The germination success in low temperatures of Rigby Taylor’s Super Root grass mix used in a landscaping job by Green Fingers Lawncare has certainly sown the seed for continued use of the grass by the York-based lawn care specialist.
According to director Richard Hardcastle: “The job, which initially involved importing and levelling 100 tonnes of ‘topping off’ soil, was then seeded by the Super Root mixture (and fed with Rigby Taylor’s 18-4-18 PolyPro fertiliser) during a period when we endured average daytime temperatures of just 4 degrees and night frosts that were accompanied by temperatures of -2 degrees. Yet, the seed germinated in less than four weeks.
“I was very impressed, especially when the growth of the Rigby Taylor seed was compared to another brand previously used on a different area of the site – and at eight weeks was at the same stage as Super Root was after just a month!”
Super Root, part of Rigby Taylor’s extensive range of grass seed mixes for all types of sporting and amenity surfaces, is a tetraploid, creeping rye and creeping red fescue mix (Tetragreen, Stolawn, Greensky and Mystic cultivars) which in addition to fast establishment – thanks to its Germin-8T treatment that maximises seedling development, stimulates germination and supports accelerated establishment – also boasts high tolerance to wear, shade, drought and disease, for example.
PolyPro is a controlled release, micro-granular fertiliser and the 18-4-18 type features balanced N and K for all-round plant health.
Operating throughout north and east Yorkshire, Green Fingers Lawncare has enjoyed a continually expanding customer base since its establishment in 2012. Now with four employees, including Richard’s brother Simon and an apprentice, the company regularly uses Rigby Taylor products “with great effect” as part of its lawn care business.
It’s a policy that mirrors the success of the Glenn Hardcastle Sports Grounds Contractor maintenance business operated by the brothers’ father who, for example, successfully sowed a bowling green “that was in a terrible state” with Rigby Taylor’s R9 ultra fine dwarf rye seed – “and the green was brought back to perfect condition”, says Simon Hardcastle.
He concludes: “Indeed, because we have easy access to equipment that is traditionally used on sports grounds, it means that our business can adequately tackle larger-than-usual lawn care contracts, too.”
