2015 - Watson SeedsWelcome to our 2015 catalogue. Within you will see that our work with Regro...

Grass & Wildflower Seed Catalogue

2015

Welcome to our 2015 catalogue.

Within you will see that our work with Regro Creeping Ryegrass and Coldgro Cool season Perennial Ryegrass continues to gather momentum as we see the great results that our customers have been experiencing with these new concepts.

We now have a second Regro variety available in Corsica Creeping Ryegrass that has shown up very well in UK trials for conventional ryegrasses.

It is encouraging that this new variety has done so well in conventional trials that don’t even test for the desirable trait that is the creeping and regenerating growth habit that Regro varieties offer.

Our success with these new concepts and the inclusion of varieties from a number of breeders ably demonstrates the advantages that our customers enjoy from us being entirely independent.

This unique and independent approach to mixture formulation allows us to work with likeminded breeders and seed companies worldwide in bringing some of the best cultivars to the UK that may otherwise have never been seen. The quality of material is only part of the story, we continue to support our customers with site visits and expert advice when required. These days, no matter what our profession is, our roles demand a more diverse knowledge than ever before. We are pleased to be able to dispense from our experience and expertise in our particular field so that our customers may be confident of success in any given situation. I hope that you enjoy browsing through our catalogue and all that remains is to thank you, our many customers, for your continued and very much appreciated support.

Mark Sinclair, Managing Director

Welcome

Contents

Welcome 02

Seed quality 04

Cultivar & mixture evaluation 04

Cultivar portfolio 05

Landscaping 06

Sports grounds 13

Regro and Coldgro 17

Golf & bowling 22

Turf seed 28

Wildflowers 30

Wildflower establishment & management 36

Contact details 39

4 SEED QUALITY, CULTIVAR & MIXTURE EVALUATION

Seed quality Seed quality is integral to the performance and appearance of the resultant turf. Poor seed quality can easily negate the benefits of using good quality cultivars. Therefore we screen all seed lots prior to mixing, to ensure that they meet the highest standards of purity and germination.

Cultivar & mixture evaluation The groGreen range has been developed using independent data provided by the STRI. You can therefore be confident that our cultivars are selected entirely on their own merits. As an independent company, our unique relationships with like-minded companies and plant breeders worldwide allows us to bring some of the best rated cultivars to the UK. We continue to seek out new cultivars and we are excited to have a number of developments to bring to our range over the next few years.

80% 90.67% 95% 98.3%

EC minimum standard for germination 80%

80% 90.67% 95% 98.3%

Average EC minimum standard for purity in seed

lots used

80% 90.67% 95% 98.3%

groGreen average germination for seed lots used from 2003 to 2014

80% 90.67% 95% 98.3%

groGreen average purity for seed lots used from 2003

to 2014

Perennial Ryegrass trials at Carneau, Orchies, France

5CULTIVAR PORTFOLIO

Cultivar portfolio

REGRO CREEPING PERENNIAL RYEGRASSCorsiCa New Regro creeping ryegrass cultivar. Regenerating, self-repairing and wear tolerant. UK trials show very high shoot density and live ground cover. Excellent winter and summer colour.

New orleaNs Regro Creeping ryegrass. Very high shoot density and excellent summer and winter colour. Finer leaved than new variety Corsica.

PERENNIAL RYEGRASSColosseUM New Cultivar with cool season growth and establishment capabilities.

VesUViUs Very good winter sports cultivar with high live ground cover and recovery scores.

CoNCerto Very good winter sports variety offering one of the best recovery from wear ratings.

eUrodiaMoNd Excellent cultivar for winter pitch use. High live ground cover and very quick to recover.

CarNaCExcellent cultivar. Very high live ground cover, shoot density and visual merit. Outstanding performance on winter pitches.

esqUireGood all rounder with very good resistance to disease.

SmOOth StALkEd mEAdOW GRASSYVetteVery high shoot density and fine leaved cultivar.

BENtGRASSMaNorOne of the top table browntops with high shoot density and good visual merit.

troYGood all round performer with very fine leaf.

ChEWINGS FESCuEMUsiCaTop rated cultivar with high shoot density and winter greenness.

