser use, mowing and irrigation; and if one can master these basics, turf is guaranteed to thrive.

Fertilisers allow grass to become thicker through a slow release of nitrogen, and thicker grass prevents a myriad of potential problems. The key is in knowing how often to fertilise and how much to use. A good rule of thumb is four applications a year about 60 days apart starting in early spring. Be careful not to apply it too soon, as if the lawn is still lying dormant the nitrogen meant for the grass can be snapped up by weeds. Additionally, over fertilising can lead to fungus growth and lawn disease.

Correct mowing technique can go a very long way to improving the look of your lawn. Make a point of sharpening your mower blades so that grass is cut and not torn during mowing, and adjust the blade settings so that grass is never cut by more than a 1/3 of its height. Keeping lawn at this length ensures that the grass blades can still shade each other, keeping sun scorch at bay. There is also more length on the grass blade which means extra nutrients can be delivered to the root system. Deep roots promote drought tolerant grass and stabilise the soil.

Lastly, irrigating a lawn correctly will effect how well it copes throughout the different seasons of the year. Watering a lawn deeply in the early mornings is first prize and on average South African lawns need about 25mm per week. Monitoring how much rain falls weekly using a rain gauge is an effective way of adjusting your irrigation plan. For larger lawns it makes sense to invest in a sprinkler system which is water efficient, works on a timer and is guaranteed to cover every inch of the lawn.

At Servest Turf we understand the pleasure that comes with owning a beautiful lawn. We strive to make our clients proud of their turf by providing a professional maintenance service.

Weed Control on Golf Courses

noreply@blogger.com (Tarnia Roots SA) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:21:00 +0000

The greens of golf courses are rather wonderful things to behold. Beautifully manicured, even-toned and sensuously curvy; one could say they bear many similarities to that of a cover model! But in much the same way that cover models spend loads of time consistently maintaining their looks; so too do golf greens need to be laboriously taken care of.

Obviously with 18 holes to manage, weeding by hand is not a viable option, and in popular turf management theory it is vitally important to do everything possible to prevent weeds taking hold in the first place.

So how does one achieve this? The most effective way to prevent weeds form getting that initial grip is by growing a thick, densely packed turf with a healthy growth rate. Quite literally, if the grass is taking up all the space, weeds can’t find a home to move into.

The first area of turf management which directly affects turf quality is fertilisation. Fertilisers have to be chosen specifically in relation to the types of grass that make up the turf, the soil chemistry and the application schedule. Turf that is well fertilised is resilient against weed invasions, and is able to bounce back from other environmental stresses far more quickly.

Mowing technique is the second turf management factor, which most people don’t typically associate with weed control. A full grass blade is robust, but using mowers that are not correctly sharpened will tear grass as opposed to slicing it, leaving dead ends which are more susceptible to disease manifestation. Aside from having top of the range, well-maintained sharp mowers; it is vital to never remove more than 1/3rd of the blade length with each cut. Too short a trim and the sun can cause severe burn damage to grass that allows weeds to sneak in.

Of course the third issue that plays a big part in turf quality is disease control. Typical diseases that usually flare up during extreme weather periods are Anthracnose, Brown Patch , Dollar Spot, Fairy Ring, Pythium Blight as well as Algae. All of these frustrating diseases cause grass to die off which allows bald patches for weeds to sprout; thus disease management via correct irrigation, fertilisation and herbicidal medication is an absolute necessity.

Truly professional turf managers are well versed on grass health; and at Servest Turf we know that strong grass out-competes weeds by far. Preventing potential weak areas through good fertilisation, top-notch mowing techniques and well managed disease control is the most effective way for grass to thrive, meaning weeds stay well away.

How’d they make that pattern?

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:47:00 +0000

One of the most striking things one notices about large sects of grass are patterns. Visit any stadium and the first thing that catches your attention are the vivid green stripes or neat checkerboards that comprise the turf. Did you know that these stripes are often used by the referees to monitor and make calls on offside’s in both football and rugby?

