Press Release

6th February 2017

NEW semi-rough seed mixture for faster play and enhanced ecology

Germinal has added a new seed mixture to its Grade A range of sports seed products with the launch of a new semi-rough mixture for golf courses. Designed specifically for use along the border between fairway and rough areas, A32 Ecological Rough is made up of five different grass species, all of which have been selected to produce a thin, easy to manage grass sward with added ecological benefits.

A32 Ecological Rough has been designed specifically to enable greenkeepers to create fairway margins which adhere to the R&A’s guidelines regarding Pace and Play which state that: ‘Much time can be lost during a round as a result of searching for balls in the rough; it is also a source of much frustration for golfers. Time spent searching for balls can be reduced in the following ways; generally reducing the severity of rough so that, while the rough still provides a challenge, it is less likely to conceal a ball.’

Comprising 60% Corail (strong creeping red fescue), 15% sweet vernal grass, 15% Teno (small leaved Timothy), 5% AberRoyal (browntop bentgrass), and 5% crested dogstail, A32 produces a sward with very thin growth habits with wispy seed heads that don’t usually exceed 30-60 cm in height. These species also offer an attractive and diverse display of foliage throughout the summer, and create a valuable habitat for many species of native wildlife.

“A32 provides the perfect buffer between fairways and more off-line areas of play,” explains Richard Brown, Germinal’s Amenity Sales Manager. “It creates an easy to manage sward which can be maintained via infrequent cutting to create a thin, semi-rough environment that enables rapid ball retrieval and onward play. It also creates an ecologically valuable, natural grassland habitat, acting as an extension to wildlife-rich areas of thicker rough.”

Sophie Vukelic, Ecology and Environment Consultantat the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) explains the ecological value of creating enhanced semi-rough environments: “Grasses are vitally important from an ecological viewpoint,” she describes. “They are the principle components of all grassland habitats, with different species providing unique diversity within machair to the north and chalk downlands in the south. These habitats provide food, shelter and vantage for a range of wildlife communities and are particularly valuable for molluscs through to invertebrates, bryophytes and small mammals. Often unappreciated are the secondary benefits of grasslands, which, by their presence, provide important food resources for bats and birds.”

Additional flower and heather speciesfrom Germinal’s extensive portfolio of wildflower seeds can also be added to the standard A32 mixture, giving greenkeepers and course managers the option to create their own bespoke seed mixture. “All of our wildflower mixtures have been deemed ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ by the Royal Horticultural Society,” Richard Brown continues. “That enables greenkeepers to create an enhanced ecological habitat whilst at the same time giving their courses a unique and definitive visual appearance.”

A33 Habitat Mixture

Germinal has also added a new wildlife-specific seed mixture to its 2017 seed offering: A33 Habitat Mixture provides the perfect mix of grass seeds to create an enhanced habitat for bees, bats and butterflies within semi-rough areas and along the edges of fairways.

A33 Habitat Mixture contains 35% Corail (strong creeping red fescue), 30% AberCharm (slender creeping red fescue), 5% red clover, 10% sweet vernal grass, 15% small leaved Timothy and 5% quaking grass.

-Ends-

Photo:

  • A32 Ecological Rough.jpg.
  • Caption: Germinal’s new ‘Ecological Rough’ seed mixture creates fairway margins which adhere to the R&As guidelines regarding pace and play whilst also creating a valuable habitat for wildlife.

Notes to editors:

  • Germinal Amenity is a wholly owned subsidiary of Germinal Holdings Ltd - the largest family owned British and Irish Forage & Amenity Seed Company.
  • Germinal Amenity provides a range of grass seed products and services designed to meet the specific requirements of the amenity industry. Customers include professional greenkeepers, turf growers, groundsmen, landscape contractors, golf course constructors, architects, agronomists and ecologists, all of whom deal directly with the only company selling British-bred turf grasses direct to the end user.
  • Buying direct from Germinal Amenity gives our customers access to first class technical advice and great value specialist turfgrass products through the “Grade A” grass seed mixture brand. Customers can also purchase from a range of fertilisers and adjuvants as well our extensive range of UK Native wild flower seed mixtures.

® Aber is a Registered Trademark of Germinal Holdings Ltd

Further information:

Follow @wearegerminal for regular and topical information from our amenity and agricultural divisions.

Issued by Paul Jennings, Agribusiness Communications Ltd

Tel: 01694 731777

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