CarioCaHighly rated cultivar for close mown situations. High shoot density and good visual merit.

eUroCrowNVery good all round variety. Excels in close mown trials

CapriCCio Very good summer sport and landscaping cultivar with high shoot density.

SLENdER CREEPING REd FESCuEBarpearlGood cultivar with high visual merit and shoot density. Performs well in close mown situations.

HeleNaGood quality cultivar. High performance when close mown. Good disease resistance.

ValdoraAppealing variety with high ground cover and stand out visual merit.

StRONG CREEPING REd FESCuEHeraldGood all round performer maintaining good colour over the winter.

CaBaretteHigh performing variety, outstanding winter colour.

Landscaping

Our landscaping mixture range has been specifically developed to give:

• Rapid, even establishment

• Dense ground cover

• Fine leaved turf, tolerant to close mowing

• Lower mowing frequency

7LANDSCAPING

GG1 Universal landscapeone of our most popular mixtures for general landscaping, lawns, parkland, housing and industrial estates.

• Heavy wear tolerance • Low maintenance• Rapid establishment • Good ground cover

GG2 Fine universal landscapea finer, non – ryegrass version of our popular universal landscape for more ornamental uses.

• Fine appearance • Good ground cover• Low maintenance • Tolerates closer mowing

Esquire Perennial Ryegrass 15%

Bellevue Perennial Ryegrass 30%

Capriccio Chewings Fescue 10%

Herald Strong Creeping Red Fescue 40%

Highland Browntop Bent 5%




Sowing Rate: 35g/m² Cutting Height: Down to 15mm


8 LANDSCAPING

GG3 Low mowspecialised mixture for low maintenance situations where low mowing regimes are necessary. For general landscaping, lawns, parkland, housing and industrial estates.

• Very low maintenance • Strong weed competition• Rapid establishment • Good ground cover

GG4 Coastal/Salt tolerant vergesFor coastal areas and verges of heavily salted roads.

• Inclusion of species tolerant to coastal flooding and salt spray• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Low maintenance



Canon Flattened Meadow Grass 10%

Salty Salt Marsh Grass 8%

Cato Creeping Bent 2%

Mentor Hard Fescue 15%

Bellevue Perennial Ryegrass 30%

Carnac Perennial Ryegrass 30%

Helena Slender Creeping Red Fescue 20%





9LANDSCAPING

GG5 Road vergesFor road verges and motorway embankments.

• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Strong weed competition during establishment• Low maintenance

GG6 BanksFor motorway embankments, river banks and areas prone to soil erosion requiring stabilisation.

• 60% rhizomatous grasses to give stabilisation• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Strong weed competition during establishment• Low maintenance










Aberpearl Small White Clover 2%



10 LANDSCAPING

GG7 ConservationFor landscaping where a natural, sympathetic appearance and minimal maintenance are required.

• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Strong weed competition during establishment• Low maintenance• Natural appearance with attractive seed heads - wildflowers may be added

GG8 ShadeFor all shaded areas under trees and building surrounds.

• Tolerant to shaded and droughted areas• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Strong weed competition during establishment• Low maintenance

Samanta Slender Creeping Red Fescue 10%




Dasas Rough Stalked Meadow Grass 15%







GG9 Landfill restorationFor site restoration post reinstatement.

• Rapid establishment in difficult soils• Strong weed competition during establishment• Low maintenance

GG10 Soil enrichmentthis mixture contains leguminous plants that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere therefore nourishing nutrient deficient soils. GG10 is intended to be reincorporated into the soil to supply nutrients to subsequent sowings.

• Nourishes poor soils• Competes with weeds thus suppressing weed encroachment• Flowering seed heads attract insects and wildlife

11LANDSCAPING






Aberpearl White Clover 3%

White Clover 20%

Red Clover 20%

Vetch 40%

Sainfoin 10%

Birdsfoot Trefoil 10%


Sowing Rate: 2-5g/m²

12 LANDSCAPING

GG11 Agri swardFor re-instatement and over seeding of land for agricultural use.

• Highly productive• For grazing and cutting• Rapid establishment

GG12 Horse paddockideal mixture designed to provide grazing for horses and ponies.

