Before the mad rush begins: things to consider for the year ahead (1/3)

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Fertilisers; Liquid or granule

It’s a perennial question..liquid or granular fertiliser? The answer may be ..both! They each have pros and cons but a treatment plan for every lawn or paddock should ideally incorporate both types. Granular fertilisers are easy to apply and very visible plus they often have a more varied analysis with more nutrients packed into each bag (eg: AMVISTA Feed, Weed & Mosskill : 8-4-4 (NPK) +2.5Mgo + 7% Fe + 6 CaO + seaweed + 2-4D + CMPP). Liquid fertilisers are improving with some slow-release offerings on the market plus the benefit of immediate feeding of the grass when sprayed on. The use of seaweed is not new but adding regular doses of liquid seaweed sprays, such as MAXICROP CONCENTRATE pure seaweed, in between bouts of granular will improve not only the grass but the microbial content of the soil leading to less reliance in future on synthetic growth stimulants.

Gone – but not forgotten:

Pesticide products that can no longer be sold (but still may have a use-up period) are:

Kaskara (Broadshot), Merit Turf, Relay Turf and Relay-P, Certis Spraying Oil for red spider mite & conifer aphid. While there are not many new products there are still viable alternatives to consider; FLAIL for tough, woody weeds, NEMASYS nematodes for chafer infestations (see below), PRAXYS/ POLAX for weedy amenity grassland and BANDU for aphid control on conifers.

Biopesticides:

These are products based on microbial ingredients designed to be a natural and low residue alternative for insect control. MET52 is a naturally occurring soil fungus which has been a great performer for weevils and thrips on amenity vegetation as well as vegetables and berry crops.

The broad title also includes predatory insects such as the Aphalara itadori, a psyllid, being bred and tested for its effectiveness at eating Japanese knotweed. Many people are also more aware of nematodes – the good & bad ones. The withdrawal of MERIT TURF for chafer grub/ leatherjacket control means they are now at the frontline of lawn & grassland protection from these devastating larvae. NEMASYS G & J nematodes are available to purchase but are bred to target specific larvae, so correct identification of the creature chewing your grass roots is key.

Contact Progreen Weed Control for more information on any of these items:

Web: www.progreen.co.uk email: info@progreen.co.uk

"I can remeber been told about this problem when training 40 years ago. It's not uncommon and is the result of the same cylinder mower being used repeatedly for many years, generally in a narrow area where it has to be mowed in the same direction.…"

"The first three cuts after spraying cannot go into compost. I do however send it to green waste (I didn't know that I can't & the amount within GW site would be nothing) You would have to be mowing every other day to clip off the seed heads to stop…"

"Hi Peter, I try not to mow if possible when its too wet. Like most machines the grass sticks everywhere. If it is already trimmed it is ok, just don't go cutting a couple of inches growth when wet! Just a side note, the bloody belt come off of it…"