TOP DRESSING
Suståne proves the key for consistency at Sweden ’ s Linköping Golf Club
programme based
A around Suståne 5-2- 4 + Fe organic slowrelease fertiliser is working wonders at Linköping Golf Club in Sweden – delivering enhanced consistency in plant health and growth for Head Greenkeeper Andreas Bergqvist and his team . Now into their second year of pursuing a more natural approach to enhancing soil biology , not only are the greens performing better , the additional strength has seen improved resistance to Anthracnose .
Andreas has been in charge of the maintenance of the picturesque parkland course for the last five years , but has been at the club since 2001 as a deputy where he first gained experience of products from the Suståne range . “ My approach to plant health is very much to work with nature and feed from the bottom up , rather than the top down ” he explains . “ We ’ d been using Suståne for a number of years , but when I took over I further reduced artificial inputs in favour of upping our Suståne programme to get better structure into our push-up greens .”
The current plan consists of 8-10 week applications of Suståne 5-2-4 + Fe between the months of April and September ; the long-lasting sources of organic nitrogen promoting greater root development and good colour . “ The main benefit we ’ ve found is that you don ’ t get the flush of growth like you do with synthetic fertilisers . It keeps the greens consistent in terms of playability and means that we ’ re employing fewer mechanical practices such as verti-cutting to keep on top of rapid growth which , in turn , brings benefit for surface quality and health .”
“ Prior to using Suståne we would also commonly see outbreaks of Anthracnose around the course . This appears to have decreased significantly , and when we do get a patch we can target treat with some additional 5-2-4 + Fe and it ’ s seemingly resolved within a couple of days .”
He continues , “ One of the biggest issues we face here in southern Sweden is drought . The Suståne product being naturally-derived means that we can apply when we need to , and not when the rainfall forecast is in our favour . The boost to root development also means we ’ re finding that the grass is more tolerant to the hot and dry conditions which means we ’ re wellplaced to deal with the changing climate moving forwards .”
www . sustane . com
8 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March / April 2024