Germinal Amenity Catalogue 2021

germinalamenity.com

‘It’s the best wicket the ground has ever had.’

Nick Marsh Greenside Up Grass East Molesey Cricket Club

Amenity 2021

Amenity Grass Seed, Fertiliser and Wild Flora Products

Contents Introduction Research and Development

01 – 02 03

Golf mixtures

04 – 21

– Bentgrasses

11 – 15

– Grade ‘A’ golf mixtures – Getting the most from overseeding with bentgrasses – Preventative overseeding – Golf wildflower mixtures

05 – 10 16 – 17 18 – 19 20 – 21

Sport mixtures

22 – 29

What’s in your bag of grass seed?

30 – 31

Landscaping mixtures

32 – 37

Wild flora mixtures

38 – 48

– Maintenance guide

– Regional Environmental (RE) Mixtures

– Urban Meadow (General landscaping)

Fertilisers

– Slow release fertilisers – Specialist fertilisers

– Nutritional strategies for disease prevention

41

42 – 43 44 – 48

49 – 66

50 – 51 52 – 55 56

– Liquid fertilisers

57 – 59

– Compound granular fertilisers

61 – 65

– Seaweed based feeds

60

Spreader table

66

Territory map

67

Introduction

01

Expert advice and the very best amenity cultivars With the stresses and strains of 2020 impacting the lives and livelihoods of so many within the sports turf, amenity and landscaping sectors, it has been difficult for us to get out and about during large parts of the year and we’ve missed being able to talk, in-person, with our customers.

But, just like the rest of the world, we’ve learned to adapt to the new ways of working and have remained on hand throughout the various periods of lockdown and social distancing to offer expert seeding, overseeding and general landscaping advice via various online communication channels.

Like you though, we’re eagerly hoping for a much more normal year in 2021: a year in which our team of dedicated and experienced technical sales representatives will continue to provide sound, reliable and trusted advice and guidance on a face-to-face basis to ensure you can get the most from your sports pitch, golf course, cricket wicket, tennis court, bowling green or landscaping project.

The best seeds and seed mixtures As well as priding ourselves on being the amenity grass and wildflowers experts, we are also exceptionally proud of our expanding portfolio of high-quality seeds and seed mixtures.

Our core range of grass seeds includes products for every aspect of the amenity sports sector (from specialist golf mixtures to bespoke products for cricket, football and rugby pitches) as well as a wide selection of products for general and specialised landscaping projects, fine lawn maintenance, wildflower meadows and environmentally enhanced green spaces.

The year of the creeping bentgrass This year our sector-leading range of golf-specific bentgrasses has been bolstered by the addition of one of the best-performing US varieties, Tour Pro (GDE).

Selected for its improved resistance to Dollar Spot and Pink Snow Mould, Tour Pro (GDE) has excelled in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) in the United States and has recently achieved the highest mean score for creeping bentgrasses as a new cultivar on table G1 of the 2021 BSPB list: Tour Pro (GDE) excels in terms of Visual Merit (7.0), boasts the joint highest score for Shoot Density (6.6) and shares the top honours in terms of Fineness of Leaf (6.7).

In the US, Tour Pro (GDE) has been ranked as the number one variety for Drought Stress and number two for Wear Stress and Winter Colour and has been in the top five of all commercially available bentgrasses.

Tour Pro (GDE) is available exclusively in the UK from Germinal and features in our new golf green specific seed mixture, Tour Leader, where its drought tolerance and wear resistance combine with the cold weather tolerance and sustainability of 007 DSB to create a seed mixture which easily outcompetes Poa annua and which has enough genetic diversity to ensure golf greens remain in good condition all year round irrespective of what the weather might throw at them.

Our recent addition to our browntop bentgrass portfolio, Musket, has also gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months: introduced by Germinal to the UK market in 2020, it has formally been added to the BSPB’s Table G1 as a new cultivar this year. With a visual merit score of 7.0, shoot

02

Introduction

density 6.6, fineness of leaf 6.7, and winter and summer greenness scores of 5.9 and 5.8 respectively, Musket has an overall rating of 6.8 which makes it the ideal partner for our other browntop bents, notably UK-bred favourites AberRegal and AberRoyal.

Wildflower updates We’ve also updated our range of wildflower mixtures for 2021. In addition to our existing range of 100% native Regional Environmental (RE) wildflower mixtures, we’ve improved the environmental, ecological and aesthetic benefits of our General Landscaping Wild Flora (WF and WFG) ranges by incorporating a selection of pollinator-friendly non-native and ‘garden’ varieties: research carried out by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has shown that the inclusion of these non-native species can lengthen the flowering season at the beginning and end of the year, thereby providing a more abundant and longer-lasting source of nectar and pollen to boost populations of pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

The addition of these species also produces a more aesthetically appealing sward thanks to their wider palette of longer-lasting colours. For more information refer to the wildflower section of this catalogue.

Please get in touch Our direct sales model ensures all of the products mentioned above remain available at sensible prices so that your budget can go that bit further.

For more information about any of our products, or if you need specific advice for a current or future project, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’d love to hear from you and genuinely enjoy the challenge of helping make your green space work harder.

Richard Brown National Amenity Sales Manager Germinal GB

Germinal is the largest privately owned seed company in the UK and the only company selling British-bred turf grasses direct to the end user.

Germinal technical support

Our team of dedicated technical sales representatives has vast experience of amenity grass seed and fertilisers for golf, sports and landscaping, and is committed to helping you find the correct grass seeds and fertilisers to improve your facility.

FACTS* qualified

Having chosen the correct grass mixtures, why not let one of our qualified advisers write up a fertiliser plan to help you gain the best performance from your sward throughout the coming year?

For Technical Sales Representatives’ details, please see page 67. * Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme

Research & Development

03

Research & Development Products

• We produce the major portion of our grass seed in the UK; this ensures that your purchase helps to support the UK economy • The Grade ‘A’ range is the first word in quality with regards to cultivar, purity and germination • The comprehensive range offers a mixture to suit every greenkeeper, groundsman, landscape contractor or landscape architect • Mixtures include exclusive top rated cultivars, unavailable through any other seed suppliers, many of which are UK bred for UK conditions Look out for the ‘ABER’ varieties in our mixtures

Service

• Simplify your life. Buy direct from your visiting Technical Sales Representative, through our Lincoln office, or online at germinalamenity.com • Orders of stock items placed before midday will be delivered the next working day • Talk directly to one of our Technical Sales Representatives for first hand expert advice

Research and Development

• Germinal funds the amenity seed breeding programme at IBERS*; working together we form the UK’s largest grass breeding programme • Our relationship with internationally renowned amenity grass breeders ensures exclusive access to the best cultivars from Europe and the USA • This commitment to breeding ensures a constant improvement in our varietal portfolio

* IBERS – The Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences is the UK’s major centre for independent research into the physiological mechanisms involved in grass plant nutrition, quality and stress resistance.

04

Golf mixtures

Golf mixtures

Ultrafine mixtures for tees, fairways and greens approaches

CABRIO produces an exceptionally fine playing surface for all ball games!

Cabrio, Germinal’s ultrafine perennial ryegrass, tops the BSPB’s Series L Table 1 (mown at 10 - 15mm) for perennial ryegrasses and, crucially, is the No.1 variety for fineness of leaf thanks to a score of 8.6, a score which is still half a point clear of its nearest rivals at 8.1. Furthermore, Cabrio retains its fineness of leaf when mown at 4 - 7mm as its score of 8.4 on table G4 demonstrates. This makes Cabrio perfect for use on high quality tees where its ultrafine leaf and natural mid-green colour makes it perfect for blending in with fescues.

Cabrio also boasts good scores for shoot density (7.7), visual merit (7.8), slow regrowth habit (7.1) and cleanness of cut (7.1) therefore making it suitable for use on fescue-based tees and greens surrounds, and even on links courses, where extra wear tolerance is required.

Cabrio is also recommended for use on tennis courts and cricket squares where it is ideal for repairing baselines and wicket ends.

Cabrio is exclusively available in our A5 Ultrafine Cricket, Tennis and Tees, A8 Ultrafine Ryegrass, A10 Golf Tees and Divot Repairs, and A28 Ultrafine Ryegolf mixtures. Its inclusion in all four of these mixtures enhances sward density, wear tolerance and repair capability.

“Fast establishing, fine leaved and durable. Knits in with the fescue on my tees perfectly” Andy Barber Course manager Royal Winchester Golf Club

05

06

Golf mixtures

Grade ‘A’ golf mixtures A5

Ultrafine Cricket, Tennis and Tees 50% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass) 50% CABRIO (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass)

• Quick to establish • Hard wearing • High density ground cover • Superior rooting • Contains Cabrio, the most fine leaved Perennial ryegrass currently available The Original and still the best, A5 is unsurpassed for fineness of leaf and overall quality of varieties. Sporting a fineness of leaf score of 8.6 when mown down to 10 -15mm, Escapade is the perfect companion for Cabrio which tops the 2021 BSPB list for summer sports and has the best fineness of leaf of any ryegrass when mown down to 10 - 15mm and 4 - 7mm respectively.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha) Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 4mm

A8

Ultrafine Ryegreens

45% CABRIO (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass)

45% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass)

10% 007 (Creeping Bentgrass) Cabrio has the highest score for fineness of leaf (8.4) under close mown conditions, 4 - 7mm on the current BSPB list • Rapid germination and establishment in cooler conditions • Disease resistance due to intense breeding and trials • 007 adds density to UFR bunch growth habit • Excellent winter colour • Also an option for tees and collars

An outstanding combination of two of the most popular species for modern golf renovations.

Blending top performing Ultrafine Ryegrass cultivars Cabrio and Escapade with the world famous Superbent 007, A8 is the contemporary choice for renovating your greens to cope with the current demand pressures.

Sowing Rate: 20g/m2 (2000kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 10 - 15g/m2 (100 - 150kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed –Agrosil® LR Once established – Easygreen Mini GL6

A10

A11

35% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 25% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue) 10% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass) 25% CABRIO* (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass) 2.5% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent) 2.5% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent)

40% BOGART (Chewings Fescue)

Golf Tees and Divot Repairs

• For rapid repair • Wear tolerant • Quick recovery from divot scars • Contains Cabrio, the most fine leaved Perennial ryegrass currently available

A10 produces a high density sward with excellent binding capacity and recovery rate.

This mixture also provides dark green winter colour and disease resistance.

Includes Cabrio - the highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha) Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 6 - 7mm Shade Option: SUPREME Poa supina can be added at 2.5% for enhanced shade tolerance No-Rye Option: The perennial ryegrass can be removed from this mixture to create a fescue based option (A23) Fertiliser Recommendation: Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) G13 ProteKt (winter)

Golf Greens

40% BEUDIN (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 10% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

10% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent) • • • •

Uniform putting surface Dense sward Tolerates close mowing Includes UK bred grasses for UK conditions

All four cultivars offer unrivalled summer and winter greenness as well as the prerequisite high shoot density and disease resistance.

Includes AberRoyal & AberRegal UK bred cultivars for UK conditions.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – G7 Bio Builder Vitanica RZ

* The highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

07

Golf mixtures

A12

Golf Fairways

30% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue) 25% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

15% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 15% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass) 10% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass)

2.5% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

2.5% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent) • Quick establishment • Good recovery from divots • Low maintenance • Clean cutting A12 provides rapid repair of divot scarring. Once fully established, the sward will withstand drought conditions on sandy soils.

Escapade provides slow re-growth without compromising shoot density, to produce a low maintenance fairway.

A13

Golf Roughs and Habitat Areas 62.5% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

10% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue)

25% JOANNA (Chewings Fescue) 2.5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

Golf roughs add to the challenge of any course and provide an important, diverse grassland habitat for wildlife.

The combination of fescues found in A13 will adapt to a variety of maintenance programmes.

Sowing Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: As desired

A28

25% HUMBOLDT (Chewings Fescue)

45% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue)

Golf All Fescue

25% BOGART (Chewings Fescue) 25% BEUDIN (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 25% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

A28 establishing well in oversown fairways at Hadley Wood G.C., Barnet after the drought of 2018.

30% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue)

25% CABRIO (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass)

• Versatile mixture • Tolerant of close mowing • Wear resistant A27 is suitable for overseeding of fairways and greens where improved sward density, drought tolerance and disease resistance are required.

This adaptable mixture is ideal for those courses wishing to maintain their fescue content or repair damaged areas through divoting or disease. Also available as 100% slender creeping red fescue on request.

A28 is suitable for golf courses which suffer from wear and tear due to intensive use where a traditional mixture will not perform. The use of Cabrio provides outstanding wear characteristics associated with perennial ryegrass whilst being very compatible with the fescue element of the mixture.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Down to 5mm for greens, 15mm for fairways and tees

Cutting Height: Down to 6 - 7mm

Bentgrass Option: Any of our bentgrasses can be added to the above on request

Cutting Height: Down to 15mm

Ultrafine Ryegolf

• • • •

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – NovaTec N-Max or NovaTec Premium

A27

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – According to use

A versatile golf mixture Tolerant of close mowing Hard wearing Cabrio has highest score for fineness of leaf (8.4) under close mown conditions, 4 - 7mm on current BSPB list.

