Amenity range

Why the high sowing rates?

Amenity mixes use species and varieties designed to create a thick sward, giving you the best lawn. These species won’t tiller out like agricultural grasses, so they require the higher rate to compensate for this. The benefit to this is that it creates a more uniform lawn, as well as the tolerance to more traffic – from pets, children and general wear and tear.  

Using a lower sowing rate can put the lawn at risk of being too thin and prone to weed invasion. The heavier suggested sowing rates will help to establish the lawn quicker and makes a harder wearing stand.

Common Amenity species

Dwarf Ryegrass

·         Fast to establish

·         Tough and durable

·         Shallow rooting so best avoided on light/ sandy soils.

Red Fescue

·         A fine leaved grass

·         There are two main varieties:

o   Slender – creeps when it grows.

o   Chewings – non creeping

Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass

·         ‘fresh green’ in colour

·         Tolerant to drought and shade

·         Slow growing

·         Creeping habit

Bent Grass

·         Tolerates close growing, down to 5cm.

·         Fine leaved

·         Slow to start growing, very delicate when young.

·         Not often used on its own

Establishing Grass Seed

Sowing seed is the least expensive method of establishing an area of grass and has the added advantage of allowing the exact composition of the turf to be determined for any given situation. Correct preparation of the seed bed is very important, and care taken at this stage will pay dividends.

Site Preparation:

If the site is weed covered, clear by cultivation or by application of a total herbicide e.g., Roundup. The site should then be landscaped as required and all clods, rubble and rubbish removed. The soil should be reduced to a fine tilth (ideally no particle should be larger than a grain of wheat) and a pre-seeding fertiliser (1 nitrogen : 1 phosphate : 1 potash) at 1oz/sq. yd. (35g/m2) applied if necessary. The surface can then be firmed before sowing.

Sowing:

Broadcast the seed as evenly as possible or drill at the rate indicated. A lower rate will result in slow establishment and a patchy sward, whilst too high a rate increases the possibility of disease. The surface should again be rolled or firmed. It is then important to prevent drying out and bird damage if possible.

Management:

Seedlings appear 7 - 21 days later, but do not cut until shoots are 40 - 50 mm (1.5 - 2 inches) long. At this stage it should be rolled lightly, left to recover for 1 - 3 days then cut to remove the top 10 - 20 mm (0.5 - 0.75 inches) only, with a sharp-bladed mower.

Time to Sow:

·         Mid-August - Mid September

Ideal as competition from annual weeds and susceptibility to drought is minimised. Seedlings should emerge in 1 - 2 weeks.

·         April - June

Ground is cooler and weed contamination greater. Seedlings should emerge in 2 - 3 weeks. There is a greater risk of the soil drying out.

If you have any queries about our amenity range, or would like to purchase seed, please call 01243 755620 or email seed@bartholomews.co.uk