“We used the Koro Field Top Maker on the pitch last May before sand slitting to alleviate poor drainage and then reseeded with 18 bags of A20,” Marcus explains. “The primary drainage is becoming worn out, so I have to work with the top layer to produce the best playing surface possible.”

With an eight week window between seeding and pre-season friendlies, Marcus had to get the new grass off to a good start, so began a nutrient regime based on the 12:2:9 BSH9 soluble fertiliser every two to three weeks and Floranid Permanent (16:7:15) slow release fertiliser every eight weeks. FerroTop (6:0:12 +FE) was also used in the Autumn to help maintain colour.

“Germination was within 5-6 days, and in two weeks I was able to make my first cut. Regular mowing encouraged the strong growth that A20 is renowned for, and the pitch was ready for play in eight weeks. I was delighted with the excellent colour and disease resistance right from the start,” Marcus comments.”
The high potassium KaliGazon (0:0:27) was added in the winter and going into spring, Floranid Turf (20:5:8) gave the pitch great colour and vigour and kept it performing to its best as the season continued.

In 2010, the process is due to be repeated after the play offs, and Marcus is keen to try British Seed Houses’ new fertiliser, Fertilis Swing (14:6:17).

“Fertilis Swing is used prior to seeding to boost disease resistance, which is an excellent idea to protect the young seedlings, so I want to give that a go.”

Marcus has taken great care to give his pitch the best possible chance – purchasing another four bags of seed to put on if needed six weeks after the reseed, and last year he also investigated the possibilities of a winter reseed.

“British Seed Houses tested their Vesuvius variety to see if it would be suitable after I enquired as to the options, and they showed that it will germinate at 3º Celsius. I had the extra bags to reseed in November if necessary, but the pitch was in such good condition that I didn’t need them and they are still in the shed!”

He comments that British Seed Houses are always willing to help him out and suggest new products which might be of use.

“I have a great relationship with their rep Joe Hendy, he’s always popping in to see how we are getting on and if I need anything. He took soil samples from the pitch recently which showed a potash deficiency, so we can now remedy that.”

Such tender loving care has resulted in a pitch which has won praise from the management and the players in circumstances that have tested many groundsmen.

“It was the worst winter for 30 years, and I know other clubs struggled with their pitches, but I can honestly say that ours looked its best ever,” Marcus says.

Soluble quick action fertiliser has traditionally been the groundsman’s standby to improve turf performance, but this ‘quick remedy’ approach can lead to all sorts of problems.

The soft leaf tissue growth which is evidenced by a sudden flush of green grass is weak and susceptible to disease, while potential nitrate losses in into the drainage system are a real risk, particularly with unpredictable spring showers.
 
Costs are increased by the need for fungicides to treat disease, while the penalty for nitrate pollution is both financial and environmental.

Leading clubs such as Aberdeen FC and Harlequins RFC have recently carried out successful trials to evaluate the benefits of slow release fertiliser.

British Seed Houses’ Sandy Pentecost explains: “Slow release fertiliser incorporates nutrients which are available when the grass is able to utilise them. This means more efficient use of the groundsman’s resources, optimum growth without flushes and the peace of mind that the environment is not being put at risk.”

Paul Sykes of contractors MCR Sports Turf Management trialled a Floranid slow release programme along with British Seed Houses’ A20 and Ryesport mixtures at the Twickenham Stoop in 2009.

He explains: “We made four applications at a rate of 30g/m at 7-10 week intervals.  I found Floranid very easy to use and highly cost effective. It gave a rapid response without a huge flush in plant growth after each application and the sward maintained good consistent colour and general health for the entire year.  This is something we have struggled with in the past using regular compound fertilisers alone, which created a ‘boom and bust’ type growth habit.”

Paul reckons that the Floranid granular programme offered a saving of about 25 per cent in fertiliser costs, although per bag the material is more expensive than a regular compound fertiliser.
“On the surface, this can put customers off, but cheaper products as we all know can often cost you more in the long run.  There has also been the saving in application time as we aren’t putting on as much fertiliser over the course of the year, freeing up staff to complete other tasks,” comments Paul.

“Overall I’ve had a more consistent surface; we have improved our root growth by 20 per cent, which for me is very significant.  Like many rugby surfaces, ours is prone to cutting up in the wet of winter. November 2009 was one of the wettest months on record and the Stoop pitch is the best I’ve seen it in five years for this time of year. Yet, we have had well over 100 hours of play since August. 

Paul says that even spectators have made comments on the general condition of the ground.

“I put this improvement down to the combined use of the A20 and the Floranid fertiliser as my management strategy and techniques have altered little from the previous season.”

Reseeding turf areas rejuvenates worn playing surfaces, improving appearance and playability and is an important task for turf managers aiming to maintain the quality of their facilities. Yet it remains a challenge as the unpredictable British climate and the need to work to a budget can make choosing the right seed difficult.

Much is made of grasses bred for specific characteristics or treated with coatings designed to improve germination, but British Seed Houses’ Richard Brown suggests that turf managers would be better going back to basics.

“We work closely with the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and our cultivars are selected from UK grasses, which means that they are ideally suited to UK conditions,” he explains. “Thus they are already adapted to tolerate mild, wet autumns which can predispose other cultivars to disease, and they can readily germinate and grow at low temperatures.”

The relationship between British Seed Houses and IBERS goes back to 1987, when the company invested in the Aberystwyth based research institute, and since then all of its seed breeding has been carried out in the UK. It is still the only amenity seed breeding programme in this country.
AberElf, launched onto the market by British Seed Houses in 1997, was the first British bred perennial ryegrass, and the process of selecting for UK conditions has proved highly successful right up to the latest varieties favoured by the industry.

Leading Browntop Bent AberRoyal, for example, was produced using selections from North Wales. “These cultivars are adapted to wet autumns, and have given AberRoyal its high tolerance to disease. It is also suited to a low nutrient, drought prone environment due to the light sandy soils in this part of the country. Thus AberRoyal makes best use of water and nutrients for excellent performance in difficult conditions.”

Local factors have also been influential in the development of AberRegal, a new Browntop Bent due to be launched in 2012, Richard explains. “Selections from Kent were chosen for their high levels of fusarium resistance, which will make it a useful option to combat disease pressure.”

The approach can also be applied to cultivars used in mixtures – Sheep’s fescue is an important component of mixtures for landscaping and golf roughs and here, IBERS looked to the South Downs to select grasses that are tolerant to low nutrient and drought conditions.

Nothing is left to chance during the seed breeding process, which can be 10-15 years from conception to market launch. The selections are assessed in breeding plots for the attributes required, such as disease resistance or ability to withstand close mowing. Back crossing develops the desirable traits and ensures that the grass grows true to type ahead of testing for Distinct Uniform Stable (DUS) type. It is then entered onto the recommended list and goes for STRI trials before being marketed.
Richard comments: “The most influential factors in successful germination are actually correct cultural practice and the use of fresh seed. Turf managers should ask their supplier for an up to date germination test, to ensure that the seed is fresh.”

To thrive and offer the best possible results on your turf, the grasses themselves also need to be carefully chosen, he points out.

“The ability to survive temperature fluctuations during establishment and exhibit good disease resistance comes from making the breeding selection in the UK, ensuring that the seed is naturally adapted to handle challenging UK conditions,” he says.