Oct. 10, 2018 – It almost pains me to write about this in a publication read by golf course superintendents, but a recent poll of more than 1,000 Americans suggests that a certain game involving a set of clubs, a ball and 18 holes is the dullest sport to watch and the one that’s best to cure insomnia.

Better infield dust control and improved playability are the result of water cannons having been installed at all 10 ball diamonds at Moncton, N.B.’s CN Sportplexe. The completely skinned infields were notorious for the amount of dust that would be kicked up by the prevailing winds that negatively affected the way the game was played.

It’s not that hard to walk into a dealership, take a look around, and pick out one of the least expensive snow blades. It’s new. It’s made to move snow. And, the price seems reasonable.

Regular and proper maintenance of artificial turf sports fields can extend their lifespans another three to four years, giving municipalities a much greater return on their investment.

A well known and respected figure in the Canadian turf and grounds maintenance industry – and perhaps most notably as a pioneer among women – has retired from a career that spanned four decades.

Selecting the proper tool for the job and fitting it to the individual is important for productivity and worker health, however, even people working at a correctly designed workstation and using the best available tools can get injured.

Being in the right place at the right time paid off handsomely for a golf course superintendent from East Gwillimbury, Ont., creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the young woman.

By sheer coincidence, this issue includes a couple of features that profile two prominent women in the professional turfgrass industry in Canada.

Sept. 29, 2018 – The owner of a landscaping company in Brockville, Ont. is already the longest serving city councillor in the history of his municipality, but he hopes to be re-elected on Oct. 22 to continue to serve his constituents as the "common sense councillor."

Sept. 25, 2018 – Mel Rothenburger, Kamloops' "Armchair Mayor," has offered his opinion on the much-debated issue pertaining to the future of the former McArthur Island Park golf course property. By all accounts, he says, it would appear the Kamloops Naturalist Club and the Kamloops Disc Golf Club won't be able to live happily together on the property.

Sept. 19, 2018 – Jack Lakey, "the Fixer" at the Toronto Star, has written about a case of neglected weeds growing along a boulevard in the city, suggesting the city is better off without pesticides, but acknowledging something still needs to be done about out-of-control weed growth.

Oct. 2, 2018 – An opinion piece in the Vancouver Courier suggests it's time for city residents with synthetic turf lawns to do away with them and turn toward other natural alternatives if they don't wish to maintain a natural grass lawn.

There are many types of water aeration available on the market, ranging widely in application and price. As a result we are often asked, “How do you choose what is best for me?”

Understanding how fungicides work and knowing what part of the plant should be targeted will greatly assist golf course superintendents with their spraying programs, an audience of superintendents was told in March during a Syngenta-sponsored forum in Milton, Ont.

May 31, 2018 – Landscape professionals may have more choices of plant material than they think. Many imported trees and shrubs care fare well when mixed with native species, adding diversity.

May 17, 2018 – A Kitchener-area lawn care professional says aerating and overseeding lawns is an ideal way to choke out weeds, including dandelions. An a University of Guelph academic adds that regular fertility will produce the best lawns.

May 16, 2018 – A little bit of natural precipitation over the next few days will perk up dried out conditions at the La Verendrye Golf Club near Steinbach, Man., the club's manager has said. Tank watering is being done, much to golfers' dismay.

May 10, 2018 – Drought has beset southern Manitoba, affecting everything from farm land to golf courses. Cracks in the ground at the Old Drover's Run Golf Course in Niverville clearly reveal how parched conditions have become.

May 10, 2018 – While much of Atlantic Canada has been praying for rain to go away, the opposite is true in most of Manitoba. The superintendent at Quarry Oaks in Steinbach said a dry fall followed by one of the driest Aprils on record has left the golf course thirsty.

Lawn care professionals need to get out in front of a problem before it starts, incorporating integrated pest management into their programs, an audience of lawn care practitioners attending the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium were told in February.

Sodium and bicarbonates in the soil are a “big deal” and can rob golf courses of their nutrient dollar, superintendents attending BrettYoung’s annual spring turf academy were told in March at the Links of Kent Golf Club in Chatham, Ont.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ontario’s cosmetic pesticide ban, and some lawn care professionals are still lamenting that they can no longer use some of the pest control products they once took for granted.

Oct. 11, 2018 – An interest-free loan provided to a Stratford, Ont. soccer organization for the installation of an artificial turf field last year has prompted the city to develop a policy that governs loans to community groups. Concerns were raised after the more than $600,000 interest-free load was awarded.

Oct. 2, 2018 – The budget has been increased to complete a park restoration project in Orillia, Ont. Another $15,000 has been approved to complete the Victoria Park project that includes planting beds, an accessible ramp and interpretive signage.

Sept. 27, 2018 – The presence of weeds on roundabouts in two municipalities in the Cornwall, Ont. area has local councillors upset. The mayor of South Dundas said the roundabout in her area should be visually pleasing since it's regarded as a tourism gateway coming off Highway 401.

