At IOG SALTEX, which ended yesterday, British Seed Houses teamed up with R & K Kensett to show visitors how the Graden Contour Sand-Injection machine combines with Zeba, a new starch-based soil amendment, and with premium quality grass seed to produce superb overseeding results.
The Graden removes thatch and creates grooves which it immediately fills with sand, right in to the bottom of the groove. It firms the surface and creates ideal conditions for overseeding. Once the organic matter has been removed and the surface opened up, the grooves provide the perfect environment for soil/seed contact and allow for an increase in root structure and strength.
To aid germination further, a moisture and nutrient-retentive soil amendment can be added to the sand. ’Zeba’, which is distributed in the UK by Logic Alliance of Devon, is the latest addition to BSH’s product portfolio. It is a unique super-absorbent polymer based on natural corn starch, making it biodegradable, non-toxic and odourless. It is made of glucose molecules which are linked together chemically to become a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water and nutrients for use by plants as needed.
The granules are able to absorb up to 400 times their original weight. The hydrogel slowly releases just the right amount of encapsulated moisture in response to plant root suction. It easily rehydrates and stores more water as moisture enters the soil. This process is repeated hundreds of times over a year or more before it loses effectiveness.
It aids germination by providing a continuous source of moisture and nutrients where they’re needed most. It also enhances seed germination for fast divot repair and prevents nuisance dry spots on tees, fairways and greens with less hand labour and irrigation required.
With the presence of thatch and high levels of poa annua, greenkeepers are managing something which is very unpredictable. For greens which offer more potential throughout the year, there has to be a higher proportion of finer grasses. Using the Graden prior to overseeding creates the optimum conditions for establishing fine grasses which will far surpass the performance of any poa dominated green. Once the ideal conditions have been created it is essential to use premium quality seed, such as AberRoyal, one of BSH’s specialist bent grasses.
British Seed Houses www.bshamenity.com
R & K Kensett www.kensettsports.com
Logic Alliance (UK) www.logicalliance.co.uk