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

* The highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

08

Golf mixtures

Golf mixtures

Wes Saunders Course Manager, Dunblane New Golf Club

We’ve used Germinal’s standard A10 mixture successfully for the past five or six years and it has been a good fit with the existing species on our fairways and tees: its combination of fescues, ryegrasses and bentgrasses blends in well, with Cabrio adding extra fineness of leaf and wear tolerance.

09

10

Golf mixtures

A29

85% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass)

65% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

Supreme Tees

35% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

15% SUPREME (Poa supina)

25% JOANNA (Chewings Fescue)

Ecology and Environment Consultant Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI)

A32

With Ryegrass Divot Mix 40% CADIX (Perennial Ryegrass)

“Grasses are vitally important from an ecological viewpoint.

They are the principal components of all grassland habitats, with different species providing unique diversity within machair to the north, and chalk downlands in the south.

These habitats provide food, shelter and vantage for a range of wildlife communities and are particularly valuable for molluscs through to invertebrates, bryophytes and small mammals. Often unappreciated are the secondary benefits of grasslands, which, by their presence, provide important food resources for bats and birds.”

A31

• Quick to germinate • Cost effective • Multi-purpose A29 is a multi use divot mixture ideal for repairing worn areas, divot and pitch marks on golf courses, sports grounds and general municipal areas.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G13 ProteKt (winter) G14 Alleviate Fe

• Unrivalled shade tolerance • Disease resistance • Uniform neat cleanness of cut • Exceptionally hardwearing with good recovery The perfect mixture for shaded golf tees or any extremely shaded areas on golf courses or in sports stadia. Includes Supreme Poa supina, this mixture is extremely shade tolerant and offers exceptional wear tolerance once established.

Supreme is a new improved Poa supina with a darker colour than older varieties.

Being 100% Poa species means the mixture offers above average disease resistance and an unrivalled cleanness of cut, giving a uniform hardwearing and disease free sward even in the most shady areas.

Sowing Rate: 10 -15g/m2 (100 -150kg/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

Ecological Roughs Mixture 5% Sweet Vernal Grass 7.5% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

7.5% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent)

15% Crested Dogstail A32 provides the perfect buffer between fairways and more off-line areas of play.

It creates an easy to manage sward which can be maintained via infrequent cutting to create a thin, semi-rough environment that enables rapid ball retrieval and onward play. It also creates an ecologically valuable, natural grassland habitat, acting as an extension to wildlife-rich areas of thicker rough.

Additional species available on request – Tufted hair grass, Wavy hair grass, Quaking grass, Small Leaf Timothy, Golden oat grass.

Sowing Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: As desired

Golf mixtures

Creeping Bent Tour Pro (GDE) is the latest creeping bentgrass to join Germinal’s excellent bentgrass portfolio: having excelled in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) in the United States, this top-performing variety has recently achieved the highest mean score for creeping bentgrasses as a new cultivar on table G1 of the 2021 BSPB list.

It has also been awarded the highest score for shoot density and visual merit for a creeping bentgrass, making it a hardworking and visually pleasing variety.

Tour Pro (GDE) was selected as the next creeping variety to join our bentgrass portfolio thanks to its low input requirement – a factor which enables greenkeepers on modern courses to outcompete Poa annua by implementing management strategies which place the latter under stress and allow the natural attributes of Tour Pro (GDE) to gain the upperhand and dominate the sward.

Tour Pro (GDE) is available exclusively in the UK from Germinal.

For more information see overleaf.

11

12

Golf mixtures

Variety Matters: Leading Creeping Bent for the UK When Germinal first introduced 007 DSB to the UK in 2016 it is fair to say we came up against a significant amount of opposition: not specifically to the variety itself, but to the preconceived ideas of many greenkeepers and agronomists who believed that all creeping bentgrasses required high inputs (especially in terms of N and water) to make them work.

Whilst that might have been true of older varieties, modern creeping bentgrasses have improved tremendously in terms of their ability to thrive under modern management programmes. Despite this, many within the industry remained convinced that introducing a creeping bentgrass would require additional budget in terms of inputs and man hours, and that any additional nutrients would have the detrimental knock-on effect of feeding Poa annua and encouraging it to proliferate.

Over the last few years however, the success and easy management of 007 DSB has proven that modern creeping bentgrasses no longer conform to this out-of-date stereotype, with many early adopters in the UK reporting that 007 DSB has a much lower requirement for nitrogen and water than they initially anticipated. This has been supported by subsequent trial work which has shown that an acceptable turf quality can be maintained from just 50kg of N per hectare – as such making it more than suited to the typical management regimes being used by UK greenkeepers who can take full advantage of 007 DSB’s high shoot density without having to worry about it playing into the hands of Poa annua.

So how do we top the best? Well, add the new top-rated creeping bentgrass to our portfolio of course! Tour Pro (GDE) shares all the characteristics of 007 DSB (excellent resistance to Microdochium patch and Dollar spot) but is even more tolerant of drought conditions – a genuinely valuable attribute which gives greenkeepers the opportunity to sustain quality putting surfaces whilst placing Poa annua under significant stress.

13

Golf mixtures

Germinal Bents 007 DSB Creeping Bent

• Widely adaptable to warm summers and cold winters • Very salt tolerant – trials show it to be more salt tolerant than Seaside II • Very good cool weather colour retention – no purple colour during the winter months • High disease resistance especially against Anthracnose, Fusarium and Snow Mould • Dollar Spot resistance 007 DSB is arguably the best-of-the best: bred in the US using 24 parent plants, it exhibits an extremely prostrate growth habit, high shoot density and good wear tolerance in a wide range of conditions including cold climates and drought susceptible regions. 007 DSB has won plaudits wherever it has been used including at Ryder Cup and US Open courses and at the PGA Masters at Wentworth.

Sowing Rate: 8 - 12g/m2 (80 to 120kgs/ha) Overseeding Rate: 5 - 8g/m2 (50 - 80kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

Tour Leader Creeping Bent Blend 50% 007 DSB (Creeping Bent)

50% TOUR PRO (GDE) (Creeping Bent) • Superb Dollar Spot, Anthracnose, Fusarium and Brown Patch resistance • Adaptable to all UK climates • Tolerant of close mowing regimes (as low as 3mm) • Low seedling mortality rates compared to browntops and fescues: resulting in faster species conversion away from Poa annua.

• Very tolerant of drought conditions • Sustainable input requirement: UK users average 92 kg N per annum with reduced chemical usage Tour Leader is a landmark in the evolution of creeping bentgrass products.

This exceptional blend sets the bar high with unrivalled performance, seasonal adaptability, high disease resistance and vivid colour retention. Tour Leader combines two top performers 007 DSB and Tour Pro (GDE) to bring you this all-round leader in the game.

Tour Leader - Putting you out in front By pairing the drought tolerance and wear resistance qualities of Tour Pro (GDE) with the cold weather tolerance and sustainability of 007 DSB, we have created a seed mixture with enough genetic diversity to ensure golf greens remain in good condition all year round irrespective of what the weather might throw at them: with the UK’s variable weather patterns meaning no two seasons are ever the same, that level of flexibility makes Tour Leader the ideal over-seeding and reseeding mixture for modern golf greens.

Sowing Rate: 8 - 12g/m2 (80 to 120kgs/ha) Overseeding Rate: 5 - 8g/m2 (50 - 80kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

16 14

Golf mixtures

James Lindsay Course Manager, Stirling Golf Club

“The first seedlings began to emerge ten days after we over-seeded, and despite one of the wettest summers in recent memory, the results have been amongst the best I’ve seen: we achieved excellent strike rates, with the greens subsequently looking better than ever which means the club, members and my team are all happy.”

15

Golf mixtures

Germinal Bents AberMajesty Browntop Bent blend

ForeFront Greens

45% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent)

25% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

45% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

Technical information

10% MUSKET (Browntop Bent)

Sowing Rate: 8 - 12g/m2 (80 - 120kgs/ha)

• Combined genetic traits of three winning varieties • Natural Fusarium resistant varieties • Contains UK bred varieties for UK golf greens • Excellent shoot density • Very fine leaved

Overseeding Rate: 5 - 8g/m2 (50 - 80kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

A combination of proven performers AberRoyal and AberRegal and exciting new variety Musket. The increased genetic diversity makes AberMajesty the choice for greenkeepers looking to manage a blend of browntop bentgrasses that offers the prerequisite requirement of good shoot density and fineness of leaf but with vital added resistance to fusarium.

25% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent)

10% MUSKET (Browntop Bent) 40% 007 DSB (Creeping Bent)

• Suitable for soil or sand-based greens • Enhanced resistance to Red Thread and Fusarium • Superb stress resistance • Superb year-round green colour • Excellent shoot density and fineness of leaf Combining the proven performance of AberMajesty browntop bent blend, with the best creeping bent ensures Forefront Greens delivers the highest levels of disease and stress resistance.

With excellent shoot density, fineness of leaf and unrivalled winter and summer greenness, Forefront Greens is the mixture for better golf greens.

Breeding to maximise Fusarium resistance Recent trials carried out by the STRI on behalf of Germinal suggest that overseeding golf greens with browntop bentgrass cultivars such as AberRegal might offer improved resistance against microdochium patch disease, better known as Fusarium patch disease.

AberRegal Browntop Bent

Control

AberRegal in fusarium resistance trials

Breeding trials at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) in Aberystwyth suggested that AberRegal gives above average resistance to Fusarium.

The aim of the STRI trial was therefore to examine the susceptibility and resistance of eight browntop bentgrass cultivars to Fusarium under a close mowing regime. The trials showed

that AberRegal offers above average resistance to Fusarium and can therefore increase the effectiveness of, and / or reduce the requirement for a full programme of fungicide applications.

A good percentage of bentgrasses such as AberRegal will therefore provide a firebreak between areas of Poa annua, thereby preventing patches of infection from joining together.

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Golf mixtures

Getting the most from overseeding with bentgrasses Overseeding with bentgrasses is essential to halting the spread of annual meadow grass thus improving the visual appearance and disease resistance of hardworking golf greens. With Browntop, Creeping and Velvet bentgrasses to choose from, Germinal has one of the most extensive bentgrass portfolios on the market.

To maximise the benefit that these varieties deliver, follow these simple guidelines when planning next season’s overseeding regime:

Overseeding golf greens with a high quality bentgrass can increase disease resistance.

1. Planning Set enough time aside for your overseeding work to be carried out properly and thoroughly. Realistically evaluate what you want to achieve and draw up a schedule of how to get there. Included in this schedule should be an ongoing and comprehensive appraisal of how the bentgrass performs after it has been introduced.

2. Timing Throw away the general rule of thumb for overseeding: that it is best carried out in early Autumn.

Overseeding can work well whenever the soil temperature is favourable – the minimum soil temperature for bentgrass germination is 10⁰C with the optimum range being 16 - 22⁰C. This range of temperatures typically means that overseeding work in the UK should be carried out between April and September, although in some areas and in some years this season will be extended. Where a comprehensive and efficient irrigation system is in place, it is better to work at the upper end of the optimum soil and air temperature range as this will give better seed establishment and early stage growth. Alternatively, seeding in advance of warm weather or moisture allows you to utilise a potentially quieter time and then wait for germination.

3. Frequency Closely allied to timing is the question of frequency. We all know that sometimes, following a renovation, the planets line up and the weather works in our favour to produce a fantastic result. With that in mind, it can be beneficial to hedge your bets and try to overseed twice or maybe three times in the season. This does not necessarily mean buying twice as much seed: for instance, if you only have the budget to overseed your greens once with pure bentgrasses at 5g/m2, you could split that seed and do two light overseedings, each at 2.5g/m2. One of these treatments could be done early in the season, from late March to early April.

As long as this first treatment is followed by a spell of mild weather, the results can be very good and can restore the population of desirable grasses in a green right at the beginning of a busy playing season.

Overseeding more than once does not therefore mean you have to commit to a potentially disruptive full renovation on each occasion: as long as a good root zone is available for new seeds to be sown into, it is feasible to stitch new seed into an established green via linear grooving or even after a light barrel rolling.

Golf mixtures

4. Preparation Evaluate thatch levels, irrigation coverage, wear patterns, drip lines, tree roots and every other possible biotic cause for poor performance of the grasses on your green.

This completed – or at least recognised – you are able to proceed with the preparation.

Ensuring good seed-to-soil contact is the key to successful overseeding.

5. Application: ensure good seed-to-soil contact There is no right or wrong way to create the correct environment for germination. Broadcasting or drop seeding into linear grooves, hollow cores or tine holes can all work, and of course there are many good seed drills available.

The most important thing is to ensure that the seed has good contact with the soil and is sown at the correct depth (not too deeply) and that it remains adequately and consistently moist.

