Tag Archive for: Perennial

Johnsons Perennial Rye mix hailed ‘amazing’

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Johnsons Perennial Rye mix hailed ‘amazing’: As the only club in Essex to make it onto the England Top 100 list, Thorndon Park in Ingrave has a reputation to uphold for its putt-perfect greens and feature fairways.

A combination of two years of drought, combined with some extensive leatherjacket damage, had done its very best to scupper that, but a switch in seeding strategy – from fescue to perennial ryegrass from Johnsons Sports Seed – has seen a recovery of the fairways that Course Manager David Byron can only describe as amazing!

Johnsons Perennial Rye mix hailed ‘amazing’

Johnsons Perennial Rye mix hailed ‘amazing’

When David took over as Course Manager in September 2020, tackling the loss of coverage on the fairways was his first major task. “It’s no exaggeration to say that what we were faced with was really just mud and dust” explains David, who heads up a greens team of nine. “Craig Spooner from DLF came in and conducted a course walk and we decided upon a switch to a bespoke Perennial Ryegrass mixture – featuring Dickens, Chardin, Clementine and Monroe – to give us quick, strong growth and recovery while we rebuild the soil profile – with the aim of later down the line, re-introducing fescue species.”

Ideally suited for the renovation of high traffic areas, perennial ryegrass delivers improved drought tolerance, high disease resistance and excellent year-round colour, and importantly for David, fast recovery. “We first sowed the Rye fairway mix in September so we’re less than a year into the programme and we have recovered all our fairways – in fact, coverage across the whole course is currently fantastic.”

“We’ve been using Johnsons’ J Tee on our tees for the last few years and that always performs well, and on the greens it’s J All Bent which was last sown at the end of May and this has given us a great initial strike.” While David is delighted with results course-wide, the club’s determination to rise even higher in the ranks means mixtures are always being reviewed and assessed with the STRI ratings. “We can be assured with table-topping cultivars that with Johnsons, we’re going to be getting the tolerances and resistances we need to always be improving.”

David concludes, “The Johnsons mixtures are also backed up with fantastic technical support, both from Craig and Richard Lewis at our distributor Indigrow. The support network and after-care advice we get is worth more to me than saving a few quid here and there on product. Buying into Johnsons you get the complete package.”

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Perennial prepares for increase in demand

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Perennial prepares for increase in demand: Perennial is the safety net for people in the horticulture industry and are here to help anyone working in, or retired from any job involving trees, plants, flowers or grass.

As the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to evolve for the whole industry, including everyone working in turf or groundscare, Perennial is urging anyone who is worried or has questions about how it will affect them, or their family, to get in touch. The team’s clear message is ‘we’re in this together’ and wants everyone in the industry to know they are there to support you. Perennial’s helpline is operating as usual on 0800 093 8543 or visit www.perennial.org.uk for the latest updates.  

Julia Hayne, Director of Services at Perennial, says: 

“We know people are worried; it’s only natural to be concerned about your own health, your ability to continue working and to support your family. We’re here to reassure, advise and help you through the coming weeks and months. We all need to work together on this. We are all facing unprecedented challenges as we adjust to new ways of working and Perennial is determined to remain available and active for everyone we help.” 

Perennial has a range of support services online and its advisers are available by phone, email or video call free of charge and in complete confidence. The online budgeting tool can be used to help understand finances and makes it simple to see what is coming in and out, with useful hints and tips to support you to adjust to changes in income. Perennial’s online mental health network, launched earlier this year in partnership with Big White Wall, can help everyone maintain their mental wellbeing.  

Perennial’s team of professional, highly trained caseworkers and debt advisers can:  

  1. help people understand and get access to government arrangements for financial  support 
  1. help people make arrangements to reduce or delay bill payments, including credit debts where necessary 
  1. provide financial assistance to cover essential items, particularly food and heating 

Peter Newman, Perennial’s Chief Executive, says:  

“In these unprecedented circumstances many people will be anxious about both the present and the future. For 180 years Perennial has stood alongside people in horticulture and our unswerving determination is to continue to be available to help through these difficult days.” 

Over the last few days Perennial’s whole workforce has responded to the evolving government guidance and will continue to monitor daily updates and promote the clear home-working, self-isolation and social distancing guidelines. The charity’s gardens at York Gate near Leeds and Fullers Mill near Bury St Edmunds will not now open as planned, and all volunteer activity has been suspended until further notice. Peter Newman continues: 

“The focus of the whole Perennial team is now on meeting the practical and social needs of people in horticulture, as the entire country faces up to the COVID-19 challenge, and its aftermath.” 

Perennial’s team of advisers all work from home and are available for phone calls, emails and video calls. Perennial are posting daily updates to an information hub on their website giving people up to date information on how you can manage your current situation, how Perennial can support individuals affected by the pandemic and links to other organisations who may be able to help. To keep up to date with new information as it emerges, follow Perennial on social media or sign up to the charity’s e-newsletters. If you have any concerns about how Coronavirus COVID-19 will affect you or your family, Perennial can be contacted by phone on: 0800 093 8543 or visit www.perennial.org.uk/coronavirus for further information.  

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