An enlightening experience

An enlightening experience

The Scotts organic turf supplement Greenmaster Blade enhances sward health and vigour through stimulating soil microbial activity. The product is an advanced combination of carbohydrate and seaweed technology which, over a series of independent trials, has resulted in increased turf density and vigour and greatly enhanced disease resistance.

The key benefit of including Greenmaster Blade within an overall turf maintenance programme is the impact on root development. During trials, users reported improved rooting to depths of seven to ten inches. The turf is therefore able to take up nutrients and water more efficiently, resulting in accelerated top growth and sward density. In practical terms, this means that the turf is harder wearing and resilient, better able to resist the effects of drought and disease and shows improved colour.

Greenmaster Blade works indirectly. Instead of feeding the turf, the carbohydrate and seaweed spray feeds and stimulates the beneficial micro-organisms in the soil surface. Modern turf management often results in a near sterile environment in the upper inches of the soil, starving the micro flora and fauna and preventing the natural recycling of organic matter into plant nutrients.

This stimulation also benefits turf disease resistance by enhancing the activity of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in the rootzone.These fungi develop on the outer root surface and work in co-operation with the grass plant, helping in the transfer of nutrients, protecting against disease ingress and also supplying vital vitamins and amino acids.

Dave Saltman, editor of Pitchcare and for a period head Groundsman at the Millennium Stadium, used Greenmaster Blade throughout his time there: "Amongst the issues faced at the Millennium Stadium are the frankly appalling light levels. After reading up on research with sugars, I opted for regular treatments with Greenmaster Blade. The theory is that where the grass is struggling to photosynthesise, provision of additional sugars can help it make up the shortfall - keeping the grass vigorous and healthy. "I'm not saying we didn't lose grass there - with the ambient conditions and the heavy wear and tear through play, that is inevitable. But throughout the period with Blade, the sward was resilient, it sustained good growth and colour, and we saw no fungal diseases at all."

Greenmaster Blade is an easy-to-use liquid spray, supplied in 10-litre returnable containers, and is available through the Scotts distributor network.