A seed only has a small store of energy for the emerging plant to use during the germination period.

The coleoptile therefore needs to be able to push through the soil surface as quickly as possible so that the first leaf can emerge and begin photosynthesising. The seedling can then start to process its own energy and will be much more able to establish itself strongly.

The correct depth to sow bentgrass to is between 2 - 5mm deep.

If overseeding takes place following surface disruption – such as hollow coring – it is essential that cores are top-dressed to within 2 - 5mm of the surface before either top-dressing or broadcasting seed and then applying a light top dressing of between 2 - 5mm.

17

6. Watering Assuming all the points above have been achieved, germination can take as little as seven days – although 14 - 21 days is more likely.

During this period irrigation is really the only controllable resource you have. Ideally the surface should be permanently damp and as soon as the surface feels dry and no material particles stick to your hand, the surface should be covered with a light sprinkling of water.

7. Establishment When seedlings start to appear and the sward is forming, applications of water should become less frequent but heavier. The sward should be allowed to dry between applications in order to prevent damping off.

With regards to first cut, it is an advantage to raise the height of cut. In an ideal world, the cut height would increase up to 6mm. However, if commitments to play mean the most you can get away with is an increase of 1mm from your current mowing height (e.g. an increase from a summer mowing height of 3.5mm up to 4.5mm) for a period of a week, this would be the next best scenario.

Most often, successful overseeding is thwarted by poor survival rates of new seedlings rather than poor germination. You can be confident that any seed lot you purchase from a reputable source will adhere to minimum germination rates. The important thing is to consider the establishing seedlings within the sward during every operation you undertake. Aggressive management of the sward should be avoided while seedlings are becoming established; sensible grooming of the sward – such as brushing and light rolling – and only light aeration if required should be the only management techniques used while the root systems of the new seedlings are becoming established.

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Golf mixtures

Preventative over-seeding: an essential disease prevention tactic Scan this code with your phone or tablet camera for more helpful advice.

With the loss of fungicides such as chlorothalonil, propioconazole and iprodione removing the safety net of using curative chemicals to control turf diseases, greenkeepers must implement a series of linked management strategies to provide effective control against key threats such as Microdochium patch.

In essence this means that, in addition to an acceptance that a certain degree of disease scarring is inevitable on golf greens, the future of effective disease management is going to become increasingly reliant on frequent over-seeding with resistant bentgrasses to replace susceptible species such as Poa annua.

Microdochium patch, caused by the Microdochium nivale pathogen, affects many cool season turf grass species including annual meadow grass and perennial ryegrass, and especially Poa annua, and is one of the primary causes of disease scarring on golf greens. The pathogen over-summers in thatch or soil before infecting grass leaves in the autumn when cool (0-15oC) and damp conditions – which are also advantageous to Poa – prevail.

In Scotland the disease can take hold as early as August, but with the UK’s weather patterns no longer holding any predictability, there’s the potential for the disease to strike at any time of the year.

Because microdochium patch thrives in damp, protected conditions it is essential to keep on top of the basics in terms of regular aeration and daily switching to prevent the build-up of excessive thatch and to remove dew.

However, it is the ability to increase the population of desirable grass species and to reduce the amount of disease prone Poa annua which will make the real difference in controlling the disease.

It therefore makes sense to over-seed using disease resistant bentgrasses which will create fire breaks between patches of Poa annua. A blend of varieties – such as those in Germinal’s AberMajesty and ForeFront Greens blends – is preferable to a single cultivar as this will increase the sward’s genetic diversity and give the over-seeded area a better chance of beating the disease.

Little and often In terms of over-seeding frequency, rule number one is to introduce new seed as often as possible: in all but the most favourable years, over-seeding once a year won’t be enough to out-compete Poa, so a minimum of two over-seedings per year – and preferably three or four – will be favourable.

This might seem excessive, but it needn’t put pressure on the groundcare budget as the additional spend on over-seeding will be offset by a reduction in fungicide costs.

Golf mixtures

19

Whilst the method with which new seed is introduced is relatively inconsequential (as long as there’s good seed to soil contact to enable new seedlings to establish quickly and grow away with vigour) the timing of overseeding operations should be given careful consideration: over-seeding during the traditional late summer window will give good levels of germination, but this timing can produce high levels of seedling mortality due to low cut heights. In addition, the soft cell walls of the seedlings makes these young plants more susceptible to attack from fungal spores just at the time when the threat of infection is at its highest.

Elementary turf management techniques such as daily switching to remove dew are essential to keeping microdochium under control and should be carried out in parallel with preventative over-seeding.

In contrast, older plants are better able to resist the disease in the autumn thanks to higher levels of cell wall lignin. Over-seeding in the spring therefore gives greens a better chance of withstanding the disease as the sward will be populated by older, more resilient plants when disease pressure rises in the autumn.

Similarly, cold-seeding (the practice of over-seeding in the late autumn or early spring to build up a bank of seeds which will germinate as soon as temperatures rise) is also worthy of consideration as this will allow seedlings to establish that little bit earlier, therefore enabling the refreshed sward to get even further ahead of the disease.

Essential nutrients

An appropriate fertiliser programme is also essential in the battle against fusarium which tends to develop when grass is growing at a slower than normal rate. Using a slow-release fertiliser or feeding little and often with a conventional fertiliser will reduce excessive flushes of growth and thereby limit the incidence of the disease. At the same time, the amount of iron and magnesium being fed should be increased to produce stronger, more resilient plants.

Modern bentgrasses – such as those mentioned above which have lower nutrient and water requirements – are also favourable as their ability to successfully tolerate a low input regime enables the sward to be managed in a manner which is less favourable for the disease’s survival.

Over-seeding several times a year with disease resistance cultivars such as AberRegal (left) will help to keep greens clear of microdochium patch (right).

As well as their inbuilt genetic resistance, cultivars such as AberRegal and AberRoyal are also more resilient against microdochium patch thanks to their ability to thrive in drier, less nutrient-rich conditions.

Spring active varieties such as Musket, which gets away quicker in the spring and is therefore able to repair early season disease scarring, should also be considered.

Over-seeding several times throughout the year with a blend of these disease resistant varieties is already becoming a necessity and is set to become a key tactic to enable greens to remain disease-free without the use of curative chemicals.

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Golf mixtures

Steve Stringer High Legh Golf Club

Golf wildflower mixtures “We kept our new wildflower area at the side of the 18th green as a surprise for the members this year. Needless to say, they were absolutely thrilled once the first flowers raised their heads at the end of May. The club members in particular enjoyed looking closely at the different flowers and spotting the many butterflies and bees that the area encouraged. Our past ladies captain even took a picture which she entered in the BBC’s Countryfile calendar competition!”

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Golf mixtures

Fairway Meadow

Links Habitat

Woodland Edge

The new Fairway Meadow mixture is suitable for a range of soil types and growing aspects, and provides a meadow habitat for 365 days a year with flowers in bloom from April to September. It contains a variety of UK native and non native annual and perennial species, and provides an ideal food source and habitat for bees and butterflies. It is perfect for boosting diversity and colour on appropriate parts of any parkland golf course and a good way of adding interest to the course for golfers.

The new Links Habitat seed mixture contains a selection of UK native perennial wild flower species which are synonymous with sandy links soils and which can increase biodiversity to provide an all year round habitat and food source for bees and butterflies.

The Woodland Edge Wildflowers mixture creates a year round meadow habitat with flowers providing added colour from April through until September. It contains a wide variety of UK native and non native annual and perennial species, provides a food source and habitat for bees and butterflies and is a great way of boosting diversity and adding colour to shaded parts and marginal areas of any parkland golf course.

An 80:20 mix of grasses and annual and perennial flowers including Oxeye Daisy, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Corn poppy, Oxeye Sunflower and Echinacea.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

A mix of native grasses including Browntop bent and Sheeps fescue.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

An 80:20 mix of grasses and UK native annual and perennial wildflowers including Garlic Mustard, Red Campion, Square Stemmed St Johns Wort and Hedge Parsley.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

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Sport mixtures

23

Sport mixtures

Grade ‘A’ sport mixtures Designed specifically for the professional user, Grade ‘A’ sport mixtures always include vigorous lots of the most highly rated cultivars available.

The result is a dependable range of mixtures that consistently deliver results time and time again.

A1

A5

A7

40% BOGART (Chewings Fescue)

50% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass)

35% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass)

Professional Bowls 40% HUMBOLDT (Chewings Fescue) 10% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

10% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent) • High shoot density • High resistance to red thread • Withstands close mowing • Very fine texture A1 is suitable for over-seeding or sowing of new constructions where improved sward density, drought tolerance and disease resistance are required. The cultivars chosen for this mixture produce an attractive, all-year, dark green appearance.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Down to 4mm for Greens

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) G14 Alleviate Fe (autumn / winter)

* The highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

Cricket, Tennis and Tees 50% CABRIO* (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass)

• Quick to establish • Hard wearing • High density ground cover • Superior rooting This 100% perennial ryegrass blend is one of the top-performing mixtures of its kind for close mown high quality turf areas. A5 is an ideal mixture for repairing wicket ends and base lines, where excellent root penetration and density is required.

Includes Cabrio – the highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Between 5-20mm

‘Olympic Quality’ Sports Ground 30% CARNAC (Perennial Ryegrass) 20% BORLUNA (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 15% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass)

• Dark green in summer and winter • Rapid recovery from wear • High shoot density drought tolerant sward • Excellent Red Thread resistance A7 is the ultimate sports ground mixture for new constructions where ‘Olympic quality’ is required. Adaptable to variable managements to suit a wide range of sports.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Between 10-25mm

Shade Option: For enhanced shade and wear tolerance, a 2.5% content of Supreme Poa supina can be included Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

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Sport mixtures

Nick Marsh Greenside Up Grass

We use A5 on the wickets at East Molesey Cricket Club because it’s the best rated cricket mixture according to the STRI’s data and because it produces the desired effect: fast and reliable germination (even when sown late in the season), an aesthetically pleasing sward which recovers well, and a playing surface which is fine but robust enough to ensure I can produce enough wickets to keep all the club’s teams happy throughout the entire season. It’s the best wicket the ground has ever had.”

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Sport mixtures

Grade ‘A’ sport mixtures A9

General Outfield 40% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass) 30% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

20% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 10% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass)

• Cost effective sports field mixture • General purpose use • Rapid establishment An all-round general purpose sports field mixture that provides quick establishment and forms a resilient surface for outfields and local authority play areas.

A9 is suitable for a wide range of soil types.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 20mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Basatop Fair Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

A14

Racecourse and Polo Grounds 35% CADIX (Perennial Ryegrass) 35% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 30% ZURICH (Perennial Ryegrass) • Quick divot repair • Extremely hard wearing • Dark green in winter and summer A14 is suitable for racecourses, polo grounds and training areas. It creates a sward that is hardwearing and recovers quickly after events.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 20mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – NovaTec N-Max or NovaTec Premium

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Sport mixtures

A20

A20

Premier Ryesport

30% EUROPITCH (Perennial Ryegrass) 10% EUROSPORT (Perennial Ryegrass) 35% CARNAC (Perennial Ryegrass) 25% EUROCORDUS (Perennial Ryegrass) • High shoot density • Dark green in winter and summer • A combination of fineness of leaf and a good cleanness of cut make a sward that is exceptionally easy to mow stripes • Good disease resistance • Good post winter recovery Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 - 100g/m2

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 - 40g/m2 Cutting Height: Down to 25mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR, Fertilis Swing NK Once established – Fertilis Speed, GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

A20

Creeping Perennial Ryesport

Supreme Poa Supina

35% CARNAC (Perennial Ryegrass)

Poa supina is proven to proliferate in shaded areas and offers a wear tolerance greater than that of perennial ryegrass. In the past, varieties of Poa supinas have been lighter in colour than perennial ryegrass, but Supreme Poa Supina is much darker in colour and blends in perfectly with modern pserennial ryegrass varieties.

An inclusion of 2.5% Supreme Poa Supina in ‘Your A20’ mixture will increase the ability of your sward to recover on the shaded parts of your pitch.

15% EUROPITCH (Perennial Ryegrass)

15% EUROSPORT (Perennial Ryegrass) 15% EUROCORDUS (Perennial Ryegrass) 20% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass) Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 - 100g/m2

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 - 40g/m2 Cutting Height: Down to 25mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR, Fertilis Swing NK Once established – Fertilis Speed, GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

Don’t be afraid of the dark!

Gain an advantage for the shaded parts of your pitch.

FACTS qualified

(see page 02 for further details)

Having chosen A20 Premier Ryesport, why not let one of our qualified advisers write up a fertiliser plan to help you gain the best performance from your sward throughout the coming year?

All special mixtures are subject to a mixture surcharge and a wait of 3 - 4 working days should be expected.

All cultivars subject to availability.