• Resistant to wet weather poaching• Good seasonal growth• Strong weed competition during establishment

Rodrigo Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 16%

Bree Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 8%

Astonbonus Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 22%

Foxtrot Late Perennial Ryegrass 14%

Twymax Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 21%

Scots Timothy 14%

Aberpearl White Clover 5%

Rodrigo Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 30%

Foxtrot Late Perennial Ryegrass 20%

Twymax Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 15%

Scots Timothy 10%


Mercury Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass 5%

Sowing Rate: 14kg per acre Over Seeding Rate: 8kg per acre

Sowing Rate: 14kg per acre Over Seeding Rate: 8kg per acre

Sports grounds

Like any aspect of sport these days, the pitch has to be as technically advanced as possible. It must resist wear while performing just as impressively as the athletes tearing across it. Our expertise will give you the confidence that you have the right seed mixture for your sports surface.

Our mixture range for Sports grounds has been specifically developed to give:

• Rapid, even establishment from seed lots of high germination and vigor

• High wear tolerance

• Rapid recovery

• Lower mowing frequency

• High visual merit

14 SPORTS GROUNDS

GG20 Sports groundsour highest specification mixture for new sports grounds and winter pitches.

• High wear tolerance and live ground cover • Resilient turf with rapid recovery from damage• Maintains good winter colour • Rapid establishment• Available with Regro and/or Coldgro

GG21 Universal outfieldFor general sports areas and cricket outfields.

• Cost effective, general purpose option • Resilient turf with rapid recovery from damage• Maintains good winter colour

Vesuvius Perennial Ryegrass 20%


Eurodiamond Perennial Ryegrass 20%

Yvette Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass 10%

Barpearl Slender Creeping Red Fescue 20%


Concerto Perennial Ryegrass 40%





Sowing Rate: 35g/m² Over Seeding Rate: 20g/m² Cutting Height: Down to 10mm


15SPORTS GROUNDS

GG22 Premier pitch renovationour highest specification mixture for winter pitch renovation where rapid establishment and wear tolerance are required.

• Improves wear tolerance and recovery on heavy wear areas• Rapid germination even at lower temperatures• Fine leaved and clean cutting• Available with Regro and/or Coldgro

GG23 Universal renovationa more general renovation mixture for winter pitches and heavy wear areas.

• Improves wear tolerance and recovery on heavy wear areas• Dense sward with rhizomatous growth to aid binding qualities• Fine leaved and clean cutting





Concerto Perennial Ryegrass 15%



Over Seeding Rate: 20-50g/m² Cutting Height: Down to 25mm

Sowing Rate: 35-50g/m² Over Seeding Rate: 20-50g/m² Cutting Height: Down to 25mm

16 SPORTS GROUNDS

GG24 Cricket & TennisHigh specification, all ryegrass mixture for heavy wear cricket squares and tennis courts.

• Contains only fine leaved hard wearing ryegrasses • Rapid establishment• Tolerates close mowing • Available with Regro• Clean cutting

GG25 RacecourseFast recovery and establishment mixture for all racecourses, point to point, gallops and polo grounds.

• Improves wear tolerance and recovery on heavy wear areas• Dense sward with rhizomatous growth to aid binding qualities• Fine leaved and clean cutting• Available with Regro and/or Coldgro












In the following section you can find out more about Regro and Coldgro perennial ryegrasses. These new concepts are exciting and practical advancements in grass breeding and are exclusive to the groGreen range.

18 REGRO CREEPING RYEGRASS

WhAt dOES It dO?

Self repairs…

Trials have shown that in excess of 90% of the Regro Creeping Ryegrass plants exhibit the growth habit that enables lateral spread of the plant via leader shoots. This evolution is of course highly desirable as it provides a very dense, wear tolerant turf that will self repair areas damaged from wear or divoting.