The initial reaction of most when looking at patterned grass is that it must be very complicated to cut, or that the different colours must mean that there are two types of grass that make up the field. Well, you might be a little surprised to learn what these patterns really entail.

Cutting patterns in turf actually uses the very simple technique of bending grass as it is cut. Grass that bends towards us will appear darker and grass that bends away from us will appear lighter. With dark grass we are mostly seeing the shadows caused by the curve of the individual blades and a small portion of the top; while with lighter grass we see the longer, flatter side of the grass blades reflecting far more light.

Cutting vibrant stripes requires mowing lines back and forth, while squares and diamonds call for a slightly more complicated cross-cut. That may sound straightforward but there are many factors which influence how effectively the patterns appear and how professional they look, which is when high-end maintenance equipment and serious know-how come into play.

Servest uses a combination of rotary mowers and reel mowers to create the visual impact of turf patterns seen in major stadiums. The rotary mowers help make the grass stand up using the suction they create. The reel mowers, which give a more precision cut, are then used to do the final cut. The rear rollers on all the machines help to roll the grass in the direction of the cut which ultimately gives the striping effect.

While having the correct maintenance equipment is imperative, knowing what grass to plant to tackle seasonality and planning the correct fertilisation and irrigation programs can make or break the health of your turf. Likewise, having a trained and experienced individual in the driving seat of the mower is equally important for creating patterns of an international standard.

Servest Turf offers thorough turf management; from design & seeding to cutting & maintenance, we are top of our game. Yes, we do cut very pretty patterns, but we also know that looks are nothing without careful planning & maintenance, which is why we only use the best to create the best.

Challenges of Multi-Purpose Stadiums

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:42:00 +0000

Multi-purpose stadiums are stadiums that are utilised for more than one sport or activity, and although they are nothing new and have been in existence for decades, they do bring their own set of unique challenges… In South Africa the utilisation of multi-purpose stadiums is quite common, with football, rugby and cricket being the main sports featured in the various stadiums, and this even includes several of our Soccer World Cup stadiums. For example, Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium has been used to host international and local football games, music concerts, rugby matches and even a Twenty20 cricket match between South Africa and India.

Managing the surfaces of stadiums that are used for multiple activities present their own set of unique challenges, and with over 20 years of experience in the turf industry, they are challenges that the Servest Turf team is more than equipped to handle.

Varying Field Sizes and Shapes

One of the basic issues that arises is the different sizes and shapes of various sports fields, and the need to reconfigure and lay new lines for different sports. For instance, the standard size of a soccer field is 105 meters long by 68 meters wide with a 40.32 meter wide by 16.5meters deep penalty box at each end, and among other field markings, a 9.15 meter wide centre circle on the halfway line. A rugby field, on the other hand, while also rectangular, is 144 metres long (including the dead ball line) and 68 metres wide, with a 10 metre, 22 metre and halfway line, along with various other markers. Thus the simple task of changing the markings of a soccer field to a rugby field and vice versa, while removing the previous field's markings, can prove quite challenging.

Similarly, the process of adapting a football stadium like Moses Mabhida for a cricket match can provide a totally different set of challenges. Firstly, while not a standard size internationally, all cricket fields are round in shape. While not necessarily perfect circles, turning a rectangular soccer pitch into a feasible cricket field can prove problematic. Another issue is the cricket pitch itself… Installing and maintaining a temporary cricket pitch is a massive undertaking, and this becomes an even bigger issue in stadiums with a permanent pitch as it can get badly damaged by football and rugby studs.

These facilities are also often used for music concerts and other cultural events, and this too offers various challenges in terms of turf care, as sports surfaces that are accustomed to having only a few dozen players on them are suddenly trampled by thousands of feet, and often littered with all kinds of waste. In some instances to protect the integrity of the turf, and to ensure the safety of concert-goers, the turf is removed and temporary flooring utilized. This is exactly what took place for the recent U2 concert where Servest Turf removed the entire pitch before the concert and then relayed new grass after the concert. The pitch was ready for play a week after relaying due to the type of sod used and Servest Turf’s expertise.