Sport mixtures

Martyn Cook Head Groundsman, Accrington Stanley FC

“I was watering the pitch up to four times a day during that summer’s warmer spells, but we also saw a decent amount of rainfall which helped the newly established seedlings to grow away rapidly. It grew so quickly in fact that its first cut (at 45mm) was done just 14 days after seeding, after which I gradually reduced the cutting height by 3mm week on week until the start of the season.”

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28

Sport mixtures

A999

A31

Rescue

25% TETRASPORT (Tetraploid Amenity Perennial Ryegrass)

50% THUNDER (Amenity Annual Ryegrass) 25% DOUBLE (Tetraploid Amenity Perennial Ryegrass)

• Rapid germination • Germinates at low temperatures • A ‘rescue’ mix to establish grass when and where necessary during winter months A999 is a blend of Thunder, a specially bred amenity annual ryegrass which will germinate at very low soil temperatures, and an amenity Tetraploid that will also germinate at low temperatures and persist into the spring when temperatures increase.

This mixture is designed as a ‘rescue’ mix for bare areas where it would be desirable to establish some grass cover in the colder months from October - February. It is not intended for use as a renovation mix where mixtures such as A20 Premier Ryesport or A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus should be used.

Sowing Rate: 45g/m2 (450kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 30g/m2 (300kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 35mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: For winter feeding consider G13 ProteKt, G14 Alleviate Fe

Supreme Tees

85% TETRIS (Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass) 15% SUPREME (Poa Supina)

• Unrivalled shade tolerance • Disease resistance • Uniform neat cleanness of cut • Exceptionally hardwearing with good recovery The perfect mixture for shaded golf tees or any extremely shaded areas on golf courses or in sports stadia. Includes Supreme Poa supina; this mixture is extremely shade tolerant and offers exceptional wear tolerance once established.

Supreme is a new improved variety Poa supina with a darker colour than older varieties. Being 100% Poa species means the mixture offers above average disease resistance and an unrivalled cleanness of cut, giving a uniform hardwearing and disease free sward even in the most shady areas.

Sowing Rate: 10 -15g/m2 (100 - 150kg/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 3mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – Fertilis Speed, GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

A30

Rapid Sports Renovator Plus 35% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 35% CARNAC (Perennial Ryegrass)

Zurich Creeping Perennial Ryegrass

Excellent wear tolerance and persistence due to creeping growth habit. A useful addition for pitches that are highly trafficked but not intensively managed such as school playing fields.

30% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass) • • • •

Hardwearing Cost effective Offering good recovery Includes Zurich creeping perennial ryegrass for added recovery

A30 is a perfect mixture for sports contractors looking for a high performance, hardwearing mixture suitable for winter pitches of varying standards from top division football and rugby through to municipal areas. The inclusion of Zurich ensures good recovery.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – Fertilis Speed, GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn) G14 Alleviate Fe (winter)

Zurich showing regenerative qualities in trials.

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30

Landscaping mixtures

What’s in your bag of grass seed?

All too often we hear horror stories about landscape seeding projects which have failed to establish properly, or where the client has been left underwhelmed by a thin, patchy or unsightly sward. Luckily, the key to ensuring future projects don’t fall foul of the same problem is simply a case of selecting clean, viable and high quality seed lots, sowing at the right time and in the right conditions, and providing adequate water and nutrients.

The fundamentals of seed quality Irrespective of whether the landscape being seeded is a fine turf lawn, wildflower meadow, communal green area or any other newly sown habitat, the success or failure of a project will be dependent on the quality of the seed being used. Fundamentally there are three areas to focus on: 1. The quality of the seed variety selected 2. The purity of the seed lot

3. The viability or germination rate of the seed lot

Put simply, even a seed mixture containing the highest quality varieties will not perform if the seed itself is old and unable to germinate.

Seed purity and germination rates Grass and wildflower seeds are sold by weight. As such, the cleaner the seed or the smaller the quantity of impurities such as weed seeds and stalks, the greater the purity of the contents of the bag will be.

Based upon a 50/50 mix of perennial ryegrass and fescues, a top quality bag of seed that contain HVS (Higher Voluntary Standard) purity will minimum purity of 96.5% in contrast, a bag containing seed cleaned to very minimum EU norms could have purity of just 93% meaning that nearly 1.5kg of that 20kg bag is made up of undesirable, chaff, stalk or weed seeds.

Germination is arguably a bigger factor. EU standards dictate that, depending on the species in question, seed must be at least 70 - 80% viable. At this level, only 14 - 16kg of seed from a 20kg bag will germinate reliably.

Specifying a cheaper bag of seed is therefore a false economy.

In contrast, Germinal prides itself on selling only the best quality seed lots, with high purity scores and germination rates typically ranging from 90 - 95%. In fact, our Grade ‘A’ seed mixtures exceed all current industry standards, meaning more grass seed and less undesirable material. This means: • Fewer seed drill blockages

• Better germination

• Faster sward establishment

• Improved sward uniformity

• Harder wearing swards

• Easier sward management

It therefore makes sense to specify not only the most appropriate cultivars, but also to purchase from a reputable source which can guarantee the seed’s viability.

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Landscaping mixtures

Quality cultivars As mentioned, the genetic merits of the cultivar chosen will also have a significant impact on the success or failure of a seeding project.

The British Society of Plant Breeders’ (BSPB) turf grass seed booklet is the best source of information in terms of which cultivars are best suited to a specific purpose. This booklet summarises the results of extensive independent trials for a range of amenity grass seeds, from winter sports pitches and summer lawns, to intensively managed and close mown grasses, and ranks each variety according to several key traits and characteristics.

As an example, Cabrio Ultra-Fine Ryegrass is ranked at the top of the BSPB’s list for perennial ryegrasses for use in lawns, landscaping, summer sports and turf trials. Like all perennial ryegrasses, Cabrio is hardwearing. However, unlike most other varieties, Cabrio gives very slow rates of regrowth. This trait makes Cabrio much easier to maintain. This is why Cabrio is included in Germinal’s A22 Low Maintenance mixture – other perennial ryegrasses simply can’t achieve what Cabrio does.

Unfortunately, A22 is our most plagiarised landscape mixture, and all too often we see a lesser variety of perennial ryegrass being used: these seed mixtures might be similar in terms of the species being used, but that is where the similarity ends. By using a mixture with a sub-standard variety in place of Cabrio, you will unwittingly negate the whole reason for selecting A22 in the first place, as it will not be low maintenance.

So, next time you’re specifying a low maintenance landscape mixture, make sure it’s Germinal A22: that way you’ll know you’re getting a reliable and proven seed mixture which will deliver the results expected by even the hardest to please clients.

Standard seed mixture (meets EU minimum standard)

Germinal seed mixture (meets or exceeds Higher Voluntary Standard)

Less uniform germination

Better germination and improved sward uniformity

Weed seeds create increased workload

Laboratory tested for germination and purity

More contaminants per bag

Chaff and stalks cause seed drill block-ages EU minimum germination fescue - 75%

More viable seed per bag

In-house cleaning removes undesirable material

EU minimum germination perennial ryegrass - 80% †

Assuming a 50:50% mixture of perennial ryegrass and strong creeping red fescue.

Typically in excess of 90%

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Landscaping mixtures

33

Landscaping mixtures

Grade ‘A’ landscaping mixtures Designed specifically for the professional user, Grade ‘A’ landscaping mixtures always include vigorous lots of the most highly rated cultivars available.

The result is a dependable range of mixtures that consistently deliver results time and time again.

A2

A3

25% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue)

30% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass)

Quality Lawns

45% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

25% BORLUNA (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 5% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

• Non ryegrass ornamental landscaping • Attractive fine texture • Withstands close mowing • Suits a wide range of soil types A2 is suitable for high quality lawns and commercial landscaping projects. It produces a fine textured ground cover which maintains good all year greenness. It is particularly suited to sandy soil of a more acidic nature and prone to drought, but will happily grow on other soil types too.

Sowing Rate: 50g/m2 (500kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 6mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) G13 ProteKt (autumn / winter)

Zurich Creeping perennial ryegrass exhibiting pseudo stolons

Embankments and Drought 30% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

10% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue) 25% TROPICANA (Tall Fescue) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

• Stabilises loose soils • Quicker to establish than other embankment mixtures • Can be used with reinforced matting for very steep slopes • Drought tolerant • Suits a range of soil types All new improved A3 now includes Zurich Creeping Perennial Ryegrass. This advanced creeping type provides the mixture with the speed of establishment of a perennial ryegrass whilst maintaining the mixture’s overall ability to creep and stabilize banks. This makes the new improved blend more effective in cooler temperatures at the beginning and end of the growing season.

Sowing Rate: 50g/m2 (500kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

A4

Low Maintenance Areas 65% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

10% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue) 20% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

• Non ryegrass low maintenance landscaping • Natural parkland appearance • Tolerates poor soil types • Low nutrient use A4 is suitable for creating natural grassland landscapes where minimal maintenance is required.

It is adaptable to a range of cutting heights, making it ideal for whip plantings or left to grow to form an attractive seed head canopy.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha) or 5-10g/m2 (50-100kg/ha when combining wild flowers) Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 20mm-uncut level

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – No requirement

Cutting Height: Between 15-50mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase

Left uncut

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Landscaping mixtures

A6

A15

A16

A17

50% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

35% RELEVANT (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

40% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

25% COMMON VETCH (Vicia sativa)

17.5% TETRIS (Smooth Stalked Meadow grass)

17.5% TETRIS (Smooth Stalked Meadow grass)

Supreme Shade

25% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue) 22.5% TETRIS (Smooth Stalked Meadow grass) 2.5% SUPREME (Poa Supina)

• Tolerates shade • Tolerates drought • Maintains good ground cover This mixture now benefits from the inclusion of the shade tolerant Supreme Poa supina which also tolerates wear. These properties make A6 ideal for problem shade areas under trees and building surrounds. Use a pre-seed fertiliser prior to sowing to provide good nutrient levels and relieve compaction to aid establishment.

Sowing Rate: 40g/m2 (400kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 25g/m2 (250kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 25 - 50mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer)

Reclamation Landfill 30% ABERDART (Perennial Ryegrass)

10% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

2.5% ABERACE (Miniature White Clover) • Rapid establishment • Performs on variable soil types • Tolerates farm stock grazing • Limits soil erosion and contaminant leaching A15 has a proven history of performing on a variety of reclamation schemes from colliery spoil tips to landfill sites. This mixture combines ingredients that provide rapid establishment along with tolerance to difficult growing conditions.

Sowing Rate: 25g/m2 (250kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 15g/m2 (150kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 25 - 75mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – NovaTec N-Max or NovaTec Premium

Reclamation Country Parks

20% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue)

15% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

2.5% ABERACE (Miniature White Clover) • Natural grassland appearance • Performs on variable soil types • Low maintenance • Drought resistant A16 is a low maintenance mixture for reclamation and general landscaping schemes which are based on poor soil types and where a natural appearance is sought.

Sowing Rate: 25g/m2 (250kgs/ha)

Legume and Clover 15% LUCERNE (Medicago sativa)

15% BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL (Lotus corniculatus) 15% SAINFOIN (Onobrychis vicifolia) 15% WHITE CLOVER (Trifolium repens) 15% RED CLOVER (Trifolium pretense)

• Suitable as a green manure • Improves soil structure and fertility • Visually attractive • Attracts insects and birds A17 is a mixture designed for seeding onto poor sites either on its own or in combination with one of our other mixtures. A17 fixes nitrogen into the soil, helping to support growth of other grasses. The sward can also be ploughed back in to improve soil structure.

Overseeding Rate: 15g/m2 (150kgs/ha)

Sowing Rate: 2.5g/m2 (25kgs/ha)

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – NovaTec N-Max or NovaTec Premium

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – GSR Tri-Phase Once established – No Requirement

Cutting Height: Between 25 - 75mm

Cutting Height: As required as part of other mixtures

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Landscaping mixtures

A18

A19

A21

40% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

35% CORAIL (Strong Creeping Red Fescue)

40% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue)

Road Verge & Embankments 10% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass)

12.5% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 10% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue) 20% TETRIS (Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

2.5% ABERACE (Miniature White Clover) • Suitable for all D.O.T. specifications • Added Zurich Creeping perennial ryegrass ensure ability to regenerate from wear in unmanaged situations A18 excels over and above other D.O.T road verge mixtures due to the inclusion of several exclusive and unique varieties. Zurich Creeping Perennial ryegrass adds extra binding capacity on undulating areas to prevent soil erosion and the inclusion of AberAce white clover, which has the ability to fix 150kg/N per ha per annum makes the mixture self–sustaining.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 25g/m2 (250kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 25 - 50mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – No requirement

All Purpose Landscaping 10% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue)

25% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass)

25% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

• All purpose mixture • Rapid establishment • Forms a hard wearing, dense attractive lawn • Suits a wide range of soil types • Added Zurich Creeping perennial ryegrass ensures ability to regenerate from wear in unmanaged situations

A19 is a universal mixture suitable for domestic lawns and commercial landscaping projects. It produces a fine even textured ground cover which maintains good all year greenness.