Top growth is also reduced as the plant uses a proportion of its available energy resources to grow laterally. This growth trait also makes the turf more resistant to weed encroachment by offering

more competition to weed specie that would otherwise establish on more open or damaged areas. • over 90% of the plants exhibit lateral spread• self repairing • resists weed encroachment• Fast establishment• High wear tolerance• low maintenance• Fine leaved• Good visual appearance

First introduced to the groGreen range in 2013, we have experienced some tremendous results with Regro Creeping Ryegrass. After extensive UK trialling, we introduce Corsica into the range. This new variety shows the same Regro traits with even better shoot density and have live ground cover for increased wear tolerance.

tRIALS

On 30th March 2011 4.5cm diameter (15.9cm2) plugs were cut and transplanted to individual plots for further evaluation. The plugs were measured again on 6th August 2012 with the Regro having spread to cover an area of 790cm2 compared with another creeping ryegrass having achieved only 430cm2.

From the photographs on the opposite page you can easily see Regro displaying a superior ground covering ability, fineness of leaf and colour. Additionally, growth rates were tested over 80 days with Regro Creeping Ryegrass performing visibly better over the course of trials:

19REGRO CREEPING RYEGRASS

Regro Creeping Ryegrass is ideal for use in Sportsgrounds, Turf production, Racecourses, Tees and all other high wear areas. It is available within our range of mixtures or on its own.

Mark Bemrose, finalist in the IOG Professional Horse Racing Groundsman of the year awards from Musselburgh Racecourse was invited to trial some of the first available seed lots of Regro Creeping Ryegrass and continues to be very impressed with the results. “Musselburgh racecourse is an all year round racing venue so we certainly provide a demanding test environment, especially with the type of year we’ve had.”

Mark was supplied with the trial seed in 2011 and used it in the landing areas after the jumps. “Normally, we have to accept that no grass will stand up to the wear in these parts and we need to intensively manage these areas to achieve even minimal grass

tEStImONIAL

WhERE CAN I uSE It?

GG32 overseeding mixtureself repairing creeping ryegrass mixture for improved wear on pitches, racecourses, tees and fairways.

• Over 90% of the plants exhibit lateral spread • High wear tolerance• Self repairing • Low maintenance• Resists weed encroachment • Fast establishment• Good visual appearance

Corsica Regro Creeping Ryegrass 25%

New Orleans Regro Creeping Ryegrass 10%




RegRo gRowth AfteR 80 dAys otheR CReeping RyegRAss AfteR 80 dAysRegRo CReeping RyegRAss otheR CReeping RyegRAss

cover. the trial seed established very quickly and has stood up outstandingly well to the wear, particularly during the very wet 2012 season. Ground cover is visibly better and remains strong when normally we’d have expected much more visible damage.”

20 COLDGRO AND REGRO MIXTURES

Annual Ryegrass based rescue mixtures are useful to remedy a problem area in the short term but they are often sown late in the season when a problem is evident and by then, meaningful growth to give performance is often not achievable. Also, being annual grasses they don’t persist beyond the year of sowing.

Coldgro mixtures are perennial ryegrass based and the cool season variety Colosseum is active down to 5oC. Because the winter activity is coming from a Perennial Ryegrass the resultant plants are persistent for a number of years. Also, if established as a new sowing or as part of a normal overseeding programme, the winter period when the turf is susceptible to wear due to plant dormancy is reduced as the Coldgro mixture is still active and recovering from wear.

Fast establishment and wear tolerance are two of the most important considerations when selecting cultivars for use on Sportsgrounds, Winter pitches, Tees and Fairways. The performance of grass is dependent on the seasonal growth and normally establishment and recovery from wear just doesn’t happen during the winter months.

21 SPORTS GROUNDS

GG30 overseeding mixtureFor improved winter wear on pitches, racecourses, tees and fairways.

• Active winter growth to 5oC• Rapid germination and establishment• More persistent than annual ryegrass “rescue” type mixtures• Wear tolerant with rapid recovery• As used by colder NZ, South Island Rugby World Cup Venues

GG33 & overseeding mixtureBest of both worlds, contains self repairing regro creeping ryegrass and Coldgro cool season perennial ryegrass.

• Outstanding winter sports performance • Resists weed encroachment• Self repairing • Rapid germination and establishment• Excellent wear tolerance and winter recovery

Colosseum Coldgro Perennial Ryegrass 35%



Corsica Regro Creeping Ryegrass 25%

New Orleans Regro Creeping Ryegrass 10%

Colosseum Coldgro Perennial Ryegrass 20%





NEW!

