Representing England’s hopes of seeing the tournament through to the final stages of Euro 2016 this summer is veteran seed supplier Johnsons Lawn Seed and its newest star player, Turfline 2016. The carefully selected amenity perennial ryegrass is identical to the fast establishing, hard wearing and low maintenance grass plants that constitute the turf at the tournament itself, supplied by parent company, international seed producer DLF.
Fans from around the world will be watching the tournament (10th June – 10th July) and looking on admiringly as the players carve their way up and down the faultless turf and ask – how can I get my own my own lawn to the same standard?
Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seed sets out three simple ways to score a playing surface to rival any in France this summer.
Step 1: Select the best players
The pitches at Euro 2016 are created using 100% amenity perennial ryegrass of the highest quality – and thanks to advanced natural breeding and product development, your lawn now has a better chance of matching that which adorns the top football stadiums. The difference with premium blends and budget brands of grass seed are the mixtures used – often unsuitable agricultural grasses are employed to bulk the pack out. Left with a substandard lawn, you may need to buy more seed or turf to replace poor areas of growth, costing money and precious playing time for you and your family. The seeds being used to grow new turf and to overseed existing grass at Euro 2016 features a type of top grade ryegrass, which also appears in Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Turfline 2016 (RRP £9.99 for a 1kg carton).
Step 2: Mow down the competition
The first step to getting your utility lawn through the group stages is to ensure the grass is mown correctly. In France, the pitches will be cut to no more than 30mm – a guideline you can also use for your own lawn. Aim to mow at least twice a week – providing the grass isn’t too wet or too dry. All grass plants will naturally grow vertically, towards the light, so if left growing will become tall and sparse in the cover they provide. Top tip: sharpen the blades on your mower to get a clean cut and avoid ‘browning’. By effectively pruning at the right height, taking just the outer leaves at the top, the lower leaves can develop into thicker, stronger plants. If your lawn looks sparse, with weeds filling the gaps, this is often a clear sign that you are cutting too short. Another way to put it would be to think of England in the group stages. With Wales in the group, two out of three games will be against teams outside of the UK – and with the lawn, two out of three is the length of the grass that will need to remain for healthy growth!
Step 3: Use professional tactics
Overseeding is a process used by all the top groundsmen – in France and at home. Simply put, you are replacing moss and weeds and anything that isn’t grass – with lawn seed sown directly onto prepared soil. It only requires a small amount of work yet can make all the difference – with the minimum of spend on raw materials.
Top tip: be sure to keep on top of watering and remember to avoid disturbing areas in which you have overseeded as much as you can to avoid having to reapply.
Find out more
Johnsons Lawn Seed, the UK subsidiary of international lawn seed producer and distributor, DLF, is a supplier of varied and specialised lawn seed products suited to British lawns. Developed with skills and expertise, there are a variety of lawn seed products to suit any need or requirement, from Tuffgrass to Anytime, to quick fix and patch repair ranges. To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed, please visit www.johnsonslawnseed.com
Kimberley Hornby DLF Trifolium PR Team, Whitefoot PR
Tel: 01858 681122 Email: kimberley@whitefootpr.co.uk
Robbie Cumming DLF Trifolium PR Team, Whitefoot PR
Tel: 07765251173 Email: robbie@whitefootpr.co.uk