Sowing Rate: 50g/m2 (500kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 20mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn / winter)

Saline Coastal & Road Verges 30% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 10% JOANNA (Chewings Fescue) 15% TROPICANA (Tall Fescue) 5% 007 DSB (Creeping Bent)

• Suitable for salt sprayed areas • Tolerates drought • Stabilises sandy soils

A21 is suitable for coastal reclamation and road verges where soil salinity is greater than normal. Initial rapid establishment is provided from the perennial ryegrass content with persistency from the rest of the species, which tolerate poor fertility and drought conditions.

Sowing Rate: 40g/m2 (400kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 25g/m2 (250kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 25 - 50mm Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn / winter)

36

Landscaping mixtures

A22

A24

Low Maintenance 20% CABRIO* (Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass)

40% CALICO (Perennial Ryegrass) 35% BORLUNA (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

• Hardwearing and low maintenance • Unique amongst low maintenance mixtures • Lower carbon footprint • Reduce labour input to maintain • Excellent ground cover • Suppresses weeds A22 is a unique perennial ryegrass-based, low maintenance mixture. Cabrio is rated highly for slow regrowth after mowing. Most traditional low maintenance mixtures are fescue based and consequently have limited wear tolerance.

A22 offers the best of both worlds, a low maintenance sward that is very hardwearing.

Sowing Rate: 50g/m2 (500kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Between 20 - 50mm Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn / winter)

Wear & Tear

35% MIRADOR (Slender Creeping Red Fescue)

10% HIGHNOTE (Chewings Fescue)

20% ZURICH (Creeping Perennial Ryegrass)

30% ESCAPADE (Perennial Ryegrass) 5% HIGHLAND (Browntop Bent)

• Very hard wearing • Multi-specification use • Suits a wide range of soil types A24 is a universal mixture where extra durability is required from lawns and commercial landscaping projects. It produces an even textured ground cover which can be mown closely if a more formal appearance is required.

Sowing Rate: 50g/m2 (500kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 10mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) Novatec Premium (autumn / winter)

* The highest rated variety for summer sports in the 2021 BSPB list.

A25

Agricultural Reinstatement 24% ABERCHOICE (Perennial Ryegrass) 23% ABERDART (Perennial Ryegrass) 20% ABERCLYDE (Perennial Ryegrass) 20% ABERECHO (Hybrid Ryegrass) 6.5% PRESTO (Timothy)

6.5% ABERACE (Miniature White Clover) • Typical long-term grazing mixture • Suitable for landfill capping • Reinstatement of farm land pastures • Can be cut for hay A25 is ideal for landscape contractors who are required to repair farmland damaged through pipeline projects, cabling or general vehicle access. The mixture contains up to date varieties which are compatible with modern farming. It can be grazed by all types of farm stock and can also be conserved for hay.

Sowing Rate: 8g/m2 (80kgs/ha)

Cutting Height: Graze or cut as required Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – GSR Tri-Phase Once established – NovaTec N-Max

A26

So-Green

60% STRAVINSKY (Perennial Ryegrass) 35% BORLUNA (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 2.5% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

2.5% ABERREGAL (Browntop Bent) • Year round dark green colour • Hardwearing • Excellent ground cover • Outstanding visual appearance A26 is the ultimate stay-green mixture. It will remain greener than other grass mixtures even during the winter.

Perfect for landscape situations where appearance is everything.

Sowing Rate: 35g/m2 (350kgs/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting Height: Down to 25mm

Fertiliser Recommendation: In the seedbed – Agrosil® LR Once established – GSR Tri-Phase (spring / summer) G13 ProteKt (autumn / winter)

37

Landscaping mixtures

AberSustain AberAce White Clover AberAce is the smallest leaved white clover† and this makes it perfect for blending into amenity swards so that the benefits of clover can be utilised without the plant dominating the grasses. AberAce has a very high stolon density, this allows it to fix on average 150 kg N/ha, eliminating the requirement for additional fertilisers in amenity areas with low to medium intensity usage. White clover root systems improve soil structure and can help to overcome problems of soil compaction.

Studies at IBERS have demonstrated improved soil structure resulting from a white clover component in the sward: • White clover has been shown to significantly decrease the bulk density of soils and increase porosity • General movement of nutrients was improved, making them more available to plants and subsequently improving plant health Sowing rate: 40g/m2 (400kgs/ha)

Overseeding rate: 20g/m2 (200kgs/ha) Cutting height: Down to 30mm

NIAB Recommended Grass and Clover Lists 2012

†

AberSustain is a self sustaining mixture perfect for open parkland areas, domestic lawns, road verges and for green roofs and solar parks.

The mixture is unique because all the varieties used are UK bred varieties from the IBERS breeding programme, UK bred for UK conditions. All varieties are chosen to complement each other perfectly and create a mixture that is environmentally and economically sustainable, perfect for the time in which we now live.

20% ABERAVON (Perennial Ryegrass) 45% ABERFLEECE (Sheeps Fescue)

20% ABERCHARM (Slender Creeping Red Fescue) 10% ABERROYAL (Browntop Bent)

5% ABERACE (Small White Clover)

• • • • • •

Fixes its own nitrogen UK bred cultivars for UK conditions Low maintenance Drought resistance Low nutrient tolerant Clover flowers benefit bees and pollinators • Binds soil • Suitable for green roofs

AberAvon Perennial Ryegrass The inclusion of AberAvon agricultural perennial ryegrass makes the mixture suitable for low intensity grazing when it is used for solar park or land reclamation sites.

AberFleece Sheeps Fescue The foundation of the mixture, AberFleece exhibits very short vegetative growth and will not typically exceed 140mm when left unmown. A dark green colour is exhibited through the year, and coupled with inherent drought and low nutrient tolerance and fineness of leaf, gives the mixture a strong base but fine appearance.

AberCharm Slender Creeping Red Fescue AberCharm produces a very dense compact sward with exceptional winter and summer greenness, which exceeded those of all other varieties in trials. Inherently fine leaved, drought tolerant and disease resistant, this stoloniferous grass supports the attributes of AberFleece and binds the mixture together.

AberRoyal Browntop Bent AberRoyal offers exceptional shoot density to assist AberCharm to bind the sward together, a very fine leaf and exceptional winter and summer greenness further ensure the sward has a good visual appearance.

Improved soil structure is seen in the soil core with a higher clover content.

38

Wild flora mixtures

Landscaping mixtures

39

Important information regarding our wildflower mixtures:

Wild Sustainable Beauty Scan this code with your phone or tablet camera to learn more about changes to our wildlower range.

As part of our commitment to improving the environmental and ecological benefit of man-made environments, our wildflower mixtures have changed for 2021. In addition to our UK specific Regional Environmental (RE) mixtures, we have incorporated a selection of pollinator-friendly non-native and ‘garden’ varieties into our General Landscaping Wild Flora (WF & WFG) range.

Research carried out by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has shown that the inclusion of these non-native species can lengthen the flowering season at the beginning and end of the year, thereby providing a more abundant and longer-lasting source of nectar and pollen to boost populations of pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Our updated WF and WFG mixtures are therefore more pollinator-friendly for 2021, and also offer more aesthetically appealing results thanks to their wider palette of longer-lasting colours. Please see below for more information.

A proud history of promoting environmental diversity

Germinal was one of the first seed companies to recognise the importance of protecting the diversity and sustainability of the UK’s wild flora heritage – not only to maintain healthy ecological systems, but also to enhance the environmental aesthetics of the man-made green spaces that we create and manage – and has been supplying high quality wildflower seed to the landscaping sector for over 35 years.

Our extensive range contains a broad selection of UK native and non-native flowers (all of which have been deemed ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ by the Royal Horticultural Society), as well as selected grasses to complement the natural habitat in which these flowers grow.

40

Landscaping mixtures

Wild flora mixtures

Germinal offers two ranges of wildflower seeds: • General Landscaping (Urban Meadow) Wild Flora (WF & WFG) mixtures: native and non-native species for urban and suburban areas where the critical drivers are aesthetically appealing floral displays that not only please the public but also benefit bees and other pollinators.

• Regional Environmental (RE) mixtures: where only UK-native species are essential to preserve the natural habitat and indigenous wildlife populations.

Regional Environmental (RE) Mixtures

Where the inclusion of only UK native species is essential, our Regional Environmental (RE) mixtures are formulated according to the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey. These ‘True Meadow’ mixtures are therefore 100% complementary to their region’s natural habitat and native wildlife populations, thereby helping to preserve the heritage of our natural grass and floral habitats.

(All our RE mixtures are formulated by seed number and not by weight, thereby giving a balanced content of all species.)

General Landscaping (Urban Meadow) Wild Flora (WF) Mixtures

This range contains 100% wildflower (WF) and ready-to-sow wildflower and complementary grass blends (WFG). These mixtures are suitable for use across a range of different soil types and aspects and are ideal for producing aesthetically attractive and ecologically valuable meadow habitats. A landscape architect would select these mixtures for use in urban or suburban settings such as new housing estates and business or retail park developments.

Unlike ‘true meadow’ mixtures – which don’t exhibit the vibrant sea of floral colours the public has grown to expect – our new WF and WFG mixtures (which now include selected non-native and ‘garden’ species) produce a much more stunning and wider array of colours that is more akin to what the public believes a wildflower meadow should look like: by indulging these idylls the enhanced wildflower meadow is more likely to be proactively maintained instead of being undervalued and neglected, or eventually being ‘tidied’ back to a mown area of lawn, thus negating any environmental benefit.

By enhancing the composition and appearance of our WF range, we believe the urban meadows they produce will survive for longer, thereby providing an enriched environment for the bees, pollinators, birds and mammals that depend upon them.

Bespoke mixtures

In addition to our standard RE, WF and WFG mixtures, we are also able to create special one-off mixtures to suit your site-specific requirements – please contact us for more information.

Choosing the right Wild Flora Seed Mixture

To pinpoint the ideal wildflower mixture for your soil type, location, and specific project requirements please use our quick reference product selector at germinalamenity.com/productselector.

Alternatively, for more advice on the most suitable mixture(s) for your needs or advice about a special formulation, please speak to one of our knowledgeable technical sales representatives (find details in the back of this catalogue).

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Landscaping mixtures

100% UK Native

Regional Environmental mixtures (RE) Autumn sown - Year one 1st cut

Early July

Cutting Height

70 - 100mm

Repeated cuts

Monthly during August, September and October

Spring sown - Year one 1st cut

Mid - September – 1st October and collect the arisings

Cutting Height

70 - 100mm

Repeated cuts

Monthly during August, September and October

Maintenance thereafter Cut from mid-July to early September. This can be done as one cut but preferably, and if the meadow is big enough, you will cut it in sections leaving a week to a fortnight between cuts. Ensure you collect the arisings. If the meadow is large enough consider allowing up to a fifth to stand uncut through the winter and cut down and remove the clippings in March the following year, this will provide a habitat for invertebrates and some vertebrates over the winter. Rotate this area so a different section is left uncut each year. This more closely replicates the grazing of animals which would leave some small areas not grazed.

If possible and with the obvious exception of areas you are leaving uncut, lightly mow the sward down to 70 - 100mm as required throughout the winter months until March and collect the clippings.

General landscaping

Urban Meadow mixtures (WF and WFG) 1st cut

Cutting Height

Mid - September – 1st October and collect the arisings 70 - 100mm

Cut from mid-August to early October. This can be done as one cut but preferably, and if the meadow is big enough, you will cut it in sections leaving a week to a fortnight between cuts. Ensure you collect the arisings. If the meadow is large enough consider allowing up to a fifth to stand uncut through the winter and cut down and remove the clippings in March the following year, this will provide a habitat for invertebrates and some vertebrates over the winter. Rotate this area so a different section is left uncut each year. This more closely replicates the grazing of animals which would leave some small areas not grazed.

If possible and with the obvious exception of areas you are leaving uncut, lightly mow the sward down to 70-100mm as required throughout the winter months until March and collect the clippings.

Mixtures without grass (WF1, WF3 and WF19) Cut down to 70-100mm from early September. Remove arisings. If practical consider leaving up to one fifth of the area uncut, the remaining dead stalks will provide a nesting and hibernation site and egg laying habitat for invertebrates over the winter. Alternate this area each winter.

If possible and with the obvious exception of areas you are leaving uncut, lightly mow the sward down to 70-100mm as required throughout the winter months until March and collect the clippings.

Mixtures of Annuals (WF10 and WF17) These require no maintenance although over-sowing may be required in the Spring each year until a sufficient seed bank has been built up.

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Landscaping mixtures

100% UK Native

Regional environmental (RE) mixtures RE1

RE2

RE3

(MG5 Grassland)

(MG9 Grassland)

(MG8 Grassland)

Traditional Hay Meadow Scan this code with your smart phone or tablet camera to visit the Germinal Amenity wildflower page to find your product mixture breakdown or go to germinalamenity.com

A grassland and wildflower community which reflects an old hay meadow before the advent of modern agricultural practises. Suitable for being managed by grazing in the long term however for the first few seasons managing by cutting might be required in order to develop the depth of sward to avoid excessive poaching. A great habitat for invertebrates, birds and mammals.