Golf & bowling

Withstanding heavy use all year round is a tough call for grass.

But that is exactly what is expected of it on a golf course. The wide variety of practices and disciplines that take place there all have to be accommodated. Our mixtures have therefore been developed to fit most management options.

Our mixture range for Bowling and Golf Courses has been specifically developed to give:

• Clean, weed free turf

• Fine, dense turf with tolerance to close mowing

• Good aesthetic appearance and disease resistance

• Short re-growth

23GOLF & BOWLING

GG40 Greensquality specification mixture for the renovation and construction of greens.

• Very fine appearance with good winter colour• Tolerant of close mowing• Disease and drought tolerant• High shoot density to give high wear and quick recovery

GG41 All bent greens renovationquality specification mixture for greens renovation.

• Rapid establishment• High shoot density to give high wear and quick recovery• Very fine appearance with good winter colour• Disease and drought tolerant

Manor Browntop Bent 40%

Troy Browntop Bent 60%

Musica Chewings Fescue 30%

Eurocrown Chewings Fescue 30%





Over Seeding Rate: 5g/m² Cutting Height: Down to 4mm

24 GOLF & BOWLING

GG42 All fescueNew mixture for over seeding and construction using high specification fescues only.

• Excellent drought tolerance • Very fine appearance with good winter colour• Excellent disease tolerance • High shoot density to give high wear and quick recovery• Rapid establishment

GG43 Teestraditional tees mix for over seeding and construction.

• Very high shoot density • Rhizomatous growth gives persistent and quick recovery• Good disease resistance • Quick establishment and recovery• Clean cutting



Carioca Chewings Fescue 20%



Valdora Slender Creeping Red Fescue 25%






25GOLF & BOWLING

GG43R Tees with ryegrasstraditional tees mix with ryegrass for over seeding and construction.

• Extremely wear tolerant with rapid recovery • Tolerant to close mowing & clean cutting• Quick establishment • Slow re-growth• Rhizomatous growth gives persistent & quick recovery • Available with Regro

GG44 Fairwaystraditional fairway mix for over-seeding and construction.

• Hard wearing • Tolerant to close mowing & clean cutting• Rhizomatous growth gives persistent & quick recovery • Good disease resistance & colour














26 GOLF & BOWLING

GG44R Fairways with ryegrasstraditional fairway mix with ryegrass for over-seeding and construction.

• Extremely wear tolerant with rapid recovery • Slow re-growth • Tolerant to close mowing & clean cutting • Quick establishment • Rhizomatous growth gives persistent & quick recovery • Available with Regro

GG45 Roughstraditional rough mixture.

• Slow growing • Attractive, natural appearance• Rapid establishment







Aberfleece Sheeps Fescue 10%


Samanta Slender Creeping Red Fescue 35%





27GOLF & BOWLING

GG26 Bowlsquality specification mixture for the renovation and construction of Bowling Greens.

• Very fine appearance with good winter colour• Tolerant of close mowing• High shoot density to give high wear & quick recovery• Disease & drought tolerant







Turf seed

Successful turf growing starts with sowing not only the correct mixture but also sowing seed of the very highest quality. We have tested and selected seed lots of the highest purity for inclusion in our turf mixtures. Our mixtures are specifically designed to display the following essential attributes:

• Fine leaved

• Low mowing frequency

• Rapid germination and establishment

• High aesthetic appearance

• Cleanness of cut

GG51 Strong turfour best selling heavy wear, ryegrass turf mixture.

• Rapid establishment• High shoot density & fine leaved• Slow growing• Rhizomatous growth habit aids lifting• Available with Regro

GG52 Fine turfquality, fine turf from high specification cultivars.

• Good disease resistance• High shoot density tolerant to close mowing• Good aesthetic appearance, maintaining good winter colour• Rhizomatous growth habit aids lifting

29TURF SEED











Sowing Rate: 70-80kg/acre Cutting Height: Down to 10mm

Sowing Rate: 70-80kg/acre Cutting Height: Down to 10mm

Wildflowers

Our wildflower mixtures have been created using only the specie most commonly found in the habitats that they are designed to replicate. Provenance is all-important. To this end, we have collected seed from local plants and we have produced seed from these lots. Thereby ensuring that our wildflowers can be certified as being purely Scottish and/or British.

