Bracken control - emergency approval given for the use of Asulox until 31st October 2013

The 2011 EU wide ban of the active ingredient Asulam was met with frustration and disappointment by those involved in bracken control. Asulam, found in products such as Asulox, had established itself as the primary choice of contractors who treated bracken and many have since found it difficult to find a successful replacement.  So it’s excellent news that the Bracken Control Group has managed to secure an Emergency Authorisation from May to October 2013 for the use of the product Asulox (on bracken only).

Progreen Weed Control – a supplier of

- said of this announcement;
‘The Emergency Approval for Asulox has been greeted by our customers with almost a sense of relief. Whilst there are products out there that are good for bracken control Asulox is definitely the preferred contractor choice and has been sorely missed.

We’ve found the interest from customers wanting to get hold of Asulox has been high since the Bracken Control Group announced the Emergency Approval however the sensitive nature of the approval has meant Progreen Weed Control have only been able to take orders from the 20th May ’13 and can only retail Asulox until Sunday 18th August ’13. The best advice we can give those wanting to use Asulox is to get their orders in early; so that they can optimise the Emergency approval to the maximum use, disposal and storage period which ends the 31st October ’13. As yet we don’t know if the active ingredient Asulam will gain approval for next year but at least this year those that want to control bracken have a solution.’

For more information see our

or call 0800 032 6262 for more advice.

What does the weed horsetail / mares tail look like?

See the image below to identify mares tail weed through it's growing stages. For more information on how to control horsetail, visit our guide here.
Kurtail is a total weed killer for the control of horsetail / mares tail. Click here for more information, including customer reviews and before and after video's.

Picture of horsetail / marestail weed

The Amenity Forum - meeting the challenge of change

The Amenity Forum is holding a major conference in 2013 to be held at Leicester City Football Ground on Thursday, October 17th. It will mark the first anniversary of the special campaign launched by the Forum seeking to drive up standards and promote best practice across this diverse sector.

Key note speakers will address the practical implications of recent policy changes and look at specific issues in weed, pest and disease control.

How can we practically and economically move to a more integrated approach to control?
How do we control invasive weeds?
How do new rules on sprayer testing impact upon the sector?
Do we really need to bother about such things as the Water Framework Directive? 
In specifying amenity contracts, what are the key risks and how can they be minimised?

Just a few of the questions to be addressed with time for networking and discussion and a look at how the Leicester City grounds are maintained thrown in.
All in all, an opportunity not to be missed. You can register your interest now by contacting the Forum Secretary, Alan.Spedding@amenityforum.co.uk                                                                                             
 

Turf out weeds with Polax

Controls difficult weeds including Slender speedwell in lawns and turf

Polax combines three powerful active ingredients fluroxypyr, florasulam and clopyralid, offering a broad spectrum of activity. Polax offers outstanding control not only on the everyday species but this combination of ingredients is especially powerful on tricky weeds such as slender speedwell, creeping buttercup, self-heal and ribwort plantain.

Polax has full approval on lawns, amenity turf and amenity grassland giving it access to all key areas of use and has the advantage of being rainfast one hour after spraying.  Polax is unique in being a 0.5l pack so the unit cost is much more affordable in these tough economic times.

For more information on Polax click here

Slugs outstrip RHS enquiries over next worst pest cushion scale, by two to one in 2012

By Matthew Appleby Wednesday, 09 January 2013

The RHS has announced its top 10 pests for 2012 based on enquiries received by the charity's entomology department.
As in 2011 slugs and snails topped the list but this time they generated almost twice as many enquiries as cushion scale, the number two pest. The previous year both pests had almost a similar number of enquiries.

RHS principal scientist plant health Andrew Halstead said: "The dominant feature of 2012 was the weather and this had a big impact on garden pest problems. As we all know this was the second wettest year in the last hundred years.
"Pests that like damp conditions therefore did well. Last summer the demand for slug controls, especially nematodes used as a biological control, sometimes exceeded supplies."

Mosquitoes and biting midges were the other beneficiaries because of the plentiful supply of temporary pools and wet soil. These provided ideal breeding sites where the larvae could develop.

But below-average temperatures and wet weather may have also had some positive effects. These conditions can reduce the mating success and rate of development of pests, as well as restricting their mobility.
Some pests, such as horse chestnut leaf-mining moth, euonymus scale and viburnum beetle, were noticeably less troublesome last summer.
Other pests, particularly aphids and scale insects, are susceptible to fungal infections that can spread rapidly in wet conditions, and this may have resulted in reduced populations.