Where to use this mixture: • Heavy clay soils • Road verges • Embankments • Quarry areas • Lowland areas • To encourage insects and birds An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Meadowsweet, Agrimony and Salad burnet.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Lowland Meadow

A great habitat mixture most suited to low lying areas and soils that never fully dry out.

Where to use this mixture: • Moist soils • Open woodland • River and lake banks • Industrial land • To encourage insects and birds An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Meadowsweet, Knapweed and Meadow Vetchling.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

River Flood Plain / Water Meadow A mixture to replicate valuable water meadows which provide great habitats for invertebrates, mammals and good hunting grounds for birds of prey.

Where to use this mixture: • Water meadows • River and lake banks • Seasonally flooded lowlands • To encourage insects and birds An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Marsh Marigold, Ragged Robin and Rough Hawkbit.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

43

Landscaping mixtures

RE4

RE8

RE9

(CG2 Grassland)

(MG12 Grassland)

(MG6 Grassland)

Lowland Limestone

A mixture of wildflower and grass species suited to calcareous soils and designed as a standard mixture to create a habitat on these specialist sites where colonisation can be difficult.

Where to use this mixture: • Free draining soils • Limestone areas • Earthwork areas • Road verges • To encourage insects and birds An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Kidney Vetch, Yarrow and Small Scabious.

Coastal Reclamation

This mixture creates habitats most commonly seen in coastal areas such as the top of estuary banks and behind semi dune areas. This mixture will tolerate occasional flooding during high tides.

Where to use this mixture: • Coastal areas • Free-draining soils • Tidal areas • Salt marshes An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Cats Ear, Ribwort Plantain and Birdsfoot Trefoil.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

RE10

RE11

(U20 Grassland)

(U13 Grassland)

The species in this mixture tolerate a range of soil types and it is useful for reclamation areas when habitat is required. The mixture provides a habitat for many invertebrates and consequently the birds and mammals that feed on them.

Where to use this mixture: • Various soil types • Landfill sites • Reclamation sites

An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Common Sorrel, Harebell and Creeping Buttercup.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

This mixture lends itself for use in country parks and farmland situations where habitat is required on headlands or around more intensively used amenity open space.

Where to use this mixture: • Moist, free-draining soils • Landfill sites • Farmland and country parks • Informal lawns • Educational sites An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Black Medick, Yarrow and Yellow Rattle.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Marginal Land

Farmland Mixture

Heath Scrubland

The mixture is a blend of grass species that suit heathland soils and can be used to get coverage on these areas so that other species in surrounding heathland areas can colonise within the sward over time.

Suits low fertility soils and creates a habitat for invertebrates and ground nesting birds.

Where to use this mixture: • Poor fertility soils • For a natural grassland look • Reclamation sites • As a combination mixture with other wild flora A mix of native grasses including Browntop bent and Sheeps fescue.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

44

Landscaping mixtures

General landscaping

Urban Meadow Mixtures without grass WF1

Flowering Meadow

Where to use this mixture: This mixture is suited to urban and surburban settings, such as roundabouts, verges at retail parks and similar areas when a highly floral area without grasses is required. The annual species produces an initial display of colour in the first year and the perennial species persist therafter. The broader range of wildflowers and selected non-native species maximises the flowering period and abundance of flowers to the benefit of bees and pollinators. Because this mixture doesn’t contain any grass, estabilshment can be slower and bare areas of soil are left for longer while the wildflower plants estabilsh; it is therefore crucial that the seed bed is clean of weed species otherwise they can quickly outcompete the emerging wildflower plants.

A mix of annual and perennial UK native wildflowers and selected non-native species including Corncockle, Oxeye sunflower, Coeropsis, Corn poppy and Phacelia.

Sowing Rate: 1g/m2

WF3

WF10

Where to use this mixture: This mixture provides a This mixture includes a wide range of perennials to suit a variety of soil types and localities in urban and suburban settings.

Once established the broad range of wildflower species and ornamental varieties ensures a highly floral display will return year after year. The broad range of wildflower species and ornamentals maximises the flowering period and abundance of flowers to the benefit of bees and pollinators Because this mixture doesn’t contain any grass, establishment can be slower and bare areas of soil are left for longer while the wildflower plants estabilsh, it is therefore crucial that the seed bed is clean of weed species otherwise they can quickly outcompete the emerging wildflower plants.

Where to use this mixture: Cornfield annuals, once a common feature of traditional farming areas, have largely disappeared from their former habitat. This mixture can be used to recreate those areas and gives an outstanding display of colour in its first year, either sown on its own or to supplement a mixture of perennial species which are slower to establish. To produce a display of cornfield annuals every year, a reseeding programme should be implemented to build up a seed bank. After several years there will be enough seed to be regenerated by soil disturbance.

General Purpose Neutral Soils

A mix of perennial UK native wildflowers and selected non- native species including Corncockle, Oxeye sunflower, Coeropsis, Corn poppy and Phacelia.

Sowing Rate: 1g/m2

Cornfield Annuals

A mix of UK native annual wildflowers including Corncockle, Corn Poppy and Corn Chamomile.

Sowing Rate: 1 - 2g/m2

45

Landscaping mixtures

General landscaping

Urban Meadow Mixtures for pollinators WFG18

WF17

WF19

Where to use this mixture: The flora in this mixture is specially selected for its attraction and benefit to both bees and butterflies. This is a visually stunning mixture including native and selected non-native perennial and annual wildflowers along with the appropriate grass species. This mixture provides some flowers from April - September with the main flowering period being May - July. The high percentage of annual species ensures a display in the first year if the mixture is sown in March or April. If possible when cutting in late summer an area of up to one third should be left uncut until the following Spring for overwintering invertebrates.

This area should be alternated each year.

Where to use this mixture: A vibrant display of colours created from a collection of annual wildflowers and ornamental species.

Perfect for use on urban roundabouts or on derelict brown field sites where temporary colour is required.

Where to use this mixture: A mixture that is perfect for pollinators. This blend of ornamental, annual and perennial species has been specifically selected to supply pollen bearing flowers to benefit bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects for the longest period possible from spring through to early autumn. On heavy clay soils extra care should be taken to protect emerging plants from slugs.

Butterfly and Honey Bee

An 80:20 mix of grasses & native wildflowers including Evening Primrose, Red Clover, Teasel and Coreopsis.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Cultivated Annuals

A mix of annuals including, Corn Poppy, Cornflower and Calendula.

Sowing Rate: 1 - 2g/m2

Pollinators’ Paradise

A mix of annual and perennial species including Echinacea, Phacelia, Foxglove, Red Clover and Yarrow.

Sowing Rate: 1 - 2g/m2

46

Landscaping mixtures

General landscaping

Urban Meadow Mixtures containing grass WFG2

WFG4

WFG5

Where to use this mixture: Creates a meadow for most urban and suburban situations, combining the UK native wildflowers and selected non-native species found in WF1 with 80% grasses to produce a grassland meadow mixture, suitable for all soil types.

The mixture is balanced to maximise the floral interest from as early as April through to September. The inclusion of a good percentage of annuals assists in giving a first season display when the mixture is sown in March or April. A great habitat for invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds and mammals. If possible when cutting in late summer an area of up to one third should be left uncut until the following Spring for overwintering invertebrates.

This area should be alternated each year.

Where to use this mixture: Combines all wild flora species found in WF3 with 80% ornamental grasses.

This mixture is suitable for creating a grassland on a wide range of soil types. The absence of annuals lends this mixture to being mown more regularly than those containing annuals.

If mown regularly the perennial species will persist as vegetative plants and some will spread laterally but of course they won’t flower until left for a period of up to 10-12 weeks during the growing season. A great habitat for invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds and mammals.

Where to use this mixture: The perfect mixture for creating wildflower habitats on calcareous soils, providing subtle floral interest from April - September.

Calcareous soils are free draining and prone to drought conditions, so for this reason avoid sowing in dry weather. Lime rich soils support a relatively slow growing vegetation making WFG5 easy to maintain once established. A great habitat for invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds and mammals.

Flowering Meadow

An 80:20 mix of grasses and annual and perennial flowers including Oxeye Daisy, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Corn poppy, Oxeye Sunflower and Echinacea.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Neutral Soils

An 80:20 mix of grasses and perennial flowers including Salad Burnet, Ribwort plantain and Flax.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Calcareous Soils

An 80:20 mix of grasses and annual and perennial flowers including Wild Carrot, Autumn Hawkbit, Echinacea and Agrimony.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

47

Landscaping mixtures

WFG6

WFG7

WFG8

Where to use this mixture: UK native wildflower species and selected non-native species, coupled with accompanying grasses that tolerate heavy clay soils. This mixture provides floral interest from late April to September. A great habitat for invertebrates which in turn provide food for birds and mammals. If possible when cutting in late summer an area of up to one third should be left uncut until the following Spring for overwintering invertebrates. This area should be alternated each year. Due to the nature of clay soils, extra attention is required in terms of seed bed preparation to encourage good establishment.

Cultivate when soil moisture allows breakdown of the soil aggregates into a medium tilth.

Where to use this mixture: Creates a habitat consisting of species that thrive in free draining sandy soils which gives subtle floral interest from late April - September.

Sand based soils often create unsuitable or dry site conditions. For this reason grasses contained in this mixture are both drought resistant and provide stabilising ground cover.

Suitable for use in road construction and on free draining sites.

Where to use this mixture: Suitable for sowing within hedgerows and semi-shaded woodlands. Due to light levels being lower than in the open field sites, growth of companion grasses will be slow, making this mixture low in maintenance. Brambles may require control from time to time.

Heavy Clay Soils

An 80:20 mix of grasses & annual and perennial flowers including Yellow Rattle, Goats Beard, Phacelia and Dark Mullien.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

WFG9

Wetland & Pond Areas

Where to use this mixture: Suitable for aquatic habitats and damp low lying sites, edges of ponds, rivers and ditches. Take care to establish in times when there is least risk of flooding.

An 80:20 mix of grasses and UK native annual and perennial wildflowers including Purple Loosestrife, Marsh Marigold and Pendulous Sedge.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Free Draining Sandy Soils

An 80:20 mix of grasses and annual and perennial flowers including Yellow Rattle, Goats Beard, Phacelia and Dark Mullien.

Hedgerows & Shaded Areas

An 80:20 mix of grasses and UK native annual and perennial wildflowers including Garlic Mustard, Red Campion, Square Stemmed St Johns Wort and Hedge Parsley.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

WFG15

WFG20

Where to use this mixture: This mixture provides a wide selection of species designed for educational use, on a selection of soil types and sites. The mixture can be studied for identification purposes, progression and balance of species through time. The broad range of UK Native and selected nonnative species ensures a long flowering period and abundance of flowers for the benefit of all fauna especially bees and pollinators.

Where to use this mixture: A specific mix for Eco Lawns. The high number of species lends the mixture to gaining BREEAM credits. The mixture suits a range of soil types and mowing regimes, it can be kept neat at approx 50mm - 75mm with mowing generally required once every fortnight during the growing season or left to grow long and cut just once or twice in a season in May and late August. If further species are required then this mixture can be combined with our WF1, WF3 and WF10 mixtures.

Countrylife Schools & Colleges

An 80:20 mix of grasses & annual and perennial flowers including Small Scabious, Yellow Rattle, Calendula, Asters and Corn Poppy.

Sowing Rate: 5g/m2

Eco Species Rich Lawn

An 80:20 mix of grasses and UK native annual and perennial wildflowers including Black Medick, Common Mouse Ear, Strawberry Clover and Wild Pansy.

Sowing Rate: 10g/m2

48

Landscaping mixtures

WFG21

Everyday Meadow Designed with landscape architects and landscape contractors in mind, Germinal’s WFG21 Everyday Meadow wildflower seed mixture is specifically designed to produce a fast-establishing sward of wildflowers and meadow grasses.

Unlike traditional mixtures which, by weight, contain 80% grasses and 20% wildflowers and are sown at 5-10 g/m2, WFG21 Everyday Meadow contains a 90:10 ratio of grasses and wildflowers and can be sown at 15 g/m2, thereby enabling the rapid establishment of a dense, attractive meadow.

This makes WFG21 perfect for landscaping schemes where an area has been designated for a wildflower meadow and a reliable off the shelf solution is required. It is particularly useful for late spring sowings (May - June) when a project sign-off is required in late summer or early autumn.

Where to use this mixture: • Urban, semi-urban and business park environments • Commercial landscaping projects • To create a fast-establishing meadow Sowing Rate: 15g/m2

49

Fertilisers

50

Fertilisers

GSR TRI - PHASE 18-3.5-8 (+1Mgo+TE)

Trace elements: Copper, zinc, boron, manganese and molybdenum Granule size: 1.0 - 2.0mm

Spreading rate: 25 - 35g/m2

Period of usage: March - September

An organic based phased release fertiliser that provides a consistent release of nitrogen and potash over a period of 5 months. Quick release N gives way to methylene urea followed by a final release from the organic based element. Slow release potash from Kali vinasse helps regulate the water, as well as the intake and movement of nutrients around the plant. This is essential to reduce plant stress and enhance drought resistance.