The Changing Seasons

The majority of sports are specific to a season, and similarly so are many turf types. So in stadiums that cater for only one sport, the maintenance of a playable sports surface during the off-season is not an issue. However, in multi-purpose stadiums, the field is often used throughout the year, meaning that the turf quality needs to be maintained year round. In areas with huge seasonal changes, this can often mean that the entire surface of a field has to be changed to grass that will endure each season.

An example of this occurred during the 2010 FIFA World Cup where the Durban stadium made use of a warm season variety known as Tiffsport (Cynodon dactylon), over-seeded with Cool season grasses while the Polokwane and Nelspruit stadiums were meant to utilize over-seeded Kikuyu grass. However, after careful consideration of temperatures in the winter month of June when the World Cup tournament would take place as well as the playability and esthetics of the pitches, it was decided to make use of cool-season grasses only such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Rye grasses that would not be stagnant over the winter months.These are just a few of the challenges that are faced when managing the playing surface of a multi-purpose stadium, but by ensuring a reputable and experienced turf management team is in place to oversee this, these challenges can be easily addressed.

When Is Artificial Turf The Answer?

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:35:00 +0000

First developed by David Chaney and his team at Research Triangle Park in the 1960s, artificial turf, that is turf manufactured from synthetic fibres to look like real grass, has become a major part of contemporary life. First rising to prominence in 1965 when "AstroTurf" as it came to be known, was installed in the newly-built Astrodome in Houston, Texas, synthetic turf is now widely used in shopping malls, sports fields, office parks and back gardens.

Maintaining a sports field is a time-consuming and specialist undertaking, and one that Servest Turf relishes, and there are instances where the need to utilise artificial turf arises. This is another area Servest Turf specialises in, with installations at facilities across South Africa, but when should artificial turf be used in place of natural grass?

Firstly, the amount of usage a field needs to sustain needs to be taken into account. Most grass pitches can withstand approximately 7 hours of usage a week before they begin to suffer, whereas artificial turf fields can sustain up to 50 hours usage per week. So sports fields that will be used frequently may be better served by an artificial turf than lawn.

Artificial turf would be a better option on sports fields that may need to be utilised for more than one sport, such as hockey and football. Similarly, sports fields in harsh environments, areas of low rainfall, fields that don’t enjoy good sunlight, or even indoor facilities, would make better use of synthetic turf.

Sports pitches that employ artificial surfaces require less maintenance as they do not need to be mowed or maintained. Furthermore, some grass fields require as much as 50,000 litres of water a day, while artificial turf require a minimal amount of watering, cutting costs by up to 75% while also helping the environment.

On the opposite end of the scale, the maintenance of sports fields in areas of very high rainfall can become incredibly problematic. Because of the high rainfall, the soil can become saturated, allowing the grass to be easily ripped up and damaged. In these cases, the field would be better served by a synthetic surface.

Whatever your needs, Servest Turf's experts will work with you to understand your exact requirements and provide you a customized solution. From helping you to choose exactly the right sort of turf through to project management, installation and maintenance, look no further than Servest Turf.

Grass - The Root of Good Turf Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:33:00 +0000

When it comes to building and maintaining world-class sports fields and golf courses, one of the most important elements is selecting the right grass for each facility. It may seem obvious, but the playing surfaces of golf courses, soccer fields and other sporting facilities are the most important aspect of any sport, and the success and enjoyment of these sports by the participants often relies on the grass used. So here are a look at some of the more popular grasses used on golf courses and soccer fields in South Africa with some information about each.

Kikuyu Grass

One of the most robust and drought-resistant grasses on the continent, Kikuyu has even been referred to as a weed because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature. But this same resilience, along with Kikuyu's medium texture and bright green colour, has made it a favourite of golf course and sports field managers across South Africa.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is considered the premier turfgrass for sports fields in the temperate climatic zones of the United States, and during the 2010 Fifa World Cup several of the groundsmen opted to import this turf to replace the Cynodon and Kikuyu which was originally intended for use. Dense and beautiful in appearance with its dark green colour, Kentucky Bluegrass provided a fantastic surface for the world's premier sporting event.

