Spring 2021 – Horticulture News

ICL’S LOCKSTAR FOR WEED CONTROL

Alan Abel of Complete Weed Control (South & Central Wales) says that ICL’s residual herbicide, LockStar, has become an essential product in his armoury. Since its launch last year, LockStar has been well received in the turf and landscaping sector. Public green spaces, amenity areas, and transportation infrastructure were suffering from weed infestations, a reduction in available chemical solutions, and reducing budgets for control. This new herbicide, which controls a broad spectrum of weeds, has been keeping areas such as these weed-free, functional, and visually pleasing.

LockStar’s innovative formula contains diflufenican and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, which is the first new weed control active ingredient to be released in the UK for many years. Alan has been using LockStar throughout the past season and has reported hugely encouraging results. “I’ve found it to be excellent and the longevity is fantastic,” he said. “It has been effective on all fronts for up to five months with just one application.” When applied before germination, LockStar creates a dual barrier at the soil surface ensuring that soil is kept weed-free for up to five months. To control weeds that are already present, it can be tank-mixed with glyphosate or a ‘fatty acid’. Alan went on: “For those weeds that are already present, I have mixed LockStar with both glyphosate and another herbicide, I’ve applied them at half rate and again, the results have been fantastic.”

Alan says that the product has been a huge hit with local authorities and councils especially when it comes to the treatment of areas that need frequent strimming. “We have applied LockStar to many fence lines, wall lines, tree bases – areas that need strimming at least once every three or four weeks,” continued Alan. “With LockStar applied to these areas, they don’t require to be strimmed at all, which saves our grounds teams a lot of time.”

ICL recently announced an update to the label of LockStar, which provided users with more effective and flexible weed control, as Colman Warde, country manager for ICl explains: “The label update includes extended use of the product meaning it can now be applied at any time of year instead of the previous limited window between February and June. It was most welcome news to contractors and grounds managers as it gives them the opportunity to adapt their approach and give them greater control over weed growth.” Alan agreed that these new permissions provide a lot more flexibility.

Please contact ICL on 044 1473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.ie

Follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf ✽

RESUMPTION OF HORTICULTURAL PEAT HARVESTING RAISED AT WORKING GROUP MEETING

The resumption of peat harvesting, by way of derogation of emergency legislation, was the focus of a second meeting of a working group on horticulture peat.

Peat producers and vegetable, mushroom, and nursery growers are being forced to import peat from the Baltic States, Canada, Russia, and the UK after the High Court ruled that milling peat on bogs over 30ha requires planning permission from An Bord Pleanala and an EPA license. A working group was established to examine the issues identified during the Review on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry, comprised of representatives from the Department of Housing, state agencies, industry stakeholders, and environmental non-government organisations. The working group has been warned that 17,000 jobs are at risk due to the 2019 High Court ruling. Calls are now being made for a derogation or legislative amendment to save the 2021 harvest.

John Neenan of Growing Media Ireland (GMI) which represents most of Ireland’s horticultural peat producers has said, “The Department officials appear to definitely rule out a derogation and are not over positive on emergency legislation,” and went onto say “As far as I am aware, there is no legislative proposal available from the members to deal with this at present. However, GMI is working with their legal advisers and hopefully will have proposals available shortly.”

Bord na Móna suspended peat harvesting operations last year following the landmark High Court decision. It then formally ended all peat harvesting on its lands in January of this year. It is understood the closure of BNM’s peat division means CO2 emissions from peatlands in Ireland will reduce by over 97%. Just 0.12% of total Irish bogland has been developed for horticultural peat harvesting. The annual CO2 emissions from this area is 0.15% of total Irish emissions.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Just Transition Commissioner, Kieran Mulvey said: “Importing peat is nonsense. We’re importing the same product from another European country that doesn’t seem to have the same directives applied to them as are being applied to us on the same bogs.”

Without Bord na Móna, many Irish horticultural peat producers and vegetable, mushroom and nursery growers have had to import peat from across the globe. John Neenan commented, “Collectively, what the industry wants is a return to horticultural peat harvesting in 2021 – whether this is by way of emergency legislation or a temporary derogation (short term) and an amendment in the current legislation to allow peat harvesting continue, subject to an EPA license, and based on a phased reduction on peat use in line with the development of responsibly sourced peat alternatives. Neenan added: “Harvesting should be carried out in a responsible way and in line with good practice and under an EPA license.” A third meeting of the horticulture peat working group will take place shortly. ✽

INTRA ECO SHIELD – ENHANCING CROP GROWTH

Intrahorti, in collaboration with Whites Amenity, brings a new product to the Irish market, Intra Eco Shield, which empowers the natural strength of crops. Intra Eco Shield is made up of a high level of orthosilicic acid, the addition of which can benefit plants in many different ways.

Silicon is an element present in nature and its effect on crops is often underestimated. As we understand more, it is apparent that Silicon is one of the trace elements necessary for crop growth. Growers demand high yields from crop planting, and by adding a silicon-based product that is highly available to the plant, Intra Eco Shield helps the plant to thrive.

Intra Eco Shield ensures the formation of strong and healthy crops, creating a shield in the outer cell wall of the plant, protecting the cell against external hazards, and improving nutrient uptake, particularly calcium and potash. It also stimulates photosynthesis and increases rooting along with improving pest and disease control. Intra Eco Shield helps growers to keep crops healthy and increase yields. ✽