GSR Tri-Phase is perfect for sports fields, golf fairways, golf tees and all amenity areas.

• 16 - 20 week release period

• Mini and Max granule option

• Phased release ensures uniform feeding across the period of use • Slow release potash aids plant health and drought resistance

51

Fertilisers

Slow Release Fertilisers An effective slow release with ammonium stabiliser Dimethylpyrazolephosphate (DMPP). DMPP delays the degradation of ammonium (NH4+) into nitrate (NH3-). Retaining the nitrogen in the ammonium form (NH4+) means it sticks to negatively charged soil particles and stays in the soil, whereas negatively charged nitrate (NH3-) leaches out of the soil and can’t be utilised by the grass plant.

NovaTec products are highly soluble due to the phosphorus content being derived from phosphoric acid which makes for the quickest availability to the grass plant. NovaTec products have a very uniform granule size with a high crushing strength, this leads to a lower dust content and coupled with the high solubility delivers a product that is easy to spread, pleasant to work with and disperses rapidly into the sward.

Without inhibitor

Concentration in soil

NovaTec Classic 12-8-16

Trace elements: Boron, iron, zinc

Trace elements: Boron, iron, zinc

Spreading rate: 20 - 35g/m2

Spreading rate: 20 - 35g/m2

(+2% MgO + TE)

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Nitrate

Ammonia Time

With inhibitor

Ammonia

Nitrate

Time

(+3% MgO + TE)

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Period of usage: February - November

Period of usage: February - November

A cost effective slow release fertiliser, especially useful as an autumn / winter or earlier spring starter.

A lower Nitrogen option suitable for use throughout the growing season but particularly during the later summer and autumn months. Suitable for sports pitches, golf tees and fairways.

• 12 - 16 week release period • Lower nitrogen levels, perfect for when growth slows in the autumn • A high potassium content stiffens the leaf blade to protect growth during cold weather and sustain the plant against disease.

• Rapid dispersal into sward

• 12 - 16 week release period • A high potassium content stiffens the leaf blade to protect growth from cold weather and sustain the plant against disease • Hardened growth keeps plants protected in cooler temperatures • Rapid dispersal into sward

Ammonia (NH4+) containing fertilisers

Concentration in soil

NovaTec Premium 15-3-20

52

Specialist fertilisers

Fertilisers

G13 ProteKt 3-0-22

G14 Alleviate Fe 4-0-10

Turf hardener: The anti stress fertiliser

Trace elements: Manganese

Spreading rate: † 35g/m2

Spreading rate: † 35g/m2

(+3% Fe)

(+ 8%Fe)

All Germinal specialist fertilisers are similar in that they provide solutions for the professional turf manager.

These products make your life easier by way of offering efficiency savings and disease prevention at crucial times such as seedling establishment or strengthening the grass plant in readiness for periods of particular stress when they are more disease prone.

Bag Size: 25kg

Granule size: 1.0 - 2.0mm

Period of usage: All year

A micro granulated potash and magnesium fertiliser for use on amenity turf. Containing 22% potash and 3% iron it can be used throughout the year, during the autumn and winter to harden turf and prevent disease attack, and heighten colour. Used in this way G13 ProteKt ensures superior wear qualities of any sward and enables quicker recovery in the subsequent spring.

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.0mm

Period of usage: All year

The perfect high iron fertiliser for protecting high value turf areas throughout the growing season, but especially through the autumn and winter.

Designed for medium and high value sports turf such as sports fields, greens, tees and bowling greens. Contains magnesium, a vital component of chlorophyll. The subsequent increase in chlorophyll ensures good metabolism of energy for healthy plant growth.

During the spring / summer the high potassium content supports transpiration control in dry periods and fortifies • High iron content ensures quick the grass plant with greater drought greening without flushes of growth resistance.

• Improves greenness and resistance • Hardens turf and protects from against disease disease • Micro granules for easy application • Improves stress tolerance against and rapid sward penetration drought disease and cold temperatures • Controls and inhibits moss • Heightens sward colour and • Year round use appearance • Year round use

53

Fertilisers

Agrosil® LR 0-20-0

Easygreen Mini 12-12-17

(+20% Silicate)

(+3MgO)

A core taken from a golf green treated with Agrosil® LR. It shows the excellent root development even on sandy soils.

Granule size: 1.0 - 2.0mm

Spreading rate: † Top dressing turf 50g/m2, top dressing turf and brushing with aeration / core holes 80g/m2, applying under turf 100 -120g/m2, applying at time of seeding 35 - 50g/m2 Period of usage: All year

The essential fertiliser for sand based pitch constructions

Agrosil® LR is an electrolyte system consisting of partially dehydrated sodium silicate and phosphate. Phosphate has a strong stimulating effect on the root.

It is, however, quickly fixed in the soil and unavailable to plants. Phosphate fertiliser typically only penetrates the soil to a depth of 5cm but roots benefit from a sufficient amount of phosphate at a deeper level.

Agrosil® LR keeps phosphate completely available and carries it down to a depth of 30cm. The mobile silicate particles congregate in the soil to form large molecules, silicate gels. These molecules are full of pores which improve soil structure and promote greater drainage,

† For spreading settings please refer to page 68

gas exchange and good health in even the poorest of soils, sandy root zones, alluvial sand, compost and manufactured soils.

The silicate gels of Agrosil® LR lock up heavy metals such as lead or cadmium so tightly that they can no longer be taken up by the plant; this allows growth to be possible again on contaminated sites.

Grass plants take up silicate and store it in the cell walls which protect them against infection from fungal pathogens, such as fusarium and leaf spot.

• Increases Cation Exchange Capacity (C.E.C) of soil • Improves root mass

• Improves soil structure

• Promotes deep rooting

• Creates water and air storage cells • Protects against fungal infections • Increases nutrient uptake

• Keeps phosphate available and beneficial to plants

• Enables growth in contaminated soils

• Improved growth on road verges where pollutants and high salt levels are a problem

Trace elements: Boron, iron, zinc Granule size: 1.0 - 2.5mm

Spreading rate: † 35g/m2

Period of usage: February - October Quick solubility for quick response The Easygreen mini range includes NPK complex fertilizers with potassium sulphate (SOP), magnesium and micronutients. Due to its fine granulation (1.0 - 2.5mm) nutrients are rapidly available to encourage plant growth.

Phosphorous, important for seedling development and rapid growth, encourages root growth and plant tillering, essential at seedling establishment stage.

Potassium is essential in the growth and development stage, helping with cell wall thickness and encouraging rooting.

• Rapid sward penetration • Quick uptake by plant

• Great analysis for all round plant growth

54

Fertilisers

Bacillus subtilis selection E4-CDX(R)

Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) is a unique and effective strain of rhizosphere bacterium. Bacillus subtilis competes with harmful pathogens for space around the roots of the grass plant. Once established, it physically protects the roots and inhibits the advance of soil borne fungi such as fusarium.

Why Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) stands out from all other strains of Bacillus subtilis.

Once watered in, Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) operates in the rhizosphere. Symbiosis with fine root hairs results in coverage of the entire root. This creates a live barrier protecting the whole root that disease can’t penetrate. Therefore disease has no opportunities to set infection. Other strains of Bacillus subtilis stay at the surface leaving fresh root growth vulnerable to disease. Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) is unique as it is the only strain that moves with the developing root, maintaining a barrier against disease. For maximum effect Bacillus subtilis requires water, oxygen and a minimum soil temperature of 10 degrees plus. Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) remains effective in the soil for approx 42 days (6 weeks).

Tests show that Bacillus subtilis gives off a chemical that disorientates nematodes, so they can no longer find the root.

Products in this catalogue that include Bacillus subtilis: • Fertilis Swing NK

• Vitanica RZ (liquid)

Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) ‘rod’ bacterium showing resistance to common diseases

Anthracnose

Seedling Blight

Fusarium

Snow Mould

Brown Patch

Dollar Spot

Fertilisers

Fertilis Swing NK 14-0-19 (+2% MgO + TE) Trace elements: 0.02% boron, 6% iron Bag size: 25Kg

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.5mm

Spreading rate: 30g/m2

Period of usage: February - September

Homogenous NPK Compound Fertilisers combined with Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R). Fertilis products can be used at any time through the growing season but are especially useful when applied at the time of seeding to protect young plants from soil borne seedling diseases.

• Improved plant fitness and vitality • Higher stress tolerance

• Promotion of root development

• All nutrients are fully plant available

• Inclusion of Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX(R) for healthier and more disease resistant turf

• Perfect for use at time of seeding as a preventative against soil borne seedling diseases

• Micro Granular for rapid prill dispersal and quicker nutrient availability.

Important because nutrients aren’t plant available until they are in solution in the rootzone

• Increased microbial activity in the rootzone, particularly important in more inert sand based soils • Helps protect against plant parasitic nematodes • Promotion of root development

55

56

Fertilisers

Nutritional strategies for disease prevention

With the loss of iprodione as a curative solution to soil borne fungi such as fusarium patch, it is ever more important for greenkeepers and professional groundstaff to tailor their turf management protocols in order to establish alternative methods of disease prevention.

With this in mind, Germinal is able to supply a range of fertilisers and bio-stimulants which have been specifically selected for their ability to make a positive impact on disease prevention by improving plant health and vigour.

The key to maximising the efficacy of these products is to plan ahead and to implement an effective sward nutrient programme. This means ensuring the sward is fed consistently, accurately and at the correct dose rates throughout the spring and summer months, so that when the main disease period commences (typically from late August or early September in Scotland and northern parts of England and Wales, and from late October or early November in more southerly parts of the UK), each plant is in prime condition and therefore able to withstand disease pressure.

The accurate and timely application of bio-stimulants such as Vitanica RZ or Fertilis Swing is of particular importance as the unique rhizobacteria in these products rely on the warmer spring and summer soil temperatures to actively colonise the space around the plant roots. Therefore, in order to maximise the ongoing protection that these products can provide, it is essential they are applied on a monthly basis from March or April onwards.

Similarly, phosphite-based foliar fertilisers such as Fighter Commando need regular applications in order to enable adequate levels of phosphites to be taken up into the cell walls of plants to the extent that they offer an additional level of defence against diseases.

In summary, the proactive application of good quality fertilisers and bio-stimulants can provide an additional layer of protection against fungal diseases. The regular application of relevant products should therefore form a key part of a proactive sward management programme.

57

Fertilisers

Liquid fertilisers

Vitanica RZ 5-0-5

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, (R) (Selection R6-CDX)

Application rate: 10 - 30L/per hectare Maximum concentration 10% Pack size: 10L

Period of usage: March - October Vitanica RZ is a liquid organic mineral NK- fertiliser for foliar application in high quality turfgrass. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, selection R6-CDX protects plants by outcompeting harmful pathogens for space around the roots and giving off an antibiotic effect. This leads to an increased vitality of the plant and a reduced susceptibility to disease and abiotic stress.

This unique product is perfect for application at any time of year, but especially as a disease preventative prior to times of known disease pressure.

• Liquid organic Mineral NK fertiliser • Seaweed extract

• Chelated trace element package

• Perfect as a preventative against soil borne pathogens • Deters plant parasitic nematodes • Encourages root development

• Enhance the resistance of turfgrass against disease and stress

Biological Soil Acitivity /Microorganism population (cfu/g) Dr. Hilko Eilers LUFA Institute for Soil and Environmental Science, Oldenburg, Oktober 25. 10. 2018

cfu/g 150000

Green 18

cfu/g

Green 6

3500000 100000

3000000 2500000

50000

2000000 1500000

0 Vit RZ

cfu/g

untreated

1000000 500000

Green 16

0

350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

Vit RZ

Vit RZ

untreated

untreated

Graphs showing the increase in beneficial soil rhizobacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens following monthly applications on golf greens in the North West of England between April and September 2018.

58

Fertilisers

Liquid Chelated Iron

Fighter Commando Phosphite 0-28-26

Application rate:

Application rate:

Pack size:

Pack size:

(8% Fe)

10 - 30L/per hectare in 400 - 600 litres of water

5L/per hectare at 3 / 4 week intervals 10L

10L

Period of usage:

Period of usage: All year round

March - October

Iron is an essential component of the chlorophyll molecule and applications of iron will stimulate chlorophyll production and thus produces a very good colour response without any significant growth. Other effects include improved turf hardening during the autumn / winter months and control of moss.

Fighter Commando Phosphite 0-28-26 is a liquid fertiliser that promotes plant health.

Unlike other forms of phosphorus, phosphite is highly water soluble and can be quickly absorbed through a plant’s leaves and roots. Once inside the plant, it is extremely mobile and works to rapidly correct deficiencies, enhance plant and root development, and improve plant resistance

“We’ve been on a full Germinal fertiliser and seed programme for a number of years now, both stadium and training ground. It’s a tailor made programme that suits the whole club perfectly and the pitch just keeps getting better.