Ryegrass

Originally from Europe, Ryegrass (Lolium) is a good grass option for lawns grown in cooler climates. There are two basic types; annual and perennial. Each type is planted as a pure strain or used in mixtures depending on the specific lawn or turf use desired. Perennial is a permanent lawn choice and annual is seeded yearly, living for one season. Ryegrass is dark green in colour, has good density and high traffic tolerance. For these reasons, grass tennis courts and sports fields are often made from different compositions of ryegrass.

Bentgrass

Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) is one of the most popular grasses used on golf course putting greens, both locally and abroad, due to its fine texture, deep green colour, thick density, and low growing habit. Used on fairways, greens and tee-boxes alike in other parts of the world, Bentgrass is especially popular because of its tolerance of low mowing heights, making it ideal for these applications.

Cynodon Gulf Green

Cynodon Gulf Green is a popular grass used on the fairways of South African golf courses such as the championship golf course at Eye of Africa in Johannesburg. The turfgrass is a hybrid that has become very popular due to its adaptability to most climatic conditions, as well as its fine leaf and brilliant green colour.

Seven Ways To Help Conserve Water In Your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:16:00 +0000

One of Servest's core values is to strive towards sustainability and environmentally friendly business practices, and in our Landscaping and Turf divisions a major challenge is water conservation. Ensuring minimal wastage of this valuable commodity is an intrinsic part of our business acumen, so here are some tips you can employ to help save water...

Reduce the Use of Fertilisers

While an important part of maintaining a healthy lawn, fertilisers encourage rapid growth which results in higher water use. To reduce water usage, cut back on fertiliser application to the minimum needed, or alternatively apply smaller amounts more frequently.

Dethatch and/or Aerate Your Lawn

Water loss due to evaporation is a major issue, and aerating and/or dethatching your lawn assists water penetration into the soil, greatly reducing this risk. Aerating also provides air to the roots of the grass, which is necessary for healthy growth, while thatch build-up on the soil surface under the grass blades can actually repel water.

Add a Layer of Mulch to Shrub Beds

Adding a 2 or 3 inch deep layer of mulch (such as wood chips, bark, or decorative rock) reduces water use and also helps combat weeds.

Reshape Your Landscape to Use Less Water

Minor changes in the shape or use of your landscape or garden space can often have a major effect on water use, especially when it comes to the size and location of lawns. Lawn uses much more water than an area of the same size planted with shrubs or groundcover.

Similarly, if you have lawns or flowerbeds that run up against walls, walkways or the edges of buildings using an irrigation system that does not spray onto these surfaces will reduce waste.

Find Plants That Are Less Thirsty

All plant species are different, and some need more water than others. Consider visiting your local nursery where the knowledgeable staff will be able to suggest plants for your garden or landscape that need less water. If you do want to use plants that require more water, locate them in a shady area of your garden that is protected from the wind to reduce water loss due to evaporation.

Utilise Hydro-Zones

A hydro-zone is an area where all the plants use approximately the same amount of water and have the same sun and wind exposure. This allows you to water each hydro-zone individually for just the right time to apply the water needed by the plants, without over-watering.

Use an Automated Irrigation System

Automated irrigation systems can save water in two ways. Firstly an automated irrigation system ensures that only the required amount of water is used, avoiding over-watering or water wastage should you forget to shut the system off. Secondly, automated systems often include emergency shut-off devices that cut-off the water flow when something in the irrigation system breaks, avoiding wastage.

By employing just a few of these tips you'll not only save water and money, but make a valuable contribution to helping sustain one of South Africa's most precious commodities.

How To Give Your Garden Lawn That Golf Course Look

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:13:00 +0000

One of the biggest challenges facing the Servest Turf team is keeping the grass on the various golf courses we maintain in perfect condition. With over 20 years experience in the turf industry, we've managed to perfect this process, and maintain dozens of world-class golf courses and estates across South Africa, so we thought we'd share some tips with you to help you give your garden lawn that golf course look.