Our wildflower mixtures contain 80% grasses and 20% wildflowers.

GG90 Heritage

groGreen Heritage is our most popular wildflower mixture containing species that are most commonly found in Scotland and Northern England. It is a general purpose mixture for landscaping on a variety of soil types. It can take a few years for our perennial wildflowers to establish and give a full display therefore we add 2% of cornfield annuals and this gives colour from the first year if sown in the early part of the year.

31WILDFLOWERS

Sowing Rate: 5g/m²

• Ox-eye Daisy• Lady’s Bedstraw• Red Campion• Self Heal• Yarrow• Meadow Buttercup• Black Knapweed• Birdsfoot Trefoil• Devilsbit Scabious • Corn Cockle• Corn Chamomile

• Corn Marigold• Field Poppy• Cornflower• Sheeps Fescue• Chewings Fescue• Crested Dogstail• Browntop Bent• Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass• Sweet Vernal Grass• Wavy Hair Grass

32 WILDFLOWERS

GG91 Heavy soilsFor general landscaping use on heavier, wetter, clay soil types. This mixture contains wildflowers of Scottish and British provenance.

GG92 Light soilsA mixture of wildflowers of Scottish and British provenance for use in free-draining and sandy soils. The mixture is designed for landscaping use and to thrive in drier conditions.

• Chewings Fescue

• Crested Dogstail

• Browntop Bent

• Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass

• Meadow Foxtail

• Sweet Vernal Grass

• Wavy Hair Grass

• Small Leaved Timothy

• Ox-eye Daisy

• Lady’s Bedstraw

• Red Campion

• Self Heal

• Yellow Rattle

• Meadow Buttercup

• Black Knapweed

• Birdsfoot Trefoil

• Meadowsweet

• Cats Ear

• Sheeps Fescue• Chewings Fescue• Crested Dogstail• Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass• Browntop Bent• Crested Hair Grass• Ox-eye Daisy• Yarrow• St Johns Wort

• White Campion• Lady’s Bedstraw• Yellow Rattle• Vipers Bugloss• Self Heal• Sheeps Sorrel• Birdsfoot Trefoil• Wild Pansy• Field Scabious

Sowing Rate: 5g/m²

Sowing Rate: 5g/m²

33WILDFLOWERS

GG93 WetlandsA mixture of wildflowers of Scottish and British provenance for use in wet areas surrounding ponds, rivers and streams. Specie have been selected for their tolerance of these conditions, and to replicate the naturally occurring specie found here.

GG94 WoodlandsA mixture of Scottish and British provenance wildflowers, this mix is for areas with very low light levels. This mix contains shade tolerant specie that can be found in this natural habitat type.

• Strong Creeping Red Fescue• Rough Stalked Meadow Grass• Meadow Fescue• Yorkshire Fog• Creeping Bentgrass• Meadow Foxtail• Tufted Hair Grass• Wood Barley• Red Campion

• Meadow Buttercup• Ribwort Plantain• Meadow Sweet• Yellow Flag Iris• Wild Carrot• Black Knapweed• Self Heal• Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil• Devils Bit Scaboius

• Giant Bellflower• Foxglove• Herb Bennet • Bluebell• St John’s Wort • Ragged Robin• Red Campion• Hedge Woundwort• Upright Hedge Parsley

• Bush Vetch• Common Bent• Meadow Foxtail• Crested Dogstail• Slender Creeping Red Fescue• Chewings Fescue

Sowing Rate: 5g/m²


GG95 Corn annualsA mixture of wildflowers of Scottish and British provenance. This mixture is easily established and colours up very quickly in the first year of establishment. Corn annuals may be added to other wildflower mixtures to provide good colour in the first year of establishment. Contains 100% wildflowers.

GG96 Heath land restorationFor sites requiring a natural heath land appearance. This mix will tolerate very poor and acidic soils and will aid natural regeneration. Optional species may be added to reflect specific sites.

