IN ACTION CASE STUDIES
Maintaining sports grounds across the UK Four organisations explain how they utilise industry products and services to ensure their grounds and facilities are kept in top condition FERRO IS TOP CHOICE FOR JORDANS
Jordans Sports Ground Solutions has reported excellent results after applying COMPO EXPERT’s Ferro Top specialty fertiliser on the stadium pitches at Gillingham FC, Dartford FC and Ebbsfleet United FC, and on croquet lawns, tennis courts and a cricket square at Dulwich Sports Club. Jordans Sports Grounds Solutions provides a range of sportsturf services throughout the South East, and owner Ian Jordan carefully selects the products used by his team of 11. He says: “We always do the best we can for our clients and choosing the correct products for their turf within their budget is crucial.” Last year, with a harsh winter approaching, Ian was looking for an iron-based product that would harden the sward and give colour through the winter. “I came across Ferro Top on the
Jordans Sports Ground Solutions uses Ferro Top fertiliser to give colour to sportsturf over the winter
Agrovista Amenity website and discussed the product with amenity specialist Andrew Norman,” he says. Agrovista Amenity is the UK’s exclusive national distributor of COMPO EXPERT products and is witnessing an increasing demand for the innovative fertilisers. Ferro Top is a popular choice, as it’s an iron specialty fertiliser with high levels of potash and magnesium, as well as manganese, which promotes quality, resistance and colour. The fine granulation ensures perfect sward penetration and quick greening without a flush of growth, displaces moss and protects against new settlements. “Approximately seven to 10 days after we applied it, the grass went ‘whoosh’ and the colour was fantastic. It also kicks back into life after the turf has been cut,” Ian says. n Find out more at: compo-expert.com
Lincoln City FC’s head groundsman Craig Hounlsey is delighted with the results achieved with ICL products
ICL PRODUCTS AID LINCOLN CITY’S PITCH CONSTRUCTION
ICL products have helped Lincoln City FC’s new Fibresand pitch get off to the best possible start after the LNER stadium pitch was completely rebuilt. The pitch project included a new gravel carpet, a drainage system, multiple sand layers and the amelioration of Fibresand. As a new Fibresand construction can take time to settle, head groundsman Craig Housley wanted to concentrate on achieving good rooting to aid playability and recovery, so he spoke to ICL technical area sales manager Craig Lalley, who recommended incorporating Sierrablen Plus Turf Starter with Pearl into the growing medium. “The organic acids that are produced by the rooting utilises the phosphorus and the magnesium from the Pearl technology, which aids early establishment,” he explains. H2Pro TriSmart wetting agent was then implemented. Its three water-management technologies provide greater water penetration through the rootzone and improve the water-holding capacity of sandy rootzones. Four weeks later, Lalley suggested ICL’s Vitalnova Links biostimulant, which comprises Vitalnova Blade and SMX. Vitalnova Links was tank mixed with TriSmart to aid microbial stimulation, reduce biotic stresses and develop the rooting. TriSmart manages the moisture so the pitch doesn’t dry out in warm temperatures. “It takes a while for a new Fibresand pitch to grip itself together, but I have been surprised at just how good the pitch has been in its first year,” says Housley. n Find out more at: icl-sf.com
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SUMMER 2022