Monitoring what the soil needs then applying the relevant nutrients rather than just applying for the sake of it really saves us money and time.”

Steve Speed Head Groundsman Portvale Football Club

to disease.

An environmentally-friendly product, it prevents excessive build-up of soil phosphorus and prevents problems with groundwater contamination.

• Improves plants natural disease resistance • Encourages root development • Highly Systemic • Rapidly corrects P and K deficiencies • Tank mixable (pot test recommended) • Won’t bind in soil • Helps prevent plant stress • Improves plant vigor

Fertilisers

59

Liquid fertilisers

Ammonia / Urea based

GL1: 15-3-3 + Te (Iron, Manganese)

Urea nitrogen for slower uptake. Urea is naturally converted to N which avoids excessive growth flushes. Phosphorus to aid root health and virility, and potassium for leaf strength and disease resistance. Suitable March - October (fine turf), all year round for sports.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GL2: 3-6-6 + 1Fe

All products are fully tank mixable and are available in 20L.

Lower volume of urea N to avoid growth flush. Higher volume of P and K for strength and recovery and iron for colour. Perfect for use before / after any maintenance work.

More suited to fine turf or winter applications in sports. Suitable March - October.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GL3: 20-0-10 + Seaweed + Humic

Urea nitrogen for slower uptake. Potassium to aid leaf strength. Humic increases the availability of nutrients. Seaweed for natural colour and seasonal stress.

Humic acids are important chelators, combining minerals into organic compounds that are more available to plants. They also tie up toxins, making them less available to plants. Suitable March - October (fine turf), all year round for sports.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GL4: 16-3-10

Mainly consists of urea nitrogen. N also available as nitrates for rapid, direct to leaf uptake and ammonia for more efficient uptake. High rate of potassium for leaf strength.

Suitable March - October (fine turf), all year round for sports.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GL5: 12-0-6 + 1Fe

A combination of ammonia, nitrate and urea nitrogen for phased supply of N. Perfect for an initial boost and direct to leaf uptake. Urea form provides longer supply of N. Potassium for leaf strength plus Iron for colour. Excellent early season kick.

Suitable March - October (fine turf), all year round for sports.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GL6: 9-4-6+TE+SW+Humic

A three in one product combining an N.P.K analysis, Seaweed feed and Humic acid.

Perfect for use year round on sports pitches & all areas of the golf course including golf greens. The 9-4-6 analysis is ideal for spoon feeding fine turf areas or as regular use on sports pitches, as a post-match tonic. The seaweed content provides a range of plant hormones such as cytokinin that are essential for the development of leaves, shoots and roots. Humic acid is highly beneficial to root development which is integral for grass plants to sustain themselves under close mown or high wear situations.

A full package of chelated trace elements ensures that plants receive a full and complete nutrient supply.

App rate: 30 litres per Ha

GLTEA: 2-0-4

A low nitrogen source of organic matter made from plant extracts for application during the on-set of spring growth and autumn / winter shut down. It is very important to irrigate immediately after application with a minimum of 10mm of water.

Best results obtained on very wet soil profiles.

App rate: 50 -100 litres per Ha in a minimum of 200 - 400 litres of water per ha

60

Fertilisers

Seaweed based feeds

All products in this range are derived from organic crushed seaweed and offer all the natural benefits of cytokinins and auxins found in seaweed. All nitrogen is from an organic source. All analyses are available in 10L. Maritime Turf Hardener 20-4-4 + 4Fe

Natural seaweed and fertiliser with iron. Turf Hardener is a very popular winter tonic for fine turf to help reduce plant stress, green-up the plant and harden turf off for the winter.

App rate: 20 - 40 litres per ha in 400 - 600 litres of water Frequency: Every 4 - 6 weeks

Maritime + Nitrogen 15-0-0

Natural seaweed with nitrogen. This product is a great spring and summer boost for your turf with seaweed extract to help root development and improve shoot density with 15% nitrogen added to give a quick turf boost.

App rate: 40 litres per ha in 400 - 600 litres of water Frequency: Every 4 - 6 weeks

Maritime + Iron 4fe

Natural seaweed with added iron. This is a popular choice for greenkeepers and turf growers who want cosmetic enhancement with the added benefit of improved rooting and tile ring provided by the seaweed extract.

App rate: 40 litres per ha in 400 - 600 litres of water Frequency: Every 4 - 6 weeks

Maritime Natural 30

This high concentrated seaweed extract contains an abundance of essential plant hormones, betaines and trace elements. It can be tank mixed with most NPK fertilisers and can be used all year round.

App rate: 40 litres per ha in 400 - 600 litres of water Frequency: Every 4 - 6 weeks

Fertilisers

61

Compound granular fertilisers

All Germinal standard fertilisers are compound granular formulations and are specifically designed for amenity areas.

All our compound granular fertilisers are made up of (homogeneous) prills, each of which contain the exact matching analysis of vital components nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potassium (K). This ensures an even supply of nutrients to create uniform strong growth of turf type grasses.

• Quick release effect for immediate plant availability • Homogeneous compound granules • Longevity 4 - 6 weeks Bag Size: 25kg Spreading rate: 70g/m2

62

Fertilisers

Pre-seeding G1 Quick Start 6-9-6

Pre-seeding G2 Quick Start Extra 10-15-10

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

The standard analysis for use as a pre-seed dressing for the establishment of seed on both outfield and fine turf areas.

Higher nutrient content, recommended for impoverished soil.

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• The industry standard pre-seeding fertiliser

• High phosphate levels to instantly aid root growth and accelerate seedling establishment

• Levels of potassium help strengthen the leaf blade of new seedlings and help new seedlings fight foliar disease such as pythium diseases

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• High phosphate levels to instantly aid root growth and accelerate seedling establishment • High levels of potassium help strengthen the leaf blade of new seedlings and help new seedlings fight foliar disease such as pythium diseases

63

Fertilisers

Spring / Summer G3 Spring kick 12-6-6

Spring / Summer G4 Fine Turf Spring Kick 11-5-5

Spring / Summer G5 Booster 9-7-7

Spring / Summer G6 Booster Extra 20-10-10

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.5mm

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

A high nitrogen feed to stimulate strong vigorous growth throughout the spring and summer.

A well balanced fertiliser which will stimulate root development on lawns, golf and bowling greens in the spring.

A balanced fertiliser to benefit and promote immediate healthy growth of all sports field and amenity grassed areas.

• Mini granular formulation for easy application and speedy dispersal into sward

• Balance of supply of all three major nutrients

Recommended for reclamation areas and fine sandy soils or root zones where application of fertilisers will maintain healthy grass coverage, which would otherwise be lost through lack of nutrient.

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Instantly available nitrogen for rapid growth effect • Perfect for kick starting amenity areas in the spring

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Speedy dispersal into soil helps avoid damage to expensive mowing machinery

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Quick greening effect • Promotes strong vigorous growth

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Higher nutrient content for impoverished soils, particularly nitrogen which is necessary at all points in the growing process • Quick greening effect • Promotes strong vigorous growth

64

Fertilisers

G7 Bio Builder 5-3-8 + 8CaO + 0.5Mg

Autumn / Winter

G8 Winter Defence 3-12-12

Spring / Summer

Granule size: 1.0 - 2.0mm

Granule size: 2.0 - 4.0mm

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.5mm

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

A 100% Organic slow release fertiliser for use on fine turf and sports pitches. Designed to stimulate biological soil activity and enhance the C.E.C and overall nutrient exchange within the soil to naturally benefit the sward. Excellent for use post renovation / aeration or before laying new turf.

Perfect for golf greens, golf tees and sports pitches.

Mini granular ensures rapid breakdown and dispersal into the sward.

A low nitrogen analysis with high phosphate and potassium to reinvigorate turf summer sports outfields after an intensive playing season or to strengthen winter sports pitches for the season to come.

A pre-season fertiliser with high nitrogen and iron to provide steady growth with good colour and strength.

• Stiffens the leaf blade and encourages root growth throughout the winter

• Iron and magnesium to ensure a healthy spring ‘green-up’ and aid resistance to foliar diseases

• 100% organic

• For use on all types of outfields, sports pitches and amenity grassed areas

Autumn / Winter

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Predictable nutrient release • Improves root development

• Increases plants resistance to soil borne pathogens

• Assist plant tolerance to heat stress • Safe and clean environmental impact • Beneficial microbes

• 12 - 16 week slow release • 8.0% CaO (calcium) and 0.5% MG (magnesium)

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• High levels of potassium help protect plants from foliar diseases

Also available as an organic fertiliser.

G9 Fine Turf Iron Booster 12-3-9 + 2Fe + 0.5Mg

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• High ratio of potassium to promote good root growth

• Mini granular formulation for easy application and speedy dispersal into sward • Speedy dispersal into soil helps avoid damage to expensive mowing machinery

65

Fertilisers

Spring / Summer

Autumn / Winter

Autumn / Winter

Granule size: 1.0 - 1.5mm

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.5mm

Granule size: 0.5 - 1.5mm

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

Spreading settings: Please refer to page 68

An efficient way to manage all amenity turf areas, except very close mown turf.

Feeds turf and provides effective control of broad leaf weeds and moss.

The perfect analysis for applying to fine turf areas that have been heavily used during the summer months but need to continue performing throughout the autumn and winter. The high percentage of iron gives a quick greening effect and strengthens the sward against disease.

G10 Labour Saver Weed feed & moss killer 10-2-1.7 + 8Fe

Spreading rate: 32g/m2

• Labour saving • Economical

• Easy to apply

• Environmentally sound, eliminates spray drift thus avoiding contamination of water courses

G12 Fine Turf Autumn Tonic 3-6-8 + 4Fe

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

• Quick greening effect

• Mini granular formulation for easy application and speedy dispersal into sward • High iron content strengthens the sward against disease attack

G15 Fine Turf Winter Defence 3-10-5

Spreading rate: 70g/m2

The ideal fertiliser for applying to fine turf areas which have received intensive use during the summer months.

• High ratio of phosphate helps aid respiration • Promotes root growth

• Mini granular formulation for easy application and speedy and speedy dispersal into sward • Speedy dispersal into soil helps avoid damage to expensive mowing machinery

66

Spreader Table

Spreader table for Scotts Rotary Spreader: ACCUPRO 2000 / SR2000 ACCUPRO 2000 SR 2000 Bout width 2.5m Bout width 3m Floranid Product

GSR Tri-Phase

35g/m2 17.5g/m2 35g/m2 17.5g/m2

O / P

L

Q

M

Fertilis Swing NK

M

J / K

N

K

G13 ProteKt

O

K

P

L

NovaTec

O

L / M

P

M

G1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10

O

L / M

P

M

G4, 7, 9, 12,14, 15

M

I / J

N

J

Agrosil 50g/m2

R

T

Agrosil 80g/m2

Z

N / D

The spreader settings are guidelines only. The spreader should be calibrated prior to application to ensure accuracy. The spreader settings are based on a walking speed of 5 km/hour. Walking faster or slower than 5 km/hour will alter the spread width and application rate. Exact rates are dependent upon the spreader itself and the accuracy of the person operating it.

67

Territory map

Territory map

Sales Representatives Scotland and North East England

Alan Thomson Technical Sales Representative Mobile: 07887 578 802 E-mail: alan.thomson@germinal.com North West England, North Wales and The Midlands

Paul Moreton Technical Sales Representative Mobile: 07887 578 807 E-mail: paul.moreton@germinal.com South Wales, South Midlands and the South West

Scotland and North East England

Alex Beesley Technical Sales Representative Mobile: 07795 416 391 E-mail: alex.beesley@germinal.com South and Eastern England

Sandy Pentecost Technical Sales Representative Mobile: 07887 578 804 E-mail: sandy.pentecost@germinal.com

North West England North Wales The Midlands

Amenity Sales Manager

Richard Brown Amenity Sales Manager Mobile: 07887 578 805 E-mail: richard.brown@germinal.com General Enquiries

Germinal GB Limited Camp Road Witham St Hughs Lincoln LN6 9QJ

Tel: 01522 868 714 Fax: 01522 868 095 E-mail: lincoln@germinalamenity.com

South Wales South Midlands South West

South and Eastern England

Find out more Should you require any more information, or to request a selection of free brochures and technical guides, please visit our website:

germinalamenity.com

@GerminalAmenity

Aber® is a registered trademark of Germinal Holdings Ltd. The mixtures in this brochure are correct at the time of going to press and the supplies of the varieties used in the mixtures should be adequate for this season. If, however, we do run short of some, they will be replaced by the next best variety on the Recommended List.

Germinal Camp Road Witham St. Hughs Lincoln LN6 9QJ

T: +44 (0) 1522 868714 lincoln@germinalamenity.com

Germinal is committed to an environmentally sustainable future. This brochure is made from entirely bio-degradable products.

Please recycle this brochure.