Groundskeeping Journal Issue 26 2024 | Page 15

TOP DRESSING cricket outfields and winter sports pitches using Johnsons J4Turf and PM81 from the Masterline seed range . Then , despite seeing very little rain until the start of September , our grounds team were incredibly impressed that after a dormant period we saw strong growth and incredible drought recovery at the first drop of moisture . The result was quality playing surfaces that looked good and performed evenly .”
Johnsons J 4Turf and J Premier Wicket are used on the cricket outfields and squares , which host upwards of 250 games a year . “ The turnaround and level of wear is intensive , but we ’ ve found this combination of mixtures withstands the high level of play , recovering quickly and coping with climatic conditions – be those dry like last summer or wetter as we ’ ve had throughout 2024 .”
Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches , multi-purpose fields and racecourses .
The cricket outfields are cut down to 16mm until the last game of the season , then will be left to grow to 32mm where they will then play a critical part in a packed rugby programme . “ This is where the seed really gets tested as the demands of rugby will push wear tolerance to the limit ! We ’ ve always found the strong bladed and deep rooting DLF and Johnsons mixtures can handle that , before being taken down to 26mm for football .”
Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches , multipurpose fields and racecourses . The 100 % perennial ryegrass mix delivers outstanding versatility , sward density and year-round colour . Beside this , J 4turf and J Premier Wicket , Andy and the team are also using Johnsons J Rye Green on their golf greens and Masterline PM51 Greenscape as a general , high-performance mixture for landscaping and hardwearing lawns .
He concludes , “ It ’ s ultimately these mixtures that are the foundation to everything we oversee in our department and that year after year give us the quality and , importantly , the versatility to sustain such a high level of sport .” www . dlf . co . uk
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