Use the Right Fertiliser

One of our tricks to keep our grass looking so good is to follow a sound fertiliser program. To maintain your lawn year round, use a fertiliser that releases organic nitrogen into the soil only as the grass uses it, ensuring your lawn is as healthy as possible. This also helps prevent the pollution of groundwater and nitrogen runoff into lakes and streams. Another tip is to use fertiliser that contains iron. While grass generally doesn't need a lot of iron, the use of iron helps give the lawn a deep, even green colour.

Fertilise Regularly

Our superintendents fertilise their courses on a regular basis, feeding their courses the nutrients they need as they would a pet. You may want to sample and analyse your soil, or alternatively ask your local nursery or extension agent for fertilisers that are commonly accepted in your area.

Control Weeds with Ease

Golf courses seldom suffer the same weed problems that homeowners contend with, and this is largely due to the tight, thick turf that grows on fairways and greens. Weed seeds only germinate when they have plenty of moisture and light, so if your lawn is thick with grass it’s more difficult for weeds to get started. A consistent fertiliser regime will fill in the thin spots in your lawn, cutting off the light and moisture weed seeds need to germinate.

Discourage Disease and Insects

When any grass grows rapidly, whether on a golf course or in your garden, it produces an abnormal amount of top growth, providing a luscious meal for insects or diseases. Fertiliser that slowly releases nitrogen will control this growth and discourage this problem.

Sharpen Your Mower Blades

Make sure to always keep your mower blades sharp, as sharper blades cut the grass rather than tearing it. The tearing of grass blades gives lawns a grayish colour, while also making it easier for diseases to attack. You should also aim to remove only one-third of the grass blade at each cutting, and remember that more frequent mowing will reduce the stress on your lawn.

Water Less Often, But Deeply…

A lot of people are unsure how best to water their lawns, and the secret is to opt for lower frequency but longer watering times. Deep watering will allow your lawn's roots to grow deeper into the soil, helping them to better absorb nutrients. Frequent, shallow watering keeps grass roots near the surface, and when the hot summer months come they are more likely to go dormant, giving your lawn a dead, straw colour.

These are just a few of the simple secrets we use to ensure our turf clients enjoy lush lawns all enjoy year round, and by employing these tips we're sure you'll see a marked improvement in the quality of your garden's grass.

Meet Moses

noreply@blogger.com (Candice Roots SA) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:53:00 +0000

The 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup may be behind us, but South Africa has been left with a legacy of amazing memories, timeless images, and world class stadiums. While the memories will never fade, the greatest reminder of one of country's proudest moments will be in the concrete, steel and turf of the architectural masterpieces that are our World Cup soccer stadiums. During the build up to the World Cup, there wasn't a single South African that wasn't caught up in the emotion and celebration of this historic occasion, but few people actually paid attention to the people that made it happen behind the scenes. The builders. The architects. The planners. And the members of the Servest Turf team.

As a leader in the maintenance and construction of golf courses and sporting facilities, Servest Turf was a natural selection to construct and maintain the turf of several of the World Cup Soccer Stadiums, among them the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Another of the stadiums we worked on was the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and we wanted to give you a little bit of insight into this iconic section of the Durban skyscape.

Considered one of the most beautiful sports stadia in the world, Moses Mabhida Stadium is named after a stalwart of the anti-Apartheid struggle and the Secretary General of the South African Communist Party from 1978 until his death in 1986. Construction of the stadium began with the demolition of the old soccer stadium in July 2006. On 1 April 2007 ground was officially broken for the construction of the future World Cup ground, and the stadium was officially opened on 24 November 2009.

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the turf on the Moses Mabhida Stadium pitch, a mix of Tiffsport, Perennial Ryegrass and Kentucky Bluegrass, provided the playing surface for seven matches, including the semi-final between Germany and eventual World Cup winners Spain, and the much touted Brazil vs Portugal Round 1 game.

Without the dedicated service and commitment of the Servest Turf team, one of the greatest events in South African and world sport would never have been the remarkable success that it was, so just imagine what we could do for you.