Strong root growth and excellent turf density just six weeks after sowing have quickly stabilised the sand green construction, reports Martin Mewett

Establishing new grass seeds this spring has been a major challenge for turf managers. But Martin Mewett, Head Greenkeeper at Cobtree Manor Park in Kent, has achieved a fantastic result with fast growth and incredible deep rooting on a newly created putting green for the course.

With a completely new sand construction elevating height by some two meters over a dilapidated old green and pathways, getting a good rooting structure has been essential to stabilize the root zone through months of heavy rains. Some new sand-based green constructions have been quite literally washed away during May and June.

After an initial failed attempt to sow the green with hydroseeding, Martin reverted to conventional sowing at the end of April. Within four days the ryegrass on the green surrounds was emerging, with fescue grasses on the green up 10 days later and bent grasses after another 10 days.

To encourage lateral growth and strong rooting, he applied a half rate Primo MAXX three weeks after the fescues first emerged, followed by a full rate application two weeks later, and repeated every three weeks at the full rate. On the advice of Scotts’ John Noyce, a liquid feed of Greenmaster Blade was included with each application, whilst Martin also believes the use of a Scotts slow release granular fertiliser with high potassium has helped to give the turf a constant feed of root promoting nutrients.

“The growth has been very dense and even, which has effectively shut out poa annua and annual weeds from establishing,” he says. “The rooting has been very successful in stabilizing the sand construction. The putting green should be ready for opening early in the new year; which is ahead of our scheduled timing.”

Having started cutting at 25mm, the height of cut has been gradually reduced to 12mm, where it will remain until the turf is completely established and ready for use, when it will be taken down to 5mm and managed to match the rest of the course greens.

“We have to look for all possible labour saving opportunities,” highlights Martin. “Trials with Primo MAXX have shown we can keep the greens, fairways and semi-rough in better condition, with greater flexibility in the mowing regime.”