TURF MANAGEMENT
Suståne programme gets top marks from Farleigh School !
ore than a decade on from the switch to an
M organic feeding programme , the grounds team at Farleigh School in Hampshire are receiving more praise than ever before ! Staff , parents and pupils alike have cited how surfaces across the 70-acre site are providing consistent presentation and performance , despite the challenging climatic conditions , which Grounds Manager and Sports Coach Shaun Crowley attributes to the reliable results from 18-1-8 + Fe and 5-2-4 + Fe from Suståne .
“ While we weren ’ t initially pressured to explore the organic route , it was something my predecessor and I were keen on – not just for the environmental benefits but considering the safety element for the children and the flexibility it provided on application rates . We have a packed schedule both during and between term-times so getting feed down without pupils around was challenging ” explains Shaun , who has been Sports Coach at Farleigh School since 2011 and took over the role of Grounds Manager three years ago . “ Russell Riley from Suståne came in 12 years ago and it became clear that as long as we could catch a bit of favourable weather , we would be able to apply the product more flexibly which has been a great benefit ever since .”
Starting on the cricket squares , before finding uses on the outfields and lawned areas , Shaun and his team of five have found the combination of 18-1-8 + Fe and 5-2-4 + Fe delivers exactly what they need – namely a kickstart in spring , followed by consistent health , colour and growth without flushes . “ We ’ ll apply the 18-1-8 + Fe when the temperatures rise , ideally March or April , to get the cricket surfaces ready for the summer season . We ’ ll then carry out three to four applications of the 5-2-4 + Fe annually which we see as a ‘ maintainer ’, again on our cricket squares and on our Headmaster ’ s lawn area .”
Suståne 18-1-8 + Fe is a two-part blend combining Suståne organic with urea nitrogen for enhanced and long-lasting colour , ideal for fine turf and sports turf applications , lawns and landscaping . Combining four forms of Nitrogen , including three types of slow-release , 18-1-8 + Fe provides economical results over a 12-16 week period . 5-2-4 + Fe is the original Suståne formula , providing a mix of nutrients for greater root development , increased soil porosity and stability and even colour and growth . Fully compostable , 5-2-4 + Fe has also demonstrated outstanding disease suppression on wide variety of turfgrass diseases , including Red Thread , in trials .
“ We know what we need from the Suståne products , we know when and where to apply them , and we know that they work . Russell is also a great person to have on the end of the phone . He pops in to make sure we ’ re on track and has given us some great advice for improving growth on some of our more problematic heavy-clay areas .” Shaun concludes , “ I know it ’ s a phrase that gets used a lot , but these Suståne fertilisers do exactly what they say on the tin !” www . sustane . com
42 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | July / August 2023