TOP DRESSING
Support your turf after winter with Marathon ® ALGAE !
Rain and cold : a tough cocktail for turf
When the cold season arrives , the grass enters a phase of weak or no growth . During this period , it becomes particularly sensitive to climatic stresses such as excess humidity or frost . The use of sports pitches during this season exacerbates the situation . The cause : compaction induced by trampling and uprooting . Trampling during wet periods breaks the structure of the top layer profile , causing fine particles to rise up and obstructing the porosity of the soil , resulting in water accumulating on the surface . At the end of winter , compaction of the surface layer also slows down the restarting of the soil ’ s biological activity by asphyxiating the environment , leading to mineralisation and nutrition problems for the turf , problems accentuated by the leaching of nutrients such as nitrates and sulphates during the winter . Another disadvantage of insufficient biological activity in spring is the slowdown in the decomposition of organic matter such as mowing residues . The thatch build-up accentuates asphyxiation and encourages the onset of disease .
In short , a negative cycle sets in , leading inexorably to a deterioration in the quality of the turf !
That ’ s why , after a cold , wet winter , it ’ s essential to approach the new season with a tailored nutrition programme , thanks to the Marathon ® ALGAE range .
A nutrition programme to match the situation
As soon as the grass emerges from winter , it is important to act upon two important areas : the supply of nutrients to support the increasing needs of the turf , and the stimulation of biological activity in the soil to boost the mineralisation of organic matter . That ’ s the aim of the Marathon ® ALGAE range of organo-mineral fertilisers .
Thanks to its patented XSER ® complexation technology , Marathon ® ALGAE releases nutrients sequentially into the soil solution , gradually meeting the growing needs of the turf , while protecting the nutrients from leaching . This stimulates the turf ’ s growth , regenerates its roots and repairs the plant cover damaged by the winter .
The organic component of Marathon ® ALGAE has two special features . The first is that most of it comes from a dehydrated source rather than a composted one . This characteristic preserves all the reactivity of organic matter for a rapid effect on stimulating soil microflora . The second special feature is the addition of SEADRY ® dry seaweed extract , which is rich in specific molecules ( sulphated
10 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March / April 2024