34 WILDFLOWERS

• Tufted Hair Grass• Wavy Hair Grass• Sheeps Fescue• Hard Fescue• Common Bent• Slender Creeping Red Fescue• Sweet Vernal

• Corn Cockle• Corn Chamomile• Corn Marigold• Field poppy• Cornflower

Sowing Rate: 2g/m²


• Alyssum Violet• Cornflower• Poppy• Godetia• Flowering Flax• Love in the mist• Marigold• Pot Marigold• Thlapsi

We have a full range of annual flower seed mixtures, please contact us for one of our Floral Cascade Flower Seed catalogues.

35 WILDFLOWERS


FC80 Meadow Annuals Flower MixtureA 100% annual flower mixture to give rapid and continuous colour month after month until Autumn. Low to medium height flowers give a natural looking, low maintenance option. Ideal for local authority use.

36 WILDFLOWER ESTABLISHMENT & MANAGEMENT

Wildflower establishment & managementWildflowers, if established and maintained properly, are both attractive and low maintenance. However, it is vital that the wildflowers are sown and managed correctly. Below is a general guide to the establishment and

maintenance of wildflowers. Please contact us for advice about your own specific wildflower project.

This is vital for creating an attractive wildflower meadow. Ideally, the soil should be of low fertility and as sterile as possible - to reduce competition from undesirable weeds and grasses. No preseeding fertiliser should be applied for this reason. To sterilise the soil, the area should be sprayed to kill all plants. Then, after working and allowing time for any weed seeds in the

soil to germinate, it should ideally be sprayed a second time. Though a fine tilth is not required, soil disturbance encourages a good soil-to-seed contact. Seeds should be sown on the surface and lightly worked in. If possible, the area should be rolled to give good contact and maintain soil moisture and reduce soil erosion.

GROuNd PREPARAtION ANd SOWING

By now you will have the beginning of an attractive wildflower area. It is important to manage this area correctly to fully establish and encourage the wildflowers. Annual wildflowers will last only one year, and will require reseeding every year until a seed bank of these specie builds up in the

soil. Even then, you will need to disturb the soil to encourage germination of these seeds. Perennials take 2-3 years to fully establish and must be managed correctly in that time.

mEAdOW mANAGEmENt

The purpose of cutting is threefold: to reduce competition from grass specie; to encourage re-growth of current plants; and to promote growth of new

seedlings from the fallen seeds of the established plants. Meadows should be cut twice a year and it is important to remove all clippings after cutting.

CuttING

A cut down to approx. 5 cm in the spring will control grass specie and permit wildflowers to thrive. The spring cut should be around March/April whenever sufficient growth has been achieved. Remove all clippings.

SPRING Cut

Cut down to approx. 5 cm around September/October – once all flowering is complete and seed has been set. Again, remove all clippings.

AutumN Cut

An additional cut in the first year may be required to suppress grass growth. Should grass growth appear to be stronger than that of the wildflower plants, it would be beneficial to cut down to 5-7 cm and remove any clippings.

FIRSt YEAR Cut

Although we have included an extensive range of mixtures within this catalogue we appreciate that you may wish to use your own formulation mixtures for very specific situations. We are pleased to create and provide mixtures to your own specification.

SPECIAL FORmuLAtIONS

Owing to demand and availability of cultivars it may be necessary to substitute cultivars listed in this brochure. We pledge to use only the very best alternative cultivars for inclusion in the groGreen range.

mIxtuRE SPECIFICAtION

groGreen are delighted to be able to share our experience and are pleased to visit any sites free of charge to aid site evaluation and to advise on your requirements. Please ask for a site visit.

SItE VISItS

Contact details

groGreen, Sunnyside, Macbiehill, West Linton, Scotland EH46 7AZ.

t: 01968 661705 F: 01968 660087 E: [email protected]

www.grogreen.co.uk

www.grogreen.co.uk

2015 - Watson SeedsWelcome to our 2015 catalogue. Within you will see that our work with Regro...

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Transcript of 2015 - Watson SeedsWelcome to our 2015 catalogue. Within you will see that our work with Regro...