Sept. 24, 2018 – Plans for a $3.7-million upgrade to the sports fields at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough, Ont. will be unveiled at an on-site public meeting. An existing natural grass field will be converted to artificial turf and lighting will be installed to allow additional play.

Sept. 19, 2018 – The fate of the former McArthur Island Park golf course in Kamloops, B.C. has been decided, but it's not sitting well with all parties. The city has declared the property will be turned into a multi-use space, including a site for disc golf, but it's incompatible with a nature park, says a board director with the Kamloops Naturalist Club.

Sept. 10 – Although recreational marijuana use becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17, at least two communities in the Montreal area are taking measures to ban cannabis usage anywhere near sports fields, public parks and other green spaces. The new bylaws would fall under the same laws that prevent cigarette smoking and electronic vaping in such vicinities.

Sept. 6, 2018 – Walkerton, Ont.'s new million-dollar soccer fields are only two years old, but are already in need of upgrades. The one-year warranty on the fields at Bruce Power Regional Soccer Park expired in May of last year. Since then, drainage concerns have come to light as well as irrigation heads protruding from the surface, settling of the fields and severe crowning on two playing surfaces.

Sept. 5 – City council in Edmonton has approved a new garbage and yard waste pickup plan that will go into effect in 2020. The plan will separate grass clippings and leaves from other garbage to be picked up and will encourage residents to take their natural waste to designated eco stations.

Aug. 31, 2018 – The City of Ottawa and South Nation Conservation have teamed up to offer homeowners a break in the cost of removing and replacing ash trees damaged by the invasive emerald ash borer. Ottawa homeowners will be eligible for up to $500 per tree to a maximum of 10 trees.

Aug. 31, 2018 – In response to a multitude of complaints about out-of-control weeds and untidy yards, the City of Regina is considering implementing new landscaping regulations that will require homeowners to better look after their properties.

Aug. 30, 2018 – Ottawa city council could face an uphill battle in defending a decision it made Tuesday that requires lights to be shut off at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at the new artificial turf field at Immaculata High School. The decision is being challenged by the Ottawa Catholic School Board which entered into a partnership with the Ottawa Footy Sevens to build the $2-million field.

Sept. 25, 2018 – Snow-Ex has introduced on oscillating skid steer mount for its heavy-duty and Speedwing™ snow plows. The mount contributes to better scraping performance and less wear on the plow's cutting edge, and it can quickly be attached to any brand of style of skid steer loader.

Sept. 19, 2018 – As part of its initiative to bring its commercial solutions to the contractor market, Winter Equipment is announcing the launch of its V-Plow Guard system. The complete system features steel blades, centre and outer PlowGuards, hardware and installation instructions.

Sept. 19, 2018 – Used primarily to separate rocks and large debris from soil and sand, Cat® Skeleton Buckets feature heavy duty construction and find application in a number of industries, including agriculture, construction, land clearing, demolition, landscaping, and scrap handling.

Sept. 19, 2018 – Cat® Side Discharge Buckets are designed for use with skid steer loaders, multi-terrain loaders, compact track loaders, and compact wheel loaders, and collect and transport loose materials such as sawdust, sand, mulch, and topsoil and then discharge these materials via a belt-type conveyor from adjustable openings (doors) on either side of the bucket.

Sept. 14, 2018 – Foley United's ACCU-Sharp 618 gives golf superintendents and maintenance technicians a precision reel grinder that has the ability to do touch-up spin and also perform gauging and relief grinding as required.

Sept. 12, 2018 – Toter, a Wastequip brand and a leading manufacturer of products used in the collection of waste, recycling and organics, has recently redesigned its front end loader (FEL) product line to reflect growing industry demand for heavy-duty, user-friendly alternatives to steel loaders. Adding to the revamped line-up of two, three and four-cubic-yard containers, Toter has introduced a new one-cubic-yard size.

Sept. 12, 2018 – Loftness has introduced the BadAx™ disc mulcher for skid steers. The high-powered forestry head is ideal for a wide range of applications, including land clearing, vegetation control, fire prevention and more.

Sept. 12, 2018 – Grasshopper's fully-enclosed, metal winter cab protects operators from harsh winter elements.

Sept. 5, 2018 – The Thermacell MR450 armoured portable mosquito repeller effectively repels mosquitoes by creating a 15-foot zone of protection. There is no need to resort to messy spray-on repellents to stay clear of nuisance mosquitoes when enjoying the outdoors or working in a confined area.It's important to note that mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They can carry both the West Nile and Zika viruses that can render those bitten extremely ill.

Aug. 28, 2018 – KIOTI Tractor wants to "treat you like dirt" in its new advertising campaign. The campaign has been introduced to focus on what tractor owners prioritize most: hard, dirty work on their land.

July 24, 2018 – The turf conditions for the recently concluded World Cup of Soccer competition in Russia were second to none. Cub Cadet's Infinicut turf mower was used to groom the pitches for the games involving the world's greatest players.