"It will be interesting to see what effect the wet winter has on pest populations in 2013," said Halstead. "Insects that overwinter underground or spend part of their life cycle there can drown when the soil becomes waterlogged. This affects not just pests but also some beneficial insects, such as ground-nesting solitary bees."

For more information visit Horticulture Week

Press release - AMENITY EVENT TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5th, 2013, Alan Spedding of Amenity Forum

This important free event is part of Forum’s campaign to reach all elements of the amenity sector emphasising the importance of best practice and the highest standards in weed and pest control.

It is being held at Bourne in Lincolnshire by kind invitation of Progreen Weed Control Solutions who are members of the Forum and strong supporters of its aims and activities.

The programme will be as follows:

2pm – Welcome and introduction
Where are we now with the National Action Plan in terms of implementing SUD changes and its impact on both operators and contract specifiers – Grant Stark, Policy Adviser, Chemicals Regulations Directorate

Promoting practice and standards – key challenges and issues for the sector – John Moverley, Chairman, Amenity Forum

Continuing Professional Development and Training (two presentations)
- Natalie Jenkins, Senior Business Development Manager, City and Guilds
- Rob Simpson, Chief Executive, BASIS

Case Study: Progreen’s commitment to best practice and raising standards – Louise Boothman

4pm – Refreshments and Depart

The event is open to everyone with an interest in the sector and early expression of interest is advised to avoid disappointment.
The event is jointly promoted by the Forum and Progreen Weed Control Solutions.
To express interest, please contact Progreen on freephone 0800 032 6262 or email info@progreen.co.uk


Notes to Readers
The Amenity Forum is the independent body bringing together professional organisations with an involvement in the amenity horticulture sector. This is a very diverse industry responsible for the landscape management of urban areas, highways and rail network, sports grounds, parks, industrial and utility sites. To establish and maintain these areas to a high standard, the sector requires access to pesticides, efficient equipment and trained and qualified staff. The organisation was formed in October 2003 as a key action to support the Voluntary Initiative, an industry led project agreed with Government to reduce the environmental impact of pesticides.

The membership comprises of organisations from across this diverse industry, covering manufacturers, suppliers, trade associations, local authorities, major users, landscape, sport and leisure. Equally important are those members who represent training and qualification standards. The key Government agencies have an important observer role. The objectives of the Amenity Forum are:

• 
  To be the collective body representing the amenity industry, in relation to pesticide use
• To lead, coordinate and encourage achievement of "Best Practice" objectives in amenity pesticide use
• 
  To coordinate and encourage the establishment of sustainable qualifications, training and CPD activity, specifically for the amenity sector
• To organise activities within the Amenity Forum membership and linked organisations, such that Amenity Forum objectives are developed in a coordinated way

For further information on this press release or the work of the Forum, please contact the Secretary, Alan Spedding, or the Chairman, Professor John Moverley OBE. Similarly if you wish to register for future press releases, please let us know.
postmaster@amenityforum.co.uk or email John.Moverley@amenityforum.co.uk or Alan.spedding@amenityforum.co.uk

Progreen BASIS training on offer

Today is the start of a new training course for us, the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection (Amenity Horticulture). If you want to learn more or simply want to improve your skills why not visit our training section to see what's on offer click here

Ecoplug Max, herbicide application for the control of tree stumps

Ecoplug MAX is a patented tree stump control herbicide application method. Each plug contains 300mg of granular Glyphosate. Ecoplug MAX kills the whole root system of targeted trees with no effect on the surrounding trees or vegetation. It is highly effective delivering 95-100% control of treated tree stumps.

Why Ecoplug Max?

    Single treatment
    Use all year round
    No chemical spillage risk
    Simple to use

For more information please visit weedkillers for Tree Stumps section

Chlorpyrifos insecticide applications

New requirements for all 2012 applications of chlorpyrifos insecticides have been announced by a consortium of the three major approval holders of UK products; Dow AgroSciences, Makhteshim Agan and Headland Agrochemicals. The changes form part of the new stewardship initiative; ‘Chlorpyrifos: Say NO to DRIFT’, which is being managed by ADAS.

• An extended 20 metre no-spray buffer zone adjacent to watercourses
• LERAP three star rated - low drift - nozzles. To view our range of low drift nozzles click here

Liquid ice melt product - Pro-Thaw Rapide

Prepare for Winter with our liquid ice melt product "Pro-Thaw Rapide".

It's a 20ltr fast acting, liquid formulation, which deters re-freezing. For more information or to order online please click here.